Dream Job!!!!!!

Just before Thanksgiving, I came across a very obscure posting for a sales and marketing job. It was so vague that the only thing that caught my attention was the word 'stationery' in the one line description. So naturally I applied - got call number one! Went in for my interview, was asked to write a proposal - which I nailed with my 'impeccable' writing skills, they said that by the way ;)
Anyway, after three meetings, I got the final call yesterday and I was officially told that the position was mine!

So what exactly is the dream job?!

I am the sales and marketing director of a brand new, high end stationery company, whose wedding invitations showcase their expert craftsmanship in laser cut designs. My role is to give all my input about designs, product development and marketing and selling wedding invitations. A full time position that doesn't even require me to leave my own desk! I go to their studio a couple times each week for a few hours, but most of my work is managed from home, making calls, browsing wedding blogs and magazines, meeting with event planners, going to stationery and bridal shows, etc....

That's my job, or rather, my first career! This career opportunity will allow me to do what I love for as long as I want. It also allows me the time to develop my own projects - Lily Notes Studio and My Big Small Wedding,  without the stress of a annoying 9 to 5, doing something I care nothing for and being exhausted and miserable because there aren't enough hours in the week!

I am really stinkin' happy and excited about this new position, so much so, that I've gotten to work at it immediately! It will open so many doors for me, as the opportunity is endless and I cannot wait to see what happens in the year ahead.

Yay, ME!!!

A Side Project to the Side Project

aka ME!

I have been stuck. Very little inspiration to writing about stationery. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy it and love everything about it, but I'm going through a bit of a block. I also need to re-design this blog because it is most certainly uninspiring. Nevertheless, I'm not so stuck with my new blog that I created to end this constant conflict I've been having with this blog. I have a lot of random ideas and thoughts that run through my head and sometimes, it can be difficult to keep them all organized. I'll pop on here wanting to write about stationery, but all I can think about is event planning to-dos. So, I created a blog called My Big Small Wedding in an attempt to fix my scattered-brain of a problem. I have to admit, so far so good. Hopefully, it gives birth to inspiration and encouragement to get back to my first love, Lily Notes Studio.
Stick around...

Late Night Ramblings of An Insomniac

No where near capable of falling asleep yet and I've been awake since 6am! Nevertheless, I continue to work as much as I can growing Lily Notes, BC NYC and even, FWSB. I spend countless hours in front of my computer - it's official, I definitely need new prescription for my glasses - and I can never get to sleep before 4am.

I spent the last five days networking on Wedding Wire, Craigslist and Facebook and thus far, it's beginning to pay off. I courted a new stationery client - small budget, but worth adding something to my portfolio. I've also found two possible participants for the bridal show this October - click photo for details. On top of that, we almost brokered a deal for our own space, that we smartly decided to walk away from - we could certainly do better and find a more remarkable space to call home.

All in all, managing your own business is no easy feat. It takes so much effort, energy and emotion to be successful. As much as I complain, I find my self welcoming the sleepless nights because it provides me with the opportunity to manipulate more hours in the day. I often used these late nights to work on more designs and client proposals, as to not interrupt my day. Oh and I start a new job on Monday where I work from 3pm to 11pm Thursday thru Monday. Someone once called me abusive, which I've never believed {this was simply an accusation which often reflects what that person thinks of themselves}. But I now believe that I am abusive to no one but myself and this is simply so because I have to be. And I won't stop until I achieve what I want out of life.
Anyway, here are just a few of the samples I've been working on, as I get back to work!PS: It's official...I'm sick of yellow!

What I've Been Up To - A Quick Update!

So...the past three or four months have been a bit of a whirlwind. From cutting myself off from the world, to rejoining it with a subtle bang, I've been doing pretty alright for myself. Working with Renita and Fabulous Weddings Shoestring Budgets have proven itself quite fruitful for me. I've been having fun learning about event planning, I've been designing more invitations and I'm now part owner of our fun, brainchild - Bridal Cafe NYC! I've really been flexing those graphic design and creativity muscles on this one. I'm really happy about how things have been maturing and I am uber excited about the many gratifying opportunities that are yet to come. I also cannot wait to showcase all my invitations at our bridal showcase on June 3rd! I'll be extremely proud to have my work acknowledged by a lot of prospective clients. I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that all continues to go well and I can finally have that bang up New Years Eve party I've always dreamed of. Hopefully, the rest of the year continues to give me many reasons to celebrate and be thankful for!In the meantime, checkout the new website and keep following, as we update it with loads of fun and interesting things to come - www.bridalcafenyc.com
Love, Kiki!

A Fabulous Wedding on A Shoesstring Budget!

Well...The Old Hollywood, Valentine's weekend wedding I worked on, finally aired on TLC's, Four Weddings this past Friday night. Unfortunately, our gorgeous bride, Francine, did not win the honeymoon getaway. However, as much as we were content with these results, I am not thrilled with the show's portrayal and ghastly comments made by viewers and even Francine's fellow contestants.

Now I would admit, there were a few things that Renita - owner of FWSB - & I decided we would change, if we had to do it all over again. There were a few logistical and catering elements that we believe we can adjust to further enhance and even perfect the overall experience. Nevertheless, TLC's brilliant producers did a smashing job leaving 90% of the memorable elements of Francine's wedding on the cutting room floor. I did like their portrayal of the wedding's ceremony - they really did capture the beauty and the sentiments of the moment. However, from this point on, it was all downhill. The show's contestants brought out their boxing gloves and the TLC producers were the ring card girls, as they tallied their hooks and jabs. They took the time to highlight a wind-tossed red carpet, a typical production breakdown and setup and the availability of salad dressing! Even a wonderful, professionally choreographed dance paying homage to the late Michael Jackson, performed by, yes, "urban" kids, in costumes reminiscent of the wedding's theme, was treated as a cheap kindergarten performance that warranted a lot more appreciation than what was ignorantly paid. But at the end of the day, this was reality television and in a society obsessed with opulent over-abundance and narrow-minded perceptions of what perfection should be, could we expect anything more of it?
What was unfortunately lost in prime-time translation, was what really mattered most to our Old Hollywood couple. This "wedding" was a celebration of Francine & Michael's commitment to each other. This wasn't some over-indulgent, factory produced farce to mark the beginning of the beginning of their lives together. They have been a solid couple with two beautiful children for over 15 years! Their wedding was an expression of their unity as a family and their devoted partnership in loving each other for many years to come. So, if you could not appreciate this unique and passionate profession, done on a realistic and attainable budget, then you can stick that nice little opinion of yours, where no one would care to tune in!