ORC: Taking a Pause for the Cause (Plus a PSA for Skin Cancer Awareness Month)

When I jumped into the One Room Challenge, I was worried that I was getting in over my head. I'd been dying to create the High Contrast Design House Headquarters I had been dreaming of, and then I realized the day before it started that the challenge was kicking off. Naturally, I thought, "It's fate!" But with the current work load, and the fact that I had very recently taken a bad tumble, I worried that I was biting off more than I could chew. But I was steadfast in my devotion to not quit. 

The injury kept frustrating me because I couldn't do much, and it just became such a stress. I was contemplating putting a hold on the whole thing, and then had a burst of "I can still do this!" energy last week. Then I found out yesterday that a mole I had removed on my scalp came back as a basal cell carcinoma. Yep, skin cancer. (cue me raising the white flag)

As much as I was freaked out for a bit, I knew that everything would be ok. It will be. It is not a melanoma, and I'll have more of the area around the spot surgically removed ASAP. Hopefully they won't have to remove too much hair because it is about an inch into my hairline, and I really don't want to look like a reverse unicorn. Since I am a person prone to self-torture, I immediately started Googling to find out more. Seriously, if you want to be absolutely horrified just Google image search whatever tiny thing you might have wrong with you and just wait for the inevitable panic attack.

What I did realize is that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Look at me - I just have to be so topical and "of the moment". Ugh, I'm the worst. Anyway, the reason for this long, rambling diatribe is to beg anyone who reads this to GO GET A SKIN CANCER SCREENING - especially if you are pasty white with light colored eyes, like me. It's so easy to catch these things early, and so dangerous to put it off. 

I'm obviously not quitting on my office makeover, but I am realizing I need to simplify things right now, take a pause for the cause and relax. Sometimes you have to listen to what life is handing you, even if you are stubborn like me, and take things back to the basics.

Now, go get your moles checked. Wear sunscreen and a hat. And remember that we can always take a moment to breathe and reboot.

P.S. Take a look here at all the amazing guest participants, and here for the featured designers. There's some cool stuff happening out there. I definitely plan on being back in the action in the fall.

One Room Challenge Week 3 + 4: Plus Life Lessons from Kimmy Schmidt

Source: Buzzfeed, and of course Kimmy Schmidt

The last two weeks have been rough. I'm still hobbling about with the bum knee and sprained ankle. I'm juggling several projects in different stages, which is always first priority, and some other things have decided to cause further problems, as life does. And Prince died, which gave me all the sads on Week 3. So I've been tweaking my plans for the High Contrast Design House Headquarters, trying to heal and refocus my energy while binge-watching all of Kimmy Schmidt Season 2. And that helped my spirit SO MUCH.

Hashbrown UNBREAKABLE!

I am vowing to get the floors painted this weekend. I'm packing up the office shelves and getting the room ready to be cleared right now. We will be ripping up that stank carpet and painting those walls WHITE! Next week I hope to get accomplished the following:

• Close to having the floors finished, either painted stripes of vinyl tiles (probably paint)
• Get current shelving sold on Craigslist 
• Start working on custom DIY lighting
• Have some of those things done and photographed for this blog!

So here's a few more ideas I'm thinking about:

I am going to make a custom lightbox at some point - super excited about this! (source)

Neon washi tape to make the bad molding on the door look bad in a good way. (source)

tiny neon cacti - YES! (source)

And because of the lack of natural light, some obviously fake & funky cacti. (source)

Until then, wish me luck!

ORC Update Postponed Until Tomorrow Due to Purple Rain

Just too sad, and must listen to Purple Rain on repeat. Too much monumental loss in 2016 already. Bowie, Merle and now Prince. But I'm guessing heaven is having quite the concert tonight.

Rest in peace, sweet Prince.

XO,

International Women's Day Shout-Out: 15 (+1) Women that Inspire Me

All the ladies in the place, I'm callin' out to ya! It's International Women's Day, and a time to celebrate the women that inspire us all. I'm inspired by so many amazing women, but I decided to focus on the ones that make the world a more beautiful place through interior design, art and humor. So many of these chicks have shattered walls and are breaking ground for the next generations, giving the little girls of today the place to be the powerhouses of tomorrow. YAS KWEEN!

Ladies Who Make The World So Damn Beautiful

Abigail Ahern, the queen of dark, moody and dreamy interiors, also has a sweet blog with business tips for bloggers/designers and teaches an Interior Design Masterclass in the UK...she loves to pay it forward.

Christine Dovey has an amazing eye for materials, drama and sophistication...and killer style and stunning pink hair to boot. She's got a great blog that promotes local artists in Toronto and beyond, and she's a great example that it's never too late to follow your dreams. She quit her teaching job to do just that.

I've been following Emily Henderson since her win on Design Star, and I so admire the way she has turned her styling skills and killer blog into an incredible national business. Smart girl.

I couldn't have a list of ladies that I am in awe of without including my personal heroine, the queen of design, Patricia Urquiola. She has done more as a woman in the men's world of architecture than no other, and no one plays with pattern like her.

I'm proud to call this designer extraordinaire a friend, and she has inspired me with her designs for homes, bars and restaurants throughout Austin for the last 10+ years...as well as her work in the community. I just adore Veronica Koltuniak.

Ladies Who Make The Coolest Stuff

Jaime Derringer, creator of the killer design blog Design Milk, has found a really cool voice as an artist with her graphic multi-media creations. She also curates killer jewelry on Adorn Milk, posts the coolest pup stuff on Dog Milk and pretty much has a monopoly on all things design. And she's just a cool chick.

Danielle Krysa, aka the Jealous Curator, has a beautiful story of how she found her way as an artist again through her love and support of fellow artists. She took her feelings of jealousy when seeing art that inspired her, and that feeling of "Damn, I wish I had created that", and used it as fuel to create again. 

I tired forever to find a photo of Erin Curtis with her art, but she's done the impossible and pulled a Banksy. It doesn't matter - her paintings and drawings have always inspired me. Her creations of pattern and color shout out LOUD.

Bec Brittain creates some of the world's most amazing handmade lighting I have ever seen, and I am constantly stunned by what she comes up with next.

Shanan Campanaro gets textiles. She started in graphic design and fashion, but always wanted to transform interiors. She created Eskayel to create her brand of hippie chic fabrics, wallpaper and more, while always striving to be eco-conscious and to give back to environmental groups. How inspiring is that?

Ladies Who Act, Write and Crack Me Up

Oh Amy Sedaris...how we love you so. Strangers with Candy was so bizarre and funny, and then she went out and wrote some equally funny and adorable "how to" craft books. Now she's designed a line of fabric. Renaissance woman, indeed.

Melissa McCarthy is funny. There is no question there. But did you know the comedic actress started in fashion design, and recently launched her own fashion line for ALL SIZES? She's a friggin' hero.

Samantha Bee was awesome on The Daily Show...but she is KILLING IT on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. She's giving all the men of late night a run for their money and breaking that glass ceiling like a champ!

If you haven't already discovered Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, then do it now! Her blog is so witty, relatable and side-achingly hilarious that I can't get enough. She's also the author of two NYT Best Sellers. The latest, Furiously Happy, is such a true take on the struggle with mental illness while still laughing at it. I laughed, I cried, I almost peed in my pants...and I felt a little more "normal".

Ok so technically this is not one woman, it's two. But the magic that these two badass chicks make is so brilliant that I am celebrating them together - Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer. Their Broad City antics remind me of when my best friend and I first lived in Austin and make me feel young again.

Ok, guys and gals - what badass ladies inspire YOU?