One Fine Day: Matisse

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

What About Wednesday?

In instances when I feel a bit nutty, I like to refer to myself in the third-person. It makes me feel a little less crazy and intense. Instead, it's all about "her" and "she". Have you seen the classic film, "What about Bob?" I guess this little technique is my equivalent to Dr. Leo Marvin's hand-puppet family. This is my Baby Steps -- a way for me to self-sooth. If you're lost, watch this clip. Now that you're up to speed, here it goes: Fun Ashley loves the idea of a three-day weekend. In fact, she relishes it. Practical Ashley despises it. It sets her behind and leaves her feeling a tad bit overwhelmed. "How can it be Wednesday and there's still so much to do this week? I haven't even made a dent in my to-do list!" We also know that Type-Ashley can be rather dramatic; she lives for the thrill of productivity. Right about now, it's best that she go to her happy place. This week, it looks something like this...

Contents of this week's happy place:

Velvet Wingback Chair - So luxe, modern, and fun! Wake up a tired piece of furniture with this DIY.

Culture Lounge Scented Candle - Great quote.

Small Boxwood Topiary - A little greenery to spruce up the place.

Alex Katz Prints - Dreamy, isn't it?

Tea Time Cup & Saucer - A darling illustration.

Pink Planner - Love Bri Emery's organizing tips.

Happy Blanket - It's just so fun, I had to include it!

(With a $270 price tag, we'll say it's more of my champagne taste on a beer budget. It's fun to dream!)

What does your happy place look like? What makes you feel calm, cool, and collected?

For some reason, this Matisse quote puts me at ease every time I read it.

(A little Bill Murray humor never hurts either.)

Happy Wednesday!

Toodles,

ANF

P.S. And just for my dad, here's another one of our favorite scenes from "What About Bob?"

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

When Inspiration Strikes...

Just as Matisse described the act of painting, there's something about blogging that makes me feel gloriously free. I guess it's the rush that comes with meeting a deadline, and keeping content fresh, honest, and fun. I realize that's a bit of a stretch -- this isn't a published glossy, and I've got so much to learn. Here's what I do know...

It's been four years since I graduated from college with a degree in journalism. Each May since graduating, I've found myself sulking. "What have I done with my degree to make myself proud?" You know the drill, because we've been down this road before in previous posts. I won't bore you anymore, but I wanted to share a little secret with you. I finally realized that I spent the first three years post-college trying to dismiss my past and my passion. I let my pride get in the way and never fully dealt with it. I allowed myself to be sad with feelings of defeat and frustration. I compared my master plan with reality. When I found they didn't align perfectly, I decided it couldn't be part of my life. This is so Type-Ashley -- if I can't have all of it, I don't want any of it! Terrible, isn't it? I dismissed one love and got caught up searching for another. What did I learn? Comparison truly is the thief of joy. I never fully let go of my idyllic plan. I compared my blessed life with my clouded vision of a perfect life. I get so mad at myself for being this stubborn; it only took me 4 years to get to this point. Better late than never, right? This year, I feel quite happy and creatively fulfilled. I spend less time wondering about what could have been. My reality is pretty great, especially when I allow myself to just let go. There's a difference between saying you're grateful and blessed and truly believing it. Perhaps this lesson has been the greatest gift blogging has given me.

And thanks to your comments and emails, I know there are plenty of you out there who are in the same boat. The one thing that has brought me the most peace is knowing that I'm not alone in feeling this way. What have I learned over the past year? Give it time and focus on whatever it is that brings you joy -- even if it is a hobby! I guarantee the time you spend doing something that you love will bring you one step closer to being the best version of yourself. Alright, enough of the mid-week therapy sesh. On to a punchy palette -- Matisse to the rescue!