I had a quick question for you about engagement photos. My fiancé and I are preparing to take our photos in a few weeks. We want our photos to have a very chic and elegant vibe. I want to wear a gorgeous gown that stands out. Your photos and dress were GORGEOUS. Any recommendations?
Thank you so much! I’m definitely going to frame those photos and put them in our home soon. I wanted that same vibe, so here are some dresses I had my eye on while shopping –
What’s the best financial advice you could give to a new college grad?
Save your money. If you’re like 70% of us college grads, you won’t be making very much of it for a while. I made less money in my first corporate job, than I did while I was in college yet somehow still managed to save money every single paycheck, because I never treated saving like an option. It was a must that I put money up before anything was spent, even if that meant only having $120 spending money to last me two weeks. Trust me, you’ll live. It won’t be the best quality, but it’s a short-term sacrifice for a long-term accomplishment. In addition to that, NEGOTIATE EVERYTHING. Aim high from the beginning. Ask for more than what you think they’ll give you. The worst they can tell you is no. You’d be surprised how much money you’ll miss out on simply by just failing to ask for it.
I’m going to Vegas for Valentine’s Day. Any Vegas appropriate outfits in mind?
As cliche as it sounds, I love the idea of reds and pinks for Valentine’s Day. Here are some reallllly pretty options! I suggest putting a coat like this or this over ’em because it’ll be pretty chilly in Vegas in February. Have fun boo!
I’m just starting to plan my wedding and getting into the nitty gritty. My question is – how involved were your bridesmaids and family in the planning part? Did you delegate much for them to help you with?
Congratulations! Planning can really take a toll on you, especially if you don’t have enough time to do it. I didn’t involve my family and bridesmaids in much, other than asking them to come with me to try on dresses, and me going with them to get theirs. They’re already taking on so much with the planning of my bachelorette party and bridal shower, that I really didn’t want to overstep and ask them to be involved in more than what they’re already doing. It was important for me to involve Nate in all of the planning to make sure he was happy with what we were choosing. After all… I’m marry him, not one of my bridesmaids 😉 Also, too many opinions can get complicated. The one time that I did invite my mom and mother-in-law with me to try on dresses ended up being the least enjoyable time. When I finally did find “the one”, it was just me and my sister in a small boutique – none of the extra stuff. If you need help with something in particular, ASK. That’s what they’re there for! But I’m trying to handle as much of it on my own as I can. I truly want them to enjoy this journey and day as much as I have.
The guy I’m recently dating has invited me to the Rodeo with him… and I’ve never been! Can you please give me some cute outfit ideas?
I love the Rodeo because you will see people dressed completely different, in their own Western style. I definitely try and keep mine “chic” LOL. Below I linked some really cute options that you can mix and match for the perfect outfit.
What is a good protein powder to use for shakes? I’ve seen you talk about protein powder on some of your posts.
It’s going to depend on what your goals are – but my favorite is this Slender Blend protein power in Vanilla. IT TASTES LIKE CAKE! I chug my shake down like a treat every single time. It’s that good. Cons: it’s a little pricey and takes a long time to get to you. This is a great option for weight loss. I get the coffee flavor and blend it with almond milk and ice. It’s like a frappe! This is the option that I use if I’m wanting to maintain weight and supplement meals. I keep these protein bars at work because they feel like a candy bar to me. I can eat the whoooole thing and not feel guilty. I also buy a few of these to help with my sweet tooth!
When leading a project to build your personal brand that includes other people, how do you keep them motivated to give their best work without coming off as pressuring, demanding, or a “b werd” when you notice their commitment and engagement is starting to slip? Everyone involved is volunteering, it’s not a paid project. I know there’s only so much you can expect when you’re not offering financial compensation. However, everyone committed to work on the project as we are all benefiting in our respective fields. I’ve tried being understanding when deadlines aren’t mean and providing meals during working hours to name a couple of things.
The biggest obstacle in finding people to work with you for FREE, is finding the right people. Everyone wants to be paid, and at some point in their respective specialties, they should. But A LOT of free work will have to be done before it begins to create income. If they can’t understand that, they’re not the right person for the project. You also have to understand, that people who aren’t being compensated for their work may lose their excitement for your project as quickly as it came. It’s SO easy to get people on board when they’re excited, wanting to be included and given credit for their good work, but you want the people who don’t need credit and are simply worried about performing. Things to look for when searching for a team are 1) people who are eager to learn and to contribute 2) someone who is potentially looking for a mentor or looking to collaborate with other go-getters and lastly 3) someone who is timely in their responses to your messages, texts or emails. I’m a firm believer that how you do anything is how you do everything, so those are all very telling signs of how well you’re perform whether or not you’re being paid. Always remind them that they’re there by choice and if at any time they feel they’d like to end their participation they’re welcome to. That will be so much more beneficial then you trying to chase them down behind deadlines, their contributions or half-ass involvement. Beyonce said it best, you can be nice, but business and being polite don’t match. Be firm, not flexible. This is YOUR project!
As stressful as wedding/event planning can be, what has been the most enjoyable about your experience so far?
Honestly… I never looked forward to a wedding, or to wedding planning. I didn’t dream about it, fantasize about it, have any preconceived cake ideas or color schemes. The thought of it never excited me. It may be because I plan events for a living, that it took the razzle dazzle out of my own event, but I never really had the desire to have a wedding. With that being said, I haven’t enjoyed any of it LOL. Well, I did like tasting wedding cake options! Other than that, I know that I’m just going through the motions of decision making so that we can have a beautiful day. Having to make so many decisions, dish out so much money, and do it all on top of so many other responsibilities makes it hard to enjoy. Thinking about the actual day coming together perfectly is the only thing that gives me relief in knowing it will all be worthwhile.
One of my closest coworkers (I consider her a friend) just got engaged and I’m wanting to gift her! Do you have any cute gift suggestions on what women who are engaged actually want?
Nice, stemless wine glasses – I’ve had these for 2 years and still love them. They’re also on MAJOR sale. I love this marble wine cooler, that can easily double as a gorgeous vase – so pretty! These classic Mr. and Mrs. champagne flutes. This print is so fun, especially if they’re from different places! This would make a great sentimental gift she can wear the day-of as well.
I had a full week and these were all the questions that I could get around to, but I’ve already got the rest of them lined up for next week! If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments below or email them over to me. I hope you all have a great weekend!
