I couldn’t think of a better post to begin 2019 with than to share a golden nugget of wisdom a long time family friend gave me recently. It was concrete advice that I wish I would have heard years ago. She recommended I sit down with Gabe and write a “life projection plan.”It is a mission statement of sorts that helps us keep the focus on the main goals for personal, marriage, and family. (Which in turn affects everything else!) As over-thinkers, it has already helped us both tremendously when we are facing both big and small decisions and choices. It has helped us narrow where our focus should be day to day, as well as long term vision. I thought I would share a list of starting questions you can adjust according to your own situations that might give you a positive start to the new year.

(We couldn’t quite get this celebrate sign to co-operate.)

Life Projection Plan

What is your family (or personal) mission statement?
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What are your personal truths you want to live and work towards?
– What is supporting this in my life and what is hindering it?
– What are some concrete monthly and weekly goals to live these truths?
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What do you want your children to know and believe in the core of their being?
(ie: They are loved unconditionally,  home is a place of security and rest, etc.)
– How do we set the tone for this in our day to day lives?
– What are concrete ways we can work towards this?
– What are the strengths of each of our children, and how can we encourage them?
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What are the main goals/hopes for your marriage?
(This can be based on your current year or what you hope for life goals. Less of “What I need” and more “what can we work towards together” type of mindset.)
– What are concrete habits we can practice to support this?
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– What decisions are we facing this year, and do they compromise or support these goals for our family?
– If we cannot adjust or change circumstances we are in, how can we find the right support systems to still work towards these goals?

Add or adjust as you need! You will probably be surprised by some of the things you deemed comprisable or uncompromisable shift as you put them under the great umbrella perspective of your life. From these core beliefs and goals it allows you to be prepared when you face decisions about your career, your commitments, and day to day life as well as identify things that need to be adjusted! I hope this is helpful for you as it has been for us.

Every day is a New Year if you think about it. Every day is a fresh new beginning, and the past or the future doesn’t have to hold any power over you!

The post What is a Life Projection Plan? first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post What is a Life Projection Plan? appeared first on In Honor Of Design.

We renewed our vows today on our 10th anniversary. Gabriel, Veronica, Max, Rocco, and Azelie were all there as little witnesses. It was a reminder that we chose to commit to each other on the altar. I will never be one to say marriage is easy. I don’t think it is meant to be. In it’s hardest days, it knocks down the walls we have so carefully guarded around parts of ourselves, and allows us to see ourselves for who we really are…whether we like it or not. The best days on the other hand, allow us to experience a humbling love and acceptance from the other despite our weaknesses.

This year Gabe and I faced some of the hardest days we have ever experienced. When I go through really difficult days, I am always tempted to shut down and withdraw, but he fought through those days to love me the same as he always has…through small actions day in and day out. I have never admired someone more. I think it’s because after all of these years together, those little things start to hold more weight than when it all began. In between our wedding day and this tenth anniversary are many years, days, and moments, that only we shared together. 6 births, the loss of loved ones, job changes, 4 moves, and the list goes on.  The consistency, loyalty, and fidelity of all of the moments in between are just as significant to me. This is the symphony God intended our marriage to be….a string of notes only meant for us. Children created and born through our love. A life of sorrow, joy, pain, and triumph. I will take it all by his side.

P.S. How we met + Our wedding pictures.

Thank you to my sister Angela for these photos! Dress courtesy of Sezane, 

The post 10 years of marriage. first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post 10 years of marriage. appeared first on In Honor Of Design.

1. Antique hunt – Whoever finds the coolest item under $10 at an antique market gets to take it home. Get a passer by to make the vote if you can’t decide between yourselves;)

2. Cooking class in your own kitchen – Come up with ingredients to make dinner or dessert together under $10. The creative challenge is what makes it fun! We love to cook together, but rarely have the chance to do so. When you set aside a night to do this it can be something you plan and look forward to!

3. Arcade! – Empty your lose change jars and take it to the arcade for a round of air hockey or skii ball. We ended up spending most of our change on skii ball, but a good round of motorcycle racing was the best way to end the date….maybe because I won that one.

4. Hike it out – A free date with unbeatable views, that comes with stress relief therapy;) It also gives you a chance to spend time together outside of the normal patterns of netflix and movies. There is something Gabe and I have always really enjoyed about doing something active outdoors together. If you are unable to hike, I would say a drive up to a mountain top is a great alternative.

5. Truth or Dare over coffee – Grab a couple of lattes, and attempt a game of truth or dare. I know you might think this is just for the high school crowd, but I can guarantee playing a game of truth or dare will bring out some comic relief you won’t soon forget. I still laugh tears when I re-visit this dare. (Click right to see the video of Gabe speed walking through the crowd.)

We try to make time for dates twice a month. Sometimes that isn’t possible, but it sure helps to stay connected to each other no matter how crazy life can become. More marriage topics here.

What are some of your favorite ways to spend time with your significant other?

The post Date ideas under $10. first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post Date ideas under $10. appeared first on In Honor Of Design.

We figured you’ve seen enough sale posts and gift guides for one weekend, so how about a dance party instead? We are going to be doing some videos on the big comfy couch answering FAQ’s which you all might prefer over reading lengthy posts. Just ignore my awkward chuckles, k?

In this video we are briefly covering these questions:
How it all began.
How it’s been working together.
How we compliment each other in work.
Who does what?
One thing you probably didn’t know about us.

I realize we already answered some of these in a previous post, but we thought it would be good to start from the very beginning….a very good place to start.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Only a few days left to enter our Home for the Holidays giveaway!

The post Our first big comfy couch Q & A video. first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post Our first big comfy couch Q & A video. appeared first on In Honor Of Design.

We hope to share a few updates this year on what it’s like to work with your significant other. Gabe has always been behind the scenes helping me run the blog, but this is our first year working on it together full time. We officially began in July and haven’t gotten sick of each other yet, so that’s a good sign right? Today we are sharing some FAQ’s on what it’s like working with your spouse.

Gabe and I have taken on a good deal of partnerships this year involving home projects. This is something we couldn’t find enough time for last year since weekends were all we had to make things happen. It has been really nice to have more time to work on these types of projects that require so much time and creative energy to accomplish. Although we still feel like we could use an extra two days in the week!

Q: Who does what?
Anna: When it comes to home design, we talk everything out together to come to our decisions. Gabe is really good with wood working, building, and problem solving so he does a good deal of the muscle work behind a space while I design and style. We both trade the camera back and forth for the photography you see here on the blog, and I edit the photos. I do the writing, social media, and content concepts as well.  We have a really awesome family member who works to answer emails, edit posts, and also sends out our weekly email newsletters. Megan is very organized, and I am so grateful she stepped in when she did!

We are doing a hybrid school with our kids this year which means they are home with us three days out of the week for school so Gabe has also been teaching them their lessons on those days. As a former educator this comes naturally to him, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy! It has taken more time and discipline on our end than we originally anticipated, but our kids are happier than ever. That is the only sign we needed to know we were doing the right thing. I also have my brother help with my younger two on those school-at-home days which is when I pound out writing and emails. So it takes a team of family members to make things flow around here, and it took a while to figure out how to make things go round! The days Gabe and I work together are Tuesdays and Thursdays (when the kids are in school), and Saturdays. This is when we are both juggling the younger babies and taking turns on various tasks required for the week.

Gabe: Nothing to add here except that one of my duties involves working on some top secret classified projects. (wink wink) We will let you in on that as soon as we are able!

Also I am excited to say, that our new set up allows me to pursue one of my favorite obsessions… food. I now have the ability to do more dinner planning, cooking, and general “chef-ing”. Once, many moons ago, I considered becoming a chef, so I kind of just pretend to be one now.

Anna: Gabe stepping in for dinner here and there is perhaps the most exciting part about this business venture. Amen and amen.

Q: What are the pros and cons of working together?

Anna: Not everyone can work together since personalities and character types vary from couple to couple. What works in a marriage doesn’t always carry over in a working relationship. It just so happens that we compliment our work ethics. Gabe is very thorough, patient, and a problem solver. He knows when to step away from work and reminds me of the importance of balance. He is good at making me laugh when things get stressful, and it is a quality I am certain makes the boat float around here!

Gabe: One of the motivations in pursuing our current set up is to give our kids an example of creative entrepreneurship. Our hope is that the example we set opens their minds to what is possible in terms of a non-traditional career path as they grow into adulthood.

Since our work is heavily focused on our home right now, it can be hard to step away from it. The unfinished projects are always staring at you in the face and it can be difficult to cut off. Sunday is our designated time of rest as a family, which, I will be honest, is very needed.

The biggest struggle though is not getting distracted by my wife’s face all the time. It’s like a Star Trek tractor beam that overtakes my attention way too often, but it is not a bad problem to have.

Q: Do you ever worry about sharing your lives on a public platform?
Anna: All the time. I probably over think it actually. We are both so careful to guard the privacy of our children and feel like their lives are not ours to share. There is a pressure to over share these days with the constant social media platforms. I don’t want to have my phone out constantly around them so we keep our home life as a sacred place and safe space for them. We share parts of it if I feel like it can help others, but I always ask myself the intention of sharing first. We have turned down a lot of paid projects that would involve the kids being the center of the campaign, because we don’t ever want to monetize their exposure. If it’s something we know will be a fun family experience we go for it (like the ‘Made in TN’ trip!). This is a topic Gabe and I talk about often as the blog continues to grow. There may be a time where we step away from public platforms for our children’s sake.

Q: How do you separate work from your personal life?
Anna: Since often times even when we get out together it’s to shoot photos for a post, it can be hard to set aside time just to be together as husband and wife. Making the mindset switch from work mode to marriage mode can be tricky, but we fight for it. We usually set aside power hour dates on weekends. At nights to unwind after putting the kids to bed we put away anything work related and grab a glass of wine. We stay up late talking or just fall asleep to a movie. It isn’t much time, but it is enough to connect and refuel!

Gabe: We try to make the most of the little free time together, because it is so valuable. Because we have so much to accomplish daily, it rarely all happens during the daylight hours, and working after the kids go to bed is common. We do everything we can to ensure a little time together before we go to bed, and we try to start and end our days at the same time. Sometimes, well often times, it feels like we are back in our dating days trying to squeeze in just a little more time together each night, and in turn staying up way too late and sleeping too little. But I’ll sacrifice a little sleep it if means more time together.

We have heard from a lot of you that you would love to start working with your significant other one day, so we hope these updates can be of some insight to you! Feel free to leave any more q’s below, and we will do our best to answer them in upcoming posts!

*Thank you Haley Sheffield Photography for the photos! We dressed up, but then realized sneakers were better suited for us;)

The post Working with your significant other. An update. first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post Working with your significant other. An update. appeared first on In Honor Of Design.

As a follow up to my last post, I thought it would be appropriate to share all of the jobs Gabe and I have both had in the past through today. So many times in life you walk through a door that leads to another, and sometimes they are dead ends. Other times they are stepping stones where you can see how one lead to the other. I think its safe to say we both feel that we learned a technique, skill, value, or perspective from each job in our past that has benefited our current jobs today. Ready? It’s a long a list…

Anna

Gradeschool:
Sewed beanie baby sleeping bags and scrunchies to sell at yard sales (the entrepreneurship spirit started young!)
Made friendship bracelets to sell at recess
Highschool:
Shop Cashier
Babysitter
Hair salon receptionist
Photographer’s assistant
College:
Nanny
Yearbook editor
Website designer
Post college:
Art teacher
Freelance designer
Lead graphic designer
Etsy shop business owner
Design director
Founded Brand Market Workshops
Blogger

Gabe

Highschool:
Landscaping/Construction
Waiter and Banquet server
Summer day camp instructor
Kohl’s Dept Store second shift – Unloaded trucks and prepped merchandise for third shift merchandise stockers
Shipping warehouse picker

College:
Personal Fitness Trainer
Cattle Rancher/Troubled Teen Counselor
Road/driveway Construction
Landscaping
Collegiate Rugby Coach

Post College:
Substitute teacher
Public speaker
House Painter
Grain Transport Specialist (Truck driver)
Middle school History and Theology teacher
High school Theology teacher
Director of Religious Education
Middle school Dean of Students

Phew! Told you it was long. Who knows what we will add to this list in the future, but I have a feeling it isn’t quite finished yet.

One thing that I was really drawn to about Gabe from the start was his work ethic. He was more concerned about loyalty, honesty, and commitment than he was about getting ahead. He worked hard from the time he was young, so he understood the value of sticking through a job and doing it thoroughly.

I have a very determined mindset when it comes to anything I try, and usually act before fear takes a hold of me. This is why, as you can see, I started a few businesses in succession (who remembers the etsy shop?!), and was always juggling at least a few creative jobs at a time. Needless to say, working with Gabe has been a really good weight at the other end of the scale to balance me out;)

Looking back, there were many jobs between the both of us that were extremely challenging, or didn’t feel like we even felt skilled for, but we took an experience with us to carry on to the next. Who knew that selling scrunchies would fuel a love for entrepreneurship to last this long in life!

Ok now it’s your turn. We want to hear, what was one of the odd or challenging jobs you ever tried?

The post The Journeyman’s Journey: Past Jobs first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post The Journeyman’s Journey: Past Jobs appeared first on In Honor Of Design.

It’s almost impossible to fully understand when you are standing on the altar on your wedding day what the future will throw your way. You willingly promise to have and to hold from this day forth, till death do us part, without knowing what set of circumstances will unfold in the years to come. I have realized that when the hard parts of life come knocking at your door, the real opportunities arise to live your vows. When life is painful, stressful, or even grueling, a more selfless love has the chance to be exercised. When the rubber meets the road, are our convictions about love and marriage demonstrated? I wanted to write about this because I think it is something that all couples face at some point, and having some concrete steps to practice in those moments have helped me tremendously.

Marriage is really good at delivering you a nice large self portrait. Suddenly you are very aware of how your choices and actions can affect your partner. When the really rough moments arrive, who shows up? I can speak of loving him with my whole heart until there is a condition that rubs me the wrong way. Sometimes the issues may be significant, and other times they may be a build up of smaller things. But when the going gets tough, do we really show up like we promised in our vows? When we say we love someone with our whole heart, how is it so easy to put up conditions when human weakness gets in the way?

Here are a few things Gabe and I wanted to share that have helped combat negativity in our marriage:

Anna:

1. If Gabe disappoints me for some reason or other, I can choose to give him the cold shoulder or make him feel guilty for not being what I needed him to be. (I have done both of these darn it!) The other choice is to turn the mirror onto my own actions first. Am I demonstrating the kind of love to him that I am expecting for him to show me? Am I being critical in my thoughts before seeking to understand his perspective? Most of the time, it’s a wake up call to see that often times what we expect in the other is not being demonstrated in ourselves.

2. Love ignites more love in a relationship, while negativity can only break down and tear it apart. Our words can never be taken back once spoken, so before heading into an argument wait to cool down. It helps to give your thoughts a chance to sort out. I have learned that after nine years of practice, I still need at least 19 more! Instead of brewing over something small for a week, calmly discuss it when emotions can be under control. If it something big and anger is justified, trying to discuss it when you have thought out how to communicate your anger has always brought about better resolve than when words are spewing out without much thought behind them. These simple but difficult actions to put in practice always work to build a stronger more unified love.

Gabe:

3. When Anna and I do not see eye to eye, or when expectations are not met, it can be easier to play the waiting game in an effort to make the other person take the first step to reconciliation. Most of the time this is a result of pride in some form. If I feel like she is in the wrong, waiting for her to make the first move gives me a sense of vindication for how I am feeling, even if waiting is putting me into a darker place. If I am in the wrong, taking that first step feels like an admission of guilt, so I naturally want to avoid facing the reality of my shortcoming.  The issue in both cases is that neither is an act of love, but rather, both are an act of pride that can make moving on more difficult. It takes more love and strength to lay down my pride than it does to selfishly hold onto it. Despite knowing this, it is always harder to make that first step to move forward. Imagine how amazing it would be, how much negativity could be avoided, and how much love would grow, if we could race to be the first to make amends in the situation rather than be the last.

Gabe has taught me through the above point, that when we choose a love beyond ourselves, a greater unity steps in to take the place of pride. It’s impossible to talk about marriage for me without mentioning our faith. We have always held our faith at the center of our marriage, which continues to be the main source of strength for us. I wear a cross ring above my wedding ring to remind me that someone else loves us unconditionally, and is always rooting for our family as well. It is a visual reminder that marriage is designed to be that outpouring of God’s love to each other.

What are some things that have helped you in your relationship to work towards a more unified love? We like to say when all else fails, give each other a chance to say curse words at the top of your lungs……;) Kidding of course. Maybe…

“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” – Victor Hugo

P.S. On the road….one of the places that always tends to be a great place to practice all of the above, yes?

The post Marriage: When the rubber meets the road. first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post Marriage: When the rubber meets the road. appeared first on In Honor Of Design.