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}

Adios Piggy Bank......

Having been parents now for 4 years, Greg and I have had many conversations regarding the values we want to teach our children.  One of the top 5 values on our list is Money.  We decided we need to be extremely intentional in teaching our kids how to positively handle money.  We thought if we ingrain positive money management at a very early age, when they are grown, they will instinctively have the habit.  In doing so, I decided a piggy bank wasn't enough to teach Skylar and Luke money management.  We need to take it a step further and teach them the proper order and percentages of money. 

We said goodbye to the piggy bank and came up with SHARE. SAVE. SPEND.  And so we have began the 18 year process of brainwashing our children to 1) first share our money 2) always save our money 3) spend a small portion of our money {a small portion, that is of course until they have bills, mortgages, children, cars, etc.  ughhhh...}  :)

 

Love to all,

Netti T

Skylar and I gathered items around the house to create our new money system.  Ball jars, twine, vintage tablecloth, craft paper, and butterflies........

In Bloom....

"And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to bloom."

I read this quote on a card the other day and it so resonated with me and the place I am in my life.   I feel as if I am right in the middle of the process of "blooming." {blooming as a wife, a mother, in my career path, and most importantly, as a child of God.} I am on a journey of discovering and slowly becoming {good things take time, right.} the person I believe I was created to be.  Along my journey I experience the usual ups and downs.  Some days I believe I can achieve anything I set my mind to.  And other days  I feel as if I am a caterpillar who is convinced it will never muster the strength to become the beautiful butterfly it was meant to be. 

Last week I had what you could call, "a light bulb moment."  I was running on the treadmill at the gym, and suddenly discovered inspiration all around me! Below me was a grey haired granny working with a trainer for the first time, {you go girl! you can do it!} In front of me was a television screen with Obama handing out awards to our brave soldiers for their victory last Sunday.  All around me were posters, each with an inspirational quote like "Change your life" or "Eye of the Tiger."  Inside of me was the sound of my mothers voice gently saying "Netti, you can.  You just need to change your recording." My mother spent years trying to teach me to have positive self talk.  Finally at age 30, I think I heard her for the first time.

Tears dripped down my face, {at least the people around me didn't know I was an emotional mess.  They just thought I was sweaty from kicking a@# in my workout.} At that moment I felt in my heart what I had only heard with my ears for so long. And in doing so, I discovered a new personal truth. 

I do not need to change what I am doing.  I need to change how I am thinking.  

I so often set a goal, start strong, and then slowly my negative self talk gets the best of me until I believe I am incapable.  This will be no longer! I am going to push out thoughts of negativity towards self. I will claim and hold tight to what I feel are God's promises for my life. Perserverence, Endurance, Focus.........

Take what seems to be a small insignificant orchid branch {photo above}.  Below are demonstrations of the  orchid branch "in bloom."

{I took these photos for a project I did at Gardenology.}

Love to all,

Netti T

A beautiful table setting......

In a mug as a hostess gift.....

Charming gift wrap.....

Accent a candle.....

Make a potted arrangement.....

Bedside gift to welcome a house guest.....

Painted Toenails

The sun is shining in beautiful San Diego! I can feel spring in the air and summer right around the corner.  There is a certain energy here this time of year and I am gearing up for some good times! I have moved my flip flops to their permanent position on the porch and realize I am in desperate need of a pedicure {And a tan! Who's idea was it to have a white red head living at the beach?! Seriously!}

Love to all,

Netti T

Here are BEFORE and AFTER pictures of a Manicure/Pedicure room I styled a few months back. Not a major renovation, but just enough to give it a new look.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Havanah Baskets - Pottery Barn
Gorgeous Botanicals - Gardenology {where I am now working 3 days/week!  It is amazing!  I will post about it soon!}
Pottery- Anthropologie
Furniture- A secret vendor :)
Bricked Wall - I honestly forget the name of the company.  But it looks amazing right! 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Vintage Brick Molds- Bon Bon {A great store filled with Flea Market finds}

I thought this was a creative way to display the polish.

BEFORE: (magazine and cup holder)

 

AFTER:

{Another creative way to use a vintage brick mold}

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

Karen, this one is for you!

 

 The headboard says it all.  I did not make this but I think I may!!!  Grey, white, brown, and mustard yellow.  I love! So perfect!

Blogging is intimidating.  It is like spending weeks planning your amazing sweet sixteen party and then praying people will show up.  Well I am excited to tell you that I have at least one person coming to my party!  My dear friend informed me she was disappointed last week when she checked my blog and found no new posting. I responded with "Hoorah! Someone is actually looking forward to reading my blog!" So Karen, this one is for you.......But first let me tell everyone what I was busy doing last week.

I have a most amazing client  {amazing is an understatement} who unfortunately had to clear out their entire business due to a fire. The good news is.... They had to purchase all new merchandise and redesign the enitre boutique! {To some this may be overwhelming, but to the owner and myself, this was the excitement of the year!} Off we went to Los Angeles. She brought me as her buying consultant.  {okay, let's just stop right there.  This is incredible.  I spent days scouring the streets of LA, shopping for fabulous finds,  and then swiped someone else's credit card!  Her husband was our driver,  we stayed the night at the "W", and had all meals covered. This is the stuff dreams are made of. Could it get any better!?}  We had a very successful trip, discovered great new vendors, and then headed back to San Diego to get to work.  By the end of the week we have a whole new shop!  I will post pictures next week.

Love to all,
Netti

Without further ado, Karen, this one is for you.  {Not my work, but I think it may inspire you}

I am LOVING a Tuft headboard! {So sophisticated, like yourself.}
When doing your new Master bedroom, play with multiple textures and furniture styles.  Stay away from walking into a furniture store and buying the 6 piece matching set.  Make it interesting and thought provoking.
I cannot get enough of a Grey wall color.  It is such a perfect neutral and not the same old beige.  Goes great with brown, black, white, or a mixture of all three aside a pop of color. 

Here are a few more fun pictures.

 

And now for my must haves to compliment a tufted headboard:

1) I love this print below. Find it and incorporate somehow.  pillow, throw, upholstered chair, etc.

2) A mirrored dresser or nightstand.  Just one.