Sneak Peek~ Fall Themed Tablescape

Our cactus stays green year round, leaves never fall or change color on our trees, one day you just wake up and it went from hot to cool!

So, yes, it's true, Arizona doesn't really have a fall but that doesn't mean that we can't still try to enjoy the season.

I asked a few of my favorite vendors to join me, get *fall* inspired and do a themed tablescape. You will have to wait to see the entire post on a wonderful wedding blog in the upcoming weeks, but I wanted to share a sneak peek.

{Don't hate on my glasses. You know you want some too}

Stay tuned for the rest to post!! Keep visiting my blog to see where! :)

A BIG Amazing Thank you to my fantastic vendors. Photography: Courtney Sargent Weddings, Flowers: Your Event Florist, Place cards: The Event Essentials, Linens: Wildflower Linens, Table Ware: PRO EM, Location: Desert Foothills Barn.

The Day I Knew

"No matter what happens...with us, I want you to know that you have given me hope that there are really good guys out there." The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Brad looked back at me and smilied. "You know what's weird? I was just thinking the same thing about you."

That was it.....I knew, I just knew. He was the one. I was going to spend the rest of my life with this man. This man who was driving me home after our third date, the third best date of my life.

I was numb. Literally. My entire body was covered with goose bumps.

From that very moment on, he had me. I was smittened wth every single thing about him.

Six months later we were engaged, ten months after that we were married. And to this day I am the luckiest, most loved woman in the entire world.

There is no place I would rather be than with you Bradly. Thank you for making my life SO worth living, thank you for making me the woman I always wanted to be.

I love you more than words can say. Happy 2nd Anniversary.

{Two of our Engagement Photos}

Defining Creativity

When you are in the event business you are also in the design business, the creative business and the idea business. It's a whirlwind of colors, shapes and dreams all mixed into one.

Every client comes with ideas. Some have ideas that make your heart melt, others know the feel for the day but can't place any picture in their minds of what it should look like.

That's where I come in.

The majority of the time clients want to do something completely different. Something no one has seen. They have a underlying theme but then want to create something that is their own. However, they are typically always inspired by something else. A picture, a flower, a color.

One of my favorite books is called It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be, by Paul Arden.

Paul does one of the best jobs of explaining where ideas can form from. I wanted to share with you a piece that has helped mold my perspective.

If only one in ten thousand companies seeking a new marketing campaign truly have a new idea AND 99% want something based off something they have seen, then inspiration is the strong hold of creativity.

This leads me to believe that the client that is inspired by something else no longer gets to claim 100% of the "newness" of the idea, rather they get claim 100% of making something else their own.

So, go get inspired. Find pictures, people, places that inspire you and make them your own. :)

Rockin The Runway

"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." ~Marilyn Monroe

Like you didn't know, Ashley Gain loves charity. We love helping, giving, and being a part of making this wonderful world an even better place.

If you love shoes, fashion, and a good time with your girl friends join us at this fabulous FREE event benefitting Childhelp. Let's take a stand in the fight against child abuse and enjoy a night full of fashion!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This month the color pink means so much more. Maybe for those who don't like pink this month it actually means something, but for us at Ashley Gain, the color is a whole lot grander in the month of October.

Over the past few days the color pink has reminded me of some thing I am truly grateful for: I have never had a loved one have to fight breast cancer.

Over the next few weeks, when you see the color pink, just stop and think about how one color is doing a whole lot of good. *hopeful*

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month I wanted to share a few *pink* things that when purchased go back to helping women fight and beat breast cancer.

• I love Sprinkles Cupcakes, I loved them before they were popular with one little shop in Cali....I might just be a trendsetter! Well, the Cupcake Queen is taking a stand. They will be donating 100% of all Pink Ribbon cupcake sales!

• The WORLD famous Brides magazine got 21 of the top wedding dress designers to create a pink wedding gown! This month's issue, released tomorrow, will reveal each single dress that is going to help fight this life-changing disease. From Vera Wang, to Carolina Herrera the designers involved these dresses will be one in a million.

• Kitchenaid's Cook for a Cure donates $50 for each and every pink purchase made in the month of October! I am a proud owner of this pink mixer!!!! I got it for my bridal shower before I got married. *hint hint* Maybe you should add one to yours too??

• My favorite make-up brushes are made by Sephora and wouldn't you know they have a set for breast cancer awareness month! For each set that is purchased $1 goes back to the fight against cancer.

• Get your nails did! OPI is donating $25,000 to Susan G Komen in 2010 in the fight against breast cancer. They also have a special edition nail polish called Pink of Hearts on sale during the month of October. Perfect Color for your bridesmaid's toes?? We say YES!

• Save the Ta-Tas is donating 25% of their overall proceeds each and everyday to go towards breast cancer research. I personally love their shirts, VERY clever.