Farewell City on the Gulf

Well, this weekend was my last while living here on the West coast of FL.
I'll be sad to move, but seeing as how none of my *bests* will be living here much longer, and I have amazing opportunities awaiting me on the other coast, I shouldn't be terribly sad.
We all know there will be weekend trips to visit and plenty of fun to still be had!
 I got to lay out this weekend, get a nice tan for the upcoming weddings, and pack. And pack. And buy more storage containers. Ugh. I'm really looking forward to not moving for the next 3 years!!!!
Between all my packing, the Love of My Life and I got to chatting about future plans in our new city, and somehow his pup Izzy came up in conversation. Izzy was rescued from a dumpster when she was little bitty and Ry has had her ever since. She's the most obedient, loving, cuddly, 75 lb. lab I've ever met <3 Love her dearly! Since we don't know her exact birthday, we gave her one. September 23. That is when we're throwing her her FIRST EVER Paw-ty!! We have a couple of friends in our new home that have a pup we've been dying to introduce Izzy to. I'm looking forward to another excuse to throw a fun party, making a "pupcake" for Iz and Charlie, as well as cupcakes and drinks for the humans :)
Below is a fun board I just threw together:

Enjoy the last fleeting moments of your weekend. I'm dreading tomorrow as a workday, but I'll welcome it as a break from packing!!!

xoxo
 b

Lulu's Bridal Shower

In less than 3 weeks, my baby sister is getting married! Crazy how time flies ... seems like just  yesterday I was putting her in a laundry hamper & dragging her down the marble hallways of our house. Or playing "Pocahontas" in our tree house and swings. Or being dressed alike for major holiday parties ((plaid dresses with itchy gold trim... thanks Momma))
         But anywho - we are quickly approaching wedding weekend for Lulu & her Fi Kyle.

 I've been thrilled to be the Maid of Honor and able to provide my creative talents, combined with my mother's, to put on a gorgeous event. While ya'll will have to wait for wedding decor photos, I wanted to share some of my favorite shots from her shower that I hosted (and catered, and designed, and emcee'd!) Held at our home church, we had so many wonderful women attend that have been a part of Lulu's life since she was teeny-tiny in the nursery!

     I wanted her shower to reflect her personality - using bright, bold summer colors. Lulu is not afraid of color!! The smallest details to the cupcake sticks, were all DIY by yours' truly. I incorporated a few vintage pieces, since the couple's new kitchen will be in "retro diner" style. Overall, we had a blast and I can't wait to have another shower / party / wedding to design!
        

Cupcakes in flavors of Orange Creamsicle / Vanilla Frost

Red Velvet / Buttercream Frost, & Pink Lemonade / Lemon Frost

Since her shower was "Around The Clock" I decided to scour thrift stores for old timey clocks. With a couple coats of spray paint in my color scheme - we got an adorable start on the center pieces. I added some tin pails and fresh flowers, all placed on a bright fabric square - really tied it all together! 

Our favours were tins of "retro candy shoppe" goodies ~ Nik'L Nips, Salt Water Taffy, Beejee's gum, tootsie rolls & peppermint melts. All from my favorite local candy store "Candy Kitchen"

To add some color to the drink table, Izze soda's were a no-brainer! Who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned fizzy flavored water? Thrown in a cute galvanized tin tub ... instant glamour!

Mom did a fabulous job of creating little dresses out of our party napkins. 

We all had a wonderful time and I cannot wait til Wedding Week :)

xoxo

b

Always An East Coast Girl

Well,  I haven't blogged in about a week or so. But *big* changes are coming soon!! 

I'm very excited and blessed to announce that I will be moving back to the East Coast of Florida, and further North ... which means more seasons, cooler weather, and closer to cities I love like Savannah & Charleston. And I'll be a "same-city girlfriend" to the Love Of My Life. We have been long-distance nearly 4 months by the time I move!! :) 


On Labor Day, I interviewed with a family for a full time - live out nanny position. This job is taking care of an adorable and polite (yet, very DIVA-ish) 4 year old little girl, and being a "Mother's Helper" on 1 of the days during the week. This is a Monday-Friday gig, and a tremendous blessing for getting a large pay raise (compared to grueling hours for little pay in Minor League Baseball).  I'm thrilled to have my weekends back to myself and the Handsome Man. I will start there late September, and hope to sign a lease after my sister's wedding week!!  :) 

While in my last post I wrote about my *creative* brain explosions ((too many hours of brain storming + day dreaming led to a lot of motivation to get started on my own business)) ... I wanted to find a way to help others while developing my talents in events ((start small)).
I did a bit of research for children's hospitals in my *New City* & I followed up on how to get involved in them. I am starting to volunteer for one hospital, get to work with pediatric patients who are in long-term hospital settings, and hopefully pass out some business cards to the families who stay there also. My first small-step dream for doing events, is to build birthdays and holiday parties for pediatric patients who have to be hospitalized during a special holiday. I want to alleviate the stresses on the parents, siblings and other family members by just going in and decorating the room, providing cupcakes or cakes , banners, balloons, etc. all in a whimsical - take-me-away dreamy occasion. Every child deserves to have a birthday that's memorable, and if they can't get away, I want my parties to take them elsewhere. If only for a few hours. 
When I mentioned my idea to the Love of My Life, he said that was a great idea ((supportive; as ALWAYS!)) and he wanted to sign up to volunteer with me. I'm excited that I will be using my "free time/ me time" to help others. It's only a few hours a week ... but what a blessing this could be to let God use us to share our happiness with others! 
 I'm very excited, as well, to be joining the Women's Board at one of the hospitals. They host two large events per year, that are known as some of the best cultural fundraisers in the city. I can't wait to make new friends, display my talents with others, and raising money for the hospitals. 

A lot to do once I move and I welcome it all :) 
God is good and He answers prayers! 

xoxo 
 b 

While I Have The Time ...

Dear 6 Little Followers (& all others who have happened upon my page :)

I'm not sure if you're "supposed" to blog twice in one day, but to make up for all the days that I have missed (and the numerous creative musings that I have had to jot in a notebook & forget about until nearly now) ... I am going to post twice today. That's right. I'm a rebel ;) 

So, as most of you know, I work in Minor League Baseball & have been waiting anxiously, for the 10-12 hour workdays to cease. Although, with that comes the ceasing of my overtime and somewhat decent pay. While my job duties are nearing the end, so is my lease on life here in Somewhere Southern on the Gulf. The L.o.m.L (Love of my Life) is in law school in North Florida & I'm anxious to get my heart+head where it needs to be.    
So I'm going on my first interview this holiday weekend, and praying for the best! Meanwhile, since work has slowed, my creative wheels have begun ' a turning! I decided that I will no longer sit back & say "oh ... yes ... my dream job is to one day ...." Now is the opportunity for me to move out of the sports industry and into something I love to do. I've decided that while I take a semi-permanent job in N.Florida, I will put all the "EXTRA" time I've missed out on for 2 years, to good use. I will draw up a business plan, I will run my plan by fellow entrepreneurs.  I will shadow women-owned businesses nearby, ask them questions and pick their brains about what motivated them. I have realized that 80% of my family members are entrepreneurs, either as a full time job or turned a hobby / talent into a profit. I have the drive and I want to take the risks, to get my creative ideas out there. Sure, other people have done what I'm dreaming of doing - but I have something special to bring. And they will love it. 
So, "BRING IT ON WORLD!" as I announced after college graduation.

I'm breaking out of the corporate world. Venturing into my own world. And the world will love my ideas and talents. 
Below is a cool "creativity challenge" from a blog I saw. I'm going to answer the questions and see where it leads me. Maybe you should do the same. Take your hobby and talents & do something with them. Something worth sharing. You can't be scared to go for it :)

           xoxo 
                  b

1. Write ten things you love.
2. Write five things you would do if you knew you wouldn’t fail.
3. Write five alternative lives you would like to live other than your own.
4. Write four tiny things you can do in the life you have to bring you closer to those imagined lives.

Twelve Little Girls

As a child of about 1 and 1/2 years old, my parents put a book in my hands. As I got older, we would read together or take turns. Each night with my father, I got to pick out a book to read for bedtime. There was my collection of 80+ Bernstein Bear books, Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes, Dragon Tales, and my repeated favorite: Collection of Madeline / Mad About Madeline stories all in one large hardcover book. Those were just the favorites.

While I was reading through an article by a fellow blogger this week, and she posed these questions:

What childhood books do you visit again and again? 

Which heroines taught you what kind of woman you want to be?

I would have to vote "Madeline" on this answer. She wasn't necessarily a heroine, but a small, French girl who attended a boarding school / convent in Paris. Perhaps from the sketched illustrations of Parisian scenes, my love for all things fleur-de-lis, Parisian and chic, evolved. 

Madeline lived in a world of structure, in "two straight lines" ... the youngest (and also, smallest), and created a tad bit of excitement over, well, anything! :) 

The proper dress and stature of these twelve little girls, their wide brimmed hats and impeccably pressed dresses, are timeless and elegant, even at a young age. Paris women know style, and I bet they always have! So, although not a heroine, Madeline certainly would be my childhood character of choice.  

xoxo & have a fabulous weekend 

b