To Dream in a Dress

Checking out the latest and greatest in weddings from my favorite websites over the past week, I've come across a collection of gowns inspired by the new Alice in Wonderland movie. Is it Wonderland or simply just Wonderful?! Either way , I have fallen head over heals, like Alice! The most fabulous part... you don't have to fall in a hole or even wait to get married to wear the look.

Designer Sue Wong designs beautiful gowns for all affairs. A cross between the simplicity that is Vera Wang's and Betsy Johnson's unique flair, I can't imagine anyone not feeling incredible while waltzing around in one of these pretty creations. They have style, lace, feathers, crystals, and more... ahhhhh! A dream!

You can find Sue Wong designs at www.suewong.com or in two of my favorite stores: Neiman Marcus & Nordstrom... (just to name a couple).

Network Me to the Top Scotty

Everyday I join thousands of other women building their businesses. We sit in front of our computers, checking facebook, tweeting, blogging, talking to people all day long. Working that social network. We network.

Most entrepreneurs are part of networking groups. They are everywhere, simply peers wanting to help. We ask so many questions. Which group fits me? Can they help me decide which trade show I should buy into? When should I try to grow? Who should I listen to? What advice should I take? Millions of questions. Will I know the answers? We all have the same questions. The biggest one may be, "Is today the day?"

Is today the day for what?

The big payoff! The day when all of the hard work finally collides with the break of a lifetime. When opportunity finally meets reality and you realize that this brilliant idea is going to finally take off! What are the statistics of that happening?!

There are thousands of how-to books written on succeeding in business. They offer chapters of inspiration. Follow these steps and you can make it too. Create your brand. People will want what you have to offer. Have the winners attitude. You are your best advertisement. You have something that somebody wants, needs, and can't live without. Open their eyes to it!

I've read these books. I have. Not nearly all of them, but enough of them. I've found them to be a bunch of words that motivate me to try. They don't necessarily have exact steps to follow. There isn't a handbook for how you will succeed. Though most of them almost guarantee that you will... if you buy the book. Well, I have bought the book. And as I've said, I have read the book. I've applied my new found knowledge from the book. What do I do now? Wait? Take more risks? Try harder?

We go into this venture with our eyes wide open. With business plans in hand, quickbooks downloaded, and our business licenses hanging on our cork boards. We believe in our ideas. We put ourselves out there and mercilessly facebook our companies in our friends faces! Completely hoping that they won't get tired of it and will spread the seed to their friends and family, and then word of mouth will grow. Like a flower. Like a Bloomsies (that was a plug). This is not as easy as it may seem, pride does get in the way sometimes. Most of us have knots in the pits of our stomachs when we are promoting our goods. We want everyone to believe in them as much as we do.

Everyday I join thousands of women as we work to build our businesses. Is it a gamble? Will this networking thing work for me? The hopes are high for a positive answer to this question. Maybe success is in the stars for me, and if is... I will do two things: 1) continue to be part of networking groups, and 2) continue to work hard. Well, and maybe I'll write a book too!

http://www.itsbloomsies.com/

It is exhausting, but I'm not complaining!

I can't believe how long it has been since my last blog. I've been busy with my kids and with Bloomsies. At the end of the day, sitting down to type my thoughts has been close to impossible. My eyes are usually closed!

Especially with the kids reading to me at night! It relaxes me. I'll crawl in one of their beds, snuggle in next to a warm body, and then wake up at 3:00 a.m. only to wander back into mine and finish my sleep. It is not a cycle I am particularly proud of, but I admit, it doesn't really bother me much. They won't be this small much longer. Calli is ten. Nathan is seven. We won't fit into a twin together for many more years. Right now I am glad they want me there. They read to me, I rub their backs and my mind focuses on something other than the biz. Its good. Little voices can be very soothing.

Back to my Bloomsies. My other time consuming baby. I am happy to report that it is growing. My website has been launched. You should visit it! http://www.itsbloomsies.com/. I've become involved with two groups, Ladies Who Launch and the Snohomish Wedding Guild. Both have already opened doors for Bloomsies that I can't wait to jump through and see where they lead. I've also chosen to show off my blooms at a couple of trade shows coming up. I'll be part of the Ladies Who Launch booth at The Seattle Women's Show (the first weekend of March), in Snohomish on May 15th, and at the Seattle Home and Gift Show in August. (Wow, I need a Bloomsies event page added to my website!) To top it off, if this doesn't sound busy enough, the Bloomsies have actually been selling.! Its great! Exciting and scary at the same time, but I've got support all around me, and I am ready!

With that, I will continue to pull a couple of all-nighters during the week. I will sit at the computer facebooking and twittering, think on my daily run, and talk about Bloomsies until everyone has heard of them. I will. No matter how tired I get. It isn't the easiest road, choosing your own business, but its the road I'm taking. Abraham Lincoln once said, "I am successful because a friend believed in me and I didn't want to let him down." I love this quote. It is not a bad thing to find your drive through the cheers from the people who love you. Athletes do it all the time. So, it may seem like a long time between some blogs, but I guarantee that I will be back to update as regularly as I can. Who knew it'd be so exhausting!

I'm feelin' IT!

I love when an ordinary day becomes something incredible!

Today the sun is shining and it is 17 degrees out.

The kids and I got in the car to do our daily drive to school. We were on time, nothing was rushed this morning, the music was cranked and we were all smiles.

Calli my ten-year-old who has the "I am too cool for you, Mom" attitude these days, was actually pleasant. These few and far-between moments must be celebrated! We sang together... loudly!

While we jammed to the Black Eyed Peas, I got a feelin', Nathan (my seven year old) yelled, "MOM! TURN DOWN THE SPLIT PEAS!" With a laugh, I did. He simply said, "I love you."

Oh, it was like a warm hug! My daughter was happy. My son was sweet. I was overjoyed! It really doesn't take much these days. Its going to an incredibly, good day... I got a feelin'.

Book Worthy

Photo by Carrie Sheidt

If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and every day you have the opportunity to write a new page.

Hello world!

Everyday is another part of your story. Do you live it like you want to or are you lost in the daily grind? I find both in my story, but this is what makes a truly great story... in my opinion.

Most days are just the normal things that nobody really cares about but me. We wake up, the kids make it to school, I get a work out in, and some work done, then it's time to pick the kids up again and do the after school stuff that leads to dinner and bedtime.

Then there are those moments throughout the day that are remarkable. These are the moments that make my story magnificent. For example, I drop the kids off at school and they both yell "I love you" just before closing the car door and running to class. My heart jumps for joy every time! Or that time during the workout when it gets hard and I drive past the pain to make it count, letting any self doubt disappear with power instead. YES! Oh, and when I get another order for a Bloomsies! Someone else will receive this gift that I love to make!!! These chapters that make me want to read more! Great... turn the page... see what happens next! They are the moments that lead to the car stalling on the side of the road, but I make it home because it happened on a hill and I could just coast for the 1/4 mile right into the driveway. Suspense. They are the moments that make it easier when the sadness of losing a good friend could take over. Grief. The roller coaster that is love, they make it worth it. Drama. Romance. Winning a dream trip to Antigua. Surprise. Unexpected. Traveling to new places, seeing new things, and being a part of the bigger world. Anticipation... what will happen next? Laughing with friends. Silliness. Dancing. Running. Being part of something bigger... Action. My life has it. So does yours. I guess we just have to keep seeing the interesting in it.

My great grandmother used to say, "only boring people get bored." I personally, don't think there is a boring person. So nobody should be bored, we should simply be magnificent!

Batteries

Why is it that the batteries in your camera always seem to fail at the perfect "kodak moment?"!

An Amazing Event Part II

It was funny, sitting there with my back to the mirror. People around me would make comments about how great it was looking and all I could tell was that there was a lot of bobby pins and I could see the curling iron. When it was done, I turned around and how fun was that look?! A new twist to a 1940's hair style! Nothing I would ever think of doing, but fabulously elegant just the same. I LOVED IT!

Make up time!

Karen did my make-up. Very chic. And as the afternoon progressed Erin would come by with more powder or blush, add a darker eye, fake eyelashes. She was constantly checking all of us and working to get the looks just right. In her words: it was perfect!

At five thirty, just as the guests were arriving the last girl was done and it was time for lips and gowns. My lips were a dark, brick red. They showed up! I was feeling very glamorous, if I do say so myself. With the gown on, pink silk slippers on my feet, and a beautiful floral arrangement of yellow tulips and bright greens in my hand I was ready for the ballroom.

Its not everyday that you get to just walk around a room full of people in a wedding gown. Its hard to know exactly what to do. Smile. Smile a lot. Make eye contact with the guests. Smile more. Talk to the little girl with the pink dress and silver shoes. Stop and visit with the vendors. Visit with the other bridal models. Talk about the gown. Oh, the designer is Anne Barge. It's very light, lined in silk. Yes, very comfortable... I don't want to take it off. It twirls! Voletta Couture. The earrings? Aren't they fabulous?! I know! The Gown Diva put the look together. You should call her! Walk slowly.

I had a train, so walking slowly was the key. The Dome Room was full. People everywhere. When my train was stepped on, I'd just stop. Strike a pose. Vogue! When the guest was off of the gown, I'd continue as if nothing had happened. I loved it! Every minute of it!

Three of us were taken back to room 311 to be photographed by Seattle Metropolitan Bride Magazine for 15 minutes and when we returned the live auction began, and the movement in the room stopped. Brooke, from The Ladies Room morning talk show on MOViN 92.5, led the event from the stage. All five of the models were eventually called to the stage for one last chance to display the dresses. We smiled and laughed, and really made the most of it. The bidding began. The package? The auction package was #1028/The Gown Diva Package: Choice of one of Anne Barge's gowns that were being modeled at the event. A Gown Diva Consultation. She would style the bride-to-be for the big day. A Madina Vadache veil and Grace shoes courtesy of Voletta Couture. This package valued at $4050.00

Everyone cheered on the two bidders. A bride's fiance, his fiance (of six years!) was modeling a gown on stage, and the other bidder, the mother of another model on stage had a small bid war going. In the end, the mother won and will be wearing MY gown on her wedding day! I realize this was not a competition, however, I was really hoping the gown I was representing would be chosen. It was too great not to be!

I always think its sad at the end of an event. Like a holiday, it takes so much time to prepare for and then it is just over. Done. I had to get out of the gown. I had to take the strand of crystals and pearls out of my hair, which consequently led to taking my hair up do apart. Liz said I could keep the bouquet. I was Cinderella, but instead of a glass slipper to remember tonight by, I had flowers. Beautiful flowers created by Christopher Flowers and they are sitting right next to me as I write my blog.

The Get Hitched Give Hope 2009 was a magical event. Congratulations to the creators of such a wonderful Charity. The cause was worth all of the time and effort that you put into it throughout the year. The vendors were incredible. I can see many beautiful wedding days inspired by them. And to all of the people who raised their numbers and gave to the cause, YOU ROCK! $35,000 was raised to help fulfill wishes and that is priceless. Throwing an event for charity is much like having your back turned to the mirror as someone is doing your hair, you don't know how it will turn out but you hope for something spectacular. I'm so happy that it was just that... nothing short of spectacular!

To learn more about The Get Hitched Give Hope event visit the website: http://www.gethitchedgivehope.com/

To find Christopher Flowers: http://www.christopherflowers.biz/

Find more gowns at Voletta Couture: http://www.volettacouture.com/

To find the Gown Diva: http://www.gowndiva.com/

To learn more about the Dome Room: http://www.thearcticclubhotel.com/

To see more make up and hair by Erin and her girls: http://www.bellatrixstudio.com/