Jennifer Starr: March 2010

And.....SNAP! The Job's a Game!

My mom,......we really have so much fun together. We may be opposites in some ways, but I do think we share the same heart. One of the BEST parts of having the majority of my Saturday's off is getting to spend more time with my mom. For Christmas I bought her two tickets to see Mary Poppins at Gammage, and luckily she decided to take me!! ( okay, so really I knew all along that she would take me, so I guess in a way it was a present for me too). Something about Mary Poppins has always reminded me of my mom, perhaps because when I was little we watched it together over 100 times.....

We had a blast, we were almost late to the show due to the oh so wonderful parking system at ASU, but we made it just in time before the house lights went off! And the show was truly AWESOME, definelty up there as one of my favorites! At the end of the show, Mary flew over the audience as her umbrella carried her away ~totally gave me goose bumps! I loved it!! Then mom stayed the night at the Starr Bungalow~ which was awesome!!! One of my biggest pet peeves about our home is that it's truly not suitable for entertaining at all ~ WHICH I LOVE TO DO (grr...I will so appreciate the next home we have)!! So we don't have an extra bed because our second bedroom is our office/design studio. So what does that mean? Mom sleeps on the couch just like one of my girlfriends! I love it, it meant so much to me... after the show we were able to pick up Chase from ASU, go out to dinner, go grocery shopping, take Chase back to ASU and come home to place and have girl talk all evening...so much fun!

Gonna take a Sentimental Journey...........

Jim and Jane Norris' Diamond Anniversary

All Because Two People Fell in Love........

Wow, what an incredible event to be a part of! My Grandparents fell in love when they were only 17 years old. 60 Years of Marriage.....7 Children.....9 Grandchildren.....1 Great Grandchild

Let me tell you the pressure was on to make this event so special for these two very amazing people!

Setting the Scene:

SweetPeas Floral and Events had the very fun job of being in charge of all the floral, decor, and entertainment. I have a big addiction to Grand Entryways.... but because this was on a Sunday afternoon I had to keep the design modest, simple, classic and meaningful. So a decorated entry table was in order! Complete with an 16 x 20 retouched & enhanced frame wedding photo of my Grandparents on their wedding day.

My mom, is a very talented florist.... she created 3 different centerpieces for all the guest tables. Our color scheme was black, white, purple & light blue (purple and light blue being Grandma Jane's favorite colors).

Justin and I created custom programs....I had sent out a questionnaire to all the "kids" with questions like "In one word, what was it like growing up a "Norris"? We included all the surprise answers in the program ~ so funny!

Another one of the beautiful centers

Justin had retouched and ordered large images of my grandparents ~through the years, very precious. It just really showed how much FUN they have together.

We had a another table with the family photos. The first family photo had just the three of them (Grandma & Grandpa and their first born Chip) the last photo had all of us from a family of three to a family of 27.

The event was held at The Property in Casa Grande. The Property did an AMAZING job with the catering. There was so many lovely options, I don't think one person could even see them all, let alone taste them all.

Grandpa had asked me to make sure that we displayed the "kids" photos ....

And the "grandkids" photos........

The "Sachet Bar" ~ me and my silly ideas. I had created an interactive party favor station (something new I had wanted to try out) Although you can't see the display up close... the frame read:

How do you think your parents marriage has survived 60 years?

Respect for each others strengths, recognition of each other’s weaknesses and acceptance of the hand God has dealt. Those and their exceptional progeny.—Chip

Their commitment to us children, solving all our problems never gave them a chance to think about their own. Their joy for life, their sense of humor and their love for each other.—Dennis

God only knows. I am being serious but I think it is a crazy little thing called love, because there have been plenty of good times and bad times but they have believed in each other, and God.—Tom

Their love……they still share it every day.—Patty

Common tastes in life, people, parenting, and bourbon.—Bill

At first mom didn’t have gas money to leave town. Later, they stayed passionate and connected by sharing active lives including playing tennis, bridge, and hosting wine parties. They always showed love, respect, and appreciation for one another.—Dan

In each glass vase had a different color and scent of bath salts ~labeled as an ingredient of "love". The idea was that you could fill up your sachet bag with all of your favorite ingredients to create your own "love story".

My highlight of the entire day was when I was sitting next to my Grandma towards the end of the event and she leans over and asks me" You mean if I put in the green bath salts, he'll get in the bath with me?"

The People/The Moments:

All 27 of us!

Grandpa introduced the entire family.....

Me and my mom ~ she's the real talent

And the introductions continue........

Grams & Gramps participating in the "Not So Newlywed Game" ~so funny!

Grandma really does remind me of Lucille Ball sometimes....

My dad gave a very sentimental toast to Grandparents...very special

Brought them both to tears and brought the 200 person audience to their feet with a standing ovation

A little friendly competition between the siblings........

I really don't know how Patty put up with all those Boys!

Dancing to their song "Sentimental Journey"

Grandma and Grandpa's one and only Great Grandchild ~ Miss Gracie

But not for too long. My cousin Andrea on the far left (blond in purple dress) had approached Justin just before we were about to take the Group Family Shot and whispered in his ear " Go ahead and tell them to say "Andrea's Pregnant" just before you snap the photo.

And this was the prize reaction caught on film from the family ~Congratulations Andrea & Matt!

I Love Our Sunday Mornings.......

For the past nearly seven years, I have worked every Saturday ( up until more recently) so Sundays were always the our only day off together. So I've always been in love with our Sunday mornings......

We usually take the pups out to somewhere big and lush and just let them run, play, explore. Every once in awhile Justin will bring his camera along play with. Starbucks & Sundays ~ Life is good.

Social Grace Studios: Recent Shoot

Just another great photo shoot from Social Grace Studios

I really enjoyed being on this shoot with Justin, mainly because I was in pure shock that my friend Cathy was actually having a baby. I've known Cathy forever! We were little five year old girls in dance class together many years ago.... and now she's a mom!

It was a rainy, cold day... but Cathy ( always the actress) put on her game face ~despite the huge rain drops falling on her head!

You could certainly tell that Cathy had her photos taken a few times before... she reacted to Justin's cues perfectly!

This photo shoot was actually taken a mere five days prior to Cathy's due date!

But you would have never been able to tell.....she was so calm and collected....

Just a darling little maternity model!

I love this black and white image....just so sweet.

Congratulations my dear friend.... I wish you much happiness and joy with your new little boy.

The Time is Now....

"It's that moment when your guests walk into your world and are captivated by their senses being stimulated............................all at the same time"

Alright, so as you may know due to past blog posts.... I've recently made a job change. I decided to leave Seville and challenge myself in different ways in the event industry. Many of my loved ones thought I was crazy to leave such a great solid job in the middle of a recession (and especially with my spouse being a full time grad student) .... but I REALLY believe in following your heart and instinct when you know it's the right time.

Thankfully my amazing husband who knows that I'm always thinking with my "creative" mind, rather than my "rational" mind was unbelievable supportive through this time.... truly... such a believer in me.

So as "cliché" as the saying goes "when one door closes another one opens....." it's TRUE!!! I've been so unbelievable blessed with opportunities.......truly so exciting!!! I've actually had to turn some great offers down, which just completely blows my mind.

So what am I doing now? Well.... I'm finally taking the plunge and following my true passion by.... "officially" starting my own Event Design & Coordination Company!!! I have so many fun ideas, connections, and plans in the working. I will be releasing more exciting details in due time ~ please stay tuned! And a big thank you to my family and friends who have supported and encouraged this direction!

Through these developmental stages, I still have a mortgage to pay:)... so I've taken a great job offer with my dear friends at Still Life Studios doing all of their Sales & Marketing! Matt and Dani Wheeler have owned and operated Still Life Studios for just over six years and they have grown their business into a multi-shooter studio, photographing well over 120 weddings a year! Matt asked me to join his team to help continue grow the business by using my sales background and industry connections. It's a very different role than what I had before, but I'm really enjoying learning from such successful entrepreneurs.

Stayed tuned for more details to follow.... I'm still putting several pieces of my dream together ~ but I'm so thankful to have this time and creative people in my life to make this vision..........finally, become reality.

Home with my Honeys...

We spent Valentines Day at home this year ~ just a nice easy going day. We spent the morning and afternoon putting together the slideshow for my Grandparents big Anniversary Party.