Friday, June 29, 2012

Puggly Post

I know that everyone think that there dogs are the cutest dogs in the whole world, but my dogs are the cutest dogs in the whole world. These little pug pups seriously light up my life and manage to make me laugh every single day. Pugs are just goofy creatures and totally worth dedicating a picture post to.


What are you getting up to this weekend? love, lindsay

Lindsay Links

In a seminar I attended about digital advertising at work today really got me thinking about how much time I spend using the internet. As a first generation internet kid I have never had to live without it and absolutely can't imagine what it was like before it. This internet is the most amazing resource for anything and everything, so today I spent a little time surfing it and appreciating the convenience it provides me every day :) Here are a few of the things I came across that I really liked!

Flat Iron Curls
Pretty Coloring Pages
Homemade Cookie Cake
Hair Bun
Tape Painting
At Home Vitamin Water
Sharpied Mugs

Have you discovered any cool corners of the internet lately? love, lindsay

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up

This is the question everyone starts asking when you reach the ripe age of 21... and sooner really. Isn't it a little nerve-wracking and completely crazy that at such a young age I'm supposed to have decided what I'm going to dedicate my life and time to for the next 40 years? The thought of that used to be a big issue for me. It became one of my worst fears that I was going to pick the wrong thing and ruin my life, stuck doing something I'm horrible at or have a horrible time at. But then I had the big epiphany:

I don't have to do one thing for the rest of my life.

"That's wrong. That's just insane and too hopeful to be true," I told myself. "Don't be delusional." Growing up as the daughter of CPAs, believing that you could do more than one thing in your career life was as absurd as believing in Santa Claus (which I did until I was in 5th grade by the way. Irrelevant? Oh sorry.)

Eventually I started to question what was so crazy about it. Nothing, nothing at all. So I started to list all the things I want to be when I grow up and found that it would be very plausible for me to have multiple careers at different times in my life, especially because
so many of them relate to each other. I thought I'd share that list with you today!

1. Art Director at an Advertising Agency
As many of you know, I'm currently in this line of work as an intern and absolutely in love with my job. This may or may not be what I want to do forever, but I do know it's where I want to start.

2. Freelance Graphic Designer
This is one of those jobs that clearly interlinks with my first dream job. Many people actually are Art Directors and freelancers at the same time.

3. Author
I want to write a book. I've wanted to write my own book since I was in the fourth grade and wanted to be a famous author like J.K. Rowling (my role model at the time and also my role model still today). I consider myself a storyteller and hope that someday I can have a story published.

4. Dress Designer
What girl hasn't wanted to design a clothing line? Okay, so maybe I won't be the next Oscar de la Renta in my lifetime, but Elsie from A Beautiful Mess was able to bring her dress line to life through her small business. So why couldn't I?

5. Photographer
I always love photos, even as a kid. At that point I really just loved being in them to be honest, but just shows I have been very emotionally attached to photos since I was little. I'd love to photograph some weddings or even just senior portraits for a living sometime in my life.

6. Magazine Design
Clearly lots of my dreams involve different design jobs. Very related and very possible to have more than one at different points.

7. Greeting Card Writer
Weird. I know. But I just feel like it would be a fun challenge to try and come up with a multitude of greeting cards every day and get paid for it!

8. Business Owner
I don't know if this means starting something from scratch necessarily or if it will come in the form of buying into a business I believe in. There are a lot of ways to go about making this idea a reality.

9. Blogger
I'd say that this dream is a work in progress! I'd love for my little corner of the internet to someday become a bigger part of my life.


This is just the short list of jobs I think I would love the most. The hopes I just can't shake. I could never pick just one. And luckily I don't have to. What jobs are on your dream list? Do any of you had more than one career already? I'd love to hear about your dreams in the comments! love, lindsay

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Current Playlist

Finding great new music is one of the best feelings in the world. Finding a song that speaks to me can change my day, even my life. Since this blog is dedicated to all the lovely things in our lives, it only seems appropriate to share some of the new music that has been making my life lovelier recently.

1. The Gambler by Fun.
2. Never Alone by Jim Brickman (feat Lady Antebellum)
3. As It Seems by Lily Kershaw
4. I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz
5. You Don't Know Me by Ben Folds (feat Regina Spektor)
6. Angel by Matt Nathanson
7. A Drop in the Ocean by The District
8. Zak and Sara by Ben Folds
9. Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie
10. Slow Me Down by Emmy Rossum
11. Lean by Oh Land
12. Wrapped in Piano Strings by Radical Face
13. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura


This is a fairly random assortment, but most of the songs still have the same general feel. Hope you enjoy these beautiful tunes as much as I do!

Goal: Change Their Lives

I know that this isn't my typical "goal" feature, but today I feel led to blog about something that many people, including myself, have only recently started to hear about: Joseph Kony. If you haven't already seen the Kony 2012 campaign and video from Invisible Children watch it right now. Yes, it is a half hour long, BUT it will open your eyes to the rest of the world.


The things these child soldiers have gone through are unimaginable. It absolutely makes my heart ache to know that many of them have had not only their family stolen from them, but their innocence. Their childhood. Their lives.

What can we do? Who do we send? How can we improve these children's lives?

I'm working on a project at my internship with an amazing non-profit, Exile International, that has a plan for what to do. Has people to send. Has already started to give these children better lives.

Exile is working to heal these kids through art therapy. They send trained counselors to work with former child soldiers in orphanages and train local counselors to continue this therapy throughout the year. Through this these children aren't just survivors, they're becoming leaders for peace in their own communities. If you have anything at all to spare or know someone who might be interested in this cause, please check out their website and send it to your friends. The website shows ways that you can have your hand in the healing process. Even the smallest donations are seen as extremely gracious. I hope that you'll truly consider this dear friends and readers! love, lindsay

Monday, June 25, 2012

Since this blog IS titled "The Lovely Things Are" it only seems appropriate to share the things I find lovely each week! I'm really excited to start this first official feature to my blog, so maybe I can call myself a cool blogger for real now?

No, not yet? Yeah, you're probably right, I should get more readers than just Morgan (HI SHMORG) before I start running for blogger of the year.

Without further ado, the lovely things are...
This weekend my parents and I took a little weekend trip to NOLA. It was such a nice mini getaway with lots of great food and even more drink! I really hope I can squeeze in a few more fun trips before summer ends.
Ah, yes the food I was talking about. I'm not personally a big breakfast eater. I don't like a lot of normal breakfast foods and am even picky about the ones I do like. I'm happier in the morning with a soda and a chocolate bar (to each his own, eh?), but this little brunch place in New Orleans was AMAZING! I had fried soft shell crab with hashbrowns and scrambled eggs. The praline bacon was also to DIE for. I would STRONGLY recommend Elizabeth's Restaurant on Gallier St to anyone in that area!
Friday night I had the privilege of sitting in the box at the Ranger's game! We played well, it didn't rain, and I could watch the game live from in the air conditioning. What could be better?
Last but not least, are beignets. Oh beignet, there is nothing quite like you. If you have never had a beignet, shame on you. Cafe du Monde's beignets definitely live up to the reputation.

What things are you loving this week? I'd love to hear from anyone who stumbles across this blog! (and obviously you, shmorgan.) love, lindsay


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Father's Day

This lovely Sunday was spent celebrating my daddy and papa. We took a trip out to my mom's parents so we could make lunch for them. They're seriously the most adorable old people ever. My dad grilled steaks and my mom and I made potatoes and brussel sprouts (nom nom nom). We were only there about 5 or 6 hours but it was worth the drive to see how happy it made them!
 Sofia and Baxter LOVED my grandparents yard! It was their first trip to East Texas and they behaved so well all day! They were playful, but not aggressive. Sweet, but not in your face. These pug pups steal more of my heart every day!
 I always love any opportunity I can get to take a photo of my parents together. They are truly two of the most amazing and inspirational people in the world.
 This picture of me and Bax was a happy accident. I just wanted an outfit picture but he couldn't resist coming to love me while I was on his level.
Not only is my daddy the best daddy to me and my brother, he is the greatest Pug Daddy of all time. He loves these little pups like crazy and gives them so much. I truly adore watching him interact with them. Hope you all had a very lovely father's day as well! love, lindsay

Saturday, June 16, 2012

In Memory


May the Angels protect you,
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you
When it's time to go home

Horrible things should not happen to wonderful people. But they do. All we can do is remember to love those around us.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Goal: Make Exercise a Part of My Life

The title of this goal may seem silly to a lot of people (especially you health nuts out there), but it means something to me. I can honestly say I truly despise working out. Yes, some days are better than others and I go through phases where I like it more than usual, but at the end of the day I will never want to work out if I can choose to do something else. If I want to stay healthy, especially now that I'm getting older, I need to accept that exercise is just a part of life. Here are the ways I plan on working towards this goal.
1. I need to learn to understand that exercise is not a form of punishment. When my mom asks me to join her for yoga I need to work harder not to take it as her wanting to punish me, because exercise is just a necessary task. Exercise shouldn't be used to punish yourself either. If you screwed up on your diet, that's okay just get back on it right away. Don't use working out as a way of punishing yourself for this mistake.

2. I will create a somewhat consistent exercise routine. If I don't have a schedule to adhere to, I may never make it to the gym. I will start by picking one day of the week that will always be "gym day." After I see that I can adjust to that commitment I can pick two "gym days," and as long as I can commit to what I have already planned keep adding "gym days" until I feel like I am working out enough to reach my goals.

3. I plan to find what exercise works for me. Every body works in a unique way, and an exercise routine that makes your friend feel good and/or lose weight, may not do the same for you. I'll be experimenting this summer to find what way of working out really makes me tick.



What are your favorite ways to get in your exercise? love, lindsay

Monday, June 11, 2012

Lovely Sundays

I love Sundays. Sunday are family days that seem to be a great mix of productivity and laziness. This sunday was a little sad because we said goodbye to my little brother at the airport as he left us for Kenya for 2 weeks. It was also happy because I'm so excited for him, it should be a life-changing experience for him and hopefully life-changing for the children he comes into contact with.  We miss you already baby bro!
After dropping him off we went for lunch at a place I had never been before, but hope to visit again and again and again very soon! Celebration was a sincerely adorable restaurant. All of the shops and places to eat along the section of the street Celebration is on are all run out of the residential houses that used to be lived in there. Naturally this only added to its charm. We all agreed that even though we were only 10 minutes from home we felt like we were on a vacation! Okay, so it's cute. Is that all? Of course not! THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. It's specialty is having the freshest product (they host farmer's markets) and southern cooking. Southern cooking=fried chicken=I couldn't say no to the chicken fried chicken. And it blew my mind. You could definitely tell how fresh their steamed squash and broccoli was as well.
Seeing as this meal alone could make for the loveliest of Sundays, I'm fortunate to say my luck only continued through the rest of the day. I got my nails done, replaced the jeans that had a hole torn in them, and invested in an arm band to hold my iPhone for when I go running. Mom and I did hot yoga together in the evening and came home to cook another delicious meal with my Dad.
Copious amounts of time were spent loving on my sweet adorable pug pups, Baxter and Sofia. We spent a lot of the evening cuddled up with the little sweeties on the couch. I look at them everyday and can't ever get over how incredibly cute they are. Even though some days they do drive us mad, I'm completely smitten with them.
All in all, Sundays and wonderful days. Thanks for letting me share my lovely Sunday with you. What kind of things do you like to do with your Sundays? 
love, lindsay

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Maiden Braids

I am absolutely horrible, terrible, god-awful, and hopeless when it comes to doing my hair. I was born with what I like to describe as "Hermione-hair" that can often be large and untamable. Unluckily for me, one morning before work the Hermione-hair attacked. It was only my second week on the job and I couldn't really afford to look like a slob.... yet. (My office is SO layed back and most people just wear jeans, but I feel like as one of the office noobs I have to attempt to impress.) I panicked and remembered a tutorial I had seen on A Beautiful Mess and said a short prayer to the hair God's that I could pull it off.
Somehow I was able to successfully follow a hair tutorial for the first time in my life and now I'm totally in love with this look! It wasn't perfect for my outfit that day in particular, but it made my day so much easier! It prevented me from constantly playing with my hair and it saved me the time of fighting with the straightener. I'm dying to put it on with a pretty sundress or summer tank! If you like the look check out the link and I promise if I can follow the tutorial I know you can.
love, lindsay

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Creative Juices

Lindsay Wright, Professional Intern/Goofball
As you may know I just started a very big internship about 2 weeks ago, which explains my ghostly silence on this new blog. As an art direction intern, my first assignment was to create a "self-promo" to hand out to all the creative group heads. It gives them my extension for my phone so they can give me a call and bring me onto their projects when they need some extra hands on deck. I wanted to create something that showed them I'm not just a designer, but a conceptual thinker. But I also wanted it to be cute, to make them laugh a little. I'm a sucker for cheesy little things, and I thought that maybe if it was silly it could show that I don't take myself too seriously.
Snapple (left) and Odwalla (right)
So after going through a lot of way too cheesy and a lot of horrible ideas I finally came up with "Creative Juices." Everyone knows the saying "get your creative juices flowing," so why not play on this phrase and hand out creative juices. First decision was finding the right juice. I originally pictures something like Naked Juice or Odwalla, but realized that these would have to be kept in a fridge. In the fridge means out of sight and out of sight is out of mind, so that idea was thrown out. I tried Fuze, but it was difficult to design a label that would fit nicely on their strangely shaped bottles. I landed on Snapple. Yes, they mostly make teas, but they are fruit teas and they do have some juices. They also were a great size for labels that gave the design some more space.
Next came the time to think about logistics. I needed these labels to have the right design, right paper, and flawless cut. I should be playful, but not look like a children's craft-time project. So I went above and beyond and bought myself a fancy little paper cutter. It would have been $75 but it happened to be 50% off. Also, Jo-Anns app has an abundance of seriously awesome coupons so I would strongly suggest downloading it! At STAPLES I decided on the glossy paper because it seemed like it would stand out more and deal better with the juice "sweating" on the bottle if they wanted to put it in the fridge and actually drink it later.
I was so proud of how they turned out! They Strawberry-Kiwi (pink) definitely looked the most beautiful with the label I designed. I loved this little project because one of my dreams for the future is actually to be involved in packaging design and this project taught me so much more about it than I had expected. The only disadvantage was lugging these bad boys around the office and up the stairs while trying to navigate through cubicles to find the desks I was looking for. I looked like a total noob. Luckily a fellow intern took pity on me and helped me to navigate his floor by printing a map for me and highlighting all the places I needed to go. As Morgan would say, he was my "guardian angel intern."
love, lindsay

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Puggly Post

Anyone who knows me knows that pugs are my absolute favorite thing in this world. ESPECIALLY my own pugs. My first pug, Gracie, passed away this December. To help cope we got two pug puppies, Sofia and Baxter. In the future I plan to frequently post the best pictures I get of my Sofia and Baxter (since they're the things I take the most photos of by far) and share my favorite pictures from the past of Gracie (because she was adorable). Someday I also plan to do some individual posts about each pug. Clearly I'm a little too obsessed. Without further ado, meet the pugglies!
Gracie
Sofia
Baxter