Friday Flowers and Dream Jobs

Blogging has been a bit light this week. Playing catch up from my time away. It was a short trip but I’ve been very busy with work. The downside of being a one woman show. Although I’ll gladly accept a game of catch up if it means doing what I love.

Last weekend during our lazy, rainy Saturday afternoon in Chicago we watched an Oprah episode featuring people who are living their dream jobs. At the end of the show Kel’s husband Tim turned and asked us if we felt we were doing the same (Kel is the VP of marketing for an awesome media agency in Chicago). I thought about it for a few seconds and answered a confident yes. Although running my own business has its challenges, I feel very fortunate to truly love my work and the opportunity to design for a variety of clients. Answering that same question four years ago I wouldn’t have been so sure. Comfortable and earning a paycheck, but not challenged and passionate about it. Feeling drained and unfulfilled. Stuck. Then circumstances changed and I was forced to put myself out there. Fortunately through a combination of hard work and luck and a very supportive husband it’s all worked out. And sometimes fear is the best motivator.

The rain followed me back to the Northwest (or perhaps it followed me to the Windy City and I just brought it home). Anyway, I can’t remember the last day without a shower. But oh how it brings out those beautiful spring flowers. They’re everywhere in our neighborhood. Are they popping up in yours?

One of the guests on the show was the in-house floral designer for the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris and shared his tips on creating beautiful flower arrangements:

• Have a nice collection of vases. Buy vases to enhance the flowers you put in them. Why am I holding on to all those ugly cheap vases I never use?
• Keep your flowers monochromatic.
• Send your flowers wrapped in paper. It’s easier, makes an impact and saves money. Plus nobody needs a collection of cheap clear glass vases.
• Keep fresh flowers in your house. You’ll be happier.

I think it was Miss O who added that last tip. It’s so true. And this time of year you don’t need to spend a lot or have a flower garden to have vases full of flowers in your house. Today I took a break from my computer long enough to cut some branches off our dogwood tree out front and put them in a tall vase. It made me very happy. 

Happy Friday everyone!