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Springtime is in the air Allured Loves!!

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Or at least it's been trying since the start of the new season to make its presence known. But for the most odd reason, winter keeps sending us cold fronts here and there and is clearly having a very hard time understanding that there's a new season in town.

I guess sometimes life can be that way. I mean it's common for many of us to revel or relish in the past. Especially when pastimes can remind us of some of the most amazing times we've had in our lives. So, perhaps the seasons are simply imitating life and many of us by having a hard time of letting go.

I, for one will be the first to admit that 2023 thus far has been quite an interesting year filled with lots of reflections of the previous year. Why? Because 2022 was just so damn good to me, while 2023 has started off quite rough and continues to be a year of navigating, pivoting and figuring things out. Yet, somehow, someway...I'm daring to believe that the journey of this year will eventually all make sense.

The last time we spoke, I revealed that the theme of my 2023 year would be FRUIT, as I'd be taking the time to indulge in the FRUIT of my many years of laboring, hustling and grinding. I'm sure many of you are wondering how that's been going. If I've been living in a life of luxury, perhaps soaking up the sun somewhere on a beach, or going on countless shopping sprees, etc...

I wish I could say that's been my life these past couple of months. But, sadly that hasn't been my reality. Right after the Mardi Gras Season came to an end, I became extremely ill with a horrible cold, nausea, fever, chills and an upper respiratory infection. I tested negative for Covid-19 but my infection was so harsh and brutal, I had to be prescribed an inhaler for the first time ever in my life.

I'd never dealt with a common cold so severe that I questioned my own mortality and whether I would or wouldn't survive. And, I don't say this jokingly. My condition was truly that bad. I remember many nights of unrest, struggling to breathe properly and coughing so excessively...that I began reconciling in my mind that I may be getting ready to go to the upper room.

Usually when I've been sick with a cold, it clears up in about a week, or a little over a week. Not this time. I was sick from late February to mid March and even in mid April...some of my symptoms returned. But, they're now finally beginning to clear up and subside.

The lingering cough has been my biggest adversary throughout this whole ordeal and I'm truly hoping and praying in time it will leave my body and never return.

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 When the new season of Spring began, I welcomed it and was just ready to leave the sickness of Winter behind. In addition, I've been ready to enjoy my FRUIT and just be immersed into happier days. Spring is such a beautiful season to start anew, to renew and just shift our perspectives in life no matter how harsh our realities may be.

As the start of the new season emerged, the beautiful memories of last Spring quickly began to fill my head of me and my Husband's time in Italy. I can't stress enough how amazing last year's trip touring various regions and cities in Italy was. It was soul rejuvenating and a trip with so many amazing memories that will last us a lifetime.

I documented so much of that trip in written word, photos and videos. In addition, I dedicated last year's Spring Newsletter to a full review of our time there. So, when it came time for me and my Photographer to shoot this year's Spring Newsletter...I had a desire to evoke those same amazing and good feelings I remember experiencing during my time vacationing in Europe.

FUN FACT: The scarf pictured in many of the photos within this newsletter is one of my most treasured scarves (of the many) I purchased and brought back home from Italy.

This one in particular was purchased in Florence from a cute Florentine boutique known as Torre D'arte. It includes an artistic visual of the iconic Duomo Cathedral. This beautiful and colorful scarf serves as a constant reminder of one of the best Euro trips of my life thus far.

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The ring pictured below however was purchased at a local boutique here in New Orleans. It's very special to me, as the coin inside of the ring is lira. For those not familiar, lira was once the Italian currency of Italy until replaced by the euro in 2002.

I purchased this ring to serve as a symbol and reminder of me and my Husband's longtime dream...

To one day purchase and own land and a well-designed Italian villa overlooking the rolling heels in the countryside of Tuscany.

As far fetched as that dream may sound (to some), I hope ya'll know by now I'm a girl with very BIG DREAMS!!!

And, if you didn't...you most certainly know now.

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Living here in New Orleans can easily be compared to life and culture in Europe just from our architectural design alone. So much of the exterior and interior design in New Orleans, especially in our French Quarters bears a striking resemblance to all of the countries, cultures and civilizations that have had an influence on the development of this city since three hundred plus years ago up until now and beyond.

From France to Spain to Italy to Africa to Haiti and more.

The more I immersed myself in memories from last year's vacation and revisited photos and videos I recorded, I knew right away I wanted the visuals of my 2023 Spring Newsletter to reflect where my mind is.

And, where is it you might ask?

It's clearly on the beauty of impeccable design, stunning exteriors, outdoor cafes, Spring colors in the midst, narrow streets and alleyways, and the carefree mindset that comes along with any vacation.

So since I'm not in Europe this Spring season...I thought to myself, well I do have Europe right here at home in so many ways. So, I thought I'd bring a little bit of that to each of you as well.

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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.  

Oh and we're going to completely ignore the fact that my white linen dress was wrinkled in pretty much all of my shots.

Look, I had my dress steamed the night before the shoot, OK!!!

But after driving in my dress to the shooting location...the linen decided it was going to do what it was going to do.

In return, I decided to glow and smile anyway because a few wrinkles was not going to stop my shine.

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Spring in New Orleans is all about our calendar of events and our launch of Spring season FESTIVALS. And, believe me when I tell you, New Orleans is the city that believes in many festivals, one right after another. We're known as the city that never grows weary and tired of any opportunity to celebrate and have a good time.

There is literally a festival or a Spring event happening each and every single week and weekend during the Spring season in New Orleans. From our weekly Spring concert series in various local parks throughout the city to our famous, cultural festivals like Freret Street Festival, Treme Creole Gumbo & Congo Square Festival, French Quarter Festival and of course our world famous Jazz & Heritage Festival. And, these mentioned are but a few.

Trust me when I tell you there are soooooo many more. For a complete list of New Orleans festivals, click here, here and here.

In general, it's a great time to be out and about soaking up the beauty of the season, hearing the sounds of our local and festive music and of course sampling all of our delicious foods.

It's also a great time to reconnect with our culture here and really appreciate the many great things about New Orleans. Because Lord only knows the news feeds us the very many bad things about this city on a regular basis. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not naive or oblivious to the bad things that go on in New Orleans from our crime to our failing school system and many other things.

These are all things I'm constantly in prayer about, hoping that change in the right and better direction will soon take form in my city. But I'm also aware that some of the challenges we face here, echo the challenges many other cities face in North America as well.

I just personally try my best to keep pushing and smiling amidst of life's challenges. And, while there are many...I try to focus on things that make me happy and hone in on ways to make my life better.

Because I'm always working to...

"Design The Life I Want To Live"

I know all too well it's very easy to get caught into the trap of focusing on our losses, or the bad and letting the bad and the dark consume our thoughts. BUT, light must always prevail, so I choose to be that ray of light in my newsletters instead. Not just for you all, but also for myself because life be LIFEING, OK!!

And, whether we want it to or not...life is going to happen and we must simply be ready to accept that we have to deal with it one way or the other.

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But because we know life is going to LIFE...

that makes Springtime all the more a season to be most grateful for.

Or, every season for that reason. Yet, Spring is the time of year when everything that's been in a winter slumber, awakens and BLOOMS!!

I think what's most amazing about the season of Spring is that our lives are parallel to that.

For example, the tail end of my winter season was consumed with sickness. In addition, the industry I work in, the film industry has been going through a lull with ongoing union negotiations and the internal restructuring of various studios and networks. This has caused a lot of unrest and distress for many that work in the field of entertainment, myself included...because a lot of work has come to a halt until negotiations and restructuring are all finalized.

Projects that were supposed to begin early this year have all been put on hold until further notice, or until later this year. And, most of us are eager and highly looking forward to resuming work. While the dates of exactly when work and film projects will resume are up in the air...

I've been holding onto Springtime as the season the good shift will take place and BLOOM!

Speaking of shift, let's talk about that for a moment, shall we?

On Palm Sunday my Pastor preached a sermon that spoke about the resurrection we were all preparing for. But it was one thing he said in particular that really stuck with me the most and I've been repeating it to myself almost daily.

"When Jesus Steps Into the Environment, The Entire Atmosphere Will SHIFT!"

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 I couldn't help but think about some of the worries and stresses of this past Winter season and how ready I am for the SHIFT to begin and take place in my life. I know that there's only so much control we have over our own lives and destinies. And, it's very little we can force because if it's not in God's time...then it simply won't happen.

 BUT, when it is in God's time, we absolutely cannot stop the SHIFT from taking form. For me personally, this season of Spring is ALL about the SHIFT...Whether it be the shift to come or the shift that's about to happen. Either way, I'm embracing it and I'm so here for it.

As I began to prepare my mind for the good shift that's coming, I also realized the importance of surrendering all things to God. In 2016,

Oprah Winfrey came to New Orleans to speak at the Essence Festival that year.

At the time, Oprah was actually my boss, as I was coordinating Season 1 of Queen Sugar and she was one of my Executive Producers.

The cast of Queen Sugar participated in Essence Festival that year by promoting the new and upcoming series, which would be making its debut later that year. And, the icing on the cake was having Oprah Winfrey herself headline an empowerment session for the first time ever at the New Orleans Convention Center for Essence Fest Weekend.

She'd be there of course promoting her new project of Queen Sugar but also sharing loads of life gems with her audience.

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Naturally, as one of the coordinators on the series, I went to support my boss and also to receive whatever message she'd be sharing because I knew it would be powerful as well as a once in a lifetime type of experience.

I remember specifically Oprah sharing her strong desire to land the role of Sophia in The Color Purple. Her desire to obtain this role became an obsession and the more she obsessed about getting the part, the casting call she waited for days and weeks by the phone to receive never came.

She realized she was driving herself crazy constantly obsessing and worrying. So she began singing one of her favorite gospel hymns to herself to both calm her nerves and help her get through the days of waiting for the call.

The hymn was "I Surrender All."

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Oprah shared that the hymn became her prayer and she asked God to help her fully and completely surrender her obsession over wanting the part of Sophia. Oprah also shared that it wasn't until she truly surrendered it over to God, let it go and ceased worrying...

that the call FINALLY came.

I also remember Oprah saying to all of us in the audience, the call came almost instantaneously when she fully surrendered. That story was sooooooo utterly powerful and one that to this day I'm so thankful I was in the audience to take it in. The Friday before Palm Sunday, I remember reading something online about Oprah and her most amazing story on the power of surrendering.

I'd almost forgotten about her speech because I hadn't been reminded of it in so long. Yet the moment I read about it, I was immediately taken back to year 2016, sitting in the audience and being filled with joy and tears listening to some of the most powerful words from Lady O herself.

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I don't think it's a coincidence that the Friday before Palm Sunday marked the day that I began humming and singing the words of

"I Surrender All," knowing that I had things going on in my own life I was worrying and stressing about. Things that I truly needed to fully surrender over to God.

I also don't think it's a coincidence that immediately two days later on Palm Sunday, my Pastor spoke about the SHIFT that comes with God's presence. So often many of us, myself included, waste so much of our time constantly worrying and stressing over things that God is already in control over and already handling on our behalf. Yet, the peace of mind that comes the moment we surrender is far better than driving ourselves crazy with all of the worrying.

My list of things to execute in 2023 and all of the plans I have for this year alone were beginning to seem impossible with so much not going as I intended or desired. And, it was really stressing me out greatly. But, the minute I accepted the fact that until God steps into the atmosphere, or until I fully surrender these worries to him..nothing will happen.

The moment I did that, peace of mind came my way.

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Today, I can firmly say that I believe my good SHIFT is coming because I choose to believe absolutely nothing else!!! Springtime is a season where all things awaken, are refreshed and BLOOM!!

And, that's exactly what I'm ready to do.

I share this with you all to hopefully encourage many of you to prepare for your own SHIFT and to get ready to BLOOM!

What We’re Up To

I'm continuing to plug away with my Post Production Team on editing all of my episodes for my upcoming web series. We're now several episodes in of laying and structuring the story within each episode. In addition, we've also laid the variations of the show opening from the Pilot episode to the subsequent ones following. We're getting closer to honing in on our music choices per episode and we just completed a draft of the show opening and title graphics.

For those who may be wondering why it takes so long for a project to debut after filming is complete, let me be the first to tell you...

Producing a series is a LOT of work and a complete team effort!!

And, I absolutely LOVE IT!!! There are a million different logistical steps involved from start to finish and an overload of details to be implemented as well. Much like the art of designing a space. Hence, the reason I'm both a Designer and a Filmmaker.

Going through ALL of the hours of footage we recorded is quite the tedious task. In addition, stringing together a body of work in the form of several episodes requires so much care and attention to detail. Yet, we're moving right along, so continue to stay tuned to the day I can share it all with you.

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I've also visited a location that I'm considering using to host the screening of my limited web series here in New Orleans. More details on all of that to come at a later time when things are more finalized.

I'm also still in early development with a big project I mentioned in my last newsletter that I'd be sharing with you all hopefully soon. Sadly, it's not much else I can say at this time regarding the project but just know that something big and amazing is on the horizon.

And, when the time is right...I'll be sharing with you all as soon as I can.

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What I can re-share from my last newsletter is that the latest project I'm working on behind the scenes right now would be a celebration of the new direction and evolution of my brand, which is...

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

I promise it will all make sense very soon, if it doesn't already.

To my day ones, ya'll should know that I LOVE the element of surprise. And, I'm hoping my next project will both excite and surprise all of you.

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Something else I've been up to was the reveal of a big client design project I most recently completed. It was the transformation of a renovated basement into a gorgeous, bright and airy, and colorful home office space.

The reveal was shared as a blogpost on my website and also many of the visuals were shared on my social platforms.

If you missed it, click here.

I also mentioned in my last newsletter that...

With this 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.

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Most recently, I had the pleasure of attending the grand opening of Woodhouse Day Spa in my local area of Mandeville, which is located on the Northshore side of New Orleans.

It was such an amazing grand opening event and to my surprise one of the owners recently began following me. When I arrived at the event, the owner said these words to me...

“OMG, I just started following you, I’m so happy you came because I’m really interested to know what you think of the design of our Mandeville location!”

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Well good job, Woodhouse!!!

I think this place is very aesthetically pleasing and I’m really looking forward to booking services here. Even my Husband was impressed and it takes a lot to impress him.

The Designer in me will rarely ever NOT notice the design aesthetics of a location, no matter what kind of business or service is being offered. I'm a creative at heart and a highly visual person. Anything that's visually pleasing where attention to detail has been carefully taken will always get my attention.

Also, details don't have to be extreme and over the top for me to find beauty within them. They can be subtle, sophisticated and refined. Oftentimes the good energy and relaxing vibe of a place alone paired with subtle details can make all the difference in the world.

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Here in New Orleans both on our Southshore and Northshore sides of Lake Pontchartrain, we have an abundance of hotel and day spas to choose from. Most locals all have our favorites, including myself.

But for me personally...great design paired with amazing service and a hospitable and welcoming staff are the leading reasons for me to support or recommend any spa.

And, just in case I didn't stress this enough...I mean, I think I did but ya know, what's one more time for good measure, lol.

High emphasis on impeccable design will always win me over.

Welcome to the neighborhood Woodhouse!! 

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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 but have yet to be active on the platform. Trust me when that day comes, you all will definitely know about it.

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As the season of Spring continues to make its presence known in the face of the Winter air having quite the hard time of letting go...let's all remember to prepare for the good shift that's getting ready to spring forth in our lives. Whether that good shift be days of better health ahead of us, more lucrative and better finances, better opportunities in our professional and personal lives, or even just better days in general...

Let's remember to surrender our worries, stresses and cares to God. Because worrying really doesn't help much at all. But, what we can do is be thankful in advance of the shift that's coming our way. The shift that will help each of us to...

“DESIGN THE LIFE WE WANT TO LIVE” 

Even if 2023 began a little rough for you, as it did for me. Or, even if the start of this new Spring season still hasn't been going the greatest for you...we still have several more months of this year to live and learn, to change our perspectives in life and to ultimately trust and believe that we all deserve great things. 

Wishing you all a happy Spring Festival season wherever you'll be celebrating life, joy, food, music and the beauty of the season.

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

I'm forever grateful and humbled.

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Until next time...

⚜️Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler⚜️

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