Cheers!

Tonight I am hosting my Roaring 20's New Years Eve Celebration! Thanks to Amazon Prime and local stores, the pieces of my vision for this celebration has come together beautifully.

Believe me, one never knows exactly how endless details combined together are going to look, but let me tell you, it's better than I imagined! My team set the Ballroom and I think through my thoughts and add the final touches. 

My black ostrich feather plumes arrived last night, thanks to Amazon Prime. A final touch on one of my centerpieces, a very tall (approx 3') martini glass stuffed with a black linen napkin and topped with two white hydrangea's with strings of pearls cascading down the glass and a black ostrich feather plume as the perfect accent to tie the centerpiece together. 

From the check-in table that came together far better than I even planned, to the table decor, to the cocktail napkins, the Ballroom will welcome guests for a glamorous soiree. 

I really am excited. 

Tonight is the 1st party my daughter Brooke has ever been to. She was invited to parties when she was in high school, but she'd always say there would be alcohol and pot, so she wasn't interested in going. But tonight. Tonight will be her 1st party she's ever been to as well as her 1st New Years Eve out. Her Roaring 20's flapper outfit is absolutely adorable and she's been practicing the Charleston. What a great 1st party to attend in life. 

The Ballroom, beautiful. The food, off the hook delicious, thanks to the best chef we've ever had. A talented DJ, a personal friend of mine I used to date in my early 20's, he brings high energy and great music.

Yesterday I booked two more weddings for 2020 and am only thousands away from my 2020 revenue goal. My 2020 goal was set at 215% higher than this years revenue goal, at my permission. In fact, I gave permission to go $75K even higher to take the goal to my own personal goal, but they feel 215% higher is enough. 

In 2019 I beat the revenue goal by 72% over revenue. 

This year, at the end of the 1st quarter, the company gave a nationwide, corporate wide shout out for those who are within 75% of their goal. In one month I will exceed budget revenues. I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing my name.

I've never been a math person, but when it comes to my statistics and revenues, I can prattle it off the top of my head. 

This year was a year of unexpected ble$$ings and next year, WOW!

Cheers to a happy new year!

New Decade

New year, new decade. Being born in 1970 it's been pretty cool to have each of my 10 years in life in a new decade.

In the 2020's, I will be in my 50's. Once upon a time that would have sounded horribly old, but the 50's are the new 40's, and I certainly don't look like a grandmomma. This stage in life is like being in my 20's all over again, but I am completely established and an empty nester.

Television is sharing the things that happened over the last decade and I reflected what were my significant, decade life-changing moments: 

   * Both my daughters graduated from high school and I graduated from college

   * Mariah & Jeremy married 

   * I became a grandmomma to Sofia & Rowan

   * Sold our family home 

   * Became an empty nester after 20 years of being a single momma

   * Brooke & Alex married

   * I'm in a career I never anticipated and thriving

   * My parents are seasoned snow birds and celebrated their 50th anniversary this year

   * My brother started his own church after decades of being a pastor

   * Financial freedom, 0% debt to credit ratio, I don't use credit cards, and excellent credit

   

A completely clean slate. Blessed.

Looking back on the last decade, what made my Top Cringe-Worthy Trends in general list: the selfie, the man-bun, wearing pants hanging below your butt, fillers, and micro-cheating.

My favorite trend and I admit I am an absolutely junkie: Catfishing. I love watching the show and I am still shocked and amazed with the show's popularity (education) people fall for the craziest stuff. 

New Years Eve and 2020 is almost here and I am hosting a Roaring 20's New Years Eve party to welcome 2020. 

I'm ready. 

Black Raspberry Vanilla

It was a just a normal, good day. Low-key and while everyone's busy with Christmas, my schedule is actually light. 

Sunny & 60 degrees in December is nothing less than a Christmas miracle and it felt good to run a few errands with the sunroof open. A few stops with blessings along the way, I looked forward to coming home and soaking in a hot bath.

The delicious aroma of a Black Raspberry Vanilla bath bomb, a cold glass of sweet iced tea and two books (because I often ready multiple books at a time) created a moment I longed to be in and relaxation envelops me. 

I just checked my Fitbit to see if I am still in lead and notice my dad has passed me up today in our family member competition. It makes me smile, because I had to do 16,000 steps yesterday to keep ahead, but right now I am relaxed and ready for bed. 

Tomorrow, I will reclaim my throne. 

A Christmas Happy Scream

There was excitement in the air and Sofia's happy scream when Jeremy carried in Sofia's big present from me, a 7' indoor trampoline, wrapped in Frozen Christmas wrapping paper.

She tore into the paper, saw the photo of the trampoline on the box and said, "jUmP!" She knew. "tHaNk yOu mUcH, gAmMa!" She has the best manners of any toddler I've ever known.

Family together, laughter, conversation, and the excitement of Sofia and little brother crawling all over just happy with wrapping paper and boxes made my heart full. Family Christmas dinner and thought-filled presents, made a beautiful Christmas, and I loved seeing everyone together and happy.

Never mind, I bought my own. Me, I always do a little something for me. It all started with an excess of vacation days in 2019 that I never used that's rolling over into 2020. Not sure when I will use 30+ vacation days + holidays, but I'm thinking I can plan on going to Florida once a month to the beach & sunshine throughout the rest of winter.

2020

New year. New decade. New home. I'm turning 50. It all makes me smile.

Oh, but today, Christmas day! I'm grateful that in the hustle-n-bustle and the excitement of it all, my family is grounded in the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus birth. We know why we celebrate, we know who to thank, and because of Him, we have eternity in heaven.

Christmas day 2,000 years ago was far different than today. When I think of my heart's joy when my grand baby's are born, I think of God's joy and love and the angels rejoicing at the arrival of the one who came to save us.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Wonders and Joy

In a world that can say whatever it wants, but colleagues that insist we communicate Happy Holiday's and not Merry Christmas, I created my own message [photo] to those I professionally work with throughout the year. 

I verbally say Merry Christmas, but my written well wishes are Wishing you Magic of the Season, Merry Wonders and Joy. It pretty much flat lines the bland Happy Holidays. 

It's Christmas Eve morning, the Christmas tree is glistening, the sweet tea is brewing, the cake is baking, and I am going to start the making the cheddar biscuits and spend a peaceful and quiet day watching Hallmark Christmas movies before my girls families come over for a hearty Christmas Eve pasta dinner. 

The magic of Christmas is in their air and gratefulness is in my heart. All is calm and all is bright is not a cliche, I hope you have a calm Christmas. 

What a beautiful way to honor Christmas, that was so incredibly different than the commercial way celebrated today. It's a heart position. 

It's my first Christmas alone and there is beauty in this. Calm and quiet is a hug and provides rest. In a funny way, the day feels longer, which isn't that a good thing when it comes to rest and doing all the little things you want to do? 

Oh, I will wake up all night long and hopefully sleep to 5:00 a.m., because Christmas still thrills me. I will whisper Happy Birthday, Jesus, with a smile on my face before my eyes even open, then hop out of bed, put on a pot of coffee, turn on soft Christmas music, and slide into a hot tub with a delicious smelling bath bomb. 

The scent of  my traditional cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning and that aroma that fills the air! Oh, that first bite into a warm cinnamon bun covered in sugar glaze is heavenly. I intend to stay nestled and warm in pajamas for quite possibly, perhaps the whole day. 

Alone doesn't mean I'm lonely. It means I get to do exactly what I want to do and create the life I want before my perfect complement arrives. 

Two months of heart preparation, two days of rest, Merry Christmas Eve. 

Remember, 2,000 years ago, Mary was in labor and trying to find a room to deliver her baby. Make room in your heart for what Christmas day really is. 

A Christmas Wedding

I did my 1st Christmas wedding and other than both my own daughter's, this was my favorite. It was both beautiful and romantic, the bride & groom were fun to work with, and it was  nice size wedding without being too big and chaotic. The menu was well chosen and the family and guests a class act. 

Believe me, it makes a difference. As an events director, I do all sorts of events and Christmas wedding planning falls under a happy and magical production. 

Christmas in elegant colors, classic Christmas background dinner music, an adorable couple everyone is so happy for and the excitement in the air. I'm behind the scenes sprinkling fairy dust making countless details happen and watching timelines to keep the flow on schedule. It was very Hallmark.

It was a very detailed set up, but we had fun doing it. The vendors came in early and did their parts, the florist, the baker, and the candlestick maker. Kidding! The florist, the bakery, and the DJ. 

The one vendor I've worked with a couple of times, he has my absolute admiration and respect. His work is stunning and I'm always excited to see his creations. He's gay, extremely talented, and tons of fun. We worked and laughed all day. It's so non-threatening, so we just have fun.

Together we adjusted other vendors presentations. I'm always careful how I question/present things because you just never know what vendors are close friends and I never want to offend. So I asked my beloved gay friend, his opinions on a couple of things that were questionable, and was happily relieved we were both absolutely on the same page and we made the necessary changes. 

He asked my opinion about a few things, because even talent sometimes gets tired of making all the decisions and he made a, "we should be in business together" comments, which was a compliment. Together, we would knock it out of the park. 

Final touches made, the Christmas wedding production was beginning, everything flowed perfectly. The bride and groom so complimentary and it was wonderful when the mother of the groom shared with me her son said it was the greatest day of his life. 

My vendor friend ran home, cleaned up and came to the reception as the family's close friend at the head table. It was a long day and at the end of the evening I sat down with him to catch up on conversation. He's a great conversationalist and conversation goes all over the place like with girlfriends. He's giving me the low-down on all sorts of stuff, then was telling me about his teenagers (my mind naturally wanders off wondering if him and his partner adopted or had kids when he was younger, I'm sure he will eventually share). Then, he mentions he's been divorced a few years, that he and his wife were married for 18 years. What? Wife? 

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Now I'm waiting for him to get to the part and share he got divorced because he's gay. That wasn't what happened. He found out about her affair and how broken he was.

It's amazing how many thoughts can race through your mind within seconds and minutes. I'm assessing my former and my day-long assumptions of him. Could I have been wrong? There's no way he's not gay! 

I thought I was girlfriend bonding with a talented and funny artist I admire and respect, so I was comfortable being funny and witty all day. 

Holy smokes was I wrong!!! I was wrong and blindsided! He went from funny and witty to sweet and a bit nervous when he asked if I'd like to have coffee or dinner with him something. Wait! What?!

Have you ever watched a movie where a girl befriends someone who she thinks is gay, then finds out he really isn't? She gets angry because she feels betrayed. That's how I felt/feel. I still can't believe he's straight and I was so wrong all along! It’s just like a corny movie, but it for real happened.

So nice, funny and talented, I'm not sure I could date someone who I thought was 100% gay and have everyone assume he is gay, too. It would be funny at some level. I promise everyone would think he was my gay friend. He'd make a great friend though and I agreed to coffee.

I don't share dating stuff on here, until I'm ready, but this was one for books! 

Shopping Status

I get an A++

Made my list months ago and kept to my list and have been done shopping. When I hear people say they shop on Christmas Eve to get the best sales, I absolutely cringe inside. Where's the thought behind the gift? Who on earth wants to last minute shop?! And, what about Christmas Eve? That's when family is together and Christmas Eve service warms your heart reminding why we are celebrating in the first place.

Today I ventured out to get groceries for the week and Christmas day and I'm grateful I am done. Hustle-n-bustle is very Courier & Ives, but it's chaos out there and people are crazy. 

I'm tired of ham, tired of turkey, and I don't want to grill outside when it's cold, so this year for Christmas I'm making a big pot of pasta with fresh shaved Parmesan, cheddar biscuits, and home brewed sweet tea. Warm, comfort food sounds perfect and a yummy homemade chocolate cake filled with chocolate chips for dessert. After all, it is Jesus birthday. 

One of my new favorite appetizers I introduced at Thanksgiving is a chunk of soft Brie (cheese) on a cracker with a dollop of blackberry jam and a fresh, giant blackberry on top. It's a tasty combination and was a hit! It's my holiday appetizer recommendation if you're in need of an idea. 

Christmas has been two months in the making for me starting October 25th with the Hallmark Channel's Christmas movies. A holiday vacation in a cabin the mountains of beautiful Tennessee leading to Thanksgiving, and I can say I've basked in the holiday for months. A part of me will miss it when it's over, because it's Christmas in my heart. 

Only five more days.