Dreaming BIG

This saying has become one that I think of quite often. I have a printed image of it framed on my desk. For the past couple months I've been actively emailing, calling, and even having a few phone interviews with wedding planners about a full-time internship next summer.

As required for my major, I have to complete 480 hours (SOO MANY!) next summer. I never got to study abroad so I have always told myself that I would spend my internship outside the state of North Carolina... and, well, that's what I'm doing!! I've emailed 16 (my lucky number!) different wedding planners in the cities of Chicago, NYC, London, Paris, the Hamptons, the Cape and even one in Monterey, California (where I was born!). I believe that internships are the most effective way to build your resume, network, and gain hands-on experience you can't learn in college. I want as many internships as I can get my hands on! Luckily, I heard back from half of the companies I reached out to. Only a couple were immediate "no"s and the others were optimistic about talking further with me or wanting me to contact them again early next year when they were ready to look for an intern.

I have high hopes for my summer in 2013. Hopefully I'll have some more definite updates soon!

"The Pink Ladies"

Boulder Days is a week-long competition, mainly between sororities, that takes place every year in support of the American Red Cross and put on by the brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha. Unfortunately, Phi Mu is still unable to participate on campus so a broader group was created for us by the Lambda Chi brothers called "The Pink Ladies". The group consisted of Phi Mu - Gamma Chi sisters and our friends It was a fun week of penny wars, watermelon eating, watermelon "tug-of-war", banner painting, lip syncing and even a friendly brother auction! 

 

AND WE WON FIRST PLACE!!!!!!!!!! A large part in thanks goes to our alumni that made online offers in the penny war and our fabulous sisters that placed their winning bids on quite a few Lambda Chi brothers! Great job ladies! 

My First 5k

I DID MY FIRST 5K!! On September 22, 2012, I completed my very first 5k race in downtown Greensboro. It was the 3rd race of the "Race The Bar" series. I'm proud to announce that I finished in 29:56, fourth in my age group and ninetieth overall. Not bad for my first one!

Coordinated Wedding & Events

After having an amazing internship with Coordinated Wedding and Events, I've been blessed with the opportunity to continue working with Summer and Susan Marie. My entire summer was full of wonderful memories, incredible experiences, and meeting new people. I could not have imagined a better practicum and I'm so happy to have gained new, lifelong friendships from it.

Photographs by Becki Dickinson Photography

PUPPY LOVE

Meet my sweet boy Brody!! The family got a beautiful new golden retriever from a family breeder in Apex. He is so adorable and smart and soft and playful and just PERFECT! Needless to say, I'm in love with him and slightly obsessed!

This last image is of the whole family of pups! Max, Mandy and Brody.

England Packing

My boyfriend has left for Manchester, England... Extremely sad but this semester is already proving to be a hard one and I'm on-the-go all the time. Even though he is almost 4,000 miles away, I'm so proud of him and can't wait to hear about everything he gets into! Another up side to him being "across the pond", I get to visit!!!!!! Plane flight from Greensboro, NC to Manchester booked for October 10th to the 16th! I can't even describe how excited we BOTH are for this visit. With that being said, what do I wear during this fabulous trip?!?!

My Ideas:

Quilted jacket, denim, and flats.

Blouses, jeggings, and accent necklace.

Blazer, full scarf, denim, and flats.

Ready to wear my navy, quilted J. Crew vest with brown Kenneth Cole boots.

White denim?

Need to invest in a solid, classic, long sleeve dress, nude pumps and over sided clutch.

Pop of color with a scarf and chain detail bag.

All-around adorable outfit!

Golden Retrievers

My obsession with golden retrievers started young! I was fortunate enough to experience the birth of a few litters of puppies because my parents bred retrievers at our home. Elsa and Stormy were the first couple that had puppies at our last home and we kept a little girl from Elsa's second litter named Mandy. My family in Illinois began breeding their goldens after seeing the pleasure we endured from caring for our puppies. From my aunt, we got our sweet and "special"Maximus. I say special because he is not the brightest but he sure is beautiful! Mandy and Max became a couple and had two litters before we "closed up shop" and stopped breeding. While we still have Mandy and Max in our lives, I look forward to the day that I have my own yard to run around in with my own adorable golden retriever!

Summer Home Dreaming

Here are a few photos I found on Element of Style blog that make me even more excited about the idea of having my own home eventually. The colorful, yet tasteful, touches are beautiful and just my style. Luckily, one of my friends and her boyfriend are renting their first home and we will be decorating their place soon!

But until that time comes that I'll have my own home to decorate and express my style... I'll see you at the pool!!!

Parissa and Grey's Wedding

The uniting of Parissa and Grey took place at the groom's family home, in a beautiful wooded area. The ceremony took place in the shaded driveway cove with their closest family and friends. The reception was held under a tent on the families tennis court, close to a running creek, that added to the beauty of the outdoor scene. 

Wedding Tip #5

Tom & Mesha's Day

On June 16th, 2012, Tom and Mesha tied the knot at Castle McCulloch in Jamestown, North Carolina. The wedding was beautiful and full of family. Black, white, cream, and shades of purple and pink added to the classical scheme of the night. The couple had their children add in the uniting of two families by having a sand ceremony that combined all of their sands. 

Wedding Tip #4