From the Heart of a Planner

A Note on Success

1 · May 17, 2019 ·

We’ve moved towns twice in the past 3 years. That means both our family and my business. It means getting the word out, hoping success will follow, networking, rebranding and letting a new area know who I am. It’s not easy. And doubt has been creeping in… how do I make it all work?

There’s a message that keeps getting pushed in my face. It’s a message telling me that I’m not enough. As a mom and business owner, I don’t know if this is hitting home a little too much and I’m so much more in tune to this message or if it’s just hitting everyone smack in the face right now and is what the world wants everyone and their brother to hear.

Photography: Hetler Photography

It seems like every “successful” business man or woman has a story to tell – a book, a podcast, workshop or webinar – something to sell you on how they became the amazingly awesome person that they are. They seemingly know it all and even have a way of belittling us into believe that we aren’t enough, we can be doing more, doing better, working harder, etc etc etc. I’m not disregarding their successes in life by any stretch of the imagination. However, in this age of over information, it’s so hard to know whose truths to hold onto.

For example here’s some of the good advice that’s been shared lately:

“You’re brand is about you, but not for you.”

However, you should show off work that you love and want to recreate – showing who you are and your vibe will attract your tribe. Just do what you love.

You should use the word “I” in all your marketing because it makes it more personal, as if you were having a direct conversation with your customer.

But “we” gives a sense of teamwork and makes your business seem less self-centered. If people think your business/team is too small they won’t take you seriously.

“Fake it until you make it”.

But be real.

Make sure you marketing and Instagram and photography is professional and cohesive. We work in a visual field, so make sure you’re only showing the very best of the best of your portfolio.

However people want to see the real life and know that everything isn’t staged. It’s all about authenticity.

Business moves done in fear and desperation won’t end well.

But sometimes being in a desperate place is just the kick in the pants that you need.

Emotion has no place in business.

But how many times have you just had to go with a gut reaction, something that has no real explanation?

Done is better than perfect.

However don’t put anything out into the world that isn’t 100% complete and ready. Once it’s online, you can’t retract it.

It could carry on this list of contradictions all day long. But I think the biggest one that’s in my mind right now is this idea that we’re powerful women, boss babes who should able to conquer anything. And if we’re not, then we’re not working hard enough, our selling tactics aren’t clever enough and we need to be doing more. More more more. Contentment should be non-existent. (But be thankful for everything that we have #blessed).

I’ve had several colleagues lately who have been celebrating victories big and small. Some of them have been in business less time than me. In truth, it’s hard to watch. I’m left with one thought in my mind. I’m not good enough.

By the grace of God, I had an epiphany. The answer is so obvious I’m embarrassed. I can pound the pavement all day long. I can give away free flowers, shove business cards in people’s faces and work my tail off – just as I suspect so many other successful business women before me have done. But if that’s not God’s plan, if it’s not what he has written in the stars for me, no amount of work will make me any more or less successful. God has gifted those other people with success. Do I deserve it any more than them? Humble yourself Shelby.

Success doesn’t belong to me. They’re His successes, it’s His victories and shame on me for my thoughtlessness. I recognize that my talents were created and gifted to me. An entrepreneur whom I very much look up to once said not to use God to sell your business. But if everything I have is His, isn’t it then His business as well? I’m not exactly putting Him on my marketing agenda but there needs to be a mental shift from washing your face and putting on your big girl pants and celebrating your successes, to celebrating the success that God has given you. We need to continue to work hard but remember that without His blessing and say so, no amount of hard work will make me a successful wife, business women or mom. It’s all Him. And in His perfect timing. That’s the truth I need to hold onto.

Words

0 · Mar 7, 2019 ·

Words. They’re powerful tools. I have pages of journals, notebooks, computer documents, paragraphs jotted my phone, post it notes and scraps of paper full of ideas, thoughts and verbiage that will never see the light of day. I have shared words with paper that eyes will never see. I have captions that I will never post and sentiments that I will never share. I love the expression of words and the feeling of a pencil on paper, almost as much as I love creating with flowers.

Did you know that we’re held responsible for every word that’s left our lips?

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” Matthew 12:36

The impact is a little word can be huge. Think back to some of the significant speeches, sayings and phrases that have been turning points in your life. They can hurt or they can build up. I remember being new in the floral world, feeling like I finally found my direction and where I needed to be heading and almost instantly, some offhand comment by an unknowing sender crushed me. They criticized my work and brought me instantly to my knees, ultimately surfacing all of my newbie fears and slowing the progress of my business for the next 1 ½ years until I realized they were in the wrong, not me. It doesn’t do much good at this point to look back, but I do wonder how my journey might have changed.

“The soothing tongue is the tree of life, but the perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4

This week, I saw my words on someone else’s website. It’s a phenomena that I know many creatives experience. And part of me loves that I’m inspiring someone else’s work. But the other part of me feels robbed. It’s like they took a little piece of my soul, a little part of my journey that I’ve worked so hard on and claimed it as their own.

I will never call this person out. I will never tell who this person is. They know who they are. Maybe there are others out there that I simply haven’t stumbled across. I can’t truly take credit for my talents, whether it be writing poetic expressions or creating elaborate works of floral art. My talents come from our Creator. They’re truly his gifts. So perhaps my feelings are out of line. Perhaps I should just give this person a hug and send some creative vibes their way. I could hurt them with more words. But if they’re not words of love, then they probably should just be kept to yourself.

It’s Just You and Me

0 · Feb 26, 2019 ·

I found this picture as I was digging through wedding galleries last week. It’s a soft and sweet sentiment for a wedding day and I love the idea that regardless of how anything else shakes out, it’s the two of us – husband and wife – together forever, two against the world.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

However it’s not really been until recently I’ve really began to reflect on how important that is. Coworkers, friends, life scenarios, they all come and go. But marriage is forever, regardless of what’s going on in the world around you. So you better pick someone amazing to be by your side, right?

I’ve really felt the impact of this lately. I have different parenting philosophies, thoughts on love, political ideals and general ways of living life that many of those around me. Not to say that my way or someone else’s way is better or worse, just different. Everyone doesn’t see eye to eye and some days I feel like I’m constantly having to justify my reasoning to _________ (insert nearly anyone’s name here) for EVERY LITTLE DESCION I MAKE. Having a spouse that gets you, whose line of thinking (for the most part) aligns with my own is so helpful. There are enough battles in the world, I don’t need to add ones with my spouse to the list.

Even more so, is the realization that we’ve moved again. My best friend is now 3 hours away. Other friends are nearly as far. Family is scattered throughout the state. Phone calls and social media are great for connecting, but there’s an emptiness that they can’t fill. There’s nothing quite like real human connections, an in person connection. And if we’re being completely honest here, making friends as an adult is hard. It never came easy to me a kid either, but if anyone had told me how much harder it would get with age, perhaps I’d have tried a littler harder back then? Probably not, but it’s a thought. I have my family around me day in and day out. We have a busy little life so most days I don’t notice the lack of socialization. But when I stop to think about it, I realize how crazy we were to move to a town I’d only ever heard about, an area that I had very little knowledge of and where we have zero friends and family nearby. Plus working from home, it means that forced coworker acquaintances that could potentially turn into more, are nonexistent.

This isn’t a cry for help or someone to come and be my friend. But rather, a reminder to hold onto the relationships you have. It’s a note of gratitude for my husband and having someone constant by my side. We may have chosen to move and leave some people that we love, but if we hadn’t left, that doesn’t mean that another circumstance in our life may not have changed. There are so many moving pieces and variables in our lives that can vary in an instant. This a note to encourage you to build a strong marriage, work and it and don’t rely on those around you for your happiness. Create that happiness in your own home. Every season of life isn’t the same, but right now it’s just me and my family doing life together. And the battles that came in the earlier years have proven to strengthen the relationship we have right now, so that it can be just the two of us and the joy that doing life together brings.

14 Ways to Celebrate Valentines Day (and those we love)

0 · Feb 1, 2019 ·

We made it to February! January was a really great month, until all the snow storms and cold hit – shutting down what seemed like the entire Midwest. The latter part of the month dragged and while I know that winter isn’t over, there is some relief in knowing that we’ve survived the polar vortex of 2019 and hopefully there are warmer days ahead.

Days filled with love.

I work in the wedding and floral businesses. So Valentine’s Day, it’s pretty huge. I’m not doing any valentine’s florals this year (but maybe next? We’ll see how the year plays out). Regardless, I think we all should celebrate. However, that doesn’t mean I think we should all fall into the commercialized trap of Hallmark cards, overpriced chocolates and lacy little nighties – unless of course that’s what you want to do (there’s certainly nothing wrong with that!). What I am saying, is we should always take time out of our schedule to celebrate love. To savor it and to appreciate the love that we all have in our lives. That might mean a spouse or significant other, but also the little loves that bring our homes to life. We should honor each other’s love languages and create a day, or even month, reminding them just how loved and special they really are.

With that being said, I’m sharing 14 ideas to celebrate. Whether you’re actually celebrating the holiday or need to just take a day (or 2) to focus on the people who are important to you.

1. At home date night

Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the week. We all have work, kids, schedules, etc. and finding a baby sitting can be both difficult and expensive. When it comes to date night, my husband and I rarely leave the house. We spend the early evening with our girls, make them dinner and tuck them into be a couple minutes early (the advantage of having young children that can’t tell time yet) and then at 8:00pm our date night starts. We’ll make up a charcuterie board for dinner, have a glass or two of wine and sneak off to our bedroom to watch a movie, play a board game and just enjoy a meal and time together.

2. Love notes

Leave a love note for your spouse somewhere in the house. Have a note tucked in their bag/briefcase/coat pocket to find while their out in the world. Have it waiting next to their toothbrush when they get up in the morning. Wherever the placement, surprise them with a sweet note sharing how much you care and reminding them that even when their out in the world on their own, they will also come back to you.

Photography: K. R. Moreno | Calligraphy: Ciarra Claire Fine Art | Florals: Shelby of The Day’s Design

3. A note a day

This takes the idea above and stretches it out a little. In this idea, for the two weeks up to Valentine’s Day, you leave a one line note every day sharing something that you love about your spouse. By the time Valentine’s Day rolls around, they’ll know 14 (if you start today) little things that you love about them and start to feel really special. This is a really significant idea if your spouses’ love language is words of affirmation.

4. Mini gifts

Last year, my husband and I decided that instead of doing a large valentine’s gift or exchanging cards and chocolates, we were going to do 14 mini gifts – one a day for the first 14 days of February. They were small thoughtful gifts that didn’t cost much but were easy ways to say “I pay attention” and “I care.” Some examples, a package of my favorite pens, some clothes pins (along with the promise to hang a new clothesline for me once the weather turned nice), chap stick, new earbuds – we chose practical things that we recognized would make our spouses’ lives just a little better and again, it was an easy way to show how much we really do pay attention to each other’s needs. While it was fun giving and receiving something each day, it was almost more fun having something to look forward to each evening, knowing that we were carving a few extra minutes of out of our day for each other to do something just a little special.

5. Home cooked meal

Make your family’s favorite meal. It might sound like such a simple gesture, but something that’s cooked with love is going to show them love. It’s also a way to involve you children as well, giving everyone a taste of one of their favorite treats, making each person in your home feel loved.

6. Wine tasting date

We live in an area where wineries are very prevalent. However, taking the time to actually explore them is not something that we often take time out of our schedule to do. Going wine (or even beer tasting) is a relaxed and easy way to get out of the house and try something new, creating an experience together.

7. Let your spouse sleep in

Don’t we all wish for just a little more sleep? Valentine’s falls on a week day this year, so maybe on that particular day it might not be possible, but what about gifting the promise of a quiet Saturday morning, staying in bed until noon. It doesn’t get more inexpensive than that and it such a treat! You could even top it off with serving a little breakfast in bed.

8. Get dressed up

I’ve come to the point in my life where I’m constantly in my “mom uniform”. Jeans and/or leggings, big heavy winter sweaters and clothing that’s just practical for life. We rarely leave the house as just the two of us and as much as I do try to do my hair and makeup and keep myself “presentable”, it’s certainly not the extent of getting dolled up like when we were first together. So even if you’re not leaving the house, put a dress on, wear something nice and spend a little extra time to “wow” your spouse, reminding them of the of the girl they fell in love with.

8 1/2. Get More Dressed Up

We all know that lingerie and similar items are being highly promoted right now. Something new is always a fun way to grab your spouses attention. Or if you’re feeling a bit more daring, boudior photography is a gift that will knock his socks off. I’ve done it and it was a very well recieved gift. However, my piece of advice is find a photographer who’s work you love, you feel comfortable with and will make you feel like a godness. It can be so tasteful and beautifully done as a work of art. (You can read more about a boudior session I styled previously here.)

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

9. Wine and cheese party

While spending a quiet night alone is the usual go-to idea for Valentine’s Day, it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s a day about love and maybe there are more people in your life that you’d like to share that love with. So why not host a party? Invite some close friends over, have a little wine and cheese spread, ask everyone to bring their favorite rosé or bubbly and enjoy great conversation. This is also a great way to include those single friends in your life who may often feel a little “unloved” on this day of the year – we’ve all been there.

10. Make breakfast

We talked about Valentine’s Day being on a week day this year. Which means a normal day of work and school for most of us. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t start the day off right with a big breakfast treat. My husband usually sneaks out the door with a cup of coffee and a granola bar or banana, if he’s lucky. Wouldn’t it be a pleasant surprise to have breakfast ready and waiting when he got out of bed that morning?

11. Light a candle

It’s that simple. Candles smell good and instantly add a relaxing, romantic glow to any room. What you do next is up to you 😉

12. Make heart shaped pizza

I have come to realize how many of these ideas revolve around food but what’s that saying – the way to a man’s heart is through is stomach?? – or something like that. Making little heart shaped pizzas is festive for him and for the little ones in your life, plus, who doesn’t love pizza?

Or try heart cookies, homemade poptarts, muffins, cakes or any other food that you could turn into a heart (I even saw a post on how to cook heart shaped bacon!)

13. Do something around the house that your spouse finds a chore

Stay with me here – this is designed around the idea of preforming an act of service for your spouse. Maybe cleaning the bathroom or taking out the trash is at the top of their list of hated household chores – so clean it for them. Perhaps there’s some nagging happening about new wallpaper or lighting fixtures that need to be hung. Can you imagine if you walked into your house after a long day away and it was perfectly cleaned from top to bottom? I’d fall over with glee – what a great gift. Can you reverse that and clean his car/garage/man cave? Think of other little gestures that might be outside of your normal scope of duties but would make a big impact on their day.

Photography: K. R. Moreno | Calligraphy: Ciarra Claire Fine Art | Florals: Shelby of The Day’s Design

14. I still do

Those 3 little words are huge. It means time and time again, I would choose my husband, regardless of what the last 8 years of marriage have held. Kel and Mel have an entire moment, with products designed to celebrate those little words. Words that at times are so much stronger than saying “I love you” because we all know people who have walked about from other’s that they love, but these words bring us together over and over again. Their website if full of sweet and thoughtful gift ideas.

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate or even if you prefer not to acknowledge this holiday, I encourage you to remember love and keep it at the forefront of your mind in all that you do.

“Can I Help You?”

0 · Jan 25, 2019 ·

This post was originally drafted last week. But in the wake of things happening in New York, around the world and the general state of disgust that I feel for the attitudes of the world – I feel that it’s necessary to pull the moral of the story and the punch line to my little tale right here to the top. I want it not to be missed, even if you decide not to continue reading on.

We are responsible for teaching our children how to live. It’s our responsibility to share the messages of truth and show the difference between right and wrong. We must lead by example and it’s more important than ever to show them how to spread love and kindness, leading by example and creating community/town/world where we all want to live.

The Christmas tree was taken down last week.

I’d like to say that I waited so long to take it down because I like to prolong the spirit of Christmas. But that’s only a partial truth. The rest of the story is that I really dislike the task. Removing each ornament, carefully wrapped and packing them away, unwinding the lights and taking care that they don’t end up tangled for next year and then the slew of needles that follow behind all of the these things, staying in your house and socks until July. None of it is nearly as fun as putting the tree up on a cozy winter’s night.

But I decided it was time to stop putting off the inevitable. And as I slowly started pulling each bauble off of the tree, my girls jumped in and said “can we help?”

I always encourage them to be “helpers” but its been awhile since I’ve seen this eager spirit of giving come through. So the three of us tackled this task in record time, leaving the final part to dad – removing the sadly undecorated fir from our cozy home and into the cold winter air.

The day got me thinking about being a helper. When was the last time you helped someone without being asked? Family excluded (because I hope we’re helping our kids, our spouses, etc without giving it a second thought). However, I realized I can’t remember the last time I helped a complete stranger. I sincerely hope that I’m doing it subconsciously, small acts of kindness that are second nature and I just have failed to notice. But what if that isn’t the case? What if my girls don’t have the “helper attitude” because I’m not setting the right example? That would break my heart.

Your kids learn what you teach them. It’s our responsibility to teach them the right and wrong and they watch you. I can’t change the laws. My little voice isn’t going to stop people from hating, not cherishing life or thinking that they know more than our Creator. But in my house, I can be both seen and heard. So it’s more cruitial than ever to lead by example and show them how things should be done, even if that’s not necessarily the message that the world is telling them at the moment.

Autumn Pictures in December

0 · Dec 22, 2018 ·

Dear Shelby,

December is swirling by much too quickly, don’t forget to savor the season, cherish each moment with your family and remember the reason for the season. Not only during this sacred time, but the whole year through.

In high school, before each formal dance all of my friends, acquaintances and anyone else who happened to be invited along, would gather together at someone’s house and take pictures of us all dressed up. There were usually 15 to 30 kids all attempting to look their very best, competing to have the most dazzling dresses, the most impeccably manicured nails, the most memorable hair-dos and the most perfectly coordinated dates. We’d all line up, our parents or some other poor adult, would pull out our disposable cameras and the photo sessions would begin. It was never less than an hour worth of primping and posing, making sure each group shot was flawless and we were photographed with anyone and everyone. Then we’d skip off to the dance, while our parents were tasked with dropping off our cameras to the overpriced 1 hour photo lab because it was imperative that we had the photographic results by the next school day. If, however, you waited the full 2 or 3 days or whatever standard film developing time was back then, by the time you got your photos back, it would be old news. We’d already seen everyone else’s pictures and we didn’t care to flip through your photo book a week later.

I think this might have been the start of it all. In as little as one hour you could get your low quality film scans back from the drug store. It lead to digital photography, being able to see the pictures the instant you took them and eventually social media which allowed not only you to see them instantly but now your friends to also see them within minutes. You no longer needed to be in the same room as another person for them to see the results of your fun night out. Printing at all became optional.

The world keeps moving faster and faster. We’re expected to do more. We expect ourselves to do more. And pressure builds.

This fall, I was forced to slow down – a little. We moved and unpacking and projects have been unending. That portion of the fall held no rest. However, I had a list 3 miles long of content for this space. I had autumn tours, Halloween projects, fall diy’s and then Thanksgiving tablescapes, etc etc to share. But I didn’t. Our new house didn’t come with the internet capabilities to do these things. So I even put off uploading and editing the photos, because if I wasn’t going to share them, then what difference did it make if they just sat on my SD card?

Now there’s snow on the ground, so I can’t share anything from the autumn. I can’t share how pretty our house looked with the sun twinkling through the golden leaves or the scenic views from our new town. I can’t share the cute little school house I stumbled across or my kids’ Halloween costumes. It seems that sharing now would be against the rules. But who made these rules??

With deadlines and Christmas projects and all the holiday life on the horizon, it starts to feel a bit daunting. I know there’s an underlying importance to each of these agenda items, but what about the other parts of life? I want to work to live, not the other way around. Why do we feel like everything has to happen so instantly? What happened to taking a day of rest? I don’t think I can any longer fault my 3 year olds’ neediness and impatience when I myself am enforcing the same guidelines. Its as if we don’t share it this moment, it might as well have never happened.

I’m done with these rules. I’m going to share spring flowers in the fall and if I want to share a photo now (in December – gasp!) that has autumn leaves in it, so be it. It doesn’t make it any less desirable to look at or these words on my pages have any less meaning. A personal project of mine for the new year, I want to get back into film photography, which I gave up on because I didn’t get my pictures back fast enough. Patience. Everything will happen in time. If instead I spend more time fluffing a bow on my mother’s Christmas present or sitting with my girls watching a holiday movie, rather than sharing my Christmas décor here, I think we’re still going to be okay.

I think we all need to give ourselves a break. Just slow down for minute. Take in the scenes and soak up as much family as possible. Remember the gift of Christmas and why we celebrate. It’s okay if you don’t post pictures of your kids opening their Christmas presents until New Year’s Day (or maybe you forgo social media all together). Live in the moment with them. We can stop rushing so much as December is swirling by. Don’t feel like you need to be buried in your phone or have your face hidden behind a camera waiting for the perfect shot. In doing so, you might just miss out on the perfect day.

A Classic Christmas List for Good Little Girls & Boys

2 · Dec 17, 2018 ·

I catch a lot of grief from others when I ask them not to by my girls more toys, I voice my particularities about the clothing they wear and really any object that is introduced into my girls lives. I’ve been accused of not being fun, being too uptight and even ruining Christmas. I’m not going to say that those comments don’t sting, however we have a way that we’ve chosen to raise our children, to protect their innocence and childhood, to keep them little as long as possible and let their imaginations run free. I don’t believe you need battery operated toys to learn. I don’t think you need bright flashy plastic colors to keep their interest. And I don’t believe their toy boxes need to be overflowing, refreshing the clutter each holiday season. It’s okay to live a simple life full of creativity.

As I type this, girls are playing with blocks on the floor. They’ve sitting there for the last hour or more, building vacuums, towers and counting. Just counting. Before that, they found enjoyment from a brown paper bag. So simple.

I was trying to put into exact words my philosophy when it comes to spoiling my children, how I choose toys and treats and have really been struggling. I try to share the message of appreciating what they have, wanting them to learn to take care of what they’re given because I’m not going to just by them something new if they don’t take care of the previous item. But when they’re gifted cheap plastic toys and items that aren’t really built to last, it’s somewhat hard to get that message across. And then my anxiety arises about the mess and the clutter and storage issues and I can’t help but wonder if in the long run any of these items are actually bringing any joy or just feeding our greedy consumer habits?

Someone summed it up for me, how I feel about it all, and unfortunately I cannot remember who I saw post this so I’m unable to give them credit – but the quote was this “Maybe if I give them heirloom quality toys I won’t mind the mess so much.” Kindred spirits right there. I seek classic items and simplicity, I don’t need frills I just was innocent toys that are meant to last. Do you think anyone will find today’s toys in an antique shop 50 years from how? I think the landfill is more likely. I know it sounds dramatic but there is a sweetness and something that soothes me by thinking this way. I’ve heard stories of how girls were given dolls just to practice being a mom, learning how to care for her little one, sewing clothes, etc. Yes, that’s old fashioned but it was purposeful play and created healthy habits. If you agree with all of those above who would rather give me grief and think I’m a little off my rocker, so be it. Regardless of your view, we’re all just trying to do the best for each of our families.

Never the less, here are a few of my favorite things I’ve either seen this holiday season or have purchased in years past to keep them little, let their imagination thrive and have fun being a girl (or boy – there’s fun on this list for them too!).

Outdoor Play:

There’s nothing better in the summertime than soaking up the sunshine and discovering nature. Skinned knees, tan lines and big bites are the sign of a summer well spent.

1 Radio Flyer Tri-Cycle. Santa brought this pastel pink treasure to use a few years back and now it’s been passed down to daughter number 2. It’s a classic and still fits my almost 4 year old great. But if you’re looking for something slightly more mature, I heard that Santa might be upgrading to this classic little cruiser this year.

2 & 3 Winter Wagon & Tandam Pull Sled. Of course I love a classic wooden number over the more modern plastic ones. These are both from LL Bean and I wish I would have seen them before I finished my Christmas shopping. I was just thinking how nice it would have been when we were out doing our holiday open houses downtown with the girls.

4 Retro Scooter. I think this little number is a little pricy but so cute. I love the classic clean look and the sweetness that I picture with a little girl perched on top.

5 Moulin Roty Botanist Kit. Let your little once be a scientist! While we don’t have this kit, we have a couple other Moulin Roty pieces and I love them. They’re so classic and fun. This one screams “get outside & explore!”

Jammies

Do you remember getting clothing as a kid? There were some people I dreaded opening presents from because I just knew it was going to be clothes. Gradually I outgrew that, I remember the year I got my first pair of stirrup pants from my grandma. I think that was the turning point for it all.

Jammies I feel like are the exception. My girls love pajamas. By 5:00pm on school nights they’re both asking if they can change into their pa’namas (as my 3 year old calls them).

6 7 & 8 Plaid Nightgown, Fair Isle Pajamas & Clara Christmas Gown. I love these three options because they’re classic Christmas that extends into the entire winter season. I don’t like to gift things that will be out of season by the time you gift them. The plaid nightgown also has a long pant option as well as a matching boys set, which is super cute if you like the matching jammie look. The Fair Isle ones are gender neutral which makes them perfect for mix and match or hand me downs from cousins and big sisters. Sizes are limited and selling fast, so multiple options are necessary.

9 Cozy Critter Robe. We have one of these and just purchased a second. It’s a fun way to let your kids’ personality shine while still keeping them subtle. Options are kitties, unicorn or a shark hood.

10-13 If you don’t live in a freezing climate or are just wanting to get ready for spring, I love these options. I’m always a fan of floral patterns and my girls are too. Big Dreams Navy Floral PJ Set. Ruffle Floral PJ Dress. Ruffle Short PJ Set. Blue Gingham PJ Set.

Fun Toy for Nice Girls & Boys

14 Moulin Roty Doctor Kit. This kit is ridiculously cute. Wooden instruments and a picturesque carrying case. My girls love this case but it would be perfect for a boy as well.

15 Oskar & Ellen Tea Set. Willa received this quilted set a couple years ago for Christmas and it was the first thing she opened, I secretly wished it would be her last. She immediately love it and 2 years later it is still so loved. We have a couple other pieces from this line as well and each one is as cute as the last.

16 Lincoln Logs. The most timeless gift. I usually hate gifts that have a million little pieces but I feel like these would change my tune.

17 Kitchen Utensils. Nothing screams imaginative play like kitchenware. My girls love having pieces that look like mommy’s. There are so many fun options out there, Pottery Barn, Kidkraft, adorable aprons and more.

18 Maileg Mice. Have you seen these matchbox mice? I think they’re adorable. My girls have so much, so I’ve resisted purchasing but with all the option, I’m not sure how long I can resist. Look at this little ballerina one!

19 Kids Concept Cash Register. My girls wanted a cash register last year and so I bought a really cute wooden one from Crate & Kids. However, this year I stumbled across this one which is even cuter – look at that little card reader! Kids Concept has some adorable little wooden toys.

20 Elsa Inspired Dress. Disclaimer, I have not actually ever ordered anything from this website but I’m sure that will change soon. My girls are obsessed with Elsa and Ana. The amount of dress up clothes they have is getting a little out of hand but that doesn’t seem to stop one little 6 year old from dreaming. And she dreams of being Elsa. I on the other hand, am having an issue with all the customs and their faux sequins looking like they belong on something other than a 6 year old. This one, however, may change my mind. Elsa dreams while still looking like my sweet baby girl and this Rapunzal one is the cutest ever.

I hope this helps you holiday shopping but remember – its not about the present but more imporantly, your presence (so cliche, but so true). Also, these are not affiliate links, just items that I’ve stumbled across in my shopping or pieces that we have and love.

As far as holiday shipping, just a reminder that Christmas Eve is one week from today! So hurry up and finish your shopping! Alex and Alexa (the Kids Concept toys) says today is the last day to order for guarenteed Christmas delivery. Maisonette (the Moulin Roty Botanist Kit) will no longer guarentee delivery before Christmas (but that doesn’t mean it won’t arrive). You have a couple days left on the other items but make haste, items sell out fast.

Planning Marriage

1 · Dec 4, 2018 ·

Working in the wedding industry means I’m surrounded by weddings and marriage all the time. I devote my weekends in the summer to celebrating with couples and those long winter days to helping them decorate and plan. But those days are devoted to the wedding, not the marriage. We often use those words together, understanding how closely the two are related and sometimes even wrongly interchanging them, but they’re not the same, not even close.

Even doing what I do for a living, I wouldn’t call myself an expert in either of these areas, marriage or weddings. There’s always more work to be done. Always something more to learn. Always an area for improvement. Planning either of them is not easy.

7 years ago when I began writing in this little corner of the internet, I wanted to talk about the topic of marriage. But my courage waivered. I was barely more than a newlywed myself and what did I know? The ironic part of that is I would write about wedding planning as if I knew something, and yet I knew so little, being in the baby stages of my planning business as well.

I still don’t think it’s an easy topic to chat about. It’s much easier to write about changing leaves, decorating a new house or what flowers are in season on your wedding day. It’s not nearly as superficial as these topics that I easily post about. I’ve been quiet here because, well life is busy, but also because of the fight against what needs to be said. Because it is a fight. Each and every day, a fight to the death to keep your marriage alive.

When you’re first engaged, and are unsure of the first steps of planning a wedding, where do you turn? One might ask their mom, their best friend or hire a professional. There’s no shame in being uncertain of the steps needed to plan a wedding. There are articles after article posted online and hundreds of magazines and similar publications dedicated to helping people plan this one day. But it’s ONE day.

Who’s helping plan the marriage? A marriage that is FOREVER? Where are the exposés at the checkout lane promoting couples staying together, loving one another and never giving up? It’s easier to degrade your spouse then lift them up. It’s hard to admit that we don’t naturally know the secret to a successful marriage. Loving one another isn’t quite as easy as it seems because we’re all selfish people and marriage is an act of selflessness, completely giving yourself to another person. The idea of turning to an expert for help isn’t quite as socially acceptable. So we all struggle. Have days of failure. And so many couples in the end, find it much easier just to give up.

I am one teeny tiny voice in a world of so many. I have had good days of marriage and bad. But I have a voice that understands the struggle and can sympathize with the battle that is before you. So if you’ve ever read one of my articles about wedding planning, decorating a bedroom or setting a holiday table, I urge you to read up on marriage. How can I claim to be a lifestyle blogger if I won’t talk about this most important of topics? What have you done for your marriage today?

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

I wrote part of a series on our own marriage study early this year which you can read here. For more reading I recommend starting 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas and watching Ashely with Arrows & Bow’s Instagram highlights – Marriage Talk because YES to cherishing our husbands!

Trusting & Waiting

0 · Sep 12, 2018 ·

If you follow along on Instagram, you probably know that we’re moving. If you’re a regular reader of this journal, then you probably know that we’re moving (or at least have noticed a long stint of silence). If I’ve talked to you in person at all in the past two months, then you probably know that we’re moving. The move and the pending rush of August’s busy wedding season have been the all-consuming thoughts on my mind. Traveling, packing and flowering have been all I could focus on for the last few weeks. We’ve been north, we’ve been south, we’ve been east and we’ve been west cutting a path throughout Michigan in a constant state of busyness. I couldn’t tear my mind away from this stressful excitement and have thought about little else. It’s gotten to the point that I have just stopped talking, because I worry that I’m boring people with the same details over and over again. I resorted to silence.

But what you might not know is that we’re moving to a new house, in a new town, in a new school district and we were supposed to have moved last week. And yet, here we are, still in what has been our home for the past 2 ½ years. August’s rush is behind me and yet it’s still as though we’re sitting here on a sticky pause button.

If you’ve ever bought a house, then you may understand the stress of getting finances in order, having inspections, appraisals and the difficulties of working with underwriters. If you have not, I’ll just sum it up to you buy saying that there’s so much more that goes into the process of selling a purchasing a house then simply finding someone who’s willing to pay the price that you’re willing to accept. There’s more to it than finding a house that you love, in your price range, in an area where you want to live and then simply packing your bags and moving in. There’s more. I can’t say I understand it all, but there’s about 6 weeks of paper work that takes place between “I want to buy this house” and “Sold’.

Right now we’re sitting in week 7 and our hands are tied. There’s absolutely nothing we can do to move forward with both our selling and purchasing agreements. We are completely out of control of this matter.

Deep breaths.

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

For I have put my trust in You.

Show me the way that I should go,

For to You I entrust my life.”

– Psalms 143:8

Where there’s literally nothing at left that one can do, just trust. We’ll wait and see what the end of week 7 shall bring.

Something to Hold Onto

2 · Jun 7, 2018 ·

I have a confession. I never dreamt of being a mother. Now don’t take that wrong, I love my girls and wouldn’t trade them for anything, but it was never a lifelong ambition of mine to become a mother. I had other thoughts and goals for the future and while I thought I wanted to get married and have a family, there was a point where I thought I might just rather live on my own.

Sometimes I think it’s better not have things all figured out. While it’s great to have goals and dreams, achievements to strive for, I also think that flexibility is huge. When things don’t go my way, I will admit, I get a little bent out of shape. So perhaps it’s good that I didn’t have that chapter of my life all drafted out.

I also never thought I’d find myself living in Big Rapids. I had never considered having blonde babies or a little girl with blue eyes. Never in my wildest dreams did I consider being a work from home mom, I thought I was too much a of busy body for that. Yet all these things came true and I have a happy life.

So when you think your life is heading the wrong direction, things aren’t going according to plan or if you can’t even come up with a plan, it’s okay. It’s alright not to know what the future will hold. The most important things to hold onto are one another.

All pictures from our mommy & me session last month with Kellie of Hetler Photography. If you’re never don’t a photos session with your girls, do it. I love photos of my entire family but there’s something special about a mommy and her little girls.

Grace Not Perfection

0 · May 4, 2018 ·

Grace not perfection. It’s been on my mind and in my heart lately. But that’s scary. I’m a perfectionist, I want everything to be just so, so how I can possibly shift this point of few?

I first heard this phrase from Emily Ley, I used to follow her social media religiously. She’s very inspiring and while I don’t keep as close tabs on her current happenings as I used to, this is one thing she’s preached over and over again and I have held onto.

Photography: Hetler Photography

Currently, I have a long list of wants (but we’ll limit it to a few):

I want my home to be clean (and stay clean) and to be styled perfectly.

I want to lose some extra weight that just keeps hanging on and has been a constant source of insecurity.

I want my floral studio to be 100% complete and ready for the summer season.

I want to rid myself of this feeling of uncertainty as we’re in a season of change, and I feel as though my mind is being tossed around on a rollercoaster whose carts are headed in twelve different directions.

I want my garden and yard to be majorly improved over last year.

I want to have an amazing summer and am so glad that warmer weather is finally here.

And one huge thing that I’ve been obsessing over lately is this space. This journal right here. The idea to relaunch as TownLine Journal was on my mind for quite some time before I actually pulled the trigger and decided to open up my world a little more. I plotted and schemed and planned and since I’m such a planner in nature, I can often fall into a trap of planning, planning and then doing a little more planning, to the point that I’m too exhausted to actually take action. Not only do I normally look before I leap, but I also analyze, calculate and study all possible outcomes before I even think about jumping.

I was trying to go against my own nature, and so I updated my website and went live before it was 100% perfect. I figured I could do a little tweaking along the way. I was asking for grace as I waited for perfection (while full and well knowing that it would never really be perfect, but that’s what I was going to strive for).

It’s been over a month since the relaunch and I’ve found myself posting less and less, ignoring my editorial calendar and schedules because I’m embarrassed that I’ve yet to fix the shortcomings of this journal. It will as some point separate my wedding posts from my lifestyle posts and all links will function properly, along with the new domain. But I need help and the person I’ve hired to do this is not working in the same time schedule as I am. Of course no one knows this and I’m sitting here feeling judged and inadequate when in reality the situation is completely out of my control and I highly doubt that any of my readers are as annoyed by the poor organization of the space as I am. I should probably focus my energies onto the issues I actually do have control of, which is a huge portion of the list above.

My main point is this, I think it’s really easy for us to get bent out of shape about the imperfections in our lives, but overlook these same obstacles in others. We feel like we’re alone in the struggle and we’re not. Not only do we need to be kind and show grace to one another, but we also need to remember to give yourself some grace, cut yourself some slack and live life – as messy and imperfect as it is – because it’s the only one you have.

Our Real Easter

0 · Apr 3, 2018 ·

I’m still soaking in the weekend vibes. It know its Tuesday already, but Gretta doesn’t have school on Mondays which makes it all too easy to make it a weekend bonus day. Today feels like my Monday, but in a really good way. I think it’s so cliché when people say my “heart is so full” but honestly right now I can’t think of another way to put it. Easter has always been a really important holiday in my world, but this year it just hit me differently – the magnitude of what we’re really celebrating, how lucky I am to have the family I have in my life and again back to the fact that if Easter didn’t exist, nothing in this life would really matter. We’d be hopeless.

When talking about missions, I once had a pastor who shared the importance of kindness and serving others, planning mission trips and helping the needy, etc. But he said if we’re not also sharing the word of God, then we’re just sending them to hell with a full stomach.

As much as I love entertaining and decorating my life, if I’m not sharing the mission and heart behind it, perhaps I’m just sending people to hell with a bouquet of pretty blooms in their hands – figuratively speaking of course. Perhaps dramatic, it’s a thought that I circle back to every now and then as his words seem to echo back to me from time to time.

Last week I shared a table inspiration that I put together for the Easter holiday. On Sunday, there were 11 of us gathered in our space. While it was a relatively small gathering, 11 people can’t always sit around one table and I always wonder what other designers “real” life tables really look like. Its easy to stage a space but how does that actually translate into real life? There are kids spilling, jelly bean stains mismatched chairs and extra card tables all around my house. We were frantically trying to get primped and curled Sunday morning, hustling out the door and barely pausing the snap a quick picture. Upon return home, there were dinners to prepare and Easter eggs to hunt for. You can’t possibly make this all glamorous, right?

It may not be glamorous, but it’s real. This is life and it’s the same for all of us. There’s no such thing as perfection, to achive it, one must shift their point of view, making all the perfectly imperfect moments perfection.

You know what’s not pictured around this table? The people. The people and the smiles and the love that sat around this table. I didn’t pull out my camera as we cut into our homemade cinnamon rolls or as my dad ate his 7^th deviled egg because sometimes you just need to live in the moment and soak it all in.

The Story of my Lousy, Rotton, Good for Nothing and all Around just really Bad Day (and what it Taught Me)

0 · Feb 23, 2018 ·

The beginning of this post was drafted in a Culver’s dining room, which is where we sat for about 1 1/2 hours on Wednesday afternoon. It certainly wasn’t because their service took that long or that I couldn’t stop gorging myself on their butter burgers. It wasn’t because we didn’t have anything better to do on a Wednesday afternoon, when in fact, as of late my to-do list is just never ending. It’s definitely not one of my more frequented spots in town, we rarely even eat fast food and I can’t remember the last time I ordered a burger. No, the reason lies in the fact that I seem to be in a bit of a downward rut, stuck in a sticky place in Mom life and having a streak of really bad, rotten and lousy, seemingly good for nothing days.

Life is difficult. I’m going to start there because I feel like very few people will argue with that statement. It’s not that anything truly awful has happened to us in recent history. We’re healthy, financially secure and business is good. Hubs is settling into his new job, Gretta is doing well in school and winter is almost over. But I still feel at a loss some days, between toddler tantrums, misbehaving dogs, the stepping on toys, finding your favorite vintage dresses covered in kitty stickers, the “accidents” on the rug, the crying and whining and the constant chorus of “no’s”, the battles to get out the door in the morning and into bed at night – it all wears on a person after a while. Making me, myself guilty of being the biggest whiner in the entire scenario.

Tuesday was an especially trying day in Momland. It’s naturally an extra busy day of the week and the trials really added up. By midafternoon the struggle was winning, I went to bed early and was determined to make Wednesday a better day. Life had another idea though.

It all started when I dropped my Aldi quarter. Anyone who frequents Aldi will understand the importance of the quarter and how it is almost impossible to complete your grocery trip without one, especially with a toddler and preschooler in tow. I probably should have given up and gone home when it slipped into the abyss between my Jeep seats, never to be seen again. But I pressed onward, determined to grab the essentials. Because it’s only almost impossible. Gretta carried the bananas and bread, I juggled keeping track of Willa June while balancing the chicken, eggs, milk, Goldfish crackers and a few other items on a box top. It was tricky but we survived. Onward to our next stop.

I visit our local Lowes store almost as much as the grocery store. I knew exactly where I was headed and needed just one thing. It was meant to be a very quick stop. But after I found my needed hardware, I decided to go look at some antique brass baskets and since I was in that aisle anyway, I thought I might as well pick up the totes that I need for my studio storage, I’ll save myself a trip at a later date. To the checkout. I quickly paid, and gather my things. But before I walked out the door, I wanted to dig out my keys. My keys. Where are my keys? I emptied my purse. I emptied my pockets. I retraced my steps. I searched the parking lot. I looked in the girls coats and hoods. I looked shelves and on the floor. I re-emptied my purse. All to no avail. Eventually there were 3 other gracious Lowe’s employees assisting my with my scavenger hunt. Despite the extra sets of eyes, my keys were just gone. And the extra set were a 15 minute DRIVE away and my husband was working over an hour away. Things were not looking good.

This brings us to Culver’s, the nearest restaurant as it was already past lunch time at this point. Trying to explain that we’re walking across the busy road and through the maze of sidewalks and strip malls to a 5 year old was an interesting conversation. She didn’t like it at first, but I explained that God gave us all strong and healthy legs and that little walk wasn’t going to hurt us. As God’s child, I’m sure he get’s tired of my grumbling, whining and not taking care of my “things”. And here’s what this day taught me:

There’s Always Something to be Thankful for

It would have been really easy to be bitter and angry during this time. It was cold out. For some reason I had only worn an oversized sweater and opted to not put on a coat. Willa had to be carried the entire walk because I do not trust her, or the drivers on the busy road, to stay walking and driving in the appropriate places and to also stop where they should. My arms hurt. And I wasn’t sure how long it would be before we were able to be home and warm again.

But guess what, we have a warm house that I knew, without doubt, that we would return to. I have two little girls that I am lucky enough to be able to hold. We had the money the buy lunch, even if it wasn’t the healthiest option or what I had originally planned on doing for the day. We later passed an elderly man pushing a grocery cart, hunched over and also using a cane and it looked so challenging. I was reminded again to be thankful that we had the health and ability to use our legs. The girls were both in a really good mood during the entire ordeal, singing and happily telling everyone that “we can’t go home because we don’t have any keys.”

One Can Never to Too Prepared

I had a friend growing up whose mom always told her to wear clean underwear, because you never know when you might be in a car accident and end up in the hospital. While that’s not the only reason I think one should wear clean underwear, and if I were in a car accident that might not be the first thing on my mind – we often joked that not only do we wear clean underwear daily, but also ones that match our outfits because you just never know who might end up seeing them.

I overthink every situation. I’m usually overdressed, have extra snacks, never leave the house without the girls in matching undies, pants, coats, shoes, hats, pink hairbows – the package is always complete, whether we’re just running to Meijer real quick or headed to a fancy party. Wednesday was the ONE DAY probably all year that I didn’t properly comb Willa’s hair and was too lazy to dig out a hairbow. I was too tired to make Gretta put on her warm snow boots after preschool, because the ground was dry and it wasn’t snowing – it seemed a little unnecessary. I also did not have an extra set of mittens in the car. All of those things would have been nice and warm and convenient. And much of it is for vanity’s sake, but it’s like running into your ex while wearing sweatpants and without makeup on and you sort of want to hide in the corner so he doesn’t see you. There’s a reason that I take the time to pack snacks and do what I do. Instead I felt like we were on display for over 4 hours. Keep a coat and hats and mittens in your car (even though in this case I couldn’t have gotten to them because my car was locked, and my keys were missing). I will continue to always be prepared, reminding myself of the lessons of this day and no longer feeling foolish for what might seem like crazy, ocd tendancies.

Always Extend Grace

I am that person who is entirely guilty of making fun of those who wear pajamas in public and often find myself wondering if people bothered to look in a mirror before they left the house. But if you read point 2, then you know that we weren’t exactly looking our prime, especially with our red noses and the wind whipping us about. It’s a little thing, but I really think I need to stop judging people. I don’t know what their day held, what trials are going on in their lives and where their priorities for the day lie.

Grace /grās/ noun

courteous goodwill
(in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

Doesn’t that sound like something we could all use – both definitions?

I’m not trying to make the mundane if life sound funny or more important than it is. I know there are people out there will real struggles – hunger, poverty, infertility, job loss – the list could go on for hours. And I often feel guilty when I find myself grumpy, in a bad mood or claiming to have had a “bad day” just because a series of unfortunate and less than pleasant events took place, which really makes me feel even worse. Just extend grace and find gratitude, regardless of the situation.

Choose Grace | The Day's Dream | Hetler Photography

Photography: Hetler Photography

For those of you hoping that I’ll finish my story. The happy ending is the lessons I learned. The end of the story is that after 4 1/2 hours my husband was able to come and pick us up (we killed some time walking around Meijer after our extended Culver’s visit – they share a parking lot, thank goodness!) He dropped us off at home, went back to work and the dog went outside and rolled in some poop. So instead of unloading groceries and catching up on missed emails for the day, I gave the dog a bath. It’s two days later now and my keys are still gone.

I Still Do

0 · Feb 19, 2018 ·

Last week my husband and I celebrated Valentine ’s Day all week – you could say it was our week of love. Each day, we had to give each other a small but thoughtful gift, 5 gifts in total. I don’t know what it was like in the beginning of your relationships, but I remember lots of romantic gestures in the beginning. Thoughtful gifts without reason, dates beginning with bouquets of flowers and extravagant dinners. 10 years later, the scene has changed a little. That doesn’t mean romance is gone, it’s just shifted.

I think the best part of it was realizing that even through the un-fun parts of life, through the moves, job changes, children and general chaos that often fills our lives – I don’t want time to turn back. It’s fun to reminisce about the beginning but there was a lot of un-fun there too. There’s no such things as a perfect relationship and as with any good thing, it takes work.

The best part of right now is knowing that we’ll always be there for one another, no matter what life brings. It’s the comfort in the commitment. I hold the knowledge that given the choice, we would both do it all over again.

And to prove it, Josh re-proposed to me over the Christmas holiday.

I Still Do | Christmas Proposal | Cory Weber Photography

For the past two years, I have been unable to wear my engagement/wedding ring set. The reason why is an entirely different story of not being properly educated by your jeweler and trying to save a few pennies. I’ve been wearing a random piece of jewelry on that finger, switching it out depending on the day and simply imagining what wearing a ring on that figure is supposed to represent.

My old ring had lots of sentimental value and while I wanted something wearable, I was struggling with the idea of giving it up. I remember the day he first proposed, the day a wedding band was added and while I know I shouldn’t be so attached to “things” – I am definitely a person that associates items with memories and this one held a lot of memories.

Knowing all of this, my husband had it reset. He used the same stone and worked with a local jeweler to simplify a design that I could wear for years to come. He also purchased an estate wedding band to pair with my “engagement ring”. Then a couple days before Christmas, he asked me out on a date. We took a walk to see a really pretty Christmas tree that my mom had mentioned was in the venue that we happened to host our wedding reception at (and we’ve often visited from time to time). Once inside, he got down on one knee with my new ring and asked me to stay his wife – all with Cory Weber hiding nearby capturing the entire thing. He (Cory) then stuck around for a few more photos and we had the engagement session that we’d never had years earlier.

Photography: Cory Weber Photography | Proposal Venue: The Old Art Building in Leland, Michigan

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – Mignon McLaughlin

Marriage Study :: 5 Stages of Love

0 · Jan 22, 2018 ·

I recently learned that one of my brides is getting divorced. I my first reaction was very judgmental, I felt like they must have just given up. They were only married for 2 years, how could they possibly think that was long enough to even try to give their marriage a fair try?

Of course I don’t know the day to day happenings in their lives, what arguments or situations may have lead them to this point. It is certainly wrong of me to judge. I’m not living in their shoes. But I was raised and stand by the belief that divorce simply is not an option. However, persistence is.

If you Google the 5 Stages of Love – you’ll find article after article detailing the 5 phases that relationships cycle through. These certainly aren’t original thoughts of mine but I can’t help but wonder if others knew more about these stages and knew what to expect as their live together merge, that maybe this would help as trouble is certain to arise.

Falling in Love

This seems easy. Everything is bliss and butterflies and seems like the most exciting part of a relationship. Everything is new and fresh and we aren’t annoyed by quirky habits. There’s a hormonal rush and passion is alive. It’s a feeling that we’re sure will last forever and we cannot imagine living without the other person.

I can still remember the night that I first realized I loved my husband. It was a night spent at my apartment, just the two of us talking about our hopes and dreams and what we wanted out of life. We had been dating for a few months and it was like a scene from a romantic movie – the moment that two characters look deeply into each other’s eyes and they just know. The reason we watch those types of movies is because sometimes they’re true or at least we hope they are. I spent years searching for this moment. Life can really be a fairytale, right?

Becoming a Couple

Most people wed during the falling in love stage, so it’s during the first couple years of marriage that they truly become a couple. Lives are merged and two truly become one.

Other couples date a little longer and might “become a couple” might actually take place prior to the wedding. When exactly this phase of love happens isn’t important, what is important is the trust and comfort that’s found in this relationship. There’s security and a deeper sense of who each other is.

After two years of dating, we got married. We purchased and home and moved in together. We began blending everything. Our collage décor, mismatched dishes, routines and schedules. There’s much that happens during this time. And I blissfully thought that this was going to be amazing. I finally had a house of we could call home, after 7 years of living on my own, moving from boring apartment to apartment, now we’d have something that we could remodel and make ours. I thought this would be a great bonding experience and something we’d be proud of, because it would be ours.

Disillusionment

This stage was unexpected for me. I have a feeling it might hit a few others as a surprise as well. In fact, when I Googled the 5 Stages of Love caption after caption appeared about couples getting stuck on Stage 3. I can absolutely see this happening.

Apparently this is when it all comes crashing down. One might start questioning everything, does he love me? Did I marry the right man? Why isn’t he talking to me? What did I do? These feelings might slowly start creeping in or perhaps a switch just flips in your relationship.

For us, this was about year 4-5 in marriage. I don’t really remember why it started or what made me start to question everything about my marriage. What I do remember is the numbness and so many tears. I remember feeling as though I simply had a roommate. I felt underappreciated and stuck. While we fought some, sometimes it was more of a lack of communication that drained me. We would only say what absolutely had to be communicated and nothing more. We now had a daughter, and there was talk of having another but I was terrified. We were now a family, shouldn’t we be happy? I never really thought that quitting was an option, but I was exhausted and desperately wanted to feel better. I thought the rest of my life might be summed up by simply tolerating each other rather than actually feeling love.

5 Stages of Love | The Day's Dream Journal | Cory Weber Photography

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

Real Love

Keep pushing on. That’s what we did. One day we connected, and a switch flipped in our relationship. Suddenly, we felt really connected and dare I say, happy? For us, I can literally pin point 1 day in July when the disillusionment ended and I felt love again. That’s not to say that I still don’t have days when I’m less than enchanted by my husband, but there’s a peace that’s within me knowing that we can make it through anything.

Sometimes I’m saddened by the fact that I know I’ll never feel the excitement of a new relationship again. But having a real love is totally worth never feeling those flutters again. And that’s not to say that I don’t still get excited by my husband, there’s still fun, surprises and excitement – sometimes it just takes a little extra work to keep things new.

Commited Love that Changes the World

I can’t comment much on this stage, I don’t think we’re here. I would say our relationship is comfortably sitting in stage 4 right now. However using your love to change the world sounds like a pretty amazing idea. Not that I think we can change the entire world, but perhaps we should think on a smaller, more local scale. How can we help our community? How can we work together for the greater good?

Here’s what I don’t know. I don’t know what’s on the road ahead for us. Part of me feels like we’ve got a lot of married life ahead of us. While I think we’ve finally figured out how to work together and we’re in a really good place, I think there could possibly be another dose of stage 3 that creeps in. But I know we can work through it and come out stronger on the other side. I certainly don’t expect it to be smooth sailing from this point on. I’m realistic enough to know that we’re two separate people with two separate identities trying to do life together, so at some point there’s bound to be conflict.

My words of caution – know that stage 3 WILL come and be prepared. But you CAN preserve. Of course it’s scary, not knowing when or where it will start or how it will end. But we need to build each other up and encourage one another. Have a good support system and be committed to working through your struggles knowing that a love even better waits on the other side.

for more reading, some here are some of my sources for this article – menalive, david wolfe and this one outlines the stages slightly different, yet the main point is still the same love at first fight

How to Achieve Work/Life Balanace

0 · Sep 26, 2017 ·

We did it, we survived wedding season. And by “we” I mean my family and myself. While there are certainly other “we’s” I could be referring to, this is without doubt the most challenging part of wedding season, juggling weddings with personal life and trying to keep everyone in the household afloat. When I sit down with other creatives for a bit of community and to pick each other’s brains, the subject of balance inevitably arises, as if I or someone else out there has unlocked some secret mommy code to making it all work out. However, the truth is, there isn’t a magic formala. There isn’t any one way to keep your time spent between weddings, servicing future brides and family time all in balance. On top of that, every season is different. One minute you have a baby who naps three times a day, then that skips down to two and before you know it you have another baby and a toddler that doesn’t sleep at all. There’s a constant evolution of your routine and a little flexibility is a must.

Photography: Hetler Photography

I’m coming off of a six week stretch of feeling like a hot mess 100% of the time. The beginning of the summer was slow, intentional and nice. There were a couple of weddings, planning sessions of the future and many beach days in the mix. But as soon as August rolled around, that leisurely pace dissolved. No matter how thoroughly I thought I had prepared, madness struck. At the end of the day I’m working within tight deadline and with a perishable product, it’s simply the nature of the business. Only so much planning can be anticipated. So when someone asks me how I do “it”, how I manage being a wife, mom and entrepreneur all at the same time, its all I can do not to laugh. Life looks blissful, right? I have cute kids and get to play with flowers all the time. The truth is, there are nights that I’m stirring dinner on the stove while simultaneously answering an email on my phone. There are “date nights” spent with a glass of wine in one hand, and napkin folding tutorials in the other. My Jeep constantly contains a change of shoes and other clothing, clippers (because you never know when I might drive past something worth foraging) and the dance between placing carseats and centerpieces in the vehicle has been never ending. My children still have unpacked suitcases on their bedrooms because the amount of spontaneous and less spontaneous trips to Nina and Papa’s house for babysitting purposes has been outlandish. After five years of business and being a mom, this year I *almost* felt like maybe things were coming together and perhaps I finally found my stride. But at an 8:00 am trip to Lowe’s the Friday before a huge wedding, one child threw that thought from my mind as she began to vomit in the aisle. Exhausted tears welled in my eyes as I realized I should never be so prideful. I also cannot do this alone, I cannot be in two places at once and I humbled back into failure mode. Suddenly I completely understood the pre-feminism days when a woman’s place was in the home.

On another occasion, I was called the Energizer Bunny. As if I never tire and can easily work for days on end preparing for a wedding weekend and then breeze through a 20 hour wedding day. But this bunny, has no life left over come Sunday morning, and if it weren’t for the understanding of my husband, we’d never make it to Monday. I usually sit still, as though I’ve been flattened into motionless line on the pavement by a Mack truck, functioning as little as possible and so grateful that someone else is there to tend to the needs of the girls, and also make dinner for me.

I love wedding season so much and am not complaining about it in the least bit. However, I think of when people say that it takes a village to bring a wedding to life and how true that statement really is. But it’s not just a village of wedding vendors, it’s the people that stand behind those vendors. The behind the scenes faces that never get hugged by the bride or feel the love that hangs in the air on a wedding night. The spouse, family, babysitters and friends of each photographer, videographer, dj, caterer, server, venue owner, calligrapher and many more, who simply understand that as soon as May rolls around there’s a person that’s mia for a few months and but needs their support.

Back to the original question, the one about acheiveing life/work balance. There’s no one answer. My best advice, stop focusing on what doesn’t work for you but rather what does, even it it’s not what other business professionals advice you to do. Take help from anyone extending a hand. Most of all, love all those people that stand by your side when you haven’t washed your hair in a week, they’re your truest allies and spend every weekend off with those you love.

With all of that said, just remember that no one really has it all together all the time. This was the smoothest wedding season to date, and I only have high hopes for next year. But I’m still exhausted and looking forward to a season of rest. There is no magic formula, no amount of meal planning and charts can save you from the unexpected tasks that mom’s and boss ladies are invediabley going to have to juggle. And if someone wants to label themselves a “lifestyle expert” I give them all the props in the world, but can’t help but wonder – who, regardless of your career, really has life all figured out???

3 Tips for a Successful Marriage

0 · Jul 25, 2017 ·

Last month Josh and I celebrated 7 years of marriage. I was asked what the secret is. I don’t really think there’s a secret to making a marriage last but if I had to sum it up, I might use words like stubbornness or persistence. You have to refuse to give up, even when the going gets tough.

Before we were married, we did premarital counseling. In all the wedding planning blogs and timelines and lists of things to do after you become engaged, this little step rarely makes the list. Someday I’d really like to expand upon this subject, because it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. In the meantime, there are three things that I remember our counselor telling us to do regularly to increase our chances of a successful marriage.

Tips for a Successful Marriagen | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

Listen for 20 Minutes a Day

20 minutes of uninterrupted conversation per day is essential. It’s also nearly impossible and anyone with kids will agree. We don’t sit there with a stopwatch or anything, but we both make a point to listen to one another and share what’s on our minds each day. Communication is key to success.

Date Once a Week

7 years ago I remember thinking what an easy concept this sounded like. Once a week, we go out or stay in or do something together. Put the phones away and just spend some quality time. But through the years, it’s gotten much harder. We have busy schedules, he works full time and has passions on the side, I own a business, we have two kids under the age of 5, babysitters are expensive and often hard to come by, there are home improvement projects in the works and the list goes on.

For us, date night often is the equivalent of putting the girls to bed a half hour early and then eating dinner together, just the two of us. We might watch a movie or play games, we rarely even leave the house for our dates anymore. But that’s what works for us. And we might not actually do this once a week, but we do try to make some sort of an effort on this front. Scheduling it ahead of time so we have something to look forward to is also really helpful.

Get Away Once a Month

The last piece of this quality time equation requires you as a couple to disconnect from the outside world for 24 hours. Whether it’s an overnight stay out of town or you send the kids to grandma’s for the day, our counselor recommended planning a getaway once a month. This one is by far the hardest and we rarely follow this suggestion. We have our nights away from the girls here and there and definitely take advantage as much as possible, but we don’t’ stick to this rule. However, it think it’s still worth mentioning and maybe someday we’ll be able to get back on track with this tidbit of advice.

If you didn’t notice the pattern, spending quality time and communication is key. A marriage can’t thrive without meaningful interaction and understanding, along with the persistence to stick to these guidelines and never give up on one another. While I’m certainly not an expert on the subject, I think if your partner always remains a top priority, your chances of success are greatly increased.

Chasing Candles

0 · Jun 29, 2017 ·

This week, I’ve been on the hunt for a candle holder I found via the mysterious interwebs of technology. I say it’s mysterious, because while Google gave the results for the image and I was even able to track the photo back to the originating website, the owner of the website cannot provide me with a source for the subject of the image (which is the most amazing brass taper candle holder) and I can’t even come up with any other key words that can provide me with similar search results.

I’ve contacted companies and event florists throughout the country, all who are intrigued by my dilemma but none are able to offer me satisfactory results for my search. I have racked up hours of frustration, late night Google searches and I don’t feel like I can give up because all this effort would truly be wasted.

I love a good hunt. But this is just getting ridiculous.

As much as I love flowers, I also love illuminating them with the most perfect golden glow. Candles are one of my favorite event accessories and I pride myself I choosing the best ones for each and every tabletop I design.

Wedding Taper Candles | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

I don’t really have a profound reason for sharing these thoughts today, but I did come across this quote that seemed appropriate for the situation and perhaps we need a dose of positivity in an often frustrating world,

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

-Buddha

We’re drawn towards a beautiful flame. Let us light one another and share joy. Just a little something mull over on this gloomy Thursday afternoon. And if you’re really interested on the candle that I’m trying to track down, it’s these gold bases (but VaseMart doesn’t actually carry them). Any tips on sourcing them would be greatly appreciated.

Branding :: New Website Launch

0 · Jun 26, 2017 ·

In 2014, I attended my very first floral workshop with Kelly Perry of Philosophy Flowers. She became the sweet voice of encouragement that believed in me, and pushed me to believe in myself. I nervously signed up for her Team Flower Workshop not really knowing where I was heading, but understanding that there was a void in my life and in the flowers that were being presented to my brides. I wanted to capture the garden, to put it in a vessels and allow it to add joy to a table. I wanted to allow clematis vines to trail from a bride’s hands or loosely encircle and arbor. I had visions of what it was like planting flowers each summer with my mom, but couldn’t quite figure out how to translate that into my event designs or how to bring that to life on a wedding day.

Photography: Heather Payne Photography

The Day’s Design is turning 5 years old this September, and this will be my fourth summer with floral design as part of my service offerings. That decision to learn more about flowers changed my world. It made me appreciate nature, my surroundings and see the beauty of Michigan in a whole new light. However, as much excitement as I feel when I find a rose with the most perfect muddy – champagne hue, the real excitement comes when I see the tears of joy in a bride’s face when she looks at her wedding flowers and knows that today will be the best day of her life, and I was privileged enough to be a teenie tiny part of that.

I think a huge part of moving forward is reflecting back and understanding where we came from. I’m not dwelling in the past though, but using it to build the future. I’ve been sharing a little behind my rebranding process and it has made me a little nostalgic. It’s also made me appreciate a lot of people that have helped me along the way. I’m eager to celebrate 5 years of business. In the meantime though, I’m excited to share my new website. My business has evolved much since those early days of burlap and lace. There are beautiful new projects and weddings that I’ve been holding back and there’s a dose of freshness, which I think beautifully represents who I am and what The Day’s Design is today.

I’d also like to send a huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey, from new flower friends, to both Northern and West Michigan’s amazing community of wedding planners. Plus, a little extra love to those photographers whose images you will find on my new site – Ashley Slater Photography, Cory Weber Photography, Katie Grace Photography, Kelly Sweet Photography & Samantha James Photography. Hire them, they’re amazing! And don’t forget to go look at my new website!!

Branding :: Mud

0 · Jun 23, 2017 ·

Mud. From the earthy, wet fragrance to the magic that grows within it, there’s something fascinating about mud. It’s definitely underappreciated and so often taken for granted. But this is the canvas from where all of our sweet little blossom grow. This is the place where roots dig deep and stems grow tall. This is where it all begins.

As I have been working with Ciarra, of Silver Fox Calligraphy, on some of my new branding, we started with the flower. I had her create a delicate little forget me not, as a reminder of the perfectly periwinkle colored blossoms that would take over my grandma’s lawn each spring, as well as much of Northern Michigan’s other woodland areas. We didn’t exactly create my various branding pieces in logical order, because from that flower I realize that some of my other elements felt “off”, they just weren’t at home with one another.

So she reworked my logo design. I began describing what I wanted, not really knowing what I wanted. I used words like elegant, organic and whimsical. I wanted sophistication and simplicity. Ciarra created some magnificent pieces of art, I can only imagine the hours she spent with nibs and watercolors in her hand bringing my vision to life. In the end, there was one thing missing and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Then I realized, my logo need to be the color of mud. It’s not charming or chic or any of the other words that I think I should use to describe my wedding style, but it’s the beginning. It’s unpretentious and raw. The soil is where is where the seeds start, where the weeds grow and the most pure canvas for God’s artwork to be displayed.

Botanical Stationary | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

Photography: Cory Weber Photography | Stationary Design & Calligraphy: Silver Fox Calligraphy | Design & Styling: The Day’s Design

I’m keeping it quiet until I get a couple of the bugs worked out, but you can take a little sneak peek at the new and improved, The Day’s Design website here which shows off my new logo and lots of new flowery goodness that I’ve been holding back.

Happy Friday!

You can also read part 1 & 2 in this branding project here and here.

Branding :: Back to the Beginning

0 · Jun 22, 2017 ·

When I was about 16, I found myself walking through my most favorite town ever, just as the sun was beginning to set. As I crossed a small bridge that connected Lake Michigan to the channel, my attention was captured by a glittering white tent, immaculately spread across the lawn of the quaint community building. The tent stood so large and grand, with lights twinkling in Northern Michigan’s night air and something so magical was taking place there on that dimly lit evening. It was like a romantic scene out of a movie – sheer perfection with a combination of warm breezes, the sinking sun in the background and the joyful laughter that danced throughout the tent’s canopy. It’s forever stuck in my mind and I knew instantly that I wanted to have my wedding take place in that very spot.

Fast forward about a decade and I learned that dreams do come true. We hosted our wedding reception in that very space. We didn’t have a tent or use twinkle lights, but there was so much merriment with all of our closest family and friends and I simply couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate saying “I do.”

That was also the night that I knew beyond doubt that I was going to be a wedding planner.

I had graduated from school with my Bachelors of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management. The wedding industry was very much on my radar and my emphasis was in event planning, which is a close to a degree in wedding planning as one can get. I had even interned with a local planner the semester prior to graduation. But it wasn’t until I was actually in the bride’s shoes that I completely understood the importance of a wedding planner (which I hadn’t hired). I had an amazing wedding, but it could have been even better if I would have been able to relax and know that someone else was going to take care of the flowers, communicate with the dj and make the guests sit in their seats at the appropriate time.

When I lose my way and seem to forget my purpose, that’s the night I channel back to. It reminds me why I do what I do. This spring, when I was searching for inspiration for my brand and wondering where my business was headed, this is the place where I landed. Whenever you’re in doubt about where you’re headed in your journey, or if your feet are even moving at all, always look back to the beginning. It will show you how far you’ve come.

Spring Wedding at The Old Art Building | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

The above picture is from our Spring Botanical Branding Shoot at The Old Art Building in Leland, Michigan. The town that I love, the venue where we were married.

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

7 Years

3 · Jun 20, 2017 ·

When I was first married, my mother told me that the first 7 years would be the hardest. Yesterday, we officially hit that seven year mark. While I certainly don’t know what the next 7 years hold, I can say the past 7 haven’t been without their challenges. But with challenge comes triumph and these years have shaped so much of who we are today.

The past years have been full of newness; we bought a house, remodeled the house, sold the house and moved to a new city. They’ve been full of excitement; we’ve had two little girls and watched them grow. There’s been moments of anger, hurt and loss. New jobs, saying goodbye to old friends and making new ones. Leaps of faith, starting a business and sometimes living on a prayer. There have been times when one of us, if not both, have been tempted to throw in the towel and just give up. There’s been grief, as some of those people who starting this journey with us are no longer by our sides today. While there’s been much joy and celebration in these years, there’s also been trial and heartache. And anyone who thinks that they’ll wake up every single morning madly in love with the person in bed beside them, has a whole slew of lessons headed their way.

I firmly believe that it’s our reaction to these moments – the good ones and the bad – that build character. These are the times that define ourselves and our relationships. They can make us strong or sink us. It really is your choice each and every morning to choose love and move onward, together.

It certainly isn’t my business to be handing out marriage advice. Mine is so far from perfect. But I can say that year 7 is full of promise and today is filled more love than many days of the past.

Working in an industry that thrives on love is really interesting when examining your own lives and relationships. We can say that we shouldn’t compare ourselves, but let’s face it, it happens. Sometimes I look at the bride sitting in front of me with a newly engaged glow and I can’t help but be envious. I completely disagree with anyone that says that business isn’t personal. My business touches my personal life and tugs on my heartstrings every single day. Whether it’s the emotions that I share with a new client as she giddily tells me how he proposed or the thrill of excitement that rushes through me as I discover a new blossoming bush in our back yard or perhaps even the moment of frustration that sneaks in when a last minute email or project takes me away from being able to plan a walk in the park with my girls. It’s all personal.

Because my business is so personal, it felt really appropriate to share a little project that I’ve been working on during our anniversary week. This is the anniversary of when I really truly understood for the first time what weddings are all about. It’s not the centerpieces, the flowers or the venue. It’s what those things represent and the celebration and commitment behind it all. I’ve been working on rebranding, really defining my style and my ethics and honing in on what love really means to me. Throughout this week here on the journal and on Instagram, I’ll be sharing more of the mission and person behind the blooms, because to me it’s so much more than just a pretty bouquet of flowers. It’s all leading up to my brand new website launch on Friday (if life doesn’t hand me lemons before then!) So stay tuned and we’ll celebrate together.

Photography: Shannon Scott Photography

And happy anniversary to those two young babes up there – you have no idea what’s about to come your way!!

A Note on Fear

0 · Feb 24, 2017 ·

Franklin D Roosevelt in his iconic inaugural address profoundly claimed that we have nothing to fear, except fear itself. I think any business owner or anyone who has dabbled in a creative industry might disagree with that statement. Fear is all around us and it’s scary.

My friend Ciarra with Silver Fox Calligraphy has a skill share project focusing on the community and bond that we self-taught artists have. It’s a way to learn from one another, confide and realize that we’re not alone, especially in our fears. I’ve happily lent my voice to the project.

In her most recent post, she challenged us to think back to the hurdles that stopped our creative journeys. Without hesitation, fear was my first response. We often focus on how worried we are to take the leap. But for me, I was practically shoved off the cliff. I had stood at the edge and looked longingly at dreamy future on the other side. However, standing is all I ever did. It was a daydream.

I’ve been reminiscing, trying to figure out how I actually overcame my fear. And the truth is, I haven’t. I’m still scared every day that maybe I won’t book enough weddings or maybe my next centerpiece won’t be shop stopping. Perhaps I will order the wrong number of flowers or a bride won’t like her bouquet. What if other vendors don’t like the way I coordinate something? The voices and the fear are never ending. I think the real challenge is learning how to just push it to the back of your mind and not let it be the main focus of your life.

So as far as being shoved off the cliff, my journey as a business owner started when I found myself with a poorly timed pregnancy and was no longer able to work at my full time job. As I sat on the couch pregnant and unemployed, I had two options. I could sit there and wallow in my own self-pity, wondering why no one would hire me to do my dream job. Or I could create my own dream job. I settled on the second option. But I’m not 100% sure I would have ever started this venture had I not been put into that tricky situation.

Fear | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

I’m going to leave you with these thoughts to ponder over the weekend – you’re in control of your own success and failures. And just because you fail at one thing, doesn’t mean that it won’t help you succeed with another. True life confession, I have knots in my stomach right at this very moment so worried that my next project I’m working on might not live up to its fullest potential. Perhaps I can’t control every detail, but I can control my reaction and keep a handle on my own fear, always pushing forward.

The above picture is another example of my attempting to overcome fears with this artful session with Kelly Sweet Photography. She’s amazing and made me feel and look like a goddess, rather than a frumpy mother of two. I won’t be sharing the entire session because… well… it’s not all G rated (it’s for someone special’s eyes only) but it was a great reminded of what a powerful, sensual woman I can be. And I think we all need to remember what’s awesome about ourselves every now and then.

Valentine’s Breakfast

0 · Feb 14, 2017 ·

I have a confession, I’m not really a fan of Valentine’s Day. In grade school, I was always passed over and didn’t get as many Valentines. In high school, I was never sent flowers or found myself the object of anyone’s affections. And I’ve never been in a relationship with someone who showered me in grand romantic gestures. I could really skip the “holiday” all together.

But I work in the wedding industry and the floral industry, which means that this day is the day where romance and florals collide in the most vigurously passionate way. I have to seek to find acceptance in the traditions of this day, even if that means I’m in it merely for the love of flowers.

However, after almost 7 years of marriage and 2 kids later, one comes to realize the true meaning of love. It’s isn’t always about the lustful notions that February 14th so often advertises. It’s a deeper, more content understanding of what home, family and devotion is really about.

As a work from home mom, it would be really easy to skip over the day all together. My girls would be none the wiser and the tempation is great. But sometimes I do try to be cute and in my own way show them some extra love on this day. In the same way, it needs to be shown our significant others, so I decided to start the day with a little Pinterest inspired treat. It’s not a huge gesture, but I’m a believer in the little things that can make the biggest impact. It’s all in the details and the little ways to show that we care.

So yesterday, I started making this little treat, homemade pop tarts. I thought it would be fun and I’d make them in cute heart shapes. It was only after I started making them that I realized that my heart shaped cookie cutter is only the size of a silver dollar, so I had to skip to plan B. And for the record, square ones taste just as good.

My husband has a big day of errands and traveling ahead of him, so it was the perfect hand-held breakfast for a man on the run and the girls love anything with sprinkles.

I used this recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction for the filling and used her step by step tutorial. However, I didn’t have any shortening in the house, so I substituted this pie crust from Allrecipes (I had to double the recipe) and it turned out amazing. I made a total of 13 tarts, filling half of them with the cinnamon and brown sugar mixture and the rest with my huband’s homemade raspberry jam. For the ones with jam, I simply ommited the cinnamon from the glaze for the top. This breakfast was a winner and I think I get a gold star, at least for the morning.

This just added a little sweetest to my Tuesday morning. Even if you’re not celebrating today, I hope you find someone to share a some love with this week. I think the world could use a little.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

– 1 John 4:17

From the Heart of a Planner

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” Matthew 12:36

“The soothing tongue is the tree of life, but the perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4

1. At home date night

2. Love notes

3. A note a day

4. Mini gifts

5. Home cooked meal

6. Wine tasting date

7. Let your spouse sleep in

8. Get dressed up

8 1/2. Get More Dressed Up

9. Wine and cheese party

10. Make breakfast

11. Light a candle

12. Make heart shaped pizza

13. Do something around the house that your spouse finds a chore

14. I still do

Outdoor Play:

Jammies

Fun Toy for Nice Girls & Boys

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

For I have put my trust in You.

Show me the way that I should go,

For to You I entrust my life.”

– Psalms 143:8

There’s Always Something to be Thankful for

One Can Never to Too Prepared

Always Extend Grace

Falling in Love

Becoming a Couple

Disillusionment

Real Love

Commited Love that Changes the World

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

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