A LITTLE INSTALOVE FRIDAY {Engagement Sneak Peek}

My September 2015 couple recently had their engagement photos with the incredibly talented Matt DeBackere, and I could not resist posting a peek as today's instalove.

These two #worshampartyof2 just make my heart melt. The photos from their amazing engagement session are in and I just could not hold myself back from sharing a little sneak peek into their day with the talented Matt DeBackere. The couple is celebrating their love of sports and their sports driven careers in an outside ceremony full of lush floras, deep purples and soft romantic blue next September. While you feast your eyes on their love, and Matt's rad photo skills, I will be over here sketching up centerpieces that will have footballs and lush florals literally pouring from them. This picture - one of my favorites of all time.

CDE couple captured by Springfield's own Matt DeBackere Photography.

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!! {Confessions of a Rebrand}

It's Friday and in just one short week the all new Cassandra Dattoli Events will be launching. Wait; did I just say that? Hooray!! Friday September 19, 2014, the all new Cassandra Dattoli Events launches and to celebrate I'm having a little celebration party at our home with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This is really happening! I'm so excited about revealing everything to you all - including a much updated and very pink new website and blog.

I recently stumbled across the word Serendipity. The effect by which one accidentally stumbles upon something truly wonderful, while looking for something entirely unrelated. Serendipity - you have been in the back of my mind and on my heart since I first came across you. When I started the journey to rebrand; I was asked to write my story; and rewrite my story - and write it again and again. The whole point is to condense - and pull out the significant moments - the moments that truly show the path that has led me to where I am now. Well, I found it. The handful of moments that lit the fires that make up my core. The reason I'm here writing in this white space to all of you. The reason I started my business - the reason I rebranded.

 I chose to rebrand, because I was outgrowing the old look. Because the old look and logo got the job done - the website got the job done; but what if this space also made you feel like you knew me, before you actually knew me?  That was my goal when I reached out to Becky at RP Design & Branding. A brand - not just a pretty logo, or fancy collateral pieces - but a brand that people can come to and trust and know what to expect from. When you come into contact with my brand I want you to expect pink happiness bursting with confetti, a dash of glitter and above all else a happy place where love and marriage is celebrated. This rebrand has been so good for me - in a crazy, frustrating, exhausting and hair brained way. But it has also been so incredibly fulfilling & rewarding. I have a core purpose, and I know in my heart of heart's what that is - and what that even means!  I have a mission. I have a business plan. I have a workflow. well kinda ... but I have a brand.  I have a brand that is every piece of my heart and soul and represents who I truly am and what I want my business to represent. There is so much goodness still to share, but here is about half of my branding board that Becky created for me 

In condensing my story to fulfill the needs of representing my core I came up with this:

I grew up in Decatur, Illinois, dreaming of the day I would be a State Prosecutor in St. Louis. I'd have a downtown loft with an incredible view of the Arch and send my assistant to pick up my dry cleaning and coffee. We'd sit and discuss the legal issues plaguing our nation and have grown up conversations on capitol punishment and abortion. But as they say, sometimes, on the way to a dream, you get lost and find a better one. For me, getting lost; was my saving grace. During undergrad I met a blue-eyed Sicilian boy who stole my heart quicker than I could say "objection". Rather than head straight to St. Louis, I followed him and stayed closer to home. Six years later, ten moves, two graduate schools across three states and six months apart while he was at the State Police Academy; on October 20, 2012, we finally made it official in a traditional Greek Ceremony surrounded by close friends and family.

 Months after he proposed - it became clear that my heart changed. For as long as I could remember - I  read about, wrote about, studied criminal law and all the "bad stuff" in our humanity - and this wedding planning "stuff" was just the opposite. It lit a fire in me that I don't even know how to describe. It had hit me .. I want to be a part of people's happy moments - whatever this is, I want this. The memories of my mother and I planning get togethers, asking family to bring all white or red or green food containers; picking the napkins, plates, centerpieces and silverware for Thanksgiving and birthdays - it all just made sense.

Sometimes I wonder if God had a big chuckle with me - by putting me in the midst of the awful crimes people commit against each other to this complete opposite world - where love is the center and focus of everything. Love. Love is at my core. Love is my reason.

I'm having giveaways starting tomorrow to win some pretty awesome items from Pearls & Pastries, Woodenhive Vintage Silverware, Instax, Pease's Candy & Nuts, Starbucks, Target, Project Life and Meandmybigideas just to name a few; to celebrate this rebrand and to welcome you all to this happy little place of mine. 

ps. If you read this far down and leave a comment .. you'll be entered into all the giveaways!! 

xoxo

A LITTLE INSTALOVE FRIDAY

Hi there sweet friends! Whew! It's been a while since I blogged an Instalove huh? Well! Boy do I have a good one for you today!! Pink, Glitter and Gold Oh my!I  .

Today I'm sharing my new love obsession - my Kikki.K lilac & gold Diary/Time Planner

I know what you're thinking "Cass, you're a Day Designer gal! What happened?" No worries my Day Designer friends - my lovely gold DD still holds my personal & business Calendar.  I just needed more.. a place to truly hold my client's & friendors addresses for surprise mailings, a place for blog notes, to track stats, hashtags, posts & expenses by month and just some other oddball items that I like to keep in one spot. My lovely lilac has become my on-the-go business tool. Toting it from the Court during Court days & home has been so beneficial & helpful in maintaining my blog and seeing the week laid out ahead of me.

This little sidekick of mine is so lovely - in every detail. I do love it so & carry it with me nearly everywhere I go. Head on over to the Kikki.K site and show them some love - today they are having a big sale on some super pretty items that I just adore.

Happy Friday!

xoxo, Cass

This post is my own personal opinion and views and was not sponsored in any way by Kikki.K.

A LITTLE INSTALOVE FRIDAY {Introducing my beloved Callie!!}

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. 

- Dr. Maya Angelou

For as long as I can remember, butterflies have played a special part of my life. I turned 19, and knew immediately my first tattoo - was going to remind me everyday to keep seeking, to keep hoping and dreaming all my big dreams. Thirteen hours later, I hopped on the back of a motorcycle, with a pink and tribal tattoo that nearly wrapped around my waist. I was young and naïve, but so proud to be branded for life with a pink butterfly that I called Callie; who represented everything about being a rebellious teen who also had big dreams of law school and saving the world. 

Along the way, I found love. A deeper love than I ever thought imaginable. I fell for those blue eyes the instant they landed on me and it was if this shy little Sicilian boy could see right through me. I changed my course, and instead of heading to the big top-ten undergrad college I had been accepted to; I followed my heart and went with him, to the small state school, just an hour away.  I never thought my heart would change and the law would no longer be in my heart - but it did happen. So much change and growth. It only seems natural that change, growth and savoring the sweetness of life represent this boutique business I have built from the ground up. Looking for inspiration and representation of my new brand and logo; I had to look no further than the mirror. Callie - who has had my back, guiding me and keeping my hopes alive - she has been with me all these years. Nothing represents change and transformation more than the beauty and elegance of a butterfly.

Callie, is a custom creation from the amazing and exceptionally talented Becky, owner of RP Design and Branding. Callie is going to be playing a major role in my all new Cassandra Dattoli brand. You'll be seeing lots more of my gorgeous Callista around these parts oh so very soon.

"Callista" the most beautiful nymph in the ancient Greek world and loved by Zeus. Callista means most beautiful - and in so many ways she is. Even all these years later - more than 10 - she still plays a major role in my life. (I was tattooed by one of the greatest tattoo artists in Illinois, back in the summer of 2001 - my second tattoo a hummingbird was free-hand drawn and inked on my back shoulder in the spring of 2007 following my parent's divorce.)

Without further ado, here is Callie; my beloved butterfly, who represents me and my boutique business: a girl that has had my back (literally!!) for over 10 years. Won't you all give her a warm welcome?

Beautiful, and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life and everyone deserves a little sunshine.  - Jeffrey Glassburg

 

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. 

- Dr. Maya Angelou

For as long as I can remember, butterflies have been a special part of my life. I turned 19, and knew immediately my first tattoo - was going to remind me everyday to keep seeking, to keep hoping and dreaming all my big dreams. Thirteen hours later, I hopped on the back of a motorcycle, with a pink and tribal tattoo that nearly wrapped around my waist. I was young and naïve, but so proud to be branded for life with a pink butterfly that I called Callie; who represented everything about being a rebellious teen who also had big dreams of law school and saving the world. 

Along the way, I found love. A deeper love than I ever thought imaginable. I fell for those blue eyes the instant they landed on me and it was if this shy little Sicilian boy could see right through me. I changed my course, and instead of heading to the big top-ten undergrad college I had been accepted to; I followed my heart and went with him, to the small state school, just an hour away.  I never thought my heart would change and the law would no longer be in my heart - but it did happen. So much change and growth. It only seems natural that change, growth and savoring the sweetness of life represent this boutique business I have built from the ground up. Looking for inspiration and representation of my new brand and logo; I had to look no further than the mirror. Callie - who has been on my side, guiding me and keeping my hopes alive - she has been with me all these years. Nothing represents change and transformation more than the beauty and elegance of a butterfly.

Callie, is a custom creation from the amazing and exceptionally talented Becky, owner of RP Design and Branding. Callie is going to be playing a major role in my all new Cassandra Dattoli brand. You'll be seeing lots more of my gorgeous Callista around these parts oh so very soon.

"Callista" the most beautiful nymph in the ancient Greek world and loved by Zeus. Callisto means most beautiful - and in so many ways she is. Even all these years later - more than 10 - she still plays a major role in my life. (I was tattooed by one of the greatest tattoo artists in Illinois, back in the summer of 2001 - my second tattoo a hummingbird was free-hand drawn and inked on my back shoulder in the spring of 2007 following my parent's divorce.)

Without further ado, here is Callie; my beloved butterfly, who represents me and my boutique business: a girl that has had my back (literally!!) for over 10 years. Won't you all give her a warm welcome?

A LITTLE INSTALOVE FRIDAY {Foxy Lil' Pom}

Happy Friday lovelies, from me and my little fox!

 I cannot help but love this little fox - with all my heart. One of the best decisions Joe and I ever made was making him a permanent addition to our family. There is just no way you can look at him and not fall in love with that foxy little face. It's a gorgeous Spring day - I'm out to walk this little guy and hold hands with my popo. Happy Friday!!

xoxo - C