on changes

it's been six months.

six months ago my life story turned a corner and instantly a new beginning was created.

it has been a journey filled with tears, laughter, joy, excitement, learning and love.

i have been finding myself, writing the pages to my new story and along the way have discovered more about life than i ever dreamed...it's been a beautiful path filled with many lessons that i will forever cherish and carry with me as i continue on this adventure.

while enjoying this journey i have realized a few things about change...

change is necessary - change is important - change helps us grow

i look at scenic glory and all that it has become since i published my first post back in november of 2010 and i see an unbelievable history that i am so honored to have shared, but at the same time desire something new...something that portrays me and this amazing journey of life that i am currently living and about to embark on.

i feel as though i have "abandoned" scenic glory and my desire is to get back to the basics of what this space was originally intended to be - a design + inspiration blog.

in the coming month i am excited to announce that scenic glory will become just this...a place to share my love for design, the things i create, beautiful details that inspire me and i hope will inspire others.

but what i am most excited about is the personal lifestyle side that gradually found it's way in to scenic glory throughout the last year. this side will have a new home - a space that i have named.

i am her

candid musings + photographs from the life of a ginger girl

with the introduction of  the new scenic glory will also come the introduction of this little gem of mine.  i look forward to sharing and putting my heart & soul back into the things i love so dearly.

xo,

lindsay

on finding happiness.

this last year has been nothing short of a journey. a life changing journey.

i have grown in ways i never thought possible. 

i found strength in myself that i never knew existed.

i discovered that time really does heal. even that of a broken heart.

through this i have learned an invaluable lesson on happiness.

happiness...is not defined by another person. true happiness, is found when in your own company.

being alone and finding what it is within yourself that makes living life truly remarkable.

when you find your own true happiness, that's when the unexpected starts to happen...

amazing people begin to find their way into your life.

maybe for just a moment or maybe for an eternity, but either way they will find you.

it's these people that will see your own happiness and bring it to new heights.

it's these people that you will grow, learn and laugh with.

it's these people that will remind you why finding your happiness first was worth it.

find it. feel it. be it.

it's the greatest gift you could ever receive.

let tomorrow be tomorrow.

i find myself getting overwhelmed by the "big" picture these days - thinking too far ahead...

worried about what may or may not happen, where i will or will not be.

i try my best to live each day to the fullest...

but sometimes i stray, and find the need to remind myself to live in the moment

you never truly know what the future holds

most of it you have absolutely no control over...so stop trying, stop worrying.

7 months ago i never would have imagined that my marriage would end,

that i would be here in this moment living in knoxville, tennessee planning to move back to chicago - a place i used to call home many many years ago.

throughout all of my trials and tribulations, happiness and hardships, if i have learned anything at all it is...

life has no guarantees or promises.

but what we can do is live for today, take everything as it comes - the good & bad

learn a few lessons along the way, make some mistakes, become a better person...

appreciate this day today and let tomorrow be tomorrow.

xoxo

on learning.

every day i see a new opportunity - to live. to learn. to grow. it's a very beautiful thing and something that i never intend to take for granted.  i sit here thinking about my life, where i am, the people that surround me and all the things that this life has to offer...that i have to look forward to...

i have learned...

to focus on today - you never know what tomorrow will or won't bring

to be thankful for the things that i do have - not what i don't

that being different is a gift 

that time really does heal, even when you think your world is over...it does get better

that i really can make a difference, whether it be in this world, or in a person's life

smiling is contagious - we should all do it more often

that niceness can be mistaken for weakness - but at least i know it's a sign of strength

that every single person has a purpose, including myself - it's just finding it that's the hard part

to dream and dream big - we only have one life to live why not make the most of it?

that attitude is everything - and a positive attitude is priceless

that forgiveness is necessary - to not forgive is like drinking poison

to speak even when no one is listening

to help and do the right thing, even when no one is watching

that i deserve to be loved and accepted for everything that i am and want to be

that disappointment makes you stronger from the inside out

that creating "small talk" with a complete stranger can make a difference in their day (and mine as well)

to let go and be okay with it.

i have learned to be me and only me-this is my commitment to live up to the spirit that is within myself.

i have learned to live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.

what have you learned?  i would love for you to share with me.

xoxo

lindsay

what you may not know...

i...

am a dreamer. always have been, always will be...there just isn't any other way to live for me.

do not regret things easily - life's too short for regrets.

believe everything happens for a reason - so i'm always finding the positive in it all.

have been a vegetarian for almost 7 years.

like to write out lists because it makes me feel like i've accomplished something...

have a tendency to never go back and look at those lists :)

 love old fashioned carnivals & circuses (just the nostalgia of it all, not the animal cruelty part)

believe i was born in the wrong decade - but don't we all?

want to buy a vintage vespa.

am a self taught guitar player, i'm still not very good - but i love it anyway.

do not like pop, carbonation and i do not get along.

do love vintage sodas though - not the taste, just the look :)

love dresses/skirts and wear them pretty much every day.

own a vw bug convertible - her name is francine.

am a perfectionist.

love lipstick in all shades, especially red & peach

will work for the anthropologie design team one day - there is no other option.

want to drive the entire route 66 in the next few years (and blog about it of course).

listen to music all day long while i work on designs (thank you grooveshark).

want to go on a hot air balloon ride this year.

get excited about small things like candy striped straws & polaroids.

want to see charleston SC and savannah GA.

am a lover, not a fighter.

...what you may not know about me

xoxo, lindsay

p.s.  thank you to my lovely friend victoria of pistol daisy for inspiring me to create this post!

life lately.

i have been away for a little while, not because i don't want to be here, but because i have been taking the time to build myself - to become a better version of me - to grow.

discovering this new life has been a journey...while certain moments have been scary, other moments have been enlightening. motivating. inspiring.  it's these things that keep me moving in a forward motion - in the end i will land on my feet...that's the part that really matters.

i have learned through the months that uncertainty and i have a love - hate relationship... i used to be a planner, but what is the purpose of planning when so much of what life has to offer, we have absolutely no control over?  a life of uncertainty is far more exciting - so for now i choose to live and let live, i choose to continue to let it be.

to my long time readers and new one's as well, i hope you will continue to follow me on my life journey - let's learn, build and grow together... 

"she wants to be beautiful, wants a flash, a spark, a rare and wonderful spirit that everyone sees. but before all of that, she wants to respect herself. as is. even the shaky parts. because even the shaky parts have a shine to them that doesn't fade. she grows ever stronger in the life she has made."

xoxo

lindsay

the next chapter.

it's taken awhile to get here.  the point where you realize that one chapter of your life has ended just so the next chapter can begin.  as much as i resisted it, as much as i tried to make my reality something different...i realize now that the best is yet to come.

i have learned so much more about myself in the last 2 months than i ever thought i could...

i am far stronger than i gave myself credit for...this is something that i will always carry with me.  i am so lucky to have discovered this about myself during my young years because down the road, when life throws me another curveball i can look back at this time in my life and remember that i got through it...i made it.  i survived.

forgiveness really is what matters most.  learning to forgive is hard.  it forces you to dig deep and face all the things that make you want to curl up in a ball and give up.  it wasn't something that happened over night...it was a progression of time that i am so grateful came sooner than later.  the day i was able to find forgiveness was the day my head and heart thanked me endlessly.  my soul feels light again...my mind is becoming clear and the pieces of my heart are slowly mending back together.  of course, there will be tough days ahead, but knowing that i have found it in me to truly forgive makes those days few and far between.

i am a fighter. a true fighter...even when i didn't know what i was fighting for i continued to fight because it felt right.  unfortunately, life doesn't always give you the things you want.  as much as i wanted to save my marriage i quickly realized that that fight was lost and the person that i should really be fighting for is myself.

throughout my entire life i have always been the one that had so much love to give.  when i love...i love with all of my heart.  as i move forward to this next chapter i will stay strong, continue to forgive, always fight and take the time to love myself.  in the end that's what really matters most.

sunshine & watercolors

i am happy to say that my days have been filled with plenty of sunshine and beautiful views.  the smokey mountains are lovely this time of year...all the different shades of colors leaves me feeling nothing less than inspired.  i think it's time to pick up a paintbrush and start using these watercolors that i bought for myself a few months ago.

in a few days i am making my way back to nebraska for a week long trip.  it's been a month since i left and i couldn't be more excited about seeing my amazing friends.  each of them has been there for me in ways i could never thank for enough.  i'm crossing my fingers that the blue skies and sunshine will come along with me for the ride.  wishing you all a happy monday and a beautiful week ahead! xo

27 candles & setting balloons free.

a backyard barbecue with family was the perfect way to celebrate 27 candles.  i wore my favorite peach dress, put on red lipstick and made a special birthday wish for this new chapter of my life.  i expect this year will be nothing short of an adventure...i look forward to the journey.

as a gift, i bought myself a few balloons and set them free.  letting go is hard, but being free is beautiful.

xo

southern hospitality.

the sweet south has welcomed me with open arms, lovely weather and beautiful scenery.  i wake to the sound of chirping birds and to the site of the smokey mountains.  i am surrounded by so much history and culture...i now just need to embrace it.  live it.

they say home is where the heart is...today my heart is here.

let it be.

i never knew i could have so many thoughts in a minute...often i end up in a state of confusion, other times i feel content, sometimes i just feel lost.  there is no rhyme or reason...it just is.  i have accepted this part of my life for the time being...no it hasn't been easy, but i see sometimes you just need to let it be.

let it be.  never did i imagine that these 3 little words would be so meaningful and therapeutic.  in a time when i thought i had complete control of my life, in a time when i thought i had all the answers to my questions, in a time when i thought i saw my future so clearly...i realize that no one, no matter how powerful can see into the days ahead.  the future will always hold uncertainty.  it is scary, but at the same time it is thrilling...exciting.  it is the uncertainty that makes life worth living.

so here i sit, listening to the current theme song to my life - knowing that in time there will be an answer...let it be.

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no thank you could EVER be enough to each and every one of my readers...my friends.  your words of wisdom, encouragement and love has lifted me up during a time when i thought i could never see the light of day.  i thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.  each comment, every personal email sent has been read (and re-read!)...please forgive me if i have not had an opportunity to respond...i will in time, i promise.

with love, lindsay

picking up the pieces

i've been gone for awhile and must say that i am happy to be taking the steps back into this part of my life.  every day people become a victim to life changing events...unfortunately for me that day happened last week.  i didn't see it coming, i didn't get many answers to my questions and very quickly my world was shattered.  my heart was broken.

i remind myself that one day i will look back at this time in my life only to realize i have become a stronger person for getting through it.  each day i work on picking up the pieces.  soon i will be whole again and the moment when i can love with all of my heart will be a very beautiful day.

i find comfort in knowing that i have the support of my friends and family...they remind me every day how vibrant i am and that wonderful things are waiting to fill my future.  i can hardly wait.

i sit here today feeling fortunate to have gotten answers to many of my questions...with this i know i will be able to move forward and become the best person i can be...for myself and for all of those around me.  in time i hope to be able to share more about my experience...i hope to be able to help others that have suffered from a broken marriage or relationship.  maybe we can all help each other...maybe, we can all pick up the pieces together.  xo lindsay