January 16, 2012 – 10:42 pm
The popularity of candy bars has every bride asking for apothecary jars filled with miniature snicker bars and color-coordinated jelly bellies. I empathize with bride’s enthusiasm as I designed my first candy bar with the help of Dylan’s Candy Bar at Nas and Kelis’ 2005 nuptials. Lauren Dylan created custom chocolate molds of music inspired that included musical notes, miniature microphones and CD’s. In addition, she brought in white chocolate and milk chocolate fountains along with a few classic childhood favorites consisting of milk chocolate and almond candy bars, chocolate kisses and yes personalized M&M’s. As I’ve watched this trend grow in popularity and become more conventional, I have been eagerly anticipating its next incarnation.
December 31, 2011 – 4:11 pm
This year has passed faster than any other year in my career. Maybe it was because I traveled more this year than any previous years or maybe it was because I finally reached the goal of hosting my own show? I’m not sure but I’m absolutely certain that I worked harder this year with more focus and tenacity than ever before. I once believed that success meant conquering some far off goal or arriving at a magical destination. However, this year has taught me that success lies only in the journey of living my dreams and what a journey it has been. From the very early morning call times to the hysterical crying spells I experienced some morning while riding to the set of I Do Over to traveling the world with my husband and daughter because I begged them to experience every moment with me…this is called enjoying the journey. The time has come for me to review the goals I set for last year and identify new goals for the coming year but it would be blasphemous not to acknowledge all the good works that God has completed in my life and my immense gratitude. So as this year ends, I share with you my most memorable moments of 2011 with hopes that you may catch a glimpse of yourself inside my journey because I believe that we are all more alike than not -different paths but all taking the same ride!
December 26, 2011 – 11:32 pm
I first met Mike Colon when he photographed Usher’s wedding for me a few years ago. After reaching out to the ‘one and only’ Joe Buissink and discovering his unavailability, he told me that Mike was at the top of his recommendation list and that was good enough for me. I confirmed Mike at about 2:30am on the morning of the wedding and told him he had to make a 6:30am flight in order to arrive on time. After a hectic morning, he arrived calm, cool, reassuring and ready to go to work. However, my lasting memories are the spirit of the man that showed up to shoot this critically important client. Now with years of friendship under our belt, I am still in awe and impressed with his inner man. I know that his personal conviction and acknowledgement of his enormous responsibility will never allow him to show up in the wrong state of mind. You see, his gifts and his calling outweighs whatever may be in disarray in his private world. Mike Colon wears his heart on his sleeve and shoots from the soul – a quality that is admirable but also scarce. Mike shot 4 of the 6 episodes of I Do Over and blessed our couples with incredible memories. With this year coming to an end, I’ve finally been able to slow down a bit and had a chance to chat with Mike discuss some of the qualities that can only be found in a person whose life is called for greatness!
December 11, 2011 – 11:42 pm
The fire that ruined the Pepple’s first wedding was such a devastating and unforeseen disaster. How do you prepare for a fire in the building? This disaster even had me with a loss of words – a rare moment of course! Jennifer and Ian Pepple were a very quiet and shy couple who wanted nothing to do with fire again. However, my design plan was to re-introduce fire in a way that would help them establish some beautiful and artful memories that they could be proud of while embracing the beauty of fire. Also, since Jennifer and Ian met in an art gallery, I wanted to create as many artistic design elements that would pay homage to the encounter that brought them together. Flowers and textiles were my two primary elements that would bring this design approach to life. And it also helped that we found this gorgeous, eclectic warehouse space in Downtown LA that allowed me to turn it into an art gallery.
December 1, 2011 – 10:28 pm
Eddie Zaratsian of Tic-Tock Couture Florals and I have been friends and colleagues for many years collaborating and debating design in his gorgeous design studio. His vast experience and worldly viewpoint brings an incredible perspective to the design world. Furthermore, his sense of humor and overtly confident nature is always an enjoyable mix with mine. Eddie and his team worked their magic and transformed flowers into works of art for The Tumbagas, which was our toughest episode. It was the first episode of the season and lets just say – we still had a few kinks to work-out. With the Tumbagas episode airing this Sunday, I wanted to share my recent conversation with Eddie so that you will watch this week’s episode and fall in love him just as much as I do!
