An Eye for Entertaining

Planning events is fairly a newfound talent for me… However, my friends think differently.  After doing a few friend-a-views, I discovered that I apparently had a niche for planning and entertaining that dated back to my early high school years…  Perhaps it was the practicality that I saw in everything…or the fact that I leaned towards purchases that would serve a dual purpose…or maybe that I loved all things beautiful and believed that a Simple Sunday Dinner could be easily converted into a Stunning Sunday Soiree… I am not 100% sure of its origin, but like fashion, I believe that entertaining starts with an eye.

I love to plan and I love to entertain.  Nothing makes me happier than making someone else happy!  Over the past few years, I have planned numerous events… I have carried out countless themes… and I have delivered smiles to many faces… When I look back at some of my earlier events… I cringe!!!! Much like looking back at my 7^th grade photo when I wore hunter green overalls, white Ked’s, a blue striped sweater, unkept bangs and unibrow!  Then I quickly remind myself that time has brought about tremendous growth and change.  How true!  This is also applicable in my event planning and entertaining!  Over time, I have been able to develop my personal style and to incorporate the trends of today’s top party planners…

I don’t have a desire to become a professional event planner nor do I have the desire to do a million parties for the general public… However, I do have a desire to celebrate those in my life first class!  I want to make birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, retirements, holidays and etcetera a big deal because they are!  Celebrating monumental moments in life are a big deal!  Oprah Winfrey said it best, "The more you praise and celebrate your life; the more there is in life to celebrate."   

I recently styled and planned a baby shower for a church member and dear family friend… The theme started with a cute stuffed bumble bee that I found on clearance in Hobby Lobby for less than $3.  The wheels immediately started turning and I immediately started scouring my home, the stores and the internet for inspiration.  Many of the items that I used to style this {bee} themed shower was already in my possession... I set a very small budget and found some really cute pieces that aided in tying the theme together.  All in all I was in love with the outcome… People are still {buzzing} about the shower… The mother-to-{bee} is still glowing… And the love and compassion that was poured out during our time of fellowship is still {flowing} like {honey}…

 

It’s true… Beauty is in the eye of the {bee}holder… We, who are blessed to possess the {eye}, are responsible for sharing the beauty that we see {in fashion, art, makeup, music and even event planning} with others..

Do you have an {eye}?  How are you showcasing the beauty that you are blessed to {bee}hold?

Until Next Time,

M’Shonta

Life is Like a Vapor...

I've got a wild blog hair and so I am up at o'dark thirty writing this post....

In an effort to wind down this afternoon, I have indulged in reading some of my favorite blogs and party planning pages... Can you say inspired?????  I have been inspired to start back posting regularly, recapping my wedding (now that I have found some photogs of my behind the scenes dyi projects) and just capturing my new journey as Mrs. Turner.

Life is precious...And I want to document as much of it as possible so that our {future}children will be able to possess a priceless piece of our family history.  In the three weeks I have been to three funerals {all of whom were near and dear to our hearts} and there has been one common thread amongst all three of these individuals:

James 4:13-15 says," Whereas you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away."

I don't want to miss any of the gifts that God gives to us in each moment.... I want to be able to cherish and relish in them.... I want to live a life that is pleasing to God... A life that is purpose driven...

A life where every moment counts!

A Very Late 2011 Wrap Up! LOL!

Last year was an extremely busy year for me… Let’s wrap it up bullet point style! How I love those bullet points, they just hit the highlights in life! LOL!
• January- God blessed me with a new job as a product manger with a Fortune 500 company! This job marked my third promotion in less than a year!!! And my fiancé preached his first sermon!!! Glory to God!!!!!

• February- I launched a Valentine’s line for my company, Custom Creations by M’Shonta! Sells were very good and I thank God for the gift of creatively that He has bestowed upon me! I also planned a 14 reason why I love you Valentine’s Day Celebration with Robert!

• March- My pageant system, Purposeful Pageant Productions became official with a logo in hand!!! Our mission is for every pageant to serve a God given purpose in the earth!!!! We had our first pageant under this newly incorporated system and named it the Rhinestones and Rabbits Easter Pageant! It went off without a hitch! A percentage of the proceeds from that pageant benefited our Relay for Life team Princesses with a Purpose!

• April- I took my mother to Houston along with me to attend the Women Who Win Conference. She was laid off from her job in September of 2010 and I wanted to do something that would get it off of her mind… So I bought her a brand new wardrobe and paid all of her expenses to the conference! It was life changing! While there were met a relative whom we had not seen in years… We also watched the Royal wedding and gathered inspiration.

• May- Due to the tornados that hit in late April, I felt the desire to help others in need…. So I launched the Starfish Project and urged my FaceBook friends to give to $100 each so that we could give immediate financial assistance to those who were affected. It was such a blessing to be of service to others.

• June- It was a busy month for weddings! I served as a DOC and wedding planner for two weddings!! It was amazing!!!

• July- Was truly a month for celebrating!!! I planned a birthday party, baby shower and a pageant!! I think I only had one open weekend in July! Whew!!!

• August- Back to school for the kiddos and increased workload for me! LOL! I also managed to squeeze in a cupcake themed baby shower!

• September- I honestly don’t remember what happened! Most of the month was spent traveling, working an preparing for our 24th Church Anniversary!

• October- Was quite a busy month! I started ramping up for Christmas, went to AMMU Homecoming after five years, and celebrated our 24th Church Anniversary!

• November- I got engaged!!!! Did anything else happen?

• December- Deserves a separate post! LOL! But we will take a shot! My fiancé bought us a house, I found a wedding dress and most of the vendors, we had a photo shoot at the new house, I was hired as a professional tree decorator (LOL), we celebrated the holidays first class and much, much more!

So there you have it! I will do better next year! Recapping the year a few months earlier will be a great start!

Bad, Bad Blogger: Bringing You Up to Speed in One Post

Yes.... I must confess that I have been a bad, bad blogger.... If I am going to ever to fulfill my dream of becoming a Weddingbee Blogger someday; I will have to kick this habit really, really soon... :)

So here's how we are going to do it... I am going to bring you up to speed in one post! Yes, one post...this is not for the faint-hearted or the fast surfer... This will probably be one of my longest post ever!

What's new with me?

On the Professional Front...

Hmmm...well I started a new job! I actually started it on the 18th of January... I am working as a product manager with a huge, huge Fortune 500 company! I absolutely love it and it is truly a blessing! Here are a few shots from my first day of work! You gotta love a company that treats you like this!

On the Business Front....

Custom creations by M'Shonta has proven to be a very successful endeavor! Valentine's Day was awesome! Below are a few shots of the items that we created for Valetine's Day... We will be promoting Easter items really, really soon! I can't wait to share!

{Lover's Day Mugs}

{Mini-mailboxes containing Love Letters from God}

Baby Door Couture

Custom Creations by M'Shonta has added another element! Baby Door Couture! We will do customized framed layouts like the one seen below and they can be hung on the hospital doors shortly after the birth of beautiful little baby boys and girls! All the customer will have to do is snap and picture and print it and place it on the layout! There is also room for them to fill out the baby stats such as weight, height, birthdate and time...

Since we are on the subject of babies... I would like to share a few highlights from a Dr. Seuss themed baby shower that I planned back in January! It was a blast!

And keeping in the character theme... I would like to share with you a couple of snapshots from MaKenzie's Hello Kitty 3rd Birthday Bash!

On the Exciting News Front....

My logo for my Event Planning Company is finally complete... Visuality Planning and Events is premier event planning solution for any of your event needs. Our creative minds create events that meet your individual needs and execute your vision. We look forward to creating a first class event with you because you deserve nothing less! Be sure to leave a comment and tell me what you think! Mr. Falsetto is full of suprises...

I saw this in a mall when I was traveling home from a long week of work and when I got home he had it for me!

And so is my little sister... Tears still well up in my eyes as I think of this moment! OMG! Words can not explain how much I love her... She is super sweet and the best sister in the world!

{The flowers were beautiful, but the card was even sweeter}

While on a business trip in San Antonio... I had the opportunity to visit the Alamo and River Walk... Here are my thoughts about my visit to this historical site. "It's impossible to know where you are going...if you don't know where you have been." I have always had a passion for history. I was blessed to be able to visit The Alamo during their 175th anniversary. There was so much rich history! I even discovered that a freed slave was also recognized as a hero of the Alamo... I am so thankful that I get to travel and see different parts of the world.. But I am even more thankful that the more I see...the more I see the hands of God at work in the universe.

I am Fulfilling God-Given Purposes through Pageantry. This year I am coordinating the 2011 Rhinestones and Rabbits Easter Pageant! Only $65 to enter and that includes beauty, casual, photogenic, best smile, best dressed and best personality!!!!! We will crown 20 Queens 2 Kings , 2 Grand Supreme’s and 1 Ultimate Grand Supreme! $10 from every entry received will benefit the American Cancer Society!

And finally, I have allowed my DESTINY TO BE AWAKENED!

This blog has a played a major role in my quest for destiny... Don't get me wrong... Only the Creator can reveal to you what He created you to do... But my bible and this blog served as a compass...

Because of DESTINY AWAKES...I can now confidently write my mission... my purpose in life...

Melanie S. Smith is a Christian motivational speaker, business owner and a product manager for a Fortune 500 organization; whose purpose in life is to turn the hearts of girls toward God. Drawing from her experience in pageantry and coupling it with her desire to train young women to live life from the inside out; she is able to creatively inspire and motivate young girls to find their true in identities in Christ.

My destiny has been awakened...what about yours? Please share! I'd love to hear your comments!

Until next time,

M'Shonta