What inspired us this week.

There are so many talented people involved in this next post... I just love it!!

Back in February I was having coffee with Critsey Rowe and she mentioned Ceci New York, a design studio in Manhattan. Ceci's work is beyond incredible, unique, and simply stunning! They publish a weekly online magazine called Ceci Style.
You can subscribe for free HERE!

Well a couple of my favorite Charlotte vendors were featured in Ceci Style this week!
Click here for the full feature

Ivy Robinson styled this breathtaking beach table scape.
Lucy Parker Photography took these gorgeous images.

I still can not get over how much I love this color palette.
Blue skies, tan beaches, mahogany table, in contrast with the bright pink
and lime green.... L.O.V.E.

Lucy Parker Photography

www.lucyparkerblog.com

www.lucyparkerblog.com

My Dirty Thirty List

So a year ago, I was turning 30 and for a lot of people that is an age of crossing over into full adulthood. Many people feel the need to have accomplished something by this age, whether it be getting married, having babies, buying a house, finally finding their life-long career, etc. Even though I had not accomplished any of these things, I was okay with it. But I did want to shake up things in my routine life and decided I needed to do something big to celebrate. I always hear people saying things that they want to do one day like go sky diving, but they hardly ever do it. Then the idea popped into my brain: What better way to feel fully alive than to create a bucket list of 30 things and, here’s the kicker, only give myself one year to accomplish the whole list?

Using the list as an incentive made me do many things that I had been putting off and helped me discover new talents and hobbies. For instance, I now call myself a knitter, I donate blood, and I mentor a child. Lack of funds also made me more creative which led to ideas such as drinking peanuts in coca- cola, being blond for a day, or sending a message in a bottle. And now that I am 31, I find myself still adding to the list. Just last month I took a martial arts class, attended a lock and key dating party, and attempted to sell my crafts at the NODA art crawl. Once you turn your brain on to pay attention to all the possibilities around you, it is hard to turn it off. The next time someone suggests a new experience, instead of immediately thinking of all the excuses and obstacles, say with a shrug, “Well, why not?” I’d venture to say that you’ll be pleasantly surprised where this attitude will lead you.

I encourage everyone to try their own list and you’ll be amazed how much fun you have. Life is full of so many adventures and opportunities, that it is just a matter getting motivated! Give yourself something new to look forward to each month, each week, or even each day. What are some of your ideas for your list?

Side note: If you are looking for inspiration in finding joy in the simple things of life, check out this colorful and creative blog that I came across…
http://colormekatie.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html

~ Julie Glaser

Charlotte Bridal Showcase

Thank you Carolina Weddings & Events for another AMAZING Bridal Showcase!!!  

This was the first show we've done since the launch of Inspire.

It was so much fun to create a booth design that reflected our new look!

We enjoyed seeing some of our favorite wedding vendors at the show:

Wedding Row Charlotte

Critsey Rowe Photography

Lily Greenthumb's

Harwick House Events Group

Dianne Personett Photography

Authentic Exposure

Thank you for the white linens Connie Duglin!

Below are a few photos from the show.  What do you think!?

What Inspired Us This Week

I have to tell you about my new obsession.

Pinterest.com

Have you heard about this amazing website?  If not, you must check it out.

So what is Pinterest?  It is a Virtual Pinboard.

(Here is the website description)

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

This website is wonderful, you must go to it right now, but I warn you... it is highly addictive. 

Here are a few boards and pins:  

Imperfect.

Imperfect.
That’s my word for this season of life.

Because while I give my best effort each day to have a clean house, offer healthy
meals, provide moral instruction, look sharp, be smart, and meet the needs of everyone
around me….it will never be enough. Ever.

And that needs to be Okay.

If you’re like me, you may suffer from the occasional sickness of “Comparison-itis”. It’s a
contact virus, just like the flu. You get it when you walk into your friend’s home and
think, “Wow her house is cleaner / prettier / more organized than mine…” Or when
you’re around that female who is ALWAYS put together and has the most stylish
clothes / jewelry / shoes / makeup / hair. Or you talk to that fellow Mom who is so
knowledgable about homeschooling / cloth diapering / organic gardening / couponing /
missional living / etc. and you feel your stomach flood with the sickening feeling that you
aren’t doing enough. You should do more. You should know more. You should BE
MORE TO EVERYONE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.

Well I have a confession to make…I struggle with being imperfect on a daily basis.
Okay, sometimes it’s hourly.

So my take-away from this realization is this: There will always be someone in your life
who is prettier / smarter / skinnier / more stylish / has more money / insert-other-
accomplishment-that-drives-you-nuts here. ALWAYS. And that’s okay because the world
doesn’t need TWO of those people! It needs YOU for who YOU are, imperfections and
all. It needs you to find your calling in life and operate to the max in your sweet spot. It
needs YOU to be the WORLD CHANGER you were created to be.

So rather than beat yourself up for being imperfect, which, by the way, is the how the
good Lord made us (ALL of us)...Go ahead and be perfect. Yes, you read it right.

BE PERFECT.

Or rather, be perfectly amazing….at something. Don’t do yourself the injustice of trying
to be the best at EVERYTHING. Find your strength, master it, and then offer it to the
world.

Today stop dwelling on your imperfections! Instead, think about how awesome it is that
YOU are an expert when it comes to ______________. And then offer that strength and
expertise to everyone you meet.

Hi, my name is Carrie. I’m imperfect…and I’m okay with that.

Now it’s your turn.

~ Carrie Jacobs Davis is a freelance artist, photographer, and writer. She and her husband Nate live with their three children in Charleston, SC where they are pursuing a new ministry in sustainable organic farming. You can read more about their adventures at
www.thatsathought.wordpress.com and www.troubadourfarms.wordpress.com.

Inspire was born.

I had coffee with a friend the other day and she asked me about INSPIRE.  I starting telling her the story.  SCM Design started in 2005 as a freelance graphic design 'side job'.  At this time I was designing logos, brochures, really any random print designs that came my way.  Then one day a photographer asked if I could design an album for him.  My response was 'sure why not!?' - I LOVED designing that album.  Another photographer saw the design and asked if I could design all of their albums.  My response was an enthusiastic 'Yes!'.  The next step was invitation design. So over five years SCM evolved into an album and invitation design company.

This past May I went to The National Stationery Show in New York City.  It was invigorating, engaging, and inspiring.  I came home and said 'It is time to change the company name and re-brand'.  I had all of these ideas rushing through my head - I had to get them down on paper.  So I starting writing, didn't pick up the pen, just kept writing.  I wrote down dreams, things that I am passionate about, reasons why I love design, and the kind of business I wanted to create.  When I stepped back and read what I had written, two things jumped out - the word inspire, and God's handwriting.  Yes I was the one to use that pen, but He was the one that actually wrote it.

So INSPIRE was born.  Story to be continued...

-Stephanie

Blown Away.

Let the blogging begin!  I intentionally wrote one blog post for the month of July.
If you missed it, here is the link:
www.howdoyouinspire.blogspot.com/2011/07/inspire-each-other.html
Because this is a new blog, under a re-branded business, I wanted the purpose to be out there for awhile. The purpose being to INSPIRE EACH OTHER.

One thought was to have different people write for the blog once a week.  So I sent a facebook message to some friends, wedding professionals, family, church family, old neighbors (you get the point) and asked if anyone would be interested in sharing something that they found to be inspiring on the blog.  I was blown away by the response.  Within 30 minutes, the month of August was filled up.  Within an hour, I had weekly writers for the month of September.  So I thought, why not feature 'guest writers' twice a week!?
By the end of the weekend enough people signed up to fill August, September, and almost all of October!?!

The guest writer's submissions will be posted on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The first guest writer will be featured this Wednesday.  Trust me, you do not want to miss what this talented lady has written...

If you are interested in being a guest writer, please email me at : Stephanie@HowDoYouInspire.com