a new big fat time stealer...

So, if you have say, an hour or two to spare, you might want to check out this site. The fabulous new graphic designer I am working with on my logo & marketing materials introduced me to it so she could best get a feel for what i like and i am so addicted! Currently loving "high strung" (imagine that) but we'll see what the lovely Tracy Lynn of Three Heart Design comes up with. I am loving her first draft...she edited my tag line and it is better than ever...!!!

summer self portrait...

Stumbled upon some great light yesterday & decided to grab my camera & say cheese! Most of the picture taking around here is done by yours truly, so there are very few pictures of me! Inspired by a recent discovery of something called vignettes I decided to experiment on photoshop and thought the result was pretty cool. So...this is me...

Stand up. Be bold, Be strong.

My MIL introduced me to this site & I have been inspired ever since. Combines wisdom & photography, two things I enjoy. Today's inspiration was much needed given my current circumstances:

Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders.
Know that you are the creator of your own destiny.
All the strength and succor you want is within yourselves.

Stand up. Be bold. Be strong.

Make your own future.

So...the to-do list remains the same length...

Did a favor for some friends and watched their beautiful baby girl for the morning. Did a mini photo shoot (pics coming soon...) & got nothing I had planned for the day done! But...it was totally worth it. : ) Just reaffirms the need to get this baby business going ASAP before there is a real baby to tend to...

Rusty boy proved he is NOT ready for siblings...as there was far too much jealous whining, licking & a half eaten diaper...not nice...he spent most of the morning on the back porch staring in. Warning: he licks baby toes.

Thought provoking...

Wow, Anne, tagged first on your list! I am not that interesting, I promise! This little exercise proved to be much more of an introspective process that I thought. I haven't done anything like this since I took a class in college that forced me to write some of these things down, but it is very interesting. Here's the followup to your randomness miss anne...

8 things I am passionate about:

1. Being in a supportive marriage
2. Being a considerate & kind person to anyone I encounter
3. Color, fabric, paint, furniture…
4. Quality time with my dog & lovin up my kitten pie
5. Photography
6. Eating healthy & unprocessed foods/cooking & baking them myself!!
7. Exercising regularly
8. Keeping a clean house
9. Having NO clutter
10. Learning something every single day

8 books I’ve read and enjoyed:

1. I am not a recreational book reader, nor have the desire to read anything fictitious. I get about 20 magazines a month, from which I learn…My favorites include:
2. Real simple
3. Martha Stewart Living
4. Everyday Food
5. US News & World Report
6. Domino
7. Cottage Living
8. Marie Claire
9. Vegetarian Times
10. And of course, the mindless pleasure of People

8 words/phrases that I say often:

1. Hi Babe…
2. Don’t kill anyone today…
3. Well…somehow we will make it through this.
4. Go sleep, seriously.
5. Whatcha doin chickie chickie?? [to zoie pants]
6. Be a good boy… be back soon[to rusty boy, of course]
7. Treeeeeatzz?
8. No, I will not watch sportscenter.
9. Drive safe.
10. Ugh, I’ll just do it.

8 things I want to do before I die:

1. Be a grandparent
2. Live in Europe
3. Have at least a million dollars in the bank, and never tell anyone that I do
4. Live in the mountains, overlooking a lake, where it snows
5. Ski! Then drink coffee in a lodge, in front of a fire during a blizzard
6. Have & create a warm, loving family environment that my kids want to be around
7. Scuba dive in the great barrier reef
8. Cultivate a real relationship with my nieces & nephews
9. Embrace my curviness. Then get a breast reduction.
10. Build a custom home from the ground up, then pay cash for it

8 things I’ve learned in my life:

1. You might as well do it now, cause it won’t do itself later.
2. Not to fight the path your life is taking, it’s all there for a reason so don’t force it.
3. Give a little space, get a little space.
4. I don’t ever want to know what it feels like to be in debt.
5. Create structure even if it’s not there.
6. My house doesn’t need to be perfect right now, it can be an ongoing process.
7. I don’t usually want what others have, so there’s no need to play the comparison game.
8. Material things don’t bring happiness, period. People do.
9. I really don’t like alcohol, nor how it makes me feel.
10. Excuses won’t get you anywhere. Get it done.

8 places I want to see:

1. the Swiss alps
2. bakeries in London
3. the Colosseum
4. the Mediterranean sea
5. glaciers in Alaska
6. the great barrier reef in Australia
7. a Tulip field in Holland
8. seaside cliffs in Ireland
9. Aspen in winter
10. Munich during Christmas

8 things I currently want/need:

1. More than an hour a week with my husband
2. My business to get off the ground
3. My house to be organized & completely unpacked
4. To be a mommy
5. A wide angle lens for my camera
6. A website for my business
7. To adjust to this horrific climate they call Texas
8. To stop hating the military
9. The weeds out of my yard
10. Continued confidence that I can really be a successful entrepreneur

8 people I tag:

1. Kim
2. Julie
3. Tori
4. And I need more friends that BLOG!!!! Really, it's easy-you should do it!!!

sneak peek

I have been working very hard the last few days to begin branding myself & my business...I finally hired a designer to help me with a logo and she will whip something up next week. For now...this is the direction I am heading. This is just what I have created by myself...and I am obviously no graphic designer! It is NOWHERE near complete...but it's a start...

my first paying job as a designer

Well, today was the day! It was my very first step into the world as a designer. I got my color chips in order, slipped into my navy dress and put on heels for the first time in a loooooong time. I was walking down the stairs thinking..."surely I have not yet balanced this flight on heels...is it really this steep...sheesh!?!" I plugged the address into my trusty little garmin & off I went. Not a nervous twinge in my body.

I arrived and spent the next two hours with a lovely older couple who are doing a full kitchen remodel & needed some serious color help. I got them all set up, kitchen & the rest of the home. Project will begin on September 22.

I helped people. I was creative. And they were so appreciative. I gave them something they couldn't have done themselves. I spent two hours doing a few of the very things I LOVE doing most...and I got PAID to do them!!!

I love working with color
I love making homes more beautiful
I love helping people & making them happy
I love having the freedom to schedule my day
I love that no day looks or feels the same
I love not working for anyone but myself
I love that my brand will look just how I visualize it
I love that I will get out of my business just exactly what I put into it

If ever I could imagine what empowerment feels like...it would have to be the way I feel right now...!!!

Martha's Peanut Butter Cups...YUMMY!

I hate processed food & candy so when I can recreate something that is usually bought at the store, I jump at the chance! Tommy's sweet tooth has been active lately and I thought I would make one of his favorite sweets for in his bag lunches everyday. I also needed a mental break from the business planning...so its either running or baking and I already ran today...soooo...baking it was! I found these in my Everyday Food Magazine and they were a huge hit! Here's the recipe!

Ingredients
Makes 24
4 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
12 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted roasted peanuts, chopped

Directions

• Line two 12-cup mini muffin pans with paper liners; set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine white chocolate and peanut butter. Microwave, until almost melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, place semisweet chocolate in another microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, stirring once or twice, until almost melted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Dividing evenly, use a spoon to layer semisweet chocolate and peanut-butter mixture into liners, beginning and ending with chocolate; sprinkle with peanuts.
• Place muffin pans in freezer until peanut butter cups are firm, about 15 minutes. Bring to room temperature before serving.
  

nonono that did not just happen...

i am...so depressed. finally found the perfect piece at the pottery barn outlet to begin the right mess of junk on top of my entertainment unit...i was just starting to test stuff up there...thought i would take a picture since the family has been asking...was testing light on my camera & realized i needed to shut the unit's doors...took this picture & went to SHUT the doors...

[gasp] and off rolled the perfect piece...

least someone feels my pain...

getting busy w/ superglue and some joint fasteners on the back...cross your fingers. it will be affixed to the wall if i can get the puzzle back together...[tears]

why, again, am i doing this???

So two weeks ago, craving routine in my fairly unscheduled life I decided to once again, begin the fabulous stewart smith Maximum Fitness workout plan. As it begins it is pretty much ALL running, pull ups, push ups, sit ups and other exercises that make you move your own body weight around. As I look at today's scheduled routine I am really questioning my decision to do it again but...it is an awesome program and will whip me into shape once again. The fittest I have ever been in my life was back in college when I was doing this program and had some great shoulders, abs & legs (see them to the right!!)...and I want them back!! I am not in horrible shape, it just isn't what it used to be! In my coaching days, I would do dry land with my kids, then hit the gym and was ridiculously militant about my routine. Well...its time again...and I am openly committing to stick to it! It gives me a great mental break from business planning...!!! Off to the gym!

so this is how the story goes...

there once was a girl who went to a military wives social event who let it slip through her lips that she loved to decorate. then without even thinking she announced to the group "I want to have my own business someday." she came home, not realizing what she had said, but knew that since that phrase came from somewhere so unplanned and instinctual, it had to mean something. she thinks and ponders how to make her decorating hobby something she gets paid for and tries very hard to talk herself out of it and just suck it up and go back to the corporate world. feeling sick at the thought of doing the corporate-shmorporate bobblehead routine again, she starts seriously thinking about her own business. she meets a neighbor that points her in the direction of a course set up for decorators & home stagers actually looking to make a profit and run a successful, legitimate business. she researches...and then the phone rings. one of the wives at the military social event calls and invites to her home for a color consultation. it goes very well. the girl finds a painter to give an estimate, who is the top referral at the local benjamin moore paint store. the painter offers to make her referrals to him something that she can profit from too. the painter is impressed at the color pallette and utilization of color in the home and wants to partner with her for future client color consultations and decorating job referrals, since he just lost his two go-to designers. this girl, with no business cards, no website, not even a local phone number just landed herself a new career.

as if there was ever a doubt this is what she should do with her life...!!!

what i stare at all day

he's my main distraction. the hog of all my playful energy throughout the day. also the most loyal & loving & snuggly little buddy you could ask for. if he cant make ya smile, nothin' can!

I need your help, friends!

Okay , I promised I'd take you along on this journey with me and I have come to a crucial point...what ever shall my new business be called??? This is a HUGE decision and I think I am getting there. I have pages of brainstorming and my vision is just coming to me and I am starting to fall in love. Let me take you through my process, and then your part is at the end.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this brand and it inspires me: pinkletoes. I love the energy that she creates and I am a part of her PT4P that has provided me with the marketing materials that will make my new business beautiful.

I was most inspired by the design that Marina created on this blog, and I especially love the logo next to my name at the bottom of each post. So I started writing words, words and more words. I rearranged words. I found that I am MOST productive brainstorming on the treadmill (which makes the recording them down part challenging-picture that!) And I found a name that stuck. Then, (again on that stupid treadmill-who needs an ipod!) I built on the name and began to visualize what I want the "feel" of my business to be. So here are some of my thoughts out loud. (your part still at the end!)

• want something in the name that clearly is the reason for the coordinating logo, watermark & theme, including a coordinating tag line
• want a couple of words in the name that clearly define me as someone who "styles homes"
• want a theme that is lively, provokes interest, unique & makes me approachable
• want to stay faaaaar away from the stuffy & serious design/decor companies that are intimidating so I create the feeling that “I am just one of you, who happens to have a knack for this & let's have fun together making this space work” as opposed to “I am the expert tell me a little about what you like and I’ll do everything.”
• I envision a leave behind (there's the drug rep in me speaking!) that is a bowl or vase full of berries, with a thank you, reminder of my brand & referral cards etc.
  

So what I need from you is your opinion. I wouldn't be asking if I didn't want your honesty. I know you can't see the "brand" like I can, but tell me what this name says to you. If you saw a business card with it on there, would you want to call me? What do you think of? BE HONEST. Got an idea to make it better? I want that too! Collaborate with me! ...off to the treadmill for more brainstorming...this start your own business thing is GREAT for my health!

Family blog...

If by chance I forgot one of you on the mass invite to my new family blog, please shoot me an email & let me know (or comment if you cant find my email). I may have been caught in a spam folder, or just not had your email address.

If you dont know what I am talking about, I just started a more personal family blog which is password protected for safety reasons. I want you to be a part of it if we know each other!

I just cant say much about the hubby & his line of work for his own safety, but many of you are asking about stuff and I want to be able to share...so get in touch with me if you wanna come join! And...dont worry, this blog wont change or lose any content! :)

salted or unsalted?

I found myself in a baking mood today and thought I'd clear up a common question.

Q: When baking, do you use salted or unsalted butter?

A: UNSALTED. Why? (and how do you remember???) Baking is such a precise process that most bakers like and often need to control the exact amount of salt that is added to a recipe. Therefore, save the salted butter for your bread. Go for unsalted when ya bake. Unless otherwise specified.

Made anything good lately? Today's recipe for me is fabulous scottish shortbread. I know I blogged baout it the last time I made it....here it is.

Must have: FROG TAPE!

Doing a painting project soon??? I have a time saver for you!

I (with the help of my family) just finished painting all but two rooms in our house and after 13 gallons of paint, we know the secret to straight lines! Forget that blue 3M painters tape, go green and get FROG TAPE the next time you are at home depot. You wont be sorry! This stuff is awesome. Honest to god, we did a test strip of each just like the graphic below and it actually turned out looking just like this:

I have the most textured walls in the history of texture so it has been a total nightmare to paint a straight line. I never really used tape before, just free handed it. NOT in this new house! This has been my saving grace. You'll never go blue again!

**But, if for some reason you cant find it, just use a dab of caulk and run it down the blue tape and that should seal the edge so you can still get a straight line. Happy Painting!

and everything happens for a reason.

We're getting new neighbors tomorrow and I have noticed that, just like I did, my new neighbor woman is at the house every single day checking on the progress. I decided to go introduce myself last night when she was over there with her 4 kids (& one on the way!!) and long story short...I am convinced the events in my life are being orchestrated for me...

So this woman is a stager/decorator. Military wife. Since moving here 6 months ago, she has had plenty of work, with no marketing and no functioning website. Just word of mouth and a listing on her certification site. I checked into her certification and it's one I haven't heard of before but is quite legitimate. I am spending today researching the heck out of it to see if it is worth the investment. After having a heart to heart with the hubby last night, (and doing some negotiating) he gave me his blessing. Let me tell ya, he's a keeper.

So once again I have to believe that everything in my life happens for a reason. I fought moving to Omaha and it was the best thing that has happened to me. I dreaded moving down here but maybe this is just the shakeup I needed to get me out of corporate America and begin establishing myself as a brand, a business. Sometimes the journey is unclear and scary but soon enough the path shows itself and you choose to take it or not. I am at that point right now. It will be difficult and challenging and stretch my creativity to the max. But I somehow keep thinking that those three things are exactly what were missing with my previous job that made me hate going and doing it everyday.

So...thinking out loud...but this is the most excited I have been in a while! Thought I'd take you along on this journey with me. :)

they say go with your gut...

and my gut is speaking loudly.

Most of you know I recently relocated and am "in between" careers. I did everything I could to transfer with my previous job. It was great. Great company. Great products. Great colleagues. I just don't think that my heart lies in selling drugs. I was good at it, but I think you can be good at anything if you try really hard. Doesn't mean you're gonna be happy.

My wonderful husband told me that I could do whatever I wanted to do when we got down here, as long as I did something so I didn't go stir crazy. So here I am. Trying to find out what that something is. It's exciting, it's scary, it's confusing. "Do whatever you want babe, I want you to be happy" but what will make me happy?!?

I have put the feelers out to see if there is a genuine need for color & decorative consulting and as it turns out, there certainly is! Just through my wonderful new network of military wives I have three interested "clients" that are inviting me into their homes. So...I am running with it. I am building my portfolio. (for free, so if you live in San Antonio and need some help with your home and are willing to let me take pictures, let me know!) Funny thing is, I don't even consider it work...I am genuinely excited! I think that says something...

So I am running with it...as fast as I can.

Daily Candy

As someone always looking for the latest, greatest, chicest, innovative-ist (not a word) I have fallen fast & hard for daily candy!

Delivered to your email box every few days (you can set the settings) is a new product or service sure to knock your socks off. 13 major cities feature daily editions, so if you live in a big one you are in luck! But...there is a nationwide edition that is worth subscribing for. Here's a sneak peek at this week's finds:





Cyberclean...interesting...









Individual pie pans...fun!

Germany Day 4, Munich

We flew into Munich (which Bavarians call Munchen [moonch-in]) airport which reminded me of an Apple store. Everything was white and brightly lit and there were advertisements everywhere. My favorite was a two story BMW grille and headlights that stared at us while we claimed out luggage. BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Maybachs are all produced in or just outside Munich so you can only imagine the kind of cars we see around town. All the taxis are Mercedes and we overheard one driver saying he had 700,000 miles on his and plans to drive it until it hits a million miles. Think we could find an American made car that could do that?

[from the plane]

[Munich is in Bavaria, and the Bavarian countryside is stunning. More of that on Day 5...]

[Munich airport potty. i just love the shape of the women's dresses over here!]

[BMW headquarters are here]

[this was just a cool advertisement in the airport]

Driving to our hotel we got a mini tour that took us by the rodeo drive of Germany which was full of the designer shops we know in America. We came to our hotel which was next to the major train station in Munich, the end of all the train lines. I was surprised at how completely different this city felt compared to Berlin. I guess the best way to describe it is San Francisco compared to Oakland, Munich being more like Oakland. Our hotel, while absolutely beautiful, is not in the best area of town. There is a large Italian influence here and we are kind of in the Italian “ghetto.” I did not feel safe leaving the hotel at night.

[took this one from the bus!]

[the restaurant affiliated with the biergarten we went to that evening. this was in Marian Platz]

[more from walking around in Marian Platz, everything was closed on Sunday]

We are staying at the Sofitel Munich which doesn’t lack design ingenuity, but lacks a huge amount or practicality. The bathroom is all made of frosted glass doors that slide all over the place and don’t provide any privacy. The beds have only a duvet on them for covers and they have a limit to how cold the rooms can get, which isn’t as cold as we are used to back home. One colleague told us she called the front desk to ask if she could turn the temp down and she was told it was “colder than you think.” Sheesh! It is a LOT hotter here than anticipated and we have been sweating through our clothes, literally! Shorts and a tank top would be the proper attire and I didn’t bring either, so it has been a lot of heat toleration! The hotel is so secure that I found myself unable to get to my room on multiple occasions. We have a key that is plain white-no branding on it whatsoever. The key has a microchip in it which is programmed with all of our information. When we get into the elevator, we have to hold our card in front of the sensor and it automatically selects the floor we need. The problem here was that you couldn’t use the elevator without a card. If you took the stairs to get some exercise, the card wouldn’t work in the room because according to the elevator, you are not in the hotel. Once we got into the room, the ticket to electricity was entering the room key in a slot next to the door. Very energy efficient, since you have to have your key to leave the room and all the lights go out about 30 seconds after the key is removed from the card slot. Unfortunate if you lose a key and your roommate needs to go downstairs for something.

The first night we went to the famous Augustiner Keller Beirgarten. It was the same kind of feel as the county fair food court, lots of food and beer stations around the perimeter of hundreds of picnic tables. There were many smells which were less than pleasant circulating. They sold fish, whole fish, which the customer tears open, removes the bones, then sticks a fork in it like eating out of a pita pocket. It was so gross!! Our group was in the main indoor beer hall, which was not air conditioned. We were all hot hot hot! The service staff was dressed in the typical Bavarian garb, which can best be described as “Heidi” braids and corseted peasant dresses. Men wore typical lederhosen. We were entertained with yodeling, men slapdancing (kind of riverdance style) and the playing of the large horns that reached from the mouth to the ground of the person playing. The food was of typical German fare. Those of you who know me know I struggle with the eating of meat and this night didn’t help at all. There was a little pig, head, tail and all, on the cutting board which was extremely disturbing. I was strict vegetarian that night, most of the trip actually. Overall the experience was hot and stinky and I couldn’t stomach the beer so I was clearly too sober to enjoy the evening as much I should!

[sweatin our pants off at the biergarten. that beer was just for show, it was TERRIBLE!]

[staff were dressed like the three models on the left]

[gorgeous hydrangeas again! Kim pointed out that I achieved bokeh on this shot! yah, I didn't know what that meant either, but I can do it!]

[trust me, this picture makes the place look waaaay prettier than it was.]

[famous Augustiner Keller Brew-made famous by Oktoberfest]

[yah that was the only sip of that beer I took. it was nasty!]


The hotel, however…endless photographic opportunities. Some of my favorites of the whole trip:

she got a little work done...

Hope you like it!

Let me tell you, a designer is a designer's worst client.

I knew what I wanted, but didn't have the skill set to create it myself. I enlisted Marina for the job and I am sure she didn't quite know what she was in for! My initial detailed plan was created exactly as I had asked...and then I didn't like it. Totally my fault. So, I asked her for a color revision, and she was wonderful enough to work with me again and create this beautiful design which is definitely cheery, busy, fun and inspiring. It's something I like to look at everyday and hopefully you will too!

See more from the fabulous Marina at Penny Lane Designs. Thank you, my friend, for being more than patient!!

And let me know what you think! Marina will appreciate it!