Ashley Gain's Partners in crime

They are my little munchkins, they follow me around the house, never leaving my side. They stand under 20 inches to the ground but with their big personalities you would think that were 7' ft tall.

Cupcake {named after Strawberry Shortcake} is a totally a bossy prissy princess. We call her the HDIC {Head Dog In Charge}. She lets out one little bark when she wants your attention, and only comes to you when she feels like it. She is loyal and smart, she loves to lick when you are within inches of her face. She is momma's girl and sleeps by her side every night.

Marlee {named after Bob} is all heart, she wants to lay as close to you {sometimes right on top of you} as possible, she wags her tail when is she being punished. She is a big baby and makes your heart melt each time you are around her. Since the day we brought her home she stares right at you like she is falling in love, it's the cutest.

These little munchkins are being featured in a North Scottsdale magazine. I did the interview and I thought it would be fun to share it with you. *smile*

- Tell us your pet’s story. Cupcake was purchased by Ashley at a toy pet store and brought home to meet Brad! Marlee was rescued by Ashley when she was a puppy after surviving parvo and was also brought home by Ashley to meet Brad! It’s a joke in our home that Brad doesn’t get to meet our pets until they already have moved in.

- What special talents/quirks does your pet have? Cupcake watches TV and when animals come on the screen she stands on her hind legs for minutes at a time and just stares at them, all along barking of course. Marlee can pose for treats. She takes her front right leg and holds it to her chest. Ashley calls it her Paris Hilton pose.

- What’s the funniest story you have about your pet? This is probably too much information but Ashley caught Cupcake chewing on something when she was 10 months old. That “something” was the setting to Ashley’s diamond earring, but the diamond was gone. After a few days of a lot of worrying Cupcake gave Ashley her diamond back. *wink wink*

- Just how spoiled is your pet? Ashley would say not too spoiled and Brad would say it’s absolutely ridiculous how they are treated. We just agree to disagree. *smile*

- What else should we know about your pet and/or how your pet has enriched your home/family? There is nothing like coming home to our dogs after a long day and seeing how consistent their love for us is, tails wagging and jumping up to say hi. I think we actually learn a lot from our dogs on how to love unconditionally each and every day!

Meet Ashley Gain's Event Assisant

Scottsdale, one of the hardest places on earth to find a girl who is equally as beautiful and smart on the inside as she is beautiful on the outside. BUT...la..la...la...I found one. *lucky me*

She was off to law school this fall after graduating early from ASU, her time was spent on many different events at Phoenix Children's Hospital as a volunteer {where Ashley met her}, helping to raise money for sick children. A beautiful smile covers her face at all times, and she is dressed like a perfect doll from head to toe each and every day.

Let me introduce to you Kimberly, Ashley Gain's Event Assistant. At any of our events she is there, ready to work. No matter if it is 14 hrs since she last sat down or 8 hrs after she had anything to eat. And that's why she works for me.

My name is Kimberly and I get the pleasure of working with the fabulous Ashley Gain! Ashley and I officially met a little over a year ago when I joined her Miracles In Motion committee at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Once we met at Miracles in Motion we immediately clicked and I knew I had found a friend for life! Shortly after Miracles in Motion, Ashley decided to leave Phoenix Children’s to launch Ashley Gain in full force and I knew I just had to join her! I let Ashley know that whatever she needed I could help and now, fortunately, here I am!

Now, a little about myself! Writing/talking about myself is not amongst my top favorites things to do, but let’s see what I can come up with. ☺ I am 22 years old, ASU graduate (GO DEVILS!) and I am just starting to discover what I truly want in life, which of course, involves wedding and event planning. Along with working for Ashley, I work at American Cancer Society and I absolutely love it! I have three wonderful little doggies who I love more than life itself, especially my little one, Bella. While I’m not working events with Ashley, I am shopping, of course, or hanging out with my amazing friends and family!

From my experience working in weddings, the one piece of advice I would give a bride is to truly live in the moment. Don’t worry about anything else that day besides you and your fiancé/ soon to be husband! That is what Ashley and I are there for, to take care of everything else!

After coordinating a wedding with Ashley, the first thing I do when I get home is kick of my shoes and soak my feet!! You don’t really think about it, but being on your feet literally all day long is not so fun! At the end of the night and a majority of the next day, my poor little feet just ache, but it is definitely worth it.

When I get married, oh boy, I am one of those girls that have been dreaming about that day since I was 5. I have gone through so many different ideas of what I want my wedding day theme to be, especially since I have been working with Ashley, that I don’t even know where to begin. As of right now, what I imagine my wedding theme to be like is a southern, outdoor yet shabby chic wedding. As for colors, right now I am obsessed with the Tiffany’s blue/turquoise color, but who knows what my colors or even my theme will be when my big day comes…let’s just work on the getting a boyfriend part first ! ;)

Happy 1st Birthday to us!

365 days ago a package arrived at Ashley's door step...this makes it official....after tearing open the FedEx document package, there they were, the papers from the Arizona Corporation Commission. Ashley Gain Weddings & Events was officially an LLC.

Countless amazing experiences and events have taken place since that day. Working in Geneva for 10 days doing a huge event for a pharmaceutical company, to waving goodbye to some of my favorite couples as the took their grand exit form their reception right into the grand entrance of their lives, leading 36 women to raise money for charity, all the way to celebrating the birth of past bride's babies.

This year has been great, but just wait to see what is in store in the next 365 days. It's going to be exhilarating and it's still just the beginning. Honestly, ya'll, just you wait to see!

As any party planner would, I look at birthday's as very special celebrations, and with that Ashley Gain Wedding & Event blew out her candles at an event surrounded by her biggest supporters.

And now for pictures....drumroll please....from the amazing Courtney Sargent, who used her talents to help capture the event that was held at Arcadia Room in Arcadia {hence the name, lol}.

I saw these darling matches at LGO and HAD to have them...Dirty Blonde Cocktails....a little parting gift for each girl that came.And a cigar for each guy.The famous brushetta from Postinos, it's a fav!
A BEAUTIFUL cake by Designer Cakes by April. She is amazing!Not gonna lie, cutting the cake by myself was a bit akward, but for PINK VELVET it was worth it!I made this candle votive...for reals, yes, I did.With my husband by my side, I made a toast to my dearest friends and collegues because Ashley Gain would not be where it is without them.

Candice and Nick, the Mr & Mrs to be!!! :)Two of my best friends, it would not have been a real celebration with out them. They give me strength to do anything day in and day out.
A Pink Partini for each girl.Kelly Beeber from Julia Baker, a collegue turned friend!And what Ashley Gain event would be complete without a little *sparkle*??

Thanks for letting us share our first birthday! We are certain there will be many many more to come.

Brush Your Shoulders Off

After months of dedication, time, energy and most importantly LOVE, the Pink & Black Jack Affair is only 22 days away. A night of entertainment, blackjack tables, formal dresses, and giving back to our community, I couldn't be more excited.

Now all I have to do is finalize rentals, flowers, guests lists and of course how to do my hair.

Tickets are still for sale if you would like to come www.azhope.com

Come see the heart of Ashley Gain Events first hand........

28 years and counting

To start, I prefer even numbers. Odd numbers, to me are just that, odd. {Except for the number 9, it's my favorite. Probably because I was born on the 9th and to me it's just a pretty number.} So turning 28 from 27 made me feel a little more comfortable being me! :)

Your birthday is not just about your age, having a party, or blowing out candles, it's about the people you get to celebrate with. Birthdays are about the posts on your facebook page to your dad telling you all about the day you were born, and then the not-so-guilty feeling of being special that one day a year.

Birthdays are about gaining a greater significance to your life each year and a greater significance your life has on others around you.

I was blessed enough to celebrate with some of the closest people in my life. As an added bonus I was gifted some amazing things that confirmed just how well my loved ones know me! I had to share some of my favorites!

My beautiful, sweet, and incredibly smart {She was on her way to law school when she decided she wanted to do events!!} Event Assistant & Friend Kimberly gave me this wall mount. With a perfect quote written by Mrs. Sarah Jessica Parker. *So True*My bestie Kelli {who I swear is my twin and we were separated at birth} gave me these princess bracelets. YES, they are bracelets! Kelli is the founder of The Arizona Princess Program and at camp this summer each of our campers had tons of these on. I feel 16 again.

My Sister Sarah who makes me laugh no matter what kind of a day I am having gave me the cutest dish scrubber! It honestly makes me want to clean! Sarah, Brad says to thank you. *lol*Brad, my husband, gave me a Barbie. I have to say it is my favorite gift. So now she sits, or stands rather, on my desk. Oh Barbie, it's such a love hate relationship!

My beautiful Sister-in-Law, Janell, who is also the owner of Lucky Penny Designs, gave me the neatest gift. It is a true hour glass filled with pink sand. I LOVE it! She is so creative!!!

So what if I bought a little gift for myself. ;) I am sure every other person in the world has already read this and I am years behind!
Lindsey one of my very very very best friends gave me a little sparkle for my office. The best thing about a candle that smells like a cupcake is that there is not cupcake you have to keep yourself from eating!! Just like the girl that gave it to me it's truly perfect.Lastly, a little bling from Rosie because when you live in Arizona and find a scorpion in your house every other day all you can do is find a way to laugh about it! Rosie also had a baby a week ago and which gave me the gift of being a "friend aunt" as well! *smile*

Happy Birthday to my blog readers, no matter when it is, just make sure you celebrate!

The best birthdays of all are those that haven't arrived yet. -Robert Orben

After The Wedding

I woke up the next morning, opened my eyes, and there it was, my wedding dress, lying alone on a oversized chair in the middle of our suite at Royal Palms.

Wait, wait, wait {rub my eyes, refocus} it can't be. Could it be? My wedding is over?

I could see the bottom of my dress was a little dirty, on the floor next to it my shoes laid on their side, an empty bottle of champange on an end table, and, oh my, a wedding ring, on my finger.

At almost the same time that a huge smile came to my mouth tears began to fill my eyes. It was over. The day I had waited my entire life for was now in the past. The best thing I have ever done was marry my husband, but to let go of the "wedding day dream" well, that is totally different.

I was a Mrs. no longer a Miss., I was a bride not a bridesmaid. I was someone's partner for life!! Being the overachiver I am, I was on a mission, to be the best wife I knew {or could learn} how to be.

The wedding is a perfect way to kick off a marriage, but you also have to learn how to maintain! We started attending a group called Caring Families at our church a few months after we said "I do". It has been an amazing way to meet married friends, get involved and to give some real meaning to our *new* relationship.

I am not saying a church group is for everyone {it was right for us} but I am saying that finding a way to get involved in life as a couple is for everyone! What kind of wedding planner would I be if I didn't hit on the topic of marriage?! I help make marriages happen. *smile*

Our church asked us to a part of a little demo video for our group and we had so much fun making it! Soooooo, since you are here learning about me, I thought I would share it with you!!!

Marriage is what you make of it! Carpe Diem!

Caring Families Testimonies from Highlands Church on Vimeo.