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Design Du Jour:

A to Z Gets a Spring Cleaning!

Happy Sunday, everyone!

[The photos in this post are some of Tobi's recent pins on Pinterest. For more, check out her boards, HERE. All images are linked.]

I know Tobi has been hinting about some exciting transformations, in keeping with this month’s theme, and she gave me permission before she left on vacation to spill one of her little secrets!

As you likely already know, Tobi offers interior design trainings, and her signature event for Design Lovers is Design A to Z. In this three-day session, Tobi really gives an enthusiasts and those hoping to become more confident in their professional design work her TOTAL take on creating gorgeous interiors.

Many people have attended Design A to Z and have seen their own designs transformed by what they’ve learned. Tobi doesn’t teach you how to design like HER, she teaches you how she approaches design so that you can find your own groove! And if these trainings are known for anything, it’s Tobi’s 100% transparency; she doesn’t believe in trade secrets.

And the BIG transformation that she has in store for Design A to Z is a new take on teaching design. Rather than organizing the amazing information she gives by topic, she has developed a systematic approach to design that will equip you to make EVERY design choice like a real pro. Rather than content segments, she’s actually revised the content to give you the STEPS to take when faced with design dilemmas!

This shift may seem subtle, I realize, but think about it like this: Would you rather Tobi teach you about types of window treatments OR would you rather she give you a tactic for choosing window treatments for a room, group of rooms, or for an entire home? Rather than teaching you a tiny slice of everything she knows about interior design (which is a lot), she is NOW going to give you the strategies you need to execute an effective design. See the difference? A map instead of an encyclopedia!

It has involved a complete overhaul of the content, and all of the information is still there, but NOW it’s action oriented, ready to be put into practice.

We are so excited to be launching this NEW version of A to Z on May 7-9th! This content has never been fresher OR more useful! If you are a hobbyist or pro who needs a firm grounding in all of the basics, or if you’ve been designing a while but you could really use an inspirational revival, you must come to Design A to Z this Spring!

You can learn much more about the session HERE, and as we reveal more details about how we’ve freshened-up the whole thing, you’ll realize even MORE that you just can’t miss it! It’s going to be so much DESIGN and so much FUN! I’ll see you there.

And…before I go I want to give the biggest virtual HUG to all of you who made me feel so welcome as Tobi’s Blogsitter this week!! I know you come here for HER, but you’ve been very gracious and kind. So…until you come meet all of the staff at camp…so long!

Best,

Ashley

 

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Self-Care Saturday: Keyword=RELAX

Not too long ago, Tobi approached me–with utmost care and kindness, of course–and initiated the following conversation:

“Ashley: Bebe and I were talking about it, and you know what we decided YOU need?”

“No-ooo…what?” (A little scared yet curious)

“You     Need     to     Relax. Just relax.”

Her point was this: I spend an awful lot of time worried about whether or not I’m doing what I should be doing. I worry that I ought to do this or should have done this instead. I try to sense whether everyone I come into contact with is happy and if they’re not, I try to take personal responsibility for it.

And pointed criticism? Forget it! I can’t bear it without bubbling over, just because it confirms all my negative self-talk about how I’m always on the brink of failure (which, of course I’m not…I’m just a perfectionist, so not perfect = failure & never perfect= always a failure).

And, as Tobi very gently pointed out, this is really just an incognito form of self-centered-ness. Let that sink-in for one sec. How arrogant of me to think that everyone else in the world is so concerned with what I’m doing that it could be the only possible cause of their relative happiness or sadness, pleasure or frustration! And doubly arrogant, because: Who am I to think that of all the people in the world who are happily imperfect and striving to get better each day, I would be the ONE PERSON ON EARTH who might actually get it perfect. Ugh.

And she’s right. Of course I never thought any of those things consciously, but feelings like that were (and still are, though I’m working on it each and every day) the source of much of my worry and anxiety.

So my new mantra has become: Relax. I’m reminding myself whenever possible to let loose the white-knuckled grip I have on my need to control outcomes and to control how other people feel and how they behave (which, YES, I KNOW is just as impossible as perfection!). Relax and enjoy. Relax and enjoy and trust in the goodness and rightness of the moment.

And the sneakiest thing about this little tendency of mine? Admitting it has also involved me realizing that I come off as pretty uptight to almost everyone around me. YIKES! Right?! When it comes to what I believe, I’m very “live and let live.” But when it comes to how I act and how I pressure myself and others to live up to all of those awful “should”s and “ought-to”s, well…my actions are speaking MUCH louder than my little rebellious, free-thinking heart.

So, if you’re of the same stripe, consider thinking “RELAX. ENJOY. TRUST.”

And I hope these images have given you some relaxation inspiration so that we can carry the spirit of the weekend into every minute!

Much love,

Ashley

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Markergirl: Mom on the Go with Karen Davis, A Pinterest Feature

Hi there! It’s Ashley, and I’m back again with another great pinboard feature. Today’s is a board shared by Tobi and Karen Davis, another of our inspired Mastermind members!

As these pins will show you, Karen is sending the message loud and clear that there is indeed such a thing as a luxurious and FUN family home!

Enjoy these selected pins, and find more over on the pinboard!

See? Kid friendly does not have to mean down-graded or disposable! Thank you, Karen!

Until tomorrow,

Ashley

p.s. Have the branded pinboards I’ve shared this week piqued your curiosity about Tobi’s Masterming group consulting services? If so, you can learn more by watching the video below.

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Fresh Perspectives: Returning to the Ordinary Wonderful

As of today, Tobi and her lovely family have officially boarded their cruise ship and embarked upon the second phase of their vacation!

We sure do miss her around here, but we are happy that she’s getting the R&R she has been working toward. And today I’m sharing more insights from my conversations with Tobi about vacation just before she left.

One of the reasons vacations can be such a powerful medicine has LESS to do with the actual restoration and freedom that they give you and MORE to do with how they give your perception of Home a gentle shift.

The everyday and workaday can lose their luster and become just your humdrum, ho-hum, (yawn) existence. But when we snap out of the tunnel vision of the everyday we reawaken to the possibilities and freedom and inspiration that our each and every day holds. Life is anything but ho-hum, but it’s all too easy to get bogged down in sameness.

And exploring the world for a time and then returning to your homeplace and your workplace can revive your appreciation for all that you love about your everyday. It can restore you to a sense of the ordinary wonderful.

And the beautiful thing is: you don’t have to go to Mumbai to get this kind of adjustment in your perspective! Try working for one day in a different location. Or plan a weekend getaway. Any sized dose of NEW helps you see the undiscovered and unexplored that has been right under your nose; and! it will help you appreciate the parts that are predictable and known for precisely those virtues!

That’s all for now. Consider what you can do to see afresh the ordinary wonderful in your day!

Until tomorrow!

Ashley

p.s. Join Brooke and me this afternoon (1pm CST/ 2pm EST) for a #DesignerMBA Twitter Chat. Since Tobi is somewhere in the middle of the ocean, we are taking all of your questions about what goes on behind the scenes at our design firm, including screening prospective clients, ordering merchandise, administrative tasks, installation planning, etc! Just login to Twitter (or use TweetChat) enter the #DesignerMBA hashtag and join the conversation!

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Deadline-Driven Design with Denise McGaha: A Pinterest Feature

Hi! It’s Ashley here. Spring has sprung, and I’m happy to be here again bringing you another exciting feature of a shared Pinterest board, created by Tobi and one of our dynamo Mastermind members: Denise McGaha!

Denise has a great eye for creating spaces that are crisp, gorgeous, and daring, AND (amazingly!) she delivers it all on a deadline! So she’s the queen of calendars, schedules, and crunch time; no stragglers or loose ends. Done and done!

Enjoy these pins from the Deadline-Driven Design pinboard, created as a vision board for her branding and for her signature style. Enjoy! (All pins are linked.)

C’est tres chic et magnifique, non?  

To see more pins like these…Visit the board, HERE. And enjoy your first day of Spring, whether the weather is fair or foul. Transition time is upon us!

Until tomorrow!

Ashley

p.s. For a step-by-step, all-access guide for how to get your design work published, join Tobi and a panel of expert guests at The Journey to Getting Published! Until April 1st, you can still pay for your ticket in three easy installments! Learn more about this one-time event, HERE!

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