MIA

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Apologies for being MIA the past couple of days

Migraines can get a girl down and put her behind the eight ball, it doesn't totally put her out of commission but...a request to curate objects, a photo shoot, new clients and various other exciting distractions can totally dominate one's days and nights thus preventing blogs from being birthed.  I promise to be back and consistent by asap.  Until then I will leave you with a couple of juicy tidbits....

Today was healthy saturday.  The day to weigh in and see how our diet is going.  How did you do?  Were you good this week?  Did you lose weight or better yet did you just pain eat healthy?  Let me know.  I lost 1 lb and started Fly Wheel which is a spinning class that totally kicked my butt!  Can wait to go back for me!  Did I really just admit that? 

Here is a great recipe for you to try!

Via Whole Living

• YieldServes

• 
  
• 
  
• 4 halibut fillets (5 ounces each), skin remove
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 12 corn tortillas
• 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
• 4 radishes, thinly sliced
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup 2 percent Greek yogurt
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

Directions

1. Rub fillets with olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill fish, flipping once, until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Flake fish into large pieces, discarding any bones.
2. Toast corn tortillas over a kitchen burner using tongs or wrap in parchment-lined foil and heat in oven, 5 minutes. Divide fish evenly among tortillas and top with cabbage, radishes, cilantro, and scallions. Season with salt. Serve with yogurt and lime wedges.

Remember....

Via

Get Out There and make it happen!

Phase #1 Of Living Authentically - Needs

Today I want to talk about the questions I ask you to answer on Monday.  Did you make your notebook?  Here's a picture of mine.  I bought it at Walmart(bet you thought mine would be Kate Spade or something didn't you)  In my efforts to be  "authentic" I must admit I want this notebook to be a workhorse.  I want to be able to drag it around and let it visit the school of hard knocks in the bottom of my bag or where ever it lands.  Inside is completely outfitted  with my plastic sleeves and sections which you will see later!  

Would love to see a pic of your book..  

Now to begin to answers the questions!  We are going to start with one aspect and each week talk about area we need to address to live our best life in our home.

If you were my client, I would ask you what your budget is first, but since you are in charge of this project, we will discuss budget last for a couple of reasons.  My main reason for discussing needs first, is because I feel authentic living begins with how you live. The pretty things and fluff come later in the process. My interior design practice has always focused on function first, then aesthetics. Today we are  going to talk about functionality of your home. Let's get down and dirty!  Get the analytical process out of the way first, so we can begin to have fun!  yeah, yeah, we all want the pretty, but does your house work?  I'm talking really work for your lifestyle,your needs and that of your family? I promise you will learn if you stick with me!

Section #1 Needs - Every homes need are different.  The needs for a single person are different than the needs for a family of five.  Needs are always changing.  Your fifteen year olds feet may be dangling off the twin size bed now. 

If you really haven't thought about your needs, here are some questions to delve deeper into the process and to help you get started.  I would suggest you first write down your thoughts and then have a family meeting asking your family about their needs.  You might even interview each member of the family.  I'll bet you will be surprised at the feedback

 you get, I know I was. 

1) Does your home fit your needs and the needs of your family? Ask each member about their needs.

2) Do you have rooms in your home that are rarely used?

3) Do you have needs for additional rooms and don't

have them?  i.e. home office, music room,study

3) Has your family changed since you bought your home?

i.e. kids older, empty nester,etc

4)What needs are we talking about addressing:

a)sleeping b)storage c)functionality

d)play areas e) eating  f) work  g) relaxing

h)entertaining i) extended family needs-guest

(if i missed anything please tell me)

5) Are you willing to do what it takes to meet those needs?

Really think about these needs and write them down.    This is the beginning of the process.  It isn't an easy task, but a necessary one!  Meet me back next Monday to discuss more on needs. Tomorrow we will talk about clutter and how to simply and cut down on clutter!  

Piper Collection, Living Authentically & Who Won!!!

I am so sorry, I haven't gotten my blog post out today! To be totally honest, I have had a migraine all day and haven't felt like posting anything.  That is about as "authentic" as I can get for today!  I have so much to share with you and can't wait to start the series,  but it will have to wait til tomorrow!

I do want to let you in on...

The Hottest New Collection Premiering 

At The January Atlanta Market!!!!!

in case you are going!

Piper Collection 
Showing at The Atlanta Market
Building 1 Space 7L- 29
Jan. 11th-15th

 If you are shopping the Atlanta Market this week, you don't want to miss out on this incredible collection!  Daughter of Cindy Caudle,one of Charlotte's premier luxury designers,Whitney has proven she has a creative gene of her own.  While getting her  degree in textiles and apparel design, Whitney interned at Chan Lu and David Yurman.  After graduation she decided rather than work for someone else she would take a leap of faith and  create her own couture pillow line.   She will definitely be a designer to watch!  If you stop by to see her please tell her I sent you!  If you aren't going to market but want more info on the line, "Like" Piper Collection on Facebook Here!!! Piper Collection website coming soon!

Now for the moment many of you have been waiting for:

The Winner of the Tickets to 

Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis 

Design Camp

Jan. 30 - Feb 1st 

Atlanta, Ga 

Drumroll Please...

 I used the random order supplier and the computer generated a random list.  Additional entries were added each time you commented, twitted or blogged about the camp.  The numbers were put in the random generator:

Congrats To Christy White of 
The Life Of A Modern Housewife!!!

and 

 Debbie Basnett of Vintage Scout Interiors!!!!

Please contact me via Lmende@gmail.com asap to claim your ticket to camp!  You must claim your prize by 6 p.m. (eastern time)tomorrow night (1/10) or an new winner will be chosen.  (Lisa Mende Design blog retains the right to name a new winner should the winners chosen be unable to attend.)

I wish I had a ticket to give each of you!  For those that didn't win, there is a promotion going on right now!
 Grab a friend and join us! 
  

Watch this video to learn more how you can get a discount
on the regular camp tuition!   It's an awesome deal but tickets are selling fast, so sign up soon to get the discount! 

Click Here To Register Now!

Watch the video below to hear about all the

great speakers and events that are planned!

5 Warning Signs You Aren't "Living Authentically"

 Tomorrow I will start

the home series but today let's talk about self...

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As long as I can remember I have always been the girl that didn't want to be like everyone else. I don't know why, I just prided myself on making my own way and being my own person.  Are you like that? 

Now that I look back over my life I think I have always wanted to just be me and no one else. Call it "living authentically" or just being stubborn, that's how I have always been.  If I got a red sweater and three other people got the red sweater, I didn't want it any more! I know I drove my mother crazy at times being that way.  Do you like to chose things that are different or are you only happy when you get what everybody else has?  Here are some questions to ask yourself to see how authentic you are living:

1) Do you constantly compare yourself to others?

(always thinking the grass is greener on the other side?)

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2) Do you jump on a bandwagon once someone

 else has thought of an idea and copy it?

(If you are a blogger do you constantly strive for

 original content?)

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3) Do you look to others for your "style"

 ( i.e. think of the last pair of shoes you bought

did you buy them because they sang to your soul

 or because you saw them on someone else?)

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4) Do you constantly blame others for not

 being who you want to be or for not doing

 what you want to do?

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5) Are you unhappy with yourself? Your Home? 
(Where do you rank on a Scale of 1-10)

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If your answer to any of these questions is yes, you may not be living authentically.  I invite you to join me on a journey to the authentic self and hence your authentic home. This series is going to encompass the many faucets of 

"Living Authentically".  

As I said before, in order to have an authentic home, you must first become authentic yourself.  Are You? Check on Sunday to see what I say about ways to become the authentic self.

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Tomorrow we will discuss the questions I asked you to answer for yourself and your family on Monday's blog post.  If you missed that post you can access the questions here!  Did you get your "Living Authentically" notebook made?  If not, click here for details!  (I'll share my own tomorrow)

Once we get through the basics, which should take the rest of this week, then we will have a regular calendar as follows, this is a rough outline and may change at any time, since I tend to get better ideas or bored and want to change things up!  If you have a topic you would like addressed, feel free to email me at  Lmende@gmail.com

Mondays: Setting Weekly Intentions for the week,

The "Living Authentically Notebook"/Mailbag

(Mondays will be dedicated to discussing our setting intentions for the week, notebook topics, any questions you have for me, etc)

Tuesdays: Toss Up! Sometimes it will be
Authentically Me- Where I talk about something
on my heart or
All Through The House

( Interiors That Speak To Your Soul,

 how to honor each room in the house & more)

Wednesdays: 

Words from the Pros - I have an

amazing group of designers who will be

 guest posting on "Living Authentically"

Thursdays: "Authenticity through Creativity"

(DIY's, and much more...)

Fridays: "Creating Space"Finding Room: Organizing your life/home (Getting rid of things that drag you down emotionally,creating more space in your home, & more)

Saturdays: Authentically Healthy

(covering topics like Weight loss, recipes, tips to be your best self)

Sundays: Connecting Authentically with Self and Family!

Exercises, spiritual growth, traditions, events

Each day will be a mini series within the series!

Each post will have a little recap of things we are discussing and often an exercise for you to participate in.  Always there will be a tie back, to how you can do this in your own home. 

If you want you can print the post off answer the questions and stick in plastic sleeve in your notebook to refer to later.  Who knows I might get really fancy with photoshop and make some cute little pages you can download! 

 God willing and the creek don't rise!

DON'T FORGET TODAY IS THE LAST DAY!!!!

 TO ENTER THE DESIGN CAMP GIVEAWAY TO LORI DENNIS & KELLI ELLIS'S DESIGN CAMP IN ATLANTA, GA ONJAN. 30TH - FEB. 1ST! 
 CLICK HERE TO ENTER!!!
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW

5 Steps to "Living Authentically" / Home!

Today is the beginning of a new series

"Living Authentically" in your home.  I was trying to decide

how I wanted to start this series and then received this video from my friend Paige.  It is the perfect kick off to my new series "Living Authentically!

Please watch!

Now do you agree that "self talk" is half the battle?

 Positive attitudes are contagious aren't they? Don't you want to be like her? Positive attitude is a by product of "living authentically".  If you are doing the things that make your heart sing, you have a positive attitude. your attitude it reflects to others around you.  Let's find what makes you happy so you can begin to live an authentic life.  To find your authentic self, you must come to turns with what being "authentic" really means to you.  Do you know?  

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Being authentic to yourself is knowing your inner, truest essence of what you enjoy, what inspires you and makes your heart sing.  

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Living authentically is when your core values are reflected in the actions and decisions you make in every aspect of your life. It's not doing something because everyone else is doing it.  It's about being in touch with who you really are! Once you are truly happy with yourself you can then create an authentic home.  Once you find your authentic self,create your authentic home and life reflects who you are, you will be singing like the little girl in the video.   Let's get started!

Questions to ask yourself: 

How do you view your home?  Does it speak to your soul?  Does it meet your needs? Does it meet the needs of your family? Is it in harmony with your very essence or does it leave you feeling anxious, frustrated or aggravated? 

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Have you ever thought about what drives your purchases?

 When you choose things for your home, do you  buy things you think will please others? Do you always second guess your purchases?

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The genuine path to happiness is not bought with things.  The smallest details of your day can provide you with exactly what you need to be content with your home. What am I talking about?  Well, that is different for each of us, so you must find it out what that is for yourself.

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The road to building an authentic life is done one way!  One step at a time! It doesn't happen without time, work and introspect.  

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You must find out who you are, before you can possibly know what you want out of life. Are you ready to get started on your journey to making your home and authentic?

Let's Do it!

Here's your homework for today!

Pick a pretty notebook and claim it for this series.  Call it "Living Authentically" or whatever you like. I would suggest a notebook that you can add loose leaf pages to or vinyl sleeves that way you can always add to the book anything your heart desire.  It's a great place to keep all your thoughts/projects/etc for your home.

Here's what your notebook will be like:

(for now, we will add more sections as we go along)

Section #1 

Needs

 Inspirations

 Budget

 Values

 Goals for my home/family

Section #2 Current Projects:

Make a page for each month of the calendar year

January - December

Section #3: - Accomplishments:

Make a page for each month of the calendar year

January - December

To Start: 

Write the following questions in your book in Section #1 and answer them honestly.  Each time you read a question, take note of where your mind goes first.  That will tell you what you really think about the questions. We will take each of these questions and discuss them, but first you must answer them for yourself.

 Section #1 Needs/Inspirations/Budget/Values/Goals/ 

1) What are your needs and the needs of your family-

    functionality, dreams, etc.

2) What inspires you?  Colors, fabrics, art,

    scripture, music, nature, etc.

3) Budget - How much money do you have to spend

4) What values are important for your family?

5) What are your goals for your home?

 Section #2 Current Projects:

January - 5 Goals/Projects for your house -

write down 5 projects you want to accomplish this month

 Section #3 -Accomplishments

January 31st - What did I accomplish this month - on the last day of the month we are going to look over our projects and see what we accomplished.

Once you do this you are on your path to creating an

 authentic home for you and your family!!!

It's going to be a fun month!  I can't wait to see

 what we accomplish together!  Meet me back here tomorrow to hear about my word of the year and more!  We discuss our notebook again on Wednesday! If you don't get your notebook done til the weekend, don't worry, it's fine! No pressure, you can catch up on the post any time.  The important thing is to really think through the questions.

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Don't forget to Enter to Win a Ticket for 

Design Camp with Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis

In Atlanta, Ga Jan. 30th - Feb 1

It's going to be awesome!  Details to Enter Here!!!!
Make sure you follow the rules for entering to qualify!!!!