Life Adventures

Peony for President

0 · Nov 8, 2016 ·

Sometimes I like to live in this blissful little bubble filled with peonies and silk ribbons. I like the stare at the autumn leaves and think that the pending winter season should be the biggest worry on my mind. And that quickly turns my thoughts to roaring fires and big fluffy snowflakes gracefully making their way to the ground. The world can be a really beautiful place.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

A quick shot of reality will remind me that life isn’t all chiffon streamers, brass candlesticks and Chantilly lace. Flowers don’t fill everyone’s world. And this election has surfaced a whole bunch of ugly around us.

There’s a lot of banter out there regarding who one should be voting for. I’m not here to share my political views. I’ve never considered myself political whatsoever, even though I do have strong opinions on certain matters. I’m not going to stand on a soapbox and preach about voting one way or another. I have my morals and values and in the end, only one candidate even remotely aligns with those.

I feel like this election has surfaced a lot of judgement and nasty comments on both sides. There’s a huge push to get us all to the poles and exercise the right we have to vote. But there’s another right that we all have – and we didn’t have to fight wars or preach of equal rights to earn it. It’s the right to love one another.

That’s not to be misinterpretted as marriage equality or romance or any of those topics that I’m not chatting about today, but rather the command given to us all “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [Mark 12:31] What if we all stopping judging one another’s ideas, tastes and opinions and just loved. We could love the widows and the orphans, the seniors and young, the rich and the homeless, the sinners and those who sin a little less. Loving means the end of anger and hate. It doesn’t mean we have to agree with everyone but showing compassion to their point of view and humbling ourselves would be a good start. Go vote and then love your neighbor unconditionally, regardless of what his yard sign says.

I don’t have control over who ultimately wins this election. But I do have control over my own actions – actions I took to voice my opinion by voting and then how I react regardless of the outcome. I can do my small part to make this world a more beautiful and loving place. I maintain my position that the peony is one of the most beloved and agreeable flowers. I’m voting peony for president.

Autumn Leaves :: A Reminder to Never take Life for Granted

0 · Oct 24, 2016 ·

There’s a house near town that has the most amazing grape vine draping over its fence. And every single time I drive by, I get the sudden urge to pull over and take a picture. The foliage slowly turned from lush green to shades of golden corn, honey Dijon and chartreuse. Little specks of brown have formed delicate patterns on each leaf and the entire plant is singing with perfection.

Yesterday I drove by the adorned fence once more, but I was instantly saddened by the realization that the lushness has dissipated. It was no long full and vibrant but rather preparing itself for the long winter months ahead. Only a few speckled leaves clung to their woody stems, the rest littered the ground beneath. I had missed my chance to stop and take a picture and now I would have to wait another year entirely for this phenomena to take place again.

Fall is fading away all too quickly.

I know this isn’t a new message, but it’s once that’s constantly on my heart. Beauty if fleeting. Life as we know it right now in this exact moment will never be exactly like this again. A couple weeks ago our pastor stood up on stage and shared how silly he thinks it is to buy someone flowers – even his wife – they’re just going to die. But as morbid as it is to think about, his wife is going to die someday too. That doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t love her while she’s here. It just means that we should treasure every moment of their life without reserve. In the same way, we should treasure every leaf, every blossom and each delicate stem while it is able to grace us with its presence. Winter is going to be here all too soon and while there will certainly be days of glittering snowflakes and blankets of white, there will also be gloomy grey skies, bitter winds and days not fit for man or beast.

Autumn Leaves | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

I’ve had a couple of goals on my mind for this autumn season and this is just the reminder I needed to push myself forward and not take this time for granted.

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The above photo was the setting for Tim & Christina’s first look, a most gorgeous autumn wedding in Northport, Michigan. You can see the entire day here.

Why I Purchased a House that Wasn’t My Style

0 · Oct 19, 2016 ·

When we started looking for houses in Big Rapids we quickly found what we were sure was the perfect house. It needed some updating and wallpaper removal, but it wasn’t too overwhelming and there was a ton of charm hiding just beneath the surface. I was certain with a little sweat and creativity this could become our dream home.

Then we did a little number crunching and realized how much equity it was going to take to make this fantasy a reality. And once you added that to the asking price, we realized that it just didn’t make sound financial sense. We’d most likely never recoup that money upon selling and the current owners wouldn’t budge. We walked away.

Months and months of more searching. Winter was quickly approaching and very few new houses were being added to the realestate market. In my perfect world, there was a two story old farmhouse with handcarved woodwork, crown moldings, original hardwood floors, an old claw foot tub, a grand staircase and woodburning fireplace, on a couple acres of land. It would be rustic yet charming and was just sitting there waiting for someone like me to come along and wipe off the dust. I am drawn to anything cottage style, farmhouse chic, I find craftsman style very appealing and I could even see myself in something from the Victorian era. But as reality was calling, I would settle for anything built prior to 1960 and was even considering some 70s options. This elusive country home simply didn’t exist.

In all our searching, I never saw a single home with with my dreamy white painted cabinets . It was only an hour away from our other house but it felt like a whole different world. The amenities being bragged about in home listings were things that made me shutter when walking into a house. The term “updated” took on a whole different meaning and it almost felt like I was in a time warp. Things like granite countertops seemed like a pipe dream. And I fear that no one cherished anything original from an early 1900s home.

We wanted to embrace country life but it was seeming more and more like we were going to move into a modular home to do so or compromise by settling for a historic downtown home in a college town. There were some 70s chalets and a couple options in between but nothing felt like home.

For five months my husband commuted an hour each way to and from work and I began feeling like a single mom. Blizzards and long days meant he would often stay in Big Rapids for days at a time and it was a pretty dismal period of time. Not to mention that our house sold within 48 hours of being placed on the market, so much faster than we ever anticipated and the pressure was on.

I realize that last sentence could be interpreted as though we settled. And maybe there’s a small part of us that did. But when purchasing a house there’s more to consider than just dream qualities and aesthetic features. There’s availibity on the market, money, location and if you don’t act quickly enough, you will miss out. I get knots in my stomach just thinking about it. Not only did we need to consider the ultra picky tastes desired by a designer (ugh, me), we also had to consider the function and design for our family – number of bedrooms, play space, kitchen (I’m married to a chef after all), storage, the property and the list goes on and on.

So when this house popped onto the market, it had potential. My sister’s reaction really hit the nail on the head, “it’s really nice, but it doesn’t look like Shelby.” She was so right. I’m not an espresso cabinet and tile floor type of of girl. I like soft lines and airy colors. But I know how to paint a wall and everything in this 1950s ranch was brand spanking new and the idea of not having to completely gut a bathroom or kitchen to make it liveable was extremely appealing. The previous owners did a really great job of remodeling and put a ton of care into the space, I just wish they would have consulted with me on a few of the finishing details 😉.

Family Photos in Ada Park | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography

So here we are. I’m learning to love this home. I do love the property and little by little I’m adding my mark and customizing little pieces along the way.

Picture from last fall, by Katie Grace Photography. I promise to share a few pictures of our new home in the near future, but if you need a refresh of my “style” you can see our previous home tour here here and here.

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The Day’s Design Flower Studio :: The Inspiration

0 · Oct 6, 2016 ·

I’m probably a little premature on this post. Perhaps it’s a little bit of a dream yet to think that I might actually have a completed studio space in the near future. But my new flooring came in, so right now I’m going to live on a hopeful note.

I don’t have it all figured out quite yet, other than to say I have a space. The loosely outlined plans are to turn my bland basement into a working studio area. Flowers seem to take over my home, and for once, I would like to prep for a wedding and keep the mess contained to somewhere besides my kitchen.

In my imaginative mind, out basement is sort of shaped like an “S”. it’s a walkout basement, so there’s an entrance off the garage and also a couple of windows which provide some extra light. Now imagine dividing that “S” in half – one side (the half with the entrance) will be a sitting area. I have an antique sofa to reupholster and I’m looking for some other beautiful yet functional pieces to fill the space. The other half, which I like to refer to as the back half of the basement or the bottom of the “S”, will be my flowering area.

Some items for my shopping list there – an old wooden work bench or possibly kitchen island as my main prepping and designing space, shelving shelving and more shelving for storing containers, wheeled carts/shelves for completed centerpieces and a few miscellaneous pieces of furniture for storage and additional counter height creating area.

My timeline for this project is still very much unknown. For anyone who’s ever remodeled a room or house, you know that things just never go as planned. Everything takes twice the expected amount of time. And if you’ve read my blog for any amount of time then you really know how drawn out my projects always are. Throwing two little girls into the hustle with a husband who’s in the height of his busy season is just a recipe for chaos. I’m not even going to pretend that I have a deadline in reachable sight. But my special order flooring has arrived, so that’s a step in the right direction.

I’ll leave you with just a little glimpse of the inspiration behind my space. Again, this is a really loose interpretation, but it’s at least getting me headed in a direction.

Photo Sources (left to right, top to bottom): Hetler Photography | The Beach Studios | Perfectly Imperfect Blog | Wildfield Paper Co Instagram | Greetings of Grace

And if you’d like to see more, check out my Pinterest Board which is keeping me inspired for this project.

Busy

0 · Sep 9, 2016 ·

“How’s your summer? How have you been?”

Busy. Without fail, it’s the first word that I blurt out of my mouth. Followed by a deep sigh.

“That’s good, good for you” is the typical response. “Glad to hear business is good”.

I’m glad of this too. I’m thankful of how far I’ve come. I’m thankful that I have found people who appreciate my strengths and talents and want me to be a part of their celebrations.

But the exhausted sigh that follows the word busy as it bursts out of my mouth often thinks otherwise. That exhausted sigh wants a moment of rest, wants to catch its breath and remember what summer used to be like. I want to go for a country drive. I want to have enough time to seek treasures in the woods. I want to listen to Lake Michigan’s shoreline. I want to have to wash grass stains off of the bottoms of my feet. I want to pick up a camera, learn calligraphy, paint or dabble with a 100 other creative hobbies that sometime consume my mind. Alas, I want to play with new flowers.

Reality finds behind a computer screen. Gmail is holding me hostage. And when I finally close my laptop, I am rushed the depths of my basement, I scrub buckets like it’s my job, I package an average of 150 votive candle holders per event, I creative checklists and pack my car only to unpack it at an event then repack it at the end of the night and unpack it again only when a tiny ounce of energy finally returns to my body on Tuesday – which is typically 3 days after the wedding has concluded. Although, I’ve been known to keep my easels zip tied to the top of my Tahoe for as long as a week or two, knowing I was just going to be throwing them back up there, so I simply shouldn’t waste my time. I pack again, prep, coordinate and making sure that nothing fall through the cracks. I find myself problem solving dead blooms, missing packages and no show vendors. And I ship my babies off to Nina’s for another weekend. Yes, I’m busy.

And I find others praise me for staying busy.

Plum Centerpiece | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

I want to look at the other side of that coin, it’s the side that says “rest”. I know that word is important. And it seems like every day there’s some social media message somewhere reminding me to stop and smell the roses. That’s how my creativity thrives. I have to been able to see the world to be inspired by it. If it buzzes by so fast that all I see is the blurred ground beneath my feet, my work is going to suffer. My life is going to suffer. My family suffers.

Then the guilt creeps in. I can’t leave an email unanswered for more than 2 days. Someone out there is waiting on me. This person is depending on me and they’re also paying my bills. They are important to me. And I love every single wedding I plan.

There’s guilt towards my family as well. I have been a vessel of guilt for months now. I’ve been seeking moments of solitude and release where I can. Honestly, I haven’t been able to decide if I’m supposed to be thankful for the busy or if I should just throw in the towel. Ever where I look I seem to find conflicting views. Some days I love my yoga pant wearing friends displaying their lives, how they work from home so they’re rarely forced to brush their hair while other days I’m inwardly screaming, “your life is a vacation – when do you actually work!?” Where is the hustle? How do others find time of these extracurricular activities?

So I went for a walk. I set up the stroller, grabbed the dog’s leash and down the road we went. I was craving silence. Gretta had other thoughts in mind and was jabbering on pointlessly about rocks and hills and heaven only knows what else. I would mutter some sort of response every few sentences so she thought I was listening, but I couldn’t really tell you what her three year old babble was all about. I was thinking about how much more you can observe if you can just be quiet and listen to the world around you. Then suddenly she yelled “A deer! Mommy do you see it!? A deer!”

Sure enough, a deer had crossed the road no more than two car lengths in front of us. But I was so annoyed by all of her chattering on that I had nearly missed it. And she saw it despite the fact that she was elbows deep in a conversation with herself.

It was at that moment that it hit me, whether you’re busy or giving yourself rest, you still may miss something going on in the world around you. You can’t rest simply because it’s Saturday and someone tells you too. Likewise, we don’t always have to rush back to work on Monday morning (yes, I know, perks of working from home). You have to create your own balance and a schedule and life that works for you, not necessarily the rest of the world. So while I love to say that I work from 9-5 and close my computer, I might find myself working at 11 pm on a quiet Friday night. My work is really important to me. But so is my family. I know this isn’t my first time writing about balance, but it’s a constant struggle as a business owner and one that I hadn’t exactly planned for.

Your life doesn’t have to be a cookie cutter mockup of everyone else’s. Plan to take spontaneous play days but work hard so you’re free to do so. Make your life work for you, and enjoy it.

Happy Friday friends!

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Why I’m Excited to Plan a Wedding in Flint, Michigan

0 · Aug 3, 2016 ·

I grew up in a small town 13 miles north of Flint, Michigan. While I realize that I’m not “from” Flint – it was not the city on my mailing address or where I went to school – it still has the draw of home. It was my stomping grounds. That’s where I went to Meijer, Target and the mall. The Vehicle City provided a small town girl with the conveniences that weren’t available in a town with an urban population 2,500 people. My Grandpa worked at GM as did many of my friends’ parents. And since most people aren’t familiar with the town of Clio, for the first 18 years of life instead of giving a geography lesson, Flint is where I claimed to be from.

The stories of Flint’s decline are prevalent. I’ve never been okay with the tale of a dying city, crumbling structures and lost history. I cannot stand it when someone tears down a historic home or leaves a stunning old building standing in decay. New is not better! And when it hits this close to home, it’ all the worse. Between the closing of the factories, the increased crime rates and now the undrinkable water, the future of Flint seems hopeless.

But I’m excited to plan a wedding there.

Yes, I am planning a wedding in Downtown Flint. And I am excited. The prospect of bringing something beautiful to a dismal place is a symbol of hope. There is a least one gorgeous venue in the area which holds so much history. William C. Durant is credited for founding General Motors. The Durant Hotel was named in his honor. After years of a vacant existence, the landmark building has been restored. What was once a symbol of prominence and success, is again a beautiful vision of the potential the city still holds. In its heyday, it was known for its luxury accommodations, events and grand ballroom. The building’s smaller ballroom still holds its original spender and will host my sister’s wedding next week.

Once again, I’m going to tell you how excited I am for my sister’s wedding. But this post isn’t about her, it’s about the city that she chose to be wed in. And I’m sure she’s not romancing this declining city the way I am, but I’m still glad she chose to have a wedding near home. We looked at venues across the state, she didn’t hold any loyalties to the area. But in a really, really small way, I feel like we’re helping. Business is staying local. Every dollar counts. I love supporting local and hometown efforts.

It’s also been a welcomed challenge. Do you ever try to look at the world around you in a different way? I’ve been forced to see the beauty as well as the decay. I want to think about what it would have been like to be one of the original residents in the area. I can only imagine an era of carriages turned to horseless automobliles in a scenic city along a beautiful river. Somehow, I feel like we’re telling their side of the story. We’re honoring their history. Just picture the 1920s scene of a lavish woman parading proudly down the street in a proper long gown and a dapper gent on her arm. Next week, that scene will come to life once more.

Wedding in Flint Michigan | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

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Cinderella’s Proposal Video

0 · Jul 29, 2016 ·

My little sister is getting married.

If you’re a longtime reader of this little blog, you’ll understand the impact of that one little sentence. It symbolizes how love overcomes all. It shows that we should never settle or give up hope. I’m not going to dig up her dirty laundry, but rather I want to celebrate the future that lies before her.

To say that I was honored to be a part of her proposal story is an understatement. I heard the news months before that all important question was posed and was privileged to be a part of the entire process. Ring shopping, scheming and all the lovely details.

When I suggested that we have the entire occasion photographed, my sister’s soon-to-be fiancé was overjoyed with the idea. It all snowballed from there with video, flowers and a beautiful dress. He wanted something memorable. He wanted to create that perfect moment that she would never forget. He definitely accomplished that.

For me, bringing this to life was one the most stressful events I have ever taken on. Everything had to be timed perfectly, from hair and makeup, to her dress, his arrival and the music cued in the background. I rehearsed the scene over and over in my mind, but ultimately it was out of my control.

I couldn’t decide whether to share the story, the video or the photographs first. I love it all. They complete each other, just as Justine and Devin complete one another. Today I’ll leave you with the scenery in motion from Katie Grace Photography & Videography. It tells the tale in a way that words cannot.

In just two short weeks, they’re getting married.

5 Months in a New Town

0 · Jul 28, 2016 ·

I think I was a bit delusional during the moving process last spring. I had it in my mind that I would have plenty of time to unpack, organize our lives and even decorate prior to the pending wedding season. I even had visions of having my studio being set and ready to go. Life is always more work than anticipated, then throw in two little girls and its game over.

#thebigmovetoBigRapids has disappeared from my feed. Life is messy right now. But in the name of progress, here’s where we stand since our relocation.

The House

A 1950s ranch located on 6 acres of woods, fields and within walking distance to a small lake. It’s quiet, dirt road living. I love the location and the serenity.

The house was completely gutted and remodeled by the previous owners. They bought it as a foreclosure and spent the next year of their lives redoing everything. They pride themselves in nothing original being left of the 1950s shack. I, however, find this really sad. From past pictures, I understand that much needed to be improved upon but I would have liked to retain a bit more history and preserved some of the home’s original integrity.

I’ve also found very few people in this area share my passion for white cabinets, light walls and cottage chic décor. There’s a lot of brown in this town. I’m on a mission to infuse a bit more of my style into this home without making it clash with the brand new pieces that have been so carefully selected, such as the deep espresso cabinets, the chocolate bathroom vanity and rusty gold tones of the travertine fireplace surround. The one project I have been able to tackle so far is painting all the walls in my living room and kitchen white (naturally, I tackled that project the night befor Willa June’s first birthday). It’s a step in the right direction, even if I’m not completely sold on the chosen paint color.

The Studio

Our house has a fully finished, walk out basement. It’s very homey and not at all your typical dingy, damp basement space. This is be a space where I can work, design and meet with clients. Half will be designated as a “work zone”, with shelving, counter height tables and – fingers crossed – a sink. The other half will be more of a cozy, meet and greet space. I have an antique sofa that’s just waiting to be reupholstered and I’m looking for a few other cute pieces in my travels. I love any excuse to purchase new furniture. I’m even hoping to include a small play area. And the best part is there will be a door between the two halves, so when the studio side gets a little messy, we can close it off to the living area and hopefully keep the floral disaster contained.

As far as progress goes on this space, we’ve ripped out half of the carpeting since I can’t really work with flowers on carpet. But other than that, there’s been a lot of dreaming about potential. I’m hoping to select a paint color before we lay new floors but I’m stuck on what color. It’s all dependent upon what color I want as a backdrop for my flowers to be Instagrammed against. So sad, but so true.

The Gardens

This is another big dream area. We simply didn’t have time to plant anything this year and I really wanted a summer to see what grew naturally on our property. So far we’ve found wild raspberries, mock orange (or something that looks a lot like it), apple trees, irises, lots of autumn olive, sweet peas, more ferns than you could possibly imagine, chokeberries, grapes, daffodils and oodles of things I cannot possibly name.

I very much want to plant and grow some things to add to my floral designs and am looking forward to that sense of accomplishment. However, I’m a little scared. I don’t exactly have a green thumb and I think this might be a huge, frustrating challenge ahead of me.

There you have it, the last five months, in a nutshell. Living here feels so natural, I can hardly believe it’s only been four and a half months. I’m excited for the autumn and dreading the winter a touch, but I definitely have enough things in mind to keep me busy all year through.

Cat in Highchair | Vintage Aqua Highchair | The Day's Deisgn

Photography: Justine Simmonds

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Seasons of Love

0 · Jun 27, 2016 ·

This past week, I co-hosted a bridal shower for my younger sister. I am ridiculously excited for her wedding and so happy for her. However, this post isn’t really about her. Rather, it’s about something that was said during her shower that particularly struck me.

Whenever my family hosts a shower, we always include a small devotion. This shower was no exception and we asked a member of her church to share a few words. She started talking about fairytales (you may have seen a few sneaks of my sister’s Cinderella inspired proposal so this message was spot on) and then she spoke about the different seasons of love. Seasons of Love | Marriage Proposal | The Day's Design | Bradley James Photography

Photography: Bradley James Photography

Anyone who is married can tell you that those butterflies and pangs of longing and excitement don’t last forever. Happily ever after is something that you have to work at. Love has different seasons and is constantly evolving.

As she spoke, I began to wonder what it would be like to hold onto that so fresh in love feeling forever. I starting thinking about how miserable life might actually be if my gut was tormented eternally every time we were separated for 2 hours or if he didn’t return my call.

And then another memory came flashing back into my mind. My first love. I was sixteen years old and he was my everything. His mother, on the other hand, has some prude-like tendencies. I remember one night sitting and watching Groundhog Day with his entire family. Remember at the end when Bill Murray finally makes it through the night and it’s a different day in the morning? And Andie MacDowell is still there. In bed. With him. And then they kiss. And my boyfriend’s mother said “ugh, like anyone would kiss with morning breath”.

As a sixteen year old who was madly in love with her first boyfriend, I was appalled by this comment. Who cares?! I would have given anything to give my boy a kiss first thing in the morning. I could only dream about a time when this would be a real possibility. Thoughts of love, marriage and all sorts of romantic notions flooded my hormone infused teenage mind. My heart nearly broke every time I had to tell my boyfriend good bye.

Fast forward 15 years, 6 of which I have been married, and suddenly I can see where she was coming from. It’s certainly not because I don’t love my husband, but I prefer a little minty freshness in the morning. I’m in a different season of life, of love.

We need to cherish the season we’re in. If you’re newly engaged, this is your time to savor the feeling of novel love. The tingles and exhilaration will vanish overtime, but that doesn’t mean that either one of you have “fallen out of love” but instead, it has evolved into something new. Newfound emotions and levels of understand and commitment are just around the corner.

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Willa June’s First Birthday

0 · May 24, 2016 ·

We moved into our new house the weekend of Willa June’s first birthday. I still don’t think life has slowed down much since that day, but needless to say, we postponed our little birthday celebration for a couple weeks so we at least could set a table and might have a few things out of boxes. Does a 1 year old really understand what’s going on or that we’re hosting a party for her? I dare say, no. First birthday parties are for the family, for the parents and brothers and sisters and we made it sort of a house warming party of sorts as well.

Even though I wanted this to be a very casual gathering, every time I host anything at my home, I always feel like there’s this pressure to meet certain expectations. Everything needs to be lovely – the food, the decor, the presentation. I don’t think every dinner party needs to be Pinterest worthy or anything, but I do plan parties for a living, after all. I was as laid back with the planning of this one as physically possible for me.

It seemed perfectly appropriate to add a few baby fawn touches, for the baby girl who’s daddy works at a whitetail ranch. From cutting out rice crispy treats to the sweet little touches on her invitations, we embraced the subtly of country life.

Photography: Justine Simmonds | Design: The Day’s Design | Invitations: Star & Arrow Designs

A Story Waiting to be Written

0 · Apr 19, 2016 ·

Remember back in the day when people would want to show you slides from their vacations? Alright, so maybe I’m not that old but I have definitely been forced to sit through rolls of awful developed images with full of landscapes, with pictures and pictures of rocks and trees, a few buildings and inevitably the backside of the picture-taker’s thumb.

I remember always wondering why people would take so many pictures like this? Why aren’t there any people in these pictures? Where are the smiles and memories?

It’s funny how things change. Now, some of these person-less photos are some of my very favorites that come back after working on a wedding or an editorial piece. There’s an art and emotion that can be felt through this imagery. It’s like I can envision myself there without others in the picture to distract me. I’m instantly transported back to that time and place.

You may remember this post awhile back when I grumbled about the wedding guest who thought it was ridiculous that we’d want untouched reception photos. I’ve suddenly been able to jump in his shoes, channeling back to that time when I too thought “empty” snapshots were pointless.

While I can hardly compare some of the fine art produced by my photography friends on the same level as that of a disposable camera, I think the thought behind it was the same. There’s something special, something beautiful happening in front of them and they want to remember it forever. Those scenes deserved to be remembered always, whether they’re of a bride and groom, a flower girl twirling or simply the mountainside where the day of your dreams took place.

North Carolina Mountains | Team Flower Workshop | Heather Payne Photography

Photography: Heather Payne Photography

The above photo is from 2014, almost exactly two years ago in the mountains of North Carolina. I have oodles of flower pictures from that workshop, I have pictures with friends that I made that day. But this image always comes back to my mind. It instantly transports me back to that time and place.

Driftwood | Beach Wedding | The Day's Design | Bradley James Photography

Photography: Bradley James Photography

And this one. A simple piece of driftwood. I posted it on my Facebook page and had the most engagement that I’ve ever had for a non-floral picture. It seems relatively simple, nothing overly special about it – it just made me happy. I thought about the beach, what it would be like to walk there after a long cold winter. I thought about the first time I met Hallie (who’s wedding pictures it was a part of) and the day that we went on a sightseeing adventure when the weather finally began to thaw last April.

Beach Wedding | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

Or this one. I certainly don’t love feet, but this image compels me.

I don’t know why these pictures are so powerful, why sometimes they can express more for me than I could even put into words. But I know they’re an important piece of the story. I know this world would be lost with only portrait photography. And there’s a reason beyond my understanding as to why when I’m playing with my own camera, I take picture after picture of my back yard – without a soul in sight or a real purpose behind it. There’s a story there – it’s just waiting to be written.

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Why You Should Consider an Unplugged Wedding

0 · Apr 6, 2016 ·

Do you ever just take a moment to sit in silence? Just stop what you’re doing, close your eyes, turn off the TV, put down your phone and sit quietly.

How do you feel? What are your emotions at this moment? Just breathe in and breathe out. Let your thoughts circle around you.

Reasons Why You Should Have an Unplugged Wedding | The Day's Design | Clary Pfieffer Photography

Photography: Clary Pfeiffer Photography

A few weeks back after the kids were to bed and while hubby was still at work, I experienced a moment of silence. After a couple of minutes of merely sitting on the sofa, I started to grab my phone and mindlessly scroll through Instagram. I thought about finding something else to watch on Netflix. But I fought the urge. I sat there without a sound, without a movement, for a few minutes more. I had to battle myself the entire time.

Prior to this moment, I had watched a sappy Nicholas Sparks movie. They get me every time. It made me smile, it made me cry and at the end I was a blubbering mess of emotions. When it was over, I wanted those emotions to disappear. I couldn’t feel the hurt and sadness anymore. After all, it was just a movie.

But instead, I embraced this rare moment in time and let myself feel things. I pondered exactly why this movie made these feelings surface in the first place. I took the time to sort out things that have been haunting me for years, but I’m always just a little too busy to stop and think about. I thought about love, I thought about life, I thought about family and past relationships.

Oddly enough, the following Sunday the message at church circled around the idea that people are so busy that they don’t take the time to properly grieve. They don’t take the time to feel things, embrace their emotions and understand what their senses are telling them. They become a tangled mess of a person who doesn’t know how to deal with life when something when it doesn’t go their way. In biblical times, when someone died they would find people to come cry with them. They would sit in a period of mourning and embrace their grief – for days, for weeks. Today, we encourage people to get back to work, get back to normal, stay busy. The hurt will go away.

But it doesn’t. It just gets buried under the busy of the moment.

We’ve created a generation of people who are hot headed and miss out on so much of life because they cannot properly channel their joys and sorrows.

It’s for this reason that I encourage you to have an unplugged wedding. There are arguments that iPhone cameras get in the way of photographers. Point and shoot flashes can be damaging to the venue’s natural light. And guests get in the aisle way and try to get the very best shot, therefore preventing the professionals from doing their job effectively. All very valid arguments.

However, I think by encouraging your friends and family to put down their phones/cameras, you’re actually doing them a favor. You’re taking away the pressure for them to get the very best shot and be the first one to post it to Facebook. You’re giving them the opportunity to be present with you and experience the joy and celebration that’s happening in your hearts during your union. You’re allowing an excuse to disconnect from the rest of the world and focus solely on what’s happening right in front of them. Let them inspect every flower that’s been so painstakingly selected. Enable them to smell the sweet scent of the fresh summer air. Allow them listen not only to the musicians, but the birds and the babbling brook in the background. Give them the opportunity to reconnect with family that traveled from afar to share this day. And encourage them catch up on life happenings with old friends. It’s your gift to them on your wedding day.

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The 5 Most FAQs for the Month of March

0 · Apr 4, 2016 ·

I’m full on having an ADD month. I start one project, leap to another, tackle the unpacking of one box, grab a paintbrush and splash some color on half a wall, check my email, forget to respond to the message I just read and end the day feeling exhausting and unaccomplished.

Moving. That’s what’s on my mind. And of course the impending wedding season which is full of flowers. Ah, flowers.

Through the shuffle and the driving, I’ve had some amazing blog posts run through my head. But when I actually stop to sit down at a computer. Poof. My mind immediately goes numb. I forget how to form a sentence, proper grammar and all forms of punctuation go out the window. The three parts of a story – gone.

So today’s post will be in list form, between to-do lists, project lists, packing lists – this just seems fitting to have a blog list. The answers to my 5 most frequently received questions over the last month. Here’s everything you need to know, even if you really don’t care to know it.

How’s the move?

Such a loaded question. Moving is hard. It’s emotional, time consuming and strenuous. I’m so sick of looking at boxes, wondering where things are and feeling unorganized. But if I can put all of that aside, it’s really good. The house is great so far, we’ve had our challenges of being in a rural setting, but overall I think we’re going to be really happy here – if it ever stops snowing.

How’s the new house? Are you getting settled?

See above. The house is great so far. A sweet friend texted me today reminding me that even small steps are progress. But it’s hard. I really want things done NOW. Patience is not a strength of mine.

How are the girls adjusting? Does Gretta like her new room?

Packing and moving an entire house up is hard. Packing and moving an entire home AND business is harder. And packing and moving both of those things with two small children is crazy. What were we thinking??

Gretta is adjusting great. She loves it. The first change we made to the house was painting her room pink (actually a subtle blushy white, but it’s pink to her – she is 100% girly girl). And everyone who comes over gets to see her pink room as the first stop via the Gretta home tour. Willa June, on the other hand, has been very out of sorts. I didn’t expect it to be such a struggle for her, I figured she was young enough that the environment change wouldn’t have much of an effect. I was definitely wrong. She’s been a little extra clingy and doesn’t seem quite herself. I think we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with that as the last couple days have been much improved.

What’s the house like? I can’t wait to see what you do with it!

I don’t think I’ve shared much about the house we bought here so I’ll give you a little history on the home. (You may remember me contemplating a couple of choices back when I posted this here). We ended up buying another 1950’s ranch. It was foreclosed on a couple years back and last January a couple bought it to flip. They did a ton of work, it’s completely remodeled and brand spanking new – which really isn’t like me at all. It feel strange not changing things out of pure necessity. But it’s pretty nice not having all the projects lingering over my head.

I will, however, be adding my own touches to the space. While the finishes are really high end and the couple who fixed it up did a great job, not everything is completely my style or how I would have done them. My sister summed it up perfectly “it looks really nice, but it doesn’t look like Shelby.”

I’ve had so many people share how eager they are to see what I do to the new house, how I decorate, etc which I think is really funny. While I love home décor, I’m not an interior designer and have never pretended to be. I’m just a girl who likes to keep up on style and binge watches Rehab Addict whenever possible. However, you can follow along with my tweaks and updates #thedaysinteriordesign, just be nice.

One of my favorite parts though is the location. We have six acres of wooded lands, wild grasses and rickety old fences. There are birch trees, an apple tree and lots of potential for foraging. I found a pussy willow a couple days ago. Chickens live across the road and we’re within walking distance to a little lake. And the crickets and bullfrogs sang us to sleep on the couple of warm nights we experienced. I am aching to have the windows open and smell sweet scent of fresh country air.

When does wedding season start? How is the move affecting business?

These are big questions. Part A – wedding season starts at the end of this month. I have a huge wedding April 30^th in Grand Rapids and I’m so excited for it. It’s going to be a beautiful explosion of spring flowers and vibrant colors.

Part B – what many people don’t realize is that even though I previously lived in Grand Rapids, I really didn’t do that many weddings in the city itself. I think only about 25% or so of my weddings were local. With that said, I wasn’t really afraid of the move. I’m closer to my Traverse City/Leelanau brides and it’s not too much further from those Southwest Michigan and lakeshore brides. And I’m working on having a proper floral studio within my home, which is going to be amazing and help with my workflow and productivity so much.

Willa June | The Day's Design | Moving to Big Rapids Photography: Justine Simmonds

Last week I stayed up for a couple of late nights painting our living room. And on Saturday we hosted our first of many family gatherings, this one in celebration of Willa June’s first birthday. We still have a huge horse trailer full of belongings sitting in our driveway and I’m just trying to take one day at a time. I think we have finally found reliable internet service, so we feel connected to the world again. Week three of country living and all is well for the night.

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Note: Just to clarify, I don’t really have ADD – just days I mindlessly hop from one task to another and cannot sit still as I’m overthinking every little piece and project in my life. Focus Shelby, just focus.

Big Rapids Beige

0 · Mar 18, 2016 ·

Grand Rapids Wedding | Rainy Wedding | The Day's Design | Jamie & Sarah Photography

Photography: Jamie & Sarah Photography

Mud, muck and icky mush. So much brown. It’s all I can think about.

We’ve been here a 7 nights now. The days attached to the nights have been filled with packing, sorting, boxing, taping, loading, traveling, unloading, resorting, unpacking and the piling up of so. many. boxes. The reoccurring question of the moment is how am I liking Big Rapids so far? So far, I feel like a work horse tromping through the sludge, splashing, mopping, sweeping and dealing with an endless trail of mud.

I know March is a naturally muddy month in Michigan. I’m realistic enough to realize that. But somehow living in an asphalt neighborhood you forget. You see the gray and the undesirable tones left behind on the snow piles. And of course the mile long lines at the carwash on a sunny day don’t go unnoticed. But when you head out to where the blacktop ends the word “dirty” takes on a whole new meaning. I have worn rain boots out of pure necessity for the last week straight, with no end in sight.

In other news, my house is very brown as well. There’s a reoccurrence in the palettes of this area that I’ve come to know as “Big Rapids Beige”. It’s everywhere. The warm and fairly unwelcoming tones of brown, brown and more bland brown. Perhaps is to camouflage the mud. Maybe it’s what soothes people here. Perhaps the locals know something I have yet to learn. But at the moment, I cannot wait for a fresh coat of paint. And I’d like to feel clean.

Redecorating adventures are just around the corner, I’m trying to fit as many in as I possibly can before wedding season swings into full gear. I’m so excited to add a dose of personality into our new home and create a space I am proud to call home.

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The Science of Moving

0 · Mar 5, 2016 ·

Newborn Photography | The Day's Design | Hetler Photography

If you don’t love it, leave it. That’s the name of the game this week. On Monday, we will be handed the keys to our new house. Done deal. We’ll begin the process of moving on…

It’s a very surreal feeling. I’ve been going through the process of packing and decluttering but it’s almost as though I’m just watching myself and not really in the moment. And I hate packing. Between the ages of 18 and 25, the years between moving out of my parents’ house and when I got married, I moved at least 11 times.

In moving that many times, you’d think that I might become pretty good at it. I might even have it down to a science. However, that’s not the case. Every time I moved there were always boxes that remained unpacked – which was definitely nice for the next move – but obviously they were unnecessary items. There are still boxes in my basement that I’ve never unpacked and we’ve lived here for 6 years.

So this time around I’m trying to do things a little differently. My motto, if you don’t love it, leave it. I no longer have a desire to be surrounded with things that I don’t love. I don’t want to hold onto things that “maybe I’ll wear someday” or “I might find a use for down the road”. I have a deep desire to simplify and create a space that’s homey and useful. That’s not to say that I won’t live in a highly decorated, aesthetically pleasing place, but I’m just changing my approach.

I have a tendency to hold onto things. Sometimes for sentimental reasons and other times for no real reason at all. Why do we as humans have such an attachment to our “stuff”? Worldly treasures, they mean nothing in the long run.

As I’m going through and deciding what to keep and what gets tossed in the box labeled “good stuff that I don’t want to keep”, it’s like a trip down memory lane. And I only want to keep the good memories. I want things that make me smile. Those are the only things that I want to be attached to.

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Speaking of things that make me smile, the picture above is for nostalgia’s sake from Willa June’s newborn session with Hetler Photography. She turns one next week, March 12th. And Gretta, still loves being a big sister and her books.

When to Break the Blogging & Business “Rules”

0 · Feb 26, 2016 ·

Love Letters and Lace | The Day's Design | Wildfield Paper Co | Ashley Slater Photography

Calligraphy: Wildfield Paper Co | Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Styling: The Day’s Design

What do I have to offer the world today?

A fellow blogger posed this question and it’s been bubbling around on my brain for month’s now. Ever read something that another writer, or even friend, has posted online and wondered why on Earth are you telling me this? I have those moments all the time. Why did the world need to know that?

Something very few people (if anyone) knows about me is that I used to daydream about being a writer. I would write short stories, dream up scripts for plays, novels and had collections of poetry. And I kept a journal. But my journal wasn’t a pretty little notebook with flowery thoughts and aspirations, it was a mass collective of random papers, paragraphs and ideas I’d scribbled down during calculus class or angry letters to ignored crushes. My journal was anywhere I could find a scrap of paper, napkins, post-it notes – you name it, I was resourceful and could then stuff them in my purse or pocket only to be discovered later or perhaps never even relived again. It was this way for me to vent and clear my head and figure out what I was really feeling. And usually they were deep, dark and often angry. Those are the moments I most feel the need to pick up my pen.

The thing about these writings is they were never really meant for an audience. I couldn’t easily share them with anyone and most people don’t even know of their existence. I had a poem or two that I’d read to a boyfriend on very rare occasion, but never my mother, best friend or even an English teacher – they were much too personal and I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone critiquing my work.

Creative writing was always my elective course of choice. I guess you could look at this as sort of a foreshadow of things to come. Never did I think that I would post writings online, I rarely even update my Facebook status because it is simply “none of your business”.

But from what I have read of “successful blogging” is you must be consistent, follow the 3 part story structure and most of all, have something worthwhile to share with the world today. Those are all three things that I really struggle with – and perhaps that’s why my blog isn’t “successful”. Why would anyone want to read what I want to share with the world? However, I mentally turned a little switch and decided to break these rules and no longer look at this as merely an informative wedding blog but rather my journal. My writer’s block has decreased. I feel like I just gave myself some freedom to be myself and write whatever I want – not what you’d want to read on a “wedding blog”. And I’ve actually had a very slight increase in readership.

So, what do I have to offer the world today? This – be yourself. Don’t do something because it seems like that might be the “rule” of business or “the way” things are done. If it don’t feel right, then stop. Simple enough, right? Just be yourself.

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And a little side rant – I hate the word blog. It so harsh and not poetic at all as it rolls off your tongue, it’s like you just spat the word out. Plus it reminds me of Pogs which gives me a little 4^th grade flashback.

A Fall Family Photo Session

0 · Feb 24, 2016 ·

Just as the trees were dropping their last few leaves and before the blistery cold came billowing in, I realized there was a moment to be captured.

They say that things change with your second child and I couldn’t agree more. Time slips away faster and the days of being a baby are soon forgotten. The months have fled and I’ve hardly even looked at these pictures. I have piles of things that will “someday” hit the blog, both personal and work projects.

Meanwhile, Gretta has grown to a big sister of 3 years. In one breathe, it all seems so natural as if this is how life has already been. But I’m fearful that it will all too fast just be gone. Willa June turns one next month.

Don’t forget to schedule in a few play days. Have a friend follow you around with a camera as you walk by the river, inspire an impromptu game of peek-a-boo and just remember life as it is. 3 Year Old Toddler Pictures | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Ada Park Family Session | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Riverside Family Photo Session | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Black and White Family Photography | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Autumn Family Photo Session | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Vintage Kids Coats | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Fall Family Photos | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Ada Michigan Photography | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography 8 Month Baby Photos | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Family Photos in Ada Park | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Thank you to Katie and Lisa of Katie Grace Photography for being that friend and helping us preserve these precious moments.

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Artful Boudoir

0 · Feb 12, 2016 ·

Boudoir is concept that sometimes I struggle with. It is a French word that means a woman’s bedroom or private room. And I think that’s the key to boudoir – it is private, personal and an emotional experience.

Each January I see a huge influx in boudoir advertising, its right before the Valentine’s holiday and it seems like a very romantic gift. It is, that I can absolutely agree with. And from a marketing standpoint, it’s right on.

Bridal Boudoir | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

I also get asked to be a part of similar sessions, staging, designing and helping to choose tasteful lingerie. I personally love it, it’s so romantic and raw. There’s an energy that’s created and the form of artistic expression is something special. I understand why the ancient Greeks and Renaissance artists used women in the nude as their muses.

But then I struggle with whether or not I should actually be posting these private images. Is this something that’s too racy and dare I say, pornographic, for me to be a part of?

Enter the gray line. Remember when Glamour Shots from the mall were all the rage? When I was younger, my pastor had one of his wife hanging in his office. She looked amazing. So remarkably beautiful, sexy. Of course, I was 10 at the time so those weren’t the words I used to describe her, but just the same that gorgeous airbrushed image is burned into my mind and I can still see the teal backdrop against her fiery red hair. She was a vision. And not the vision you’d typically think of when you imagine a pastor’s wife.

She was somewhat plain in her everyday existence. I think every woman deserves to feel like a fiery redhead goddess at least once in her life. It’s a boost in self-confidence to be depicted in this way and there’s really no rule that you need to share these images with a man. As someone who often struggles with body images and confidence, I encourage any photography style that will help promote inner beauty and enhancing the outer, in a natural, real way.

Bridal Boudoir | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

What I have witnessed is a trend towards the art and the thoughtfulness. Boudoir is 2015’s Glamour Shots. I worked with one woman who wore a full length robe. It was silky and feminine, but showed no more cleavage than one might expect to see in a wedding dress. And on the other end, she showed off her ankles and toes. Back in 1915 this might have been controversial, but today it was barefoot and beautiful. Often textures and fabrics add grace to the photos. Some of my favorites would hardly even be considered boudoir. They’re not full of the kinky lingerie, provocative poses and indecent images that convince ourselves are necessary for this type of session. Think long lashes, sweet muted tones and tender beauty.

My thought is if you can’t show them to your daddy, then they should never leave the bedroom. I’ll never post anything that’s revealing beyond an artist’s eye. But I do encourage sessions that show off this more sensual side of being a woman. Whether it’s in a sequin dress, a bridal veil an old t-shirt, be your own definition of sexy.

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Touring Our 1950’s Ranch :: The Dining Room aka The Flower Studio

0 · Feb 3, 2016 ·

Had I known what I know now, I might have thought about things a touch differently when we purchased a home. However, at that time I had no intention of starting my own business, much less a business that involved schlepping around beautiful blooms for a living. I might have looked for a house with more space, an extra room or perhaps an outbuilding. I might have wanted a workspace near a water source. Air-conditioning or cooler space potential would have been of the upmost importance. I looked for none of those things.

Instead, I remodeled what once was an extra family room and turned it into a formal dining room. We love to entertain and host dinner parties whenever possible, so it seemed like a room to accommodate that would be much more useful than a second living area. We ripped up the berber carpet, tore out the built-ins and opened up the space making it perfect to fulfill my childhood dream of owning a crystal chandelier. And until I just found these old pictures, I had completely forgotten that we also added french doors and had to level the floor (that door in the corner originally didn’t even open all the way they were so uneven – and an absolute nightmare!) It’s amazing to go see all the progress over time, it hardly looks like the same home. Of course it also doesn’t help that the previous owners had a little different taste in furnishings than I do 😉

Perhaps had I realized this room would ultimately be used as my floral studio I may have left the shelving. Hindsight is 20/20. They sure would have come in handy this summer. As flowers came in and each wedding order progressively got larger, I moved out of my kitchen and into the dining room. That shelf there in the corner held binders and flower books and was never beautifully styled. Boxes and trinkets for each one of my brides made it nearly impossible to walk though at times. And the buckets and buckets overflowing with blooms made me happier than you can ever imagine.

Photography: Hetler Photography

If you missed the beginning of the tour, you can see the living room here and the kitchen here. Welcome to our little home!

Finding “The One”

0 · Jan 29, 2016 ·

Shelby | The Day's Design | Hetler Photography

Photography: Hetler Photography

I’ve had quite an adventurous week. I jetted off to NYC and experienced the wrath of winter storm Jonas. I ran through the airport like a mad woman being chased by angry bees and plowed through the airport, nearly missing my flight. I made it home to only to leave a mere 8 hours later to continue our quest for the perfect new home. I’ve been up to my elbows in emails and ridiculously gorgeous linen swatches, invitation samples and room layouts. And my quince, which I bought for a project two weeks ago, finally decided to bloom and is displaying the most exquisite, dainty little white blossoms. Yes, I’d say it’s been a pretty good week.

Most notable on that list, or at least on the forefront of my mind, is the continued housing search. It’s all I can think about. We found another house we like. The number of houses that we have even come close to considering has been slim pickings. This is #2 in the past 4 months of looking. But is it truly “the one”?

I am that person who finds value in old things. When I see an older home being torn down, it’s all I can do to stop myself from knocking on the door and pitching a fit, throwing myself in front of the crane and wondering why in the world someone would rather throw a treasured piece of history away than try to breathe new life into space and return it to its former glory. If we continue on this path, one day there won’t be any history left and no one will know the ornate detail of a hand carved mantle, the allure of coved ceilings or recognize the creak of an old wooden staircase. So to purchase a house without these things feels untrue to myself and hypocritical. I want an old house. I want to know what the walls would say if they could talk. I want to think of what is was like when Mr. & Mrs. 19^th Century walked through the doors of their brand new house for the very first time. It makes me sick to my stomach to consider purchasing otherwise.

Other thoughts that keep me awake at night include the nightmares of remodeling a room, or worse – an entire house, again. It took months of living in filth, having furniture chaotically spewed about and not being able to cook in an oven, sit at a kitchen table or use certain rooms. Painting takes hours. Shopping is time consuming. And now we have two little girls who would be shuffled in the midst of it all. It took us 5 years to get our house to its current décor state and my to-do list isn’t even finished.

On the other hand, if we purchases something that is “move in ready” I won’t get the pleasure of making it my own. I can’t take pride in the design or know that I have truly found the very best chandelier to display proudly over my dining room table. I’m really picky about the finishing touches (in case you couldn’t tell by now) and often when I think I can deal with something and live with a space as is, later down the road realize that I can’t and these quirky little things drive me bananas. I despise modern touches like vaulted ceilings, can lighting and other nuances that seem to be perks to other buyers and heavily advertised in home listings. That’s not to say I won’t or haven’t ever lived in a space with these items, their simply not what I would choose for myself and they definitely don’t add value from my standpoint. I’d rather head to the flea market and find a rusty little gem to spray paint and pop on the ceiling. I love the idea of designing a space from scratch.

So have we found “the one”? Heavens to Betsy, I don’t know. It’s a nice blend of old and new. It sparkles and has lots of land. But there’s always the nagging thought in the back of my mind that perhaps I should loosen my purse strings and purchase the 1875 farmhouse that we originally put an offer in on. We could polish her up and make her shine again. Or we can just keep on looking, we’re not being kicked out of our current home, yet. Or perhaps the best option out there has yet to be listed. Value can be measured in many ways, I’m just trying to figure out which increment we’re going to use.

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Touring Our 1950’s Ranch :: Into the Kitchen

0 · Jan 15, 2016 ·

I’m married to a chef, so naturally having a nice kitchen was pretty high up on our wish list. But nice isn’t the way that I would describe our kitchen when we first moved in. It boasted the original 1950’s cabinets that had been refaced, laminate counter tops and an awkward cabinet that hung down making conversations between the eating area and main space nearly impossible.

When we purchased the house, we were naive enough to think that little paint and new appliances would be all needed to make the space livable. It didn’t take long for us to realize our mistake. The upper cabinets were so low a coffee maker couldn’t even sit on the counter, that awkward dividing cabinet loomed over valuable counter space. There weren’t enough outlets, the stove wasn’t in a very convenient position being stuck in the way and the dishwasher was across from the sink.

We lived a couple of years like this before finally tackling the project. This was the biggest renovation to our house and we did almost the entire thing ourselves. Soon the entire space was gutted down to the studs. A far cry from the new coat of paint we had originally planned on. I’ve always dreamed of a white kitchen but our pocket books said otherwise. So we purchased semi-custom, unfinished cabinets and painted them ourselves. We were fortunate enough to find a leftover piece of granite clearanced out making the upgrade to solid surface a bit more reasonable.

The idea of adding classic and cottage style was especially appealing to me. We used leftover pine flooring from our dining room and hung it horizontally on the walls. Thick crown modeling made the cabinets feel really high end. I then a took a little chance and painted my ceiling aqua, adding just a touch of color to the space. And the corner breakfast nook with new windows might just be my favorite part.

Photography: Hetler Photography

In case you missed the first part of my home tour, you can see the living room here. And that little tidbit from Monday’s post about putting an offer in on a house, our offer was not accepted and their counter was not acceptable to us. We’re still searching!

Patience is a Virtue

0 · Jan 11, 2016 ·

My family is one of those families that can take about any word or phrase and turn it into a song. So today’s lyrical inspiration comes from Mr. Tom Petty because “the waiting is the hardest part”.

I was awake at 6:30 this morning with thoughts of home décor, moving and endless possibilities floating through my brain. I just laid in bed pondering it all. We put an offer in on a house over the weekend. And while we did give them an acceptance deadline, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they adhered to it. So we’re still waiting.

I was reminded of a time back in high school when I prayed for patience. It might be a virtue, but it’s never ever been one of my strengths. Once I set my mind to something, I like it to happen NOW – like instantaneously. So I thought it would be wise to ask for some assistance in this area of my life. I said a few prayers and soon forgot about it. Little did I know that there was a lesson on its way.

You see, there was this boy. This boy was the apple of my eye. Remember high school crushes? My world revolved around him. And finally, I got his attention. We went to homecoming. We dated for 2 whole months. Pure high school bliss. Until he broke up with me. My world ended. I didn’t give up on this romantic dream though, but for months I lived in tortured misery. He didn’t go to the same school as me, so he didn’t know that I had practically given up on life (that’s a little teenage drama for you). Six months after the worse day of my life, he wanted me back. Oh joy! Life was worth living again! We went to prom, had an awesome summer and everything was right in the world once more.

There was an epiphany moment a little while later. I realized this was a lesson in patience. It wasn’t that I couldn’t have what I wanted, but rather I needed to wait.

I have faith there is something amazing down the road for me, for us and my family. But waiting for it is not the fun part. It is however, just another learning period in life teaching patience.

Waiting | The Day's Design | Hetler Photography

“You take it on faith, you take it to the heart, the waiting is the hardest part”

-Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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And speaking of waiting, can we give a little shout out to Kellie of Hetler Photography, she never keeps me waiting for gorgeous pictures. The one above is from a little project on Saturday, talk about a quick turn around time! You can see more from our project together here.

An Undecorated Life

0 · Jan 5, 2016 ·

The Felt Mansion | The Day's Design | Weber Photography

This weekend we took down the Christmas tree. Packing away the Christmas tidbits is always a bit bittersweet. There’s a big empty space in my life.

And then we started packing. Not just the décor, but packing up our lives. I feel like 2016 is a huge mass of unknowns for us. We’re planning a huge move without an exact destination determined yet. I have complete faith that it will all work out, but just the same the unknown is a scary place to be.

We’re stripping down to the bare basics. I’m living an undecorated life. That’s not an easy realization for me. Pretty things inspire me. I don’t deal well with living in ugly, chaotic clutter. I’m struggling with the idea that we may find a home without floral wallpaper, thick crown molding and crystal chandeliers. I’m seeking to find the beauty in the situation.

The new year is also the perfect time for my little blog facelift, which I’ve been envisaging about since last spring but struggling like crazy to make it happen. One of the biggest changes is actually quite minor, but I’m changing from a blog to a journal. So many of my post should really start with “dear diary” and I’m pushing myself to be more real, more open and more vocal on certain matters. Somehow having a journal seems more natural. I’ve had a journal ever since high school when writing was the only real way for me to clear my mind. My sporadic thoughts will continue, along with insights on moving, home buying and the redecorating journey. And of course this will forever and always be the home for wedding planning and flowers. Lots and lots of flowers.

2016 goals? Surviving and living to the fullest. I can’t be specific about my goals quite yet because I’m not sure where life is right now. I have lots of dreams though for the road ahead.

dreaming is a form of planning | The Day's Design

Photo above is by Cory of Weber Photography. If you find a house with beautiful moss like this is the greater Big Rapids area – call me! I’m on the hunt for my dream home 🙂

2015 :: The Highlights, Goals & Lessons Learned

0 · Dec 31, 2015 ·

At lot can happen in just 365 days. Sometimes it hard to believe we’re even the same person that we were when the year began. From a business perspective, the growth I’ve seen has been unbelievable – both in clients and in personal strengths. I feel like this year was the year that I finally found my way. I’m feeling more confident than ever and excited to look back on the steps I took to get me there.

But it wasn’t just from a professional standpoint that I experienced change. There were lots of individual adjustments in life this year as well. I considered splitting my review up, posting from both a business and personal outlook, but there’s so much overlap and it’s hard to really figure out where each one really begins. Anyone who owns a business I’m sure can relate.

I began the year pregnant. I’m not one who enjoys pregnancy, so for me that wasn’t exactly a highlight. But of course then little Willa June was born and everything changed. It’s hard to even imagine what life was like before she came along. Gretta has adjusted well and it’s as though she’s always been a part of our family.

I was a little nervous about the start of wedding season. I had played with a few flowers for my maternity shoot back in January, but prior to that, my sister’s wedding in November had capped off my 2014 season and I was a bit apprehensive to get back into the swing of things. And then of course there was the additional pressure of having two children in tow.

I like to start the season with an inspiration shoot. It’s just seems to help get the creative juices flowing and if I’m a little rusty, my mistakes are made on my own accord and not at the expense of one of my brides. So Ashley and I headed to the beach – she was itching to create something pretty as well after a long winter. The shoot was moody and ethereal (and freezing – 39 degrees in May!), and the results were just as I had imagined it and I realized I just need to get out of my head create. I achieved another goal with this editorial, having it featured on Magnolia Rouge.

Photo Credits (left to right, top to bottom): Ashley Slater Photography | Ashley Slater Photography featured on Magnolia Rouge | Ashley Slater Photography, Design: Michaela Noelle featured on Inspired by This | Kelly Sweet Photography | Hetler Photography | Ashley Slater Photography, Dress: Spring Sweet featured on Magnolia Rouge | Ashley Slater Photography, Calligraphy: Kaitlin Parisho | Ashley Slater Photography, Invitation Suite: Wildfield Paper Co featured on Magnolia Rouge | Kelly Sweet Photography

I officially started the wedding season in May with 2 beautiful celebrations. Both brides had complete trust in me and gave me lots of creative freedom. I was able to choose blooms that I loved, worked with vessels they loved and had lots of local and foraged ingredients. Blush and pale pink color palettes were a reoccurring trend for me in 2015. I learned that while I am completely capable of doing multiple events in a weekend, it’s not a trend that I will continue. I’d much rather give each bride her own individual day and full attention.

Once again I was honored to be a part of Bloom the Workshop. I can’t say enough to really convey how lovely Ashley and Michaela are. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the very first Bloom they held over a year ago and in May I floralized their 3rd full day workshop to held in West Michigan. Michaela always dreams up a gorgeous tablescape and I love working with other creatives to help bring their visions to life.

A couple years ago, I had set a goal that I’d like to be featured at least 4 times a year on a major publication. The shoot with Bloom was featured on Inspired by This back in August, and was feature #4 for the year. While this isn’t my main focus of business by any means, it makes me feel pretty good to check this off my business goal list.

Photo Credits (left to right, top to bottom): Jamie & Sarah Photography | Bradley James Photography, Plates: Debby Does Dishes | Ashley Slater Photography | Clary Pfeiffer Photography featured on Style Me Pretty | Jamie & Sarah Photography | Jamie & Sarah Photography | Clary Pfeiffer Photography featured on Style Me Pretty| Clary Pfeiffer Photography featured on Style Me Pretty | Bradley James Photography, Invitation: Minted

In July, I received my very first order from Rose Story Farms. To some this might seem like a really strange item to highlight, however, if you’ve ever held one of these delicate little blossoms in your hands, you’ll understand their beauty. My love local blooms will always exist, but when they’re not Michigan made it doesn’t get much better than California grown. The chartreuse green of their little leaves just makes me so delightfully happy.

I worked out of a hotel room for the first time. Again, strange thing to highlight but it was an interesting experience, to say the least. It was at the same time that I experienced leaky containers, bouquets that were fastened with faulty tape, scorching heat and a whole wave of other obstacles. Give your florist a hug and tell your wedding planners thank you. They may have bled, drove across the state or stayed up all night making things happen that you’ll never be aware of because they’ll never tell you. My strength and endurance have been tested more than once this year and I’m stronger person and wedding planner because of it.

Thinking back, I remember the day that I longed to have one of my weddings or inspirations shoots featured on Style Me Pretty. It seemed like such a distance and lofty goal. In 2015, I was featured on their blog 3 times and I feel like someone should probably pinch me.

Also on my list of goals is to be see my work in print, in an actual magazine or a place that I can physically hold in my hand. Last month I received the news that not one, but 2 of my weddings will be featured in The Knot Michigan next spring. I am so honored to think that once upon a time I was just a college graduate with a little dream to be a wedding planner. And now here I am, living this dream and being recognized by some of the biggest names and publications in the industry. The icing on the cake – it was my bride’s fantasy to be featured on The Knot too, it’s so special that I could help make that a reality for her as well.

But it’s not just the recognition, I definitely don’t do what I do for fame or hoping someone will give me a huge pat on the back. The people I’ve meet along the way is the most rewarding piece of the journey. I love my brides, my vendor friends and some lifelong relationships have blossomed from working in the wedding industry.

Autumn brought with it more engagements, golden hues and many colorful celebrations full of love and the most amazing couples. And lots of dahlias. I truly hope to do more fall weddings next year as the scenery in Michigan is simply breathtaking that time of year. And I’d even like to add a couple of winter celebrations to my 2016/2017 calendar.

2015 was The Day’s Design’s third full time wedding season, the year Gretta turned 3 and will be the last year in our current home. It was the year of designing flowers in my dining room, storing them in my garage and keeping the rest of the treasures in my basement. It was the year that we tested my Tahoe’s strength, air conditioning and storage capacity. Moving forward is a sign of progress and a little bittersweet.

There’s a part of me that thinks I should have kept a tally of how many times I bled, how many times I wanted to give up, the hours of sleep I lost, the times I wanted to do a happy dance and high five (only to realized I work most days alone), the number of times I witnessed “the moment”, the walks up and down the aisle, the steps I take on a wedding day, the trips to venues, caterers, flower markets, greenhouses and down the road foraging for treasures. I need to keep track of it all so I can remember. So when 2016 rolls around and I can’t hardly function because I’ve pulled an all nighter before one of my fabulous brides’ big day – all I’ll have to do is see the expression in her eyes as she sees her groom staring back at her so in love. I want to remember why I love this job so much and never forget. My mother has mentioned on several occasions that there must be an easier way to make a living. Of course she’s right, but they’re not my passion, my drive or what I want to be doing. This is right where I want to be.

Cheers friends! Have a happy 2016!!

Life Adventures

The House

The Studio

The Gardens

How’s the move?

How’s the new house? Are you getting settled?

How are the girls adjusting? Does Gretta like her new room?

What’s the house like? I can’t wait to see what you do with it!

When does wedding season start? How is the move affecting business?

“You take it on faith, you take it to the heart, the waiting is the hardest part”

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