J.Starr Blog!

Attention my faithful Blog Readers,

In case you haven't done so already... please take a moment and add my J.Starr Blog to your automatic updaters, blog rolls, and favorites.....

I think I've finally made a decision regarding the future of my blogs....

If you want to keep up with me on a somewhat daily basis... be sure to follow my J.Starr Blog, as my goal is blog a handful of times a week.  I will focus on event design, wedding planning, ect... but I'll also blog about personal thoughts, feelings, stories, and things that inspire me~all at the same time while trying to grow my business and online presence. ( did I just say that? such a nerd)

Check out today's blog here:

  http://jstarrstylizedweddings.blogspot.com/2012/02/porta-potties-giraffes-and-rihanna.html

With my "Justin and Jennifer Blog" (this one you're currently reading)... I'm going to keep it, because it's just something that I treasure so much as our little online virtual scrapbook.  Chances are I'll always be a good couple of months behind... as most of our personal photos are shot in raw and take extra time to be edited.

So are you tired of me yet? Because I totally am......  I'll try and keep things interesting and always post goofy looking photos of my family and friends, so they have to follow.

Much Love and as always, thank you for reading.

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Our 9th Annual Halloween Party, Caddy Shack Style

Another year, another Halloween Party!

  This party was the easiest party I've ever thrown......it was just such a crazy time in our lives...Justin had just started his career and I was spinning in the wedding season mix ...and ...right in the middle of it all we throw our 9th Annual Halloween Party ~ Caddyshack Style!  I was actually quite shocked at how great everything turned out.

It was such an easy theme (chosen by Justin) which seemed to make everything else super easy.  This year we held our party at my home venue, Superstition Springs Golf Club~ because...naturally it went so well with the theme!

Of course... the Costume Contest is always a big hit!

I really can't believe we've been able to keep this tradition going for so long!

So many of dear friends were able to attend

Even Elin and Tiger showed up!

Chef created an awesome meal, followed by a delicious dessert display.

And we danced the night away..........

I was so proud of the centerpieces I created all by myself!

Julie and her friend Colie came dressed as Zombies....which was random, but then again so is Julie~which is why I love her!

Noah broke out his famous "Footloose" Routine....always a crowd pleaser!

So many creative costumes!

Justin and I have been having an on-going Halloween Costume battle for years... but this year Justin picked out his own costume and I didn't even try to push... although I thought it would have been ADORBS if he too dressed up as a Gopher.

And this was the final-die hard party-crew that was still there when we shut the party down~ what a great night!  Thank you to everyone who came and all my awesome vendors who helped to make this night possible ~ DJ Andre, Still Life Studios, and Superstition Springs Golf Club!

This coming year will be our TENTH ANNUAL Halloween Party!

And this marks off # 24. Host our 9th Annual Halloween Party

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Check It Out

  Good Morning,

I hope everyone is recovering nicely from the holidays.  I'm so happy as I was able to start off the New Year with a NEW Blog! Please take a visit and be sure and follow my blog:

 http://jstarrstylizedweddings.blogspot.com/

I'm still undecided as to what do this with this little blog.  It's been so hard to keep up with due to my schedule and the fact that I'm so challenged at making anything simple.

Justin told me yesterday morning.."But I like our little blog, I love looking at all of our past fun times together".  So who knows, maybe once I get caught on from September 2011 until now, I'll feel inspired to keep up with it better.. 

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Too Legit To Quit ....

What a year!  Wow, it has flown....by!  I have so much blogging to catch up on it's insane, I'm just waiting on my hubs to get caught up with editing.

Until then, I wanted to take a moment to knock off some of the items on my 101 List, mostly all pertaining to my Passion/Professional area of my list:

#40.  Redesign the layout of my personal blog~incorporating more of my personality.
Okay, so truth be told I did this a LONG time ago (perhaps my faithful blog followers noticed...) but I never "checked it off" my list because in my mind it wasn't perfect and there were certain tweaks I wanted to make before actually "checking it off". 

Flash Forward Update: In the next few weeks I'm crazy excited to say that I'll be lauching my NEW J.Starr Style Blog...which will be essentially a merge of my personal life and my professional life.

So what does that mean??
~I'll be blogging a lot more for starters, yeah!
~I'll be writing a lot more about my passion as a Wedding Designer, as well as day to day tips on how to enhance and stylize your life and home.
~You will see a lot less personal photos, as my blog will no longer be a "virtual scrapbook" of my life~but I will be uploading all my photos to my picasa account and sending out to our family and friends...(Great NEWS, for those of you who say..."Jennifer never gives us any pictures")

#44.  Finalize my company name and structure
Done and done!  Ohh Mmm Gee, it takes a lot of work to get a business up and running. But special thanks to my dear friend: Matt Wheeler... as he spent one morning and afternoon driving me into downtown Phoenix to 1.) Register my business name with the Arizona Secretary of State 2.) Took me to the state revenue agency to obtain my tax identification number.  I then later followed up with setting up my business account with my bank and registered with Chandler for city taxes.

I decided on the name: "J.Starr Stylized Weddings & Events" a little over a year ago...for several reasons..
1.) People had been calling me "J.Starr" since my first date with Justin
2.) I have worked in the wedding industry for several years and I have made several contacts, my thought is that it only made sense for me to use my name and create a brand off of who I am. 
3.) It's a way cool name.

#45.  Get my OWN awesome website launched!
This happened quite some time ago...around February of this year.  But me, being the freak I am...is not totally 100% in love with it and I'd still like to make some changes..but I keep reminding myself..."It's about progress, not perfection Jennifer"...but in case you haven't seen it check it out: www.jstarrweddings.com

#48.  Have one of my client's wedding/event featured in a local magazine (for coordination & design)
This was so fun!  Last June AZ Weddinngs released their new magazine and I was highlighted as a Wedding Designer. This was extra special to me because I truly adore the bride and groom! (As seen above)

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Royal Palms...J.Starr Style

This past August "J.Starr Stylized Weddings and Events" coordinated a goregous wedding at the Royal Palms.  I was very fortunate to have a lovely assistant, Miss Melissa to help on this very hot summer day.

The groom reminded me so much of Justin by how organized and detailed he was... making our jobs very easy. I kept telling Melissa that night.. "most weddings aren't this easy"...

The staff at Royal Palms was wonderful... I loved how they  filled nearly every area of the banquet building with candlelight, I was very impressed.

The bride and groom had booked me for coordination only on this gig, so I didn't do any of the designing...but I helped them select nearly all of my "Starr Style" vendors including... Still Life Studios ~photography,  VeeRonna Ragone ~harpist, Lisa Berger~ hair, Shawn Geranen~make up.

I'll be posting more highlights and photos from this wedding on my J.Starr Blog~ which will finally be making it's debut at the start of the new year, stay tuned!!!!

 

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Anyone getting hitched???

Come Join: JStarr at my home venue!!!

  Wednesday June 29th, 2011

5:30pm to 7:30pm

DON'T MISS THIS EVENT! Our Bridal Open House VENDOR Night only comes twice a year!! Take a break from the heat and stressful wedding planning and join us for a night of complimentary hors d'oeuvres and champagne! We would love for you just to come out and relax and hopefully imagine how lovely your wedding day can be at our classic and charming golf course venue.

To ensure that we have enough food, please RSVP at (480) 654-5652 or jstarr@eaglegolf.com

In addition to the delicious food and fun give-aways, we will also have all of our favorite vendors onsite for you to meet!

Don't miss the fun!!!

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Wow.... I'm one tired puppy....

 

I have a handful of friends who are non-facebookers...so this blog post is for you ladies...

NACE Elements Competition 2011

I'm very proud to say that J.Starr Stylized Weddings took 2nd Place in yesterday's NACE Elements Competition! A very special thank you to my collaborating vendors on this design display: Rikki Hernansky ~The Invitation Lady, Richard Talbot~ Still Life Studios Videography, Deborah Beggs~Classic Party Rentals and my very talented floral design team: Taunja Norris & Renata Hodl, and last but not least my biggest supporter and hunkiest of hunks...my husband Justin Starr.

 

I was so touched by my dear friends who made it out to the competition to support me, Andrea Keegan, Naseem Khayami, and Heather Kinsy ~thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come and see my design live in person.  And thank you all my dear girlfriends who wanted to be there but couldn't..all the phone calls, emails, text messages, and facebook posts really meant more to me than the competition itself.  

 

Also.... J.Starr Weddings made the news!! It is the first table design that you will see in the clip.

 

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/morning_show/corys_corner/table-top-competition-06212011

 

I have so many more beautiful photos and thoughts to share, I'm just too exhausted today...
but stayed tuned, you know I'll be posting more. 

 

Thank you all again for your support and love.

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Belly full of Butterflies...

I'm sooooo nervous, anxious....but the good kind the excited kind.  When I get like this I have a very difficult time thinking about anything else... 

Tomorrow is the big set up day for the NACE Elements Competition.   I've been to this competition before, in fact while I worked at Seville we competed in it...but this time it's different, this time it's my name it's my company
....it's my baby.  

Luckily I'll have the assistance of my most trusted colleagues...Renata, Mom, and Justin.  We have all day tomorrow from 10am to 10pm to set up our design space.  There's a possibility that we will make Fox 10 News on Tuesday morning...so stay tuned.  The judging will take place on Tuesday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm....then the displays are open for Public Viewing between 3pm and 6pm, followed by a cocktail reception and the Dinner & Awards Presentation. 

It's just weird that this is actually happening, I've wanted this for so long and now it's actually happening.  Even if I don't win Tuesday's competition and I'm so very happy and grateful that J.Starr Stylized Weddings is making a name and taking a chance!!! 

Now, hopefully I'll be able to sleep tonight :)

 

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SAVE the DATE!

Hi Family and Friends,

If you have the afternoon free, or can work a shorter day....I'd LOVE to have you consider coming on down. J.Starr Stylized Weddings and Events will be competing in an Event Design Competition. By attending you will have the opportunity to stroll through all the different table displays along with cake displays (samples are handed out too!) and you'll have the chance to vote on your favorite design.... which will hopefully be mine, and give me a stab at winning "The People's Choice Award".

It's a fun thing to do on a hot Arizona day. The cost is 10.00 per person and proceeds benefit Feeding America's Hungry Children.

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Nervous Energy...

Yesterday was CRAZY!  I was so excited to FINALLY launch J.Starr Stylized Weddings to the cyberworld ~ outside of my safe little personal blog haven. 

I'm thrilled to say that with a little creative marketing.....J.Starr Stylized Weddings,

hit 100 fans plus in the first day!

I was a ball of emotion yesterday, just putting it out for the world to chew up can be very scary but at last it's official.  I just know this is the the begining of something that will be very big in my life ~ I can just feel it.

So THANK YOU to all my blog followers for the continued support, and if you haven't done so already...please be sure and stop by my Biz Facebook Page and "LIKE" !!!

  Last I checked we were at 109 and growing!

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J.Starr Wants to be Liked!

J.Starr Facebook Page is up and running.  Please take the time to "Like" my page so you can

follow all the fun adventures of Wedding Designing.

Stay tuned for the Website Launch later this week. 

 

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Highlight on March 2011

In March I had consciously made the decision to try and not make many social plans because I knew I just needed to focus as much time as possible on my new job at Superstition Springs along with J.Starr Stylized Weddings. Plus life had thrown me a few challenging curveballs...(hence my blogging break). But it was a good month to adjust to all of life’s new changes and transitions.

Here were some of the highlights:

Superstition Springs Photo Shoot

This was such a beautiful collaboration:
Superstition Springs, Meets J.Starr Stylized Weddings & Still Life Studios

Exactly two weeks into my job at S.S. Springs Golf Club, I coordinated a Bridal Fashion Shoot..including borrowed gorgeous gowns, professional hair and make up...and some lovely models...including my friends Melissa, Jessica, and Allison. I'll blog more about this on my upcoming J.Starr Blog. But until then, isn't this photo of Melissa just heavenly....(such a gorgeous shot, from a very handsome photographer...can you guess who?)

Kendall Tuttle Arrives

(photo borrowed from Proud Daddy's Facebook)

So, funny story, Tony and Jacquie have been asking us when the heck we're gonna jump on the baby board. Last June at Justin's bowling party I told Jacquie that we weren't going to start "trying" until Tony and Jacquie had their third child. Jacquie looked at me with huge eyes and said "Jennifer that's not going to happen, we're done... two boys is enough"... Well about a month later... I get a call from Jacquie and little did she know that while we were having that baby discussion...she was pregnant! A few months later I get a text message from Jacquie sharing with us that....IT'S A GIRL! I couldn't have been happier for her and Tony! Little Kendall joined this world on March 7th.
Congrats to Tony, Jacquie, Ethan, and Jackson!!
I hope some day in the near future you'll have little Starr baby to play with.

NACE at San Tan Elegante

I try to attend as many Wedding Industry Networking Events as possible, but seriously there are so many I could probably attend one a night. So my goal is to try and hit a minimum of one a month. This month I attend NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) mainly because it was held at San Tan Elegante, where my buddy April works. She was so helpful at my S.S. Springs photo shoot, I wanted to support her when she hosted her NACE event. Great venue, great food, and awesome centerpieces by Wild Child Floral.

Dinner with Sara

Oh Mmm Gee, It had been years since I was able to have a full on conversation with my dear high school friend Sara. We had a fabulous Thai Dinner in downtown Mesa. And I think I talked poor Sara's head off.... it was just one of those nights, ya know those times you go through in life and you just need to pour your heart out a little so that your shoulders feel lighter?? Well that's what having old friends is all about...and why keeping in touch with friends is so important. We had a blast together being silly girls. I love you Sar Bear, thank you for being such a great listener... I hope to see you again real soon! I'll come your way next, I'd LOVE to see Colorado!!!

Justin's shoots with SLS

Lot's of Weddings happen in Arizona in March... and Justin of course shot a few. Here are some of my favorite shots of his from his March Weddings:

Justin begins 4th Rotation

March kicked off Justin's final Rotation. What's a rotation? Well the final year of P.T. School, students are required to do "rotations"... which means a full time job at different locations, with no paycheck. It's on-site learning and continued education...and it was a great experience..we're just eager to be DONE with school!! Justin's 4th Rotation was his most enjoyable rotation...but I'm thinking that's because he's ready! And now that countdown begins to GRADUATION!!

"Flashing Lights, Fashion Show"

(Me and all my lovely Models ~All models dressed in bridesmaid dresses by Twirl Bridal)

My most exciting, exhausting, and thrilling experience of March was the WEN (Wedding and Event Networking) Event I coordinated. Back in January I committed to taking on this event. I knew that if I did this it would force my hand with my company. So this was kind of like a "J.Starr Stylized Weddings" debut for me. I know my blog readers have known about my company for quite some time, but this was the first time I was "debuting" to the Event Industry~ which I'm not going to lie was a little intimidating. WEN is an event that happens every month but I wanted to really take it to the next level, to show my talents off to all of my industry peers.

(Me and Renata)

So, along with a great partnership with Still Life Studios we threw a pretty snazzy Flashing Show, appropriately titled: "Flashing Lights, 2011". I coordinated all of the vendors including catering, bartenders, cake, dj, photography, videography, models, model's wardrobe, professional hair, and professional make up...and with the help of one of my very talented designers:

Renata Hodl....all of the decor.

(All the vendors rushed in following the end of the fashion show with a big hug...awwee)

And when it was all said and done, the event was a true success... but what meant the most to me was all the very special, crazy talented people in life whom I love so dearly...and greatly treasure my friendships with.

Look for more awesome photos from this night on my upcoming J.Starr Blog.

March 26th

Is a very special day to us. March 26th marks little Olive's Birthday (she turned two this year), Our "Dating" Anniversary (nine years since our first date), and most importantly....Mom Starr's Birthday (she would have been 60 this year).

(The famous flying pig made an appearance at the concert)

So, Trevor flew in for the occasion and Justin, Trevor, Shannon ("the boys" as Barb called them) and me all went to "The Pink Floyd Experience" in Downtown Phoenix. Justin had the idea of going to the show, because it would be something fun we could as a family to honor Mom Starr. She always loved Pink Floyd, she had even attended a Roger Waters concert back with me, Justin, and Shannon before... (before we were married). I remember thinking to myself at that time, wow Justin really has a cool mom.

Happy Birthday Mom Starr, we love you .

Casa Grande Ruins with Aimee

And the month ended on a rather random note. Aimee came home!!! She had been traveling the world for several months and she was finally home!! We had so, so, so much to catch up on. She went for one of our famous drives ~an odd tradition that started ever since I got my drivers license. Somehow we ended up at the Casa Grande Ruins...don't ask me why or how...we just did. We looked at the ruins for about 5 seconds, and then talked for hours ~seriously like 4 hours straight on a bench looking at the Casa Grande Ruins, we were finally kicked out. It was one of those days, those conversations that will go down in A & J history. I love you my friend, welcome home.....

please don't leave the country for that long ever again :)

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Highlight on February 2011

February was crazy.... and here's why....

J.Starr Stylized Weddings:

It was as if all the puzzle pieces started to fall together magically. All of the thoughts, doubts, ideas that my mind has been consumed with for many years...we're coming together and taking off! I will consider February 2011 as the month and year that "J.Starr Stylized Weddings" officially took flight! More on this later.  Stay tuned as I'll soon have a separate J.Starr Weddings Blog, COMING SOON.

Casey Moores:

Just a fun day out in Tempe with the family.  Casey Moores Oyster House in Tempe will always hold a special place in my heart, because that's where I had my first date with Justin~ awe memories.

Superbowl:

Tom and Mo live in Chandler, but we typically only get the chance to hang every few months or so.

Typically we head over to the Parson's Residence when some type of sporting event is

 going on... World Series, Superbowl, etc.

Miss Mo~The Hostess with the Mostess

Tommy P ~mixing it up

Tom and Mo both work in the Food and Beverage industry so when you're in their home
your drink is never empty...which always results in a super fun time! 

Don Quixote, a Valentine's Day Special:

A night at Symphony Hall with my friends Dani and Cosette and two of their friends.  Such a fun night of grace and beauty... I so wish I could be a smooth as a professional ballerina. 

Our Valentine's Day:

Hmm... Justin says this was the BEST Valentine's Day ever!!! So perhaps I'll spare you all the lovey dovey details for now and put them in an individual blog post. 

Conquered Camelback:

YES, now I can mark off # 34 off my 101s in 1001s...

I did it!  And it totally wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.  My friend Heather was in town from Boston and she knew that Camelback was on my 101 List.
And I'm so happy we conquered the climb!

  We pulled up on Sunday morning and it was raining and dark. 

We sat in the car going back and forth as to whether we should attempt it,  Heather was concerned that that rocks might be too wet and slippery.... but we decided to GO FOR IT!! 

The only part that totally freaked me out a little was the death climb part of the hike.

But we made it, and it was awesome!  The views were incredible. 

 I so want to do it again!!!  Thank you Heather, I heart you!

Vig Uptown

Following our big climb we went straight over to the Vig Uptown to join up with some
 girlfriends to celebrate Heather's 30th Birthday! 

San Tan Legado Photo Shoot

I coordinated my first ever Bridal Photo Fashion shoot at the lovely San Tan Elegante, the end result was just beautiful.  I'll post more photos and details on J.Starr Weddings Blog, COMING SOON.

Gracies Unbirthday

(photo by Auntie Pam Norris)

My cousin's little girl Gracie turned the big THREE!  Bri and Donnie hosted a DARLING Happy Unbirthday Party for Miss Grace, complete with costumes and decor!  I was so happy I was able to stop by and hug the precious little birthday girl. 

NASCAR

Justin was able to spend the afternoon with his long time high school friend Barrett.

Fast Cars & Fun Times...

Justin's February Weddings

Just a few shots from some of the Weddings Justin shot this month...

Taken at Anthem Golf and Country

Another Wedding at Anthem Golf and Country Club

Sometimes rainey weddings days are so bad, how cool is this shot?

**Just a couple of other fun happenings that happened in February that I want to remember...

Belated Bday Lunch with Julie, Dinner at Jimmy and Kelly's, My first day at Superstition Springs, Matt's Bday dinner at Encanterra, Coffee with Miss Kim, Bunco at Melissa's with Jessica. **

Crazy Busy month, but tons of fun and lot's of exciting changes!! 

And although these blog posts are super long, I'm soooo happy I'm finally catching up!!

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