Wednesday Lists

Good Morning!

7AM found me wishing for an extra hour of sleep.  Another day of work responsibilities seemed insurmountable.  My inner inspiration's quiet voice seemed to be taking a vacation.

This happens often for me, not because I have depression problems or a bad job.  It happens because I am tired.  Each day requires so much physical and mental energy as I try to take care of my family and hold my Company together that I often feel completely exhausted by Wednesday.  Does this ever happen to you, friend?

My dreadfully un-romantic strategy to "keepin' on keepin' on" is list writing.  Something about having a list keeps me moving from one simple step to the next without feeling as overwhelmed.  It also helps keep me focused when I am sorely tempted to use the Pinterest as work excuse, rather than doing real work, or even washing the dishes.  (Of course, Pinterest really is work sometimes, just saying :).

One of my favorite places to keep lists is on my iphone.  This is handy because I don't lose my phone as much as a notebook, and I can delete things as I accomplish them.  I can also keep several lists in one place on that app.  My current lists that I can go to today for the next step are:

Task List (a running list of things I must do for work)
Book
Client Experience
Several client names (actions to take from meetings, site visits, etc)
Blog ideas

Mine look like kind of like this, but in English.  Click on the image for instructions from Dr Drang on how to make your iphone notes "pretty"

I also LOVE the notes app on my iphone for grocery shopping.  It allows me to type out weekly menus and groceries on the same list, then I can easily delete each item I buy at the store so that only the menus are left on the list.  The menu list is very handy because I can find it on my iphone all week!

Evernote is an app that I have downloaded and used to write one note, "Love my husband".  It is supposed to be an amazing tool, allowing me to share my notes with all of my devices and other people.  This would be a great way to handle lists for the Company that any one of the Team could get done.  I could even use it for specific assignments, allowing me to keep everyone in the loop.  Hmmmm.  May have to try that today.

Finally, I love old fashioned pen and paper for lists.  Sure, I often lose the lists before I finish them, but writing things on a piece of paper in my best handwriting feels like I have done something already.   Crumpling them up and throwing them away is also a perfect sensation on the rare times I do actually finish the list.

Sometimes, it is important to add special things to your list for a Wednesday, such as wake up and/or an extra trip to Starbucks for a grande nonfat vanilla latte.  We need a couple of accomplish-able and happy items!

What's your favorite list tool?  Please share it with me in the comments below.

Love, Emily

As you may know, I own a business which I began in 2008.  I have been so fortunate to see this business multiply every year and to be joined by some amazing individuals who help me achieve the mission.  Other women often ask my opinion on how they should go about starting their own business.  So, here's my most basic advice:

Do something!!!  It all starts with one little step.  Decide what you want to be, then be that person.  Want to be a gardener?  Plant one type of flowers and sell them in big, lush bunches at the local farmers' market this summer.  Want to be a writer?  Start a blog and write minimum one paragraph, then press the publish button minimum three times weekly. It is free after all and what do you have to lose?

My mantra is "Do what is possible, not what is perfect".  Some of the most talented people I know never do anything because they are waiting until they achieve perfection in their field.  Sadly, this means many talented people never get started.  This leaves the field wide open for people like you and me who are willing to take a few risks and look a little bit silly.

I love Jennifer Lopez's get "On the Floor" (and do something :), when I need to inspire myself to take the next step.  The ladies who work for me say J. Lo is not actually singing about starting a business or anything of the sort, but it gets me moving!

 

My second bit of advice is to remember that no matter how big your dreams are (and big dreams is my middle name), there is always something bigger.  Remembering this brings peace to my heart and puts the world in perspective.  I may do something big, but at the end of the day, it is not my responsibility to save the world.  Takes a little pressure off which gives me the courage I need to take baby steps.

"My Glorious"

What inspires you?  Pick a song (or two) and play them each day to get you out on the floor, knowing whatever you do is part of a bigger picture.

Oh, and please leave a comment when you discover what your songs are!

Love,
Emily

Monday CAN Be a Happy Day

Three reasons why this Monday is a good day for me...

1.  It is the only day of the week that I do not feel waaaay behind!  Monday morning is a fresh start for all to-do lists.  Plus, I feel very fortunate to not only have a grown-up job, but my own business, especially after seeing Sunday's headline. 

2.  I have leftovers from last night's Super Bowl party.  My friend Megan made brie crostini.  Yummmmm.

Here is how to make Megan's brie crostini.  If you make this, feel free to share the creamy, sugary, most fabulous slices with me!

• Slice french bread very, very thinly.  Butter then toast in the oven.
• Slice brie and apples thinly, place on top of each slice of toast.
• Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and a bit of brown sugar, then toast to perfection.

3. Actually, I can only think of two right now, but that is enough for me.  I am glad to be alive.

Enjoy today!
Emily

Family Heirlooms

My family is growing heirlooms right before my eyes.  And no, I am not even talking about tomatoes.  My extended family is so amazingly artistic!  In fact, when we returned once from a visit with Uncle Gary and Aunt Kathy, my husband suggested I personally create art for our house since it runs in my blood.  If only it were that easy...

Today, I want to share a few pieces Aunt Ann painted.  They are snapshots I quickly took in the hallways when no one was looking (yes, I felt like a spy and they are probably a little blurry), but she has since granted me permission to share publicly by facebook message.  I was way too chicken to ask in person!

This is a painting from Aunt Ann's college days which is now the wallpaper on my iphone...  Aunt Ann says there is a sadness in both girl's eyes.  I see a wistfulness, a knowledge and hope that something better is to come, no matter the current circumstances.

This one is the view off the back deck of Aunt Ann and Uncle Todd's house.  Love the mixture of angry clouds and serene landscape.

I'm not a horse fan (they are unpredictable at weddings which does not work in my favor on the job), but this painting is fabulous.  Look at all the muscle detail!

 

And finally, here is a VERY blurry camera phone photo of my Cute Katelyn with her Great Aunt Ann.  Loving family is the most beautiful thing of all.

Enjoy today!

Emily

Beautiful Boy

Christmas is making it easy for me to remember to appreciate that God gave me three beautiful children.  I wish I could remember this better every day AND that I would find ways of more actively enjoying the time we have together.  Someday they will be grown with their own families and I will be extra sad when the Christmas festivities are over because they will go home and leave me in the dust.  But for now, they are really loud and they never leave me anywhere and I have almost no personal space...just saying...

Like finding hidden treasure, I rediscovered these precious newborn photos of Brady when I was going through photos for my other job.  Angela Stott, photographer, is a true artist.  She spent four or five hours at our house waiting for the perfect shot of this sweet baby boy who had no intentions of cooperating, sleeping, cooing, or anything else newborns are supposed to do during newborn photo sessions.  It was an experience that we will never forget.

This post is dedicated to My Mom, Gigi and Aunt Ann... Some of the best moms I know...and probably the only people who are reading this post.  :)

Family Fun

My Handsome Husband decided we need an RV this summer.  Not only do we need an RV, but he made the exceptionally fine point that it would be a benefit for my business.  Three or four months post-purchase, I must admit he's right.  Having a place to stay for TONS less than a hotel, but with A/C and a working plumbing is a major plus when doing long-distance site visits.  Of course, I'm not really a camping queen, so Handsome Husband knew he had to come up with some sort of catch to bring me on board with this decision and the business angle did it for me.

We have had some fun family trips, too.  One of our favorite campgrounds is in Charleston, SC.  Beach time with the kids is priceless (and exhausting).  Here are a few photos of their favorite camping activites...

BUGS...

 WAVES...

 BIKING...

 EATING...

trying to take time off

I've been working like a crazy woman lately with my grown-up job.  Sometimes I wonder if I should just move out of the house for the two busiest months of the year (June and October), but I think I would miss my kiddos and Handsome Husband just a little too much.  Lately I've made an effort to knock off work sometime in the vicinity of 5 'o' clock which is way easier planned than accomplished.  However, we had success this week because the girls and I spent Tuesday evening planning Wednesday evening which means one event completely occupied their heads for almost 24 hours!

The fabulous event?  A "Ratatouille" party, in the tradition of the small French rat chef!  The girls made chef hats with our sweet artist friend Lily when she was at the house Wednesday morning.  They also created black and white checked place mats, inspired by French cafes.

We made steak frites for dinner with cream puffs for dessert--all from scratch!  We had so much fun with our grown-up dinner party.  I'm glad so we found time to make special memories.

cream puff with one bite missing :)