2010...here I come!

I'm leaving 2009 in the dust, and welcoming 2010 with open arms! Lots of great things happening...and all because I've chosen to follow passion/love/art/home! Happy New Year everyone! See you in 2010!

Photo by Aaron Shintaku, flowers by JL Designs

heirloom shoes to-die-for!

I was recently turned on to a shoe company called Omelle (pronounced ähm' elle) by my new boss, and I have been oggling over their website all morning. Cherise Angelle and Nicole LaFav create the most amazing shoes with the most unique designs...mixing modern and antique elements to create one-of-a-kind, heirloom footwear. Check out some of my favorites:

mirror mirror, on the wall...

How Glamorous! I would like this amazing mirror from Wisteria in my home, please...stat. Wouldn't this make an amazing focal point in an entry hall or dining room? Stunning.

3 more days until the big 3-0

The holidays have come and gone, and yet again I find myself wondering how time can move so quickly. In three short days I turn 30...and another decade of my life will begin. Where have these last ten years gone? What have I accomplished? A master's degree...a couple amazing relationships...my pupster Frankie...three trips to Europe; some truly great things have happened. Which makes me reflect why I still feel unsettled and anxious and want more from my life: more freedom, more time doing the things I love, more time with the PEOPLE I love. As the big move gets closer, I've really started to feel that I have an obligation to dedicate the next ten years to myself...to do more of the things I love, and less of the things I think people would love for me to do. My hope and belief is that next December I can say I am in the wedding and event design business....that I'm writing, and traveling, and enjoying time with friends. I will be in a new amazing place of my own, have a successful line of design products, and feel happy & healthy in all aspects of my life.

The picture below was taken by my friend Stacey who spent the last two months in Europe as the pre-empt to a career change and new life...it's an amazing shot, one I know I will share one day with my husband on our honeymoon! I hope it will remind you (as much as it does me) to always follow your heart!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! May you challenge yourself to live your dreams now, and become the person you want to be. :) See you in 2010!

xoxo

i want these! Cheers again to Anthropologie.com

a day in the life of the Power of Intention

When I made the decision to quite my job and pursue a wedding life full-time, I really had no idea what I was doing. I mean...crazy, right?! At least my family thought (and probably still thinks) so. The only thing keeping me on this journey is the feeling I get when I close my eyes and imagine my life as a dream....the dream where I have the freedom to work creatively, in a free-flexible life, in a field I love. The feeling of that life, no matter how far off, is palpable when I'm in vision mode. I can only know and have faith that things are paying off! I mean...yesterday I got offered an internship/contracting opportunity with one of my favorite designers in Santa Barbara where I'll get to help grow a business, learn the things I don't know I don't know, and write & design! Then, my friend and I have decided on an amazing concept for a line of great wedding products. And finally, I have 2 trunk shows scheduled for Stella and Dot in January! Everything is coming together...and feels the same now as it does in my "future" life. Bottom line? Don't settle, and trust that everything will fall into place as you've dreamt it. Kiss the Groom couldn't have said it any better...just as in love, life can be anything you want it to be:

ahhh VACATION!

yes, I KNOW! It's been forever and a day since my last post. But, I promise it's been crazy enough to warrant a little vacation from my favorite topic in the world: wedding design. Thanks Halli for the swift kick in the pants. and...[drum roll], I'm bacK! and...[steel drum roll], I'm on a major holiday VACAY! so, as many of you know, vacation for me, means wedding bliss for you.

Speaking of...I'll be wedding blogging/design scoping and styleboard creating for a couple friends weddings, plus a million little tasks to prepare for the big move back down to Los Angeles...oye! Oh yeah, and did I mention that I have an awesome interview with one of my favorite planners for a possible part-time administrative position with her company in Santa Barbara? Yipee!! Is it no surprise then that this single gal is holed up at her parents house, doing laundry and watching a little Sex and the City before catching some much needed beauty sleep?

Sweet "wedding" dreams everyone! [I mean, who wouldn't on this dream bed I found on flickr!]

anthropologie does it again

As I alluded to earier...this week has been a tough week. Work has been intense, and all I want to do when I get home is drink a glass of wine and watch my Netflix. To top it off, the stress of the holiay financial weighed in, and the wedding inspiration sort of took it's own vacation this week. That is...of course...until Anthropologie came to the rescue.

For those of you who don't know, my birthday is in December...and this year I'm turning the big 3-0 (that's 3-0, on the 3-0!...golden birthday, here we come). On what was turning out to be a very down day early this week, I went to the post-office in my normal routine, and was blown away by a pre-birthday card/15% off coupon from Anthropologie. And...unlike most corporate cards, this one blew me out of the water! I mean...birthday candle necklace on perforated letterpress? To die-for! I am soo in love with this amazing store. Be prepared to be blown away too:

a modern Thanksgiving

So, one of my besties Halli, up in Seattle, happens to be this amazing designer...& often times I'm lucky enough to get sent some of her genious work. These photos of her own personal Thanksgiving tablescape truly exude her modern and contemporary style. From large typefaced dishware, to the guinea feather/wishbone napkin decor...I can only imagine the artistic and yummy food that joined the table later. Fantastical!

day-to-day reality

sOOO, in the day-to-day reality of a work life after Thanksgiving vacation, posting on the things I love have taken a back seat. I have so many fantastic inspirations to report on so please stay tuned. Until then, here's a cup of 'my favorite' from Open Salon to tied us all over: