Today, I encourage you to go beyond your comfort zone.

Have you ever felt like you weren't ready for something, so you didn't do it? Or wanted to try something new, but opted out because you didn't want to mess up? 

I recently spent a month exploring Maui and there were several times I found myself feeling unsure and afraid. A 10-mile warrior hike - am I even capable? What if I sprain my ankle? What if we get driven off private property?  First time snorkeling (in the ocean I might add) - what if I embarrass myself? What if I panic? Maybe I won't be able to breathe properly. What if I get attacked by a shark? 

Our minds can seriously go THERE, to all the dark places and through all the ‘what if's’…that usually never happen btw.  So why do we allow our minds to crush our dreams? How often has fear stopped you from saying yes? 

A wise person once said, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”

This became my mantra during the trip. And I have to tell you, completing that hike was EXHILARATING. Snorkeling in the ocean was BREATHTAKING…in the best way possible! Beyond my comfort zone and out of my element, I experienced nature in new ways and got lost in those moments.  I felt the reward of growth on the other side, along with genuine joy, pride, and confidence from moving forward, despite being afraid. Saying yes was BEYOND WORTH IT!

There is something about familiarity that brings humans peace. We like our creature comforts. Yet, as in nature, there are seasons and cycles to be enjoyed and variety that we get to experience in each new day. 

So today, I invite you to try something different. Take a different route to work, pick up a hobby, do something you've always wanted to but haven't, try a food that you've never tasted, walk through fear. Just dip your toe in…even if only for this moment, for this day. Say yes, and see where it leads you.

Take a deep breath and trust that you've GOT THIS!  🖤

Welcome Summer - a seasonal tribute

A season of brightness, energy and motion, Summer is here.

When all living things bask in the sunshine, a time to feel truly alive.

Bees buzzing about, flowers abundant, sun-kissed skin, longer days, later sorbet sunsets.

It is in the heart of summertime where we celebrate the brighter daylight.

The renewed sense of time and making fun memories with friends. All of nature is awake.

Summer, we welcome you. Let's smile and dance and feel it all.

We honor you and celebrate your beauty, light and unique gifts.

What are your favorite ways to spend summer? Any seasonal hobbies, favorite things, or nostalgic memories come to mind? Share yours in the comments, we’d love to hear!

Connection Through Florals

Flowers truly bring people together. They are a natural magnet that connects us as humans in the most wonderful and thoughtful ways.

I absolutely love getting a peek into my clients’ worlds through flowers.

It is through an intimate bond of florals that I am allowed a glimpse into their lives, able to hear their stories, and learn more about who they are…

Bride.
Groom.
Expectant mother.
Graduating senior.

Grieving family.
Lover.
Friend.

One of the best parts of flower design, I dare say THE best part of being a florist, is the clients that I have. Stunning people, beautiful stories. We are all connected... their circles of the universe and mine… bridged by way of flowers.

It’s an honor to play a part of clients’ stories, to be a part of each of their lives and memories that last a lifetime.

Some clients even receive flowers from me once, and then become a client/friend for life. I’ve even seen wedding clients grow families as the years pass by. I’ve walked through relationship milestones with young couples who grow older together. 

It’s all about connection… the beauty of relationships and companionship… in this vast universe that is sometimes made smaller and tied together in a beautiful way... through flowers.

Spring Tribute

With open arms, Spring, we welcome you.
The hibernating of winter is behind us, it is now time to awaken, to be reborn.

It is a new season, with fresh blossoms.
Ideas are bountiful, and there is expansive space for growth.

With an invigorating energy in the air, we become excited for Spring’s gifts.
There is hope and anticipation for the possibilities to come.

All of nature has been lying dormant. We are rested.
We are rejuvenated, and we are ready to take on a renewed energy that comes with the changing season.

Birds chirping, bright colors appearing, blooms expanding.
The time has arrived for nature to become more alive — and that includes us!

Spring is here. How will YOU blossom?

SPRING EQUINOX | 2021

To listen to the Huntress spring equinox playlist, click here!

Spring: the beautiful time of year when all of nature comes out of hibernation. In the wintertime, we tend to keep warm and cozy while retreating inside.

But now, we defrost and EXPAND.

There is beauty and warmth found in the spring sunlight. The days are longer… The sunrise is earlier and the sunset is later. We have more daylight to enjoy and the sunshine-y vibes hit your skin in a different and glorious way.

When spring makes her arrival, there is a renewed vibrancy everywhere we turn — in the colors of flowers, in the budding tree branches, in the spirited energy of the animals.

Everything appears happier, brighter in the springtime.

For us, we have the opportunity to lean into more motivation and energy in all of life. Over the winter, we’ve been asking ourselves, “What do I want to change? What do I want to do?” And now, now we find a new inspiration to make things happen.

Because of COVID and quarantine and all that came with it in the past year, we’ve been pushed into a deeper sense of hibernation.

But now, as things are starting to open up and there are solutions becoming available to us, we expand… We step foot into the light and life and possibility and goodness that springtime offers.

Life is like a firmly closed bud, that once was wrapped tightly around itself, but is now blossoming boldly and beautifully. The winter rest is over, and now spring invites us to bloom and grow again.

A Year Ago (A Ramble)….

The night before I met up with some friends and had dinner at a restaurant, shared smiles, laughs and hugs without a care. The very next day we were in quarantine as a result of COVID-19 hitting the world and finally making it’s way to the US. What a time. It started out as a ‘temporary state’, maybe a few weeks, months, who knows? I never would have thought that toilet paper would be the rarest commodity. A few weeks spent scrounging for groceries and amazon delivery times, really wishing I was better prepared for disasters, but also who wants to live in fear? Feeling like the world may actually end and wishing I hadn’t waited 2 years to see my family, since now I may never have the chance again. 

It was stressful in the early months... next-level anxiety, being thrust into the unknown and having to learn how to swim and trust in uncertainty. It was a process that unfolded over time and the journey was pretty volatile. COVID, plus an insane election year full of Trump antics and crucial BLM movement and protests taking place all at the same time. It’s been emotional, overwhelming at times and important daily.  

On the business side, all of our wedding and event clients postponed or canceled their dates. There was a lot of heartache and many emotional rollercoasters, all while trying to hold it together and remain hopeful. It has been a strong lesson in balance, feeling it all and finding a way back to center. I’ve shifted (I’m SO over the word pivot), I’ve expanded Huntress offerings, started #flowertherapy to brighten days, I’ve altered my focus, I began sending emails and writing blogs and working on digital courses…all things that were on my never-ending to-do list before, but now I finally had the time.

I also rested, embraced the pause, found peace in trusting that this is what is meant for us now and finding the lessons within it. Noticing the ‘beauty in the everyday’, as I have for years, but now it went a little deeper. This has given flowers more meaning in my life than ever.  Taking an unexpected year off financially has a way of putting things into perspective. 

On a personal note, I dove into all the self care I could until I burned out on it…workshops, breath-work, meditation, zooms with friends, reaching for meaning and connection any where I could. I got my blood-work done, discovered food sensitives, changed my diet. They were saying we would open back in April, then May, then summer, then who knows when. I immersed myself into Yoga Teacher Training, because why not? I’ve been wanting to get back to the mat for years and now I finally had the time.

When you realize that your entire life can change in one day, the most important things rise quickly to the surface. It’s easier to prioritize when it’s quiet, when you’re still, when you have no other choices. Solutions find their way to the top. All of this happened in the right time for me. The foundation I had built, and was building, is helping me navigate through to the other side of this. 

I allowed myself to take chances again, to dream, to open my heart, to repeatedly jump, to feel ALL the feelings and mostly to feel ALIVE. That’s what we’re here for. 

What has come forth for me most during this year is COMMUNITY, SURRENDER, and LOVE. 

COMMUNITY | We aren’t meant to do this human experience alone. I’ve learned who matters, who has my back, how to ask for and receive help, to trust and to hold those I love close and prioritize relationships. To be present. To take in those smiles, laughs, conversations, to listen, to hold space, to be in the moment. Fuck the phone, social media, comparison, and self doubt. These things really won’t matter in the end. The truth is within your heart and those that truly see you will remind you of that. 

SURRENDER | We were never in control and we never will be. So we can hang on tight, stress, grind our teeth and tighten our bodies… or simply loosen our grip, take a deep exhale, trust, let go, and enjoy the ride. Mindset is everything, we have choices and we decide how we react and flow through this life we’ve been given. 

LOVE | I’ve been a chronic people pleaser, and I’ve finally learned to love myself first. I choose me now. I have been there for me my entire life and I will be there for me until my last breath. I can count on me always. This practice has allowed me to open my heart again. And through that, I’ve seen that I can count on so many others too. I’ve built an insanely beautiful tribe of people in my circle over the years - I am the luckiest. I knew this before, but this time has reinforced the strength of those bonds. In the past, I’ve stayed too long in relationships that didn’t deserve me. I’ve closed my heart after allowing it to be broken. In loving me, I’ve realized I deserve the love of others. I deserve people that will show up consistently, that will love all of me, including the supposed ‘flaws’. I love who I am, I love the people I carry in my heart, I love the highs and lows, the depth, the rawness, the realness, the feeling of love, the warmth in my heart and my being. I choose LOVE over everything else. What a gift we have right within us.  

This photo sums it up for me... the juxtaposition of beauty in heartbreak, happiness in grief, and holding all that blossoms within the grit. This is what we stand for, this is the spirit of HUNTRESS. 

My heart goes out to you. Whether you’re having a hard time, experiencing grief, loss, and struggling with the uncertainty or if you’ve been thriving in 2020/21....or maybe you’re feeling a bit of both and riding the waves of all of it. I hope this year has brought you some insight. Although there have been extremely difficult times, the lessons can be abundant. I hope you have found and continue to find peace and clarity in your heart. In whatever way feels best for you. 🙏🏼💐🖤

Alignment, Clarity, and Flow

As someone who hustled hard for years and years and, let’s be honest, for TOO many years — I am officially declaring that I am OVER the word “hustle.”

Hustle culture can be a dangerous, slippery slope that too many creatives, young professionals, and entrepreneurs — and, let’s be honest, really ANYONE can — become a sufferer of.

Myself included.

This “hustle culture” is devoted to work, work, work, and more work.

I want more. I want to LIVE, to enjoy, to experience, to feel the highs and lows, and find a balance within it all.

It really comes down to a couple questions for me that I’ve pondered over the passing years, asking myself these questions as I sought to step back from hustling so hard.

• What do I want my daily life to look and feel like?

• How do I define success?

• What am I manifesting?

After many pauses, deep breaths and embracing stillness… it’s become about alignment for me. Aligning myself to my hopes and dreams, yes, and also aligning myself to my everyday, too. Flowing seamlessly in and out of the magnificent and the mundane. Seeing both as a way of life that I am personally manifesting for myself.

It all begins with clarity. Without clarity, there is questioning and confusion, resulting in the universe not knowing what to present to you.

Instead of confusion, I seek clarity.

Clarity in knowing what I want my life to look like.
Clarity in knowing where I’m headed and what I desire.
Clarity in fulfilling the ideas in my head, the desires of my heart.

Because, at the end of the day, I want clarity. I want alignment. I want my life to FLOW.

And, this is what I wish for you, too.

There’s no need to dread Monday on Sunday evenings.
There is space to take captive every single day and see beauty in each one, because each day (including a dreaded Monday!) is a gift.

There’s no need to grind 9-to-5 every day, hustling harder and harder until you are unhappy and burn out.
There is opportunity for a better way! There is more to you — you are capable of so much better, of so much more.

There’s no need to wish your life away waiting for Fridays when you can finally punch the clock for the weekend.
There is a place for you, instead, to align with your purpose, your true calling and not feel like you’re only living for the weekend.

So yes, I am officially over HUSTLE, and instead, I am aligning and seeking clarity and flowing. Flowing deeply and beautifully, in and out of the treasures — big and small — that this life has to offer.

And I invite you to do the same! ✨

Winter Ponderings

This time of year, this month of February, this season of winter, reminds us that we need to slow down… “we” being ALL of nature.

It is around this time every year, that everything goes dormant…
The animals hibernate,
The flowers tuck away,
Us humans retreat inside.

Everything slows down, everything naturally must slow down.

We take more time, we take more breaths. Everything gets cozier.

With the “new year” and the “new me, new goals, new gym, new everything” that comes with that — may we be reminded, that we are still in a pandemic, still experiencing something that is forcing us to remain mindful.

So, I encourage you to hold onto all those lessons learned from 2020. Don’t go rushing back to “normal, pre-COVID” life.

Stay intentional.

Be open to what is to come. There is uncertainty, yes, even here. But don’t rush back to the certain. Was it really serving you fully? Stay intentional, stay mindful.

Take the time to seek out clarity, and open your hands and your heart to whatever comes your way.

For me, last year, weddings and events pretty much dissolved, and I had no foresight as to when they would return. 

I saw this as the universe wanting me to slow down.

And as I slowed by stroll, as I looked within, as I became more intentional with my time and energy. I remembered why I started, I remembered why I do what I do. I remembered my love for flowers. And I was determined to keep it going.

I’m not doing flowers everyday. And that’s okay. I’m opening the door to other things. I have been and am continuing to explore what it might look like to do flowers in a different capacity.

Will it look different? Yes.
Will the Huntress within me still be there? Absolutely.

I am choosing to stay positive, finding ways to stay resilient. Just like the beautiful way that the flowers stay resilient.

All of nature heals itself.

Flowers get cut down, chopped down to seemingly nothing in the winter. But it is only a matter of time before they spruce back up to be better than ever before.

Like the flower — full of beauty and resilience and grit and life — I too know that I am getting pruned, in order to again grow fully, beautifully, and better than ever before. Sending love and grace your way during this season! 💐

A few Thoughts and Questions for the New Year

As this unprecedented year comes to a close, we want to invite some thoughts into your heart, and also give you a few questions to ponder…

First, a few considerations…
As you seek resolution in your mind and heart from all that the year 2020 has been, may you find joy and anticipation for all that the future has in store.

Hold onto the notion that January is full of hopefulness and abundance. Even if it doesn't feel like it right now, and although circumstances won't change overnight, there is still something to be said for fresh starts and new beginnings. So, cling to that newness. Rest in the brilliant possibilities. Commit to doing something you may have put off in the past. Dream big. Share your light with the world. Keep curiosity and wonder alive 

We often fall back upon the guiding principles of HUNTRESS, particularly during challenging times, and welcome you to harness them as well. Beauty, Grace, Strength, Resilience, Life. These traits are within you, surrounding you, and can be called upon anytime. Step forward with clear intention and watch what blossoms. 

And now, the questions to reflect upon…
~ What are you most grateful for from 2020?

~ Are there any lessons that came forward for you?

~ What are you most proud of this year?

~ Is there anything that you are leaving behind?

~ What are you taking into the next year?

For us, we know that there is a lot of goodness brimming on the horizon for Huntress Florals! We are coming to you soon with expanded offerings and thoughtful ideas. So, stay tuned! And, in the meantime, best wishes for a healthy, peaceful new year 🏹💐🖤

Five Year Reflections | Happy Anniversary, Huntress!

In case you missed it, Huntress Florals celebrated its FIVE YEAR anniversary this past weekend, on December 11, 2020.

WOW! How has it ALREADY been five years?? And yet, it’s ONLY been five years?!

I’ve been working in the events industry for about 20 years now, and have had an open floral business for seven of those. There have been many highs and lows throughout the journey, but one thing remains the same — Huntress is all about you and me, us.

Huntress would be nothing without ME and my heart behind it. It was my decision to follow a dream, to reconnect with my true self, that has made Huntress what it is today. I’m thankful for so many amazing people who have walked beside me along the way.

And, Huntress would be nothing without YOU. Your constant support, encouragement, and love for what I do keeps me inspired and moving forward, especially during challenging times.

I am so very grateful…
Grateful to be a part of your story.
Grateful that you are a part of mine, part of OURS — the story of Huntress.

Looking back, I see how much I have opened my heart, found courage, and fought for myself — my true, authentic self and a life with meaning. And here I am. Here WE are.

As I reflect on Huntress over the years, here are just SOME of the fond memories that come to mind —

• The start of it all, with a friend and business partner that I connected with in floral design school. The business began so effortlessly and came together naturally in those early days.

• Learning the trade from a long list of incredible teachers and mentors over the years. They really helped shape and then expand my knowledge of floral design, business, and the industry as a whole.

• I am thankful for the friendships that have been built through various Huntress partners… buyers, wholesale vendors, other florists, event planners, DMC partners, photographers, makeup artists, networking groups, industry colleagues, and so many more! Florals have been the common thread between me and so many other amazing creatives, and I am thankful to flowers for connecting us in wonderful ways.

• The honor of working with amazing wedding clients. Being part of their love story on their wedding day, and then slaying for them as time moves forward too, is incredible. Watching both their love and families grow over the years is a unique experience that I cherish!

• The amazing retail customers that have become true friends over the years. The loyalty of our clients-turned-friends is humbling and encouraging, especially as Huntress continues. And, the way that these friends refer their own friends and families to me, has expanded my network in the most heartfelt ways.

• My corporate clients. Afterall, it’s my background and a joy to bring event visions to life year after year. I enjoy focusing on the creative aspect these days and the freedom we’re given to infuse our style and elevate their experience as one to remember.

• Acknowledging that I’ve been able to continually innovate and make forward progress with Huntress. Over the years, we’ve evolved, shifted, and grown, providing more expanded offerings (like Flower Therapy), giving back through flowers (#cgfloralfinds and Hospice of the South Coast), making connections (@strangerswithflowers), aligning in our purpose more fully, and so much more.

Flowers are a tremendous gift! …and they’re such natural and insightful teachers, too.
Everyday flowers remind me of beauty, grace, strength, resilience, and life. These are our guiding principles and those I come back to when I need to be reminded of my being and the heart of Huntress.

Over the years, I have tried, and stumbled, and tried again. I’ve learned that it’s all about resilience and strength, coupled with beauty and grace, to make up this messy and awe-inspiring thing I get to call life.

To celebrate this life and the five years of Huntress with us, we’re offering an Anniversary arrangement! This unique arrangement will be available to you in one of our square wooden vases, as the traditional five year anniversary gift is wood!

For the remainder of December and throughout January, help us celebrate all that Huntress is, by requesting our anniversary arrangement in a wooden vase, during our biweekly offerings. Purchase on our website for $55 or email us to customize for more.

THANK YOU for being part of the Huntress story!
I’m honored that you are here.

~ Jen
Owner and Chief Creative, Huntress Florals

PS — enjoy a blast from the past! Have fun flipping through some Huntress photos that have been snapped over the past five years…

A few of our Favorite Gratitude Quotes 🍂

Today, we’re sharing a few of our favorite quotes on thankfulness to keep the momentum of a grateful spirit forging ahead, into the weekend.

Which quote resonates most for you? Comment below!

1. “Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” (Amy Collette)

We love this quote, because we’ve experienced firsthand how powerful gratitude is. It really does spark happiness in your heart. And that joy? It’s quite contagious when you start within and then expand it out toward others and into the world ✨

2. “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” (Cicero)

So much of life, and so many virtues in this world, stem from gratitude. A thankful heart truly is a great starting point to live a rich, beautiful, full life 🖤

3. “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” (Brene Brown)

This quote by Brene Brown is so simple and profound. Paying attention and practicing gratitude — these two, things can cause loads of contentment. Even the mundane moments of life can be beautiful. Seek the beauty in the every day 💐

4. “Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” (Alphonse Karr)

We saved the best for last! This quote is one of our all-time favorites. Thankfulness and perspective go together. Sometimes all we need is to choose to see the glass as half full, or, in this case, the thorns with the roses. What a glorious way to view life 🌹