Read about our news and latest updates.

Allured Loves!!

🔥☀️💙🔥

I'm coming in HOT!!

Thanks to this record breaking heat that's BLAZING everything on the planet these days, HOT is the only way I can come this Summer.

As a child, summertime was definitely my favorite season for obvious reasons. I think every child for the most part loved and truly looked forward to summer break from school. And, of course a break from having to execute daily home work. So it was always good bye to the school year and hello Summer!!

In addition, Summer was the time for staying up late all night, sleeping in every morning, more relaxed curfews, vacations with the family and if born and raised in the South heading to what we called the "country." The country was usually anywhere in rural Louisiana or Mississippi. Or, pretty much any deep country part of the South or Gulf Coast areas.

Because no matter how city born and bred you were, if born and raised in the South, you more than likely had distant family still living somewhere in the "country." And, the summertime was always the best and most fun times to head deep into the country for family visits.

Summertime also meant and still means barbecue's, summer gatherings and parties, family reunions, waterpark and theme park visits, and so much more.

Today, as an adult in this scorching heat, summertime for me is my least favorite season and totally now means staying my behind in doors where it's much cooler. Whew Chile, this heat this year, is not for play, play!!

Like is it me or does it just feel like every Summer season is beginning to become more and more harsh to survive? I'll be honest, it's the reason my Husband and I prefer to do a lot of our travels in the Spring, Fall or Winter. With the way we like to be out and about exploring when we're traveling, traveling during the summertime can just be extremely brutal.

I have no idea how I survived traveling as much as I did as a child and teenager during the Summer months. Clearly my tolerance for the heat was set up completely different back then, lol. But, TODAY!!

Give me my air conditioned home, my home office to work out of,

the comfort and beauty of my home, a well made, home-cooked meal with beverages flowing, a good book or two to read and of course good tv and movies to watch and stream.

And, ya girl is GUCCI all Summer season long!!

Because what I'm not trying to do is be out in this heat if I don't have to be. But, of course for you all...I had to brace the heat for this season's newsletter and present you all with some dope shots and beautiful imagery. And, I must say my Photographer and I weren't in the heat not even a good twenty minutes before the sweat started rolling down my back. Not much long after that, the nape of my neck was soaking wet along with the back of my hair as well.

⚜️ 

 When I tell ya'll I was a hot sweaty mess during and after this photoshoot. Believe me, because I truly was. But it was all worth it because the shots captured were truly beautiful and honestly blew me away. I was totally taken aback with how stunning and rich the colors of nature and the landscape of the Mandeville lakefront all looked on camera.

Speaking of the lakefront...it's my jam!!

I'm not a gym rat, a runner or a big exercise fanatic. But I love and enjoy walking. It helps to clear my mind, helps to break a good sweat and also it's a great form of exercise. Every week, I try and get in a few days walking along the Mandeville lakefront. I'm always so amazed at the natural beauty I see during my walks...everything from the large, majestic oak trees lined with beautiful Spanish moss, to the manicured grass, the sun shining down on Lake Pontchartrain, the beds of florals on each block, the picturesque HGTV style lakefront homes and just the entire scenery and landscape of the area.

⚜️ 

My walks on the lakefront bring me so much peace and I typically use that time to meditate, talk to God and sort through all of my thoughts, goals and dreams. And, also any of my worries or fears.

I realized recently that Stacy and I had yet to shoot a newsletter in my area of peace. And, I couldn't think of a more beautiful time to shoot on the lakefront than the Summer season. Everything is still in beautiful bloom from the previous season of Spring. In addition, there's just beauty at every turn and Summer vibes all over.

And, so we finally made it happen.

⚜️ 

But, before we move on...

Can we just get into the dopiness of these lakefront shots?!?

I mean I'm completely serving LOOKS for ya'll, OK!!!

So I need y'all to really appreciate them, lol. 😂😜😆

No seriously, I was really nervous about doing these shots, because I knew all of my extra love and fluffiness would be exposed. And, I'm always extremely self conscious about showing the additional curves that I don't care to have. But when I looked at the photos, I was so blown away by the imagery I literally called my Photographer and thanked him for shooting these shots so beautifully and so tastefully.

⚜️ 

Not only was the imagery gorgeous, but for once I was happy and comfortable to show all of my extra fluffiness, as it is. I was so taken a back by the lakefront shots that when I released it as a sneak peek photo on my Facebook page, this was the message I shared...

I heard it was SUMMER!! ☀️💙

I love everything about this shot. My muffin top and all!!

Stacy Marks could not have captured a more beautiful shot with such a perfect framing of the sky, Lake Pontchartrain, the beauty of the sun glistening off of the water, the Causeway bridge in the background, and me perfectly centered in it all.

With each passing day and the more we live, life truly becomes one big exploration of evolving and learning daily through the good and the bad. I’m extremely hard on myself, harder than any critic could ever be on me. The Sagittarius within me only knows how to be that way because as my fellow Sagittarian brother, Jay-Z said it best…

“I’ll never expect anything of someone else that I wouldn’t expect of myself.”

Yet, in my pursuit of always putting out and giving my absolute best, I’m also beautifully flawed. This photo means so much to me as it symbolizes all of my imperfections, as I look up to the sun, to the sky and out to God taking in the beauty of nature and all that he’s created...

Even Imperfectly & Flawed Me!

⚜️ 

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.  

⚜️

So the last time we spoke in newsletter format, I mentioned to you all the looming unrest and distress that was beginning to rise in the film industry with work being halted until union negotiations were finalized with the studios and streaming platforms.

I was extremely optimistic and hopeful that the season of Spring would usher in the good SHIFT that so many of us, myself included badly and desperately needed and wanted. Well, God and life had other plans, because life just be's like that sometimes.

At current time, my beloved film industry is on one of the most epic strikes since the 1960s with two of our largest and historic unions on strike at the same time. Both the WGA (Writers Guild of America) and SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) are on the picket lines fighting for better pay and updates to their contracts that will protect them from this digital age we're in with the threat of AI replacing them.

 ⚜️ 

For any of you that are brand new to the Allured By Design® family, allow me to share that I'm a multi-hyphenate creative working in both film and design. Filmmaking is what my actual degree is in and I've now been a working filmmaker for the last twenty years, having graduated from Film School in 2003.

Because of my film experience and my passion for telling and creating stories, I incorporate a lot of my film skills into my home & lifestyle brand. Hence the reason for me creating my very own and upcoming,

design-based web series. More on that later.

In addition, I love and enjoy producing high quality videos for my brand as well. All of that comes directly from my years of working in the film industry, continuing to hone my storytelling skills. And, I absolutely love to tell design related stories through beautiful visuals.

But back to the ongoing strikes...

⚜️

This is a very interesting time for the film industry and also a scary one. I've read online some really insensitive remarks from people that don't work in this industry, nor have any knowledge of how things work in this business and the horrible effects of this strike. Many have this belief of here we go again with rich people screaming for more money.

That's really not the case here.

There's a very small percent of the top earners in this business, (studio executives, A-List actors, directors, producers, etc...) while the rest of us, myself included make a good living in this industry BUT when work is halted, we are immediately affected. The film industry is a team sport, no one person can produce a documentary, a short, a feature film or a tv series all on their own. It takes a wealth of people to get the project to the finish line. And, usually the bigger the project and the larger the budget...That means there will be more cast and crew that will be hired to work on the project.

Every single person working on that project will have a different salary or a different contract rate from the highest to the lowest.

Sadly, every cast and crew member does not make the big bucks that many people may think. A decent living yes, but definitely not the top earnings that the small percent do. And, for new beginners in the industry falling at the bottom of the totem pole like Production Assistants working to build their career, they make far less.

⚜️

Everyone in this business works on a contract basis for the most part, unless you work directly at a studio or network. And, even then job security can still be at risk. BUT, for those of us that are regularly contracted to work on film and television projects, when strikes in our industry happen...we are immediately and directly affected. In addition, all of the vendors and businesses that do business with us are also affected, including their staff.

This is a business that you absolutely have to love, in order to work in it. You have to have a passion for the art and creativity of it, for it is a feast or famine type of business. When it's good, it's really good. But when it's not, it's sadly really NOT. Yet, for the people that are so insensitive to the hardships that come along with these strikes...

Allow me to go a little further...

People like myself have built a steady career in this business. And, for many it is the way they provide food on the table for their families, how they pay their bills, send their kids to school, cover their health insurance and provide a livelihood. There is absolutely NOTHING funny about the harsh reality of not knowing how you will pay your bills or put food on your table because work in your industry has come to a complete stop.

So instead of being insensitive to what hundreds of thousands of filmmakers globally are going through at this time, this is a time to lend a kind word, send up prayers and even extend resources to a fellow filmmaker or anyone you know who works in this industry.

Because times right now are indeed rough for so many.

⚜️

I absolutely count myself as one of the very lucky ones who has a Husband with a great and thriving corporate career. In addition, I, myself personally made the decision to launch and grow my brand as not only a creative outlet...But also as a supplement for when times like this occur in my first career of filmmaking, I have something to keep me busy and also something to fall back on.

Yet, make no mistakes about it, my household feels the impact of these strikes as well. A wealth of projects my Husband and I intended to start on this year in our home have now all been halted until further notice. August marks our ten year anniversary of having our home built and living in our home.

We were both truly looking forward to doing some beautiful upgrades this year. But, God and life had other plans and guess what? It's really ok!! Because I trust and believe in my heart, that our plans are currently only deferred, but will absolutely not be denied.

⚜️

That's the thing about faith and the power of what I always speak to ya'll about...the power of MANIFESTING!!

The power of faith and manifesting is really all about having an unwavering belief even during the most challenging, uncertain and trying of times.

My sister sends me these daily prayers every morning and I absolutely love receiving them. They're always so meaningful with deep messages I connect and relate to. One of the prayers truly speaks to the power of walking in faith in spite of the unknown or difficult times. I'd like to share that prayer with you all because as it helped me, it may also help you.

⚜️

SHOES OF PEACE

Today's Scripture:

...and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness

given by the gospel of peace.

(Ephesians 6:15, ESV)

Today’s Word:

Family, the Scripture tells us to put on the armor of God, including the shoes of peace. I think God is saying, “You’re going to walk through difficulties you don’t understand. There’s going to be plenty of opportunities to live upset and afraid. But don’t worry, I’ve prepared you for what you’re going to face. I’ve armed you with peace and strength for the battle. It may not make sense, but it’s all a part of My plan.”

Make sure you keep your shoes of peace on. Don’t fear the unknown or lose sleep over what doesn’t make sense. God has equipped you, empowered you, and anointed you.

No weapon formed against you will prosper. Keep walking in faith, trusting when you don’t understand, and you’re going to walk into blessings, healing, freedom, abundance, and victory like you’ve never seen. When you trust God when it doesn’t make sense, you’re going to come into favor that doesn’t make sense...new levels of influence, new levels of joy, new levels of leadership, and new levels of resources.

Prayer for Today:

Father, thank You for being the God of all peace and for giving me shoes of peace to walk in. Thank You that You walk with me through whatever I go through. I refuse to allow what I don’t understand to get me upset.

I declare I walk in peace.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

 ⚜️

NBC News reached out to me to get a statement on my feelings as a filmmaker about what's going on in Hollywood. To read more of my thoughts on the impact of the strikes in Hollywood, click here.

I fully trust that it's only a matter of time before everything with these ongoing strikes are worked out and work will once again be plentiful for all of us in the film industry.

And, because I firmly believe this,

I've fully armored myself with the shoes of peace.

⚜️

What We’re Up To

I believe you all know by now that one of the main projects I'd been hinting at since the start of the year, but never really exposing what it is until this past May is now finally out of the bag.

While the film industry is on strike, ya girl has been keeping very busy with all things Allured By Design®.

Currently, I'm in the midst of a client project, also continuing to plug away with finalizing all of my episodes for my upcoming web series AND in deep planning mode of hosting and curating my first ever international group trip to Florence, Italy. Like I said, ya'll girl has been BUSY!!

And, continues to be!!

The excitement built around sharing with you all the news of my international group trip has been such a thrill and just so rewarding from all of the work that's gone into it. Back in May when my first save the date flyer was released, I honestly had no idea what the reception to such an endeavor would be. Yet, little did I know many of you would be just as excited as me. In addition, highly interested and eager to embark on this journey and travel with me.

I'd like to take this time to thank ya'll for your excitement. I'm truly looking forward to sharing this experience with as many of you as possible. So, be sure to stay tuned for more email updates regarding my trip and the day tickets will be opening to reserve your seats and deposits,

which will be...

Tuesday - August 1, 2023

If you missed any of the previous announcements.

Catch up here, here and here.

⚜️

As for my upcoming web series, we are now finally at the tail end of post production. Promos, trailers and reels will soon begin making their debut onto the world wide web via all of my social platforms and of course my website.

My local screening date here in New Orleans is not yet officially locked but once it is, rest assured I'll be publicly sharing the news.

I do hope as many of you as possible will be able to come out and support me at the screening of my web series. And, just share in my joy of creating this project and finally debuting it to you all.

⚜️

Let's get into a few more beautiful images, shall we?

⚜️

And, maybe one more, lol...

⚜️

With this year being the year my web series titled

"Boutique Shopping Saturdays With Allured By Design,"

will make its online debut, all of my 2023 newsletters (with the exception to the Christmas newsletter, which is usually always shot in my home, #HousePiazza) will follow suit and highlight a local boutique in the Greater Metropolitan area of New Orleans or on the Northshore side of Lake Pontchartrain.

The highlighted boutiques will be ones that are not featured in my upcoming web series, yet just as amazing and fabulous.

⚜️

This past Spring, I finally had the pleasure of visiting Corrinn Fisher Interiors boutique and it was nothing short of AMAZING!!! My Husband and I attended the Northshore Parade of Homes this year. It had been quite some time since we lasted attended given the years of the recent pandemic.

One of the homes we visited, all of the interiors were beautifully decorated and styled by Corrinn Fisher, a local Interior Designer in my area whose work I love and admire. Corrinn is known for her love of adding all of the little details that work together to make a huge impact into a space, which is something I can totally relate to as a designer.

⚜️

Corrinn is also known for her love of incorporating European accents into her designs as well as styling with the color BLUE!!!

💙💙💙

Clearly, she and I share a mutual design love language.

⚜️

Ironically, Corrinn's social media team was on hand at the house Corrinn styled and they immediately recognized me when I walked in.

Apparently, they were followers of mine. And, I'm now following them.

It felt amazing to connect with her team and engage in person. They were both so warm and friendly and I'm very happy to have met them.

⚜️

After my Husband and I finished up the Northshore Parade of Homes, we headed to Corrinn's boutique. And, I've now completely added her shop to my personal list of local boutiques I recommend shopping in.

If classic, vintage and Euro inspired interiors are your thing, Corrinn's store is where you need to be. If you love to decorate with blue, you definitely need to pay her store a visit. And, if you're simply just interested in adding another amazing furniture and home decor boutique to your list of best places to shop...

Definitely add Corrinn Fisher Interiors.

 ⚜️

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 general information about my web series...you can find it all on my links page by clicking here.

Of course, I'd like to remind you all to make sure you're following me on my social media platforms both Facebook and Instagram where I share daily and seasonal home and lifestyle inspiration. 

I'm also on TikTok & now Threads.

My goodness, will the social media platforms ever end?!?!? 🤦🏽‍♀️

It most certainly doesn't seem or feel like it. It's just too much to keep up with. Yet, here we all are, lol.

⚜️

As the season of Summer continues to blaze on, please make sure you all are staying cool and hydrated in this record breaking heat!!

I'd like to close this newsletter out with another prayer my sister sent to me that I really love as much as the one I shared with you all earlier.

The message is so on time. I hope it strengthens your faith and brings as much clarity for you and your life, as it's brought to me and mine.

NEVER LATE

Today's Scripture:

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time…If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

(Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

Today’s Word:

Family, sometimes we want something so badly that we get out of balance. We feel like we’re falling behind and start to panic. We’re not going to be happy unless God does it our way. You have to release control of how and when God is going to bring it to pass. Hold tightly to your dreams but hold loosely to how God is going to do it.

Today’s Scripture talks about how there is a set time for God to favor you, a set time to heal you, and a set time to turn the problem around.

If there’s a right time, that means there’s a wrong time. If it hasn’t happened yet, it wasn’t meant to be yet. Instead of fighting where you are, why don’t you embrace where you are? “God, I know You’re ordering my steps. I am right where I’m supposed to be. Thank You that my set times are coming.” God is not going to be one second late. He’s not going to accidentally miss your set time.

Prayer for Today:

Father, thank You that this is my appointed time for favor and You are never late. Thank You that You are ordering my steps

and helping me do what I could not do

on my own. I believe that my set time is established, and You will make it happen.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Wishing you all a very happy Summer season. Stay cool, refreshed and thoroughly hydrated. And, of course stay fabulous and allured.

As always, thank ya'll for rocking with me!!

I'm forever grateful and humbled.

⚜️

Until next time...

⚜️Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler⚜️

Get in Touch