Reflections Of Me

Happy Monday, folks! I had a good, slow-paced, no drama, no tears, no stresses kind of day. Just the kind of Monday I needed. :)

I'm excited because I bought something new....

This adorable print by The Big Harumph. I absolutely love it.

If I had to come up with a mission statement for my home, this is what it would be:

To create a sanctuary that is cozy and eclectic with bohemian flair.

I used to tear pages from the Pottery Barn catalog and keep them as inspiration. I wanted a home with perfectly matched furniture. With well painted or papered walls and shelves that had just the right amount of knick-knacks. With kitchen tables adorned with my perfect party china. Picture perfect at all times.

But as I've started to decorate my own home... I'm realizing perfect isn't me. Matchy-matchy isn't my thing.

And instead... I want a home that's unique. That has character and charm and yes- a bit of bohemian flair.

I want people to walk inside my home and feel cozy and warm. To see what's important to me. I want them to read it on the walls, see it in pictures of family and travel. To see my love of God, of books, of writing. I can't think of a better way to express me than through prints.

Remember this print by MadeByGirl, hanging in my kitchen?

And this map of NYC in my bedroom? I love them both.

Here are two more prints by The Big Harumph I'm loving for my guest room/office....

And yes, my love of maps lives on... I love seeing how my home reflects "me" more and more every day.

What about your home truly reflects who you are?

Priorities vs. Needs

Happy Sunday! Wow.. what a week. I don't think I've had such an intense week in a while! Between late night auctions, prepping for the variety show, actually putting ON the variety show Friday and an all-day shoot in Joplin Saturday, I am wiped out. I've spent the day catching up on laundry and the DVR- two things that were sorely neglected this week.

Whenever I go long spells without blogging, I start getting a bit antsy. And maybe it's not so much blogging, but writing. It's so important to me to put thoughts down on paper (or, my blog.) It's a creative release for me that's unmatched. I guess it's a priority in a sense; but I think more than that, it's a need. And this week, I've had a lot of time to think about priorites versus needs.

This week was a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. And I have to point out the obvious, that I was too busy to think much less sleep or take care of myself, so my emotions were at an all-time high.

But today as I process it all, I realize how important it is to take time for yourself. For me, it's quiet time to write or pray, free time to exercise, read or watch TV. I need that, every day. I need that to stay balanced and whole and capable in order to keep up with this very busy season of life I'm in.

I've also realized how important it is to prioritize- but not in the typical sense. I have a strong sense of duty and loyalty- to my job, to my friends, to my family. And sometimes I let myself get rundown in the "priorities" department. Because I "have" to make this meeting at work, no matter if I'm putting in 12 hour days. Because I "have" to make time for someone because it's the right thing to do- regardless of whether they make the same effort for me.

Priorities, if not actually prioritized, can run us down.

But on another note- isn't it amazing that the things that bring us joy in life we make time for, no matter what? No matter how little we've slept or the distance we have to drive or the across-the-ocean phone calls we have to make?

So, finding balance... meeting my needs... and prioritizing in the right way. Putting 100% into the things that give me 100% satisfaction back. That's what I want in my life.

I hope you find some time this week to set aside priorities and obligations and just grab a cup of coffee or sit on a park bench somewhere; I plan to do both this week!

Keep Going

I was going to write a really silly post tonight about being so tired, and having so much on my to-do list, and wondering how it's all going to get done.

But then I think of what's happening in Japan, then I see the videos and images and my heart hurts.

And we all go about our day- because, I truly from the bottom of my heart believe we heal and move foward and go on with life by living- but sometimes tragedy sticks with you a little bit. You realize life is fragile and mother nature is unpredictable and heck, mankind is unpredictable.

So, I'll save my whiny post for another night. I'll shut down my computer and enjoy the simple pleasure of laying my head down on my pillow. I'll count my blessings and say a prayer and wake up to another busy day.

Because that's all we can do, just keep going, going, going. We owe it to each other- our families and friends, and strangers across the world, to just wake up and tackle another day.

Week In Pictures

In an effort to break my Wednesday/Sunday posting streak, I thought I'd bring you a special post this Thursday: my week in pictures!

In fact, I'll probably be bringing you more of these types of posts. Sometimes it's easier to let a picture tell the story of my day.

So, here we go:

A new scarf from my sister for my birthday! I love it.

My checklist on Tuesday. It was a mightly long one.

My boys at work. We found a box of Auction Network sunglasses and so I made them take several "family pictures" wearing them. (I promise I do a little work during the day; come on, did you SEE my checklist?!) They did a couple of serious looks, then this fake laugh picture. And yes, that orange couch is in our little area; we call it the Auction Network living room couch.

Pilot shoot! We're working on a great real estate auction show. The lovely DC Roberts is the host; here she is, prepping for her first take. For the record... she only needs one take! :)

And my new pretty hydrangeas. My friend Heather and I had dinner than went "shopping" at Whole Foods. And I mean that in every sense. Grocery shopping, shoe shopping & flower shopping. I like this picture, with my little birdy salt & pepper shakers from Nest in Dallas. Another gift from my sister; she knows me well.

So, there you go! I have a busy weekend on tap... including a birthday dinner with my friend Leah, a variety show run-through (the big show is next week! Buy your ticket here!) and then a visit from mom, my aunt & my cousin Kim. Utica Square, here we come!

Me, Lately

Happy Wednesday! There's something about Sundays and Wednesdays lately. It seems anytime I have real time to sit down and blog, it occurs on a Sunday or Wednesday. *Note to self: Become less busy.

Actually, that's the basis of my post tonight. I'm not sure any of you sweet bloggers care about my day-to-day activities. Because, everyone is swamped and slammed and busy and running around like chickens with their heads cut off- whether you're a stay-at-home mom or a top executive.

But now that I've passed the 1-year-as-a-blogger mark, I am seeing how cool it is to look back and see what I was up to this time last year. So, mainly for me- I am centering tonight's post on what my life looks like right now.

And hopefully a year from now, I'll look back and say... something profound. :)

So, let's see. Here we go.

Lindsay! Here is what you are up to in the Spring of 2010:

Auction Network: What a blessing this job is, and maybe more powerfully- what it's become. You've worked there for 2.5 years now, and this seems to be the sweetest season of all. Your co-workers add so much laughter and joy to your day. Your job challenges you. And you are slowly stepping into the shoes (ahem- the HIGH-heeled) shoes of a leader. Despite 10-12 hour workdays, you are loving it.

Show and Tell With Peter Bedgood, also known to this blog as the variety show: If someone told you a year ago you would soon be helping produce a variety show, you probably... would have been very stressed out. But this has been the most fun you've had in a long time. You have made new friends who come over once a week, kick their feet up on the coffee table and have your back at all times. You have stretched your talent a bit and you're learning more about production than ever before. You're getting to express your bohemian, free-spirited, creative side a bit. Despite 10-12 hour work days at Auction Network and several meetings a week for this variety show, you are adoring it.

True Blue show: This is new for you. Freelance work. Real, paid, freelance work. You are re-learning how to log and edit video. You are honing your skills as a producer with interviews that make you do research and challenge you. You are learning what it means to manage your time, and a client. Despite 10-12 hour work days at Auction Network and several meetings a week for the variety show and a couple of hours a week logging footage and conducting interviews, you are happier than ever.

Whew. So that sums up my professional life. But it's so much more than that; I am growing more as a person than ever. I am absolutely in love with all of the people in my life and the opportunities falling on my lap. I'm blessed and so, so thankful that God has a bigger plan for me than anything I could ever imagine for myself. So, while these three "jobs" fill my day, there are a million moments- "family lunch" with my co-workers, nights out with my girls, family lakehouse trips, runs along the river, quiet time spent praising- that happen every day that continue to make this one of my sweetest seasons yet.

I feel whole. And that's a pretty great thing, seeing as God sent me through quite a loop this year. But I feel whole, and happy, and blessed.

There you go! Me, lately.

A Weekend Away

I'm baaaack! I took a "social media break" the past few days, and boy it felt good. I realized I might spend a tad too much time on my computer when a friend called to check on me because I didn't blog/facebook/tweet for a couple of days. :)

I spent the weekend with my family at our lakehouse in East Texas. We typically play scrabble when we're together, but this trip- we discovered a new game that has revolutionized our family: Buzz Word. It's hilarious and fun and intense all at once. We're obsessed with it.

We also did lots of eating, but I'm glad to report my sister and I squeezed one run in. That has eased my guilt a slight, tiny bit- but tomorrow, I'm kicking into high-spring-is-almost-here-I-found-my-bikini-in-a-bottom-drawer-oh-crap mode.

In all honesty, I always am a bit sad when we leave the lake. I adore spending time with my family and I look forward to it so much- so when it's over, it takes me a few hours... sometimes even days... to snap back into it.

The fact that this week is packed with auctions and meetings galore might jolt me back into action! :)

But those weekends away, disconnected, with the people that matter the most help put my crazy, busy, non-stop schedule into perspective.

Happy Sunday- and here's to a busy week full of the things that matter in life!

A Mid-Week Toast

Happy Wednesday! The weeks are flying by these days, huh? I always feel like March/April go quickly every year. And so far- two days into March- this year feels no different!

Last night I celebrated "27" with my best friend- who also has a birthday this week! We obviously ended the evening with chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. Pretty good way to end the evening, if you ask me!

I feel busier than ever right now, but as my co-worker so eloquently said yesterday, "strike while the iron's hot." I have so many wonderful things on deck- personally and professionally- so I'm just going to keep powering ahead. This is such an amazing season of growth for me! I think sometimes growth happens unexpectedly and sometimes... you're very aware of it. I feel very aware of the growth happening for me. And I am thankful, thankful, thankful. An amazing season of life- busy, but amazing!

And NEVER too busy for strawberries and champagne with a friend. :)

Let's toast to that! Happy Wednesday!