Spread the LOVE: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Cont'd)

To follow up on March 23rd's post titled "Spread the LOVE: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society," here is a picture of the winner of the two monogrammed tutus we made for the Atlanta area's Team-In-Training Silent Auction. I sure hope she likes 'em!!


It was an honor to be a part of the great work the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is doing on behalf of those affected by blood cancers. If you have a preferred charity you would like for Embellish to consider donating to, please let us know. We love suggestions!

Stumbling Down the Aisle

I guess it's better for me to stumble, than a bride to literally stumble down the aisle ...

I had scheduled a delivery this morning to a Lovely Bride who I've known for years. Well, I got up, double checked the order, and realized that I had made her the wrong veil. The wrong veil? I looked again. The wrong veil. Ummm, paniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiic!

It is 100% my fault that this happened, but it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't lost that stupid, essential pattern! It is a pattern that I use to create two different veil lengths. It is the size of the shorter veil and I just add length when the longer veil is requested. I was so focused on needing that pattern to create this veil, that I made that pattern exactly, instead of adding the length as requested. Ugh!

A few years ago, when I was working in Atlanta, a co-worker (shout out to Stephanie!) could always tell when I was having a bad day, based on what time I dipped into the M&Ms bowl. Well, I didn't have any M&Ms here, so I had vanilla ice cream with Hershey's syrup at 9 this morning. Ridiculous, I know, but I needed a minute to decompress and think. This is the first time I've done this! What was I going to do? I can NOT deliver the wrong veil but it makes me look incompetent to admit that I made the wrong veil.

Although now, if Lovely Bride reads this, she knows why I rescheduled. Lovely Bride, I am so sorry!!

Happy Anniversary, Embellish!

Normally, it's the man's job to forget the anniversary. But since no men work at Embellish, I guess I'll take that role. Embellish's 1st Anniversary was March 6th. And, yeah, I just realized this week that I forgot it. Total bummer to miss such a special occasion!

Now, the typical 1st anniversary gift is paper. So I started thinking, "what can one do to celebrate this occasion with paper?" And then it hit me like that toilet paper commercial: paper gowns, head pieces, and flowers. I lifted this picture off the world wide web ... I do not know these ladies, but I like their style. Enjoy!

And thank YOU for supporting Embellish! xoxo

Love and Taxes

Sometimes I wish the saying were "Love and Taxes." Who's on board with this change?? Death should not be our given, Love should be. Afterall, that's why He sent His Son, right?

On second thought, maybe we should abolish taxes too and just stick with the Love!

I can honestly say that I'm LOVING that my taxes are done! Even though I've been doing my own taxes since my first job at 15, it still brings me to my knees and makes me want to cry. Now let's add in this new business and now I really want to have a terrible-twos-fist-pouding-screaming-at-the-top-of-my-lungs-kind-of-fit.

But my taxes are done. DONE. For the next 364 days, done. I love this feeling. It came close to killing me, but obviously didn't. So I'm left with Love and Taxes. Loving that my Taxes are done. DONE.

On a somewhat related topic, I got this picture off the Money Funk website and thought it was pretty funny!

Slight Correction: Embellishing Ashlie's Day

Turns out, the giddy moment in the lunchroom was not the first kiss. I repeat, there was no hanky panky on school grounds! Turns out, that was when Lee asked Ashlie to be his girl. So sweet!

Correction to March 27, 2011's post: "Embellishing Ashlie's Day"

Embellishing Ashlie's Day

Ashlie and I met in 3rd grade, but we did not hit it off right away. In 4th grade, we became friends but in 8th grade, we became best friends.

Over the years, we've remained close and in September, she will be marrying her high school sweetheart. I still remember Ashlie busting in the lunchroom giddily announcing (to an intimate group of us, I'm sure) that Lee had just kissed her! She was completely beside herself, falling in love.

Now, 20 years after Ashlie and I became friends (has it been that long?!), I will be creating Ashlie's hair embellishment. Ashlie, I wish you and Lee all the best as you become husband and wife. Thank you for letting me Embellish Your Day! xoxo

Here's a picture of me with the happy couple at age 16, on our first day trip to the beach without our parents!

Spread the LOVE: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

On Valentine's Day of this year, I decided to donate one item to a charity each month in an effort to Spread the LOVE. My February and March items are going to a very worthy cause: fighting cancer!

A friend of mine, Megan Odom, is competing in an Olympic distance triathlon as part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. I am ridiculously proud of her! Less than a year ago, she wasn't allowed to be up and about without a cast on her leg and now she's in super shape, ready to fight the waves and pound the pavement in honor of her uncle and a 10 year old friend. Here's a video of Megan's story: http://vimeo.com/21087959

As part of Megan's team's fundraising efforts, they are holding a night out and silent auction at 5 Seasons Brewing on April 17th in Atlanta. As part of the silent auction, Megan and I worked together to come up with a concept that would embody the spirit of the event. And here's what transpired:

If you have ever been to an organized race, you've seen people in all kinds of get-ups celebrating the cause. So, Megan and I decided Embellish would provide an adult-size tutu (should one feel prompted to purchase it for a race) and a child-size tutu (perfect for a gift). Of course the tutus are as close as I could get to the trademark LLS TNT colors: purple and green! And what better words to describe the journey than "triumph" and "hope"?!

All the best to you, Megan, as you complete your training and head for the finish line, with triumph and hope under your belt!

Adult-size Tutu with "Triumph" monogrammed on the ribbon belt:

Child-size Tutu with "hope" monogrammed on the ribbon belt: