Coming Soon!

"When one door closes, another door opens."

My long time client came to me 3 months ago to inform me that after 17 years of business they were closing their doors...... and planning on opening a brand new salon and spa on the Design District in Solana Beach!  Per their request, I quickly came on board {humbled to have such an incredible opportunity} and for the past 10 weeks I have served the role of Creative Director.  It has been an incredible process and with opening day just 3 weeks away, I can hardly contain  my excitement {and my exhaustion!}.  As I write, the floors are being installed, the business cards are being printed, the signage is being proofed, and one little girl tags along after school to watch her Mama live out her passions! {Thank you Skylar and baby Ariel for all your wall color reccomendations.  I am sorry we were not able to paint a rainbow like you suggested.}

I promise I will post an overwhelming number of pictures when the project is completed!

Love to all,

Netti



Trying Something New...





"Trying something new can be a little scary.  But sometimes you just know deep down inside that you are ready to try."  -Emily Elizabeth, Clifford the Big Red Dog  {I guess watching cartoons with my kids does pay off.}

I continually find myself amazed and deeply moved by stories of people findng the ability to make big changes in their life. To try something new, take a risk and claim a new way of living.  I am not talking about big changes in hobbies or hair color {yes, I did dye my hair BLACK once in my life.  Thank you loved ones for pretending you liked it.  Not to worry, it won't happen again}.  I am talking about the moment when you find yourself at a crossroad. You are forced to rise above the commonplace and in doing so, discover a tremendous power within yourself. 

I will be the first to admit I find comfort in the commonplace.  But when the commonplace is starring me straight in the face, I know in my heart it is time to take action.  The before and after photos below are an example of this process of change, transformation, and action. {Though not all photos are shown, we did the entire living space and aside from some construction and a few decor elements, I simply gave new life to the furniture and pieces she already had.}

A very dear friend of mine made the decision it was time for her family to eliminate a life of chaos brought on by living in an overly cluttered home.  From that  moment she took immediate action in making changes.  She received my constructive critism with such grace and I admire her ability to open her heart and her home.  I was so blessed by doing this project and I consider it a great priveledge to help turn a house into a home!  { In this case, the home is a beautiful 3bdrm with ocean views.  I want to move in!}

Inspirational quote:
 "Adversity is prosperity to those who possess a great attitude.  Kites rise against, not with, the wind."
-John Maxwell, Attitude 101

Love to all,
Netti T

Kitchen Before



Kitchen After: 

Front Entry Before

Entry After

Stairs Before

Stairs After

Shelf Before

Shelf After

{and properly placed in dining room}

My Dearest Burlap....

Eighteen months ago Greg and I rallied the help of family and friends to assist in our move to a quaint beach town in San Diego. {and eighteen months later I still pinch myself, amazed at what an incredible place I have the privilege to call home.} One of our dear friends arrived for duty with a map in hand. He grew up in Encinitas and decided to equip us with a map of local hot spots .  What to eat, where to shop, etc. First on his list, Pannikan.  An old train station turned coffee shop.  A place to lounge, people watch, get inspired, and most importantly have a good cup of coffee. 

Once we made our first visit I was pleasantly surprised to learn just $1 could buy you a coffee bean sack.  I immediately knew a fun craft was in my future!  I went to the Pannikan for a cup of coffee.  I left with my future artwork for above our fireplace.  Gotta love life's little surprises.

I cut, I painted, I glued, I nailed.  One coffee bean sack, 6 seagrass placemats, a few hours and $15 later, the Thornquest's have wall art.

A little positivity to share......

Make these words a part of your vocabulary: I can, I will, Expect the best, I know, I will make the time, Positively, I am confident, I do believe, All things are possible!

Love to all,

Netti T

 

Firework.....

We have never done wish lists in my family.  No one will ask you what you want for your birthday or Christmas.  The job of the gift giver is to be creative and extend something to the recipient they never knew they always wanted. Looking back on the last year of my life, I believe I was the recipient of such a gift.  I came to this conclusion a few weeks ago when I realized I feel happier and stronger than I ever have. Last year I was experiencing a season of life where I felt so defeated and I lost the ability to step outside of my circumstances and see the bigger picture. Now I have a whole new perspective.  Glancing back, at the time what seemed to be a series of unforeseen {and even unfair} bumps in the road, now appears to be more like a sequence of small miracles. Because of this experience,  I wake up daily energized by the thrill of "possibility." Relishing in what could be, the element of surprise, the unexpected. { I wish I could bottle this feeling because I know it won't last forever. Wouldn't it be great to throw back a few on those days you just can't muster the strength to stay positive.} I feel as if my future is a beautifully wrapped present.  I no longer have the need to sneak a peak and know what is inside. Because I already know I am going to love it.

Last summer I recall sitting in my car in the Smart and Final parking lot.  I had just loaded all the groceries.  As I put the keys into the ignition, a popular song came on the radio and I heard the lyrics for the first time.  I was overcome with emotion. Partially because I felt so defeated, and partially because I suddenly felt so strong.  I am happy to say I no longer feel paper thin. Yes, its true, according to Katy Perry,{embarrassed to quote a pop star}, baby I am a firework! So many incredible changes {outward and more importantly inward} have happened since that day.  What a difference a year makes.

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin

like a house of cards,

one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?

6 feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you

"Cause there's a spark in you

You don't have to feel like a waste of space

You're original, cannot be replaced

If you only knew what the future holds

After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed

So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow

And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine

Just own the night like the 4th of July

"Cause baby you're a firework

A quote that inspired me this week:

"The End. Is just the beginning......."

 

Stay Inspired!

Love to all,

Netti T

Here is one my colorful display designs.

 

Circus Act........

So where have I been the last 5 weeks you ask? .

Picture me in the center ring. I am dressed in a silly clown costume, wearing a smiley face painted from ear to ear. The crowd goes wild and I begin my performance.  I start juggling 20 balls at once and then proceed to wear 10 different hats. I take each hat on and off all awhile continuing to keep the juggling balls in the air. I think to myself how grateful I am to have had prior training, but honestly nothing could have prepared me for this! People told me how hard it was going to be, but there was no way to experience it until my time came.  Now is my time.  I start strong and begin my crowd pleasing performance.  Focus...  deep breath... excitement.... dropped a ball...  re-focus...... determined.... doing great....  lost a hat....  re- focus..... confidence..... done...... Whew! I finished my act. My eyes gaze into the audience and I see the majority of the crowd in applause. I am feeling great.  I exit the stage, take a deep breath, grab a snack, get a makeup touch-up, and prepare to get right back on stage for Act 2.

I know many of you can relate with this feeling. Maybe it happens slowly over time, this feeling of life being such a juggling act.  For some reason I feel as if it happened to me overnight.  All of the sudden I woke up one morning and felt the challenge of raising 2 young children, working, staying healthy, having time with God, making time for my husband, finding rest, growing in mind and spirit, keeping up with our social schedule....  the list goes on.  Even when I try my very best I certainly don't keep all the juggling balls in the air at once, or have the right hat on at the right time.  But I will tell you what. It feels so good to work so hard, and I am excited to see the fruits of my labor {which very well may be years down the road, I like to believe it is worth waiting for}.

In an attempt to take my kids on a fun field trip, and do something for myself to foster positive energy, I decided to take the kids on a trip to the local flower grower. {I admit, I was first inspired by my need to do something for myself and the fact that I could also turn it into a field trip was a bonus.}  I have a few exciting projects in the works and one of them required me to spend time researching a book called "Summers in France."  It inspired me to take a walk, purchase fresh flowers from a local, and come home to make an arrangement. The great thing is along the way I noticed a selection of plants on the side of the road to add to the stems we were about to purchase.  The entire walk home we stopped and picked and pulled to add to our arrangements.  I had fun, the kids had fun, and life is feeling good. :)

Here is a little quote I was inspired by last week.......
"We don't sing because we are happy.  We are happy because we sing."


Love to all,
Netti T

Loaded up and on our way!

Too cute!  They dressed to match and decided they would choose "pink" flowers.

Getting ready to enter the "flower fridge".

Pink Gerber Daisies were the girls first choice

We were a sight to see on the side of the road!  Picking from the bushes.

The girls final product.  We had enough plants for each of them to make an arrangement in a jar.

My selections.  I guess I was feeling white and green.

Some of our "roadside picks."

My finished products.  One to keep and one to give away.  The kids were having naps, Greg was doing homework, and I had an hour of quiet time to myself to have a cup of tea and play with flowers.  A perfectly spent afternoon!

Into the Garden we go.....

I am blogging this evening not because I have deep thoughts to digest or insight to share but rather because I am trying to avoid my desire to lay on the sofa all night watching shows I have no interest in.  So here I am, having convinced myself that hours on the computer, consumming meaningless calories, {I am eating red vines while typing.} was a superior option to the first.  Hmmmm.....  Nonetheless, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share Skylar's recent Birthday Party with you.  I had a great time designing it and I discovered three great sources along the way that everyone should know about!

Love to all,
Netti T

We hosted Skylar's party at Casa Blanca Salon & Spa {a client, turned friend.} The girls were requested to come dressed in white or yellow and we had them transformed  into  lovely Garden Fairies.  Below is a picture of the "Fairy Checklist" each girl received upon arrival.

Ofcourse we had a food table for Fairies and Parents with the munchies.  I used burlap for a tablecloth, layered with fabric, and my plants from home.  The butterflies in jars were from a project I did a few months back. Greg made the cheese and fruit platter. {and then I re-did it. Poor guy has to put up with me.}

 Source #1: VG's Donuts and Bakery. Cardiff, CA 

Upon the realization I did not have the time to bake 3 dozen cupcakes, I ordered 36 white cake, buttercream frosting, plain cupcakes.  I decorated them with a mint leaf, dried strawberry, and our signature party graphics. The cupcakes were a huge hit!  Every guest was amazed by how delicious they were! {And the truth is I only enjoy decorating cupcakes, not baking them.  So for $0.89 per cupcake, VG's  is my only way to go!}

I made these hair clips for the stylist to put in each girls up-do.

After each girl completed her "tranformation" we did a photo shoot, instantly printed the picture, and they put it in their "potting craft picture frame."  The girls were so adorable!

 

 

Source #2: haloheaven.com  

An old college friend refered me to their website for wings and tutus and I was astounded by their absolutely amazing prices and customer service!!!   They carry boys and girls items, check it out.

 The Potting Craft table. Super easy, no glue needed. It was a good activity for the girls while they waited in line to have hair, make up, nails, etc. {This picture is of Skylar when she was 7 weeks old. She was laying on a beach towel during her first camping trip}

A completed project to take home.

The coloring station.  Again, for the girls to do while waiting for their turn.  Everyone was so patient!

 Make a Wish!

{Mommies wish was that Daddy would wear green to match the party, he said yes!  What a guy!}

 Source #3: Gwynn Wasson Designs. 

You can find her on Etsy.  I purchased the invitations and graphics in the form of a pdf file. You send her your info, she plugs it in, and emails a pdf.  You can print it all from home and the possibilities are endless.  I used her graphics for Invitations, Pixie Punch straw toppers, fairy checklists, cupcake toppers, birthday banner, party decor, and thank you cards. {pictured below}