Baby Bella!

I mentioned in a previous post that Kortnee Miller of Kortnee Kate Photography flew to Dallas to take my sister's engagement photos over Valentine's Day weekend. Stevie, Joy and I were also in Dallas that weekend (so my husband could eat and breathe basketball day and night during the NBA All-Star weekend).

Kortnee came over for dinner after the engagement photo session, and grabbed a few photos of Joy before she went to bed... of course, I have to share them with the world!

I can't help kissing those chubby cheeks all the time. I love her expression in this one:

I laugh at myself sometimes when I see how enamored of her I am!

I wonder if my girl's wedding will be natural (say, a backyard Texas BBQ under pecan trees), or if she'll be a frilly girl and want all the sparkle and glamor of a modern event. Will she let me help her plan it? What will her style be? Here's to finding all those things out over the next 25ish years...

Thanks for indulging my need to show off pictures of my girl... Now back to wedding planning!

Meet Our Newest Team Member

Hi everyone!

Well, I'm back from taking a way-too-long break from this page. It was a busy summer and fall -- full of events and excitement -- but that's no excuse for blog neglect! I am back now and, until the end of the year, will be featuring our favorite things about our weddings and events in 2009.

But first: one of the highlights of the fall was the addition of our newest team member. She joined the viva bella team on September 26. Prior to that date, she'd spent 9 months 'shadowing' me -- she never left my side... not even for a moment. She attended every consultation, vendor meeting and event with me, so she's full of first-hand experience! As a matter of fact, the day she joined us was the biggest event in viva bella's history!

I've been working hard on-boarding her over the last (nearly) 3 months -- it's been a time-intensive process, but I think she's worth the trouble. I can already tell she's going to be a great communicator, is going to really respond to my leadership, and is going to win over new clients in a heartbeat! (I also think I sense a real fashion sense developing!)

Everyone, please meet and welcome Miss Joy A. Manuel!

All images (c) Tine Hoffman.