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Gretta’s 5th Birthday Party

0 · Dec 4, 2017 ·

This time of year is busy. Not in the same way the wedding season wears me down, but in a entirely different family gathering every weekend and endless hours spent on my own holiday decor type of way. And then for some reason we had a baby in November and her birthday falls on Thanksgiving weekend every year. I’m fairly certain she’s going to grow up thinking that turkey is her birthday dinner.

I’m making my best mom effort to try and give her birthday its own special attention. We did go Christmas tree shopping on her birthday, which to me personally would be the best present ever. We also had a very special unicorn lunch celebration which honored her and her 5 little years here on earth exclusively.

We started the day opening a special new unicorn outfit in our jammies. There was lots of family, balloons and a very special unicorn cake, made by her daddy (because if I would have made it, that would have been one huge Pinterest fail!) Here are just a few pictures from the small celebration.

Happy 5th Birthday Gretta!

Paint Brushes in the Fridge

0 · Oct 11, 2017 ·

Autumn is the time of year for gearing up and slowing down, all at the same time. I find myself unwinding from summer’s busy wedding season and trips to the beach, I finally unpacked our suitcases and feel like I can sit back and take in a deep breath of cool crisp air. But on the other hand, suddenly we’re found on a schedule with school, dance classes, work and my self-imposed ridiculously long to-do list that I put off all summer, plus the holidays are right around the corner.

March 2016, we moved into this house and have now lived here a year and a half. I promised myself that I’d complete projects in a timelier manor than in our last house. I thought we’d live in our last house for at least 10 years or so, which mentally made me feel like I had all the time in the world to make our house a home, and get everything just how I envisioned it being. But I hated constantly feeling like I needed to explain myself when guests walked through the door and saw our kitchen’s mauve wallpaper and the bathroom’s Berber carpets. We had bought the house from an elderly lady that had lived there for 40 plus years, and in many ways, that showed. I never wanted people to think that I was settling with the house the way it was and had zero taste in home décor. I constantly felt judged due to our unfinished projects, and I realize in reality there was probably not a soul out there who thought anything of our less than perfect home but it still seemed that way in my over thinking mind.

So when we moved here, I loved that it already felt fresh. We didn’t purchase with the intensions of having to do extensive renovations and I thought it would be a quicker process of making this house ours. Within a week, I had painted Gretta’s bedroom a soft shade of blush. Within three weeks’ time, we were celebrating Willa June’s first birthday, so naturally I decided to paint the entire living room and kitchen a softened shade of alabaster and finished that at midnight the day before her party.

Every room in our house was painted the exact same shade of khaki and it’s not to my liking. While it all matches the tile and floors and it all flows together really nice, it feels a little too much like a mud hut for my preference. I love a very collected feeling home. I love layers of richness and warmth, lots of texture and I love vintage treasures. So touches like modern espresso cabinets and their sleek hardware have been a little difficult for me to adjust to but I’m coming around and learning how to make it all my own.

My goal, however, is while I understand that design is a constant evolution, I want to feel by the end of the winter that I’m living in a space that truly represents our style and works for our family and not in a house of unfinished “someday projects”. Right now, I’m mentally sorting all of this out and have several paint brushes in the fridge, because I’ve got a couple pots on the stove already. Perhaps I should focus on one at a time, but I go as far as I can on my own until I need my hubby’s expertise with the power tools, and then I move on to the next. And I think the most annoying part of any project is getting the supplies out and then cleaning them up again, hence the paint brushes in the fridge.

For anyone curious, here’s what I’m hoping (fingers crossed!) I will accomplish in our home this winter:

Update Willa June’s Bedroom

We haven’t done anything to it since moving in, and she’s about ready to switch from a crib to a big girl bed, so we’re going to do a little shuffling of the girls’ bedroom and make them sweet spaces that they will love to sleep and play in with a little woodland creature and floral theme – I can’t wait!

Finish Our Bedroom

Last winter we turned an extra living space into a master bedroom (You can read more about that here). It’s a really awesome room and it’s almost there but it’s just needed a little something extra to really bringing it home which has taken some living in it to really recognize what’s missing. I did do a little extra painting in there last night so we’ll see how that brings the progress along in the daylight hours.

Finish My Studio/Basement

I started describing this project here. This one has been tricky, we thought it would be finished months ago but halfway through we had to stop and focus on our master bedroom and progress has just been slow and hindered. However, I can happily say that I’ve seen much improvement in the last couple weeks. I have fully painted the back half, floors are finished and I’m ready for shelving and so much organization. I’ve almost made decisions on finishing touches for the front half of the space and I’m giving myself a Christmas deadline to have this completed, wish me luck.

There are more ideas floating in my mind, but for now, that’s where my focus lies. For those of you who haven’t yet caught on, I did start another Instagram account for more of these home décor type projects and more of the lifestyle behind being a work from home mom and entrepreneur. Follow along those updates here.

Fall Tabletop | The Day's Design

Here’s a little glimpse into our home and a table scape I designed last fall. Happy October!

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???

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.

Prayer Walk

0 · Jan 13, 2017 ·

Truth be told, 2017 is off to a rough start, in an emotional sense. Everything that I’ve envisioned for the New Year isn’t exactly coming true and I’ve been a little disheartened. I made a couple mistakes in 2016, both personally and professionally and I’m still beating myself up a bit. But knowing that there’s nothing I can do to change the past, I’m striving to move forward and my mantra has simply been to do 2017 better. I think we can all be a better version of ourselves.

Focusing on the future. I’m hopeful that there’s some really beautiful things ahead. However, it’s scary because the future is always an unknown. I have a hunch that I’m not the only business owner out there who might be dealing with a little fear.

Prayer Walk | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photgraphy

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

Yesterday, I was going about my day and stressed and hurried but then found myself in an usual situation with a couple extra minutes on my hands. So I went for a stroll down a city sidewalk and wandered into an antique store. I was minding my own business and going about my shopping when a stranger approached me, kindly introduced herself and asked if she could pray for me. Was there anything on my heart that I could use prayer for? She was on a prayer walk.

I nearly burst into tears then and there. There were a number of people out and about yesterday, and yet this person I don’t even know wanted to pray for me. I don’t know that I looked like I needed prayer or that there was a troubled look on my face. But I gave her an abbreviated version of what’s been keeping me up at night and she prayed for me and was then on her way.

I have been filled with such a peaceful feeling since this encounter. It gave me a little hope for the world, there’s good around us. I think this is just a good reminder to all of us that we never know what the person who parked crooked next to us, is taking too long in line in front of us or has a beautiful life on social media is really go through. What would happen if we all just prayed for each other? And what if we showed someone grace and kindness whether their life is beautiful or they’re just flat out rude? What if we all promised to be the very best version of ourselves?

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 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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Less Work More Life

0 · Dec 10, 2015 ·

Photography: Katie Grace Photography

If you follow me on Instagram then you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been completing the #risingtidechallenge this week. (If you haven’t heard about the Rising Tide Society, you can read more about it here.) Today is day 4 of the challenge and it’s all about living life, backing away from work and focusing on why we’re doing things – what matters most.

I’ve been contemplating how I’m going to answer this challenge. Obviously it’s my family that I’m working so hard for. It’s so I can help support, put food on the table and assist in keeping a roof over our heads. I work from home so we don’t have to put our kids in daycare, so we can have fun family movie nights and put up a glittering Christmas tree that will be loved all day long. I work for my clients, being a part of their stories and bringing their celebrations to life. But secretly, I work for myself too. Because truth be told, I wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t working towards something. I’m not the type of person to be content without a dream and a little dirt under my nails. And I work so I can keep on dreaming.

This morning, however, I had a breakdown. I was up against a naughty toddler, deadlines and the wish the take a shower. I keep getting thrown into the category of a “stay at home mom”, as if I had no obligations other than my children, and it boils my blood. I work from home, I take care of two little girls while I’m crafting backdrops, answering emails, blogging, finding caterers, processing flower orders, etc. I challenge any of you with 9:00-5:00 jobs to take your kids with you for a day or two, you might not be able to keep your jobs for long. That’s how I feel. So as such, I often find myself stretched a little thin. It doesn’t always feel like a blessing to be able to stay at home with my girls all day. At times it feels more like a trap. Some days I just feel cursed. That’s how I felt this morning.

Going back to focusing why I’m doing what I’m doing – and sometimes I just can’t channel the gratitude and response that I know I should be writing. I should have just posted a big old picture of my family on Instagram, said they’re what matter most and moved on with my day. But at the moment it just didn’t feel sincere. I’m the type that would rather stay silent then just say what everyone wants to hear.

And then Willa June smiled at me. It was more than just a smile, there was a twinkle in her little 9 month old eye. We connected in a way that was just beyond route diaper changes and feedings. It was then I realized that I couldn’t let someone else watch her and take that away from me. These are mommy moments and they’re mine.

This is for all the entrepreneurs and family-preneurs out there – it seems like others have it all together. It seems like so many others have figured out how to do and have it all. But I’m challenging you to realize that it’s a rollercoaster ride. Some days are beautiful and productive and some days I’m in yoga pants, shower-less and wishing that I had never had kids. Even though it seems like it, I know I cannot possibly be the only one who feels like the minority. I can’t gush about my kids and husband 24/7 because while I love them all dearly, sometimes they drive me absolutely to the edge.

I work so I can have a life – whatever that life may be. I work so my dreams can become bigger dreams and someday reality. I work so my family can be a part of that life and those dreams, constantly seeking the balance between the two. And maybe someday I can also be part of my baby girls’ dreams, whatever they will be.

A Note on Gratitude

0 · Dec 1, 2015 ·

As we’re all perfectly well aware, this is the time of year that we’re all supposed to be thankful. I’ve been trying for well over a week now to put together a post on gratitude and thankgiving. I wanted to write something profound and moving. I’ve put together draft after draft and had even committed to posting one last Wednesday and then my website host went ca-poof and the kibosh was put on that plan as my blog was down for an entire day.

My mother used to blame the devil for little acts like that. She wasn’t the type to call that boy “the devil” or give Lucifer credit for mass shootings, etc. It was the little things that she used to say were acts of the devil – things like getting into an argument on Sunday morning making us late to church. He’s sneaky like that and tries to keep you from worship.

So on Wednesday after I spent hours crafting a post about being thankful to our Heavenly Father and sending a few praises His way, this happened and my blog just didn’t exist. My mother immediately came to mind. I’m not sure if it was really his handy work or if perhaps I just wasn’t supposed to publish that draft, I wasn’t completely satisfied with it anyway.

Either way, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am over thinking it. I keep feeling like gratitude should be easy to come by. I have food on my table, a roof over my head, a beautiful family and the list goes on and on. But I’ve been searching for thankfulness and contentment still.

And then I realized I don’t need to search for it, it’s just here. It’s all around me. Why am I working so hard to find a warm and fuzzy feeling? I need to just embrace the feelings that are already in my home. My life is a mess. My business is not perfect. My kids are driving me crazy at this very moment. I will always and forever find things to tweak and change and try to perfect in my life. But I need to embrace the thankfulness in the here and now and stop looking out the windows beyond my own home.

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography

“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” – Dorothy, Wizard of Oz.

When it’s More than Just Cold Feet (Part 2)

0 · Oct 29, 2015 ·

Photography: Bradley James Photography

Returning gifts, cancelling plans, pleading with vendors for a refund, thousands of dollars lost, returning your ring – cancelling your wedding is a horrid chapter of life and a very humbling moment in your story. After my last post, someone mentioned how proud I should be that I was able to make the right choice. It was hard to think of it in that light. It was much easier to feel embarrassed that I had made the wrong decision in the first place, it was easier to wonder why I had never seen what a poor match we were before. When outsiders asked how the wedding planning was going, I was ashamed to say that all planning had ceased. “We called it off.” Those words pierced me.

I felt like a lost soul. I had to re-find my single self and remember who I was without him. And that might have been one of the biggest challenges of all.

Skipping forward – how do you know this is the man your supposed to marry? That’s the question I left you with at the conclusion of Tuesday’s post. That was a question that ran through my mind for a long time. I lost a little trust in myself. I felt like my instincts were now off. I could never let something like this happen again.

All I can speak of is my own experience. But for me, there wasn’t even a shadow of a doubt that floated into my mind when the right proposal came along.

In my broken engagement, I prayed for a sign. I prayed for a closed door if this wasn’t the direction my life was supposed to go. Be careful what you pray for. A huge sign came crashing down on me and was so obvious there was not a chance I could ignore it. In my current relationship, of course I prayed for guidance but it wasn’t a scary plea. It wasn’t a prayer born out of fear, it was a prayer of wisdom and care and thankfulness.

So how did I know that I’d met the man I was supposed to marry? Everything was just different. The overall aura of the relationship was unique to any other bond I had experienced. And I might not have recognized that without my past misfortunes. There was a calmness and peace. There was a security and my self-doubt seemed to fade away. I didn’t feel like I had lost myself with him, but rather I was able to be myself. My past heartbreak gave me the confidence to move forward. I now knew what I wanted and who I wanted to be. And most importantly, I knew who I wanted to have standing beside me as I strived to be that person.

There is a happy ending on the road ahead.

“Don’t rush into love, because even in fairytales the happy ending takes place on the last page”. – author unknown

When it’s More than Just Cold Feet

0 · Oct 27, 2015 ·

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

This is a subject that’s been pulling on my heartstrings for awhile. However, since wedding blogs are supposed to be this blissful happy place it never seems appropriate to bring up the harsh reality that even when you said yes, you may not fulfill that journey down the aisle.

I had two brides call off their wedding this year. That’s 13% of my weddings. I don’t know if that’s an average percentage throughout the wedding industry but it is an eye opener to the fact that diamonds don’t make everything beautiful.

10 years ago I was engaged to another man. It seems like a lifetime past and I can scarcely imagine what my life would be life now had I gone through with it. Suffice to say, I wouldn’t have two beautiful daughters, I’d most likely be working some “safe” corporate job and dinner would be on the table every night at 5:30pm without a dirty dish left in the kitchen, ever. Period. And my walls would be white, but not in a textured trendy way, in the boring, non-adventurous way. They would be the bland metaphor for my life.

I’m not going to go into all the details as to why things weren’t right in my relationship. But at some point throughout the engagement time period I had this gut wrenching feeling that something was amiss. That’s a really scary feeling. I’m a very firm believer that marriage is forever and the forever in my reality was starting to feel very, very long.

I had already had 2 bridal showers. We had bought a house. Our lives were starting to merge. We were getting gifts for “us”. When you’re planning a wedding everything is go go go. You have time frames and itineraries. There are so many factors that you have to keep on top of, organize and decide that sometimes it’s really easy to lose track of all the pertinent feelings and emotions and sort those out from the tense, bridezilla moments. It’s easy to lose your grip on reality.

For me, I couldn’t pull the trigger on sending out the invitations. I stalled and stalled. There wasn’t a real reason why, I just didn’t put them in the mail. It was less than 6 weeks before my wedding and they still weren’t out. Among the list, that should have been a huge warning sign.

I can’t tell you whether or not you’ve chosen the right man. I often become very close to my brides but I still don’t see all the inner workings of the relationship. And even if you’re happy in the moment, it doesn’t mean you’ll still be happy five years from now. So what do you do? How do you know if this is the man you’re supposed to marry?

PS – This isn’t the end of the story. Sharing more on this subject later this week.

Mommy of 2

0 · May 12, 2015 ·

A day late and a dollar short. That’s the story of my life right now. This is my mother’s day blog post… which in fact is even being posted 2 days late. The most frequently asked question of my personal life is all about being a mommy of 2. How is it? Is it easier/harder? Does Gretta love being a big sister? Is Willa June a good baby? Are you getting much sleep? Cue the super mom comments…

So here we go.. I’m a mommy of 2 beautiful little girls. My business is having it’s busiest year yet. I work from home and have yet to secure a summer sitter. And most days I just classify as a big huge fail. Truth be told, life is CRAZY! At any given moment you might find me holding a baby, typing an email and teaching Gretta how to unpack my new floral containers and pick up wayward stems (she might as well learn to earn her keep!). Every single day is a new adventure.

In lieu of all of this, I think it’s appropriate to reflect back a moment. Those first few days were a little simpler, the hubs stayed home from work, Willa June decided to take naps and Gretta was still a bit unsure about this new phase of life. The time will fly by quickly, it’s hard to believe that Willa June is already 2 months old. Pretty soon there will be two chatty little girls running around the house and we’ll be in the next season of life.

I would love to extend a huge thank you to Kellie of Hetler Photography for so beautifully documenting yet another special moment in our lives.

New Life

0 · Mar 19, 2015 ·

I’m so thankful for the sunshine and milder weather that has finally reached us here in West Michigan. I think Polly (my cocker spaniel) is pretty thankful as well. We’re finally able to step outdoors without having to be completely bundled head to toe, and as we do every spring, we’re on a quest – searching for new life.

I’m sad to say that as of 3:30pm on March 18, I have no notable findings to report. Brown, matted grass covers the vast majority of the landscape with a few lingering snow piles scattered here and there. Puddles still fill the ditches and tree branches remain barren, with the exception of a few shriveled berries left behind by the birds.

I’m not going to hide my jealousy for our neighbors to the south. I’ve seen peeks of forsythias and daffodils beginning to fill my feeds. However, I feel that this just fuels hope. Spring will arrive as it always does, fashionably late. It will be worth the wait, and we will be thankful after a long cold winter.

In the meantime, the only new life to be spotted is here in my home. I can tell by the increase of blog hits that I have a few nosey readers who are all patiently (or not so patiently!) awaiting a glimpse of the newest addition to our family. Right now my life consists of babies, bliss and blooms. I’m happy to introduce little Willa June. She’s one week old today.

Photography: Hetler Photography

Oh Dad..

0 · Jun 16, 2014 ·

Photo by Shannon Scott Photography

What would the world be like without Dads? I cannot even begin to fathom where I might be without mine. This amazing man helps feed my crazy… with his own crazy!! And while I know he doesn’t have Facebook, has probably never been on my blog and has no idea what Instagram is… he still needs this recognition. My dad has told me “No,” countless times, only to come back an hour later with blueprints in hand on how to make my “crazy” happen. And then he steps it up a notch, inspiring me to be even better.

So anytime I have an idea or inspiration or need to talk a business idea through, I go straight to Dad. Or if my project requires power tools that seem a bit too powerful to me (I have this totally irrational fear of losing my fingers!), to Dad I go and he makes it happen for me. Thanks for all your support, for showing me all the things that girls need to know and for making sure I always owned more tools than my boyfriends!

My Valentine

0 · Feb 13, 2014 ·

Since it’s the week of love, I thought I’d share a little about my Valentine. I’ve been trying all week to write a little about our love story… but it seems pretty lame. I haven’t been able to come up with a post that describes us – everything that I’ve started sounds cheesy, or insincere and just isn’t us. That “ah-hah” moment never happened for me, when I KNEW Josh was the one I was going to marry. There was nothing special or memorable about our meet cute. It wasn’t love at first sight, and I actually don’t even remember the specific day that we met.

I’m such a sucker for a good, sappy love story so I always thought I would be a part of one. That’s not how life turned out. Sometimes ordinary is okay. It’s the little things that mean the most. We can just be us, just be together and know that we found the person that we’ll spend the next 60+ Valentine’s Days with.

So this guy has been my Valentine for 7 years now, which seems pretty crazy looking back. This picture is a little throw back to winter 2010 (taken by Unikke Photography), and was the closest thing we had to engagement photos. And by the way, I highly recommend having engagement pictures taken, that moment in your life is gone in a blink – capture it!

P.S. – I just did the math, I’m not sure I want to spend 60+ Valentine’s Days together, that would make us really really old!

The Birthday Challenge

0 · Nov 26, 2013 ·

Guess what?! Miss Gretta is officially 1 year old today! I can’t even believe it!! Margaretta James Ferguson, 6 lbs 13 oz, she was born at 11:32 pm on this chilly November day!

Which leads me into my next question, have you read about the contentment challenge? It is really inspiring me and has helped to focus on needs and necessities verse wants. Let’s face it, as Americans we are blessed with so much. Due to current circumstances Josh and I pretty much practice a bare bones living. Now that does not mean we don’t splurge or do something special now and again. But as of late, our spending habits are not very frivolous.

In addition, I have really been focusing on “Do what you can with what you have” – another piece of advice passed along to me that keeps ringing through my head. I know it’s the time of year where we are all supposed to be thankful, which I am, but this goes beyond that. It’s an ache in my heart. And at one time it was focus of my business. When I began, my hope was to prove that you don’t need an unlimited wedding budget to have a beautiful day. And you definitely don’t need to drive yourself into debt doing so. There’s something to be said about creating a simply pretty event. There’s an art to it.

With all this in mind, I am busy busy with my next project. It’s a very special party for my little birthday girl. My challenge has been creating an amazing party (which I am well aware that she will not remember – but I have to do it anyway!) without spending any money. Alright, I will admit, I’m going to spend a little, people need plates and napkins and I can’t resist putting together some beautiful blooms, but beyond that, everything has been created from things laying around the house. Recycle, reuse and spray-paint!! It is sort of my own version of the contentment challenge, The Birthday Challenge. This is a very peaceful mindset and I cannot wait to share the results of the party, as well as this challenge as suddenly I feel like I am able to look at my humble house with new eyes.

In case I don’t have another chance to blog again this week, have a fabulous Thanksgiving!!!

The above photo was Gretta at 5 months, from Hetler Photography. I think it’s time for some new ones, don’t you???

After “I Do”

0 · Jul 28, 2013 ·

I generally try not to blog or do any work on a Sunday. Sunday’s are that amazing day every week where we can sit back and relax, take a nap after church and possibly not plan anything at all and just let the day happen.

However, sometimes my brain doesn’t really get that memo. I find myself daydreaming about wedding plans, designs and colors. I’m guilty of looking at other’s sneak peeks from the weekend’s wedding and events. I’m thinking about my upcoming brides, with upcoming plans, both in the distant future and in the upcoming week. And even if I can manage to steer my mind away, I my mind just wonders to thoughts about home décor and I find myself staring at the hideously awful green color of my living room/office.

So in all the wedding magazines, websites and planning tools I stumbled across, in combination of advice and words of wisdom from family and friends, I don’t feel that anyone really prepared me for this. This being the I’ve-been-married-3-years-live-in-a-“starter”-home-have-a-baby-a-career-and-want-life-to-be-perfect stage of life. Sure people gave me useless pieces of advice like “You must fall in love over and over again, with the same person” or warnings that the first year of marriage would be the toughest (which I do not agree with!) But how could you really prepare for this? How can you warn people what being married is like?

I just read that… warn people. Is that really what I meant? Certainly not! But sometimes, yes. Each year, month, week, day and hour brings a new challenge of married life. So I debate… should I share these challenges with you? Should someone give you a little glimpse of the life that comes after “I do”? It’s a battle and balance between personal and professional, a line that I’m constantly trying to keep in check. But I can’t help but wonder, what exactly are the marriages I’m helping to create going to be like?

I promised myself I would never help my couples do all the planning for their wedding, walk down the aisle and then just leave, never to be seen or heard from again. So in starting to share a little bit more of my day to day life, I hope to help inspire and encourage those of you who might find yourself in a “rough patch” of marriage or just feeling blah and depressed for the day. We all feel that way, even those of us who seemingly have a perfect life, from the outside looking in anyway. Let’s move into Married Land together and learn from each other as we start this life “After I Do.”

Oh, and you know that rhyme, “First comes love, then comes marriage…” well this is Gretta a couple months ago, she arrived in the “baby carriage” last November. Kellie of Hetler Photography worked her magic and took some amazing pictures of the two of us back in May (Gretta was about 5 months).

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