It’s A Numbers Game

Ephesians 2:10

In a world built upon numbers, I have been finding it rather hard to not let numbers define me. But here comes the truth, it bothers me more than I let on. Maybe I’m the only one out there that is having a hard time with this; letting a simple number define me. But, I think if we are all honest with ourselves, we let numbers define us in some way.

From the moment we are born, numbers are used to measure us. 8lbs, 3oz, 16in long. 14 hours in labor. Only 4 hours of sleep last night.

Then comes elementary school. Four golden stars on our report card for Excellent. 1 golden star for Needs Work, or in some cases Poor.

Whether our high school years are a success or not are based on a 4.0 scale, on our ACT and SAT scores, how many friends we have, how many goals we scored or saved.College and grad school are just the same. Acceptance letters, grades, and job offers.

Then, as we grow up and enter the work force, we start to secretly compare our starting salaries with others. We start to measure our self worth based on how many square feet our house is, how expensive our car is, how much money we have saved up. How many customers we have. How many likes we got on that last post.

How many likes we got… While I’d like to think that I don’t let most of those above examples dictate how I feel, I will be the first to say that I rely a little too much on those pesky social media numbers to influence my mood. This past week I watched a video. You have probably all seen it, but for me, it resonates way to close to my heart.

“Self respect, self worth, self love all start with self. Stop looking outside of yourself for your value.” Rob Liano

I seem to be comparing my numbers with other people’s numbers far more often than I would like. And, for the record, I come in way under. I am one of those people who constantly checks my Instagram account after I post a picture. After I post a blog post, I will sit there hitting refresh every so often to see how many of you lovely readers actually read it. Pathetic. I know.

The past few weeks I have been trying to stay off of social media. Why? Partly because this week has been hectic juggling my two companies and getting ready to launch my Spring 2015 Collection. But also because I want to get to the point where I can look at social media as fun again and not as a burden or a measure of my value. It’s a work in progress. But most things in life are. And, hopefully soon I’ll be able to stop comparing {my numbers} and just be content.

Ringing In The New Year

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

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Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve.

A New Year

In 3 short days, 2014 will come to a close. In looking back at the past 12 months, I find myself struggling to come up with the right words to describe such a big year.

While there is always a lot to juggle in life, I made things a little more precarious by starting a new company. Being the overachiever that I am, I felt that I could sufficiently handle everything on my plate. I learned very quickly that this was not entirely efficient for my body and brain.

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

In light of this, I decided to take on extra help. In the past, I have always had an intern to help me. But, with the new pressures in life, I added two more people to my little team. Learning how to manage these new set of hands was a learning experience for all of us. However, I am so thankful to these wonderful friends for sticking by my side and working so hard at each wedding. They were real troopers considering there were weekends where they were up for +40 hours straight clipping blooms, ironing linens and having my perfectionistic presence hover over them.

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This year the weddings were a lot different than in the past years. This year I was able to design a lot of the elements and was given more freedom in the overall aesthetics. It always means the world to me when a bride hands over the design aspect of her wedding to me and lets me have fun. I was able to have my hand in the designing of invitations, choosing specific blooms, and honing my calligraphy skills. To those that do calligraphy, you are amazing. Seriously.

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In October I was invited to join the other West Michigan Event Planners for an evening at Boatwerks in Holland. Tom from Boatwerks generously hosted this get together and talked about the big plans they have for weddings. It was a lovely time and I am so glad that I was able to meet these great women who I am constantly inspired by. In an industry that is so often seen as competitive and full of comparisons, I felt that these women were more about being a community where we can look to each other for help.

Next year there are some pretty amazing weddings lined up and I am so excited for each and every one of them. They will expand my skills and push my creativity to new levels, and I’ll have to stretch my imagination more, but I look forward to the adventures.

Thank you to everyone for making this year truly fantastic.

See you in 2015.

Christmas Cheer

If you have read my other blog post, you’ll know that this year, for the first time in many years, I have had a less crazy busy December. While my schedule was still full of meetings and events, walkthroughs and photo shoots, I was able to find a little time to have a few dear friends over for a small Christmas party.

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

May you all have a wonderful Christmas full of family and friends.

 

Refurbished Bar Cart

“She’s got a martini in her hand and pearls around her neck.”

This summer I was on the hunt for a bar cart. And, not just any bar cart, but a gold one. Yes, I know, 1 year later and my love for gold has not wavered. While there were some glorious ones out there, I was not willing to spend hundreds of dollars for one. Although, if I did, I would have chosen ones like these below:

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1. Lolita Bar Cart from One Kings Lane, $499   2. Daphne Bar Cart from One Kings Lane, $499   3. Fiona Serving Cart from Joss & Main, $155   4. Refined Bar Cart from One Kings Lane, $429   5. Clara Bar Cart from Pier 1 Imports, $300   6. Worlds Away Bar Cart from Zinc Door, $1,173   7. Acrylic Fitzgerald Bar Cart from One Kings Lane, $675   8. Brass Bar Cart from La Barge, Price Upon Request

But, one afternoon, Surekha and I were out in Grandville thrifting and antiquing, and we stumbled across this beauty. I was not convinced of its beauty at all. However, Surekha convinced me that with a little sandpaper and some spray paint, this horrid bar cart could be really pretty. So, $35 later, the bar cart was rattling away in the back of my jeep as I carted it home. Finally, 4 months later after a crazy wedding season and a busy fall fashion season, I finally had time to dust off the bar cart, lug it down stairs and take a second glance at it. Gosh, it was ugly.

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With the help of my mom, I wrestled the thing apart and sanded every piece with 350 grit sandpaper. After washing it down and letting it dry, I spray painted 2 cans of Krylon white spray paint + primer over the shelves. Then came 1 can of Krylon gold spray paint. After a lot of waiting, I wrestled the thing back together and sat back with admiration and a really bad headache (leave the spray painting to warmer months so you can do it outside). $45 dollars and 24 hours later, a bar cart!

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner