Light at The End of The Tunnel

Good morning friends! Just a quick note to say hello and to let you know I've missed visiting you and seeing what you've been up to. The Lord has blessed my business this year and because of that I've been busy as a whole swarm of bees! There have been months when I felt like the Little Engine That Could and kept saying, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" and remembering, I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength. He's the one who brought me the brides and He's the one who has given me the strength and ability to plan and orchestrate the over 30 weddings so far in 2010. With only 8 weddings and events left, I can finally see the light at the end of the 2010 tunnel. I'm looking forward to a little break before entering the 2011 tunnel, but excited to discover all of the exciting things the Lord has planned for next season. Hopefully during my "down" time I'll be able to do a little blogging and get to visit my friends in blogland. If you'd like to see just a portion of what's kept me busy this year you can visit my Grand Occasions Inc. Facebook page and see pictures from some of my recent weddings. Happy Autumn!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Myrtle-Beach-SC/Grand-Occasions-Inc/305937087832?ref=ts

Stop and Smell The Jasmine

It was a long time coming this year, but springtime has finally arrived in the sunny South! One of my favorite things to do is enjoy my first cup of coffee on my patio listening to the birds sing, the bumble bees bumble and smell the sweet aromas that fill the southern air in springtime, but because I've been as busy as a whole swarm of bees I haven't gotten to take advantage of those kinds of mornings very often. When we bought this house 3 1/2 years ago the yard had been lacking some TLC, but little by little it's starting to take shape. We started with the front yard and worked our way to the back. Last year we completed Phase I of the backyard and are getting to enjoy some of the fruits of our labors with our beautiful and fragrant Confederate Jasmine. We hope to get Phase II started within the next week and I'm trying to stop for at least a few minutes each morning to smell the jasmine. I hope you are enjoying a glorious springtime where ever you are and hope that are are finding time to stop and smell the roses, lilac or whatever sweet blossoms are blooming near you.

Meet Chopper

As most of you know I am a wedding planner and am blessed to say, business is booming!! Wedding season has officially started here in Myrtle Beach and this weekend I will have my 5th event of the season. Last weekend however, I had my first of the season, a doggie ring bearer. Meet Chopper, the English Bulldog who very carefully carried her mommy and daddy's rings down the isle. Chopper took her job very seriously and was one of the most well behaved ring bearers I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I have 3 other doggie ring bearers this year and if they do as good a job as Chopper the weddings will go off without a hitch.

Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

My Home Sweet Home

Every house where love abides

And friendship is a guest,

Is surely home, and home sweet home

For there the heart can rest. ~Henry Van Dyke

Home is where your heart is.........

There's no place like home. ~Dorothy

Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to. ~John Ed Pearce

The light is what guides you home, the warmth is what keeps you there. ~Ellie Rodriguez

Not too much time these days for blogging, but thought I'd share our Myrtle Beach snow with you. It was beautiful and a sight you don't see here often and the best part was it was gone in less than 24 hours.

Happy Monday! Hope you all have a good week.

Memory Lane

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Visit Susan @ Between Naps on The Porch for more Before and After

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Before

After

Well, try as I might, I'm just not having much success at blogging on a more frequent schedule, but I'm not giving up. I like to start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, but like my blogging, I'm a little behind this year. I did re-arrange furniture the week before Thanksgiving and set up the Christmas Village before Thanksgiving so maybe that will give me some bonus points. I thought I would share a before and after with you of my Christmas Village.

I LOVE my Christmas Village, it reminds me of my childhood and a much gentler time. There were not cookie cutter malls in my childhood. Each shop had it's own personality, it's own unique smell. I can still smell the delicious scents coming from The Peanut Shop and the dapper Mr. Peanut welcoming everyone in. I love imagining walking on the snow covered streets and going from shop to shop. I can hear the chime of the bell ringer's bells and the tinkle of the coins as happy shoppers drop them in the big red pots. I can hear the cheer in the voices of the people on the streets and in the stores as they wish everyone a "Merry Christmas"! That time and place is only a memory now, but oh how I love to relive them every chance I get. This Christmas Season I hope we can all take a step back in time if just for a moment to remember what this season is all about and enjoy the simple pleasures.

Tropical Tablescape

TABLESCAPE THURSDAY Hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

Beautiful and delicious beach cake is displayed on a gorgeous dimensional display of crushed shells, driftwood, starfish, shells and moss.

Cake by Incredible Edibles, Photography by Chris and Cami Photography 

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE FOR MORE DETAIL

I was so excited when I first began my blogging venture, but shortly after I began I got buried in weddings. That isn't a bad thing, in fact is quite the opposite. I've been blessed to be able to profit from doing what I love most. The downside of it is, I don't have the time I used to have to plan my own events....I actually haven't had time to have any of my own events. I'm hoping to be able to squeeze a few in in the next few weeks, but in the mean time I thought I would share some of the beautiful tablescapes from some of the weddings that I have had the privilege of planning.

Just as there are no two couples exactly alike, there are no two weddings exactly alike. Even if you have a dozen beach themed weddings they all have a different twist. The tablescape I'm sharing with you today is one of my favorites. When Deana and Will chose the South Carolina coast as their destination wedding venue they knew they wanted their special day to carry a low country theme and be filled with Southern Charm. You won't find a place filled with more Southern Charm than DeBordieu Colony. The elegant Georgian style clubhouse was the perfect setting for their casual yet elegant low country reception. From the exquisite Low Country cuisine to their one of a kind "grit" send off, the evening was filled with casual elegance as well as low country Southern charm.




Alternating high and low centerpieces consist of birds of paradise, cymbidium orchids, ginger and pincushion protea. Low bubble bowl arrangements sit on a squares of bamboo fencing and monstera leaves. Three foot tall cylinder vases are wrapped in bamboo fencing for uniformity.

To Everything There Is A Season

Outdoor Wednesday At A Southern Daydreamer

The family is one of nature's masterpieces.

~George Santayana

I love Mary Engelbreit's art. Her pictures depict such happy, whimsical scenes that remind you to be thankful for the little things in life that are often overlooked. Things that are the true treasures and make life worth while. So often we get caught up in the hustle bustle of life and are so busy in making a living that we forget to live. While I am not a fan of cold weather I am a fan of fall. I love the beautiful jewel tone leaves, the rustle of leave beneath your feet, sweet smell of hot apple cider and the sweet taste of caramel apples...........oh, and you can't forget the pumpkins!! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin scones, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin rolls, and just pumpkins in general! Every day, every season we are surrounded by little miracles that make life worthwhile if we'll only slow down long enough to catch a glimpse of them. Hope you are enjoying your fall and anticipating the wonderful holidays that are just around the corner. Take a minute to step outside today and while you are there, stop to smell the pumpkins!

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS. Lamentations 3: 22-23