Meet Dianne

Meet Dianne

by | May 26, 2020 | Personal

 

 

It’s Dianne’s turn! Get to know the determined heart & soul that’s behind the Only Prettier Design Team.

Dianne is a co-owner of OPD along with Heather. She’s an old soul, thoughtful and the hardest worker you’ll ever meet. 

As a co-owner she juggles a thousand tasks a day including wedding floral proposals, arranging jaw-dropping bridal bouquets, running staff meetings and managing all the details that go in to running a small business, and merchandising our little boutique in Norfolk,  . . . just to name a few.

She has a way of making everyone she meets feel right at home, an internal drive that never stops, and a God-given ability to make all things beautiful. 

Keep reading to hear Dianne’s answers to our staffs’ interview questions. Again…. All unfiltered and unedited. 

Tell us a little about your kids.

I have four boys, all under the age of 4 – Jake, Cole, Rhett and Bryce. My house is full of monster trucks, baseballs, dinosaurs, footballs, race cars, snapbacks, and guitars. My kids are outside from dusk until dawn when the weather is nice, and can curl up and watch the day away when Fireman Sam is on. 

I go through 7 boxes of cereal a week – yes 7 – and two of them don’t eat cereal yet, and 28 bananas – again two of them don’t eat the banana yet. 

I’ve realized in the past few months, when its time for pick up games of 3 on 3 – I have to play, and I made myself the designated hitter for backyard wiffle ball. These boys are the sweetest, toughest, and most determined little souls. They test my patience when they need to turn their ears up, and then melt my heart when they run to give me a hug. 

Have you always had a thing for flowers?

Nope. Not at all…. When I was getting married, I had one request – no roses. I was adamant that there were none. My husband knew early on, if they are traditional flowers, I wouldn’t love them. I love texture, detail, uniqueness, and imperfection in flowers. I always remind myself as I arrange – let the flower be. We try so hard sometimes to make it do what we want, but when we just let it flow, that’s when we see the true beauty in the flower. When I began working on OPD, I made a commitment to stay true to the vision I had and to deliver on making things prettier through all things floral.

 

What do you consider to be your superpowers? 

I used to say that I had a photographic memory – then I had four kids and lost it. HA!! I would say that I am a master multitasker. I manage many things daily, and some days I even wonder myself how I keep it all straight. I ask myself, what can I take off my plate and the answer is always nothing – because my plate makes me who I am. Lastly, determined. I am as determined as they come. If someone says that I can’t do something, you bet that I am going to prove you wrong. It might take me a little while, but I will not quit! Ha!

What is your favorite product? 

Anything Beautycounter.

My Simplified Planner – I can’t live without it.

Sojourner Leather Co earrings from the store. Literally wear them everyday.

And my new blowdryer.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would you bring? 

Is this a trick? Totally my family if they aren’t with me.

Chapstick, sunscreen, water haha. I have no idea.

Would you rather go a day without food or without the internet? 

Umm, if you know me, you know I can’t go a day without food. I will go days without the internet and do not try and touch my food!

What are a few things that most people don’t know about you?

I actually went to college for Sports Medicine. I love NASCAR. I refuse to fly over an ocean. I hate to travel unless its to Charleston, SC. My wedding was in a magazine. I have no clue!

Who is your Role Model?

Who my kids think I am…. I try to be that everyday

Would you rather skydive or swim with sharks? 

UMMM neither … never in a million years … not even for a million dollars. I’ll wait on the ground with your cocktail and on the dock with a drink in hand.

What’s your favorite flower? 

Hellebore and Honeysuckle

Are you an early bird or night owl?

Both – but lately I am neither (I really have to get back on track) I guess if I had to choose I’d say I’m an early bird.  

What’s been the most exciting moment for Only Prettier Design?

Oh gosh! This is hard. Opening party at our first store.

The day that I saw OPD up on the P7 board at Gillette Stadium.

The day that we drove Nessy home.

Do you have a favorite Mantra?

I have a few:

GIVE ME STRENGTH WHEN I AM STANDING AND FAITH WHEN I FALL

It’s a Kip Moore song and its tattooed on my foot .. I basically live by

this and remind myself of it daily. – Faith when I fall is on my foot.

–  And   – 

JESUS I TRUST YOU

My mom circled this in her Jesus Calling book. I found it when we moved her into hospice and it kept popping up day after day. It was a message that I was meant to find and has taken me through each day since we lost her. This is also a tattoo I have. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

The first without my momma

The first without my momma

by | May 8, 2020 | Personal

This year is definitely a little different for me. It’ll be my first Mother’s Day without my momma.

I remember sitting in my car last year on Mother’s Day when I received an email that shared a song, Blank Stares by Jay Allen. I immediately asked my husband to play it, and tears began streaming down my face. This song put every single thought that I’ve had for years into words.

Oh how do I get you back

If I could only seal the cracks you’re slipping through

Wish I didn’t feel so helpless when it comes to helping you

Hold on

So I keep holding on

To every little memory made of you and me

Every little glimpse of who you used to be

I know you’re still in there

Deep down somewhere I swear I still see you

Between the blank stares

Jesus must have known that I needed that song. I needed something or someone to put all my thoughts out there.

It was almost 10 years ago that I sat quietly and heard about the terrible disease that was taking my momma away. I was angry, sad, scared, and down right, a flipping mess. My mom had been fighting Alzheimer’s and then in July of 2019, two months before delivering my twins, it just became too much for her. She was tired, and it pushed her to the edge. She lost her battle with dementia on July 28th, 2019 and if I told you the story about 6:48, you wouldn’t believe me so we’ll save that for another day.

 

This is a picture of my mom and I at NASCAR. She’s the biggest Earnhardt fan you’ll ever meet and never missed watching a Sunday race.

I’ve almost had all my firsts without her – my birthday, her birthday, thanksgiving, christmas, new years, valentine’s day, easter, and now … the last one – Mother’s Day.

This year, it will hurt. It will remind me of what I have lost and what I will never have again. The person that I’ve had the closest relationship with in my life is gone.

I could let my day be consumed by these thoughts and feelings. But I know the way that I can celebrate her on Mama’s Day is to live like her, and good lord, there are no tears.

You get up, you hug your babies, you make memories, and you remind yourself, that you will never walk alone.

I look forward to Mama’s Day every year – and each year it has become better and better. Five years ago, I celebrated my first mother’s day while I was pregnant with my oldest. He has taught me everything that I know about being a mama. I remember asking the discharge nurse in the hospital if he was buckled in right. Yes, total first mom nerves. Each day since, I’ve learned more about myself than I have in my entire life. I have days where I show up my best self for my kids, and then I have other days where I just can’t get it right. One thing never changes though – how my kids look at me.

I was recently asked who my role model is – and seriously this question is hard. I sat there searching for someone else. And then it came to me…  when it comes to who a role model is, it’s me!  It’s who my kids think I am. I truly wake up each day trying to be the person my kids think I am. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am, and even on my worst of days, they just see their momma. They don’t see the laundry or dishes, or tears. They just see me.

I was honest y’all – this is what I will be thinking about on Mother’s Day. Love and hugs to all you moms out there! You are killing it, even on the hard days. To those who have their moms, treasure this time – make some memories. To those who have lost their mom, my heart is with you – cry a little, and then go and do something for you!

For me – it’s a dance party in the kitchen kind of day – grabbing my kids and jammin out to a little Kip Moore is exactly what this mama needs!