5 THINGS TO TRY THIS WEEKEND

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  HELLO LOVELIES! Happy Friday! How was your week? My week just flew by and here is my wish list/hopes/plans for the weekend not in any particular order:

1. Something new to try this weekend. Perhaps to add/learn one more tool for my social media marketing efforts: FlipBoard - A pretty version of an RSS reader for the iPad & iPhone. Takes the articles and makes them appear in a magazine layout. Imagine a magazine custom made based on all your favorite websights' new articles. (FREE)
2. Watch more  my favorite fashion shows like "Under the Gunn"  (have recorded latest episode...so this is the time to catch up) 
3. I have a confession to make (shhh)...I hate a tax season :) But whether I like it or not, it is time to organize it!
4. Support and cheer for my darling "golf champion" ... so he will become the county champion this weekend.... yehhh!
5. My hope to have a quiet, peaceful evening with my man and boys ( I hope my oldest son will visit us this weekend ... he promised me ) with simple and soulful dinner! (my roses are growing fast and will start blooming soon (azaleas are already in full bloom) ... so I think it is time to start thinking about floral for a centerpiece......

But right now, I have some really lovely things to share with you....

Inspired by French flower markets, we filled simple, galvanized tins with fresh peonies and lined them up for a centerpiece full of impact. Anyone (including those with zero floral experience) can put this centerpiece together in minutes, a day or two before your event. Flower Market Centerpiece created by Chelsea for Once Wed

This 6 must try DIYs floral definatelly will bring you to a romantic, sweet spring mood and a smell is amazing - from Rachel for The Crafted Life.

What inspires you? Perhaps the Chip It! can helps you to find a perfect colors palette for your room or decor. 

Via

{images: linked to individual sources above} Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!!! See you back here next week! xx, Lana

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New Year Resolutions - Organized Office & Studio Space

  

Hello My Friends! It is hard to believe, but January is here - and with is it my first blog post of this new year I decided to start with organizing my space. As you can imagine, I spend most of my working time in the studio or at my desk...( when I have break from my traveling:)

So, it is crucial to have an inspiring, creative space and organized at the same time.  Here I would like to share my tips on how to stay productive at the optimum level:

• Clean the Clutter Weekly

I used wait till an occasional guest visit to clean my desk area. But that only resembled more like tossing all my stuff in the closet and closing the door. This year one of my new resolutions is to spend Friday tossing old papers, organizing and labeling supplies, and putting all unused objects where they belong!

• Find Storage Solution 

Not a priority in the past, but it can be a lot of fun to decorate storage areas to fit your decor.  Check out lots of DIY ideas on how to dress up your old file cabinet or bookshelf  (both in my studio need more attention).
P.S. Updated studio pictures are coming soon :)

• Keep Cords organized and Out of Sight

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Tip from Martha Stewart: Eliminate tangles under your work area by feeding all cords through a hole drilled in the desktop. Then plug the wires into a power-surge protector strip mounted on the underside of the desk. Keep cords in a coated wire basket (available at housewares stores) suspended under the desk with wire hooks. Tags identify where each machine wire comes from.  

- Great ideas!

Duni Studio
(I wish I was as organized as her)

more here from Invisible Crown 

• Pick Pretty and Fashionable Stationary and Accessories for Your Desk 

Maybe it just old fashion but I still love to use handwritten notes and thank you card for my friends and customers. I feel more connected and more personal about good old paper and pen. During the holiday shopping I found so many stylish accessories for my desk .... 

can't wait to dress up my desk in the new more updated modern style:) 

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• Make Inspirational Boards

I know what are you thinking .... another pinterest advertisement.  And of course you are right about .... I love the ease and convenience of my handy tool Pinterest.  But in time .... and I'm totally doing it .... I would like to create a real visual board.  It's nice to be surrounded by an inspiring wall while you are working!

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Do you have your favorite organizational tips? 

I would like to share them if you have something on your blog just give me a link to add them here.

xx, Lana

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5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8 AM

  

Rise and shine! Morning time just became your new best friend!!!
Love it or hate it, utilizing the morning hours before work may be the key to a successful and healthy lifestyle.  -  By Jennifer Cohen 
That’s right, early rising is a common trait found in many CEOs, government officials, and other influential people. Margaret Thatcher was up every day at 5 a.m.; Frank Lloyd Wright at 4 am and Robert Iger, the CEO of Disney wakes at 4:30am just to name a few. I know what you’re thinking - you do your best work at night. Not so fast. According toInc. Magazine, morning people have been found to be more proactive and more productive. In addition, the health benefits for those with a life before work go on and on. Let’s explore 5 of the things successful people do before 8 am.

1. Exercise. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Most people that work out daily, work out in the morning. Whether it’s a morning yoga session or a trip to the gym, exercising before work gives you a boost of energy for the day and that deserved sense of accomplishment. Anyone can tackle a pile of paperwork after 200 ab reps! Morning workouts also eliminate the possibility of flaking out on your cardio after a long day at work. Even if you aren’t bright eyed and bushy tailed at the thought of a 5 am jog, try waking up 15 minutes early for a quick bedside set of pushups or stretching. It’ll help wake up your body, and prep you for your day.

2. Map Out Your Day. Maximize your potential by mapping out your schedule for the day, as well as your goals and to dos. The morning is a good time for this as it is often one of the only quiet times a person gets throughout the day. The early hours foster easier reflection that helps when prioritizing your activities. They also allow for uninterrupted problem solving when trying to fit everything into your timetable. While scheduling, don’t forget about your mental health. Plan a 10 minute break after that stressful meeting for a quick walk around the block or a moment of meditation at your desk. Trying to eat healthy? Schedule a small window in the evening to pack a few nutritious snacks to bring to work the next day.

3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. We all know that rush out the door with a cup of coffee and an empty stomach feeling. You sit down at your desk, and you’re already wondering how early that taco truck sets up camp outside your office. No good. Take that extra time in the morning to fuel your body for the tasks ahead of it. It will help keep you mind on what’s at hand and not your growling stomach. Not only is breakfast good for your physical health, it is also a good time to connect socially. Even five minutes of talking with your kids or spouse while eating a quick bowl of oatmeal can boost your spirits before heading out the door.

4. Visualization. These days we talk about our physical health ad nauseam, but sometimes our mental health gets overlooked. The morning is the perfect time to spend some quiet time inside your mind meditating or visualizing. Take a moment to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on the successes you will have. Even just a minute of visualization and positive thinking can help improve your mood and outlook on your work load for the day.

5. Make Your Day Top Heavy. We all have that one item on our to do list that we dread. It looms over you all day (or week) until you finally suck it up and do it after much procrastination. Here’s an easy tip to save yourself the stress - do that least desirable task on your list first. Instead of anticipating the unpleasantness of it from first coffee through your lunch break, get it out of the way. The morning is the time when you are (generally) more well rested and your energy level is up. Therefore, you are more well equipped to handle more difficult projects. And look at it this way, your day will get progressively easier, not the other way around. By the time your work day is ending, you’re winding down with easier to dos and heading into your free time more relaxed. Success!

Happy Weekend My Friends!

I hope you 're all having a sweet and sparkly Saturday! 

Here are some of my new favorite watercolor sketches from my Fall collection 

"Memories Wrapped In" 

I made them Paint-fully Pretty :)

I hope you like it:) 

xx, Lana

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