Those Who Inspire Me

This post is a weird one for me to write. Some of you will think that’s silly or that this shouldn’t be weird at all, but trust me, it is! I was talking to someone a while ago about the way we know people in this industry. The creative industry fills my social media now and I love it!! Huck (for those of you who are new, this is my long-term boyfriend) has always followed more car and golf social media accounts than actual people he knew. I used to think this was kind of funny because he would talk about these golfers like Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Smylie Kaufman like he knew them. He wanted to have the same type of clubs and drivers as one, be sponsored by the same company as another and have the same swing as another one. When we first started dating I thought this weird. Admittedly, recently I’ve told him he’s weird because he has a slight man-crush on Rickie Fowler in the manliest way J  

It didn’t really click with me that we, as creatives do the same thing! Referring back to what I said at the beginning, a friend of mine (I can’t remember who it was, so if it was you, thanks for the inspiration!) and I were talking about how sometimes we forget that we don’t personally know these people we see as we scroll through Instagram or watch their stories. We receive Newsletters, watch them on Instagram stories, press a little heart to show we love their latest post, watch a webinar that they are teaching from and even sometimes become friends on Facebook! I get swept up in all of it and think I have like 40+ new friends all the time when in actuality I’ve probably only met about 10 of them and only really KNOW about 3-- 4 if we’re really pushing it!

Something I’ve really loved recently about this industry is that a lot of these women have been opening up about the not so pretty things right now. Something that has been brought up is that we almost “hide” behind the screens and post these beautiful photos, perfectly organized desks, professional headshots and all the pretty things in our businesses and lives. So, because of this, a lot of them have been sharing more of the nitty gritty, harder to admit details; messy buns and desks and the hard parts about life and owning a small business. I LOVE this. As a younger woman starting my own business while still in school, it was so overwhelming and even scary to see all these “perfect” women with their beautiful homes, working space and lives. Seeing them be real and open about how their lives aren’t always as perfect as the photos may seem has encouraged me!

I feel like getting to see this side has made me want to meet more of these women (and man) and REALLY get to know them and hopefully someday work with them! So, here comes the weirdness in my little post!! Some women who have made me laugh, be encouraged, love their work and their style and feel like we could really get along (yes, I feel all of these things through Instagram posts, call me crazy) are Callie Lindsey, Lauren Carnes, Megan Martin and Tyler and Ashley Herrinton. Their work has inspired me and I love seeing how they grow each of their businesses! This post has come from a wave of being brave and putting it all out there. If you asked me to write it yesterday, it wouldn’t have happened and I wouldn’t plan to do it tomorrow either, just right now.

On a side note, I guess Creative Women and athletes/sports fanatics aren’t that much different when it comes to being inspired.

All the lovely creatives, thank you for reading this SUPER long and a bit out of the ordinary post!

Proud owner of Hannah Marie Events

Today is the 3^rd Tuesday of the month. Today was my last, first day of college. Today I also became the proud business owner of Hannah Marie Events! I woke up this morning with no real feelings about my classes. I stood in the kitchen telling my roommate that I wasn’t happy, sad, nervous, excited or fearful of the classes I was about to walk to. I’m very indifferent about this semester.

There are great things happening right now in this little apartment with my amazing roommate turned friend, her little kitten running around and the coziness of our living room. There are amazing things to look forward to as well when I leave this apartment in May. For instance, the wedding I have with Dear Sweetheart Events a week after graduation, being reunited (almost) full time with my three favorite little people and their parents, a summer with my best friends before they embark on their jobs and further schooling in different areas, being home with my family and I’m sure so much more that I don’t even know about yet!

There are also the not so great things happening now, like rainy days, classes that I’m not 100% psyched about, this tiny town that I have a love/hate relationship with, not being able to be in the presence of some of my good friends from home within 5 minutes and being away from my family. The not so good things to come, that I’m a little apprehensive about are finding a job to give me somewhat of financial stability come this fall, getting accustomed to living at home again for more than a few months at a time (I love my family, but it’s change, ya’ll), not living in this apartment with Rachel because I’ve found a roommate that I connect with and has become a great friend, and not having much of a routine anymore!

This is balance my friends. Something I LOVE and have written about before. A little tidbit of advice from me:

1) there will always be a brighter side even if it takes a few hours, day, weeks, months or even years to see it!

2) Do NOT give up, please keep trying for whatever you’re dreaming of!

3) You CAN do it, don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t!

4) It doesn’t all have to happen at once, I still have a long way to go but the little accomplishments are SO big!

With that, I hope everyone’s rainy Tuesday is going well and if not, tomorrow will! Thank you to all the old, and new friends who have congratulated me today and for following my journey!

Baby Alsop Shower!!

Some of you may have noticed I posted an Instagram yesterday saying I had a surprise coming soon…well, here it is!! For about a month I have been planning a surprise baby shower for Katelyn Alsop. Michael was my youth pastor and Katelyn and Michael have continued to play a very active role in my life. Every winter for the last few years they had a Christmas party for the high school and college students and I always looked forward to it! This year I wanted to do something for them and since Katelyn is pregnant, a baby shower was a perfect idea!

Thanks to Michael we had kept it a secret for about a month while I planned it! I had SO much fun, especially over the last few days getting all the decorations together, baking cupcakes and visualizing how everything would come together. I had the help of Katie, a long time friend, help me come up with cute ideas and fun things to do as well and she helped me set everything up! I was so excited I got to plan an event myself, including colors, theme, food and games! The best part was seeing everything come together and having all the girls and Katelyn and Michael together!

Katelyn and Michael have showed me what true love, caring for others, appreciating life and having a strong relationship with God really looks like. From the moment they walked into our church they wrapped their arms around us and haven’t let go since. Last night, we looked at old pictures from past retreats and mission trips. We laughed, reminisced and brought up how Katelyn would come on the retreats even after shooting a wedding, driving hours alone just to spend a couple hours with us. She would also fly out to some mission trip late after having a wedding to be with the youth for the rest of the trip. Even after a shift in the youth group, growing up, the youth getting older and now being young adults, they are still so present in our lives and role models to me. That is what true dedication and love is and we are forever grateful for her and Michael.

I know they will care for, love, listen to, share with, and teach their little girl the same way they did, and still do with us, making them AMAZING parents. They started off with teenagers and loving them so well, now they get to start over with a little bundle of joy. Katelyn and Michael, I wish you the best and look forward to meeting your precious baby in just a few weeks, she is so blessed already!!