Wise Words by Peter Marshall

This may not be a "pinterest" design, but it is a quote by own kin, which makes me extremely proud :)

Every day I recieve a devotional from sweet Miss Janey, my college pledge sister's mother. She writes about whatever is on her mind, and many times I feel like she's speaking directly to me (or the Lord is speaking through her), and it's just what I need to hear. Well, today, her devotional consisted of this prayer by Peter Marshall.

I rarely mention this, but our family (The LeSourd's) and the Marshall's have been joined together through marriage (is that even how you descibe that??) by my grandfather (Leonard LeSourd, Author and Guidepost's editor for 25 years) and the New York Times Best-selling author, Catherine Marshall. I often forget that we are not related by blood since we've always been so, so close.  To me, they have always my "grandmother" and "aunt and uncle" and "cousins". I NEVER put the word "step" in there. See this post for more background...but every time I read Peter Marshall or Catherine Marshall's words, I feel a HUGE sense of honor to be part of the family. 

And a needed sidenote: My grandfather was so, SO special. Kind of like "my dad kind-of-special." You know exactly what I mean if you know my Dad. But my Grandfather had a heart of gold, and most importantly, a heart for the Lord.

Click here to read my step-grandmother's amazing story, and how she married my precious grandfather, Leonard LeSourd.

And while researching this online, so I could share some relevant, interesting links with y'all, I came accross this gem. Click here to read this article. That's my grandfather to the very left. And that's my dad to the left in the picture to the right. I think I look so much like him here!

It's so fun to see and read things about your family, that you never knew...

Wise Words

Happy Friday everyone! Here are few "wise words" with some design inspiration included.

And this last one is my very favorite. It's sad but true—this quote describes me all too well:) Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

all images via pinterest

Wednesday Words

A M E N ! So easy to forget but so important remember.

Quote of the Week

I love this quote about design by Steve Jobs. Many people miss this and he's right — design isn't just about beauty; it's about functionality. It must work. It must make sense. And most of all, it must make a difference.

I recently watched the 60 Minutes re-run on Steve Jobs (again) and was struck by the complexity of this man. Yes, he was a genious, but he was also very difficult and ruthless — and a true workaholic. His obsession with acheiving perfection (no matter what the cost) led to some of the greatest achievements in the tech world ever. What an interesting man and a true design legend.

Well, I've never been busier in my life, both personally and professionally (which explains my recent blog absence.) I am so blessed because I truly LOVE what I do, but I haven't been able to come up for air lately. I can't wait to show you what I've been working on and haven't had a chance to share much with you...so please stay tuned.

Whenever I'm in the shower or driving or trying to go to sleep...I keep thinking about all of these things I want to blog about and share with you. I'll sit down to write and then the phone rings, I'm distracted by an email or a text, Bea barks, Idol or Parenthood comes on or Calder wakes up from a nap...and it's back to life and the things that matter. A lot of times the day comes and goes and I don't know where it went!

So, thanks faithful readers. I hope to be a "blogger" soon :)

Wednesday Words

I saw this quote on Instagram, by Whitney English, and I I had to stop and think about it for a second. How true is this? I looked up her blog and she had some wonderful insight here too.

I have so many friends going through so many painful things — painful, painful, painful things — like the death of a child, infertility, home wrecked by a tornado, lost job, depression...the list goes on and on. We're all surrounded by some sort of "struggle" whether it's in our own lives, our friends' lives or just on the news...it's there. But at some point (we have no clue when or how) we will all experience a great struggle, and it will be part of our story. I have to believe God uses those hard times and struggles to get us where he wants us to be at the end of the story.

Some heavy thoughts and words from a thankful heart this morning...

B E L I E V E

Here's our 2012 Christmas Card! I had so much designing this — and it was quite easy when you're working with such a sweet & scrumptious subject :) Chelsea Francis took the photo, and she did a wonderful job capturing our little Calder-bear!

I wanted to incorporate this card for one of my Wednesday Words of Wisdom posts because I love this verse on so many levels.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.

Luke 2:14

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

 

So simple but SO life changing when practiced daily.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

This is one of my very favorite quotes, and it just so happened to be my mom's senior quote in her high school yearbook. Wise words like these never go out of style. And here's another one just because it's been that kind of day!

I couldn't agree more this quote. Hope you're having a wonderful week, and yes, enjoy a damn cupcake! I actually did this morning! :)

Wednesday Words of Wisdom by Albert Hadley

I always heard about Interior Designer Albert Hadley growing up—being that my mom is an interior designer and my first name is Hadley. And believe it or not, I was not named after him, but by how my mom talked about this design icon, you would think I had been!

Even though I am many months late on posting this, I felt it would be wrong of me not to acknowledge the passing of the one and only, Albert Hadley. When I was browsing through the May-June 2012 issue of Veranda magazine, I was touched by the editor's tribute to Albert Hadley's life and work. What an interesting and talented man he was! He skillfully mixed classical and daring, modern details with a perfected eye.

And he sure was quotable:

"The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what's in or what's out. This is not an easy job."

"Flair is a primitive kind of style. It is innate and cannot be taught. It can be polished and refined. When a person has flair, a grounding in the principle of design, and self-discipline, that person has the potential of being an outstanding designer."

I love his sketches—so loose and expressive!

Just last year, Architectural Digest asked Hadley, What is your definition of a great room?

“The best rooms have history and MEANING: photographs that remind you of someone, furniture that has a story. Whatever you put in your house should be interesting. I may not like it, but that doesn’t make any difference. And decorating is not about dollars and cents; it’s an emotional thing, it’s passion. Buying a painting or a piece of furniture just because a famous name made it isn’t passion.”

"Decorating is not about making stage sets, it's not about making pretty pictures for the magazines; it's really about creating a quality of life, a beauty that nourishes the soul."

- Albert Hadley, American Interior Designer

Mr. Hadley, thanks for all the inspiration and for sharing your creative genius with us. You and your words of wisdom will truly be missed!

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Yesterday marked the beginning of my last year in my 20's! It was without a doubt, my best birthday yet. A relaxing pedicure, laid back sushi dinner date with my two best friends, Bruner and Calder, and this little one got to taste her very first cupcake—it doesn't get any better than that.

Special thanks to my sweet family and friends who made me feel so special and loved yesterday. I am beyond blessed and pray 29 is the best year yet!

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

I love this quote. Definitely something we should all aspire to do.

John 15

 

I like to think I'm in control.

Most of us struggle with this, right? Or maybe I struggle with this more than others. I mean, I know I need to give everything to God, but do I really do that? When something bad happens, do I go to God or do I reach for my phone to call my husband or my mom. I'll admit it, I typically grab my phone.

I just got home from our Bible Study and we're studying the book of John. I was so tempted to miss it today because of my busy workload and how I can barely form complete thoughts at the moment, and because I needed to run some errands before I picked Calder up from Mother's Day Out, etc. etc.—you know, the typical things that seem more important! But then I thought...Hadley, just GO. It's ONE hour. You need this more than anything. Those things can wait. 

So I turned the car towards Maribeth's and I'm so glad I did. Today we went over John 13-15 and God was definitely speaking to me the entire time, especially in Chapter 15. It's SO easy for me to loose perspective and begin to take on life by myself; and as a result, I begin to live in this illusion that I'm in control. I forget that God is the vine and we are the branches. Apart from Him, I can do NOTHING. 

I could go on and on because I think it's a struggle for all of us. We all wanna be the BEST mom, wife, friend, daughter, (fill in the ___); meanwhile, maintaining the BEST job, cleanest house, best homemade dinners,  (fill in the ___). And then we realize we can't do it by ourselves. We need GOD.

It was the best hour I could have spent and that to-do list can wait.
I arrived stressed and left refreshed and at peace. 

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Still making progress on the kitchen. Countertops were installed yesterday! Subway tile is being installed as I type. Hope to be finished with it all tomorrow. Can't wait to show you the final product soon!

And a few recent pics of our little Calder-bear...

Still trying to figure out what these little legs are for. I'm not rushing anything..that's for sure!

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

I saw this on Pinterest today and it made me stop and think, and ask the question—what really matters? Am I focusing on those things? Always good to have a reality check.

This quote is from one of my favorite books Crazy Love by Francis Chan. We did a Bible Study on this book last year, and it definitely makes you think about life from a new perspective. Here's the intro from the Crazy Love website:

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts — it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

Kitchen Design - Round 1

Happy Wednesday everyone. To incorporate my "Wednesday Words of Wisdom" posts, I'm featuring  this signed print my mom gave me a few years ago. She had interior designer Suzanne Kasler sign a page from her book Inspired Interiors, and she wrote, "Hadley, Design makes a difference." click here to read more.

I've always loved this and have it hanging next to my desk, along with my favorite John Derian plate and a small abstract painting from the very talented Sarah Otts.

SO...that being said, on to my kitchen! All-things kitchen related have consumed my mind lately. We're in the process of slightly remodeling our kitchen. I've been dreaming about doing this for years, and our changes are minimal but will make a huge impact. Here's what we want to do:

1) Paint cabinets (probably Benjamin Moore Linen White since it's what I used for my desk cabinets in the kitchen, and I love it)

2) New Countertops

3) New sink/fixtures

4) Subway tile backsplash

5) Add a small island/extension with two stools so that people can sit in the kitchen (and so I can sit with Calder and feed her in her high chair)

Here are some kitchens I keep coming back to. I carry pics of these in my little binder and many of these kitchens I've loved for a  l o n g  time.

 

You'll notice a theme here. I love white kitchens and I love carrara marble. It's what I've always been drawn to and have envisioned in our kitchen someday.  However, I'm still open to suggestions because I am a little worried about the maintenance of marble. BUT, I've also heard (and read) many people say the maintenance is not as bad you'd think and they'd buy carrara marble again. 

I've also researched great marble alternatives (such as Cambria quartz counters in torquay). See this post and picture below for more details. But, I have some slabs in my kitchen, and the marble still takes the cake. we shall see...

Any suggestions and comments are welcomed. I'll definitely post pics as we begin and hope to make some progress soon!