If you’re looking for a fun and simple way to document this upcoming year, I highly recommend the 1 Second Everyday app. This is my second year to use this app and I still love it so much. Like I mentioned last year, this is not the sort of thing that I’d typically be good at. I had to simplify the process wayyy down so that I wouldn’t jump ship. After being so thrilled with my finished product last year, I was determined to stick with it.
Continue readingTag Archives: 2019
Doing More and Less
I didn’t intend to be a spokesperson for simple living this holiday season. It just sort of happened. I often share my own journey and discoveries online with my community and this year, as I settled in to a simpler way of doing things, I accidentally encouraged other women to do the same.
It wasn’t an easy transition. It was intentional. When I felt the holiday stress and anxiety bubbling up inside, I forcefully pushed it away. It was an intentional decision everyday to just be present in the moment and to do my best for that day.
Continue readingSocks and Sandwiches
One of the main concepts that I’ve thought back on from the Hope*Writers Conference, came from co-founder Gary Morland. He told the story of baking a wonderful dinner for your friends and pulling it from the oven. The smell fills the room and you’re so proud of the masterpiece that you’ve created in your kitchen. Then, you look around and wonder where your friends are. Why aren’t they here to eat your magnificent dinner? They’re not here, because you didn’t invite them.
Drawing Your Goals for 2020
Since we’re approaching a new year, a time when people set goals and make plans, I thought I’d share with you one of the most powerful goal setting techniques I’ve used.
I first heard about this strategy from my former mentor, Christie Wheeler. Christie was one of the most brilliant women and I was captivated by her drive to learn and grow. I credit her as being one of the main people who turned me on to the personal growth arena. Christie shared this video with me before her passing, and I’m going to share it with you guys today. If any of you knew Christie, especially in the real estate world, this video is what prompted her to draw the poster of her vision for our local KW office. It hung in her office and she would tell you that this drawing escalated the growth of our local market center.
Continue readingAn Imperfect Holiday Season
I stumbled across this photo of Olivia and Travis from last Christmas and as they say — all the feels. This photo was taken on Christmas morning at my beautiful #wfwhitehouse. My caption on Instagram referenced how this very morning brought all my ideas of what this house would be together. From day one, I envisioned the gathering of people in this home. I envisioned Christmas mornings and the family that would eventually fill its rooms. I remember being so happy and so content on this Christmas morning.
One Little Word: Elevate
I didn’t pick a “one little word” for 2018 or 2019 and if I did, it would have been SURVIVE. It’s pretty much impossible to focus on growth when you’re just working to keep the pieces together. I hadn’t really thought about coming back to this little technique and then suddenly, a word for 2020 hit me.
I was pulling into the Hobby Lobby parking lot and listening to a podcast when this little word stood out to me like it was spoken directly to me.
Thanksgiving & Traditions
My family has always celebrated Thanksgiving on the Sunday before the actual holiday. This year, I hosted it at my house, and I moved it up a week so that Olivia and Travis could be with us.
As I crumble the cornbread on Sunday morning, getting that first pan ready for the oven, I’m caught up in my thoughts of tradition and memories from childhood. It was always my job to crumble the cornbread and it feels like second nature as I do it again, all these years later. The crumbs feel so familiar between my fingers.
2009 vs 2019
In 2009, I was fresh from college, working as the Technology Marketing Director at the Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau. I was juggling this full time job and launching my store on Antique Alley in my spare time. When I think about how much has went down in these 10 years, I’m blown away. I also love how much of this is chronicled here in this online space.
What’s Next After My First Writing Conference
I’m home from my first writing conference and I’ve had several people say that they can’t wait to see what came of it. Me too, guys. Me too.
At first I felt a little disappointed that I didn’t come home with some big announcement or revelation. (A little about that here.) I’d secretly hoped that I’d develop a vision of what’s next at this conference, even if it was just a tiny glimpse into the future. I didn’t think I’d announce the title of my first book, though I did intend to have at least an idea of what the next project might be. If I’m honest with you all, I still don’t know what’s next.
An Unused Writing Desk
I open up my laptop at my little writing desk for the first time. I set up this little corner of my living room shortly after joining Hope*Writers, over a month ago. One of their first tips was to create a space where you write, and though I’ve heard that for years, I haven’t ever followed the advice. The couch is simply much more comfortable and required very little effort on my part. As I think more about this, the couch was also less threatening. If I wrote from the couch and nothing ever came of it, that wouldn’t be a failure. I don’t have to say “I’m a writer” from the couch. Creating a space for writing meant there was more at stake.