Bare and Me Takes Handmade Jewelry to The Next Level of Swoon Worthy Delights to GBK’s 2016 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge

Laurie Anne Calkins designer of Bare and Me is looking to make a huge splash at the GBK’s 2016 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge with their collection of beautifully handcrafted “Multi Color Barrel Sapphire Collection” along with other designs and will gift their signature “Love Links Necklace” to attending celebrities. The Gift Lounge takes place January 8-9, 2016 at an exclusive location in Hollywood, California.

 

“We love, love here at Bare and Me. Our hope is that the recipients love our love links necklace as much as we loved designing and creating it for them”…

Bare and Me (http://www.bareandme.etsy.com) & (http://www.bareandme.com), in association with The Artisan Group®, will be displaying a beautifully crafted collection of their barrel sapphire and sleeping beauty statement pieces along with several other signature designs. Bare and Me will gift its Love Link Necklace to celebrities visiting The Artisan Group’s exhibit. The Gift Lounge takes place January 8-9, 2016 at an exclusive location in Hollywood, California.
Laurie Anne Calkins, designer/founder of Bare and Me is known for her dainty, fresh and everyday jewelry designs for todays fashionista. You can find her on Etsy where her shop is most notably known to Brides for her wide variety of shiny, pretty little baubles for Bridesmaid Gifts. She has grown in popularity since she opened her shop Bare and Me on Etsy in January 3, 2014. You can find her most days on the front page of Etsy’s “Editors Picks” or on Etsy’s 2015 Wedding Look Book. She has been featured in Brides Magazine, Style Me Pretty, Ruffled Blog, Refinery29 and most notably they were featured on the cover of Weddings Illustrated in 2014 for her handcrafted floral crowns from sister shop Lillyput Lane Design Company on Etsy.
The gifted Love Links Necklace to celebrities attending the GBK’s Gifting Lounge is made with mixed metal; sterling silver/gold filled beaded wire hard-wired into love links with a double strand of dainty sterling silver chain. Laurie says, “The meaningful sentiment behind our Love Links Collection is two souls intertwined for eternity, the perfect gift for lovers, Mother and Child or just your best friend”.
Laurie is hard at work bringing handcrafted beauty to the celebrity world but she also is one of the co/founders and CFO of Urban Bar-B-Que Company which was just featured in Entrepreneurs Magazine for Best Franchises for quick serve restauranteurs. They recently just opened their 10th location. Although she is successful in the restaurant business, her love of creating and designing jewelry is where her passion is.
Journalists who would like to reach out to Laurie can do so using the Email button at the right-hand side of this press release.

Acts of Kindness

I was looking back through our old posts and came upon a couple that we had done as “acts of kindness”. A smile quickly arose on my face because all the memories came pouring back from last summer. We had thrown ourselves in a bunch of different circumstances where we were helping peoples days become a little brighter. I thought that maybe we should bring that back? I mean, why not.

It was a very easy and heart whelming feeling helping people pay their bills, or writing them a little letter and sticking it under their windshield. It was acts like that that made my summer a whole lot better, and for the simplest of reasons.

This summer, I want to try and make as many peoples days as possible, whether it be a hello or holding the door for them; telling someone they look beautiful or asking how they are doing for once. We all get so busy in our schedules and we forget that maybe the people surrounding us have emotions as well. Maybe they are having a bad day or are struggling in some type of way. Its each and every one of our jobs to pay it forward and let people know that they are loved or cherished.

I was reading a story once about a girl who noticed a homeless man sitting outside of a Starbucks. instead of doing the usual gesture of giving the man a couple dollars, she invited him in to sit with her and chat over a cup of coffee. The man, taken back at first, decided to join her. They talked of many different things, but what the girl noticed most is that the man had a lot of hurt behind his eyes, even while he was flashing the biggest grin.

After they decided to part ways, the girl gave him 100 dollars and told him to jumpstart his life, because he has so much potential. He gave her the money back and with it was a note he had written. It said that he had been planning on taking his life that day, but because she took the time to make him realize how beautiful life can be, he decided to make a change.

This girl, who took thirty minutes out of her day, was able to change a mans life forever. I look up to people like that. People who don’t think anything of helping a random stranger overcome their battles. I love that.

So from now on, I will do whatever I can to help people, no matter what they are going through. Hopefully that story acts as a reminder that there are good people in this world. Aside from all the destruction and the awful events that have taken place..taken lives; there are good people and there are good things that are happening. Take part in those amazing things, and take pride in the fact that you are, in some way shape or form, making the world a better place.

I will never forget the moment I realized I loved you.

I find myself always enchanted by poetry.

I am always so fascinated by a person that can write down ten words at most, and explain all the thoughts that I may have, but cant put into words exactly, or the right way.

Sometimes when you can relate to words on a paper, or on a computer screen, you feel a little safer. A little less alone. I know I can sometimes get caught up in my own emotions or feelings, and not sit to think that millions of other people are going through the same thing.

Or, on the other side of things; on the beautiful side of things, poetry is way for you to say “I love you” or “thank you” or “I am thinking of you”. Poetry is so many different feelings crumbled up into a couple lines. Maybe some of those lines rhyme, maybe not, but those lines are works of art.

I have always had trouble putting my feelings into words, or down onto paper. Sometimes I find that I say the wrong thing way too often and the right thing basically never. But I like to relate. I like to relate to the things I read, or the things I hear, to help myself better understand what it is I need to say. Maybe its not much. Maybe all I need to say is an “I love you” or a “thank you”.

because i could watch you for a single minute                                                               and find a thousand things that I love about you

                                                               (cm)

19 words. nineteen words. a boat load of emotions.

or how about this.

the way i see it, I will either love you forever, or I will forget all about you                           both possibilities are equally terrifying.

Again, a few words that say it all. A book written within two short lines. So many different feelings pour out with the help of these two short poems, and just like that, serve as an explanation for how you feel.

It is a language all in itself, because truthfully, its about the writer. It relies on the writers emotions or feelings entirely. Everyone can do it. It may be easier for some to make their emotions into a type of art, but we all have the back ground to be great at it, because we all have those emotions.

In all honestly, poetry is not a thing of beauty. It is a thing of experience. Experiences of love, heart break, ugliness, hatred, sorrow, despair. What poetry does with all these experiences, good or bad, is that it romanticizes it in a way. So that when we read the experiences of someone who has had their heart broken, we read it in a way that its beautiful.

So I’ll leave you with something beautiful

the truth about                                                                                                                      romance is                                                                                                                                  this: We are                                                                                                                    all novels; our pages stained                                                                                          of either our lovers,                                                                                                      

 or our loneliness 

Just remember to write it down. Sometimes its better that way.

TravEliNG tHROuGh TiMee

Today, like many other days, the job search begins. I find that when I am not looking, that’s when all these jobs want me to be a part of the magic, but when I am really really trying to find something, they are all hiding. The irony baffles me, but hey, that’s life

Back on subject.

I took a short break from the grueling work day (jokes), and decided to watch a movie that I have never seen before. I went on my HBO GO page and picked the first movie at the top of the alphabet titled “About Time”. Not sure if any of you have ever heard about it or seen it before, but I really truly liked it. I also thought, what world am I living in for not knowing this movie because one of my favorite actresses of all time was in it. Rachel McAdam’s. Babe.

Carrying on.

Its a movie about a guy who lives a pretty boring life until he discovers that he can travel through time. He does not have the ability to change history but he can, in fact, change some of the major, or not so major moments in his life. This movie is basically a decision of what he makes of this gift.

He immediately goes back in time to try and make a girl fall in love with him, but he soon realizes that maybe she is not the one for him. He moves to London to move on with his life and become as successful as he possibly can, as an up and coming lawyer. He finally meets a girl that takes his breath away, and through his time traveling, and quick wit, was able to win her over. The built a beautiful life with one another.

But what Tim, the main character, realizes soon enough is that his time traveling abilities cannot save him or his family from the unexpected tragedies that affect everyone everywhere in a lifetime.

Tim learns, throughout this whole process, that maybe he didn’t need the time traveling to make the most out of life, and maybe, things just happen…because. It is a funny love story with a touch of sadness, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Obviously the movie isn’t a work of fiction, but it taught me a thing or two about the craziness of life. We always wish that we could change how things play out, but in reality that just takes away from the beauty of it all. If we knew how things were going to work, we would never be able to make the most out of the life that we are meant to have.

“We’re all traveling through time together, every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride.”

This quote says it all. Stop worrying about what you need to change about the past. Live in the now. Focus on the now. Be in the now.

definitely check out the movie though.

Hobbies

While I have been searching for jobs and babysitting this summer, I have noticed that I get extremely bored, extremely easily. Aside from the weekends, where I am usually traveling, I find that throughout the day that while I am trying to stay on top of my applying game, I twiddle my thumbs, I eat a lot (I eat when I am bored), and watch a lot of movies.

Sounds about right. Any college graduate who isn’t incredibly lucky to have landed a job already goes through this. But what I am trying to do is break the cycle. Yeah, I’m applying, but my god, I need a hobby. What am I to do?

Well, I went and searched the internet for a couple of cost friendly hobbies that are not totally weird.

What I learned from a little research is that, of course, pursuing a hobby not only helps keep stress and boredom away, but it helps to develop more talents as well. It is the best possible way to refresh your mind with something that makes you happy.

Some of the options were a little strange to me, and some just didn’t stand out to me at all. I liked the option to take pictures of nature but I do not have a very good camera for that so I figured maybe later in life. I also liked the hiking option but I like to do that with other people and, well, all my friends already have jobs so no luck there.

So as my hope started to fade, I tried thinking about something that really made me happy, and never seemed to let me down, especially at a time like this, when my boredom has reached an all time high. Well, its food. I love all food. But what I have realized is that I am really not that creative when it comes to straying away from a recipe. I can follow the rules, but I cant color outside of the lines, so my new found hobby is cooking. I want to learn to be a better cook and what better time to learn than when i am out of college and bored out of my mind. Plus it will help me in the long run if I ever want to be a good cook for my family.

I know I am a good baker so I didn’t want to specifically start going in that direction. But I went on Pinterest and found a list of different dishes that really stood out to me. Wow was my mouth watering. So many things stood out to me, from delicious casseroles to stuffed green peppers and different types of dumpling recipes. So I made a list, and today marks the start of my cooking spree.

Excuse me while I hit the grocery store to go get all the ingredients! Im thinking day one may be a complete disaster but I have to start somewhere! Wish me luck! YUM!

Summer Trends 2015

With summer in full force, and the heat a bit out of control, I have seen many sporting loose and light fitting clothing to stay cool yet flirty for the warm months to come. Whether it is a long maxi dress, or a flowy romper, styles from different generations are coming back into play.

What is cool about 2015 is that so many different styles are welcomed, are there is no exact way that someone should dress. I have always been one who likes to go with the flow of trends but I also like to put my own twist on my fashion so it is nice to see that people are being original this summer.

One of the first trends that I like seeing this summer is a higher wasted maxi skirt mixed with a crop top or a tank top tucked into it. Many girls/women are seen sporting this look but what they do is put their own splash of creativity into it. Here you see a very flirty look of a girl wearing a beautiful yellow maxi skirt (which looks amazing on her skin tone) mixed with a beautiful lace cropped top. The mix of the two makes for a perfect beach vacation date night.

Another trend that I have been seeing a bunch and is one of my favorite is a loose fitting maxi dress, either paired with a belt to add some shape around the waist, or tide up at the bottom and paired with a pair of cute wedges or strappy sandals.

In the picture below, this girls decided to tie the bottom up and wear a pair of strappy wedges for what seems to be a night out on the town. To dress the outfit up, she added a statement necklace to tie it all in together. Drop the necklace and wedges, and this would be a perfect outfit for a day of shopping or a lunch with the girls.

I am definitely a huge fan of this look, especially in the crazy heat of Summer 2015. Rompers are probably the greatest things in the world, but I always found that with my body type it is always hard to find the perfect fit. I am a huge fan of the romper below because it is loose fitting but still has a bit of shape to it. Another thing that I love about it is the print, which can either be played up or down, depending on the day or night planned. Because of the pattern, you do not need to wear much jewelry with it and just pair it with some strappy sandals for a fun filled day, but if you are ready for a night out on the town, you can pair it with some bangles and cute wedges. 

Last but not least, and one of my personal favorites is this matching top and bottom piece that has just recently become more popular over the summer. I love this outfit because you do not need to worry about matching one or the other with another piece of clothing. Its such a cute outfit for a night out on the town and in this specific outfit, I love the tribal print designs that are placed in great places. The outfit has a lot going on but its the perfect amount. Its a statement outfit that doesn’t need any other big pieces paired with it. Other than a cute pair of wedges or strappy sandals, its a well put together outfit!Whatever you wear this summer, wear it with confidence, and make sure you prepare yourself for the dreadful heat.

FEAR OF THE UNEXPECTED

Well, I graduated from college. Isn’t that cool? Fun? Exciting?

TERRIFYING!

What now? What 9-5 job am I going to be working now? I was always so excited to graduate. All of my friends were holding on for dear life, but I was always anticipating the new chapter in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I still am so excited to start that chapter, but right now, I feel like I am stuck between the flip of a page…not really sure where I want to go next. Maybe, just maybe, I want to re read that last chapter. Replay it all in my mind and go back to see if I could do anything different. Maybe I want to start a new book altogether.

But it doesn’t work like that. As much as I want it to, it doesn’t. Life is a whirlwind of up’s and down’s, unexpected treasures, and terrible decision making.

Why is the real world so scary to me?

I have been interviewing at a couple different places these first weeks off from school. None of them are what I want. My major was Communication Studies with a focus in Public Relations/Event Planning. I pretty much had this idea of who and what I wanted to be, and then..well…graduation happened.

I don’t know who the hell I want to be. at all.

It is a devastatingly terrifying feeling to not know what you want in life.

You know that moment when you are on a roller coaster and you are inching your way up just waiting to hit that bump and fly back down again? That anticipation that scares the shit out of you but also is really thrilling at the same time?

Every single day. Every moment of every day. I am thinking about when that bump is going to happen to me, and I am going to be thrown into a new adventure, a new 9-5 adventure that we call the real world.

Like I said, Im still flipping the page. My roller coaster got stuck at the top and is just waiting for that moment to hit full speed.

I am not saying I am not ready. I am just saying, maybe it is the fear of the unexpected that makes me cringe a bit.

The fear that maybe I will not succeed. The fear that I might let myself down, or worse than that, the people around me.

But as I sit her thinking about it all, and feeling bad for myself, I’m realizing how completely ridiculous I sound. EVERYBODY goes through this. EVERYBODY gets scared.

Maybe not now, in this exact moment, am I completely happy with where I am, but I know one day I will be successful, and proud, and ready for anything.

This is just a reminder that you will feel scared once or twice… or 500 times in your life, but that will end, and soon the excitement of a new chapter will rush in. A new chapter of ups, downs, roller coasters, and 9-5 real world jobs.

They Said the Word “Cancer”

Hey everyone. I know I haven’t posted in a while but this story hit close to home…As a mama to my baby girl Rosie, my 1 year old yellow lab, I know how hard something like this can be. What they need is support. Whether that’s by donating or simply sharing this post. My friend Ashley and her boyfriend Brian have this sweet, 6 year old puppy named Bella in need of surgery. Read her story below. There will be a link to the GoFundMe website if you would like to donate. 

Xo, 

Jessica Calkins

Her name is, Bella. She was an owner surrender when I rescued her and she didn’t know much. She was a little out of control to be honest, but we stuck together. At about 74 kisses in I fell in love. She has been there for me every time I’ve been in need and has never wanted anything more than to be there by your side, soaking in your love. She’s everything a dog is supposed to be. It’s impossible to repay her for what she gives.

About 5 months ago a sudden eye infection ravaged her right eye. We’ve been in emergency clinics, veterinarian clinics, and eye specialist clinics, but have only been told that it’s an anomaly. We’ve been on 11 different drops and 6 different pain medications and antibiotics since then. Secondary glaucoma was the result after the infection cleared up and even when the pressure in her eye was high it’s tough to tell if she’s in pain. She just wants to be next to you and give you the softest kisses. She wouldn’t complain even if she could talk.

Yesterday we had another eye specialist appointment to see if her pressure was still low. We’ve had so many I can’t even keep count anymore. We were told that it is now believed that we are dealing with uveal melanoma in her right eye. They want to extract her eye. It’s what I’ve been dreading all along and now I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve already spent thousands and thousands of

dollars on visits and medications and every blood work test imaginable. We’ve been quoted with another high bill and I have to find out how to make it work. All of her blood work tests came back perfect and everything suggests she’s in excellent health except for this horrible eye incident. If you can find it in your heart to help out Bella, please do. We’d forever be in your debt.

She just turned 6 on March 16, and she has so much more life ahead of her. She goes everywhere with me and if you could see the joy she brings to people you’d love her just the same as I. Thank you for reading this. We really appreciate your time.

 

Love, Bella

COPY, PASTE & SHARE: http://www.gofundme.com/qcc94kw

It really is all about that #love

I am not your typical sappy “love” girl. I never have been but I recently just had a give-a-way for our jewels and instead of asking our girls to comment on our baubles, I asked them to comment on “what love means to them?”.

Whoa, the responses were incredible and really gave me food for thought…

Does love really fuel us that much?

Are we really so accustomed to cynicism and heartache that love is an undertone?

Well, here is my personal thoughts on “love” and what it means to me;

“For me, love is an uncontrollable emotion that leaves you still in thought, manic with crave but even more so, endless with forgiveness. What we love will always let you down at some point. Why? Because we are human. But it is your willingness to survive the hurt to believe in love that makes a truly soulful heart and a soul mate forever. I believe that “love” is the most powerful emotional known to man.”

I could write a book on this but you have to read the beautiful comments made by just wonderful people…

Christina Elizabeth Karsoyan-  Love means, something you really care about and your love is unconditional to them you love that something so much you can’t even express how you feel. I love someone, and that’s everybody. So love for me means your emotions for them or whoever is unconditional.

Bre Barton Love is laughing together and not always having to be right.

Nancy P. Torres Love is what keeps me going daily, the driving force behind my intentions and actions and the answers to life’s toughest questions. Its meaning is multifaceted, changing with each circumstance and evolving with time and growth. It is the constant exchange of allowing others to come into our lives, break down our walls and evaluate what place they have in our hearts. Love is worth every sacrifice.

Chelsea Hewett Love is a babies smile or kisses from your puppy. Love is so fulfilling it’s in the moment.

Hye Rin Lee Love is the most powerful thing in the world

Erika Sánchez Love is everything

Kara Rubin Love is my four babies and their wonderful daddy!!!

Hye Rin Lee Love is all we have for me, my people and every creature.
unconditionally caring, helping, and giving my everything for all.
When you know about this really Love you would be a real person.

Anna Marie Adkins Love is never giving up on yourself, your family, and close friends.

Maura Ann Nolan Love means being that connected being that’s at the other end of the red string…that is forever supportive no matter if they believe in what you are doing or not…love means smiling to give the next person hope! Love means spreading happiness because everyone deserve to feel love and positivity and happiness by someone…love means hugging someone for just a minute longer to let the energy just take over their body!! Love

Kendra West Love is accepting that someone isn’t perfect and caring for them just as though they are. Love is putting the one you cherish before you, always. God loves me when I’m unlovable and I’m thankful for not only his love, but also my family & friends

Desiree Falcon Currently love means letting go. I was in a relationship where I finally felt safe, loved and appreciated. Due to his uncertainty of wanting kids he left me and now I’m forced to move on and pick up the pieces of my life. I still love him and his decision hurts but if he’s not happy I have to respect his decision and be happy that he was honest enough to not lead me on any further. Since this break up I have received so much love from my friends and family. I thought I was alone but I now know I’m not .

Lauryn Thomas Love bares all, knows all, love is what keeps us going!

Kristi Clumpner Love is patient and kind, the old proverb is true!

Rhonda Herring Love means my children and grandchildren. It’s that simple. I’ve never wanted another human in my life to be whole, happy and prosperous as much as I want that for them.

Shelby VanWormer love is looking into each others hearts and understanding the unique challenges we each face.

Fdrl Low Love is unconditional !

Jessica Booterbaugh Love is family. It’s caring for people and doing anything to protect or comfort them

Barbara Keel Hand Love is unconditional! Thru the good and the bad, that what makes you stronger. Been married 30 years, and I fall more in love with my hubby everyday!

Heidi Nave-Reagan Love is knowing that you have someone else with you thru it all, good, bad, ugly, or perfection.

Chelsea Oliver Love is being happy with another person no matter their flaws. Always seeing the best in that person. Someone you don’t have to pretend in front of. Someone who can still make you feel young and beautiful on your worst days. That person you still find yourself flirting with and realizing how lucky you are to have that person in your life.

Lindsay Fergerson Love is having the courage to let someone else in after being broken. Love is just one more bedtime kiss for a sweet little face. Love is hearing a little voice say “Mama” for the first time. Love is loving a child that may not be yours by blood, but by heart. Love is loving some one more than you love yourself. Love is wonderful and healing and amazing!

Victoria Rivas To me, love is when I see my fiance, if even for two minutes, and it takes away every bad thing that’s happened, every stress, anxiety, or fear. One hug takes that all away, and makes me feel like the luckiest person I the world.

Lindsey Brianne Love is not looking for perfection in another person. If you truly love someone you look past their flaws and accept them for who they are. You never want to change someone if you truly love them. Love is when you feel completely comfortable around them and they are the first person you want to tell something to. They are the first person you think of when you wake up and go to sleep. But in order to love someone else, you have to love yourself first.

Britney Johnson Love means accepting another person in the strongest way possible. It means supporting them in anything and everything, even when you may not agree on the situation.

Love means not looking for something better or seeing what’s out there. It means committing to that person because you know they complete you in every way. It doesn’t mean being a replica of another person, but rather being like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly with the other. Your traits complement each other to create better versions of you both.

Love means waking up early and whipping up pancakes in the morning just to show you care. It means going out of your way to make them smile and, without even thinking about it, dropping everything for them in those times when smiles aren’t appropriate.

Love means screaming at the top of your lungs sometimes. It means caring so damn much about that other person that you can’t help but become furious when your relationship is called into question. It means fighting to get it back.
♡♡♡♡♡

Kealy Olvera Love is wanting to do the laundry for your other half even if it means your clothes have to wait. Love is giving someone the space they need to deal with a difficult situation but still being there without hesitation. Love is helping friends in need because you wouldn’t be here without them. Love is indescribable. It’s everything and nothing at the same time. Love is what feeds my soul.

Bre Barton 💕love is caring more for someone else and their happiness than yourself. It’s the simple acts, getting dressed in the dark so you don’t wake your spouse, or picking up their favorite dessert on the way home just because, and not always having to be right. It’s those everyday simple things that help form, grow and deepen love and help it last!

Jenna Faye Laney Love means joining with another person so that you are 2 separate entities part of the same heart. It means caring and praying for someone more than yourself. It means all or nothing.

Angela Askew Iove is a reflection of our self and what God would want us to be nothing like human love to make the world a beautiful place

Mallorie Hannon ♡ is my kids being happy and healthy!

Lindsay Blane Love is a boy who takes a chance on a girl and asks them to their prom, not knowing if it would be met with rejection. Love is being in a long distance relationship throughout college and graduate school from Buffalo to Philadelphia. Love is growing up with and sometimes apart from someone but always standing by each other’s side. Love is being on vacation and sitting on the phone in the hotel lobby until the sun comes up because your girlfriend is having a tough time adjusting to college and being away from home. Love is someone who stands unwaveringly by your side for 10 years 8 months and 11 days; and marries his high school sweetheart on the 12th day. Love is 10 years, 8 months and 12 days of ups and downs that’s triumphed by love, commitment and respect. Love is our journey; my high school sweetheart, best friend, and now husband as of March 7, 2015.

Love can mean anything… A person, a place, or a thing. To me love is a person, place and a thing. Wherever my love goes I follow it, my heart knows nothing more. My love is unconditional for my husband who puts his life on the line every day for me and our daughter, we will continue to follow him around the world as long as he’s in the Military because for those I love, I will sacrifice. (Winner)

Victoria Gaffney Love is complicated. It’s losing your breath, sore cheeks from smiling, unconditional forgivness, selfless , keeping all the pain bottled and watching it explode, being strong enough for someone else, it’s seeing past faults to find greatness. Love is complicated and never explained well enough to create the feeling it gives us. Love to me is everything. And everything has love for me (Winner)

Monique Martinez Love is something everyone should get to experience at least once in their life. Love to me means taking the good times along with the bad times and embracing them. Love is ups and downs BUT always sticking together. You can love someone… BUT being IN LOVE with someone is the best feeling in the world. Love is seeing the person you love smile everyday. (Winner)

Mercedes Patterson What love means to me? I simply feel that love is, kind, humble and peaceful. Being kind and humble I feel brings love to one another. This is a kind of love that you don’t need to spend years with people, or even know them for that matter. But what a simple “I thought about you” or “Good Morning” can warm, and bring a sense of peace to the heart!

Love is about my family & being with my husband any chance we get. Being in the military, he will miss our daughter’s milestones, our birthdays, holidays, etc. Love is reassuring him I will still be here every time he returns, just like I promised!

Erica Lake Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1Corinthians 13:7-8

Morgan Morton Love is the best feeling in the world. It’s about giving your all and not expecting anything back. Having butterflies every time you think of that special someone, being child or spouse. You will never forget what it feels like or lose hope. It’s amazing!!!

Heather Welsh-Brockett Love is my beautiful children… The strength of my parents from above giving me the courage to go out each day and never give up hope that peace and love will surround my babies and I… I am truly humbled every day by what I get back

Eliza Marie Esparza To me… Love is conquering everything out there that attacks a relationship. Whether it’s with your children, spouse, friends, or family. Love is seeing beyond the past of one another and loving each other with all flaws anyway. Love is picking up each other’s broken pieces and renewing the heart as a whole designing it to be stronger and doing everything in your power to stay in a person’s life. Love is waking up at 3 in the morning thinking about that special someone even if they’re right by your side. Love is putting that one person before anything and everyone else. Love is whatever makes you keep going; makes you feel confident, beautiful, joyful, and strong… Powerful… Complete. Love may make you do stupid things sometimes, but for the most part, love gives you the drive to wake up every morning and want to be and do better. It makes you want to shoot towards success with your every dying breath. Love is certainly a necessity to everyone, for it can keep even the most sad person going and it can change lives in incredible ways! Love is more than just a feeling.. It is a lifestyle.

Sarah Richey 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
This is what love means to me!

Adina Catherine Love is knowing your pregnancy would be complicated with twins in the same sac n placenta .love is knowing 50/50 chance you’ll get to hold your babies ..love is not knowing day-to-day if your premie 2#12oz and 3#6oz babies will be in the hospital for a while 45 and 110 days exactly..love is
not being able to be mom ..love is having a twin daughter with trachea tube and no nursing and another twin daughter to balance your every moment around now that they are home and love is never doubting the power of love between mother and daughters

Angela Askew Liked and shared love is good for the soul and inspires joy to the heart .that was taught to transform something beautiful to bring two souls together as one !

Johanna Sepulveda-Shah Love is the person who knows how damaged you are and never gives up in showing you that you are worth it. You are special, beautiful, smart and loved. Love is the feeling of coming home after a long days work and having your little girl run into your arms and say, “mommy I missed you!”

Susan Paolucci Musetti Love is my husband working his but off to support his kids and I then coming home late and still taking care of me without complaint. I have MS and have very limited mobility and use if my hands and my husband picks up the slack without a complaint. That’s love.

Angela Milam Acceptance

Britney Johnson Love is complete acceptance: When we allow someone to be exactly as they are, without any belief that they aren’t good enough, without any belief that they would be “better” if they were different, this is love.

Love is completely unconditional: Love has no conditions. When we truly love someone, we can’t stop loving them, regardless of what they do or say. If our love is dependent upon the other person acting and speaking how we want, then this love is completely conditional. We often confuse this to be love, but this is just positive thoughts about someone. This is just loving what a person says or does, not loving them. Positive thoughts or the thought “I love you” isn’t necessary to love. Sometimes it even gets in the way.

Love is selfless: True love doesn’t want anything in return, because there is nothing it needs. We just love for the sake of love. When we love someone, we don’t look for them to fill our needs, love us back, and all those types of things. If that is what we are looking for, then we are just using the other person. What is the meaning of love? Love is completely selfless
Love comes in many different forms ♡

Angel Lynn Love to me is honesty and loyalty. It’s a pure feeling that can not be misunderstood. When you have love you have the beauty of knowing what true happiness is. Sharing love with someone is so powerful that nothing can come between. What a beautiful thing to have. Love is marrying my best friend September 4, 2015.

Ellen Richard Henchy Dickason Love is…making eye contact across the room and giving each other that special smile. Love is…laughing at the same time over something silly. Love is…sitting in silence and holding hands knowing you are each there for the other. Love is….

Tori McCrea Love is committing to that person, regardless of how you feel or your circumstances. Love is not a passing feeling but a firm commitment to being there no matter what may happen. Love is being held with no words after you’ve found out you lost your baby. Love is hearing your husband up every night praying for you when you’ve lost your speech due to a brain injury. Love is KNOWING that he’ll be there no matter what trials may come your way.

Victoria Rivas To me, love is when I see my fiance, if even for two minutes, and it takes away every bad thing that’s happened, every stress, anxiety, or fear. One hug takes that all away, and makes me feel like the luckiest person I the world.

Aubrey Wagner-Stuart Love is exactly what you say in those amazing, meaningful vows when you get married… to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part My husband and I have faced many ups and downs in over 15 years together, but somehow we have stayed strong and stayed in love, despite all the hard things that life throws at you, and I am ever so grateful for that (and for him!!)

Susan Crispeno Berkheimer Love to me is someone who will stand by you no matter what is going on and respect you! Love is unconditional

Brittany White Love is waking up in the morning and realizing that you are with your best friend. Love is looking into that persons eyes and realizing that you are the luckiest person in the world. Love is learning how to forgive. Love is staying up all night and talking about everything and nothing all at the same time. Love is the soft kisses and tight hugs at the end of a long day. Love is seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly and still wanting to stay by their side. Love is unconditional, patient, understanding, and giving. Love is getting butterflies from a single touch. Love is wanting to be a better person. Love is lifting others up. Loving is the enlightenment of the soul. It is you and it is me.

Jennifer Marie Having true support and a best friend who is there to laugh with you!

Tameka TheMrs Love is God.. Happiness and everlasting.. Love is the memories you hold close to your heart. Moms are Love..

Cinthia Saul Villalobos Will to take care of to the end with nothing in return love

Candice Garcia Love is unconditional wether it be family friends or whom ever you share it with,Love is unconditional

Melissa Esquivel Love is when someone accepts you the way you are with a good or bad past no judgment love is wanting you with all your flaws love is helping each other grow n motivate each other to be better to laugh be silly be kind to respect to honor to appreciate its family love is god given never too be taken for granted love is the best feeling in the world and everyone deserves to be loved

Stephanie Cartrette My husband of 20 years, my two children and my dog!!

Celene Casarez Love is joy that fills the heart, its family, and seeing your children, the smiles the shine in their eyes know that nothing maters more than the unconditional love that family and being a mother brings, good us good and the best gift he can give a woman is being a mother

Ursula Bonilla Love is an unconditional feeling that no matter how upset you are you wont stop loving that person. Love is putting someone’s feelings before yours because you want that person to be the most happy, and when that person you love is happy in every way… you are happy. Love is to think about that one person throughout the entire day..

Claudia Barreda Love is understanding the battle everyone goes through and seeing past that, it is seeing past the scars and finding beauty in them. God loved us unconditionally he didn’t see the bad or the ugly he just seen our heart love is doing just that.

Maria Mercado love is god without even a Lil bit of him it’s impossible . ….when you love something it will get protected from every thing . .like he does us….even when it’s love for our children and it’s tough we are still protecting them…..it’s funny warm understanding protective we take care of wt we love in any way there is so much more too much but this is all for now

Shilo Alexander Berg Any act of selflessness is an act of love. Love isn’t just hearts and rainbows… It’s also passion and pain and intensity.
LOVE MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE

I hope you enjoyed this #lovefest

WEDDING ETIQUETTE: DO’S AND DON’TS

Traditionally, there are a few wedding protocols that are associated with planning a wedding. As a bride myself, there are several “rules” that I question throughout the process of planning. There are easy questions and there are questions I feel like I don’t even want to ask out loud. What I have to consistently remind myself of is that this our (Matt and I) big day and though it may seem like it, there aren’t any rules when planning a wedding. Here are some tough questions that I tried to answer 100% honestly.

 

What is the #1 of wedding etiquette?

Do not make your guest’s wait! Not only is it rude to have your guests waiting for you to walk down the aisle, but it also puts a damper on the entire celebration. It does not matter how great the catering is, how entertaining the DJ is, or how beautiful your decorations are…People will certainly not have fun at your wedding if it isn’t a timely production. Momentum is everything when it comes to celebrating at a wedding. Take advantage that is not only the most important element of your wedding, but that it does not cost a thing!

 

Single Guests. How do I tell them that they can’t bring a date?

This is your big day and you want to spend it with people that have had a big influence on your life, right? Right! If you have a strict budget, the easiest cuts to make to your guest lists are the people you don’t know. The only time it is acceptable to bring a date, is if they are in a serious relationship.

 

How do I tell a friend that she is not a bridesmaid?

This is a tough one. Being mindful and compassionate is about all the advice that I can give you. As long as you are honest with them, they should respect your decision.

 

How do I explain the lack of help to my Maid of Honor?

Choosing a Maid of Honor is an extremely hard decision that every bride has to make. Letting them know that you are happy and confident in your decision, will give them a sense of pride. Also, choosing a Maid of Honor is a two-way street. They have to accept the fact that they are responsible for being your right hand, which requires a lot of time, effort, and patience.

 

Is it acceptable to ask for cash as a wedding gift?

Personally, I don’t want the three toasters, matching mugs, and set of wine glasses. However, it is tacky to put on the invitation “Cash Gifts Only!” Letting your immediate family, Maid of Honor, and Best Man know your gift requests is your best bet, because guests will ask them for gift ideas.

 

I have a crazy mother-in-law that is overbearing during the planning of my wedding. How do I confront her?

Fortunately, I do not have this problem. However, I know a lot of brides that have run into this issue and it had put a stitch into the experience of planning their wedding. The important thing is to be respectful, loving, and honest. Letting her know that this is your big day, not hers. Though her opinions and ideas mean a lot to you, you’ve decided to go a different direction in the wedding plans.

Who sits at the bride and groom table?

Whoever you want! This is your big day and you have to remember that there aren’t any rules that you have to follow. Typically, there are three options. 1) Bride and Groom table, where you and your newly married lover share an intimate table. 2) Bride, Groom parents and siblings. 3) Bride, Groom, and Bridal Party.

 

How do I let people know that there will not be a full meal provided at the reception?

Instead of writing “Ceremony at _:__ time and reception to follow, simply write “Ceremony at _:__ with drinks and h’ordeuvres to follow. Personally, our wedding isn’t formal whatsoever. I didn’t like the idea of a plated dinner. To create a relaxed atmosphere, I wanted to have an extended cocktail hour. (Finger food, carving station, and open bar) Perfect! Like I said, there isn’t a rule book for planning weddings, just suggestions.

 

Who is invited to the rehearsal dinner?

Anybody you want! For me, I am inviting my family, the bridal party, and out-of-town guests.

 

These are only a few questions that I could think of. Let me know in the comments below if you can come up with any other questions for me!

 

Xo,

Jessica Calkins