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Can you do it all?

Three months into 2018 and I am asking myself, "can I do it all?" I used to joke that I was going to live five lifetimes in one. So many unexplored passions, so impatient, so destination minded.....insufferable millennial...

Alas, there is a lesson in trying to do it all. Right? Reaching burn out, pushing through, and then, EUREKA, realizing what you're really capable of! 

The last few months have been been a liminal chapter. How many irons can I keep burning? Not sure, but if I don't start securing the foundations, there will never be something to build upon. 

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So I rolled up my sleeves, rearranged my living room 3 times, and settled on a way to create studio space. I used the word, settled, because I am painfully Virgo. First step for any Virgo, just "do it!" 

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*things started to manifest*

"making space for something I loved and wanted to grow shifted my energy"

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Things start to become crystal clear when you redirect your energy. I think the universe really answers our call, especially when we take active steps to make our own happy. We all have commitments, some we have very little control over, but we can control our perspective, specifically the perception we have of ourselves. Sometimes I visualize the love I have for art like water, flowing and filling the space in which we direct it, often finding the cracks through which it will seep through into something else. 

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It is true enrichment, reciprocal and sustainable. I find myself working on multiple projects. From abstract paintings on large canvas to intimate portrait work; one idea leads to another. People ask for more. It is real giving, because people are also giving to me. 

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A little over a year back, I jotted down what I wanted my ideal day to look like. In retrospect, I am living it. Catch your breath, stay focused, and you may realize, you are already doing it all. 

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Sunday 03.11.18
Posted by Paul Shaw
 

New Year, New You

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I think about my core beliefs, Ralph hit it on the head with this one!

A new year is upon us, and for many, allows for a chance to recalibrate, reclaim, and give permission to be our best selves. Although, how often do we assess or track measurable results?

Hhhhmmmm, where to start on our self discovery? I did a little digging and landed on my Linkedin Bio. You know the one, that snapshot that says who you are and why you're so passionate. Behold, my millennial rhetoric:


“I adhere to the power of intention and lead through agreement. When we are in agreement, we hold power to affect change. I consider my work a platform for stewardship, helping to evolve the way we think and act in the world. Energy, neither created nor destroyed, simply changes form. I charge myself and my teams to innovate and inspire, share and commune. Authenticity is the key to synergy and it is bred through transparency. I advocate for what is right and value a point of view. Begin your day with affirmation and end in gratitude”

Well, that’s lofty, isn’t it?

Even when you firmly believe something, hold value in an idea or behavior; there is inevitably an ebb and flow to your commitment. -------------> All fingers pointed toward me.

In the spirit of being transparent, I am sharing my 2018 ACTIONABLES:

  • *Obligatory* Focus on health. #1 Priority There is no skirting this. Your well being is paramount in order to be of any service to others. ME + Vitamix = #GREENLIFE
  • Take BIG risks. They have a richer payoff. (PERSONAL MANTRA)
  • Leverage connections. Success isn't built in a silo. I want to make art to heal. I want to share thoughts that inspire. It requires energy, but it is reciprocal.
  • Plan for excitement! Having something to look forward to shapes our perspective daily. Buy tickets in advance, request time off in advance, research in ADVANCE! "LIVE life in the NOW"

Wishing anyone reading this all the blessings (even those in disguise) in the NEW YEAR!

Love, 

Paul 

Sunday 01.07.18
Posted by Paul Shaw
 

ebb and flow

Hello everyone! 

First, a huge thank you for subscribing to my blog!! I wanted this to be a space to really explore the things I love and share it freely so others could feel the love. 

Now, I know you signed up for a veritable smorgasbord of interior delights, original Art and Nola pics...and...well...crickets. *chirp* Truth be told, I needed a break. Don't you? 

We are 78 days out from Christmas y'all. 

Working as a designer during the 3 month holiday season is pure joy, allowing me to express myself creatively in so many ways!! But, and this is a big BUT, it is a test in decorating stamina. From pumpkins to gourds to ornaments, it's Paul in stealth mode. 

This year, I am allowing the ebb, before the flow. How exactly am I doing this?? Well, allow me to share: 

 

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go outside

Literally. I made a commitment to myself to take my dog, sweet Q, to the park at least once a week. It is his favorite thing in the whole world and it gets me moving and breathing fresh air. Q prefers Audubon park, but this TREE OF LIFE can be found just outside the zoo.  I use that time to fill up on feelings of gratitude. Sometimes, I even pretend we are on safari. 

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focus on food 

It's true what they say, "you are what you eat." Well, that means your emotions too! Think about it, if your're eating healthy, you FEEL better. Have a relationship with your food. What is it doing for you? Are you eating your cravings or fueling your passion? "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food" - Hyppocrates

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treat yourself

OK, clothes shopping has never been my forte. Finding your "new" pant size. Making laps for the best fit. Buying in bulk to avoid multiple trips. Alas, style is DESIGN and a fun way to self express. My point, retail therapy is a real thing. Dress yourself for success and marvel in your own skill to look FABULOUS! Photo, courtesy of mom's Polaroid box.  

Stay tuned for ALL THE FLOW! Be inspired. Paul, signing out......

tags: fall, new orleans
categories: wanderlust, design. diary
Sunday 10.08.17
Posted by Paul Shaw
 

fall in

Far from the pumpkin patches and cider filled days of my youth in Kentucky, fall in Nawlin's has a subtle distinction; a drop in humidity. 

Short of eating caramel popcorn on the steps of my local Fresh Market, surrounding by hay bails and artisanal guards, I've adopted some Autumnal rituals to plug into the season. 

““The saying ‘gratitude turns what you have into enough’ rings true. The trick is practicing a kind of thankfulness that isn’t based on time or place or circumstance. Even in the trails of life, if we have eyes to see them, we can find good things everywhere we look.” -Joanna Gaines ”
— My thoughts on gratitude, Magnolia Market
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Gratitude

The journey from your head to your heart can be a long one, but practicing gratitude will expand the love you give and feel. Start by listing 3 things you are grateful for everyday. Keep a journal by your bed, or share a post on social media. Create ripples!

 

Check out My Thoughts on Gratitude by Joanna Gaines
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gratitude list

1. In the face of tragedy, the many MORE faces of those helping. Click: Check out Nola's letter to Houston

2. Vintage finds and the sense of purpose in REPURPOSING!

3. The way you FEEL when you GIVE a really, really good GIFT.

4. Creativity, in endless supply.

5. READERS, folks that care about community and building it!

 

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Explore

 

September weekends call for fleamarket finds! Take a dive into the unexpected whimsy right on 1209 Decatur street. From original artwork to Mardi Gras Indian costumes, this place is chock full of finds to repurpose and curate! 

 

Check out Secondline Nola
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bake

There is nothing like the aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin wafting from the oven to get you in the mood for Fall. I am sharing a mom favorite. She pulled this one out for every family, school and community function. 

 

Check out @jupiters_keepr for more baking inspiration

Frosted Pumpkin Bars

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup salad oil
4 eggs – beaten
1 cup cooked pumpkin
1 cup chopped pecans

Combine flour, spice, and salt. 
In separate bowl mix sugar, oil, eggs and pumpkin
Stir flour mixture into pumpkin mixture
Beat well
Add pecans
Pour into well-greased cake pan
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

Frosting: 
8 oz cream cheese
1 pound powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
 

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decorate

Decor is my fondest touchstone of the season. From the hand crafted corn husk dollies of my childhood to the pierced copper pumpkins votives that line my table, I love to imbue my space with the symbols of the approaching holiday! 

Shop the Look
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Source: http://www.instagram.com/jupiters_keepers
tags: gratitude, food blogging, fall decor, flea market finds, new orleans, french quarter business, pumpkin bars, accent pillows, throws, candles
categories: wanderlust, style. edit, food. culture, design. diary
Wednesday 09.13.17
Posted by Paul Shaw
 

top three design tricks

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Pay attention to Scale 

Budget should never limit good design. Scale is the most important factor in a composing a space. The right size lamp on your end table, an impactful piece of art, or a bold print can make or break your design. 

Shop this look!
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Curate color 

Color can say it all! If you really want color to tell your story, the rest of your room needs to be quiet. Give color a voice and let it be the center of attention. 

Check out this instagram!
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Collect, then decorate 

Clients often ask what is "on trend" in order to avoid a a purchase that may quickly go out of style. My answer, collect things you love! Our lives are eclectic and design should honor that journey while making us smile. Design can start with one piece! 

Check out my design process!
tags: design, design tips, fabric, color story, design trends
categories: style. edit, design. diary
Tuesday 09.05.17
Posted by Paul Shaw
 

sponge rollers, a reclamation

It's hard to place the idea of "home." Stories and location evolve like rings of a tree, pushing the circumference out in strange pockets of experience. My childhood memories are like looking through a pinhole, unfocused around the edge, but acutely aware of the emotion at its center. 

I have flashes of a winter in the Pocono mountains. Deer and snow, a quiet panoramic off the front porch. We lived in a duplex, shared with another family. My dad worked in construction, running drop ceiling and laminate tile with my mother at his side. Nicole, the girl next door was my closest friend, but imagination; she was my steadfast companion. 

Surrounded by wood paneling and utilitarian furnishings, "she" helped me see the potential for each day. My four year old self took great pleasure in one task in particular, sponge rolling my hair.

How the rollers or the skill to adhere them to my head came into my possession, I have vague recollection. I often stole away, among the scatter of clothes piled on a bed or behind a door slightly ajar to witness my mother's ritual. The way she started with her eyes and brought color to her cheekbones. Maybe here is when it started. A desire to create beauty, mimicking the ritual of her, a priestess tucked away in the woodlands of Pennsylvania. I wanted so much to come into her power one day. Nails filed to a soft point, hands that carried chopped wood from a stack into our den. Of the many gifts she could bestow on me, my need to create is one I wield with reverence, a kind of sacred charge. 

The permission and encouragement. The time spent.

Rollers, kept neatly waiting.

This is a kind of home, where innocence is protected. A reclamation and knowing that all I have ever needed is within me, a deep well sourced by "her." I need only to draw up the bucket. 

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categories: wanderlust
Tuesday 08.22.17
Posted by Paul Shaw
 

sisters who brunch

Wisteria vines interlaced over our heads forming a canopy to abate the heat and dapple our tables with light. Brunch, in New Orleans, is a weekend tradition; the Court of Two Sisters being a staple on the circuit for locals and tourist alike. 

Sitting astride the "devil's wishing well," so named for its legendary association with Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau, our brunch bunch was eager to feast on the legendary buffet! 

The cold salad bar was piled with ice and fruit, nestled with homemade ice-cream to top our banana's foster. Alongside, omelets and egg benedict made to order. Resisting the urge to fill up on creole pasta and cubed cheese, I topped my bowl with turtle soup, finishing with a little sherry and french bed to accompany. There is something nostalgic about the flavor, thick, complex, and lemony. A fresh mimosa poured table side will help cleanse the palette and keep the conversation going. 

Brunch was rounded out with creamed spinach, a myriad of cold salads, corn maque choux, and the obligatory gumbo. Hours will pass, while the oscillating fans stir dried leaves and twigs, alighting upon the table and adding to the charm and rusticity of the afternoon. In the background, a live jazz band, playing "over the rainbow" and "New Orleans Stomp." Click here for a complete look at the Jazz Brunch, you will be grateful you did! 

Court of Two Sister's famous Turtle soup <Place setting, 2017>

Court of Two Sister's famous Turtle soup <Place setting, 2017>

Entrance, Court of Two Sisters &lt;Awning 2017&gt;

Entrance, Court of Two Sisters <Awning 2017>

categories: food. culture
Monday 08.21.17
Posted by Paul Shaw
 

urban jungle

NOLA in August should come with a caution sign that reads, "scorching heat, oppressive humidity." I often pretend I'm a first settler, battling hurricane winds and mosquito swarms all the while sourcing raw materials to lay the foundation for imported miscreants. This usually involves a cold drink in the French Quarter. Alas.

 Seeing as how I can't gallivant about town method-acting through my denial, I've collected an assortment of fresh botanical prints to shade our southern disposition. The first one on my list of loves is "Lallana" by Ethan Allen. Its bold, graphic, with just the right amount of saturation. <aptly on a caution sign>  

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green is the new neutral

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Shop Fabrics

Bring a little urban jungle into your home with a custom pillow or accent chair. Live the #jungalowstyle with a botanical print inspired by the tropics. Featured below: (left to right) elephant ear inspiration at the Court of Two Sisters, Fabric story Lallana meets Rojo, and a FABULOUS shot from @nathdesigns serving Aussie REALNESS!

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tags: style
categories: style. edit
Monday 08.21.17
Posted by Paul Shaw
 

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