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Happy New Year Y’all! What Worked in 2012…
Hello everyone! Happy 2013!!! As a family, we have been stuck in the never-ending cycle of colds but we are finally coming out of the woods and I’m starting to feel like I can breathe again here. One of my dearest friends, Lara Casey has posted her AMAZING goal setting exercises for 2013, so I, my friends have been working, working, working on this, getting myself ready for 2013. If you have time, PLEASE check it out. I have done this for a few years already, and it really does put you in a different mindset.
On that note, the first part of my exercise: What DID work in 2012. There is a whole lot more but I thought I would share a snippet of what worked for me (professionally and personally) this year.
Transitioning to my family, full time: At first I had written “Transitioning to Chic Sweets”, but in reality, looking back, I think the decision always came down to my family. For years, I had worked 50+ hours a week, and in 2008 accepted a position that had a hour (sometimes more) commute. The work was rewarding, pay, benefits all of that really wonderful stuff, but everything around me was suffering. My family, my marriage, me. It’s like you give a small piece of yourself to everything but nothing really ever gets the full 100 percent. So in the beginning of 2012, I took a big jump and resigned from my position, staying home full time with Baby Preston.
IMAGE CREDIT: SHAY COCHRANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Chic Sweets rebrand: 2011 was all about working on a rebrand, and in 2012, was when I finally got to see my “virtual baby” born. It felt like such a breath of fresh air, and most of all, it felt like me. Simple, and chic. For years, I had collected so many gorgeous images of my work and now I had a platform to showcase all of it. We also updated all our collateral which was a biggie for me—I LOVE our business cards and collateral materials and they make me smile. Yes, I’m weird like that. We also increased our pricing in 2012, something I was somewhat nervous about but I knew it was time to really add my value to the work we provide. And you know what I found once we did the rebrand? That we were attracting the clients that valued our work, and what we could do for them. We were in synch with our clients and they, with us. There is still so much I could go on about this, but all I can say is that there is lot of work and areas that I still need work!
IMAGE CREDIT: CARRIE WILDES PHOTOGRAPHY
Confidence in my work: This year, I really felt my confidence in my work grow. Gone were the days I would sneak a peek at what my competitors were doing or looking at any newcomers with any apprehension and fear. Designing is what sets my heart on fire and once I accepted that the only thing I can control is my work and what I present to my clients, I let the rest go. And you know what? My work got better and I felt more at ease when working my clients.
Baby Preston: Just that. Everything with Baby P worked. I can’t lie. It’s can be beyond tough with the other boys, but I take deep breaths, and always remind myself how incredibly blessed we are. And we so are.
IMAGE CREDIT: SHAY COCHRANE PHOTOGRAPHY
One Day a Month Commitment: In 2012, I decided that I would give Spencer and Carson (Kindergarten and Preschool) some time each month at their school where I volunteer. Sometimes it’s reading books or helping out the teacher. This has been a blessing in disguise for me. It can be something that may not always be the most convenient, but when I’m there, I’m happy and convinced that my boys appreciate seeing their mama helping out.
Steve: Yesterday I looked at my wedding photos and sometimes that is hard to believe that is “us.” We are so different than that carefree couple smiling back at me. No worries, no stresses, just a simple love. I was pregnant with Spencer soon after. Our relationship has changed so much since those days and I’m going to make an attempt to put that into words. My relationship with Steve is one that I completely cherish. He is and will always be the first person I listen to (and trust me, I can be insanely stubborn). He challenges me when I could do better and lifts me up when I need it. Even better, sometimes he gives me a hug and doesn’t say anything. Are there fights? Arguments? Times when “he’s not my favorite person?” Yes, yes, and yes. But we always come back to each other, deeper in love and deeper connected. Steve, if you ever read my blog (and I know sometimes you do)—I love you.
IMAGE CREDIT: SHAY COCHRANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Relationship with God: I don’t read the Bible. There I said it. I don’t even remember the last time I opened one. Well…maybe at church…but I quickly closed it. But I can honestly say that not a day has gone by that I don’t think about God, talk to Him, pray to him. Even when I was little, I always remembered having conversations with God, usually in my head but that always made me feel good. It always felt right. Years later, I had children and that relationship has changed even more. Now, I look to God in smaller moments (like in my car on my way to get the kids or when I’m about to pass out on my bed), but He is always there, always in heart and it may not be the right way…I may not have Bible verses memorized or go to church as much as I would like, but I’m a firm believer that you have to do what works for you, inside, in your heart. In 2012, we talked about God a lot, to my husband, to my children. My parents never forced it on us, but it just always felt like a habit, like putting on a jacket, so I never gave it a second thought. God was part of my life and I’m constantly thinking about ways to inject that same feeling to my children, even if they are still really young.
Pediatric Cancer: Four years ago I stumbled upon a blog by Holly McKrae about her daughter Kate, undergoing chemotherapy for a very rare (but aggressive) brain tumor. She is in remission now, but her story and faith in God, always stuck with me and I told myself that I would help and not remain on the sidelines. In 2012, I told Steve that we were not going to donate to several charities with different causes, although all very important I wanted to center my focus helping families fighting these horrible (and the word “horrible” doesn’t seem strong enough) cancers. So besides donating financially (when we could), we had our children make cards during the Holidays, and we also participated in two great events—Fashion Funds for a Cure and Calendar for a Cause—both events left us profoundly affected and just wanting to do more.
Carmen: I don’t believe I’ve ever talked about Carmen on my blog, but she has been in my children’s life since they were all 8 weeks old. She is my caregiver, mommy number two and one of the best people I know. She is part of “Team Clamp” and without her, none of this works.
My Mom, Dad, Brother, (sister in law) Natasha: This may seem odd to many, but I talk to my mom every morning, my dad in the evenings, my brother every other day, and his wife, my sister-in-law at least once a week. Crazy, right? But they are my support system, my venting system and don’t get me wrong, we have moments of frustration with each other, but we never lose sight of what’s important.
Work Boundaries: In 2012, I decided to streamline my schedule and only work around a three day schedule, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. These are the days, I work, work, work. On Mondays and Fridays, I focus on Preston, but if I can, I will prep for clients or do small projects.Sometimes this fluctuates, but really, it’s been helpful most of all for me, and I get a lot more done when I know my time is limited for work productivity.
Dance Parties: In 2012, we started having random dance parties. Just turned off the lights, blare the music and we all start dancing. This should be mandatory in every household. Period.
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Happy Day with the Southern Weddings Ladies
Happy December everyone!!! How are all of you doing?? Love December, cookies, Advent Calender, Christmas songs and just taking a deep breath before the new year begins.
Today, though, I’m feel incredibly grateful that Chic Sweets’ yummy cake pops were featured in the latest Southern Weddings 5th Anniversary issue. I would be lying if I didn’t say that I stared at the picture numerous times, bought copies and even made my mom and dad run to the nearest Barnes n Noble to get a copy…or two.
The community that Southern Weddings has created through their website, social media, and magazine is amazing. I kid you not, you feel the love pour out of each page–I mean it’s so hard to explain but the best I can say is that I have every issue and it’s one of those magazines that remain on your coffee table because they are just too darn special.
I’m also grateful that my relationship with these ladies has grown and we are not only lucky to be a Blue Ribbon Vendor but also that we can send them our red velvet cake pops every month with their trademark Southern Weddings touch.
Love you ladies!
PS–Happy Holidays everyone!!!
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Conceptbait Beach Bash by Limelight Photography
Hello everyone! Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, my all-time favorite holiday! Seriously. This year we hosted Thanksgiving which probably wasn’t the brightest idea considering we are still in wedding season, but when you see everyone you love under one roof, it was definitely worth it!
So onto an event I’ve been holding out on featuring–Conceptbait’s Beach Bash! This was a great event, celebrating Conceptbait’s 10th birthday and a massive celebration with their awesome partners (cough, cough), event industry leaders and clients. If you know Frank and Lynn, you know that this duo was not going to throw just any celebration but a real, experience that I was oh, so happy to be a part of–there was truly no detail left uncovered.
Enjoy the pictures, from my dear friends over at Limelight and for a complete list of partners involved in making this celebration happen in a really BIG way, please scroll down below.
Hope all of you have a great week!
PS–and as a sidebar, thank you so much for all of the well wishes from my ealier post about Sasha. So many of you reached out via email and facebook and it really helped. Sasha is still hanging in there and doing ok.
IMAGE CREDIT: LIMELIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
Wow…I look like I’m concentrating real hard on this one 🙂
Event Partners:
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Sasha
So I feel like I’ve been staring at this blinking cursor for a long time, and I’m not entirely sure how this blog post will go so bare with me if it comes out a bit scattered. These past few weeks have been great with Chic Sweets, wedding season, is full steam ahead…but like a turtle, when things aren’t great, I feel myself go inside of myself and I’m not sure why. Well…I do…but I’m one of those weirdly superstitious people that sometimes believe that if you don’t say it out loud, it won’t happen. Yes…I know…evidently I’m nine years old.
You see…my dog, Sasha is dying of cancer.
Dying.
And there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.
Sasha is a husky and has been with me for thirteen years. When I was 20 and in college, I brought her to my parents and told them the pet store had loaned her to me as part of a new “loaner program” they had. Truthfully, I had just scored a credit card on campus (free Gator shirt included) and decided that same day I wanted a dog. But not just any dog. A husky I had my eye on for a few weeks, while working at the mall. Did it make sense, at the time? Considering I was surviving on Ramen noondes, not really. But for me, that was the start of my family, and my new beginning.
So today, I decided to come up with my own “I’m grateful” list, in honor of everything she has taught me and our family.
Sasha–
1. I’m grateful that you have watched me grow up, been there for every moment in college, snuggled with me through every tear shed over silly boys and tolerated my drunken debaucheries (only a few mom, I swear)
2. I’m grateful for every escape you have had, the escape artist you are. You swam in the lake for hours, ran with the cows and horses and have had numerous neighbors searching for you on more than one occassion. The best escape was when you disappeared for two days, and only found you after posting numerous reward signs across town.
3. I’m grateful I have such an amazing husband that loves you more than anything and is even more sad than me that you will be leaving us soon.
4. I’m grateful you understood when our family had to grow. From you to four children your spot in the middle of our bed soon disappeared. I’m sorry for that Sash.
5. I’m grateful that you treated your brothers with love, despite their usual craziness. You always were “it” when they played hide-n-go-seek and when I saw you creep under our bed for a moment of silence, I knew why.
6. I’m grateful for every shoe you chewed up, the chocolate bunny you swallowed during Easter and to this day I still don’t know how you chewed up a corner of the bed, literally. You ate the foam, padding, everything. How did you do that?
7. I’m grateful you have taught my children huge lessons about love, sickenss and what happens when you die. My children have learned so much from the love you have shared. They amaze me with their understanding of where you will be going and when I cannot stop crying, my children are the first to remind me that you are going to “doggie heaven where doggie Jesus is.”
8. I’m grateful even though your doctor has given you no more than a few days, that you continue to run, play and hang out with your youngest brother after the others have worn you out.
9. I’m grateful for all the stories you have given me, your daddy, your abuelos and our children. So many stories that we will be able to remember you by every single day. My favorite was when you escaped and scared the wits out of our neighbor’s son who had just come home from college. You woke him up that morning with a lick and a scream.
10. Most of all, I’m grateful that I had YOU. And when your time comes, all I will be able to say that I love you and that you are the BEST dog anyone could have. Thank you for choosing me from that pet store window. Thank you, thank you, thank you Sasha.
Love, your Mommy.
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Orange and Coral Dessert Table by Limelight Photography
Hello everyone! Hope all of you are doing fantastic–can you believe we are already in October and Target is running Christmas commercials? Goodness! Well today I wanted to share a lovely table with a color palette that I cannot get enough of. As everyone knows, coral has been my latest obsession this year. Everything with coral makes me smile. And today’s table is super special with my besties over at MMD Events for a little, gorgeous floral and with Limelight Photography, it just doesn’t get better.
This latest table happens to take place at the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Showcase, a bridal show we have partnered up with, for a few years now. I’m particular about the shows we attend because there are so many out there but we just love PWG’s bridal shows, their partners/exhibitors, and so if you looking to see some great vendors, up-close, check out their schedule here.
Happy Wednesday everyone!
PS: Can we just take a moment to appreciate the amazingness of the boss man’s skills for our table backdrops? Seriously, his meticulous painting skills for our backdrops blows me away every time.
IMAGE CREDIT: LIMELIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
