Less Technology, More Time

Less is More Series | Week 6

Need I say more? Can I get an amen? 

I was out to lunch the other day with a friend, and I saw a family of 5 all out to eat together.  It was super nice until I noticed this:

-Dad: on his cell phone

-Mom: on her cell phone

-Kid #1: playing with the Ipad

-Kid #2: playing his leap-frog game

-Kid #3: crying because he wanted to play with the Ipad

You guys, my heart hurt. It made me stop and think.  Have we lost the ability to realize what matters most? Are we going to look back and wonder what we could have learned about our family over that precious lunch time together? Time is such a treasure that we take for granted, and sometimes, technology is the bag of chocolate chips that we need ‘just one more handful’ of (confession: I just wanted to mention chocolate, because I’m craving it).  Anyways, you get the idea.  We think, “just 5 more minutes of facebook...” and then all of the sudden, your entire night is gone, and you haven’t said a word to your family, friends, roommate, or dog (for those of you that this applies to).

Don’t get me wrong, technology isn’t all bad (I mean, hello! Long distance relationship here! Preach! Thank GOD for Skype!), but there is a time and place where technology does more harm than good. Yea?

Let’s make a commitment to spend time with one another...like, real, time. Face-to-face time.  Laugh until you cry time.  Genuine, loving, and tech-free time.  

Like what you see? Read my last post here. 

Less Fear, More Focus

Less is More Series | Week 5

What are you fearful of?

Whatever it is, it can be paralyzing...can’t it? 

It’s amazing how much time I spend in my day thinking about what could go wrong, instead of just focusing on the task at hand, and kicking it in the butt! Having less fear, and focusing more? It’s a win win for more productivity, more accomplishment, and overall, more happiness.  

When you focus on what is truly important in this life, (like making a positive difference and your overall happiness), oppose to what’s not super important in this life (like making a ton of money or how many Instagram followers you have), it’s amazing how your fears slowing shrink. 

Focus > Fear. Done. 

#TBT : Green Wedding Shoes feature

For anyone that knows me, they know that small world connections are....well...kind of 'my thing.' Seriously though, if I've just met you, I will find a small world connection with you, somehow, some way.  So when I was hanging with my East Coast Main Squeeze last summer, he mentioned that there was a photographer friend of his from New Jersey that I would really connect with...turns out this friend of his is Miss Jessica from Jessica Oh Photography.

After a few, "say what?! 's" from me, I told him that I had been following her business (like the true creeper McCreeperson I am) for awhile on Facebook! I knew I would have to connect with her at some point, and shoot her an email.

Well, just a few short weeks later, Jessica posted that she was looking for a stationer to work with on an upcoming shoot.  BOOM. I shot her an email, and it was instant biz (and friendship) love. And don't worry, I explained my creeper status (and small world connection) to her. 

She told me about this upcoming elopement that she was shooting...in a forest.  I was sold! 

The couple, Shawn and Marine, eloped in a forest fairytale, complete with woodland creatures, cozy blankets, SNOW, and the cutest details you will ever see.  I was honored to be apart of it.

To top it all off: we were featured on Green Wedding Shoes! Visit it here to see more details from this snowy winter forest elopement! :)

photography: Jessica Oh Photography // makeup: Makeup by Dana Marie // bouquet: Bohemian Bouquets // announcement: Andra Delores Design // marine’s dress: Modcloth // marine’s sweater + boots: Anthropologie //  // location: The Poconos, Pennsylvania

8 Tips on How to De-Stress During Wedding Planning

1. Accept the fact that you are stressed. First, understand that it is unavoidable to be stressed while planning a wedding. Next, force yourself to relax. Do things that you enjoy and let yourself think of other things that do not involve planning your wedding.
2. Make a list of your top priorities. Organize everything that you are stressed about and focus on what is important! Don’t get caught up in the little details, instead make a list with your fiancé of what is really important to the two of you and focus on that.
3. Ask for help. Never forget that your family and friends are always there to help you out! So, reach out and ask for their help. Whether you need a coffee date to distress or your best friend’s opinion on flowers. No matter what they will be happy to make things a little easier for you.
4. Schedule a no wedding night: Don’t let planning the wedding stop the two of you from doing what you love. Either once a week, or once every two weeks have a night where neither of you plan nor talk about the wedding. Go out and do something special together that does not involve the wedding.
5. Remember why you fell in love. Don’t forget the reason why you are planning this wedding; you are in love. Think back to the first date that you two shared and focus on what is good in your relationship.
6. Dream about the future. Remember the reason why the two of you are planning this wedding; to spend the rest of your life together! So, dream about the future the two of you will share.
7. Remember to laugh. Understand that everything is not going to go perfectly, so you might as well enjoy planning your wedding. Try to enjoy every day and the surprises it offers.
8. Find something you are passionate about. Whether it is running, yoga, or even reading a book, find something that you will look forward to doing every day and no one can stop you from doing it. 

Less Expectations, More Experiences

Less is More Series | Week 4

False expectations of yourself? Yep. We all do it.

We put ourselves in a category of comparison, and we start to expect things of ourselves that, quite frankly, don’t make sense.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not confusing this with unrealistic expectations...which, to you, might sound like the same thing.  But to me, that means that something is impossible, and I’m a firm believer that anything is possible.  However, false expectations are the ones that just don’t.make.sense. They don’t fit who you are, but instead, they fit who someone you idolize to be.

Stop beating yourself up over not living up to your false expectations of yourself...start experiencing life as it hands it to you.  Live it. Breathe it. Don’t get upset when things don’t necessarily go the way you wanted...the way you expected.  My bet? God has something way cooler for you down the road, and you are missing an amazing opportunity to experience just want that is, by getting caught up in the jumble of false expectations.

^ps-I’m mostly writing this to myself to remember...but will you join me in it?

Check out week three, two, and one of this series here!

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!