And When I'm Not Busy Gestating?

Or working my 9-5 job in design software sales....

I like to say that I am an interior designer...but just to be clear- i don't truly believe that, but it is the easiest way to describe what I went to school for and have passion about.  Many people don't realize that the interior design profession is just like any other professional career like an Architect or a Doctor or a Lawyer etc.  Although not every state enforces this strict definition that mandates certain things...and many people who are good at decorating and such are called interior designers on their business cards, there are real tests and certifications that have very little to do with pillows and paint colors.  See the NCIDQ exam if you are interested.

This way of summing things up that I saw on Facebook recently by my design friends says it pretty well

So without getting on a big soap box about interior design, I just wanted to write about this for those wondering what the heck you could possibly do in school for 4 years on the topic of Interior Design, and why it is slightly frustrating when people assume you spent that time learning the PERFECT way to arrange your living room (sometimes I wish I knew more about that).

Being a good decorator often is a natural talent in my opinion, but if you want to learn how to really design space, pull together a concept in your mind, while creating a set of plans that someone else can follow... that is what interior design school was worth to me.  I attended the University of Georgia's Lamar Dodd School of Art program.

In the past I worked 3 different real world jobs, and let me tell you it was very stressful with lots of pressure, longgg hours and plenty of liability since you are affecting the interior walls of a space and such.  Here is a shot of my senior thesis project which was theoretical of course, but I have worked on real world projects that were built as well.  For more of my work, check out my portfolio page at www.coroflot.com/kmyers.

Senior Thesis Project: My take on a Young Adult Library

First house that I got to design and see built in Athens, GA.  Located on Poplar St.

Nowadays, I just use what I know for my own home, and yes most of it does come down to "just decorating" mainly because that is all we can afford :). Trust me, I would love to blow some walls up in this place and redo our master bathroom!  And since my day job does not provide a lot of creativity, I like to get back to design projects whenever I can in my spare time.  Whether it is graphic design for a friend's wedding invitations, or CD Album, or just my own little one's happy haven of a nursery. I will be posting on that soon!

Interior design will always be a passion of mine I suspect, but right now just doesn't seem to be my season of life to practice professionally.

"Whatever is Given is a Gift"

So how do we train ourselves to be grateful?

When life isn't always a honeymoon in Italy...

A long time ago, when Tom and I were at the infancy of our dating- he gave me the first material gift of our relationship, aside from little things like Gatorades delivered to my dorm room which he claimed was his way of flirting :).  It was the Oprah Winfrey 20th Anniversary DVD Collection.  No, this was not out of the blue that he thought to give me this...I had just noticed it one day at the bookstore and told him how I always loved watching Oprah, but I always missed it at 4pm everyday.

Well, that was about 5 years ago and I still bring the DVD set out and re-watch certain portions of it.  One segment called "Ah-HA moments" with the author of "Simple Abundance" the gratitude journal- really spoke to me as Tom was getting ready to leave for possibly 2 plus months.  She talked about the transformative power of writing down 5 things every night in a journal that you are grateful for.  They could be big or small, but you had to find 5 things.  There is real science behind this, as Deborah Norville talks about her biggest surprise in this topic:

"Biggest surprise? "That this science existed. So many self-help ideas are like meringue—you take a big bite, and there's nothing there. What I discovered was the 'there.' One study from the University of California, Davis, actually quantified what happens when people are grateful. They really are more optimistic, more apt to help others, more joyful, and genuinely healthier. Related studies have found they're more resilient, less stressed, and better strategic thinkers. All because they focus on what's right in life."

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Deborah-Norville-on-the-Power-of-Gratitude#ixzz1mYyVC1K5

Why is this important to me now?
I am on the path to the hardest thing I will ever do...being a mom, and also approaching the experience that can be terrifying to most women: birth.  These two things in particular, have made me become increasingly interested in the power of our minds, whether it is praying to God for me or meditation for a secular approach. I love that this excludes no one, but can change anyone.  I can already sense a better outlook on life just from this small change of focusing on the good everyday.  Tom is really one of the most optimistic people I have ever met, but the change has to come from within myself.

I admit some nights I fell asleep without writing, which is why my list is a bit shorter(and I also excluded quite a few that were too personal), But here is it:

1. Great friends visiting
2. thoughtful family members who sent cards for our birthdays
3. sunny days
4. free time to do whatever I please
5. staying busy all day while Tom is away
6. the delicious food at Silkes Bakery
7. having money to shop for myself
8. our group of caring friends who helped us move for 3 days!
9. feeling so loved by many people
10. my mother for giving birth to me (today was my birthday)
11. sarah jo and meagan's company
12. my new found spark to research and understand the history of Christianity
13. my husband
14. time alone from my husband to make me remember how great he is
15. Tom's faith
16. Tom's family
17. my paycheck
18. bubble baths with lavender
19. sunsets
20. me time
21. hearing tom's voice and laugh
22. my caring company i work for
23. Joe A. giving me his spare Droid after I ran mine over
24. a Saturday with nothing to do
25. cooking for others
26. always being able to fall asleep
27. long showers
28. tom's friendship with his fellow troop
29. my mom helping me get a new car
30. breakfast casserole
31. finally having a microwave back
32. all of my sisters
33. talks with Tom
34. Elizabeth keeping me company on gchat most days
35. dinner at meagan's
36. mom and dad driving up to Nashville to get my car
37. long walks in my neighborhood
38. my sister candace and her cloth diaper knowledge
39. our baby
40. Tom coming home healthy
41. lunch at silkes with a new friend
42. tom being so helpful with cleaning
43. Publix- the service and unique food i can find now!
44. having the time and energy to cook
45. paydays
46. hours spent at the bookstore with Tom on a slow Saturday together

I hope that I can continue to practice this and improve the way I treat life's "gifts."  What do you do to stay optimistic and grateful?

~the damsel

Pregnancy Fashion

Is this an oxymoron?  Is it wasteful to worry about such a thing when it is so temporary and the clothes are so overpriced?  Maybe not if you can find the right pieces at the right price.  As I have said before, I think feeling good on the inside and out makes for a healthy and productive outlook!  I am here to give you some of my tips on where to find things for a good price and gather your collection that will make nine months of a changing body not so bad.  I started wearing maternity pieces pretty early to make the transition a little easier and comfortable for me.


Top 5 inexpensive stores to find your maternity staples


1. Sears- They carry a line that is owned by the expensive Pea in the Pod...but this line is just as good and a fraction of the cost.  It is called Two Hearts Maternity.
2. Kohls- They have really great stuff, and the price is right when they have their sales.
3. Macy's- Shop their clearance sections for the best stuff
4. Consignment stores that carry maternity items are a great value if you have them nearby.
5. Zulily- a great designer site that tells you about big 60-75% off sales on maternity/baby stuff.

My Top 10 most important staples so far....




1. Black yoga pants which are by the Two Hearts Maternity line from Sears.  I have one in a slack material and one in comfy cotton.  They are great because although they don't have the full belly panel, sometimes my belly just wants a breather from those lycra belly bands.

2. Dark Wash Boot Cut Jeans - Mine are similar to these from Kohls and are a good price when on sale- around 30 bucks. Kohls Maternity Boot Cut Jeans

3. Jeggings or Skinny Jeans- I like these from Motherhood Maternity for about $40 bucks or less:

4. Layering Tees that are long- I bought one of these in white from Pea in the Pod and I have worn it almost everyday- it is SO soft

5. Striped Shirts- because they just look so cute on round bellys! Except this model doesn't appear to even be pregnant...I got this shirt as a gift from my dear friend Annie from Motherhood Maternity

6. Leggings- Found some great ones at Sears and also Macy's-  I prefer the ones with cotton belly bands vs. the Lycra especially for warmer months or working out in them.
These ones from Old Navy are great for working out or lounging and only $12 bucks!
Close behind that are these from JC Penneys for about $18.

7. Open Cardigans to layer over tees and give you some more coverage.  These don't have to be maternity but here is what I mean, from Gap Maternity

8. Simple "I feel Special Dress" for showers and date nights or a wedding- Although I don't love the price of this one, the quality and simplicity looks just right from Blossom.

9. Empire Waist Top- This is a splurge but just one I liked for the fun color from Pea in the Pod

10. Drop Waist Tunic like this one with your leggings of course

~the damsel

Weeks 15-18 in photos of the belly

15 weeks

17 weeks

18 weeks

The first 3 months:marriage, pregnancy, and buying our first home

Well it is not for everyone, but for those of you who know what you want and want it NOW... my blog is for you :)  Some call it impulsive and reckless at times- but that is what I meant by the Mess part of my title.  I don't believe that we are meant to be mentally prepared for everything life hands us.

My favorite room of our new house

We really never had any set plans for any for this all to happen so quickly- although I could tell it was what we both wanted when we slumped a little after getting the first negative test (false negative of course).  I feel very blessed we were trusted with all of this responsibility.  We never thought we would be able to have a nice wedding and go on a honeymoon, and then we did.  We never thought we would get pregnant easily (based on medical reasons) and then we did.  And I definitely never thought buying a house would come this fast for us, but again God has provided us with all of these gifts , and we are just doing are best to accept them with grace.

Our 1974 Cape Cod (I think)

It can be tough to remember that while people may roll their eyes when they hear a couple so soon into marriage taking all this on, I have to stop and smell the roses and just say "thank you" for all we have been given.  We are bonding so much as a couple over all of these things, and the newlywed bliss is still the same I have to believe. We are trying our best to not take any time alone together for granted during these nine months, but then again I think that is the beauty of most Army relationships...you never do.

Tom's Epic Bookshelves- his favorite part of the house!

So I would have to say, the first three months have been pretty enlightening- I am finding myself growing up finally ( not completely) and it is kinda nice.  I have SO much to learn at this point, trust me I know.  But maybe you can avoid some of my mistakes I have already made...I'll have to do a post on things to NOT do when home buying soon... I have a long list.

~the damsel