Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Say Whaaat?!?! It’s November already?

I know, I know I have not been doing very well on this blogging stuff but I promise you its been for good reason. October was anything but a slow month for lil ol’ me.
Because of that this is going to be a FULL post of beautiful things that I have been a part of.
First off I was able to work on a Vintage table design that I JUST LOVE! I have to say that it all started when a client wanted pictures with coral linen and aqua napkins. We did our minds ever take off..... I know Some may look at this and think tacky. But I would have to say I feel it was classic.




 The first weekend of October was a full one; filled with both General Conference (I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we have 2 general meetings a year where the leaders of our church speak to us), and a bridal shower for my dear friend who was getting married at the end of the month (I don’t have the shower pictures yet).
As the month went on I was so lucky to have been a part of, and witness the marriages of not 1 but 2 of my best friends to their perspective eternal companions.
 The first was on Thanksgiving weekend and I was able to do their wedding decor and we did a beautiful ‘Anthropologie’ themed wedding.
The brides grandparents had many items in their home and there was a few months of garage sale-ing that happened so that we could have a variety of tea cups and well really anything and everything that seemed old but had not lost it’s beauty.
As a guest you would get the vintage feeling right from the start by typing your msg to the Bride and Groom on a TYPEWRITER!
I want to thank Mark Derry from Mark Derry Photography & Cindy Russell who both captured some STUNNING photo’s.
This is a glimpse into Carter & Maegan Bishop’s wedding - I love these 2 and it makes me so happy that my dear friend Carter found such an amazing woman in Maegan. I am so thankful that I was able to do what I love doing for 2 people I love. I had fun putting this together and I just hope they loved it every bit as much as I did.












Congratulations C & M Bishop I love you both!

The next few weeks seemed like a blur. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a tendensy to injur myself. And I did just that!

At the end of the C&M wedding I slipped (while cleaning up) on some water and tore 3 ligaments in my ankle along with giving myself a concussion
(its not a party until someone gets hurt)

 Well I guess that just helped to remind me that I should not try to attempt to be super woman - it'll never happen.
Anyways, I did have one more VERY important wedding to do... And that was the wedding of one of my Very BEST friends - Whitney!
What can I say about Whits? Well........
Whitney is a Beautiful woman and when I say beautiful I really mean it. She is STUNNING to look at, but more to it when you get to know her you see the beauty that is inside. I am so blessed to have her as one of my BEST. She married the best man for her... Luke is bar none one of the funniest and most outstanding men alive. He has a laugh that makes you want to laugh along with him and he is friends with EVERYONE!
 He make my Whit giggle and he follows along in the giggle.
I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of their day and I love them both anf wish them the very very best!
 

(I dont have pics yet but I do have a snapshot of the 2 of them on their wedding day)

And that right there was my October in a nut shell - I'm sure I could throw in some Halloween fun but maybe I'll save it so that you don't need to be reading a novel.
I really have to say that I am so blessed to be around such wonderful friends and for my sweet family who helped me make and set up eveything that I needed too.
I count myself as one very lucky girl!


xo


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

To My Big Brother

On this Day 31 years ago...
There are a few things to note that happened on October 5th, 1980


For starters

*the Formal opening of the Meditation hall of Zenshin Temple in
  Riverdale Bronx happened
*for those sports fans out there the Yanks set AL attendance mark at 2,627,417
*the yearly Inflation Rate in the USA was 13.58%
*the average cost of new house was $68,700.00
*the average Income per year was at $19,500.00
*the average Monthly Rent was $300.00
*the cost of a gallon of Gas was $1.19
*the average cost of a new car was$7,200.00
*and Men's Casual Shirt was $14.00
*American Actor Ronald Reagan was US President
*Pierre Trudeau was the Canadian Prime Minister for the 2nd time
*and Paul Thomas (a musician for the band Good Charlotte was born October 5, 1980.

 

But most notably for me was the birth of
my Big Brother on this the 5th day of October 1980.

 As a small child my brother was my look out, my protector, and my best friend.
 He was my parent’s reminder that I was around; he was the one who taught me that fog was a lazy cloud, and that there were only 2 languages in the world 
(English and Spanish).
 He showed me how to bake a cake without a recipe, and taught me how to play
with GI Joes, and transformers, and a great game of hide and seek.

As a not so small child he was the one who made me walk on the other side of the road he would let me know when I had crossed the line
(in the back seat of the car)
and the only time we would really do anything together was when we would play balloon volleyball in my parents bedroom, or got the neighbourhood kids together for the ‘Neighbourhood Olympics’.


As a teenager I remember when the flip happened and we became friends again –
I was 14 years old and we were at WEM in McDonalds and he shared a drink
we were now friends once more.

But as an adult he has turned into one of my BEST FRIENDS.
When he is sad or hurt, I’m sad and hurt. I
 cry tears of joy when beautiful moments happen in his life.
He married the most amazing person and together they go
through life lifting each other.
I am so blessed to have him as a Big brother. I know that we have our fights and that we didn’t always get along. But I also know that we will always have each other and that he is looking out for me as much as I am for him (if not more).
Happy Birthday to my Dear Brother you have so much to offer the world and you need to always remember that.

Never forget that you have God given talents

*You have a gift with children and you have little spirits
that can’t wait to meet you! (I know CG3 is pumped to come down)
*You have a gift for seeing things in new ways and a thirst for knowledge.
*You play soccer like you were born in Chile
*You play basketball like you grew up in the Bronx 
*Really any sport you try, you excel in.
*Now that Blockbuster has gone bust – not even Netflicks can keep up with
  your extensive movie collection
*You love your family and I know that you want what best for us all.
 
Never forget to have faith in the Lord, and that when you follow his commandments he will bless you here on earth and through the eternities.
We are all blessed to have you and we love you!

 Happy Birthday D!


Love your lil sis Kali xo

Thursday, September 29, 2011

September, September... Oh where have you gone?

Ok so I started off with a BANG and stopped just as fast as I started. 
This month has been one to remember.... or not!
 To be honest I don't remember much about this busy month as it has flown by.

But this month started off with so much to remember. I took some NEEDED days off to try and learn what R & R really is.
 But I couldn't start that right away... 
I took the first day to work on a few things for a Friends wedding that helping with.
(Oct I have 2 of my very best friends get married - one at the beginning of the month 
and one at the end)

So with the help of the Groom (my dear Friend Carter) 
and a Brides maid (another VERY close friend Cindy)
We made String Balls....

It was a late night but I have to say I am so Excited to see them in full use!

But in the midst of this crafting I was invited to the Josh Groban concert. 
Now lets talk about lucky.... I was 2nd row from the front (on the side) and I fell in LOVE!
I know, I know your going to think with Josh - don't get me wrong he lived up to all I had heard (Shhhhhhh.... I wasn't a fan prior to the concert - that was a mistake, I know!)
But the one I fell for was his Percussionist - Oh golly that man was pure talent!
The next night I had a Sleep over with my beautiful niece and nephew and We had a 
TON-of-FUN! 
late night run to Mac's, endless games on Wii, a late night movie, and hamburgers for breakfast
I think that this was a dream come true - and not just for me.....

Now after this weekend of Fun I went back to work and the beautiful surprise I had when I got there was an offer to go to the Cirque du Soleil performance of 'Ovo'


I wish I could say the words "I can do that" and mean it... But it may take me a few months to get there.

The next few weeks is filled with Work, work, work...

I also was able to hear some wonderful talks at a Relief Society Conference one that really helped remind me to love and be grateful for the here and now. There is no use hoping and wishing for things I don't have - when all I need to be grateful for is what I do.

This month coming up is an exciting one. I start with General Conference... I am so exciting for this! I also am doing a shower for my Bestie Whitney. It's a busy weekend but it'll be SO good!

And After that its a month of celebrating Weddings, Birthdays, and Thanksgiving!

I am so blessed and so grateful for this BEAUTIFUL life of mine.
What more can I ask for?

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Summertime and the liven' is easy......

"Fish are Jumpin' and the cotton is high"

 These words are the start of a beautiful lullaby my mom used to sing to me every night as she helped me on my way to sleep. It has a lovely "blues" melody and worked like magic to help me drift off.
 I still feel warm and tingly and a tad bit sleepy when I hear that tune. 

But it does make me think about Summertime. You know I'm really not a summer girl, you wont see me baking in the sun or hiking, or really anything to outdoorsy, not in the summer. You see; I'm sadly allergic to the sun and because of that I get a lovely speckled rash whenever I am near the suns rays,
as well I burn like a tree in a forest fire.
(maybe not the best analogue, but it's true) 
So with all of this as I'm sure you can understand - I am not in love with summer. 

But what I can appreciate about
summer is it's beauty - the blue skies and green grass.
(I appreciate it mostly from an air conditioned office/car/basement suite)
I also love the fact that it is the middle man between my two favorite seasons
  Spring and Autumn. 

I love the Spring and the rain it brings, the thunderstorm light shows and those showers that help bring Summers green leaves and grass to life, the puddles, rain jackets, gumboots and fun umbrellas.

But Autumn.... Oh how I love the Autumn, I feel like everything good is in the Autumn.
 General Conference (okay, okay so that's in the Spring too), Thanks Giving, Halloween, feeling the weather change from warm to a crisp/cool breeze, I love when the leaves start to fall and I can hear/feel the crunch under my feet, and most of all I love their colours; beautiful oranges, rich reds and burgundies
  Ooooo I just LOVE the Autumn.

So why the song about Summertime when I am sharing
words of affirmation to my 'season of love' Autumn?
Well it's because I am not one for taking vacations. I take time off from work yes,
but I generally do so that I can assist in the planning of friends weddings,
or other organized events.
 Growing up - Summertime is when you went on Summer Vacation.
The song lyrics are "Summertime and the liven' is easy" unfortunately in the Event industry I would say it's anything but.... We have Weddings, Stampede,
and then a few more Weddings.
I feel blessed to learn and grow and share my creativity/organizational skills in all of it, but I have learned that I need this in moderation.

So I have taken an extended long weekend. I'm excited for my non-planned/planned Vacation. I do have one day (Thursday) dedicated to weddings
(I am helping two very close friends with their planning)
 so as of Friday I am a free bird.

The picture below is to show me in my dream of
beautiful beaches and a sun kissed glow.
Maybe (when all is said and done) the Lord will allow me one day's rest
 to lay on a beach feel the white sand under my toes and soak it all up.


Until then I will spend my time off with those I love
 Family, Friends, and a good book or two.

Oh what a life I get to live.

xo


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I'm a little bit Country, I'm a little bit..Ooo La La

Alright so now it's time to show just one of the things that I have been creating.
I am a lucky girl that I am able to work with people of like mind and we can bat off one another for inspiration.

This table design is just that! It is a sample table that a co-worker and I
put together last minute a few weeks ago.
And I like it
love it
LOVE it A LOT!

I like to call it 'Country Chic'. I am a big fan of burlap, but I also am drawn to all things sparkly.
So when I have the opportunity to put the 2 together I jump at it.


 In this next picture you can see my most Fav chairs that have the best chair covers on them.
Now I am in no way saying I want these covers to one day
make an appearance at my wedding,
but I would LOVE to use them at a 'Dallas' themed Stampede party.
I am also such a lucky girl that I am able to also work with a fantastic photographer.
(These pictures are hers)
Alleisha Whalen of 'White Owl Photography' is just starting out on her own
but goodness is she ever a TALENT!
She has taught me bits and peices about photography and will even allow me to get behind the lens.
How lucky am I?

So this is one of the things that has kept me busy. I have to say that I know that I am blessed with talents and I want to use them as much as I can. I am also blessed to be surrounded by people that have talent bursting from them.
Oh what a world we live in. If you just look for it you can find it in everyone. We all have talents but some are just hiding them under bushels but not I... No Sir, like that old saying says ‘when my day comes and I return back to the Lord and he asks “where is all your talent?” I can say “I don’t have any left, for I used it all up” I am no where near that point I have so far to go but I’m taking it one day at a time and having so much fun in the process.
xo


Monday, August 29, 2011

This is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship

I started this blog as a way of keeping a journal. I procrastinated
(as oft I do with things I don’t know how to do/work)
to start this up for I would say 8 months. I struggle with change
But here I am on my way to what I like to call ‘fear of change’ Freedom.

Let’s start at the beginning (I hear its a very good place to start)....
I am Kalia Larsen. I’m 28 year old living in the great metropolis that is Calgary.
 I have been here for coming on 6 years and while I love many parts of it I often think that the winds are trying to move me on.

I have been working in the Event industry for most of 5 years and I love it very much I feel so blessed that I have found a job that I fit in and that fits me so well.

I named this blog ‘Kalia’s Bella Vita’ because I wanted to focus on all the beautiful blessings in my life. I know that not everything will be sweet to taste
but I want to try my very best to taste the sweet over the sour.
 I also have many dreams of being able to speak another language, and Italian would be a beautifully fun one to start with.
So with 'Bella' meaning 'Beautiful' & 'Vita' meaning 'Life'
I thought "this is where to begin". 

So 'Kalia’s Bella Vita' is a dedication to all things that happen in my life that will help to mold it into what I will one day (if not today) look at as a ‘beautiful life’.

xo