So We Can Sharpen Scissors

Not much happened on Friday. Another chill day at BI, but a day full of filing. Haha not going to lie, it wasn’t my favorite part. The best part of the day was a funny little conversation…

“Why do we have scissor sharpeners?” {Amber}

“So we can sharpen scissors!” {Martin}

(Cricket, Cricket, Cricket…aka dead silence)

Bahahaha I laughed and laughed and laughed. Ok I guess you had to be there but I really did think it was way funny.

Yesterday I went to the Belle Meade Plantation. What a beautiful home. I was expecting something a little more “Gone with the Wind” but it really was beautiful. I couldn’t take any pictures inside but I did take some of the surrounding property. It was funny, but after the tour there was free wine tasting. Obviously I didn’t participate and I got some of the weirdest looks because of it. The people on my tour couldn’t believe that I would pass up free alcohol.

One thing that the Belle Meade Plantation and that families who built it (the Harding's and Jackson's) are known for is their horse breading. Almost ALL of the Kentucky Derby "greats" can trace their "lineage" back to the Belle Meade Mansion. If you are ever in the Nashville Area, this is a must see.

Ladies step: used to mount horses

The Doll House

Gardener's House and Green House

The Dairy

Family Mausoleum

Carriage and Horse Barn

Slave Cabin

Winery

 The rest of the weekend has been really chill and I think tomorrow will be too, but I think that I will be going to a BBQ so I look forward to that. I hope everyone has had a great weekend so far and I’ll see ya’ll soon.

The Most Expensive Matches I Have Seen

Sorry ya'll but tonight is gonna be short. After the last few nights... I'm just exhausted.

This took us All day! It started out looking really modge podged and thrown together, but after we got done with it, it looks so much better. 

These matches are $5.50 I'm pretty sure I'm gonna by some.

I forgot to take a picture of this yesterday. I think this is my favorite part of the showroom. I like to call it "vintage modern" haha.

After work I decided to take Bravo on a walk. Being "stuck in the house" for two days I started to go a bit stir crazy and I think he was too. I'm so glad that I brought my umbrella with me though. because all of the sudden... it just started to pour. I just laughed and got soaked (the lower half of me did at least). I got some funny looks from people in their cars, because I was walking in a downpour with a small umbrella barefoot, with flip flops in hand. It felt so nice though.

Other than that today has just been super chill. I'm pretty sure that the weather has calmed down for a little while. Besides that super scary weather, I absolutely love Nashville and believe it or not I am so happy to be here. Goodnight all.

Everything Is Going To Be Ok

Hey guys. So today was really chill. All of the designers were out at clients homes today so us interns and Martin rearranged the showroom today. So it went from this…

To this…

 

It was really hard to concentrate today because I’m still a little bit nervous about these storms that are coming in. I know that I sound so paranoid but, this is all new to me. I made a decision today though… I tried to get internships all over the place, Boston, Scotland, Texas… everywhere, and nothing else worked out. Nashville did. I don’t think that Heavenly Father would “send” me somewhere where I would be killed. (I know that’s a little bit dramatic but the whole Joplin, Missouri tornadoes incident really scares me.) I know things happen and I have heard stories about missionaries who have gone out and accidents have happened and they have passed on, but I also know that heavenly father loves me and has a plan for me (whatever that might be), and that there are things promised in blessings that need to happen. I need to have faith that everything (not just the weather) will be ok. Thank you for all the prayers you have been sending my way and I love you all. See you tomorrow.

PS Institute was so good again tonight. One thing he did leave with us to ponder, I want to share with you to. He promised that if we are honest with ourselves when answering… it could really change our lives.

Why do you study the scriptures every day?

Or

Why don’t you study the scriptures every day?

Naked and Scared

 Sorry I didn’t post yesterday. It was… an eventful day to say the least. Beckwith Interiors now has two more interns who joined the party. Tara and Hannah… both are super cute southern belles, and very talented when it comes to design. Tara comes from Western Kentucky University and Hannah comes from University of Tennessee Knoxville. It was really interesting to hear how similar all of our programs are, and yet they are all so different. I hope there is lots that we can learn from each other.We have one more intern coming soon, and then the team will be complete, at least for the summer. Yesterday was a lot of fun. I got to participate in my first CEU. Once you graduate from school, if you are a member of ASID or the American Society of Interior Designers, you have to earn so many credits to remain a member. They way you do that is by participating in conferences and other activities. Continued Education Units or CEUs are the easiest ways to earn these credits. Basically you get a group of designers (mostly ASID members), some good food, and an allied member of ASID to come and give a lesson about a product or service of some sort. For the CEU we had Jen Bruno from Hansgrohe come and speak to us about “The Naked Bathroom”. She spoke about how bathroom aren’t just place to go relieve oneself, but how they have become places where people can go and relax and unwind, or rejuvenate… yeah! She showed images where bathrooms were plain and boring (naked), but by adding accents, such as color, or wood, or accessories, etc… you can make a space feel warm and inviting. I really enjoyed the lecture and it was a fun experience. Today I pretty much finished up the list for the press release. Phew! I’m glad that its done. Even thought it wasn't the "funnest" thing I have gotten to do, I’m glad for the experience because now I know how to do them, well you know what I mean…

Last night I went over to Brooke’s apartment and a group of girls from the singles ward here and a couple of her friends from work and growing up came too, and we all watched the two hour season premier of the Bachelorette. Haha I know: drama, drama, drama but I love it. This season is already entertaining. Not that any of you really care but so far I’m rooting for Ryan P., William, JP, and Blake. And I already really, really HATE Bentley. At least watch the promos and you’ll know what I mean. What a jerk!

Ryan P

William

JP

Blake

and the Devil himself

Bentley

Ok let me just say this. I talk the talk… but I don’t always walk the walk. When people asked me if I was scared coming out here to Nashville all by myself I would tell them no, that I liked to do things different from others, etc etc. Truthfully I really wasn’t… that was until I got here and realized that I am right in the middle of TORNADO SEASON! What the heck was I thinking? Guys I am so freakin’ scared that I could cry. Actually I already have… a few times, and nothing has even happened yet (or should I say at all. I really hope nothing happens…)  So, YES, I am scared to be here in Nashville! Don’t get me wrong I am having a good time and I’m learning so much, but I would just love to never have to experience a tornado… ever! I basically live on this website and every little noise makes me jump. Ugh! I’m such a baby. I guess what I’m saying is if you want to include me in your prayers tonight, even if it is just for comfort, I would really appreciate that.

Well tomorrow we are starting to rearrange the show room so hopefully that will be fun. I will take pictures of the process so you can be apart of it too.

Do I Have Something On My Face?

It’s the end of my first week in Nashville. I can’t believe how fast it went by, how much I have been involved in, and how much I have already learned. We finished the projection order I was helping on all week, and it looks beautiful. I really, really want to own some someday (I’m gonna keep saying that until it happens!).  One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was that I am helping a client with a custom lighting design, {well sort of…it hard to explain without getting into detail, which I think could get me in to trouble}, and if things work out, a custom table/ dining area. Martin shared some ideas to help me get started in the right direction, and I hope that things work out well and that I can design something that will make both Beckwith Interiors and our potential client happy. If it does I will have to see if it’s something I can share on here as long as I don’t give specifics, no promises though. Anyways that has been fun. I’m still working on some of the other projects but those are finishing up really quick so that is nice. I’m glad that I got a lot of responsibility and experience, here in the first week because this Monday I think that Beckwith Interiors is getting two new interns. I hope that I have proven myself useful enough that they will still give me stuff to keep me busy. I guess we will see.

I promised them, so here they are:

This is the first thing I saw when I walked in the door on Monday. I love the show room at Beckwith Interiors and next week I get to help martin rearrange it so that it’s “fresh”.

This is the fantastic wall behind the reception desk.

It has been torn apart a little bit, but this it the materials library. I have heard that other interns hate being stuck in the materials library but I love ours. We might be “remodeling” it soon though. Haha, no not really but we might be getting shelves so that it’s easier to get to the sample books.

Here is my desk, although I’m not sure for how much longer. I will be sharing with the new interns.

I love the chandeliers above our desks. I think I might ask Jamie where she found them because this is exactly the kind of thing I would like in my bedroom back home and in Logan. I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Design/inspiration boards next to my desk.

More Projection. I love this so much. Maybe if I’m really good, Jamie will let me by a small amount like this and I can make some art for my room too.

Well, that is a small visual tour of Beckwith Interiors offices.

After work I helped the Nelson a little bit because they are leaving for Disneyworld tomorrow. Kory asked me to drive her and the kids to some friends because her eye was bothering her and she didn’t think it would be a good idea to drive. I got to see some fun things I could do while I’m here. Hopefully I will have time. After we dropped the kids off for the night and we stopped at a grocery store quick, I ran to Barnes and Noble quick just for something to do. I don’t know why but for some reason I feel like I get the strangest looks here. Maybe I’m just being paranoid but whenever I go to Wal-Mart or… anywhere really I feel like people watching me or giving me… well, funny looks. I feel like turning to them and saying “What? Do I have something on my face? Did I sit on chocolate or something?” Haha, it’s really not a huge deal, it can be slightly uncomfortable at times though. I’m pretty sure that it’s mostly in my head. Like I said, PARANOID. I guess I just need to be confident or at least fake it till I make it. 

Well I’m trying to figure out what to do this weekend. I might go back into downtown and visit some of the parks. Or maybe I’ll go to the Belle Meade Plantation. I’ll figure something out. I’m trying to figure out how to get out around the neighborhoods around here and take some pictures of the homes, without looking like some creeper, stalker person. That’s just what I need is to have someone call the cops on me. I guess I don’t really have to worry about that though until I figure out a solution to my first problem. THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS HERE!!! I will take a picture while I’m driving (I’ll go really slow when there are no cars behind me), but I want you to be able to see what I mean. I’m so determined though because these houses are amazing. My dream homes, yes plural, for sure! I could very easily be happy in most of these homes… I like to dream big!

Serious but FUN!

I am having such a good time out here already. Sorry I didn’t post last night but I was just so tired that I went straight to bed. Haha, no not directly after work, but after institute. Last night was my first institute experience here in Nashville. I really wish I had brought some note paper because the lesson was so good. I really hope that I get the opportunity to have some missionary moments here. I hope that I will have the courage to teach people around me… Man, I really wish that I had taken notes so that I could share with you what I learned, but the main theme of the lesson is how to share the gospel with people around us, especially when we might be scared to do it. There was so much more to it but… yeah. I can’t wait to get to know some of the people in my singles branch because they all see like a fun bunch of people.

Aannnnyways….. Today was so much fun. Samantha asked me to pick out some sconces for a client. Together we found some that I think they will really like. I’m also working on getting an ironwork chandelier custom made for another client. Now on top of press releases, I’m also working on finding trade shows for Jamie and the Jamie Beckwith Collection to get involved with. They are definitely keeping me busy and I love it.

I went to the warehouse again to help with this massive order of “Projection”, that is supposed to be sent out tomorrow night. We are basically down to the wire and they said they needed all the help they could get so of course I wanted to go. I already feel like a pro here in Nashville. I am navigating the roads here, and as long as I know the exit, direction, and street name, I can find almost anything. Yeah, go me! I love the people I work with. They are totally serious about the work they do, as any good professional should be… But at the same time they know how to have fun. There is never a dull moment. Especially when Martin is involved. I am learning so much and I am really glad that I’m here.

This is Martin and his Tyvek space suit...Very nice!!!

Projection: Begging and Finished Product

It really is a beautiful product. I hope that I will be able to own some someday!