life

I’d like to thank the Academy…

I’ve won an award! No it’s not an Oscar, but it’s pretty cool. I’ve been awarded the Liebster Award by Jess @ Eclectic Medicine and Sara @ Sara Davies. In acceptance, I must answer a fun little 11 question survey and nominate 11 other up-and-coming blogs.

liebster-award

1> Who or what is your inspiration?

When it comes to design, I find inspiration in nature, art, and architecture, but others reading others stories of others good deeds and strength through hardship is what gets me motivated.

2> What is your absolute favorite movie and why?

Can’t pick just one! DodgeBall, Legally Blonde, or the Notebook

3> What book has changed the way you think?

I recently read Unlimited by Jillian Michaels. It was very uplifting, and helps you to work toward your goals!

4> What is the best advice you’ve received/found?

Always be yourself. Follow your heart. Don’t eat 3 hours before you go to bed. And don’t ever go to bed mad.

5> What are your main goals in life? For the Blog?

My main goal would be to live a life I’m proud of, and make a difference in others lives. We’re given one chance at life, and everyday is a new opportunity. I want to use interior design as a tool to make other people’s lives easier and more beautiful. For the blog, I would like to collaborate with others to make it more interactive. I would like it to become a place where people can share their ideas and opinions too.

6> If you could change one thing about the world today, what would it be?

Our reliance on technology. The key to life is balance. When we abuse technology, I feel it can create laziness and social isolation. Don’t get me wrong, technology is great. I mean I am typing this to you because of it, and there are many great relationships and ideas that blossom from it. We need to know when (and teach our kids when) to draw the line – to put down our phones and computers, go outside, engage in something that is physically or mentally active, and enjoy person to person contact.

7> Do you have any pets?

Yes. One pup. Her name is Maci Marie Muggles. She is a Blue Heeler mix and my bff.

8> Favorite cocktail recipe?

Probably either my go to Margarita recipe ,or my wedding cocktail: Strawberry Watermelon Mojito

9> What is the best and worst thing about being a blogger?

The best: meeting cool people, sharing ideas, gaining insight, being inspired

The worst: trying to find the time to post

10> If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

Europe (Italy, Greece, France, Turkey), Morocco, or the Maldives

11> What is your favorite season?

Summer! Hands down.

Check out some of my favorite blogs below that I’m nominating:

Tiffany Lane Handmade

Designed Equilibrium

If you’ve been nominated, answer the 11 questions below about yourself. Don’t forget to tag me in the post so I can read your answers :). Then nominate 11 of your favorite new/emerging blogs by leaving a comment on their blog, and come up with a set of questions for them to answer. (If you don’t want to nominate others, then at least do the survey and post it because I’m sure others think you are just as fabulous as I do and would love to see the answers 🙂 )

1> Why did you start blogging?

2> Name 3 words to describe you.

3> How do you keep your creativity alive?

4> Who is your favorite band/artist?

5> When did you realize what you wanted to do with your life? Is it still evolving?

6> Who is your hero?

7> Vanilla or Chocolate?

8> Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

9> If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

10> Ever met any celebrities? Who would you love to meet?

11> What is the best piece of advice you could give to someone who wants to follow in your career path?

Thanks again to Jess & Sara for reaching out to me and recognizing my blog!! xo. Happy Monday!!

lately.

Let me sum up life for you in the last few months in one simple word….. Work.

Lots of it. Yes there are other things I do from time to time. Like eating, sleeping, and keep up with the NCAA tournament (my bracket may be busted, but GO SPARTY!!!).

(credit: Michigan State Spartan’s Pinterest Page)

My new job is not so “new” anymore. I’ve been there almost 6 months already!! I can’t believe just how fast time goes by. And as I’ve gotten familiar with all of our active jobs, my involvement level has risen. We have so much going, we are extremely blessed. I wake up thinking about it at 6am, and before bed I’m typing up a quick to-do list in my phone of items I can’t forget to do in the morning. I’ve been dreaming about it too. Sounds scary? It is. It’s insanity, but a good insanity. The kind that challenges me, tests my patience, and pushes me out of my comfort zone. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And I’m not dead yet.

We’ve got some cool projects in the works. And here’s a preview of a very modern one we are doing with Foursquare Builders:

(rendering is property of Foursquare Builders)

What else is new? Hmmm….. I got a new car – a little charcoal gray Ford Focus. This is pretty big news for me because I’ve never had a car payment. I’m kinda (extremely) cheap, so of course I got a good deal on it. (Having a dad in the car business is quite a nice perk I might add.) The only inconvenience was I had to go pick it up in St. Pete, Florida from my dad’s house. I KNOW, IT’S A ROUGH LIFE. So my friend Brooke came with for a long weekend and we turned it into a little trip. I got to see my Dad and the ocean, so I was a happy girl.

No visit to the Tampa area is complete without hitting up Busch Gardens. I love that place! It just makes me so happy and reminds me of my childhood spring break visits. We splurged and did the safari and got to feed the giraffes, which I totally recommend.

On the long drive back we stopped by my old home, Destin. It was my first time back since we moved to Texas almost 3 years ago. I felt so good to be back, even though it was just for one night. It’s just so beautiful and laid back. I will always have a special place in my heart for this area. And, like Michigan, it will always be my home away from home.

We definitely felt the effects of the polar vortex in Texas this winter. I even woke up to snow on the ground one morning. Actually it looked more like Dippin Dots ice cream, but whatever.

In the last few weeks Spring has sprung. The weather has been much warmer, so it’s time for me to come out of hibernation. We have a lot of home projects we want to accomplish before the summer heat strikes again. We’re running a 5k next weekend, and as you may remember, it is my first. And I’m totally not a runner, so this is a pretty big deal to me. I hope I can do the whole 3.1 miles without stopping – I’ve never been able to before!

Life is good.

Oh and Nate and Maci are both doing great!

(all images belong to me unless noted otherwise)

thursday thoughts: spring

thursday thoughts: keep moving forward

2014: goals + resolutions

Is it February already? Well I guess we’re one month down, but the good news is I have 11 more to accomplish my goal list :). I wouldn’t be staying true to myself anyways if I wasn’t fashionably late.

More “me” time

You know.. those moments when you just shut out the rest of the world. I want to be lost in a book, or my own thoughts, or in the treasures of an antique shop. I want to wander and feel free, and not feel guilty for doing so. Time is a precious thing, just as much is how we spend it.

Prioritize my life better

There’s a theme here: time management. Something I used to be so good at, and now I’ve become better at procrastinating. There’s no better time than the present. I know now that if I want to feel refreshed, I need to be truly devoted to what I’m doing in that moment – whether its work or play. This process of prioritizing for me includes journal-ing, scheduling, and developing better organizational skills.

Finish my design licensing exam

It will be two years this fall since I passed the first two sections of the NCIDQ exam… I’m so close, I just need to take that last portion! Time to hit the books and pass the test in October.

Take on a new hobby

What shall I try… learn the guitar? gardening? pottery class? Hmmm… possibilities are endless. Time to make those Pinterest pins a reality.

Eat healthier

This is a must for me this year. Not just because I want to lose those 5lbs 2013 stuck me with, but also because of a little thing called Silent Reflux. It’s a type of condition similar to GERD, but is concentrated in the throat area. Not to get all Dr. Oz on you, but it has literally gotten so bad that I cough after every meal, and every morning I wake up with the taste of acid in my mouth and/or a sore throat. A high fat diet can aggravate the symptoms (ta da – that must be it), so it is believed a low fat/low acid diet can provide relief of symptoms for some people. The thing is, a lot of the great things in life I’m supposed to keep to a bare minimum: most fruits, beef/pork/bacon, chocolate, alcohol, soft drinks, milk/cheese/dairy, etc. etc. etc. But I’m proud to say I’m on week 3 of eating healthier and I’m already feeling better. Of course I allow myself a couple cheat meals a week so I can have my cheeseburgers and pizza (I mean, how else would I survive!?)

Run a 5k

This was on last year’s goal list but this time I can GUARANTEE I’m doing this one this year! Why? Because I just signed up for New Braunfels Doggie Dash. That means the whole fam will be running together in March! Let the Couch to 5k program begin. (PS. If anyone has any tips or workout plan for someone such as I that doesn’t regularly work out, your advice is welcome)

Make a difference in someone’s life

I want to start giving back and volunteering. I want to help people, inspire, and encourage. I realize this one is kind of vague, but I’m not sure what outlet this will be yet.

What are you determined to accomplish in 2014?

(images link back to their source)

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