Monday, September 6, 2010

Loving furniture in a whole new light

Somehow, I found myself in a predicament. I had to do what was fair and honest. In the end, I became the new manager of the store. And it happened during my anniversary. SO... we had to postpone my sweet and thoughtful husband's plans.

Instead, we went out for Indian food and watched our favorite TV shows. Tonight we will have a nice dinner and some champagne. And we will go somewhere when I have a new assistant manager in place.

I keep thinking about how different my life was one short year ago and I am amazed at how different it is. In a lot of good ways. And I am yet again thankful and humbled.




xo

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

August in September

Yahoo! On Monday, the President of our company came to New Orleans. Today, she took me to August for lunch. It is a really nice restaurant run by the famous John Besh. My bosses' beau is a big deal in the food industry and they treated us like royalty!

After lunch, her beau left us to talk. We had a chance to discuss the company and my future there. She said she has never taken out an assistant manager, that I was the first. She said she sees a lot of potential in me and wanted to take the chance to get to know me better. This really made me so happy and thankful for the opportunities that we have been given here in New Orleans. Even if I don't stay with this company, I am thankful for today.


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Along the Road

Joy at the start
Fear in the journey
Joy in the coming home
A part of the heart
Gets lost in the learning
Somewhere along the road


This past weekend, Jim and I took a day trip and drove the River Road that runs along the Mississippi from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. It was such a nice day and we took our cameras. I ended up only taking a few shots because we spent the day talking. Without the radio. No TV. No laptops. Just me and my man :) We dreamed big dreams. We shared our lives with each other without interruption. We spent time together like we haven't in awhile. I fell deeper in love with him on that road.

The road was very winding and it took a lot longer than the hour it normally takes to go from NOLA to Baton Rouge. It reminded me that our life is sometimes like that road. We get a picture in our head about how to get from point A to point B and get behind the wheel of our life. We head towards our destination, expecting for the most direct and efficient route. Sometimes the route is direct and sometimes it winds and takes us four times as long to get there. In the end, we wind up right where we need to be. Sometimes taking the most direct route will get us there quicker, but something is lost along the road. Sometimes we need to take the long and winding road, to turn off the radio and appreciate the time you have with the person you are traveling with along the road.

I learned I like our life together. I like to set off with nothing more than my husband, my camera and a sweater just in case it gets chilly :)

A house in our neighborhood  - we have fancy neighbors!



Jim got knocked out in one punch!


A beautiful historic church


Slave quarters on a plantation - makes you thankful for what you have!


an old Coke machine - it was overexposed but it is kinda' cool :)


We ate dinner at the end of the road. We turned around and went back home. The point of the day was not the destination, but the journey.

Next week is our anniversary and Jim has something planned for us. Truly, it could be anywhere, as long as we travel the road together. The point of our life together is the journey. 
 
Along the road
Your steps may tumble
Your thoughts may start to stray
But through it all a heart held humble
Levels and lights your way.


xo




Tuesday, August 17, 2010

becoming pro-choice

Things here in the Big Easy and not so... well, easy :)

And I think it could be the heat or maybe it's the humidity but my attitude has been not so stellar.  To the point that I posted something quite frustrating on my Facebook status. Many friends commented on it, and I fought them tooth and nail. I was all about being stuck in my funk. I was all wrong.

I got an email from a friend that called me out on this misery and she asked me to breakfast this morning. I knew I was in for some "intervention", but I put on my best smile, squared my chin, and waited for the first punch.

What she did was let me vent. Then she took a deep breath and proceeded to tell about her experiences here in NOLA, that they weren't all rosy and great. She said something I think I knew deep in my heart, but had buried for what I thought was its own good. She said that contentment is a choice. Just like choosing to love my hubby when he annoys me (which is NEVER, right?!?!). And choosing contentment is a discipline I have to work at every day. It is hard because misery loves company and man do I hate to be alone :)

So, I will start to write down my miseries in a journal and say goodbye to posting my hurt on Facebook. I am making a choice to be content.

Choosing contentment brought me this afternoon to the new Anthropologie here in NOLA. It is two delicious floors of yummy clothes and home goods. And I was content. And I bought a bowl. And chose to be even more content.


I leave you with a pic of my new choice of contentment :)







xo

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Things happen for a reason...

This past week, I had a great opportunity land in my lap. I had two ways to respond. Both had positive and negative outcomes. I took this situation to my hubby and also to a few trusted friends. I took it to the One who always has an ear and offers wise counsel. I ended up doing what might not sound like the most competitive or popular option.

It ended up being the option that may have catapulted me into a management position with my new company in another city. Hmm... this decision may have lead to my ability to be somewhere else and also to make more money... it sounds like wisdom to me. The old adage is true, whatever is right is not usually popular. Our move to New Orleans was prayerful and now I believe that it happened for a reason... :)

More info to follow... until then, I leave you with a few pictures of some really sweet reclaimed teak. This has been on my mind for my living room... Have a good evening folks!! 





xo

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Where Y@?

More appropriately, where have I been? Well... I have been busy with the things of life. But that is no excuse.

I have found life here in New Orleans to be quite a challenge. It is really hot and humid. The bugs are everywhere. And I have yet to find a piece of furniture to work on. Not that I have been motivated. It is too hot to really work on any furniture right now. I imagine that I will have to work extra hard during the cool months and build up an inventory for the hot times.

Until then, money needs to be made. I have taken a job managing a funky cool furniture store and while it is hard to work a 9-5 retail job, I am thankful for it. There are a lot of folks out there with no job.

We have made lots of friends here in NOLA. I have found one that, like myself, has a passion for crafty things. She told me today that I should not be staying away from my blog. Instead I should use this time to be expressive and get creative juices flowing.

We did do fun things before the heat hit us, and have even done a few since it hit like taking my aunt sightseeing when she came to visit.

Something creative that is flowing right now is the desire to finish the baby shower projects that were started last weekend at a shower I gave for a friend. We made a cute mobile out of pretty paper and bamboo. I will assemble it this week and post a photo.


 Friend's shower - I am in green :)


Until then, I do promise that I will post more often.



 xo

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Something for me!

They say the cobbler's children have no shoes. It is strange that I keep making all these pieces of furniture and selling them, and not enjoying any for myself. I have fixed this problem! Hopefully by week's end, I will be done with this new piece that will go in the living room. Here is a sneak peek :)





 xo

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Plays "Nicey" with others...

I know that many of you out there love Heather Bailey as much as I do! She has a new line of fabrics, "Nicey Jane" that I absolutely adore! I ordered some fabric with the hopes of finding something creative to do with it... :)



xo

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Getting your hands on...

Yesterday, Jim and I did a volunteer stint with Hands on New Orleans. It is an excellent organization where, among many other things, they go into poor neighborhoods and with a group of volunteers, they clean it up. We were there until, sadly, Jim threw out his back lifting a concrete block. This area of New Orleans does not get media coverage. It is not part of the Lower Ninth ward that was shown all across the nation during the aftermath of Katrina. Many of these homes do not even have meters, which mean no running water or electricity. I was humbled and thankful for the second time this week.

I hope we can always be truly grateful for everything we have.

xo

Friday, March 19, 2010

Missing In Action

It is true... I have been MIA. I have been biking and have been so busy that I have barely had time to do anything else. The clothes are piling in the hamper. At least we have a dishwasher now...

Will post some pics soon of this most wonderful new city... until then, here are some color inspiration photos of the trip to the zoo. Have a great weekend!


Flamingos always make me happy. But not the plastic ones.


The parrot is a cool bird. This one said "hi" to me :)


I must admit, I was not upset that the crocs were happy being lazy...


XO

Friday, March 12, 2010

powdered sugar goodness

Is there anything more lovely than a pastry? How about a fresh, hot pastry?

Well, friends, if you have ever been to New Orleans, you have undoubtedly been to Cafe Du Monde. This most wonderful place serves hot, made-to-order beignets, which are like doughnuts, and cafe au lait. That is all. Coffee with milk and one kind of doughnut. But, oh, what they do, they do so well! We biked the 5 miles there yesterday afternoon, had a order and an iced cafe au lait (it was 75 degrees), and then biked the 5 miles home. Worth every pedal :)


xo

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Home Sweet Home

Well... we are about 99% finished settling in. It is amazing what a little creativity and a lot of patience will allow you to accomplish. I am sure that over the next few months, I will get the urge to rearrange everything about at least 10 times, but for now, I am happy. The birds are singing outside and it is already 63 degrees. I love my new little town :)

Happy days, folks.

the entryway


the dining area - I still need to recover the seats

the living area

the bedroom - which isn't finished... and hubby trying to duck out of the pic... :)

Monday, March 8, 2010

There's no place like home

After a long absence, I am proud to announce that we are in our new home and settling in... and somewhere in all that I sold everything in my Etsy store. Stella went to her new home right here in NOLA, Molly went to live in Cambridge and Calliope is now going to call the Fenway her new digs for life :)

I can hardly believe that we are so blessed enough to have such a great new apartment. It is smaller than the one we had in Boston, but it is right on the streetcar line and just great! We spent the weekend walking through the French Quarter and riding bikes out to Audubon Park.

I really hope that everyone visits New Orleans at least once in their lifetime. Happy Monday, folks :)

Monday, February 22, 2010

Finishing what you start

We have been so busy packing and selling and today I hit a wall. I couldn't put one more thing into one more box. It is killing me to pack up our life into boxes, but I know I have to do it. I know that once we get to New Orleans and I unpack everything, I will be happy, but this is so tough. (OK, so I started this 3 days ago, and forgot about it until this morning...)

Last night we had our going away party. Such great memories to carry to NOLA.

Yesterday, in an attempt to delay more packing and cleaning, I finished a mirror! It turned out so great. It almost looks like driftwood. At our after party, I was excited to show it off. It helps to distract the fact that our place is so empty... more packing today :)

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Meet Molly

Molly is sweet as anything. I was so happy to work on this project as a distraction to all of the packing and selling we are doing. Craigslist has been such a blessing.I hope you love her. I sure do :) Happy days are here again. I can hear the birds singing...

Thanks to Liz in NOLA for purchasing Stella. I am so excited for her to be delivered to you. Enjoy!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Sometimes, life is funny that way

Happy Valentine's Day, folks :) I was hoping for a romantic weekend this year with my sweet, sweet husband. But instead, we are packing and listing unwanted goods on eBay and Craigslist. Two weeks and counting until we move.

Even if we didn't have the move, my poor husband is sick... my... how romantic :(

He did manage to purchase two books I have wanted for some time now, "Women, Work, and the Art of Savoir Faire" by Mireille Guiliano and "The Art of Handmade Bread" by Dan Lepard.

I hope you all have a great day with your sweetie too!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Something Old, Something New

We are moving to New Orleans in 19 days. I cannot believe we are about to uproot our entire life and start a new one together. There are so many things to be happy about. There are so many things to sad about. I am not sure I will ever make the kind of friends like I have here in Boston. For 12 years P & A have been like a family to me...a surrogate brother and sister. I know that no new friends will ever replace these dear old ones, and I hope that gives them peace. Their six children have been a niece and nephews for me. I love them like my own and cannot wait until they are old enough to visit Auntie Michelle, who, much like Monica Bing, will "always have gum"... I hope they will always feel my love for them, no matter how far apart we are...seven and five :)

Friday, February 5, 2010

What I Like About You

There is a whole cyber-world out there full of products to turn your house into a home. You can surf your way from a bare room to an entirely decorated and stylish spot in a matter of minutes. With all of the choices out there, it can get overwhelming. Not to mention, you want to make decisions based on sustainability and conscience. You want to be able to transact with the designer of your carefully selected goods.

This is why I love Etsy. You can shop knowing that your purchase is handcrafted (or vintage in some cases). I love the purchases I have made on Etsy, and get complements all the time on how unique my jewelry is. My husband made a revolutionary comment last night at dinner. He said that if we all chose daily to buy products made in the US, we could turn this economy around. Yeah, you heard it here first. My husband gave his permission for me to make an Etsy purchase every day!! Off I go....

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Topical Conversation

My husband asked me this morning how anyone could possibly blog every morning. Well... since I have not been blogging every morning, I told him I have no idea. That said, this is my exact purpose. To blog every morning... ok - at least more often!!

Today's topic - auctions. If you have never been, find one in your area and go! Do not be intimidated by the process. Do not be intimidated by dealers around you that will no doubt outbid you. You will get used to the energy and become a part of it. You will see those windows of opportunity to purchase something unique and maybe rare for a fraction of its value. Last week I purchased this most garish looking metal lamp that I am so excited to transform into something sleek and stylish. Happy bidding :)

Monday, February 1, 2010

About that

So... I have been so super busy packing and working that I have not even taken time to notice that I have actually been fortunate enough to have been featured on a design blog. http://betterafter.blogspot.com/2010/01/redu.html#comments

About that procrastination business... I cannot believe it has almost been a month since I last entered a post. I apologize to anyone out there reading this... basically I mean you, Karen :)

I am so excited to move to New Orleans, but there is so much to do!!! This week I am planning my husband's trip there next week for his job interviews. He is also looking at houses for us to rent until we get there and look for one to buy.

I am also designing the re*du brochure that hubby is going to send to the interior design companies in New Orleans. There is so much to be done... but it the best hard work I have ever done.

I also have a brand new dresser over at my etsy shop. Her name is Stella. See... I have New Orleans on the brain :)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39829192

Friday, January 8, 2010

Procrastination

I heard recently that we are not promised a tomorrow if we procrastinate today and that really hit me. I had been putting off finishing the three half-completed pieces of furniture sitting in my studio. I had been putting it off for a month. Now, with the holidays over, and a New Year's sense of motivation, I knew I had no excuse.

So... as ol' blue eyes says "I picked myself and got back in the race"... two of the three pieces are done. I am now sending them to several design blog sites in the hopes that someone likes them and will post them.

Hubby and I are also planning a move to New Orleans and this is always on my mind. I know that these pieces should ideally be sold before we move so that there is less in the truck. There are so many things to pack and organize. No procrastinating - here I go...


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