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}

Day 8: Becoming one of them

Combined post: 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8!

The countdown continues with 24 days to go until I'm 30 and I must say the past 5 days have been such a roller coaster of excitement. To catch you up my sister aka partner in crime is ENGAGED to the man of her dreams, the plus for me is that I get to gain a new brother (I hope he knows that I'm apart of the deal too hehe), Making ME is growing and making such a proud mama out of me, and me well I'm planning to take 30 by storm!

I feel like so much of my life has been about making discoveries...subtle and on a grand scale. When I was a teenager I discovered my love for music, in my twenties I found my passion for planning, and in my late twenties most days I feel like I'm having a love affair with all things resembling design. I can see a pattern, ribbon, color and literally fall in love with it and decide exactly the kind of event I want to use it for. I remember starting this business in my head years before I ever saw it on paper, I yearned for a business that could allow me to discover my inner strengths and passions while transforming women into wives. I could watch them take their first steps into this remarkable journey, but what I hadn't thought about until my last wedding in November is that they were watching me too and I WAS MAKING ME. I was becoming this woman who was a combination of all the women I had admired, they were strong, confident, creative, passionate, idea flowing, and take the world by storm women...I was becoming one of them.

Day 3: Christmas Day

It's Christmas!! This morning I was up bright and early to deliver my lovely holiday cookies and joy....aka presents! All were happy and with a full belly and enough laughs to last in to the new year it seems only fitting that I do a bit of blogging before the end of the day.  To keep this short I'll say this......

To find more holiday quotes, head over to Creating Keepsakes

Day 2: Christmas Eve

Today is Christmas Eve and I can't help remember that this would be my last Christmas Eve or Christmas for that fact in my 20's. As I reflect on nearly 30 years of tradition, family, and laughter I can't help but think about my sister. We would laugh and giggle until all hours of the night attempting to stay awake and catch a glimpse at the ole' big guy himself. My mom doesn't know this but when I was around 10 my sister spilled the beans...there was no Santa...puh I remember thinking. As I feel softly asleep I remember being awaken by my sister and practically dragged down my grandmothers staircase. To my surprise there was my mother sipping a glass of eggnog and wrapping presents with my grandmother and aunt. I think that image will forever live on in my memory.

I didn't know it but that day helped me to remember that Christmas wasn't all about the presents, it was the kindness and love from family that would carry me through anything in life.

Here we all are!

Day 1: Introduction to the countdown

Today is December 23rd and while my mind is swirling with holiday joy and spirit I can't help but think of a huge milestone that is taking place in exactly 30 days.  Yup, in 30 days this gal is turning 30! Now I won't go on and on in this post about how terrifying it is for me  to say goodbye to my 20's, instead I'll be taking the next 30 days to delicately say hello to an exciting new chapter in my life. Let's start from the beginning shall we......

Day 1: That's Me! I'm the one on the left (of course) and there's my rock, my sister Stephanie, she's been one of the people  who's been there gently guiding me through life's terrain.

Now really how cute are we???!!