Meet Miss Katie: My New Intern

How about you introduce yourself and share a little bit about yourself?

My name is Katie Carlson; I was born and raised in Minnetonka, MN. The most important thing to me is my family. I have an older brother and a twin brother. Anyone who is friends with me knows that my brothers are my absolute best friends. I go to school at University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire. I am majoring in organizational communication and in the future I hope to be a wedding planner.

Katie, what excited you about this internship?

I was very excited about Andra’s love for anything and everything that is gold and pink. Her website is so colorful and girly, but still tasteful. I knew just by how it looked that I would love to work for Andra. I also have always had a passion for the wedding industry; I have always been the girl that cannot wait for the next bridal magazine to come in the mail. So, when I heard about the internship I thought it was a perfect opportunity to start learning how the wedding industry works. 

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Thoughtful: I never want anyone to feel sad or hurt. I always try to think of others and put them before myself.

Cheerful: I try to look at the positive side of things. I do understand that a lot of times it is easier said than done, but we only live once, so why not be happy?

A little bit of sass (yes...that is more than one word): I wouldn't say I am sassy, but that I have a little bit of sass. I am very protective of my family and friends and I would gladly stick up for them in any situation.

What do you like to do in your free time?

As much as I love being active, I am a huge homebody. I love spending time with my family, whether it is us sitting around our family room talking or going on errands with my mom. I also love to read, I have a never-ending list of books I want to read.

My favorite place

My favorite place in the entire world is my cabin. My family has owned it for over 50 years, so I love how much history is packed into one piece of land. I like that whenever I am up there one of my relatives will always be there as well. It is an added bonus that the water is right there, if I could I would spend my entire life in the water.

What would you do if you could not fail?

If I could do anything without failing I would pick up and move to a new country. I wouldn't know how to get around or most likely I would not speak the native language, but it would be such an amazing learning experience.

What is your favorite wedding movie?

I have a lot of favorite wedding movies, so this is hard. I believe my favorite one over all is Sweet Home Alabama. I love how she moved away from her home and started a new life, but deep down she has always been in love with her first husband. I find it adorable that they were childhood best friends. I’m also a huge country fan, so I love the soundtrack as well.

What is your favorite part about a wedding?

I would say that my favorite part of a wedding is seeing all the details come together. Meaning that you can see how the couple’s wedding invitation goes with the bridesmaid’s dresses and how both of these match the center pieces on the tables. I love seeing the finished product of everything.

What are three vices that you cannot live without?

Coffee: Sadly, I need coffee to get through any morning.

Shopping: It is my form of therapy.

My dog, Lillie: Whatever kind of day I am having she is always there to cheer me up. 

Less Hustle, More Heart

Less is More Series | Week 3

If any of you follow my little INSTAGRAM over here, you may have noticed a bit of a breakdown last week (followed by a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my East Coast Main Squeeze).  Yep, I officially had one of those “I'm-stressed-to-the-max-and-I-will-cry-at-any-second-because-everything-that-could-go-wrong-today-is-and-I-am-way-over-my-head-and-forgetting-to-breathe-because-I-have-no-control-over-this-situation-so-I-might-pass-out” days. The days where you have so much to do (not even necessarily work related), you just want to take a nap and forget about it all for an hour...or five.

It was just this past weekend, reflecting back on it all, where I realized that I’ve started to lose sight of my heart, and instead, was living for the hustle.  You know, the 

“How’s life?” 

“Just crazy busy!” 

conversations that happen day in and day out.

I’m realizing that every time I say yes to something that isn’t from the heart, I’m saying no to something that is.  Every yes that isn’t from the heart, is another moment of added hustle... What if I only said yes to things that gave my heart the giggles? Gave my heart compassion? Gave my heart purpose? Maybe I wouldn’t have as many days of total franticness (although, the flowers were a nice bonus) ;)

Let’s commit to one another: saying more yes’s to things that make our hearts soar, and more no’s to things that just...don’t. You in?

Check out week 1 and week 2 from this Series!

Less perfection, more progress

Less is More Series | Week 2

Dear all perfectionists,

Warning: sometimes, perfect isn’t always the best. *gasp* I know...I know... but here is the deal people: perfectionism can hold us back from making progress in our life. For example, you have no idea how many drafts of blog posts I have pending on my little slice of internet right now. It’s actually embarrassing.  The real reason I don’t post them isn’t because they aren’t ready, it’s because they aren’t perfect. Correction: perfect to my standards...

...and that’s just it.  I wonder how much more progress I would make in my life, if perfection wasn’t always a standard. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I want the work sent off to my clients to be perfect, but I also don’t want my life to be debilitated and frozen, just because I couldn’t get past that cloudy monster called ‘perfection.’

Think about it, how much more progress would you make in your day, if perfection wasn’t your standard? Think about how much further you would be with your dreams, goals, and day-to-day living. Sometimes you have to punch perfection in the gut, and make things (big things) happen.

Sincerely,

Miss Progress

Read Week 1 of this series here: Less comparison, More Creativity.

Jessica + Quinn

Jessica and Quinn's stationery was SUCH an honor to design, because back in the day (and I'm talking awkward-Josie-grossie-middle-school-days), Quinn and I went to school together.  Having gone to different colleges after High School, we naturally lost touch a bit, but reconnected when Quinn told me he was engaged (to the sweetest girl, I might add).

Jessica, Quinn, and I met up at a coffee shop in my hometown, and chatted new jobs, new homes, and oh yea, weddings :) They were planning a gorgeous and oh-so-elegant ceremony and reception.

Their stationery matched their heart totally, and I couldn't be more pleased with how they came out :) The elegant design, paired with the deep purples and silvery paper? Yep. Spot. On.

So happy for you Jessica and Quinn!

Less Comparison, More Creativity

Less Is More Series | Week 1

‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’  We’ve all heard it, but seriously, isn’t it way too true? And not only does comparison diminish joy, but doesn’t it steal creativity as well?  I can’t tell you how many times I get on a stalking cycle (not in a creepy way, I promise...), of so many experienced designers I adore, and just get way down on myself. While their work serves as inspiration, that’s exactly where it should stop.  So often we are paralyzed to act on our own ideas, moments, and creativity, because ‘it won’t be as good as so-and-so.’ YIKES. Let’s put an end to that. 

How often are you paralyzed by comparison? Really, take a second to think about it. The amount of time is ugly and gross. Are there ideas you’ve wanted to explore, things you’ve wanted to do, dreams you’ve wanted to accomplish? Well then, do it! You have my full permission to stop comparing yourself to others. Creativity is beautiful...explore it. 

Less comparison, more creativity. 

Bridal Fair Drawing Winners!

These past two weeks have been nuts blogettes! The Sunday before last I did the Menomonee Bridal Fair (had a blast), that following Wednesday I traveled out to New Jersey, I arrived back on Saturday evening, and did the Metropolis Bridal Fair the next day (also had a blast)! PHEW! It was awesome.

Anyways! Needless to say, I have finally picked my winners from the drawings at BOTH fairs! Thanks for patiently waiting :)

Since I am crazy and can't pick just one....I randomly picked 3. There are winners from both fairs, so don't worry, I didn't leave anyone out.

Drum roll please (wouldn't it be awesome if you actually drum rolled there?)....

Yay! Shout out to Nicole, Rebecca, and Sara for being awesome and winning (even though it was random) :) Still, you are awesome.

You will hear from me soon-woot woot!

In the meantime, are you getting all those behind-the-scenes looks of my biz on Instagram? Follow here!

Be loved today.