Welcome! So Happi You're Here!

This blog shares the latest news about {So Happi Together}, an event design and planning firm, along with my personal inspirations, ideas and love musings.

My hope is that it can serve as a resource to anyone who loves weddings as much as I do. If you're looking for more or just want to chat, please do not hesitate to contact me or simply leave a comment! I am always thrilled to meet new people and hear new love stories!

Happi Planning!

xo,
nancy

Me, Lately

Thursday, April 29, 2010

 via weheartit

You may be wondering what in the world happened to me. This is probably the longest period I have gone without blogging and I sincerely missed it! Sometimes, if I see something beautiful or unique, I will think, "ooh! I need to blog about this!" Or if I feel something inspiring or touching, I will think, "ooh! I need to blog about this!" But these past two weeks, I have not been able to sit and blog about anything. Which goes back to, what in the world happened to me. 

Nothing in particular, but more like a whole lot of somethings that have inspired me to share about ME, lately. :) This is not for the faint of heart, so consider yourself warned and please feel free to bypass this post if you are only here wedding inspiration. This post is going to be all about me, lately. And it's a doozy!

To put it in a nutshell, the things that have been happening in my life are grading over 200 midterm papers; meeting with brides and vendors before, after and in between my classes; preparing for the upcoming finals season with my students; preparing for the upcoming wedding season with my brides; preparing for a fun photo shoot I am designing along with Melissa of The Loveliest Day and a slew of other fabulous vendors (more on that soon!); celebrating 4 family birthdays, my sister's engagement (eeks!), my brother-in-law's return from the Army basic training and completion of Airborne training; and making time to have fun, laughs and good times with my husband and our two dogs.

It's funny because when I meet with brides for consultations, many of them seem to know so much about me already, through my blog. I love this and the fact that we can start off like old friends. :) I find it interesting that several brides have commented that the most memorable posts to them are the ones that are personal and about me, rather than just about wedding stuff.  So, I have been contemplating writing this particular post, and was further encouraged to do so tonight when I went to hear Jasmine Star speak about online presence and branding at a Smarty OC event. She encouraged women entrepreneurs to "Keep it Real," so I decided to do just that. (By the way, I really admire and heart Jasmine!)

Many of you know that So Happi Together is still fairly young, but I am already completely booked for 2010 (with just a few December dates available) and even have a few weddings booked for 2011!  I love what I am doing and have a passion for it. So in May, I will be quitting my "day-job" as a part-time college Instructor at three local universities. Teaching part-time at three different schools actually ends up being over-full-time, but such is the life of a doctoral student in the part-time Instructor circuit. The semester ends in three weeks and although I am ecstatic about being able to focus my full time and energies on my weddings, I have to admit that a part of me is sad to part with my students and my classes. I have been teaching for four years now and I LOVE my students and the communities I have been a part of on campus, taking my classes on field trips, meeting with them outside of the classroom walls, maintaining relationships with them even after graduation, etc. So, the end of the semester is bittersweet and a little crazy as I tie-up loose ends and prepare for a complete career change.

At the same time, my husband is unemployed and has been since last October. He is a designer (with a degree in Automobile Design from Art Center - but you know the car industry right now. boo.) and design jobs are very hard to come by. So, it was and is scary for me to change careers and make the choice to become an independent business owner, especially since we are still newlyweds. But he has been nothing but supportive of my decision and my number one cheerleader. We have been truly blessed and continue to believe that things will always end peachy if we have faith and love for God, our dreams and each other.

So, I don't know if this is TMI, but it is me. And I thought I would share because so many people in my life right now (including a few of my brides) are facing difficult times or choices due to the economy or just life in general. And I think that is okay. I think this is how we grow, learn and find hope. We should dialogue about it with the people we love and maybe even people we just met. You may find something in common and in the process find a new friend!

Something I tell all of my couples is, ENJOY being engaged. Cherish that time because it will only happen once in your relationship and it isn't a period of planning your wedding, it is a period of being engaged to the one you are going to publicly join in life and love and really, you are just planning a celebration for that moment! So, in the same manner. Let's all ENJOY where we are lately. Not simply concerned about where we are going and what goal we want to achieve. But rather, what we are experiencing through the process of living every day.

Whew. That makes me excited to wake up in the morning! And I guess that is just me, lately.

xoxo.

p.s. back to good old wedding posts next week, I promise!

26 comments:

Jessica said...

Along with the plethora of "word" that came to mind as I read this (it was like ESP...seriously!), can I just say that this post is an inspiration. You know, I love pretty but I appreciate it even more when the person behind the pretty talks about real things.:)

cassie said...

nancy! thanks for the reminder to ENJOY!! this is why you rock! and i wish you the best in all your transitions. you are truly inspirational. yay...

sandy said...

cassie just told me to read your new blog. I love every word you just said. I have to admit in the midst of all the stress with wedding planning I have neglected my dear hubbie. Your 'enjoy where we are' really hit the spot. And to all engaged couples, listen to Nancy. Being engaged was such an exciting part of our relationship.. ah can you tell I miss it LOL.
Nancy, I don't know how you do it but you truly are an inspiration!!

ever ours said...

i love you. that is all.

Tey Garcia said...

Love the post!! Can't wait to finally meet you this friday :)

Unknown said...

Nancy, you are amazing!!! I really loved this post and I'm so happy for you that you will be taking So Happi Together full time! Your words of advice for engaged couples couldn't be more spot on & anyone who get the opportunity to have a caring and thoughtful designer & coordinator, such as you, is truly lucky in my book! Yay for keeping it real! xoxo

Amanda Rae said...

Congrats that your business is going so well and you get to concentrate on it full time! I can't wait to see all the beautiful weddings you will coordinate this year, and next year, and the year after that... :)

The Loveliest Day said...

Go Nancy! I could say so much about how amazing and awesome and rad you are, but I will keep it simple. I'm so proud of you and excited to see you taking So Happi Together to full time status. Your brides, and colleagues are lucky to have you:)

dognbird said...

Adore this feel good post. You're such an inspiration! So happy for you!

Alison Zamora (red velvet occasions) said...

GUUURRL you are keeping. it. real! I think your blog post is EXACTLY what jasmine was talking about! I love your openness and am happy to follow your journey on tour blog. I'm glad we got to meet last night and I hope to see you sometime in the near future. Let's meet up!

Sandy a la Mode said...

that's soo exciting that you have soo much going on in your life right now!! i can't wait to see your photoshoot, i'm sure it will be soo lovely!!

I Just Want Some Pants said...

I love you too! You are so wonderful!

Dina said...

I heart Nancy! Nancy, way to keep it real. Even though you have such a positive, upbeat, get up and go attitude, it's always nice to have a moment to breathe and reflect. You are incredibly blessed and talented, and i'm happy that you will be able to focus your energy on one thing going forward. Love, your 10-2-10 bride! :)

connie M chung said...

that's why you my homegirl. cuz we always keep it real, dawg. LOL. love this post. and you. 143.

joanna said...

Your positivity and your happi nature makes my heart flutter Nancy! I am blessed with you in my life and you didn't know it, but when you called me last, I was losing hope. You always make me smile and reminded me that everything will be ok. Again, today was a trying day and this post reminded me, that it'll be ok. I WILL enjoy my engagment and I will enjoy it even more knowing you are my DOC! I am praying for you and Eddie and hoping for the best!Love ya Babe!

nancy {So Happi Together} said...

wow. Words cannot express how overwhelmed I am with joy and other emotions regarding all of your support and kind words. This is exactly why I am addicted to the wedding industry and why I love this "job" so much. The fact that I can call all of my clients and colleagues my friends is priceless. Thank you...

Jasmine said...

KIR....you have done this perfectly. Congrats on being the best version of you.
xoxo
j*

Esther said...

nancy! thanks for sharing your heart. love these kind of posts :) yes, let's ENJOY where we are now and continue to be inspired by people around us. hooray for the year 2010!!! SO proud of you and I think you're one talented lady!!! quite jealous over here~ :D

Mommy Lim said...

awww...this was the best post. you're joy and positive attitude is something i hope i can have as well. keep it up nancy, you're doing great and i hope you can pass off your words of wisdom to your older sister who is probably stressed out with wedding prep...but i pray that she truly just ENJOYS the process and sees that it's not about the wedding, but about the marriage and future with her wonderful hubby! love u guys!

tiffy :) said...

you are finally in your element honey! that's why you're gonna rock the world!! ;) watch out everyone! so happi together's comin on strong!!! love you! :)

tiffy :) said...

btw. that's an AWESOME image!

Jane (Olive Hue Paper Goods) said...

you're an amazing friend and an amazing planner to your clients! I am so proud of you for being you and for leaving all the ideas of business behind to share you. I'm always so inspired by you and definitely share in your excitement for your growing business! LOVE YOU!!

gracie said...

nancy, thank you for sharing this post! the fact that you are pursuing your dreams despite the fear is so...inspiring! i love and wholeheartedly agree with what you said about faith and love for God, and one another. blessings to you as you begin a new adventure - the brides and grooms will be so lucky to have you in their corner!

ejp said...

Aww, I LOVE you & your work so much! So blessed to have you in my life, as a coordinator, & most importantly, my dear friend!!

sandra pan said...

just checking in to see how you are and i just want to say i am so happy for you! congrats on the big decision. i know God will guide you through this... much love,
sandra

sharon said...

I just read this right now and a HUGE CONGRATS to you for pursuing So Happi Together full-time! How exciting!! And what a great post! :)