Dec 31, 2012

I'm ready for 2013: Word of the year


2012, where did the year go? This year has been filled with so many good surprises...I moved my business into an even more competitive market including clients from Dolce and Gabbana, I traveled for brides and clients alike to here..there...and everywhere, photoshoots landed me in some of the top 100 blogs in the wedding industry, I turned 30 and I saw the world as a little more fabulous, I painted everything I could find gold, I watched my sister marry her husband, fell even more madly in love with my beau and doggie Oliver, and began the process of rebranding. While I'd like to reflect on all of the good things I can't help but remember the heartbreaks of 2012.  This year I lost my dearest Nell (grandmother) and the pain of that loss was so great that I didn't think I could find the strength to continue running this business, I buried my head in the sand when it came to blogging and twitter, and more than anything I just felt lost and overwhelmed. The reality is I was busy, sometimes too busy to slow down and far too busy to quiet my mind, running MME and working a full time job was exhausting and at different points during the year it felt almost impossible.

So In 2013 I've decided to choose one word for the year, a reminder if you will of something that I need to do. My word for 2013 is Cherish.  I chose this word because loosing Nell reminded me of how much I need to cherish the people that are in my life, I need to get closer to God and answer the calling I've felt toward my faith, I need to cherish the opportunities that I've been so divinely blessed with, and lastly I need to cherish me more this year....

2013 is going to be a year of change for me, my life, my beau, my oliver, and MME, there are a lot of unclear roads and paths that I'm going to be traveling but I'm ready and I hope you'll stay with me. Here's to closing my eyes-taking the next step-and cherishing all of the momentous occasions to come in 2013!

Now for a recap of pictures that make me giddy!


Dec 16, 2012

WINNER--ANNOUNCED

Thanks to all that participated, now to announce the winner (drum roll please!)...........

I put all the numbers in a hat and LUCKY COMMENT #6 (B Jaime Hall) will receive this lovely book in the mail just in time for the holidays along 2 dessert plates (of their choice) from my collection.

Here's a sneak-peek into this deliciously fabulous book.

One of my favorite recipes



Love these vintage cake and pie knives




Dec 11, 2012

MY 5 step recipe to success

A few days ago I was thumbing through an old magazine and stumbled upon a sentence that really hit home for me. Work it-Own it-Love it, simple right? Now that I've had a few years to reflect on Making Me and the growth that I've seen my little baby take on it's great for me to go back to the beginning from time to time and remember that I didn't always follow my now wiser advice. You are your business, find what you love and work the shit out of it. I mean seriously the wedding industry is difficult to break into but finding your own identity is key. I decided a long time ago not to do things the way anyone else was because I was "supposed to" but because it made sense for me and my business. If you've recently started your own business (lean in close I have advice for you) or if you're re-evaluating the direction of your business here's my advice.

1.) Be fearless, start something fail at it and get the hell over it. Trust me in business you are going to fail at something, I can't tell you how many times I said to myself damn...I'm totally failing at twitter! Once you've hit the bottom you'll know exactly what you did to get there and you'll never do it again.

2.) Be yourself! You don't want to look at your business one day thinking who am I and how did I make a business off of copying others? There is nothing more disheartening as a business owner to look  around and feel like you've had your business high jacked by someone who didn't have the gumption to work their way to the top.

3.) Enjoy being the new kid on the block. Seriously best feeling ever!

4.) Ok you've made it, stay grounded. I own and operate Making Me and it's been pretty successful but you'll never catch me acting like a diva.

5.) Reward yourself! Running a business is hard work every now and then stop and smell the roses, eat a cupcake (off a pretty plate if you can-wink), take a trip, and celebrate the hell out of the success you've been able to accomplish you deserve it!

Here's to a very happy and successful business!

Dec 10, 2012

Holiday Present giveaway!

Oh my do I have a great gift for you! I'm so excited to announce a sweet surprise just in time for the holidays.  I'm giving away one of my favorite books, Vintage Cakes by the oh so talented Julie Richardson and gifting you 2 vintage plates dessert plates from my collection. Oh and did I forget to mention that you will get to select the dessert plates you'd like?! Hand selected by you and gift wrapped by me all in time to bring you holiday cheer!

To enter:

1.) Make sure you have liked Making Me Event Planning Firm facebook page
2.) Follow this blog by signing up and joining the site!
3.) Leave me a lovely comment below letting me know you've done both #1 and #2

The winner will be announced Sunday, December 16th at 12pm and all items will be shipped just in time for the holidays. Good luck to all!
Photography Credit {from left to right} Picture taken with iPhone, Kelly Dillion Photography, Don't Frett Photography

Dec 4, 2012

DIY: Paper Wreath


Fa-la-la-la-lahhhh! I have started to deck the halls, doors, and beautiful spaces in my home with merry cheer and who doesn't like a good diy project? Here's what will be hanging on my door this year, a beautiful paper wreath!  

To create this beauty I've provided everything you'll need below and a list of simple directions, have fun with this project! 

You will need:
A hot glue gun
2 books filled with your favorite love poems
A wreath (can be purchased at Michael's)
Patience!

Instructions:
1.) Rip out pages and begin to roll them, folding them only at one end
2.) Get ready to hot glue them onto the wreath'
3.) Be patient you won't immediately see the shape come together, but it will!
4.) Hang anywhere in your home and enjoy!



Photography Credit: Summer Street Photography 




Dec 3, 2012

New Inventory Debut

Hey Lovelies!

Happy Monday. Remember when I announced my big news a few weeks ago? Well if you missed it I was fortunate enough to have some of my prettiest vintage pieces rented out to Dolce and Gabbana AND I've expanded my beautiful inventory of plates to include teacups and a few limited accessories.  I am so in love with my plate collection that I wasn't sure if I had the heart or even the time to expand, but after 1 pretty teacup I was hooked and just like magic I've welcomed in even more blush, gold trimmed, floral prettiness. Since the growth of the collection and the explosion of my rental business I often get the head nod of well how did you do it, where do you keep it all, and do you really purchase each piece? 

My journey into the rental business was almost purely by accident, I have always loved to surround myself with pretty details and plates have been something that I've had an eye for even as a child.  I notice them at family gatherings, in china cabinets, at restaurants, and my philosophy is that beautiful china is to be used not locked up in a museum-like china hutch. After trying desperately to find my perfect pattern I decided that the impossible was possible through various pieces. Scouring-hunting-bargaining began and a few plates turned into a few hundred and that quickly turned into (haha) more than a few hundred! I keep each and every pieces that isn't rented right here in my home, tucked very neatly into beautiful built in cabinets just ready to be whisked away and rented.  About 90% of my inventory was purchased by yours truly, and the other 10% was purchased by former clients who liked to shop!

Plates-Teacups-adorable accessories oh my! I am one lucky gal to be in the business of event planning-design-and rentals. Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing with you a few of my favorites teacups, but for now I hope you'll enjoy this peek into my inventory.












 
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