Vendor Love

Vendors this post is just for you! Over the past year and a half (yikes and wow) you've been so instrumental in the success of this business.  Many of you have referred clients my way, worked on special projects such as editorial photoshoots, clicked "Like" on facebook, and have left your words of kindness and encouragement.....all of those things mean so much to me and now I'd like to pay it forward to you.  Please leave me a comment describing a tid-bit about your business and if you'd like to collaborate in the future...if you can dream it we can build it!

Picture used from Blitz and Glam

While you're here once again I'd like your support in increasing the readership of this blog...so please kindly become a follower--------------------------------------------------------> Look right over HERE--->


Many thanks and much love!

Day 10: What mama didn't tell me

So we are yet again doing a bit of combined post love....and yes still counting down with only 19 days to go.

This next post came from a conversation with my mom, Celeste. Over the years we've shared hundreds of conversations, each one giving me gentle direction about love, life, career, and all that happens in between, but there are some things that "mama didn't tell me".  When I started this business, a  young bright eyed bushy tailed, naive in many ways girl began the journey. Along the way and far from the end a strong, thoughtful, optimistic but realistic woman emerged. Mama didn't tell me that in order for this business to be successful I'd have to sacrifice so much for it's success but here I am telling you what life is really like when you own your own business.  I've cried, jumped for joy, and sought guidance when needed, I've learned that no decision can be made before I mull it over with a cup of coffee, and I've learned that this business sinks or swims with yours truly.

Just so we are clear....I plan to swim my ass all the way to the top keeping an open mind, warm heart, and strength of the family that gently whispers to me when it's time to make the next move.  Mama didn't tell me that the journey to the top would be long, arduous, painful, and at times discouraging but I'm telling you it is.  If you plan to go into business be prepared to fail.....write yourself a little note that reminds you, you knew this would happen, gather yourself and move onto what's next.

My note is simple and it says this......

Nancy, Minnie, & Ruth.

The meaning is for me to know, but the purpose is to remind myself that with great success comes great failure. Now maybe my mama didn't tell me this, but this may have been the best lesson that I learned early on in my business. Plan to fail and Prepare to succeed.

See you on day 18!

Day 10: No resolutions for me!

21 days left until the big day and only the second day into the new year.  This year I admittedly and purposely didn't make a New Year's resolution list, why you ask because I can't think of a thing I'd like to change that I haven't already put in motion in 2011.

On the business side I made a promise to myself last year that I would embrace who Making ME is, a small firm looking to take on only 15 events a year with a focus in clients. Ah yes and of course it was finally time not just for my former clients to know me but for the wedding industry to know me as well, you see the thing about owning a business is you can't work in your little bubble. This is an industry that craves to know who you are!

Who am I....I'm 5'2, lover of black clothing, gap between my two front teeth, with a FIERCE AFRO. Yup in a nut shell that's me.  In a year I've risked it all and by God I've come out stronger than ever, it's as if I've emerged over the last year, finally becoming the woman that I've been dreaming about, finally becoming ME.

A little less than a year ago and only a few months into my business I decided it was time to make a change. I looked in the mirror and with a pair of scissors in hand I closed my eyes and said goodbye to my relaxed hair. A HUGE chunk of hair was gone and there was no coming back, I called my friend Sara and she finished the rest....what was left was....well nothing.

My hair also known as a woman's strength was gone, but strength was in the little hair on my head that was left. That hair represented the new me, the me that would come to accept herself as the square peg never quite fitting in the round hole, and the crazy love obsessed planner who would soon have a love affair with plates!  With my dream only steps in front of me I did it and the world is seeing me! My strength, my confidence, and my continued passion grows daily~as does my hair.

BEFORE

AFTER

TODAY!
photo credit: Summer Street Photography

Day 9: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 2012 is going to be an exciting year for me and my baby Making ME. Let's recap last year shall we....we planned 15 events to include weddings, birthdays, celebrations and just because events, styled 5 shoots while working in collaboration with photographers, ate at least 100 pieces of cake (a personal victory), and watched a lot of "I do's". 2011 was a successful year indeed and we closed it with an amazing event we planned, The Lexington Symphony Gala. Throughout the day I took moments to reflect on how far we've come and just where we're going, at every turn I saw the same thing, our future is incredibly bright! This year we plan to embrace who are: a small wedding boutique firm focusing only on 15 events per year and renting out our beautiful collections of plates....every chance we get.

With 22 days until I turn 30 I reflect again on how much this business has helped to transform me too. Our name Making ME Event Planning Firm is so fitting, it's what we do and it's who we are. Behind every blog post you'll know it's me; Phebe and at you're wedding you'll know that I've poured hours upon hours into making sure your wedding is YOU.  I'm starting to think that 30 is like a new pair of jeans...it fits me and finally I'm starting to feel like I'm ready to try it on.

{Picture taken from Ecopreneurist}