My Darlings

It is NOT every day...

...that you get an email from MARY DANN!!!!!!!
That is right!
Here is how our conversation went...

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I am flattered you chose my article for your blog site. Tahk you!! Can you please just add a like to my site www.marydann.com and in more distinguishable “pink” color. My name Mary Dann-McNamee seems super faint and hardly visible.


Thanks Rebecca!! Really appreciate it!!

Mary
 
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Good Evening Mary,


Thank you SO MUCH for the email :) I fixed the article and added a link to your website. I also changed the color to black.

It is an honor to get an email from such a true inspiration and talent in our field!!!

Sincerely,

Rebecca Calagna

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Hi Rebecca!!


You are so sweet!! And Super fast!!! Thanks!!!

Your site is terrific!!

Keep up the great work!!

Mary
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Just the inspiration I needed right now!
Here is the blog post she is referring to: Why Hire a Wedding {Planner}?

Big Boy!

My big boy got his first haircut yesterday!
He was such a good boy and sat there for Uncle Soner. His face was very serious the whole time and I am sure he was thinking. , "What the heck are you doing to me?"
I was sad and I saved some hair but it was time. Vincent looks like such a handsome little big boy now.
When Chris got to Gram and Pops from work, he kept looking at Vincent...then he said, "You took him to get his first haircut without his Dad??" OOPS!!!!!! But we decided it wasn't his first trip to a Barber shop, so that will be all Chris.

Isabella also got her bangs trimmed and her nails painted in purple with pink polka dots. I got a Mani, Pedi and some gloss on my hair. And we got to spend some time with B-fabulous (Bianca) who happened to have an appointment too...
A great afternoon!

Wednesdays

Wednesdays are our busy days. But first rewind to Tuesday night after we got home from Tahoe. I was so happy because the house was mostly clean and I was able to focus on unpacking and doing the laundry. I finished the laundry Tuesday night and Wednesday I put the laundry away, straightened the house and did errands while Bella was in school. I even made the beds before we left in the morning, so I was feelin' extra good! It only took me one day to get back in order after our trip. With Ms. Amanda after school, Bella watched movies, made bouncy balls and also played with clay. I was productive with some work organization, ordering and emails. After Ms. Amanda left, Bella got dressed and we headed to Ballet. This was Isabella holding her creation from Ms. Amanda before leaving for Ballet.

Success??

I realized the other night that part of me has been scared of being successful.
Afraid of failing and not doing a good job.
Afraid that I lack the skills to really be a top wedding planner.
Because of this I tend to shy away from things that can further my business.
I avoid wedding shows on TV because I get jealous that I will not be as successful as the coordinators I see.
But...
I also realized that I should be proud of myself. I have done a good job. I coordinate top notch weddings without a hitch. I think I could hold my own against many other coordinators, they just happen to catch a "break".
My negativity will stop.
Why now?
Because my life is falling into place. I have the support of family and friends who truly believe in me. My husband gives me the opportunity to stay at home and enjoy my kids. I have a perfect sitter who lets me have 3 hours, 2 days a week to concentrate on bettering my business. I had a house cleaner come last week (and probably will come once a month) so that I am not so overwhelmed with keeping my house clean. I have a schedule.
More than anything, my confidence in myself has grown and I couldn't imagine doing anything else!!
I would say, "Wish me Luck" on my newfound focus, but whenever I say that to Chris before I leave for an event he says, "You don't need luck!"

Adventure

On Friday afternoon while we were playing at Chuck E Cheese with Vanessa and the kids, my Husband calls and says, "So...do you want to go on an Adventure?". All I could do was laugh at him and of course say, "SURE! Where we going?" He told me we would take a drive to Lake Tahoe leaving Friday early evening and driving half way, staying over in Bishop and then driving the rest of the way on Saturday morning. He came home early and we packed the kids and the car and hit the road... We had an absolute blast and it got me truly thanking God for this beautiful world and the blessings of my family... I was lucky to spend the weekend making memories with the 3loves of my life. It was my first time to Lake Tahoe and it was absolutely GORGEOUS! It was also my first time to the snow and the first time ever seeing snow fall! I loved it... We played in the Snow, rode the Gondolas up to Heavenly mountain, drove around the Lake, ate lots, played and enjoyed each other's company. Thank you Chris for a wonderful trip and for turning me into a great last minute packer! Ha-Ha! Don't feel the need to look through ALL of my pictures - you know I take tons!

Garden Grow...

Today was Ms. Amanda's first day babysitting! Isabella was so excited because she wanted Ms. Amanda to help plant her garden with her. Isabella requested Marigolds and Tomatoes so those she got (along with some carrots, radishes, squash and zucchini - thanks to Holly's cousin April for the suggestions!) She also has a bird house and a few other doodads! Next is my turn to work on the rest of the backyard. Thank you Ms. Amanda for all of your hard work! We are so happy with Bella's garden!!

Life as a Wedding Planner

What does a Wedding Planner do the week before a big wedding??

Let me tell you.

Makes 160 Seating cards + 16 seating cards on Whirly Pops ...

Makes 100 rose petal toss cones...


Makes 245 Menus...






Makes 245 Programs...





Makes 245 labeled containers for the Candy Buffet...

Packs up her Emergency kit and extra Supply kit. Packs 5 boxes of candy (after running out to get some last minute extra candy), 3 boxes of glass containers, and all rental items (none of which I got a photos of)...

Makes "Love is Sweet" and candy labels (these are also what the seating cards look like)...

Makes about 15 "Property of" Labels and tapes them to boxes...

Organizes her folder of paperwork...

Makes Wedding Information Packet with vendor information, timeline, processional/ceremony information, grand entrance information, diagrams of ceremony, terrace and ballroom...

Sends WAY TOO many emails and drinks WAY TOO much coffee....

Gives new assistant "RCE Standards of Excellence" and makes Coordinator briefing notes...

Straightens up the house so that is isn't a wreck when she comes home after the wedding on Saturday...

Makes many trips to the store...

Says countless THANK YOUs to Parents and Parents-in-law for watching the kids and Hubby for picking up paper that didn't arrive in time to make seating cards and cones....

Packs her car to the brim....

Changes 2 seating cards, with a smile, even though they are already done and packed up...

Does a Rehearsal....

Changes paperwork and 3 more seating cards, with a smile, even though everything is still done and packed up....

Talks to a potential Bride on the phone and sends email...

and really LOOKS forward to rocking a wedding tomorrow because she loves what she does and her Bride and Groom are awesome people!!

Our Easter

Before we headed downstairs on Easter morning to see if the Easter Bunny filled the baskets, we read the book "What is Easter" and we talked about the meaning of the day. I was so proud of Isabella... She told me that Jesus died on the cross and that on Easter he rose into Heaven. After our "Bible Lesson" we went downstairs and OF COURSE the bunny did bring some AWESOME things in the kids baskets. Isabella said, "you were right Mom!" She had a Princess themed basket and Vincent had mostly baseball stuff (GO DODGERS!) with a few other things thrown in. He loved seeing what was inside his basket and of course, he ate M&Ms for breakfast! Chris is on the no-carb diet, so the Easter bunny had to be creative this year (he also got a matching Dodgers t-shirt). And there were flowers for Mommy!

In the afternoon we headed to Grammy and Popi's house where we had a wonderful time with both our families. To see my kids learn the love and joy of having and being around family is such a blessing. We also had our traditional Easter Egg hunt. Taylor and her friends hid the eggs for the kids and they had so much fun finding them. We even found a few from last year (yuck!).

I have been a "workaholic" yesterday and today....I will continue to be this week...I am so looking forward to this wedding on Saturday.I am also looking forward to it being over :) I look forward to working on the three other invitation jobs I recently got and on finding more business out there! Have a wonderful week y'all!!

Easter Fun, Cont.

After another great meeting with a Bride (Thanks Bianca!) for invitations...we made our way to Grammy's house where we made cupcakes and dyed Easter eggs! Isabella loves baking and decorating the cupcakes, almost as much as she loves eating the batter (she is my child!). And she loved dying the Easter eggs all different colors and then painting them with glitter paint that she picked out at the store. Vincent even joined in the action! Bella can't wait for the Easter Bunny to come tonight while she is sleeping! I wonder if he will put "Stuff" in her basket or just candy?! (See the post a few below about the broken heart, if you didn't read it!)...