Growing Pains

As most of you know, I've been working on starting my own business.  I have to say one of the hardest things that I have come across is wanting to get WAY ahead of myself.  I get all excited when I start thinking about all the little details I can do and give my clients instead of thinking about the "right now" things like hiring a bookkeeper, gaining clients and how to pay quarterly taxes.  I know it's my creative side that is just screaming to get out but I find myself having to say, "probably not this year" for those types of ideas.  One in particular is this.  I can't wait for the day to be able to work with these branding geniuses.  I have watched some of their most recent clients businesses sky rocket after going though their program. 

Besides branding, I am feeling the need for education.  I'm not talking about going back to school , I'm talking about learning how to really succeed in an over saturated market such as event planning. That being said, I really wanting to attend Engage!13.  It is a three day conference for luxury wedding industry experts.  It is where all of the MVP's in my business come to connect and share ideas.  It is the event of the year and I would like nothing more than to be able to attend.  I want to sit in the same room and learn from Marcy Blum or Harriette Rose Katz  or Darcy Miller.  I want to network with giants like Mindy Weiss and Keija Minor.  The only problem is, this elbow rubbing opportunity comes with a pretty price tag and it's not cheap. So now I'm faced with a challenge.  How to I get the money to afford to attend something I feel so strongly about.  The obvious answer would be "save your money from the clients you book this year to go" and that was my thought too however it's a limited attendance conference and it sells out quick so waiting for the end of the summer won't work.  This is when a money tree or a pot of gold in the backyard would come in super handy.  What are your thoughts on ways to save for things you feel strongly about? I'm open to suggestions.

My Daily Mantra

Did you know...

Machines print bar codes on the envelopes, but hand-canceling (which you can request at the post office) is done by just marking each stamp, keeps invitations neat and prevents damage that machines can cause

Being Thankful...

Being Thankful...

{sorry, this is going to be a long one}

 

On this first Thursday of the new year, I am especially thankful for: 

My parents have always been there for me, and I know they are two of the biggest blessings in my life.  They've set such a huge example for how I choose to live my life.  With compassion, kindness, love, and a strong appreciation for family.

My extended family.  All of them.  I am related to LOTS of very special people.  Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and close friends that are like family... they're all a blessing.

 

My brother.  We've grown so much closer this past couple years.  He's got a bigger heart than 99% of this world.  He's a good person and friend.

 

My girlfriends... they're more than just girlfriends.  They're my best friends.  No matter what, all of them would be there for me in a second.  They're my secret keepers, text message buddies, guidance counselors and so much more.

Our friends are the core to who we are.  They are so very important to Adam and I and with out them, we wouldn't be whole.  They provide so much love, laughter, good memories, and friendship to our lives.

 

My Job. I'm lucky to have a job that allows me to use my skills to help others and the flexibility to do something I am truly passionate about.

 

And lastly, my Fiance.

This guy makes me truly happy.  I'm not always perfect... but he is absolutely my best friend.  I could cry just thinking about the moment he's going to see me walk down the aisle towards him.  He has such a joy and excitement for his hobbies... and he is the king of teaching others about them.  Adam and I have so much to be thankful for this year.  And next year.  And not a single hour of a day goes by that I don't recognize that.

Thank you to ALL of the people who read my blog and send me emails and comments.  I write and share about my life because it's meaningful to me and I enjoy it.  When people tell me they read along, it makes me feel so special.  Thank you.

Happy New Year to you and your families!!

May your 2013 be filled with beautiful moments.

INSPIRING NEW YEARS EVE

I've always thought having a New Years Eve wedding would be fun. People are already looking for a place to celebrate and why not celebrate your love AND the new year! Here is a little Friday inspiration for those brides with the same idea:
 

Ask A Planner - Advice Thursdays

Congratulations to all you new brides out there! More people get engaged between December 15th and 31st then any other time of year.  Being engaged is one of the most exciting times of your life. You’re in love and the whole world knows it. But now what?

BUDGETING
The truth is unless you have been closely involved with the plans of your sister’s, best friend’s or any other person’s big day, you are going to be shocked by the cost of a wedding. To avoid a lot of stress, determine up front how much you can afford and how much your family can contribute. From there set an approximate budget that you will use as a guideline when interviewing and hiring vendors.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Where will it be? Do you dream of a traditional wedding in the church you grew up attending? Do you want your feet in the sand? How about a private estate in the mountains? No matter where it is held, choosing the location should be one of your first decisions.

HIRING YOUR SUPPORT TEAM
Assembling the perfect team of experts for your day is crucial in the success of your wedding day. Remember, it is not only about style and budget, but you need to be able to trust each person in carrying out your vision. Here is a list of the vendors you may consider hiring for your day:

• Wedding Planner
• Ceremony Venue
• Reception Venue
• Caterer
• Floral Designer
• Photographer
• Cinematographer
• Cake Designer
• Ceremony Entertainment
• Reception Entertainment
• Stylist
• Stationer
• Lighting Company
• Linens
• Rental Company

In an effort to secure your preferred vendors, prioritize your interviews with the professionals that need to be present on your wedding day. For instance, your photographer will probably only be shooting one wedding per day however your stationer or linen supplier can obviously service more than one couple per any given date.

While interviewing, always ask for references, review contracts line by line and be upfront about your budget. Many vendors will customize their services to fit your needs, so it is important to be honest. This will save time and frustration for all involved.

NOTE: All vendors require a non-refundable deposit to hold your wedding date or start services. Be prepared to put out close to 50% of your entire wedding day budget during the beginning of the planning process.

THE DETAILS
Once you have your team in place, start thinking about the specifics. What type of flowers will you carry? What color of linens do you want? What songs will be played during the ceremony? If you are a bride that knows exactly what you want, great! If not, spend some time researching wedding resources, gathering inspiration and talking with your vendors. As a general guideline, work to have all details and decisions made no later than one month before your wedding day. This will allow you to enjoy the days leading up to your union.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
No matter what, keep in perspective the true meaning of the day. A more carefree mindset will save your sanity as you try to manage diva vendors, keep your soon-to-be inlaws happy and remain sane. Congratulations again and happy planning!

Happy Holidays!

Well, I'm just going to say it...I suck.  I made promises that I would be blogging weekly and I have failed to come through on my promise.  So that is one of my New Year’s resolutions (people still make those right??): one blog post at least once a week.  Now if we are being honest, my real goal should be to do three per week: one post about our wedding planning, one post about general life happenings and one post about event related tips, tricks etc.  But, to be sure I am not overloaded I’m going to work on one post a week.  Maybe I’ll surprise myself.

All is well here on Katrina Street.  Adam has been duck hunting like a crazy man.  He goes almost every day he’s not on shift.  Ruger loves all the opportunities and from what I hear he is doing great.  All I know is that he comes home nice and tired which makes this dog mommy very happy.  I have been pretty busy too.  After sitting down and looking at what it takes to go into business for myself, my first realization is that I have to have money coming in to be able to get started.  I found an amazing job right down the road from home at Guide Dogs for the Blind.  I am the new Pacific Northwest Development Associate; handling all special events logistics and planning, PacNW marketing and assisting the Development Director with donor relations.  The campus is only 3.1 miles from my house and it takes me 5 minutes to get to work.  Not a bad commute.  Everyone I have met at GDB has been so welcoming and nice.  There are dogs everywhere here! You’re hard pressed to find a desk that doesn't have a sleepy lab or golden underneath it.  I’m settling in just fine. 

The only sad thing to report is that we won’t be going south for the holidays.  Adam is scheduled to work on Christmas and with my new job I just can’t get away.  It is going to be a little weird but we’ll get by.  I’ll probably cook the timeless Orr family tradition of Chicken Wellington on Christmas Eve and then we’ll have lots of leftovers seeing as the recipe is for 4-6 people not 2.

Wedding planning hasn't gone anywhere quite yet.  We are still working on a budget and overall direction of the event.  Once the new year begins we’ll start nailing down details and picking things up.  I've got some great ideas on how to ask m’ladies to be in the festivities and I've been working hard to get every detail perfect for when the time comes…SO much fun!

I guess besides my blogging resolution I have a couple others…obviously eating healthy and getting more exercise would be at the top of the list…I’d like to drop another 40 before I start looking at wedding dresses.  The other thing I want to concentrate on is being happy.  Don’t get me wrong, I am happy with my life and where it is headed but I tend to let the small stuff make me grumpy.  I need to be better at letting things slide off my back and not worrying about stuff I have zero control over.  Easy right?  Not so much for me but I’m willing to give it my all.  Plus, I know living with a grumpy person is no fun and I feel bad for Adam & Ruger sometimes. 

Ya know, while I’m at it I’m going to make a couple new year’s resolutions for Ruger too.  He will resolve to work on not jumping up on people when they come into a room (no matter how darn excited he gets), having better manners when greeting other animals (jumping on cats makes them upset even if he thinks he is their size, he isn't and horses don’t much like being barked at),  staying quite when he can’t get his way (barking and whining is not acceptable behavior even when you are only 1) and finally giving his mommy extra kisses when she asks for them (because we all know he loves me more…wink wink). 

So, this holiday season will be a quiet one for the Oliver/Orr household but I promise there are more exciting things coming in 2013.  Do you make resolutions every year?  Do you end up sticking to them?