Just Chic Events Blog

My mom is one of my best friends, my biggest cheerleader, and the person who taught me that it’s OK to be a strong woman.   I’ve always known that I could  never re-pay my mom for the years of countless sacrifices and support she has given me, my dad and my brother…..but when her 60th birthday rolled, I figured that I could at least start the process!! I decided that after all of the over-the-top birthday parties, amazing family dinners and special surprises she had given us growing up, she deserved a surprise of her own.  So I set up an undercover surprise party in my own backyard with 60 of her closest friends and family members (a lady with a big heart like my mom acquires many close friends after 60 years!)

We threw together a grey and fuschia inspired event with a few special touches.  Florals were done by the great Kate Baker, and these beautiful photos below were taken by one of my recent clients and talented photog, Ashleigh Taylor:

The birthday girl herself…as she walked in.  She is as nosy as they come, so I thought she would totally sniff out the plans, but somehow she managed to be completely surprised that day!

We decided to forego passed appetizers for cocktail hour and open up a mashed potato bar stocked with martini glasses…..it was a huge huge hit with our guests!  

I figured a regular ol’ birthday cake would not do my mom justice, so we decided to go for an entire dessert table spread instead, sprinkled full of treats ranging from DIY yummies by yours truly, to Trader Joe’s, to Vanilla Bake Shop!

And I’ll end with a picture of me and the birthday girl…..don’t be fooled by her tiny stature, there is alot of spunk and heart in that little lady~! 

For those of you who don’t already know of Jordana Hazel, please run, don’t walk , to her website, Hazelnut Photography.  She is one of those people that you can’t help but just puffy heart, because she is hilarious, positive, and just real…..she just makes all those around her giddy and happy.  More importantly, she is ridiculously talented!!  She just gets behind the camera and is able to find the pretty in everything and everyone, and you can just tell that this girl was born to shoot. 

So, when it came down to choosing someone to help me with some headshots for my upcoming website relaunch, it wasn’t even a question…….I immediately dialed up my friend Jordana.    There is nothing better than getting to spend a few hours with someone so fun, and getting stuff done!!

Here are a couple of her shots of me, that I think are just….awesome.  Awesome to the 10th power.

And, although I think I look a little nutso when I laugh…….this shot is proof of why I love Jordy.  She cracks me up THIS much…..and I have to say, I don’t hand out a guffaw like this very easily:

Please visit her blog for more of the shots we captured that day, along with more of her captivating work!

Every year growing up, the last two weeks of August always consisted of two things.  A 2-hour trek to Target to buy a brand new backpack and school supplies, and a trip to the hair salon for a new look. 

For those of you who have met me, you have probably gotten to see my hair on the longest state it’s ever been.  I started growing it out for my own wedding, then decided to keep it long for a Lauren’s wedding this past May.  I really did start to love it, although I usually ended up throwing it up in a messy ponytail, because I have no patience for hair styling.   The thing with me and my hair is, I get bored really fast.

I decided that going into the new school year (and yes, I’m quite aware I am no longer a student, nor am I a teacher), I would revisit the traditions of years past and treat myself to a whole new look.  I wanted to go for something chic and versatile, with little maintenence, that still maintained a sense of professionalism.  I  took the liberty of assuming that my clients didn’t want me showing up to coordinate their elegant weddings in a mohawk!!

So we went from this, the old look:

To this look…..”the Gwenyth bob”:

It’s day 3 of the new bob and I’m loving it!!  A big shout-out to my stylist, Rigo Ortiz at Studio 26 (who also does amazing wedding hair!), for rocking the shears!!