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Happy New Year Allured Loves!!

💕🌦💙☔️🌸🤎🌧️💛

WOW!! We're officially one month into another beginning of a brand new year where we've all been given the opportunity to start fresh and anew.

Whether you believe in resolutions, new year, new goals or new year, new me or not...there is no denying that every year gives us all an opportunity for new beginnings. To be frank, each and every day we're blessed to wake up and see the sunshine...we all get the same chance to be a better version of ourselves the present day, than we were the previous day.

For me personally, I began this year a little different than I've typically done before and allowed myself to not harbor any feelings of guilt in doing so. And, I truly love that for me. I allowed myself to...

Be Still

Take In The Moment

Enjoy The Moment

Relax

Rest

Breathe

And, Just Be!!

The last five years, from 2019 to 2023 have been quite intense for me. Even beyond just five years, but in particular these last several years have indeed been ambitious and such a hustle & grind. Working tirelessly to pour into and further develop my brand. To consistently evolve creatively and put forth the very best of my work. To stay authentic and true to my creative passions and to meet every opportunity and challenge with a sense of integrity.

By the time the end of 2023 rolled around, I felt very burnt out!!

Not just exhausted, but completely mentally and emotionally drained.

I had no energy or excitement about jumping back into work mode and knew my body and spirit were both in dire need of rest and relaxation.

I really needed some time to just not be ON!! Time to not be overwhelmed with planning, scheduling, coordinating, or producing anything. And, most importantly...I needed time to for once simply not give a damn.

I remember at the start of 2022 in particular, I'd produced three photo shoots back to back, which included a video shoot as well. They were all shot before the end of January. I knew right away from the burn out I was feeling at the end of last year, I didn't even want to think about scheduling the first Allured By Design® shoot of this year. So I didn't.

While you all see the beauty of the shoots, which is the product that's a result of the labor, planning and preparation that goes into them...I can't stress enough, it's still work!! Yes, work that I absolutely love. But, nonetheless, work! So, I gave myself time to just be still and not be in a rush to do anything.

It felt so amazing to be in my home, wrapped in my plush comfy robe, being an ugly duckling with my hair all over my head, and just lounging around being house bum!! It felt good to take naps during the day. It felt amazing to catch up on shows I've been wanting to watch. And, it felt so divine to not care about doing much of anything or any kind of pressure to be productive. I'm so thankful I gave myself time to be still and just be.

At the start of 2023, whispers in the film industry of an industry strike were getting louder and louder. And, then it eventually happened. It completely affected so many of us that work in this business, causing thousands of us either financial hardships or immediate pivots.

It informed my 2023 prayer, which was four simple words...

"Lord, Lead The Way"

I knew all too well that a year which would be shaped and structured by career challenges could only be led by God...to maneuver around and survive. By the time Fall Season rolled around, my prayer shifted to...

"Lord, Please Let Us Make It To The Other Side of 2023"

All I wanted to do was survive the challenges, trials and tribulations of 2023 and make it to the other side. As someone that grew up in church, going to bible study, Sunday school and of course reading and studying the Bible, I kept seeing 2023 as the Red Sea. I kept seeing me and my Husband walking the bottom floor of the Red Sea with the waters on the left and right representing every single challenge coming our way, intending to drown us.

But...

No matter how frightening the waters appeared to be, or how uncertain things seemed...only God's grace and mercy would get us across.

And, of course our faith and belief that we wouldn't drown in the process.

And, so we crossed and ultimately made it to the other side known as 2024.

⚜️ 

All Photo Stills by Stacy Marks Photography

As many of you already know and for my new email subscribers...

I use my newsletters as a way to go beyond the world of interiors and home decor. And, more of a way to connect with you all if possible on a deeper level by addressing things going on in our world and things that we may all be dealing with in some form or fashion.

My newsletters also serve as an opportunity for me to highlight my hometown and most favorite city in the world, New Orleans...showcasing a mixture of beautiful city exteriors and cultural landmarks.

But most importantly, my newsletters are meant to be a source of light and hope. In these current and uncertain times...

Anything that brings light I believe is always welcome.  

💕

Speaking of light...

As mentally and emotionally challenging as 2023 was, I don't want to focus heavily on the challenges of last year. Because in hindsight, every obstacle that forced me and my Husband to make adjustments or to pivot from our original plans...truly worked out better than we could've imagined.

And, as I think about the many pivots made...the more my perspective shifts to simply just being grateful for all of the blessings that came in 2023, in spite of the challenges. God truly showed up and out, each and every time I wasn't so sure how the year would pan out.

Eventually, I had to completely surrender any and all worries and fully trust in the four word prayer that began my 2023...

"Lord, Lead The Way"

The more I said these words aloud and or even quietly to myself, the more I fully believed in the reality of making it to the other side. Now, finally having made it to this other side, what does 2024 mean?

I'm not big on resolutions. Nor am I a new year, new me kind of girl. But I am all about moving forward with a theme and focus in mind. Last year, my theme was all about fruit. After so many years of planting seeds and putting in so much hard work, I desired for the focus of 2023 to be all about enjoying the fruit of my labor.

With the challenges that came along with 2023 and even getting really sick at the very beginning of last year, my fruit theme most certainly didn't seem like it would come to pass. However, as last year begin coming to an end...I realized that paired alongside some of the obstacles I faced, there were indeed many successes. Which ultimately led to me actually enjoying some fruit, even if just for a brief moment.

So, perhaps not in the way that I'd initially imagined, yet fruit was produced from all of my labor nonetheless.

Or, moreso... 

The success in me producing and delivering so many big projects last year was the fruit within itself from so much hard work put in.

💙

I successfully premiered the launch of my limited web series to a local audience here in New Orleans. Not only was the event fabulous, but it was also extremely heartwarming to have so many come out and support me.

I successfully debuted the launch of my web series on my YouTube Channel and it was surprisingly very well received, considering my channel is new.

I successfully launched my first ever international group trip with a focus on design culture in the Mediterranean - with my first trip taking place in May 2025 to Florence, Italy.

I sold out of all of my tickets in less than thirty days!! I still can't believe so many people were and are eager to travel with me abroad to learn and discover new things.

I successfully delivered another great Allured By Design®

Christmas season filled with beautiful content and met the obligations of my holiday partnership with King of Christmas. This one was a personal win, because I almost said no to the partnership due to my plate being extremely full at the time.

But, I rose to the challenge and delivered. So for me this was a success that truly made me feel good to close out last year.

There were also many other additional successes that came along last year, that were a mixture of big and small ones. Yet, many lessons were also ushered in as well.

🌸

2023 taught me so many lessons, but the biggest one that carried me into this new year was truly allowing God to lead the way and removing myself from getting in the way. So I started 2024 off with the same exact prayer because as the saying goes...

If it's not broke, then don't try and fix it!

But in addition to me starting off 2024 with...

Lord, Lead The Way...

My theme and focus for this year is Restoration!

Restoration of everything that was either lost, delayed or denied last year. I believe in my heart that God can restore and renew us in all ways including mentally, physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

I also believe as we put in the work to see ourselves and our lives restored, it's crucially important to be in alignment with the plans God has for us.

🤎

But the funny thing about alignment is...

How do we know if we are or aren't in alignment with God's plan for our lives?

I'm not so sure if there is an exact answer to that because I don't know if we ever truly know. But, I do think God and the universe has a way of shifting our lives, our circumstances and our purpose to be in perfect alignment with whatever is destined for us.

Allow me to dive a bit deeper into the journey of our destiny and the necessary or even unexpected pivots that oftentimes come about as we travel this journey of our destiny, this journey of life.

☔️

Right before the holiday season began last year, I received an email from a local New Orleans candle maker, Renata Granger, inquiring about the possibility of a collaboration between our brands.

Renata is the founder of •N•Light, a consciously created lifestyle brand that inspires music, art, and meditation lovers to consume their spaces with an overflow of self-love, transparency, and generosity through aromatherapy, culture and coaching.

•N•Light candles are intentionally crafted to inspire and illuminate one's senses, spaces and healing.

⚜️ 

When Renata first reached out to me in late October, I was already in the pre-planning phase of my 2023 holiday content. In addition, I was getting ready for the big overhaul to transform my home for the holiday season. My annual holiday photo and video shoots were already scheduled and I had a very tight window to get everything set.

Initially, Renata and I spoke about a Christmas collaboration. However, limited on time and with so many other things on my plate during that time, I thought it would be unfair to rush a collaboration. I'm a creative in every sense of the word and as a creative person, I always need proper time and space to visualize what I'll be executing.

I always want to put my forth my absolute best when representing my brand and I most certainly want to bring that same energy when I'm both collaborating with and putting the stamp of approval on another brand. So I proposed to Renata that we hold off until the new year.

Or, in other words...pivot from the timeframe we initially discussed.

💛

As I took the time to relish and delight in my restful period during the final days of the holiday season, and as I begin to think about what my theme and focus would be for the 2024 year...

I came to realize a collaboration and introduction of •N•Light candles to my audience would be best suited for my New Year 2024 Newsletter. Currently where I am mentally, with my focus and theme of this year being restoration...I realized how much the philosophy and core values of •N•Light aligned so perfectly with the message I wanted to bring to you all.

💕

It's highly commonplace for us all to do an assessment or mental review of what our year has been like, as we end one and move into another. I noticed as I read many social media posts dedicated to various assessments of 2023, so many people experienced some real hardships last year. Hardships that ranged from financial, health, marital, mental, physical, spiritual, the loss of loved ones and so forth.

While none of these hardships are new, as trials and tribulations come for us all each and every year in some form or fashion...it definitely seemed like the general consensus was that 2023 came with unexpected challenges, which took so many by surprise.

Challenges that either forced plans to be altered or for many pivots to be made. And, dare I say...challenges that canceled somethings altogether. I think it's always easier to process challenges when we can prepare for the storm. But when the storm comes out of nowhere, it can be hard to maneuver. Yet, the truth of the matter is the sun rises after every storm.

🌦

The day I met up with Renata for a lunch meet & greet and got a chance to get to know her, hear her story, the meaning behind her brand and the purpose of her candle line...I knew immediately the Christmas 2023 Newsletter was never the right space for a 1st time collaboration between our two brands.

Instead, it was always meant to be introduced at the top of the new year, where year 2024 for me would be all about restoration. Mind you, the word restoration is synonymous to the word healing, which is a key word used to describe the mission statement behind the •N•Light brand.

Renata had no idea prior to reaching out to me what my 2024 theme and focus would be. I think we both realized the more we became acquainted with one another over lunch and shared pieces of our stories, how in alignment we are.

Things like this don't happen by chance, as I believe everything happens in our journey as it should. I'd mentioned to Renata the colors I'd be wearing for my New Year 2024 newsletter shoot, which I'll share with you all later what those colors represent. In sharing with her the colors of my wardrobe, I allowed her to decipher which candle she thought would be best to incorporate into the shoot.

🤎

Now, keep in mind - I had no idea which candle she'd present to me. But the one she chose for me from her Sanctuary collection is titled...

Journey•N•Light

In addition, I'd never mentioned to Renata before how much I love and favor candles with notes of vanilla or earthy tones. Or, that my signature and all-time favorite fragrance in the world is AMBER!!

Journey•N•Light is described as below...

All of our journeys are different and designed just for us. This clean & comforting scent has base notes of vanilla, mid notes rich of bergamot and sandalwood and top notes of mahogany amber. The perfect accessory to accompany you on this journey of life.

This my Allured Loves, was alignment that was simply right on time and divinely orchestrated. And, I'm so excited to collaborate and introduce you all to the •N•Light brand. A brand whose Founder prides herself on the discovery of her own journey in life which is...

ever-growing • ever-changing • ever-evolving

May the message and mission of this brand align with your own personal journey in life.

💙

Pivots in life can either be welcomed or sometimes not so much. Change isn't always the easiest thing to adapt to. But, pivoting can oftentimes put us right where we're supposed to be. My New Year 2024 Newsletter photo shoot was initially planned to be shot during the cold, arctic air week we had in mid-January. But my gorgeous pink super flower pin wouldn't arrive in time, so we pushed by one week.

Pushing meant we'd risk shooting during the week of grey clouds and lots of rain. However, Stacy and I have shot in rainy conditions before so I figured as long as it didn't come down too hard and we only had the grey clouds to deal with...we could use the elements to our advantage.

Come the day of the shoot, the rain was coming down pretty hard!!

We were forced to pivot and move our shoot indoors inside of the local coffee shop nearby where I grew up. The shoot was always intended to be a coffee house shoot, with my theme of the new year paired with beautiful exterior shots of me sitting outside at one of the outdoor tables, sipping hot chai and reflecting on all things restoration for 2024.

In addition, my Photographer and I wanted to take advantage of shooting some of the beautiful oak lined trees and gorgeous historic New Orleans style homes that align both sides of the street where the coffee house is. I was particularly excited about this shoot because the location is very nostalgic to me and brings back childhood memories.

💕

CC's Coffee House on Esplanade Avenue has always been my favorite community coffee spot. I love the staff there and I love the neighborhood ambiance. However, I definitely wasn't too thrilled about having to pivot most of the shoot indoors. I badly preferred a brisk, cold, sunny and dry day. In truth, the rain took a toll on me.

But my photographer was comforted in knowing that in spite of the adjustment...he still captured beautiful shots.

I'm pretty big on themes in general. It's how my creative mind processes things or how it all makes sense to me. So once I settled on a photo shoot theme of Coffee Day in New Orleans Rain, my nerves started to relax ever so slightly.

☔️

However, once I saw the photos and could see for myself just how beautiful it all worked out...I realized the pivot that initially annoyed me, restored both a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Before I saw the photos, I questioned if I truly made the right decision to push my photo shoot back by one week...all just to wait for this gorgeous oversized flower pin.

🌸

Initially, I thought to myself, perhaps I should just stick with shooting during the week I know for sure it'll be dry and incorporate the super flower pin into a 2024 Spring or Summer newsletter shoot.

But my excitement about this pin and something in my gut kept saying...

NOPE!!!

Debut this beauty in the New Year newsletter instead.

And, I'm so happy that I did. Allow me to tell you what's so special and dear to me about this pin and how it aligns with my message...

🌸

If you've been following me for a while, then you already know I am a die-hard, loyal fan to the entire Sex And The City franchise!! By entire,

I mean I love, support and have watched all six seasons of the original series, (countless times) have seen both movies also countless times and am loving the new evolved story of the franchise now told in the latest series, And Just Like That.

In addition, I've also visited Sarah Jessica Parker's SJP Collection store in New York a couple of times...in both her original Seaport district location nearby the East River and the new Bleecker Street location in Greenwich Village. I love that the SJP Collection is an ode to the style of shoes and accessories the one and only Carrie Bradshaw has rocked throughout the franchise.

So the moment SJP and her team debuted this beautiful flower pin,

I ordered it immediately. And, I'm so happy I did because it sold out shortly after. Now while flowers are highly symbolic during the Springtime, as they represent renewal during the first bloom of the Spring...

Flowers also convey messages of healing and restoration.

It was so important to me, even at the risk of shooting in the rain to not only speak to you all about restoration but also to have something tangible either on my person or with me that symbolized it.

🌧️

Wearing this super flower pin is indeed an ode in the most sincere and personable way to Carrie Bradshaw, one of my favorite characters from the Sex And The City franchise. My other favorite character is of course without a doubt Samantha Jones!! I truly love all four girls and how they all bring something different to the table in their collective friendship.

But it's always been Carrie and Samantha for me and always will be...I've always related to their characters the most. And, yes I absolutely do miss Samantha but it sure was good to see Annabelle Bronstein in the finale episode of Season 2, And Just Like That.

#IYKYK

💛

But even with my super flower pin being an ode to Carrie, it's also a representation of the healing and restoration I seek and am claiming in year 2024. I mentioned earlier that this year for me is all about restoring things lost, delayed or denied last year...

Yet, restoring them in abundance!!!

Now while the month of January alone can sometimes still feel like some left over juices from the previous year...I'm very hopeful, excited and inspired just about all of the potential for so many great things this year has in store. I'm just really looking forward to seeing how God is going to show out this year bigger and better than before, particularly in me and my Husband's life.

And, I'm just as excited to see restoration in 2024 happen for those connected to me, those that I love and overall for anyone that went through some things in 2023.

🤎

What We’re Up To

Earlier I mentioned there was a reason behind the colors in my wardrobe. I'm sure ya'll know by know everything with me is intentional. This year in interior design some of the popular colors we'll be seeing in home, business and commercial interiors are...

• Blue (as always)

• Hues of Pink, Muave, Rose, Burgundy and Blush

• Deep Chocolates & Various Hues of Brown

• And, of course Gold

2024 is all about breaking away from years of grey and everything white and finally getting back to COLOR!! While I am not big on following trends, as I truly believe no matter what the popular trends are...it's important that we all do what works best for us. Even if that means going against trends. Because ultimately, what we do in our homes should matter most only to the people paying the bills there.

But even with me not being big on following trends, I can say that as someone who loves to embrace colorful palettes...I'm very delighted 2024 is all about getting back to color. And, I wanted my wardrobe for this newsletter to reflect the colors we'll be seeing in the home decor space this year.

Also, if you missed my Great Day Louisiana interview with talk show host, Malik Mingo where we discuss the 2024 Color of the Year from...

Sherwin-Williams

(Upward)

&

Benjamin Moore

(Blue Nova)

You can catch it by clicking here.

💙

My waitlist for my May 2025 group trip to Florence, Italy remains open. While I am officially sold out of all tickets, you are more than welcome to sign up. Please note anyone signed up for the waitlist will be required to make payments.

This is all in an effort to not overwhelm or burden someone with a lump sum payment for the trip, should a spot open up. If a spot becomes available, both myself and my travel partner, EF Go Ahead Tours would like anyone on the waitlist to be current with payments. However, should a spot not open...all monies paid by anyone on the waitlist are fully refundable.

To sign up for my waitlist, please see the information below...

Reservation Line: 800.438.7672 

Tour Number: 70164069 

SAVE THE DATE

May 2025

Allured By Design®

Presents

Life, Culture & Design Inspiration in the Mediterranean

To view the daily itinerary, click the link below.

Travel Link:  https://www.grouptoursite.com/tours/florence-allured-by-design-2025

⚜️ 

I know some of you, or perhaps many of you are curious about any news related to my limited web series. Is there a possibility for extending to a season 2?

Or, is there perhaps any other surprise videos I'll be sharing or uploading to my YouTube Channel this year as it relates to my web series...

Boutique Shopping Saturdays With Allured By Design

And, actually there is! I do have something special and intimate I'll be sharing with you all sometime this Spring. Hopefully by early Spring if it's ready and complete, so stay tuned for that.

Regarding filming future seasons, let's just say I'm leaving that to the grace and mercy of God. And, the faith in my journey. 😉

☀️ 

Speaking of life's journey...

Last year I started sharing with you all specific and profound prayers my sister would send to me. So I'd like to share two prayers my sister recently sent to me that I've found to be extremely encouraging and so right on time...

RECEIVE WHEN YOU BELIEVE

Today's Scripture:

(Mark 11:24, NIV)

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Today's Word:

We all have things we’re believing for that one day we’re going to get well, one day we’re going to break an addiction, or one day we’re going to meet the right person.

We prayed, and we’re standing in faith, waiting for it to happen. But Jesus gives us an important principle about prayer: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” He didn’t say, “Believe that it’s going to happen in a week or a month.” He says to believe that right when you prayed, you received; that things changed in your favor and God set the miracle into motion.

If you’re facing an illness, that means saying, “God, I’m asking You to heal my body, and I receive my healing right now.” How can you believe that you’re healed when you don’t feel any different? This is what faith is all about. When there’s no evidence, when the medical report hasn’t improved, when there’s no sign of things getting better, your report is:

I am healed.

I am healthy.

Prayer for Today:

“Father, thank you for all the promises you’ve given to me in your Word. Thank you that I don’t have to worry about if or how you’re going to make them happen when I don’t see things changing. I will believe and receive first and declare that answers are on the way.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

The above prayer in particular truly spoke to me in such a wonderful way, as I begin praying and asking God for very specific things in this New Year and beyond. I'm always reminded to renew my faith and renew my belief, because in truth...the trials and tribulations of life can shake us to the point of beating us down. It can even steal our joy and cause us to waver in our faith.

So I'm always grateful when I receive signs or each day I can start anew and restore my faith. Considering my theme and focus of 2024 is all about restoration, I can't stress enough how on time the above prayer truly encourages me to be steadfast in believing in the power of everything being restored, including my belief of receiving when I believe.

⚜️

As I finally begin bringing this newsletter to a close...

 If you're brand new to my blog or to my email list and would like access to content released prior to you joining the Allured By Design® family...

You can always head to the home page of my website and peruse about, where you'll find all of my video content. To head there, click here.

Also, if you'd like access to previously released newsletters from the beginning up until now, in addition to catching up on all episodes of my limited my web series via my YouTube Channel...you can find it all on my links page by clicking here.

In addition, for anyone that's relatively new and still trying to decipher what my brand is all about, below is the best way for me to describe it...

Allured By Design® is a Home & Lifestyle Multimedia Brand where Interior Design, Life, Luxury, Art, Culture, Travel, Fashion & Filmmaking and the exquisite art of creative storytelling all intersect and are all celebrated.

For anyone not following me on my social platforms, I can't encourage you enough to do so. There is where you'll always find a host of additional photo stills, reels and videos that aren't shared in my newsletters or blogposts. My handle is the same everywhere...

@alluredbydesign

Facebook + Instagram + Threads + TikTok + YouTube + Vimeo

⚜️

I'd like to leave you all with one final prayer...

THE BATTLE HAS ALREADY BEEN WON!

Today's Scripture:

Children, you belong

to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God’s Spirit

is in you and is more powerful than the one who is in the world.

(1 John 4:4, CEV)

Today’s Word:

Family, we all face situations that should hold us back.

What we’re up against is bigger and stronger, and it’s easy to be intimidated and live in fear, thinking that we can never move forward. But the Scripture says that what’s against you has already been defeated. God is not in the heavens fighting with the enemy, trying to free you, heal you, deliver you, or favor you. The battle has already been won.

Two thousand years ago, when Jesus rose from the grave, he defeated death and everything that can hold you back. He took care of it once and for all. The writer of Hebrews says, “He rendered the enemy powerless” or “brought him to naught,” which means zero. It wasn’t even close.

It was a shutout.

Here’s the beauty: Because you belong to God, because you’re His child, you have already defeated the enemy. You need to see anything you face in life as defeated. Don’t pray for victory; pray from victory. “Father, thank You that I am free, healed, forgiven, prosperous, and victorious.”

Prayer for Today:

Father, thank you that every force of the enemy was broken when Jesus rose from the dead and took the keys of death and hell from him. Thank you for living in me and rendering the enemy powerless. I declare that I belong to you and I am going to walk in victory.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

As 2024 began and worries from 2023 tried their best to come with me into the New Year, this prayer reminded me that anything I face this year, next year or whenever...I can claim victory over it and truly believe I've already defeated it. My goodness the mental shift that came along with this prayer was so powerful!! And, once again...right on time.

💙

As we all travel this journey of life in this New Year, my hope and prayer is that 2024 will be filled with restoration, healing, discovery, re-discovery and most importantly a true connection to our belief in the higher power. My higher power is God! Whatever yours may be, may you tap into it and allow it to be your source of strength and your guide.

Now of course no journey is without blemish or adjustments that have to be made along the way. No one ever said the journey would be without pivots. But as I said earlier, sometimes pivoting can put us right where we're supposed to be.

So Journey•N•Light this year and always. Be open to the changes and pivots that come your way, trust that you've already received everything you've asked God for and fully believe you've already defeated every challenge coming your way and every weapon formed against you.

My heart is truly sooooo full as I write this newsletter, because I feel so renewed in my beliefs. And, I'm just in a really good space with where I believe my life is headed. I wish and want the same feeling for each of you on your own personal journeys.

And, because it is Carnival Time...

I'd like to wish you all a happy and healthy Mardi Gras Season.

Be safe and enjoy.

Thank you for rocking with me last year.

Thank you for rocking with me for another new year.

⚜️

Until next time...

⚜️Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler⚜️

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