Where to begin...

It's been a while...  How have you been?

No really - I want to know...  If you are reading this, you are probably one of few who know me very well.  Have we talked lately?  Face to face?  FaceTime?  In person?  If not - I've meant to.  It's been a hard shift here...  You, too?

I set out on a journey when we moved here to Savannah.  I wanted to be more intentional.  I wanted to love my new community well.  I wanted to build stronger relationships.  I wanted to be supportive of my loved ones.  And somehow, in hot pursuit - I've felt more alone.  The deeper I dug into the things that were important - the further I knew I needed to go.  You don't realize how much of yourself you pack into boxes - for later - until you strip down all the other layers.  That said - you've probably noticed that my personal Facebook account is gone.  I've not been on instagram since March 1st.  There have been no tweets since long before that.  My breakup with distraction has been like any other breakup. At first, I felt free.  Liberated.  And then - lonely.  Isolated.  It's been a rough transition - I'll be honest.  I'm having to redefine how I do business.  And reconnect with my friends.  And invent new ways to meet people.  I'm an introvert.  This has been the hardest.  But back to those boxes...  One by one, opened and dealt with... I began to see that I already know myself better than anyone else.  I know I need slow.  I do best one on one.  Less is always more with me.  Quality over quantity.  So here I am.  Back to where I started.  Writing and connecting with you - those of you who CHOOSE to be here.  Instead of chasing down followers and likes, and constantly comparing my progress to everyone else's.  My story is taking it's own path.  And I miss sharing it with you.  Here.  And in person.  And over the phone or text or email.  Connection is very important to me.  And I hope to do better.

So tell me - Right here, right now - in this place...  how are you?  How have you been?

xo,

commitments.

We believe in slowing down - and making time for simple living and loving fully.  

We believe that a single moment can be monumentally beautiful.

We believe that PASSION is the connective thread.

We've made some Commitments this year - to make those things a priority in everything we do.  Our resolutions are based on slow living, and being fully present.  I'm sharing them with you - so you can rally with us for a more intentional lifestyle.  Starting here ::

1.  "Happiness, not in another place, but in this place....  not in another hour, but in this hour."  - walt whitman
We have jumped in with both feet - to make this place our home.  We let go of the phone numbers we had for 10 years, and traded them for local numbers.  We are working to become active members in our local community.  And we are just so excited to be living here.  That said - if you need to contact me by phone, please add this new number to your contact list, replacing the old one ::
912.596.6410.

2.  "Wherever you are, be all there."  - jim elliot
Office hours and boundaries are a must this year.  So that I can be fully present - in whatever I am doing.  I want each project I work on to be something I've put my whole heart into.  And now that they are in school, I want my children to have my full attention in the evenings.  For homework, meal time, and bed time.  It's been something I've struggled with...  I'm a people pleaser, a fixer, a helper, a listener, and I have trouble saying no.  But when I say yes to everything - I spread myself too thin.  I.  Am not.  Superwoman.  And the quality of life that "superwoman mentality" has provided for us - is just not quality at all.  So this year, I am focused on appropriating my attention better.  And giving myself boundaries.  My new office hours are Monday - Friday, 9a-4p.  Any communications received after hours will be promptly returned the following business day.  

3.  "Live less out of habit, and more out of intent." 
Making goals that are worth striving for...  And then living each day in pursuit of them. Committing to Conscious Effort.  A healthy lifestyle begins with the smallest steps.  Setting a bedtime for myself - and ensuring I get enough rest - has already made such a difference.  I'm setting myself up for success just by providing time for sleep.  It sounds just too simple.  But that is where I'm at this year.  

4.  "Have nothing... that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."  - william morris
The art of simplifying is something you have to actively practice.  It takes time - to work through the clutter.  Your home, and your life, are always evolving.  I've dedicated a full day every week to working on "the list."  The things that never get done, the clutter that is always on our minds, the little naggings that we hear when we lay our heads down at night.  I've already knocked out 2 things I never thought would ever ever get done - and it's inspiring!  Cleaning up - and cleaning out.  In my home, in my business, and in my life.  And nurturing the beautiful parts that always have to wait...  

5. "Eventually, everything connects."  
A tangible life.  I want to leave behind a trail - of all the things that were important to me...  the people, the relationships, the brief encounters, all of it.  I want to make time to celebrate the connections.  Slow living - intentional living - being present - removing the excess - and giving my full focused attention...  Those are the gifts I want to leave behind, in all the connections I make along the way.  But especially to the ones I love.  For me - that is a life worth living.  A life worth recording.  A life worth writing about.  I miss blogging...  whether anyone reads it or not.  So I've committed to at least one post a week - sharing inspiration, stories, or treasures.  I'd love it if you'd stop by from time to time - and share what you think :)  This next week I'll be writing about our word of the year.  Can't wait to share.

What are you working on this year?  What is inspiring you?  I'd love to hear more about your list - your resolutions - your commitments. 

In being more intentional with my time on social media, here is where you can find us...  Reserving big news for Facebook - I've loved the shift to posting our daily adventures on Instagram these last few months.  I've also started a pinterest board full of ideas to simplify for the new year.  And I'll be sharing slow living tips on twitter each week.  This is just the intro - to our 12 month series on simple living.  By signing up for our email list, you will receive the digest at the end of every month - with exclusive insights on how we are putting our Commitments to work, a free monthly screensaver to keep you organized and inspired, new music inspiration, what we're working on in the studio, and a preview of any new shoppe updates.  


Hoping the best for each of you in this bright new year.