staying present

I've learned a lot through years of practicing yoga. One lesson in particular has been awareness: feeling the ground beneath my feet.  So much of human life is spent running through autopilot -- going through the motions, "getting through" life.  Bearing it.  Enduring it. 

It's so easy to always be focusing on one step ahead. You're in a relationship? Dream of getting engaged. You're engaged? Dream of finally being married. You're married? Kids, dogs, house, career... everything has to be checked off a list ASAP and done in haste. Hurry up and die. 

I know I'm being dramatic, but really... think about it. Personally, I'm totally guilty of numbing myself to reality. I live in my head. Especially as a designer/creative/right-brained person, it makes sense to live the confines of my own imagination. But it comes at a cost -- you live in your head, you miss what's in front of your eyes. 

Sometimes having too many choices can feel absolutely paralyzing. (This is definitely true for couples planning a wedding. Can I get a hear, hear brides?)  Figuring out what to do with our lives, how to spend our time, how to spend our money (if we have money), how to plan-plan-plan our futures. It can get to be so much that we just shut down. We turn to drinking, to overeating, to shopping, to telling ourselves lies and trying to beat them (just to pass the time), whatever can fill that sinking feeling of sheer overwhelmingness. We turn off our brains and go through the motions, endure life without living it, and half-heartedly wish for the best. 

And then we're in old age, having wasted our whole lives hoping to just get through it. 

I don't want to live that way. 

I want to feel the ground beneath my feet (or the chair, in my case, since I sit all funny when I type). I want to smell fragrant flowers and notice when leaves are blooming. I want to feel my emotions and accept them, move through them. I want to be alive and not just pretend like I'm living.

Sometimes it's hard. Really hard. Sometimes the things we have to accept in our daily walks aren't fun, aren't easy, aren't quick to get over. We get hurt. We see sadness. But part of the beauty of life is its complexity. Negative feelings color the way we feel positive ones. 

God calls us to do more than to "get through life." Yes, it may be the easy way out. But as Bikram Choudhury says (paraphrased): There is no choice; you must do everything the right way. And the right way is the hard way.

Playing during a photo session with Alyssa Joy . (In Lilly, no less.) Because, why take life so seriously?

Playing during a photo session with Alyssa Joy. (In Lilly, no less.) Because, why take life so seriously? 

Why don't we apply that to all aspects of life? Business, planning major life events (ahem, weddings), relationships, keeping our homes?  CHALLENGE ALERT!

My challenge for you and me:  Stay present today. Or tomorrow. One day this week. Or an hour out of every day. Look around and see what's before you. Have you ever noticed the ceilings in your grocery store or coffee shop? Who's around you? What do you feel, smell, hear, taste? What are you eating? Do you even enjoy it? If not, why are you eating it?  LIVE LIFE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't just scrape by.

 

Love and light, as my favorite Fahrenheit ladies say!
KD

living my ideal life:: may updates

I'm not even going to SAY how crazy the past month was, or how time flew. I'm assuming you know that already. Instead, I'm going to focus on the mystery of how God works. I've always heard about how life happens in seasons:  busy seasons, chaotic seasons, slow seasons, transitional seasons, you name it. There are happy times and hard times and all kinds of times in between. (ESPECIALLY at the start of a marriage -- we're a living example.) God is miraculous with His timing. He gives us what we need time and time again. When Drew and I had the (miraculous) opportunity to leave the country and enjoy a week's worth of uninterrupted time together last month, we assumed it was because Drew would need it, having just survived his first "busy season" as an accountant and starting into the season of studying tremendously hard for his impending CPA exam. Little did we know HOW MUCH he would need it. Not because of tax season (which was surprisingly pretty easy/painless for him) and not even because of insanity studying (although that time will come too soon now, too). We had no way of knowing that the email waiting in Drew's inbox, which he checked the day before starting back at work, would inform us of some crazy and unexpected news: A last-minute immediate business trip with no definitive end. The week he returned to work after our little respite, he was rushed off to a city four hours away to work tirelessly (often 12-hour workdays). Two weeks turned into three weeks, which turned into six and eight... Lots of uncertainty. Lots of time apart. He does get to return to me on weekends, and I had the opportunity to join him in the city and work remotely for one week's trip (last week). But it's hard. This is our first time since marriage that we've been apart for such long intervals so frequently. It's challenging, trying to readjust to life and routines. As a sister of a military wife, I know this is a piece of cake in comparison to a deployment or even business trips far enough away that companies can't justify sending spouses home on weekends, so I'm certainly not complaining. (I absolutely respect the wives and husbands who know that reality all too well, especially when children are involved and there's the constant risk of peril.) I don't have to worry that Drew's going to get injured in combat, and I do have the luxury of seeing him for a couple days at the end of every week. But it is still a challenge. A small hurdle. And definitely pushes Drew's limits, taking so much out of him.

I rest in the comfort of knowing that God saw this little bump in the road before we did, and provided us with such an incredible opportunity to spend time together before this particular season. He has never given us anything we couldn't bear -- and he continues to provide us with comfort and new ways of changing our hearts to be more like His while we're away from each other. We're no longer taking for granted evenings where we get to eat together, or sleeping beside one another at night. It's a lesson in gratitude, in finding new ways to encourage each other from a distance, and a test in faithfulness. Will we turn to God in these times of need, or try to take everything on, ourselves? I hope we stumble upon the wisdom to turn to Him, the ultimate provider. As it says in that beautiful song Oceans by Hillsong United: "You've never failed and you won't start now."
With that said, here are some updates on my little goals:
 
Huz & I before a dear friend's graduation dinner earlier this month! Isn't he dapper?!

Huz & I before a dear friend's graduation dinner earlier this month! Isn't he dapper?!

  • Exercise:  As of this week, I've been trying to get out of the box in my workout endeavors. I went running for the first time this YEAR yesterday, and it was surprisingly easy, considering how much my breath quality has improved from consistent yoga. I'm not the best runner and it's not my favorite activity, but I'm happy to try something new and see how it goes. I'm hoping to use the extra "free time" I've accumulated while Drew's out of town productively, and exercise frequently. What excuses do I possibly have now?
  • Tidy Home:  I'll be honest:  it's hard for me to justify keeping a clean house when I'm the only one in it. Admitting that makes me cringe a little (didn't my mother teach me anything about taking care of myself?!)... but that is the honest truth and I will certainly try my best to make that NOT so true in the coming weeks. Fortunately, I had a dear friend over to the house for coffee this morning, so I was up early vacuuming, straightening up the rooms, finishing laundry, and tidying/cleaning everything to be a presentable host. Drew's arrival this evening was another incentive. (I'm telling you -- having anyone over here is immediate motivation! Maybe I need a standing home date every week?)
  • Beautiful Workspace:  I'm still a total slacker in this department. We haven't been using our A/C, so all the heat in our house rises to the upstairs. It's enough to feel like I'm working out of a sauna. I love warm weather, but I may have to postpone working upstairs until it's full-on A/C-necessary.
  • Looking Presentable:  I finally re-blonded my hair a couple weeks ago, and you have NO idea how much that does for my motivation to get dressed cute. I've been breaking out the Lilly dresses on a regular basis, wearing pretty frocks and heels, and retiring the leggings and cardigans somewhat, which makes me feel fresh and renewed. Hello, summer!!! I'm afraid that in a few weeks' time all I'll be able to bear are shorts and the lightest weight jersey dresses, but maybe I'll keep up the dressing-up efforts. One can always get it a valiant effort!!! (Breezy summer nights are perfect for lightweight dresses and wedge heels, after all.)
  • Eating Healthy:  Vacation and travel got me all screwed up on the healthy-eating front. I'm trying to master moderation, but I really need to try Rick Bayless' "everyday eating" methods. He believes in adopting a "grocery store perimeter shopping" model for everyday meals (nothing processed, only natural foods that mostly come from the earth) with a good dose of occasional feasts. It's kind of the 80/20 thing. I'm not so good at extreme dieting or complete abstinence from indulgent foods, so hopefully this will be a wonderful marriage of healthy with moderation. 
  • Faith Building:  I got immersion baptized at our home church a couple weeks ago!!! We started the process to become official members, so that was one of the requirements. We're going to a PLACE class next week to find out our spiritual/personality strengths and weaknesses (to see how we can best serve the church), and I'm really looking forward to it.
  • Going Outside:  I've done excellent in this department! From vacationing to coffee dates and dinners al fresco, running and taking walks outside, I'm getting my fair share of Vitamin D!
  • Undivided Husband Attention:  Since Drew's been away during the week, we're working on really taking full advantage of our time together when we ARE together. I don't anticipate finding anything more appealing than him this weekend!!!!!
  • Preparing for Success:  One advantage of time apart means I can really focus my energies on preparing my business for success. Last week, when I was secluded in a city where I knew few people and had a LOT of free time on my hands (12+ hours while Drew was slaving away), I spent a good deal of my days sitting in Starbucks, working on back-end business stuff and taking care of big projects for my 2013 & '14 clients.
  • Making Time to Dream:  Oh, dreaming. I do this halfheartedly. I got over my burnout quickly and have started thinking about potential upcoming projects, working on business branding updates, and that kind of thing. Plans are in the works!
  • Cooking/Learning Domesticity:  Drew has absolutely mastered the art of biscuit-making, so I got to enjoy a lot of HIS domesticity in the past month. I think my next project will be a scratch coconut cake. I need my great-aunt's legendary family recipe! YUM!

NEW service offered:: honeymoon suite decor

If you know my business very well, you'll know that I'm always open to out-of-the-box requests and custom packages that encompass services out of the bounds of my traditional wedding planning offerings. (No, that doesn't mean you pick and choose which line-items you don't want to pay for out of my packages and set your own pricing -- I'm talking creative projects that push the bounds of my imagination and satisfy your event needs!)

I had a groom send me one such request a little over a month ago: he wanted to surprise his bride-to-be with an elaborately decorated honeymoon hotel suite for their wedding night! I thought it was a sweet idea and something that would be really special for the two of them. We talked at length about how he loosely envisioned the whole affair, the couple's likes and dislikes, specific requests, and I wove all those little details together to create something absolutely lovely for them.

It was such a great experience I've decided to expand my traditional services to now include honeymoon suite design and decorating! Please shoot me an email if you're interested in kicking up your hotel suite a few notches in the romance department:) I'm happy to create a custom package for you! 

Check out pictures from D.W. & Hannah's honeymoon suite (at the Hutton Hotel in downtown Nashville), taken by the talented Micah G. Robinson!

Think of something you'd love to incorporate in your wedding or special event that hasn't been done before? Shoot me an email and I'll be happy to find a way to make it happen for you! :)

pigeon:: a personal post

I try not to get too terribly personal in KDE blogging, but from time to time I just have to write in stream of consciousness and figure out things about life.  Also, disclaimer - do not be offended by my absolutely BLATANT stereotyping. That's the whole point; none of us fit any exact stereotype. Exhibit A:

In my natural habitat -- behind-the-scenes with my fave, Spindle Photography .

In my natural habitat -- behind-the-scenes with my fave, Spindle Photography.

I love pigeonholing myself into categories of people, I've found. I try on different hats (the scholar, the cheerleader, the sorority girl, the church girl, the yoga hippie, the fashionista, the actress, the lawyer, the wedding industry maven, the prepster, the traveler, the homebody, the homemaker, the all-American, the Southern belle, the beach bum, the glamour girl, to name a few...) and try to smush my entire existence into one particular mold and see how that fits me. I seriously do this all the time. I'm in a constant state of self-discovery, comparison with others (who do I fit in with?), and experimenting with new sides of my personality. Because apparently I'm a little schizophrenic when I try to narrow things down.

I was high school valedictorian, but I didn't do honors or grad school or really care about propagating that reputation past my freshman year of college. Not that I think I'm suddenly stupid (I probably think I'm way smarter than I actually am, to be honest...if there's one thing I'm egotistical about, it's my spelling skills and my perception of my ability level to learn things when I apply at them)... I just didn't care about being KNOWN exclusively as "the smart one" like I was in high school. It was great, yes, but I prefer creative outlets where being smart is definitely beneficial, but I can have more fun than just studying and applying facts to real life.

I'm definitely in large part a sorority girl -- I ADORED my three years of sorority life at Belmont, am a relatively active alumna, and my sweet sisters who are still active occasionally stroke my ego by telling me that my name comes up in conversation still, despite me graduating two years ago. (LEGACY! How sweet!) I definitely made it a priority to know the younger girls as I began to phase out, and it's paid off. I still have relationships and I'm not completely irrelevant in my extended sorority family, despite the age gap. WOOHOO! But as far as stereotypical sorority girls are concerned, I'm not rich, stunningly gorgeous, or a party girl (well, not THAT kind of party girl). I try not to be too cliquey or mean, but I do still have a (slightly obsessive) fondness for Lilly Pulitzer prints and preptastic taste. Despite my affections for J Crew, though, I don't always wear pastels, I have ZERO polos, and a lot of my attire is comfy (leggings, knit jersey dresses, boots or coral sandals, and a ton of cardigans) rather than chic (although I try).

I definitely am an active churchgoer, try to bring up my faith on a pretty consistent basis in conversation now, and am part of a small group. For some large part, I guess, I fit the mold of the Southern church lady -- dressing up, wearing pearls, staying conservative. But really this stereotype has changed on its own (young church ladies are all across the board -- no longer just WASPs!). So I guess it's not one that I really fit, either.

I'm obsessed with hot yoga and go consistently, I'm attending yoga teacher training this summer, and I'm all about lululemon... but I don't have the budget to spend hundreds of bucks on workout clothes, I'm not vegan, I like wearing makeup and never miss a class without wearing my pearl earrings, I don't smoke pot and I couldn't care less for kombucha or coconut water... so there goes that "type." No solid hippie life for me. But I also can't do away with it completely, either. Hmm.

As far as dressing up and glamorizing goes, I like to do this as much as humanly possible. Does this mean you'll never catch me without makeup? No. (Perhaps I'll still be wearing mascara, but SOMETIMES I do leave the house bare-faced. Seriously.) Am I always wearing jewelry? Not unless you count my diamond engagement and wedding rings and pearl earrings (ok, so I guess those count...). Would I wear red lipstick every day if it didn't smudge so much? Ok, yes... (I've worn it to hot yoga before.) Am I wearing a dress 90% of the time? Probably... Okay, so maybe this one is the most suited to me. But it's not like I wear designer anything (besides Lilly -- which I get as presents or ebay finds!). I have literally ZERO expensive handbags or shoes, besides my Frye boots which I ALSO got on ebay!

Acting and law were NOT for me. Wedding planning and design is totally up my alley, but I haven't discovered all my creative outlets yet. I love being creative (sewing, writing, singing, dreaming, designing parties, styling outfits and tablescapes, baking, cooking, dancing)... but there's untapped potential I have yet to discover! I can't just call myself a wedding planner and leave it there.

My traveling and homebody tendencies are at odds, too. I love travel, but I have to be with somebody. A close somebody, like my best girlfriend or my husband. Or my mother, of course. I'm even fine traveling alone as long as I'm meeting up with somebody once I get where I'm going. I have yet to be able to fully enjoy being completely alone in unfamiliar territory. I'm just so outgoing/relational.

I don't know if I could ever cut it as a complete beach bum -- I burn too easily, apparently, and I'm a little too modest to traipse around in a skimpy bikini as "clothes." I'm fine doing it at a resort or if I'm just at the beach, but I ALWAYS have some semblance of a coverup with me JUST IN CASE. I'd be totally open to challenging this judgment, though, given the chance to move to the beach!

The Southern Belle in me coincides with the glamorizing part, I think. I would hope this is the most in tune with who I am:  sweet, kind to others, hospitable, knows how to take care of a home, prioritizes her Southern Baptist-ness, loves the hot climate and her heritage, values her sorority life, adores the [Southeastern coastal] beach, makes a mean sweet tea (ok, Drew had to teach me that one, but still...), is never without mascara or lipstick or pearls, wears dresses at every occasion but has a handy pair of boots and dark-wash jeans for the farm... Values throwing a big-a** Delta wedding (albeit, mine missed out on the ice sculptures and topiaries of reknown). Hosts a party at every occasion humanly possible (CHECKMATE). 

I suppose that's as pigeonholed as I can get. Fine by me:)

inspiration:: gatsby

Today I'm taking a little trip in the time machine of Kelly inspiration! I created this inspo board a little over two years ago (I've been a Gatsby fan forever!)... in the spirit of the movie's opening night this week, here is a little loveliness for your enjoyment!

PS: Little-known fact. . . Carey Mulligan in this movie influenced my big hair chop in December! I will most certainly be "flappering" my hair for weeks after we see the movie!

featured:: borrowed & blue:: kde interview

I had the privilege of being interviewed for the fabulous new wedding vendor directory resource, Borrowed & Blue, last month! See a snippet below and read the whole thing here:

What do you love about the wedding industry & working with brides?

I love the gravity involved with weddings: they’re events, first and foremost, but they hold so much importance to people. It’s probably the most memorable party of a person’s life! With that in mind, wedding industry professionals take that very seriously. We understand it’s not just a dress, a bouquet is more than flowers, and why everything is such a big deal. It’s also amazing to be in the industry that celebrates love the most – literally every decision is made around a pivotal relationship between two people who love each other. As far as working with brides is concerned, I love helping bring their dreams to fruition, finding them the perfect vendors that fit their values and tastes, coming up with beautiful ideas and ways to incorporate their relationship into the day’s celebrations. I love how intimate the relationship between my clients and me can be: I see couples extensively for months (sometimes years!), help problem-solve and plan the most important party of their lives, and get to share in the experience of their wedding day. It’s such an honor and absolutely humbling to be chosen to walk with them through that period of their lives. It’s fulfilling and meaningful for me.

What is your advice for a couple on a strict budget?

The one thing I drill into my clients’ heads over and over, no matter their budget, is PRIORITIZE!!! Regardless of how much money you have to play with, you have to know exactly what you care about and want to invest in – even if you’re not shelling out a ton of money, you’re still limited by timelines and the boundaries of reality, so it is absolutely imperative that you and your fiancé prioritize what will be going into your wedding. I also strongly encourage my more limited budget clients to think outside of the traditional realms of what a wedding “should” be. You might want a huge blowout wedding with a full meal, 200 of your closest friends, and flowers for days, for example. If you can’t afford to feed everyone a four-course supper (food’s expensive, y’all!), why not have a brunch wedding? You can still have just as many people attend but fewer people are going to drink heavily in the morning (hello, mimosa or bloody mary bar!), and depending on what you serve, you can get away with serving less food (for less money). You can also provide less reception seating (and therefore fewer centerpieces, saving costs), you won’t need as much lighting, and you can limit the timeline from start to finish (saving on hourly expenses). Morning weddings are just as charming as evening affairs. PLUS, you get to spend a whole day with your new spouse… you can get dinner afterwards for the two of you, maybe massages, actually get to ENJOY your wedding night hotel suite… think of the opportunities!

Another surefire way to lower your wedding costs is to cut down that guest list. Do you REALLY need 300 people at your wedding? Would you seriously buy every person on your list dinner if you went out to eat with him or her? That’s essentially what you’re doing. Are you still going to be close friends with them six months after the wedding? Remember your time is limited on your wedding day. You only get to talk to people for a few minutes over the course of the whole day. If you invite substantially fewer guests, you get to spend more quality time with each of them. Food for thought!

You are happily married. Can you share one piece of marriage advice for our brides-to-be?

The most important thing is to love your spouse more than yourself. Our natural human tendency is to be selfish (I’m particularly guilty of this most of the time), but I guarantee your marriage will be a thousand times happier and more fulfilling when you bless your spouse by loving them first. Also, always be gracious. Both of you will make mistakes frequently (welcome to reality!), but have grace with one another. Be quick to forgive, slow to anger. Drew and I strive to have our relationship reflect that of Jesus and the Church – we may be far from perfect, but when your goals and hearts are in the right place, even if you fall short, it’s so much better than being unintentional.

Be sure to add Kelly Dellinger Events to your Borrowed & Blue WishList for your own wedding in Nashville!

Thanks to Borrowed & Blue for choosing me to be the spotlighted planner of April! Check out their website -- a valuable wedding planning tool -- here!

living my ideal life:: april updates

Well, I'll be! Once AGAIN a month has flown by, faster than I could imagine! More updates for you...

  • Exercise:  I've really kicked this up a notch -- last week alone I went to 5 hot yoga classes in 3 days, went on a 4-mile hike with my mom, did a kettlebell workout with Drew, and went for a walk in the park. YAY endorphins!
  • Tidy Home:  This is the "needs improvement" section of the month. Our house is still pretty guest-friendly but hasn't been completely kept up.
  • Beautiful Workspace:  Confessional... I haven't really worked much upstairs since I finished out my workspace. It's still a little lacking, and I just haven't felt super motivated to go upstairs to work. I will, though! It will be a goal of mine for April/May.
  • Looking Presentable:  I'm getting better at this. Warmer weather means cuter clothes and retiring the leggings for another year.
  • Eating Healthy:  Eh, this is a hard one. We eat a lot of vegetables but a TON of avocados. Mix them with garlic salt and a bag of Santitas and it's trouble. 
  • Faith Building:  In all honesty, this hasn't been a priority as much as it should be. We've been watching sermons from home but not really engaging in a community, besides our once-weekly small group.
  • Going Outside:  Checkmate. This gorgeous (and psycho) weather has had us outside enjoying our patio, going for walks, and just basking in the sunshine as much as possible!
  • Undivided Husband Attention:  I still haven't weaned off my iPhone but we are going on one glorious social media-free vacation this upcoming weekend!!!! 
  • Preparing for Success:  Baby steps.
  • Making Time to Dream:  I overloaded in March. Taking a breather now.
  • Cooking/Learning Domesticity:  Brussels sprouts, anyone?

Getting in the island spirit a few days early!

Getting in the island spirit a few days early!

This month has been an interesting one. Drew and I planned an EXTREMELY last-minute early anniversary vacation, which has honestly taken up the majority of my attention the past couple of weeks. (Or rather, the past one-and-a-half weeks, since that's as long as we've had the trip booked!) Some really fun things have been on the horizon and kept under wraps as of late (like a new Kelly Dellinger Events package offering) and some personal goal-reaching unrelated to the wedding field... but I'll elaborate more on all of that later.

Happy April! Did everyone have a good Tax Day? Drew and I are so excited to celebrate out of the country next week!!!! (EEEEP!)

let's get real:: you are enough

The ever wise (and fabulous) planner Rhi of Hey Gorgeous Events wrote a beautiful, honest post last week that really hit home for me.

“Leah is a perfect example of focusing on what matters. She inspires me DAILY to just let go. New followers? More weddings? More overtime in the office? More superficial being? Hell no. Ain’t nobody got time for that. . . Success so often is what everyone else makes it out to be. Success to some is more followers, more features, 25 weddings a year, more comments on a post, more money, more friends, more more more. . . More is further away from enough and the only way you’re going to live a fulfilled, happy and meaningful life is to define your own version of success. Write it down. Memorize it.”
— Rhiannon Banda, Hey Gorgeous Events

Her words particularly strike me because she's absolutely someone I look to (from afar, on the other side of this online looking-glass) as a person who's got it ALL together. She's gorgeous, has a successful event planning company, creates beautiful work, is happily married, has two precious pets and a stunning home... She seems to be everywhere that pretty things are and captures them all beautifully for the world to see. So how, I ask myself, in the world is she not completely 1000% thrilled and fulfilled every waking moment?!!?! Well, Kelly, she's human. Like you. Like every other planner, wife, daughter, friend, homeowner, apartment owner, person.

I haven't been a business owner or a wife for very long yet. I'm a newlywed and just started this company in January 2013. (That's correct. Three months ago.) But in my limited experience, it's really easy to look at other people and think, "Man, they've got it all figured out." And think, "Man, I really don't have even a clue." We're all working through this life together. We're all at different stages of life, trudging forward, making decisions as best we can, hoping to do whatever it will take for us personally to succeed.

It's so easy to think, If I had _______, I'd be happy. We set goals to reach things that we see other people doing and reaching, and even when we get them, we're not happy. Because those goals don't matter. Those THINGS don't matter. I love what Rhi says about "'More' is further away than 'enough.'" When we focus on what MORE we can have and do and reach, we're no longer content with exactly where we are.

Words of wisdom from Lara Casey .

Words of wisdom from Lara Casey.

When I was a college freshman struggling with depression and disordered eating, my counselor made me recite to myself, "Who I am and what I have is enough." I had been panicking about my uncontrollable tendency to binge-eat after a year's worth of starving myself. A full year of excruciatingly limiting everything that went into my mouth had taken its toll, and finally my body was fed up with being starved. So anytime I'd go home (the place where I permitted myself to eat actual meals, because it was good food and therefore "worthwhile"), I would stuff myself to the point of feeling physically ill. My body's natural urge was to store up on as much food as I could get in one sitting, because it didn't know when it would get food again. It was extremely hard getting past that cycle once I did start eating normally again. My body had to reset its starvation mode buttons and re-learn how to process and consume normal healthy meals, and it took time.

All that is to say, I had to be reminded that my daily bread was enough. Instead of flip-flopping to the reverse of the abuse I'd put myself through initially (by bingeing), I had to convince myself that whatever meal before me would be enough to sustain me. And remind myself that in the meantime, I personally was enough too. I didn't need to go to some crazy extreme. I didn't need more more more of anything to make myself feel whole and happy.

Isn't it funny how some lessons follow us throughout our lives? We overcome some struggles, but then the same themes come back over and over again.

So, here's a reminder for you and me:  You are enough. You have enough, and you are enough.

for the love of lilly

I had started this post several weeks ago, before the passing of legendary designer Lilly Pulitzer. I publish this now in honor of her amazing style, cheerful spirit, and all of the happy she spread throughout the world! In memory of Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau...

It should be no secret that I'm a diehard Lilly Pulitzer fan. I've always been drawn to her bright colors and prints, as well as signature pink & green color palette. I adore her books on entertaining (with gorgeous coastal features -- get me to Palm Beach!), and her whimsical, fun fashions. I've loved her work since I was a little girl (and checked out her books in middle school!). Her signature Lilly style is still my absolute favorite, and evidenced by the laptop bag, iPhone case, every office accessory, and entire kitchen cabinet of Lillyware (as well as a significant portion of my side of our walk-in closet). OB-SESSED. (I also happen to adore the name Lillian and have plans to name my future daughter something along those lines, God-willing. ;)

As far as Lilly-inspired nuptials are concerned, I have a special place in my heart for them! {Our own wedding was pink and green and floral-filled! My matron of honor threw me a Lilly Pulitzer shower and I had a Lilly luncheon for my bridesmaids the day before we got hitched.} It's so fun and easy to throw Lilly themed parties -- throw some citrus, flowers, and punchy colors together and tada! Here are some of my favorite images from past Lilly parties, retail stores (they are works of art in and of themselves!), and tablescapes galore. Mega-swoon!

Aren't these just ADORABLE?! I love the candy chandeliers, the sea creature cookies, and I just love all the DIFFERENT ways you can tie in her classic prints! Beyond precious. Thank you, Lilly, for being such a fabulous inspiration!!