The Up's & Down's of Interior Design

James is taking Interior Design this term.

It counts as an art credit that he needed

and he thought it would be fun.

I have to admit, I get a kick out of watching

my cute business man navigate the artistic waters.

Let me just say, my husband is a SPONGE when it comes to facts...

Especially the ones that he's really interested in. So, I never

really imagined that he'd be asking me for help with his homework.

But...he does.

And it makes me feel really cool.

I guess the only real downside to him delving into the

rich aesthetic world of interior design is that...

...with knowledge comes power.

When we were first engaged I asked,

"James, someday when we have a house will you

let me paint the walls whatever color I want?"

You have to understand, I grew up with white everything.

In fact, I'm pretty sure that aside from crimson red,

white is probably my dad's favorite color.

He loves his white cars, white shirts and white walls.

So, you can imagine my elation when James agreed to allow

me my right as an artist to practice my aesthetic freedom

in our marriage. That pretty much sealed the deal for me :)

Well now, friends, James knows what bay windows are

and the proper triangular placement of kitchen appliances

and the reason you never place a piano against an exterior wall.

What is a wife to do?

Well, I went to his class, that's what.

I can't have him getting "ahead of the game" on me.

:)

I'm intrigued to see how much of an opinion he interjects

on my 15 "home decor"-related boards on Pinterest that I've

created as inspiration for our (my) ideal dream home.

Well, I'll tell you what,

it's a good thing we're on the same team.

...and it's probably a good thing we won't have a house for a while.

We've got plenty of time to merge our dream homes into one...

or for James to forget everything he's currently learning...

...and go back to letting me do my thing.

Hee hee!

Hey, a girl can dream ;)

Letter To Myself

As Louis Armstrong sings

"I'm goin' to sit right down and write myself a letter..."

Yep, I even used my own handwritten font :)

Don't let yesterdays dreams wait any longer.

Inspiration is precious.

Because Pilates is the BEST!

(No need to answer these questions, they are purely rhetorical)

Do you have back problems?

Do you have love handles?

Do you want tighter abs?

Do you have good balance?

Are you flexible?

How's your posture?

My answer to you is one word: Pilates.

I am bias, but Pilates, in my opinion, is the purest form of full body exercise.

Many of the techniques used in Pilates are also used in Physical Therapy.

I've struggled with back issues (aka scoliosis) since junior high.

FYI, scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine and,

as some of you may be able to attest, it's not enjoyable.

On top of that, I (before college) was not athletic...like, at all.

I had never played a sport, danced, ran, swam, nothing.

Well, circumstances being what they were in college,

I needed some "easy" elective classes...so I turned to fitness.

Tennis. Spinning. Pilates. Marathon Training.

Hallelujah! An athlete was born!

I can talk about my other classes later, but right now,

I'm here to preach Pilates...and preach I will.

(The class I took is called "Pilates Reformers" where they use awesome equipment like this)

First week: my back aches and pains were GONE!

No, the curvature in my back has not been reversed,

but the muscles around my spine were strengthened and thus

were able to help support my spine.

Now, Pilates is a MUST for me. I will never not do Pilates.

First of all, my back would hate me, but secondly, it just makes

life's everyday activities that much more enjoyable.

I sit in a chair for 8 hours a day.

Without Pilates, my back pains have turned into a throbbing

headache by the end of the day...which, I might add, is healed by...PILATES!

Anyway, it's my "go to" for any physical ailment.

If I took Ibuprofen for every headache or backache I had,

I would not have a liver left ;)

So, hopefully you can get a glimpse of my passion for it...

But ya know, as Levar Burton says on Reading Rainbow,

"You don't have to take my word for it."

Here's a really good Beginners Pilates video I found.

Go ahead...

You know you want to.

You're welcome!

Glamtastic

I'm SO excited!

See these pictures?

Time for another old school photo shoot...

Starring me and James!

TONIGHT!

The theme? Old school glam!

Easter, Birthdays & Family

Was Sunday not one of the most beautiful days you've ever lived?

I wouldn't have minded if our bishop had decided to hold

church out on the grass for just one Sunday, I think.

After church, James and I set up a hammock and a blanket,

had a little picnic, read scriptures and napped outside.

"ahhh."

I LOVE Spring weather. Thank you, Mother Nature!

For Easter Dinner, some of James' siblings came over for dinner

(out on the patio, of course)

and James and I made homemade pizzas.

Mmmmm, now THAT'S some pretty food!

Tomato Basil Pesto Pizza

BBQ Chicken & Red Onion Pizza

Chicken Alfredo & Avacado Pizza

Tomato, Basil & Olive Pizza

What can we say? We love pizza...

I've even almost got the dough throwing thing down.

You think I'm kidding, don't you?

I'm not.

Our sister-in-law Emily made this gorgeous bundt cake for the

birthday celebration of our niece & nephew and James' sister Ruth.

Pretty, huh? Plus, it was delicious.

Oh, and we dipped some strawberries.

They weren't amazingly gorgeous, but hey, it's fruit dipped in chocolate.

Who cares what it looks like?

Voilà! I just think it's SO pretty.

(Maybe it's just the natural lighting,

I don't get out of the basement much)

And here we are!


Look at our cute family :)

Hope you enjoyed the beautiful Easter holiday!


Here is my favorite Easter video:

I know He lives.

And that means everything to me.

Ah. I love life!

Keep finding beautiful reasons to be happy, lovely blog friends!

He + She + Pizza = Love

It was here,

in THIS very restaurant,

that James and I enjoyed our first date.

A waiter strummed a mandolin and gently serenaded our

first glances across a large steamy margherita pizza.

I twirled my hair flirtatiously as James regaled me with stories 

of his mission to Italy and his love for dance.

...

Ok, ok...maybe there wasn't a serenade...

...and, ok, maybe I wasn't as charming

as the main chick in your average chick-flick.

Though, I dare to say that I had at least a small inkling that

the young man smiling across the table at me had some seriously

impressive markings on my "future someone" checklist.

Yes, I dare say even a small fire was sparked that evening.

:)

Thus, in celebration of our, now, well-kindled flame,

James and I went back to Arella Pizzaria

in celebration of 1 year of dates and happiness and pizza.

Aw, look at 'im.

Still as charming as ever.

Hooray for love & pizza!

Here's to another year of love and dates and serenades and fireworks.

I love you, Jamesy!

Graphic Design

Hey, did you know that I'm a graphic designer?

Oh cool.

Just checking.

Click the "Design" ribbon on the left to view my portfolio...

And, hey, if you like my stuff,

Feel free to contact me @

lindsaykaydesign {at} gmail {dot} com

           

Thanks!

Come what may...

Hello, dear friends.

Thank heavens for Good Friday
and, WAHOO, a 4-day weekend!

How have y'all been?

I have to admit, for me, these past two weeks have been less than enjoyable.

Work's been a little nuts...but, ya know...whatever. Nuts happens.

Thank heavens for our fabulous General Conference,

in all it's shining spiritual beacon-ness.


Last night I needed a breather, so I went to the temple, because,
I don't know if you noticed, but something magical happens there...


TIME STANDS STILL


and


all the beautiful things in my life seem to say,
"Hi, remember me?"


I do remember them.
And, wow, there are a lot of them (beautiful things, that is).


I'm grateful for the reminder.


After I got home, I decided to go to one of my
very favorite places on the interweb and I found this talk:


"Come What May & Love It"
by, one of my favorite men ever, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin


I cried. I smiled.
I remembered how blessed I am.

"Come what may"...Ok.
"...& Love it" Hmmm.


Easier said than done? Maybe.
But when you take a moment to realize that a perfectly loving
Father in Heaven is meticulously orchestrating a perfect scenario
just for you, well then...it makes it much easier to "love it".


We just gotta do our best and ask for His help.
Is that so hard?
Notice I didn't say do "her best" or "his best".
All you have to worry about is what YOU can do.


Sweet.


I think I can handle that.
Not by myself,
but, thankfully, we are never alone.


That is beautiful.
Life is beautiful.


No matter what's up next,
I have a good feeling that if I pay attention to the beauty of it,
it'll be pretty easy to love!


So, come what may...
You heard me.
Bring it on!





Congratulations, you have just read my 600th post!!!
:)

First Sight

March 27, 2011

It was a Sunday morning.

I woke up, got ready, grabbed my book bag

and hustled out the door for church.

Just another beautiful Sunday...

Sister Larsen asked if I'd come to her Temple Prep class to

share my testimony of the temple and my recent endowment.

I happily arrived at the small classroom and joined the class,

seated around a table, and took in my surroundings.

"Who's the cute guy sitting next to Liz?

Boyfriend? No, they've got to be related.

Brother maybe? Hmmmmm..."

Little did I know that THAT "cute guy" sitting across

the table from me in my temple prep class would be,

8 months later, kneeling across the alter from me in the temple.

Yes, dear friends,

I'm happy to announce that I've OFFICIALLY known

my wonderful husband James for

1 YEAR!

Best year of my life (thus far) I might add!

It's crazy how quickly time flies!

In fact, it's crazy how quickly life can change lanes.

I have to admit, 1 year ago I had no idea what adventures
were in store for me. I have already learned SO much, too!


I'm excited to keep learning and growing with my James.
I couldn't have planned a more perfect life for myself.
Heavenly Father must really love me or something.
How else could life be so beautiful?


Yep.
All those happy years of playing "house" were telling the truth!
Being a wife is fun :)

I love you, James!

Happy First Sightiversary, Love!