By Katrice
Even though I can browse the IKEA web site any time I want (and I do...often), it doesn't quite match the excitement I feel at the thought of it's annual catalog release. The anticipation just never gets old and what's inside never disappoints.
I'm consistently drawn to the modern and clean feel of IKEA furniture and home essentials, and often feel like I'm missing something when I haven't dropped into the store for too long. When, my new catalog arrived recently, I found my suspicion accurate. I've been missing a lot!
Last summer, I converted a spare bedroom in my home into a walk-in closet using LACK shelves and an EXPEDIT series bookcase. This year, I'm on to my bedroom with the MALM series as the center piece. But, what's new has me rethinking everything I have in the works.
Here's what I'm loving (and what I want now!) ...
Retreat
All of this inspiration ... I love how airy but structured this bedroom feels. I gravitate to white and cream bedding and accessories, but here there is also just enough richness to balance everything out. The NORDLI 8-drawer dresser works.
Occasion
Even though I can browse the IKEA web site any time I want (and I do...often), it doesn't quite match the excitement I feel at the thought of it's annual catalog release. The anticipation just never gets old and what's inside never disappoints.
I'm consistently drawn to the modern and clean feel of IKEA furniture and home essentials, and often feel like I'm missing something when I haven't dropped into the store for too long. When, my new catalog arrived recently, I found my suspicion accurate. I've been missing a lot!
Last summer, I converted a spare bedroom in my home into a walk-in closet using LACK shelves and an EXPEDIT series bookcase. This year, I'm on to my bedroom with the MALM series as the center piece. But, what's new has me rethinking everything I have in the works.
Here's what I'm loving (and what I want now!) ...
Retreat
Occasion
The KARLSTAD armchair would be perfect in the corner of my bedroom for curling up with a good book. It's simple but modish.
Reflections
A mirror that nearly spans floor to ceiling ... Yes, please to the SONGE Mirror. Yes! ($99)
Into the Light
A still shot of the white PS 2014 floor lamp just didn't do it justice.
So much goodness! Right?
Well, that's not it. To celebrate its 2015 catalog launch IKEA Atlanta is giving away a $100 gift card to any IKEA. To enter comment below, sharing what you would most like from the 2015 catalog. Then, fill out the form in the widget below. The giveaway will run through August 31 and the winner will be announced via Twitter (so be sure to follow IKEA Atlanta). Good luck and happy browsing!
Someone asked me a few years ago, what goal I've reached or am currently working on that has taken the most focus and energy I've ever given. My response was immediate: being myself. Goodness! Up until that point I hadn't quite realized it to that magnitude, but yes, that was and is it. The effort of trying ... working at ... deliberately focusing on being myself, as the quote says — "in a world that is constantly trying to make you (me) something else" helps me to sleep better at night now than I did in years when I didn't realize that it simply doesn't come natural to all of us. I don't know how many hours of my life waned away with me trying to plot and plan how to be more like someone else — part of it out of being a people-pleaser and part of it out of a feeling of inadequacy.
My mom and other adults who were close to me told me to be myself when I was a girl. But, isn't that what most adults tell children? They said it, but they also side-eyed some of my less than sweet "self" tendencies. And sometimes, when I was my most authentic self, the response was not what I expected. So, I would adjust. I adjusted my favorite color. I adjusted my walk. I adjusted my tone of voice (until my older brother asked me about it one day and embarrassed me into going back to normal) ... my college major. I adjusted and readjusted my self as necessary based on the world's response until I was a semblance of me. It worked well enough for a while. There were brief outbursts, times that I now understand as my real feelings ... my real self slipping out. In those times, I became more tightly raveled. And then one day, a Sunday to be exact, something broke. Rejection is very frequently the impetus for greater. Perspective.
I believe every emotion I had ever beat down, every self doubt, every regret came to the surface that day. I cried that day and for days after because ... well, I guess, it was just necessary. And I talked to just one friend who told me all of it had been long overdue. Then she said: go forward. Hm. I thought her extremely insensitive. I mean, I was literally exhausted from what I perceived sorrow and hopelessness. It was not. I had emptied out and was at once free of things I didn't even know had me held up in my life.
And I started becoming me.
That statement sounds so flowery but it was work. It, is work. Some things (and people) fell away, and I had to practice searching myself for an authentic response to people, places and things before knee-jerk reactions/responses. I second guessed myself and my voice, and sometimes I looked back. In those times, I realized that God will allow you a moment with a person, place or thing to help you reconcile why you left. And every time, I say thank God for "forward."
People often ask me what I did to get where I am or how I did it. The first thing I say is "I'm still getting there." But, the how is much simpler ... The bottom has never fazed me. No, I don't love the bottom. I do, however, respect it as a level. I posted a series of tips on Instagram today about the type of mindset it takes to get where you're trying to go if, in fact, you're trying to go somewhere great. It's nothing out of the ordinary to see those types of posts in my timeline, but I am careful to offer specifics as often as possible about how I've made my way up the ladder — if you will. I've written about it here many times, but I don't think it'll ever be too much if one new reader sees something I post and is able to use it for their journey.
Today, my mind is on stressing the importance of levels and intentionally gaining as you go. If you think you're too good for some part of the process, you're setting yourself back before you even begin.
As I wrote on IG this afternoon, I started working at the YMCA in 2003 after earning my master's degree in American Culture Studies; I was working as a front desk clerk just trying to make ends meet. But whenever the executive director came by, I had a few thoughts for him about the place, programs, etc. I should also add that I worked any day and shift they asked me except Sundays. Not only could I talk good, I was also willing to roll up my sleeves. A few months later he gave me the reference I needed for the Executive Director post of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Two years later, when I started at Atlanta Tribune, I was associate editor. I wrote four to five features every month along with my everyday duties of helping run editorial. I was overwhelmed but I did it. I became Editor in Chief seven months after I was hired. You can keep name dropping and shoulder rubbing your way to a seat at the cool kids table, but I assure you there's someone else working their way into that position that you have your eyes on.
People at the top often talk about the bottom. And they've usually been there more than once. Pay attention; Levels. 
