Creating family unity without sacrificing your own identity

Semi-Wordless Wednesday Wedding Style

May 7, 2014 By Shan Leave a Comment

Remember my friend who I helped host her bridal shower? Here are some photos I took at her gorgeous wedding…vintage style.

Welcome to the magnificent glass Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Below, the groom sees the bride walking down the aisle.

Can I just say how much I HATE those huge ferns! Really!? They really are a distraction. Ok, I’m done ranting now.

I love the above photo with the groom looking at my friend. Just in this photo you can tell how much he loves her.

I know the above photo is blurry, but I LOVE it! He was so happy and was skipping down the aisle. And the huge grin on both their faces is awesome.

Above my friend’s daughters following the bride and groom down the aisle as Mr. & Mrs. A new family is born.

Last photo I shot after the ceremony was over. Isn’t this a romantic setting for a wedding?

So HAPPY for them!

Here I am on the way to the wedding sporting my new Chloe & Isabel Crystal + Chain Strands Stretch Headband and my favorite earrings called the Art Deco Starburst Earrings. You know I had to throw this in. 😉 Us short haired girls can wear headbands too.

Above photo shows me wearing the C + I Coral Statement Ring and Heirloom Coral Statement Necklace. They were the perfect vintage feel to go with the wedding and the maxi dress I wore. You can find these unique, quality jewelry pieces by going to Jewelry Brings Joy, my online boutique for Chloe + Isabel.

Weddings bring joy,

Filed Under: Photography Brings Joy, Values Bring Joy

#FOREVERTHERE

May 1, 2014 By Shan Leave a Comment

Please watch the following video:

Ok, first of all, who else thought the 2 couples shown were the same couple? I thought they were showing them when they were young and then when they were older.

Second of all, can you believe this is a commercial for Firestone Tires?!

Honestly, this commercial is a work of art…such emotion and the song was perfect. I was watching a show I DVRed and it came on right after my show paused for commercial. Normally, I forward right away through the commercials because I can’t stand them. However, this one sucked me in. It didn’t even seem like a commercial. I thought some movie has been recorded on top of my show or something. Firestone received their money’s worth when they hired the company who created this for them. This is brilliant! Why? Because it made me go outside and see what brand of tires I had on my vehicle. I was literally crossing my fingers hoping I had Firestone tires just so I could say how glad I was I invested in that company. How crazy is that!? Now, that is what I call phenomenal advertising! Way to go Firestone! Next time I need tires, I will be buying yours.

Disclaimer: I was not contacted by Firestone or paid by them to write this post.

Happy May First,

Filed Under: Music Brings Joy, Photography Brings Joy

10 Reasons Why You Should Know About Chloe + Isabel

April 29, 2014 By Shan 3 Comments

I have a new job! (insert drum roll)

You are looking at one of the newest Merchandisers for Chloe + Isabel.

Who are Chloe + Isabel you might ask?

Fashion jewelry for both the trendy and the classic fashionistas.I’m definitely a Chloe-bel. I believe the jewelry we wear says something about us as a person, about who we are. Jewelry can compliment our outfit and make us feel feminine and lovely. Over the years I have enjoyed finding pieces which share my personality. When I happened upon Chloe + Isabel it was love at first sight. I know that sounds rather cliche, but it’s true. Most of the time I like to wear simple earrings, rings, bracelet and occasionally a necklace. However, depending on my mood or the occasion sometimes I like to step it up a bit. Chloe + Isabel’s exclusive line has all of the above. Ready to find out more about this amazing company? Read on…
Hypoallergenic, nickel free and lead safe. This is very important for me. I have sensitive skin. I can’t stand when I wear jewelry and the next thing I know my arm is itchy or I have a red blotchy area on my neck. The worst is when my ears become infected. Has this ever happened to you? Honestly, this may be why I haven’t worn too much jewelry in the past. The cheap costume jewelry always irritates my skin. Ever since I began wearing my Chloe + Isabel jewelry I haven’t suffered from one of the above mentioned problems. Below I’m modeling (with my serious model pose) the Organic Teardrop Earrings & Long Organic Link + Chain Necklace.
Exclusively designed in a New York City Studio. Chantal Waterbury, CEO & Founder of Chloe + Isabel has been designing jewelry for over 15 years. I treasure knowing my jewelry from Chloe + Isabel is unique. Every time I wear a piece (& or pieces) I receive compliments and people ask me where I bought them. The company stays ahead of the trends and releases new lines on a regular basis. Following is one of the pieces from a limited edition line called Tresco Isle:
Lifetime Replacement Guarantee. I don’t know of another company who offers this. If at any time your Chloe + Isabel piece breaks for any reason, you can return it to them for a brand new piece (with your receipt.) If the piece is no longer available, you will receive a credit or refund for the purchase amount. You can bet your money Chloe + Isabel are creating QUALITY pieces because otherwise they will lose profit.
30 day money back guarantee. You can have peace of mind…if for any reason you do not like your Chloe + Isabel purchase, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund (with your receipt.)
Pieces start at just $24! “By designing + sourcing directly from our NYC studio, + selling through our amazing community of Merchandisers, we remove multiple layers of retail markup. We’re thrilled to offer our customers exceptional, beautifully-crafted pieces at affordable prices.” Chantal Waterbury CEO – Founder
Host program offers opportunity for FREE jewelry. You can host an ONLINE Pop-Up Shop and receive credit for jewelry! Those of you who live close to me, I am happy to help you host one in person wherever you choose. Some Merchandisers have had hosts schedule Pop-Up Shops at an restaurant during lunch time or for mom’s night out. Otherwise, Chloe + Isabel is online friendly. I can help you put together an online Pop-Up Shop. We set a date and time just like we would if we were doing it in person. We direct everyone to the website to purchase during that time period and voila you earn some FREE Chloe + Isabel jewelry. Leave a comment (by clicking at the top of the post) or email me at familybringsjoy at gmail dot com (also on my sidebar to the left) to schedule your online Pop-Shop.
Perfume too. Discover Jardins Du Midi, a fragrance inspired by a midday, sunlit walk through the lush orchards of the South of France. It has hints of Peach Nectar, Bergamot, Jasmine Sambac, White Violet, Vanilla Absolute. It smells like fresh roses to me.
Featured in many magazines and online.
I was hired by Chloe + Isabel to be a merchandiser, not a recruiter. I found out about this fabulous opportunity online. I filled out an application, had an interview and was hired by Chloe + Isabel to represent their company and sell their jewelry. In all essence, it is as though I bought a franchise from them, yet I don’t have the overhead of having a store. So just like most franchises, when you go into their store or restaurant, you are not bombarded with considering whether or not you want to own your own franchise. So it is with Chloe + Isabel. The reason I am sharing this with you is two fold. 1.) Being an entrepreneur at heart, I have represented other direct sales companies in the past. Even though I loved my job and felt passionate about the products I was selling, I wasn’t always comfortable trying to recruit customers to have my job. The guests who came to in-home shows were there for the product, not to learn about my job. Chloe + Isabel wants their merchandisers to solely focus on sharing their beautiful jewelry to the world. We are trained to be good business owners and are encouraged to be creative. I LOVE that. 2.) This will be the only time I write about this opportunity. All future posts will be focused purely on Chloe + Isabel’s exclusive products. I’m only writing about this for the off chance some of you reading this might be thinking, “what if I want to be a merchandiser as well?” This is an exclusive opportunity. If you are interested, I can send your name to the recruitment department of Chloe + Isabel. Email me at familybringsjoy at gmail dot com.

I’m going to end with a video which briefly explains the Chloe + Isabel opportunity. Before you roll your eyes…my intention is not to recruit you, rather than let you see many of the jewelry pieces. You will meet Chantal (Founder & CEO) who wears several of the pieces in the clips as well as other Merchandisers.

Are you ready to see more of the jewelry pieces Chloe + Isabel offer? Head on over to my online Chloe + Isabel boutique by clicking here. Guess what I named it? That’s right Jewelry Brings Joy…I think it’s fitting! Don’t you! 😀 Pin the following graphic to share Chloe + Isabel with all your friends. Wait…set up an online Pop-Up Shop with me first, then pin away. 😉

P.S.: Chloe + Isabel have Hunky investors! Guess who one of Chloe + Isabel’s investors is…um…none other than Ashton Kutcher.

P.S.S.: Visit my boutique to find the perfect Teacher Appreciation gifts, Mother’s Day gifts, Wedding gifts…birthday, anniversary etc.

Last P.S.: Wearing the Pearl + Crystal Drops Long Necklace (one of my favs,) Bead + Chain Multi Wrap Bracelet and Crystal Square Stud Earrings in the first profile photo.

Jewelry Brings JOY,

Filed Under: Blogs Bring Joy, Photography Brings Joy

Vintage Bridal Shower Part Two

April 16, 2014 By Shan 4 Comments

Welcome back to the vintage themed bridal shower I helped host for my dear friend, Tandy.

Today I will feature all the goodies we served. My other two sweet hostesses were the amazing chefs who made and prepared the food for the shower. It was a good way to divide the tasks. I was in charge of the invitations (which I will be sharing with you in a future post) and the decorations.

My Happy Helper

I must mention how grateful I am for my sweet 10 year old daughter who helped me clean the house before the party. She mopped the kitchen, breakfast area, mudroom, laundry room, and 2 bathrooms for me. I was so thankful for her being a happy helper.

The gorgeous book to the left is Tandy’s Instant Photo Book. I asked her to bring it so we could have it out as decoration. The book will soon be filled with photos from her beautiful wedding day. I remember her telling me she bought it from a store on ETSY. I have a feeling I will need to get the name of the shop…you want to know don’t you?

On to the treats!

I was so excited to use the china my parents gave me along with platters and pretty formal serving pieces. Don’t you just love the milk glass cake stand my Oma gave me? I adore the holes for ribbon. Not sure if the holes were intended for ribbon to be weaved through them or not, but I sure love dressing it up that way. The cake almost didn’t make it. The bottom tier was made with fresh strawberries while the top tier was made with fresh pineapple. It was nice and moist (extremely delicious) which made it slide around during transit. We were happy (and relieved) the cake made it here whole and together.

The above chocolate dipped cones with fruit were a huge hit! Brenda, one of the hostesses, is an art teacher (she was my oldest daughter’s art teacher.) I’m thinking her skills came in handy, don’t you think?

Tandy’s mom, Carri, the other hostess, made fresh whipped cream for the fruit. (above photo) {I added the chalkboard tag ;)}

Look at how Brenda arranged the veggies above. She hollowed out pieces of bread and carefully arranged the vegetables. They are like little vases of colorful flowers. I’m extremely impressed with her masterpiece below. It’s practically a work of Van Gogh how she arranged the cheese and grapes with celery.

Carri made the yummy spinach dip above and served it in a bread bowl. {excuse the way the spoon is sticking out…my bad}

At the last minute I decided to order some French macaroons. I’ve seen them served at showers on Pinterest. We found a French bakery in Tulsa. These little pastries made me gain 5 pounds! {Well, those and all the leftover cake left at my house.} The macaroons are colorful, pretty and delicious bites from heaven. Oh and a little warning…the blue ones made our teeth blue…so don’t look too closely at our teeth in pics.

We also served sausage meatballs (thanks to Tandy’s Dad,) pinwheels (cream cheese & veggie concoction rolled up in tortilla) {bummed I didn’t get a pic of those}, salsa, crackers and veggie chips. Carri made yummy raspberry lemonade to drink with all our treats.

Carri & Brenda looking at Instant Photo Book

One of our creative friends made this for Tandy

Carri & Tandy

Isn’t she a beautiful bride to be?

What a wonderful celebration of LOVE! Thanks for coming by. 😀 Please come back again. Follow Family Brings Joy on your favorite social media sites. You can find me via the icons at the top right of the page for Facebook & Twitter. My Pinterest and Instagram are also on the sidebar to the left. As always, I thoroughly enjoy ALL comments. Comments are a bloggers nourishment. They help us keep writing and creating great content.

Showers bring joy,

Filed Under: Friends Bring Joy, Home Brings Joy, Photography Brings Joy

Vintage Bridal Shower Part One

April 15, 2014 By Shan 7 Comments

Between the blasted heartbleed virus, busy life and editing pictures I’m a little late in posting this. I apologize. As a matter of fact, I’m still weeding through which photos I want to share. I’m down to 42 out of almost 200 photos taken. Instead of weeding through them again, (and postponing another day) I decided I would split them up. This post will be the decorations, while tomorrow’s post will be the food table.

You will find I was able to make most of my decorations…

Welcome to my friend’s Vintage Bridal Shower (hosted in our home.)

The shower sign you see used to be a shelf in one of my kid’s bedrooms. I shopped in my attic and found the wood board calling my name, “use me!” I sanded it a bit and used the chalkboard spray paint to paint one side. I have to confess I don’t draw letters this pretty. I used my Cricut to make the letters and traced them with chalk. I liked the idea of using the board as a sign on my front porch. I can erase the chalk after the shower and write another word for whatever occasion I want.

Front door wreath:

This wreath was made from a pool noodle. I recycled a soft old blanket that had a whole in it by cutting it up in strips and hot gluing them on the noodle. I made the blue flower with the blanket and hot glued the buttons on to the center. I made the pinwheel out of kraft paper. The wood fan in the background is one of the party favors we gave the guests.

Come on in to the foyer.

I finally painted the heirloom desk given to me by my Oma. I used my favorite paint, Annie Sloan Chalk paint in old white. The shower helped motivate me to breathe new life into this desk. I temporarily (for the shower) placed it in the foyer to use as a welcome table. I made the ticket garland by sewing the tickets together. I hot glued one of the girls old locker chandeliers which was sitting in my garage to the top of the old suitcase. The veil was mine. Tandy’s mom was one of the shower hostesses and she brought Tandy’s card box she plans to use at the wedding as well as their engagement photo.

To the right of the foyer is the dining room.

I made this heart garland with my paper heart punch. Placed 2 hearts together and sewed them together one after another. I used scrapbook paper with her colors of coral, turquoise, cream and browns intermixed with (actual) map and music paper for a vintage feel. When it’s finished you fold back the hearts to give it dimension and voila! I think this was my favorite garland I made. I bunched several paper poms together to make a sort of pom bouquet to hang down from the ceiling.

In the foyer to the left you see:

I made the below garlands. Sewed circles together for the top. The bottom pom garland was made from tulle and tied onto cord.

Both of the above garlands were hanging in the foyer and you saw them as soon as you walked in.

Living Room:

I shopped from home for most of what you see here on this mantel. If you’ve been reading for a while you will recognize many of the items. I did find the coral candle holder and vase at my favorite local discount store Walls. The Precious Moments couple was on my wedding cake. I added some scrabble tiles spelling the bride and grooms names onto the old type setting drawer. I have a close up of their names on Instagram (@familybringsjoy) I found the blue hanging pails at Hobby Lobby. The white flower bouquet is also from Hobby Lobby. I forgot what the live pink flowers are called in the other blue pail. I bought the burlap bunting at Hobby Lobby, but I cut out the big letters using my Cricut and the small letters using my QuicKutz.

WARNING: The following garland might shock you:

The panty garland was hung in between the living room and kitchen. I thought it was a cute idea and added some great conversation to the shower. Tandy was happy to take the pretty undies with her.

In between the living room and breakfast room:

I kind of went crazy making the circle garland, but I think it added a special touch.

Me with the beautiful Bride to be:

I had so much fun crafting all the decorations for Tandy’s bridal shower. Feel free to pin away and share this post with everyone. I hope this shower will inspire many more for future celebrations. Thank you for joining us! If you have a question, please email me or ask in the comment section of this post. Only 11 more days until the wedding Tandy! Come back tomorrow for all of the food we shared. 😀

Celebrating with friends brings joy,

Filed Under: Crafts Bring Joy, Friends Bring Joy, Home Brings Joy, Photography Brings Joy

Inspiring Free Online Mom Conference

April 7, 2014 By Shan 1 Comment

There is a wonderful FREE online conference for moms that begins today! The following video introduces you to what the Mom’s Conference is:

Doesn’t that look cool!? Come join me! Each day of the conference (beginning today,) a new set of 4 presentation videos will be made available on The Mom Conference site for a FREE 24-hour viewing/listening period. The line up of speakers is phenomenal!

What a great way to get re-energized at being the best mom you can be! I’m especially excited about the meal preparation presentations. Head on over now! Click here.

Good moms bring joy,

Filed Under: Blogs Bring Joy, Me Time Brings Joy, Values Bring Joy

Family Brings Joy

Semi-Wordless Wednesday Wedding Style

#FOREVERTHERE