Exciting things have been happening here at love and splendor.  🙂  In addition to the incredible weddings we have in store, we are thrilled to be growing and building in new ways.  Part of this included me bringing on a brand new assistant!  (Don’t worry — of course Anna is still here!!  With Anna taking on some of her own weddings, I needed a new assistant of my very own.)  For years it has been unfathomable to me that I would discover an assistant that would meet my sky-high expectations and desires.  My ideal new assistant had to be FAR FAR FAR beyond competent and enthusiastic.  Those are givens.  I wanted to find someone terribly intelligent, effortlessly stylish, innately driven, genuinely warm, with a magnetic personality and fierce loyalty.  Someone who could rival me in terms of the love and passion I have for the job, and who could even (gasp!) one-up me with their personal style and business savvy.  I wanted someone who wouldn’t just be a great addition to love and splendor… but someone who would be a magnificent ASSET to the company.

I knew in the back of my mind that I would eventually need to hire someone to manage the growing needs of the business, but I feared the actual search + hiring process. Luckily I did not have to go through such a search.  As often happens to me, the Lord decided to just drop something into my lap.  And that “something” came in the form of someone — a very special someone — who sent me a sweet email and résumé. Before I wrote her back to say I wasn’t hiring, I decided to sneak a peek at her résumé.  And that’s when my jaw hit the floor.  And my heart started racing. And I knew that God had brought me someone truly special.  🙂  After our first in-person meeting, I immediately called anyone who would listen (e.g. Erik, Krissy, and my mom!  LOL) to gush about Michelle.  I truly couldn’t dream up a more perfect candidate to join the love and splendor team.  She comes to us with an INSANE level of experience in the industry (events, non-wedding), as well as that extra special ‘x-factor’ that just can’t be taught.  She’s got IT and I am blessed to have her join me and Anna this year!

I could go on and on about Michelle, and I probably will in coming months.  🙂  But for now, I thought I’d introduce her to my darling readers in a fun format we already love: 20 questions!  Enjoy this little snapshot into the life of the newest face here at love and splendor.  I can’t wait for all of my clients to meet her and fall in love with her, too!!

the lovely michelle!  hellooooo cheekbones!

1) Where did you grow up?  Tell us about your childhood.

I grew up in the city of Orange in the OC! We moved there when I was 3 and left when I was 16, but I consider it my hometown for sure. I have 2 sisters and a brother so my childhood was always filled with laughter, love and adventure. My older sister and I loved our Barbie dolls with a passion! We had a 3-story home for them to live in, a burger joint for them to grab a bite from, a big yellow RV for road trips (aka to the family room) and two corvettes (red and silver!). Our aunt did a lot of traveling so she was always bringing us Barbie clothes from all over. They were everything to us then and now they’re just packed away in boxes!! My brother and I would spend hours playing War (card game that I couldn’t tell you how to play now even if given a million dollars!!) and we also loved the board game Battleship. Whereas with my little sister I spent most of my time playing cops and robbers with her (she was the cop, I was the robber). She did not share the same love for Barbie as my older sister did with me. She was the tomboy and swore she’d be wearing shorts on her wedding day under her dress! My family has always been my childhood. They have been there to celebrate every occasion with me or comfort me when something didn’t go my way. They’re the best things out there and my complete world. =)

2) What was your favorite subject in school?

Hmmm. My favorite subject was definitely NOT history. How can you remember all that stuff? I never understood how my dad could spout out things about the past without having note cards next to him! I would say my favorite subject is art. I loved drawing and painting as a kid. I remember a painting I did in kindergarten like it was yesterday of a bunny. I think I still draw bunnies the same way!! I love looking at things in different ways. That saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder…I think the same about art. It’s a personal thing and that’s probably why I’ve always loved it so much. Because nobody can tell me what to see – it’s what I want to see.

3) Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I went to college at USC. I graduated with a degree in Communication (emphasis in the Entertainment Industry).

4) What do you do in your free time?

If I’m not watching a movie, reading or by the beach, I want to spend every waking moment with my nephew, Brayden! He’s is almost 8 mos old and just the joy of my life. He’s completely changed how I look at babies!! Up until him I didn’t understand all the hype, but I’ve been sucked in! He’s the cutest thing on this earth and every move he makes I smile. Shout out to my cute little man!!

awwww!  michelle + her nephew, brayden!

5) If you could only buy 5 groceries this week, what would they be?

Beets!! I’m obsessed!! I just discovered they sell ready to eat beets at Trader Joe’s so the other night I sliced them and mozzarella up, drizzled it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a dash of walnuts. DELISH!!! It’s my new obsession.

My other 4 groceries would definitely be – hummus, cucumbers, tortillas and oranges! You could live off all this for definitely a week. Spread some hummus on the tortilla (which I heat up on the stove to give it the perfect consistency!), throw some cucumbers in there and bam – nice yummy wrap! With a side beet salad…I mean, come on! And oranges are just always so tasty to have around.

6) What is your favorite “guilty pleasure” food?

I love Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream!! I really just love the chunks of cookie dough, but I figure it’s better to eat it with ice cream than to just make a batch of it to eat out of the bowl! I’ve always been sort of an ice cream builder if that’s what you’d call it. As a kid, I’d take a huge bowl fill it with ice cream then crush cookies (Oreos’, Fudge Stripes, or whatever delectable item my mom had in the cabinet) on top of it then cover it with chocolate syrup. I still do that to this day when I do actually have ice cream in my freezer. I think I kept the ice cream companies in business as a kid….I seriously ate gallons.

7) What is your favorite city in the world and why?

New York! Just like Jay Z says – there’s nothing you can’t do! The city has great energy and there is so much to see and do. Between going down to Battery Park to look across at the Statue of Liberty, walking on Wall Street, moving in and out of all the bodies in Times Square or eating a gyro from a street vendor it’s just filled with magical moments. I could never handle the weather enough to live there (I’m a SoCal girl forever), but I love to visit.

8 ) What artists would we find on your “most played” list on your iPod?

I’m a fan of all music! The other day I was in a restaurant and heard a country song that I totally knew the words to. It’s surprising because I haven’t listened to country in years! I love Keri Hilson, Jay Z, Modest Mouse, Paramore, MGMT, Kings of Leon, Kanye West, Michael Jackson, Prince, Lady Gaga, TV on the Radio, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. I can listen to mostly anything. It all depends on the mood I’m in and what I’m feeling that day. I love the radio, actually. I prefer to listen to it if I’m in the car or at home.

9) Describe a perfect saturday.

A perfect Saturday would consist of sleeping in! Then getting up and doing some form of fun fitness. I love going on hikes. I recently just went to Griffith Park for the first time and loved the scenery and views. In the summer time I love going to be beach and lying in the sun with my feet in the sand. I can go to the beach and never so much as put a toe in the water! That would be a perfect Saturday. Sleeping in, working out, going to the beach and then eating a yummy beet salad. 😉

10) What is your favorite flower?

Sunflowers!! I love how big and bright they are. Plus they always just look happy. I love the brightness of a sunflower and how it’s so simple yet beautiful. It can brighten up any day!  (**note from Angel: Sunflowers seem to be a trend with my assistants!)

11) What drew you to {love and splendor}?  Why are you excited to join L&S?

I actually found Angel on Junebug Weddings (I knew she was top-notch from the beginning!) and was instantly hooked by what all her clients had to say about her. She’s not just named Angel – she is an Angel! The words of praise and thought that went into each of their responses sent goose bumps all over my body. She has a specific vision for each wedding and her personality is reflected into every detail. She loves what she does and that was very important to me. I wanted to know I was joining someone that did everything from the heart. She truly does. I’m elated to be joining L&S! I can’t wait to help out with any and every detail possible. I’m really excited to be on board to help Angel and L&S with so many special days!!

12) Name a movie you could watch over and over again.

Moonstruck with Nicholas Cage and Cher! As many odd messages as the movie sends, the bottom line is love. And I could watch it over and over again because it makes me feel good about love!! You truly never know where you’re going to discover love and when. Just be ready!

13) Best restaurant(s) in L.A.?

There are so many places in l.a.!! It’s funny, but I don’t really have a “go-to” restaurant at all. My ideal scenario would be visiting the Farmer’s Market at The Grove. So many options for so many moods! Really, I just love food. There isn’t a lot out there that I don’t like to eat. I love having options. There are a lot of delicious places out there, but I don’t think I’ve come close to naming any the best. Maybe that will change in 2010 and I’ll find a place (or two) I can’t live without!

14) Favorite book(s)?

First of all, I love to read. I used to work at a library and I loved having access to all those books! I would read any book that hit the shelves – fiction or non-fiction. But again, I don’t have a favorite book. I’ve been in a book club for about a year and while there have been some great books to discuss, I’m still holding out for that book that will become my all time favorite.

15) What inspires you?

Life inspires me! I know this may sound weird…but, for me, inspiration comes in many forms.  It could be a quote, a fortune cookie, a person, a song, a picture or the color of the sky one evening. Inspiration can be found anything. It’s just about opening up to not only see it, but feel it.

16) Hidden talents?

Well if I told you them they won’t be hidden anymore!!! 😉

17) Any 2010 goals or resolutions?

Be happy. Buy everything with cash. Do something cultural every weekend (museum, movie, theatre, show – anything that makes me feel like I’ve learned something about myself or the world).

18) 3 random facts about you…

I love to mix my food together especially when there are mashed potatoes involved. Call me weird.

My first job was at Boston Market! I was the person who put your yummy sides into the lovely containers that you took home while I stayed behind scooping out more food.

I love Horchata!! It’s the rice milk drink most commonly found in Mexican restaurants or El Pollo Loco and now even at the supermarket (Kern’s has a delicious one!).

19) 5 places you want to visit in your lifetime

Wow! There are so many more than just 5!! Here in the U.S. I really want to see the Grand Canyon, New Orleans, St. Louis, Seattle and Alaska! One day I’d love to take an Alaskan cruise because it just seems like one of those lifetime experiences to me. I think it would be absolutely beautiful. I’d love to visit Italy, France, Japan, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Cuba among many many others. I recently saw an Amazing Race episode where they were in Chile and the contestants rode these cable cars down a hill. I guess this city is their version of San Francisco so all the streets are really steep. It looked like an absolutely beautiful place to be so I’ve added it to my list of places I want to visit!

20) either/or…

sweet v. salty: Oh salty v sweet! Tough one. I love me some of both!

ninjas v. pirates: Pirates. I imagine pirates to be barefoot most of their life or maybe I rode Pirates of the Caribbean one too many times as a kid, but it just looks like their lives are filled with adventure!

summer v. winter: Summer all the way! I love sandals, sundresses, sunny days and me with a tan! 😉

dogs v. cats: Dogs. Sorry cat lovers, but I just don’t understand them! They stare at you too much and it freaks me out!!

movies v. TV: Movies!! I LOVE all movies. Seriously. Try and find a movie I won’t enjoy.

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I hope you all enjoyed reading the interview as much as I did!  Much, much, MUCH more to come about Michelle soon.  In the meanwhile, make sure to leave her some love in the comments section!  Let’s make her feel nice & welcome here.  🙂

Have a fabulous Monday, everyone!

xoxo, Angel