Showing posts with label meetus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meetus. Show all posts

Monday, August 10, 2015

Kate Hill


Welcome! I am a full-time working mommy who dreams of a day when I can spend my days doing exactly what I love and staying home to watch my sweet boy grow. Hence, this blog! The world of payroll and accounting is something I’ve come to know well in the last eight years, but it certainly isn’t something that has me voluntarily leaping from bed to leave my family for every day. My true passions are my family and creating. Ok, lots of generality there, but bear with me while I elaborate!

Family is and always will be my number one. My parents raised five girls (yes, my dad is a saint) and instilled in us how important the unconditional love that we have for each other really is. We have a truly unique dynamic, not always understood, but definitely envied at times and for that I will be forever in their debt. Their influence led me to who I am and ultimately, my best friend, my husband. Jordan is just what I needed to start on the road to my own amazing family. He has given me his heart, endless laughter, a beautiful home and the most important gift I will ever receive, my sweet baby boy, Colin. From the moment they put him on my chest, umbilical cord still attached, I was his and he will forever hold my heart in the palm of his hand. I’ve never felt more happiness than I do on any given Saturday morning, snuggling in bed with my two boys (and our two crazy puppies). I cherish those moments and love knowing that we’re building our own unique dynamic that I’m sure will be envied too! (I always melt when I hear “Saturday Morning” by Rachael Yamagata – check out the lyrics, totally us!)

Creating; such a broad term, and believe me when I say, I have tried MANY forms. I have always had a love for the arts, from a tiny nine year old taking Ed Emberley books out of the library to a high school senior taking AP Art. Yes, it’s a thing…stop laughing! Along the road through college, I changed majors, roughly five times. Yep, five. In fairness, the bulk of the majors centered on art and being creative, I just had to discover which of these really spoke to me. And that was the details. Ok, creating=details?? NO. But, the creating the details is how I thrive. Allow me to pause here for definition time; I know most of you are probably wondering what in the hell “minutiae” means, or even how it’s pronounced for that matter.

minutiae

pronunciation: /mi-noo-she-ee/ (this is debatable based on country/region)

definition: the small, precise or trivial details of something. (Oxford Dictionaries, 2015)

Why would you use a word that no one knows on your blog? Well, folks, it’s me. The girl diagnosed with OCD at age 12. Yeah, generally thought to be a terrible disease, once maintained, it can be one of your greatest strengths too! Every detail matters. Everything is precise and counted, but also quite organized and repetitive. And so I was drawn to events and all of the minutiae that they require for perfection in every degree. So while my days were filled with payroll, my evenings were spent in an online course to be certified as an I.E.W.P. (WHA??? An International Events and Wedding Planning Professional). Talk about a course for the obsessive compulsive!

Since gaining my post-nominal initials, I have joined forces with my sister, Ann and began helping plan events from birthday parties, to showers, to weddings on a more personal level to gain experience. Unfortunately, this has not become a full time job and led to us spending more money than making; ask our husbands, they will be happy to elaborate! Mine would also be thrilled to share some of the abundance of “crafty stuff” that we have collected through the years for projects we’ve made. Hey, you can never have too many hot glue sticks! Besides, Ann and I rotate them back and forth, so technically we don’t have that many…right??

The purpose of this blog is to release more of these creative juices (and possibly some of the “crafty stuff”). I’d like to invite you to join us as we share minutiae from the parties we plan, favorite products, stories that keep us laughing, mommy antics, home décor, baking and general crafting that allow us to do what we may not be able to in our everyday lives. Laugh with us and at us and please enjoy the details!

Annie Dorsey


"I've dreamed of doing this my whole life!"
Not this lady. If I were asked as a child what I thought I would do "when I grow up," it would probably include creating a line of beauty products by mixing Love's Baby Soft perfume and powder with my mother's White Shoulders perfume. Since they didn't offer any classes like that in college, I ended up studying English and Secondary Education with the intent to teach High School English. Fast forward a few years and I ended up as an Event Planner for a resort and winery. Wait, what?

Sometime after college, I decided I didn't want to teach after all and began working as a reservations agent for a local resort/spa/winery. I booked everything from overnight accomodations to spa services and golf tee times for guests. The resort was beautiful and I especially loved being able to see the weddings and special events on property. I knew right away that I had to be a part of the catering team. Since I had some experience planning parties at a previous job right after college, I was able to move into the catering department as their assistant. After a year, I was offered a position as a catering manager. I planned wedding ceremonies and receptions as well as holiday parties, birthday parties, family reunions- just about any type of social event. It was incredible. I finally (albeit accidentally) found what I loved to do! There was never a dull moment and there was always something new. The feeling of seeing an event come from inception to fruition was absolutely amazing to me. Unbelievably fulfilling.

After a few years, I married the love of my life and we started our family. My focus naturally shifted from my job to our little family. While I loved what I did, I knew I wouldn't want to be working 50+ hours a week once we started having children. It was a bittersweet decision, as I adored the company and my unforgettable co-workers, but once our first little one was born I resigned from my position at the resort. I lucked out and over the next few years (amidst the arrival of our second baby) I found two different part time postitions. First at a historic venue downtown as their Wedding and Events Coordinator and, after we moved out of the city, another position at a country club as their Catering Manager. With each position, I was able to continue doing what I loved while still spending time with our children. I was also able to create my work hours around my husband's schedule so we didn't need child care. It was ideal. Our third little sweetheart was born a short time later and I decided to take time off work indefinitely. Being home full time was wonderful- and eventually contributed to our fourth baby being born! Yes. Four.

While it was important for me to be home with our babies, I started really missing work. Not so much putting on a suit, sitting in traffic or attending meetings. But I missed planning events! I discovered I was able to get my fix by planning events for our children. Nothing too crazy or over the top (just don't ask my husband if he agrees with that statement), and with PLENTY of help from my sister Kate, we put together some special parties with really fun details.

Through the years, Kate and I have planned birthday parties, christenings, bachelorette parties, baby showers, bridal showers, engagement parties and weddings. We have created personalized and coordinating invitations, garlands, bunting, table decor, favors and even party wear. That feeling of excitement from putting these little details together is so fun, it's addicting. And seeing the guests reactions to everything is just incomparable.

After some deliberation and MUCH urging from family and friends, Kate and I have decided to take our love for all things parties and party planning to the blogging world. The intent is to have fun and keep our creativity going and passion alive. We are going to share our ideas and thoughts, crafts and creatables, our successes and failures, easy tutorials and our little party supply shop! It's going to be fun so please stick around. We're so happy you're here!