Jan 5, 2015

Priorities and a New Chandelier

Hello! I hope you all are having a good start to the new year.

 I've downloaded a  journal app called Day One, and I'm kind of loving it. I tried keeping hand written diaries in the past, but never kept them up. My problem was that I never say what I mean the first time. After I'd written something down, I'd think, no, that's not what I mean. But there it would be in pencil that I'd have to erase, or ink that couldn't be erased. So I'd quit, unhappy that I wasn't saying what I wanted to say.

But keeping a journal on my laptop is awesome because I can backspace at lightening speed and have countless chances to get my words just right. It's so satisfying to look at each perfect entry that says exactly what I mean. (I guess that tells you something about me being a perfectionist and compulsive.) 

So, anyway, on my new journal I spent the morning setting my priorities for this year (or at least for this month). They are simple: my health, as in eating well and moving my body more, and nurturing my family through personal support and unconditional love. 

My blog didn't make the list, and yet here I am writing a blog post before making my healthy grocery list and doing my stretches. So, big lightbulb moment, I will go back to my journal and add personal creativity to my priorities because obviously being creative isn't a choice for me. It's not a lack of discipline, it's something that just is. 

I can't continue to blog the way I have been and also fit in my other priorities, though, so my blog may look a little different while I work that out. I'm not sure how, but I think it might have to do with that perfectionist compulsive thing I have going on. 

So instead of spending hours behind my camera and in Lightroom today or looking for pretty photos to sandwich in between all these words, I'll share a quick phone photo with you to say howdy and this is what's up at my house today. Then I'll go grocery shopping, make a delicious and nutritious dinner, take Tucker for a long walk, and do a yoga workout. 

I hope that's okay!


So what's up at our house isn't quite "up" yet, but it will be soon. Right now, it's sitting on our dining room table. Last weekend, my husband and I went shopping for a new chandelier for the dining room and couldn't find anything we liked anywhere near our price range. The ones we loved were in the $500 to $700 price range. Uh, sorry, but no way! 

Then my husband remembered we'd noticed a chandelier we liked for sale in a consignment store where we bought our pine armoire last summer. Could it possibly still be there? We called the store from the car, and not only was it still there, it had just been marked down! 

So we got a farmhouse style chandelier we love for only $99!

As you can see, it's very simple and graceful. It looks like it's made of pewter, which we have nothing else of in our home, but I'll be keeping it as is, not painting it. I've never been afraid of mixing metals in our home, and we have a little of everything: stainless steel, polished chrome, oil rubbed bronze, and even some old brass (gasp!). This will just add to the happy mix.

I'm thinking about adding those cool beeswax dripping candle covers and different lightbulbs, but first we need to get it hung and make sure it works. I can't wait to see it above the table!

So there you have it. Lots of words today, and not a lot of pictures. Later this week, along with my other personal priorities, I'm hoping to share a top 10 posts of 2014 and also share some new farmhouse art I found for the living room. They might not be as full of photos or perfectly edited, but I think I can still do it all. Just a bit differently.

Priorities. Gotta love 'em!


  

10 comments:

  1. Pretty chandy!! Have a great walk ~ wear galoshes! And Yay for you for setting priorities ~

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  2. What a score!!! I know it'll look great! I'm on the hunt for something similar! Happy New Year to you!

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  3. Love the chandelier, Laurel. What a great find at a bargain price! It's more than okay with me that you take care of yourself and your family and make blogging time secondary to that. I'm having some thoughts along the same line. Hugs, Nancy

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  4. What a find!!! Pewter is my all time fave metal, I'm so glad you're not painting it. I think it goes with everything!

    xox

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  5. Very pretty and a much better price, Laurel! It looks a lot like one I had in our dining room back in New York. Mine was black and from JC Penney, but was a great price and gave me the new lighting I was looking for in that room.

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  6. Yay for you! I love the chandelier and its color. I also enjoy mixing metals (and everything else). Can't wait to see photos when it's hung in its new home!

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  7. Hi Laurel, what a great find in that chandelier. I love the pewter color. It is going to look beautiful. Great plan to set your priorities with family and home coming before blogging. I think many are rethinking this too.
    Happy New Year!!
    Hugs

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  8. I love the simplicity of it. I'm just not into the frou-frou ones. Priorities are important, like my yoga stretching. Helps both mind and body. Do what you must to care for and love yourself.
    Brenda

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  9. You are a wise woman Laurel! We both know the very best blogs are not the ones with the most perfect photos, but the ones with a heart and soul. And you my friend have the very best heart and soul and that shines right through the computer screen! ... And the curves and simplicity of your new chandelier is just perfect for your farmhouse style!

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  10. Lucky you!!!! What a way to start your year Laurel! I don't keep a journal, my blog and FB page is now sort of my journal. :-)

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