10 Year Plan

I'm pretty much positive I'm in the midst of a mid-life crisis at the age of 25. Lately, I've felt like a nomad with no direction. I keep grasping for inspiration and passion but feel stifled in this little town where if you want opportunity in the world of design you have to make your own. This is why I think blogging is so important to me, it's a release but even more so, it's a chance to share in other's life experiences in the design world by reading about what they are doing.

Have you ever heard the saying "When you make plans God laughs"? God has His own plan for you, and He gives you your specific gifts for a reason.

I honestly don't know if it has been my own decisions that have led me to where I am or if I'm in a stage of God's plan for me. Call me a control freak but I feel so much more comfortable with a plan, and an end game to keep in mind and keep me working hard towards that goal.

Last night, I started a powerpoint slide with a year by year plan for my professional goals. Who does that? Me. I've done it before, but on paper. I feel somewhat better. I still don't have it all figured out (I have alternate scenarios listed on each slide and only got to year 4), but at least it's given me a little clarity and it's something to look back at and see that although I may be a ways away from my goals, I'm on track and the most important thing I do right now is take care my little family and relish in these first years of Ella's life.

First ride in Momma's car in her forward-facing car seat.

A milestone hit! 

Here's a little inspiration board for Ella's toddler room in the works:

1. heart art inspiration via joeandcheryl.com- Make my own, but different: Free!
2. chandelier via pbteen- $99 on sale
3. curtains via pbkids-$ per panel but making my own cost: $21+ hardware (not yet purchased)
4. will we have rainbows print via makingitlovely.com- Free for you and me! Thanks Nicole!
5. anywhere chair via pbkids no longer available in this print but others can be purchased for $119
6. white chenille area rug via homedecorators.com -$79
7. easel via ikea- $15
8. paint- Valspar Grand Hotel Mackinaw Blue-$32 at Lowe's

Jumping on the Pinterest Challenge Bandwagon

This quarter's challenge is brought to us by these lovely ladies:

Sherry of Young House Love

Katie of Bower Power

Cassie of Hi Sugarplum!

Erin of The Great Indoors

I bet your dying to know which of my many pins I chose to DIY, huh? Well wait no more because here is my inspiration piece de resistance:

via by way of Ideal Home

Pretty gorg right? I went to our local hardware/cabinet shop today and will paying our bill (over $1k, yowzers!) stopped and asked if they still had the $1 bin of knobs I had remembered seeing. They did in fact have some knobs left and they let me take 10 home for FREE. How nice is that?! Of course none were glass or sculpted like  the beauts above but you really can't beat free so there was no way I was going to turn them down and spend $4-12 per knob.

The coat rack is almost done and will be debuted on Wednesday next week with the rest of Pinterest Challenge DIY peeps.

Hard at Work

Projects abound for Ella's new room!

What I'm working on:

What Ella's "working" on:

Ella A. Lately