Be Kind.

Happy Monday, friends! This weekend we were swamped with rain, but I’m still on a vitamin D high from the previous weekend (I’m talking 72 degrees and sunny, no coat at night, kinda warm!). It disappeared quickly though and I can not wait until it arrives for good.

You know what my biggest pet peeve is? When people are rude for no good reason. And in my opinion, there never really is a good reason. It’s so true in this world when you meet someone, you have no idea what they may be battling. My sister once told me when she is having a bad day, she makes it a point to be extra nice to strangers (as opposed to walking around all pissed off to anyone & everyone). Like the grocery clerk for example. Or your Starbucks barista. I have to say, I was shocked at the positive impact it made on my day the first time I tried it. I promise it’ll lift your spirits too. In fact, studies show the more you smile (regardless of your actual feelings), the happier you become.

It’s obvious I am a big quote person (a little excessive, maybe? meh). I get this from my father. One quote I learned from him that I constantly try to remember is, ” people will not remember what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel.” I vote we all try to be a little kinder than necessary this week. Agreed?

Have an awesome week!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

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Living With Less. A Lot Less.

Have you read this article from the NY Times yet?  It’s been floating around the internet lately and it got me thinking. Big time thinking.

As someone who is an interior designer by trade, I help people buy “stuff” for their homes. Now, it’s not always just about the “stuff” though. This “stuff” turns peoples houses into homes, which in turn, can directly affect their happiness. Everyone wants a comfortable home. Everyone wants to be proud of their home. But there is that fine line with treasures vs junk. Junk that clutters our homes & our minds. Do we really need it?

The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as we’re about to close on our first home! Which translates to: lighting! wallpaper! chairs! rugs! “Stuff”. This “stuff” really does bring me happiness, but it has always been a struggle to find the right balance. Somedays, I’d rather spend hours on a patio with food + cocktails and good friends than to splurge on a coffee table. That coffee table won’t last forever.

A little somethin’ I’ve learned lately: we cultivate the life we live and generate the atmosphere we live in. The more you cultivate, the more you get. The more you care about materialistic pieces, the more your life will revolve around materialistic pieces. The better you cultivate your relationships, the deeper and more meaningful they become.

A few things I do to cut spending on objects & add meaning to them:

- Save money on AM Starbucks & work week lunches by bringing my own. When I do spend money on food, it allows me to do it with good company, further cultivating my relationships.

- When I travel, I shop (and don’t shop much at home). For me, this creates a positive connotation with that particular item and adds more meaning to the piece. For example, I scored a Dara Ettinger ring in Brooklyn on our recent trip (as opposed to a $2 ring from Forever 21 that is probably going to be thrown away shortly).

- Home goods: buy investment pieces. This doesn’t mean expensive. It means buying a piece you will love forever, with whatever budget works for you. My marble tulip side table honestly brings a smile to my face. My ikea couch that weighs 2 lbs, not so much.

What do you think? Is less really more?

My dear friend shared the above quote one day and it truly hit home with me. Hope you spend the weekend cultivating goodness in your life!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Images: Unknown (with addition of quote for Ciao Darling). Please share if you know the original source.

Gratitude

I’ve been grateful for much the last two weeks, most of which has been the simple things in life. I’m currently enjoying some down time before lots of travel in March and relishing in quiet evenings.

-I’m grateful for the faith others have in me. It forces me to step up to the plate (whichever plate it may be) and set high standards for myself.

- Zach delivered flowers to me on Valentine’s day & spoiled me with a very nice dinner at Ringside. He still makes me blush and I am eternally grateful for that feeling.

- Brunch, lunch and everything in between with inspiring friends + popping in to my friends family farm and seeing her for the first time after her months of travel!

-Restful evenings + last weekend’s rejuvenating events of doing….nothing. Nothing at all. Pure bliss, I tell ya!

-Sunny & for a brief moment, warm weather. February always teases us with this beautiful weather! I will embrace you and be grateful for you, but I will not be jaded. I know what awaits come Spring. Good thing I just scored these chic rainboots for $17 (they actually make my size 9 feet look small. Who knew that was even possible?)!!

I hope you’re finding gratitude in your daily lives. Have a rejuvenating weekend!

Carpe Diem,
Mandy

Image taken in 2010 of Le Happy on 15th & Marshall in PDX.

Gettin’ Cozy.

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!

Last weekend was spent in South Lake Tahoe mostly on the mountain, but equally as much cozied in front of our big fireplace. Since then, I’ve continued to crave the simple life of huddling up in front of a fireplace where your main priority is to do nothing at all. With good company. With a good glass of wine or a big cup of tea. Something about a fireplace takes me back to the simple, truly enjoyable things in life, away from being sucked into our smart phones, constantly needing to be in the loop.

I’ve rounded up some of my favorite fireplaces that I would happily plop in front of any day!

Clearly, I am drawn to crisp whites with natural elements such as brick, concrete and a rustic woods. I couldn’t resist sharing these two colorful fireplaces as well:

I love the use of colorful, bold tile in an otherwise traditional white setting. The Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs is on my list of hotels to see, this fireplace being just a tiny glimpse of the color explosion that is the hotel. Not only is this fireplace chic, modern and invigorating, it’s also outdoors. Major bonus!

Who’s ready to spend Valentine’s day cuddled up in front of one of these babies? I am!

Hug those you love extra close today. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

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Gratitude.

Well, I can tell you what I am most grateful for right now: the fact that I am heading to Tahoe with my family in a few short hours! It’s becoming an annual trip, and although it’s quick, it feels just right.

As I continue this gratitude journal, I am finding specific people, characteristics and events that I am continuously grateful for. Example- my sister. Each day may be something specific about her & our relationship that I am grateful for, but in the end, I am always just grateful for her.

- Monday morning was warm & the birds were literally chirping. It made for a beautiful walk to work, especially on an early Monday morning!

-I am grateful for new friends that expand my horizons and help me grow as person. Look Ma, I’m making new friends!

-A passion for interior design. I love working with people to turn their houses into home they truly love.

-A passion for the simple things in life. A quite morning. A good beer. Little details at a party that make someone extra happy ( I love a good party!).

-Another re-accuring theme: travel. I am so thankful I grew up in a family where travel was essential. I prefer to be on a plane once a month, if I can make it happen. I’m thankful I’m not on a plane alone (which is fine too & just as fun), but also spending time traveling with the people I love.

The photo above is from our wedding day in the Nines Hotel room where I got ready. “Nothing in the past or future will ever feel like today.”  Pretty good quote for a wedding day, yes?

Have a wonderful weekend & be grateful!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Photo by Niki Rhodes.

Gratitude.

Hello friends! Hope everyone had a wonderful week. This weekend should be jam packed with Portland events; a friends birthday, a trip to the Opera, a night at the Winter Hawks game + the Super Bowl & probably some house hunting in between.

Here’s what I am grateful for this week:

-My parents insanely savvy business knowledge. After owning their own company for 2 decades + a handful before that, I know I have so much to learn from them & am thankful they are great teachers in this field.

-I am thankful for where I am at in my life professionally and personally. For someone with a late birthday & no younger siblings, I am always the youngest person around. I’ve embraced the fact that most people think I am older than I actually am as a positive thing.

-I am thankful for Zach planning double date nights this weekend. I look forward to a fancy date night tonight at the Opera & a beer + pizza filled date night at the Winter Hawks game for Saturday!

-For supportive friends & family during our house hunting process. We’re tired. We’re ready. And I am sure our circle of family + friends are tired of hearing about it, but supportive none the less.

-On to house hunting again: I think I’ve finally learned what patience is! Never thought that day would come…

What are you thankful for this week? Do share!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Chandeliers

I know outdoor chandeliers are no new concept, but ever since I’ve started dreaming and scheming for a girlfriends outdoor vineyard wedding this summer, I’ve become slightly obsessed with the idea. The drama! The flair! The light!

I simply love the idea for events, but I also love the idea for dressing up a backyard too. As we’ve been on the house hunt, I will soon have my very own back yard for the first time e-v-e-r. I’m thinking it might need a chandelier. Let’s see if I can convince the Mr. on that one though!

This Ikea chandelier could do the trick. It is also ideal for outside because well, it’s 40 bucks and really won’t last more than one summer, let alone one impromptu rain storm. Here’s what I’m going for (I’ll take the house too…)

What do you think? Am I crazy? In my opinion, chandeliers are always a good idea. Champagne too.

Happy Thursday!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

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Gratitude

Another week down, another week filled with gratitude. After only being at this for 3 weeks, it truly gets harder as each week passes. With each day though, my appreciation for the little things grows & I am able to grasp a broader range of moments I can be grateful for.

-I am thankful for a few quiet, peaceful and restorative minutes eating lunch outside on a beautiful sunny, but very very cold Portland day. You gotta do what you gotta do to get that vitamin D in PDX this time of year! Our dry & sunny weather also allowed me to take a quick walk up into the West Hills one evening for some mini-exercise and a killer view.

-Simple pleasures in life such as a lazy Saturday morning spent sleeping in and walking to a local bakery for breakfast.

- More & more friends are getting engaged! It’s such a wonderful, celebratory time in our lives as we all begin to truly settle down with the ones we love. I know this period won’t last forever, which is more cause for celebration, on top of the general giddiness.

-An invigorating lunch with my sister as we dreamed and schemed about upcoming adventures together as a power team. OH YEA, WORLD!

-Zach knocked it outta the park with husband duties this week, including breakfast in bed to cure a morning migraine.

Also, what do you think about the quote above? I was instantly drawn to it when I first snapped this photo in Venice at the Guggenheim Museum.

Have a great weekend!

Carpe Diem,
Mandy

Happy Monday

By now, you know I’m all about positive change. If you don’t like something about your life: change it. Only you can. I spotted these quotes yesterday and wanted to share them to brighten up this Monday (that came far too quickly)!

Life is all a view point and a choice. We have the choice to view tribulations as opportunity. We have the choice to seize the day  today. It may not be easy, but at least we have the choice.

Another blurb I found mentioned, “Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue, you will change.”  I think the same goes for fear; fear of the future & of what we can have in this world. It holds us back because sometimes what we want is really awesome and really big and we convince ourselves through fear that it’s undeserving. In actuality, the best part happens when we continue and we change and we grow.

I found the first quote via Sara Tucker’s Blog (on an eloquently written post about babies & marriage) and I think I’m going to need it in a giant frame asap. It is such a beautiful quote and delicate reminder how crazy-awesome love is. Let’s be wildly faithful today, shall we?

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

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Gratitude.

Happy Friday, friends!! So far, I have no plans for this entire weekend and I am quite excited about it. I must admit, this weeks gratitude mission was much harder than last weeks. Being the first week, it was easy to write down all the ” big things” (husband, family, etc). This week was a typical routine week, so it forced me to really appreciate each day & all the little things that happen.

1. Old friends who stand the test of time. A dear friend of mine asked me to be a bridesmaid and words can not describe how excited I am! <3

2. New friends who in some time, will become old friends as well. I am so thankful for the positive light all my friends shine on my life. It is truly a blessing that has been made extra apparent as I get older.

3. YOGA. Holy cow, I think I would be slightly insane if I didn’t practice yoga. I am thankful I get at least one hour of “me” time via yoga and the pure piece of mind it provides. For me, it cures all bad days.

4. Portland. As I’ve been walking to work *frozen* this week, I’ve been trying to appreciate our seasons rather than hyperventilate inside my puffy coat, scarf and beanie (it hasn’t been easy). I also first hand experienced what could have been a Portlandia episode regarding a woman’s French Bulldog getting cancer because of paint fumes. Ohhhhhh Portland (I love you).

5. I am thankful for how much fun Zach and I can have in the kitchen together, especially when cooking a big meal for guests. A. because I am a terrible cook, so it would be miserable if he was too. B. He has such a good time cooking, it inspires me to enjoy the process as well.

What are you thankful for this week? Hope everyone has a relaxing weekend!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

*Snapshot from my iPhone in NYC.