Much to be excited about!

Hello sweet friends... 

I've been gone quite a while.  I've made some comebacks, and I've made some promises to keep posting, and you know what, I just couldn't keep them.  Maybe graduation season is going to have to be a less-blogging-more-designing kind of season for me.  Thanks for bearing with me.

An update on my grandfather brings wonderful news... He's doing great. PRAISE THE LORD.  Every time I speak to him on the phone he sounds better and better.  He's coping well with the dialysis, and we are ever so grateful for the continued love and support of our extended family and friends.  THANK YOU.

Tonight I did something very exciting... I launched the new logo for Sarah Anne Watson Design.  Tomorrow I pick up my new business cards with my BEAUTIFUL (if I do say so myself) new logo on them... I can barely contain my excitement.  Sooo... without further ado, here she is:

 

The whole idea to rebrand has been in the back of my head for quite a while.  My old logo and design scheme was just a continuation of a project I did while in school.  And, while it was great for it's original purpose, it was not the look and feel that I wanted to represent my brand.  I am so in love with the new look, I can't even contain it.

And you may have noticed that Praise at the City Gate has gotten a makeover as well... It's well on it's way, but the current look is merely temporary.  The plan is for this blog to eventually become a section of my website, but it will certainly still be devoted to the same topics. 

With that said, I have some even more magnificent news to share.  I will be attending the Making Things Happen conference in Atlanta in May!  I have followed the work of Ms. Lara Casey and Mrs. Emily Ley for a couple years now, and I've participated in their Making Brands Happen Webinar, but I can't wait to spend some solid time working on a plan to not only make my dreams come true, but to help others do the same thing, too!  (MTH/ATL2012 I love you already!)  I absolutely, positively, without a doubt, have never been more fired up about ANYTHING in my whole entire 23 years and 5 months of existense. NEVER, I tell you. Not even when I saw *NSYNC in concert 3 times. In the rain.  Not even then was I this excited.  Nope. Not even JT beatboxing while wearing a bedazzled bandana over white boy cornrows got me this worked up.

Y'all my dreams are coming true.... It's happening.  

So I leave you with this...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

Do me a favor friends... Do one thing today that gets you one step closer to living the life of your dreams.  Make a to-do list.  Make a bucket list.  Or maybe today is the first day you don't make a to-do list and instead you fly by the seat of your pants. (May the force be with you.) Go on, get after it. Getcha some. Live your dreams.

Wedding Wednesday: Heavenly Hairstyles

I believe no outfit can look its best if your hair is a mess.  Furthermore, I believe your hair has the power to make or break your day.  Imagine the fuss a stray hair hanging in your face can cause, or worse, a fallen updo. Or devastating, fallen curls that look like dead snakes.  Yes, I said it, dead snakes.  Not the look you were going for in your bridal portraits? Didn't think so. 

Here are my steps to choosing the perfect hairstyle for your wedding day (or any other day for that matter):

1. Know your hair.

Don't try to force it to do something it just can't do. Furthermore, know your style, and don't do something with your hair that deviates so far from your everyday style that you just don't look like yourself.  For example: I'm all about the volume, so why on my wedding day would I slick my hair back flat against my head? Well, I wouldn't.

2. Frame your face, don't distract from it.

I have the same rule for my hair as I do for my -- ahem -- décolletage. If it is going to keep someone from looking me in the eye when they speak to me, it needs to be reigned in.  Get it?  I thought so. Moving on.

3. Work with your veil, not against it.

Not wearing a veil? Skip this.  If you don't want your veil to be up on top of your head, you're going to have to choose a lower updo, or choose to attach your veil below your hair.  If you want to wear your hair all down, how are you going to attach your veil (it can be done!) and will it stay?  If you want to wear a blusher down the aisle, and you have sideswept bangs, are you just going to end up with a mess of tulle and hair in your eyes?  These are the things you have to think about.  And, furthermore, the things you have to play around with at your hairstyle consultation.  (Which PS. is required, and should NOT be skipped.) Bring your veil.  Your hair and your veil can work together to achieve amazing things... they can also revolt against you.

4. Consider the weather.

Do you have a thick head of frizz prone hair? Are you going to be dealing with high humidity or wind? Does your hair only hold curl when you're inside air conditioning?  If it's hot will you die with your hair down?  If it's cold, will you freeze if your hair is up?  All of these things will help guide you in choosing the best possible hairstyle for your wedding.

5. Maybe you should have a quick change?

Devoted to the idea of angelic half-up-half-down curls for your ceremony, but worried you won't be able to dance the night away at your reception without looking like a raggamuffin?  Maybe you get a talented friend or family member, or hey, your hairstylist, to toss your hair into a quick updo between your ceremony and reception -- you could end up with the best of both worlds.

All of these things considered, here are some of my current favorite hairstyles for both weddings, special events and daily wear. (Again I say, I believe hair can make or break the ensemble, so why not have a beautiful coiffure every day?)

Braided updo, with volume (via Pinterest)

Loose curls (via Pinterest)

Chic, clean chignon (via Pinterest)

Half-up Curls (via Pinterest)

Woven and Knotted (via Pinterest)

High bun, with veil (via Pinterest)

Half-up with veil (via Pinterest)

How do you wear your hair for special occasions? Anybody else dealing with an impossibly thick head of hair that hates humidity? How do you plan on getting your hair, veil and/or other accesories to work harmoniously?

xoxo.

PS. You can view my hair board on Pinterest here. And my wedding board here.

Style inspired by: Acqua Panna

As you get to know me, you learn that I find design and style inspiration in some of the strangest places.  My latest: a water bottle. 

It was in the soft drinks aisle of Publix that my heart stopped. There, I spotted it, the most beautiful water bottle I'd ever seen: Acqua Panna.  It was tastefully in orange and blue, with a lion's head fountain and a fleur du lis.  I mean... I die.  Bottled in Firenze, Acqua Panna is nothing more than a glass bottle of (the most wonderful tasting) still water.  But it's BEAUTIFUL.

I believe all things deserve to be beautiful.

Even mundane things. Like water bottles.

Be still my heart.  A croissant and Acqua Panna al fresco...

Which is when I got the idea:  What if I decorated a room or chose an outfit with Acqua Panna as my inspiration... Go time.

Images gathered from Pinterest

Image via Pinterest (MSGM)

Image via Pinterest

Image via Asos

It doesn't hurt that the colors of my alma mater are Orange and Blue.  (Go Gators.) But, I do think this is a delightful color combination for Spring.  What do you think? What are some iconic brands whose labels inspire your style? Do you love Acqua Panna?

xoxo.