I’m excited to begin a new week and hope that you are too! I don’t believe that only Fridays are meant to be happy days, but a Monday can be a great one too simply because a new week has promise! We have many opportunities laid out before us so it’s our chance to accomplish something new. A clean slate. A fresh start. I once hated Mondays but this positive perspective has helped me to change my Debbie Downer views and so perhaps it will for you too. What do you have planned this week? And how was your weekend?

My weekend was filled with activity mostly outdoors which was both refreshing and fun. I walked for miles through forests, parks, around a big lake… and it felt so good to be outside without a jacket on. I even dined outdoors which was a treat – the weather has been so nice. Everything is green now… flowers are out, birds are singing, I’m really looking forward to the things that springtime brings with my job and also potentially more as I have many goals that I’d like to accomplish within the next few months. For this week, one goal is that we secure a photographer for the book and to work on the visuals for the flat plan which is due asap.

How about you? Did you enjoy your weekend?

Later today I will announce the decor8/Pottery Barn contest winners — if you have not entered yet please read the rules and enter here before the deadline which is at 5:00 p.m. EST today! So hurry! (I’ve had over 1,500 entires so far which means that the page may take a few moments to load.) I’d like to thank everyone for their entry, it’s great to see so many entries. Oh and for those who commented on my sad news post on Friday, thank you very much. It meant A LOT to me to hear from you, I read your heartfelt expressions and it really made me feel loved and supported which was exactly what I needed and what made my weekend so nice as a result. Thank you for what you give to me – your friendship, kindness, support… it all means a great deal.

(image: holly becker for decor8)

18 Responses to “Happy Monday!”

1 Tricia Rose commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 7:33 am

Why shouldn’t Mondays be wonderful – especially when you love your work! Have a great week, who knows what it will bring?
.-= Tricia Rose´s last blog ..An Artisan’s Driftwood Home =-.
2 lindsayk8 commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 7:39 am

Good morning, Monday, indeed! I’ve recently adopted the same attitude of actually enjoying the beginning of the work week. Though, somedays Debbie Downer pokes me in the see as if to say, “see? I told you Monday’s were bad!”

Holly, I also just wanted to say that I appreciate your transparency and openness with sharing about your life. I would believe that many women are able to identify with you.

Also, I feel for your dad as he’s surely facing an extreme life challenge, and as he seems to have missed out on a wonderful opportunity to love his daughter well, and to help her feel cherished and admired. I’m sorry that’s the path he has chosen, I truly truly am. I’m tempted to be angry at him FOR you. I respect/admire that you don’t seem to attack him in anger–he truly has a more precious daughter than he knows. He is truly blessed by a gracious and forgiving woman.

*sigh*. Well, that’s a long post. But, all this to say ‘thanks’ for your blog, your posts, and your openness. If we were friends, I would loved to have told you in person!
3 lindsayk8 commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 7:39 am

*pokes me in the side….oops.
4 heidi commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 7:41 am

You of all people could never be a Debbie Downer, a very Happy Monday to you!
.-= heidi´s last blog ..A dreamy kitchen redo =-.
5 lolo commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 7:50 am

I’m so happy that I somehow got to your site. This is so beautiful!!! And thanks for brightening my Monday! ? Spring has really arrived here too, and I love spending as much time out in the garden as possible. :)
.-= lolo´s last blog ..bubbles in the air =-.
6 Iva commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 7:59 am

If you hate Mondays then I think you don’t like your job, hehe. So saying that Mondays are great is really wonderful, it means that you are doing with your life exactly what you love :)

Good luck with finding the photographer! xo
.-= Iva´s last blog ..Recipe =-.
7 Chantale commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 8:00 am

Hi Holly,
So sorry to hear about your difficult relationship with your father and now the bad news. My family and I have only just gotten over the death of a very very loved one recently, so I feel your pain. You are extremely strong to be able to forge ahead like this. Judging by how many ppl have commented, I think it’s safe to say, we’re behind you and there to try to lift you up. Talk it out, let us listen.. it’s a great form of catharsism.
Take care!
Chantale
8 Melissa de la Fuente commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 8:15 am

Happy monday my dear! I am SO glad you had such a lovely weekend! It sounds absolutely heavenly….spring always makes me so happy…and the promise of good things to come! I am so excited for your book, so good luck with the photographer and the visual flat plan. Exciting!
xoxo
Melis
.-= Melissa de la Fuente´s last blog ..Monday: Inspired by a photograph =-.
9 laura trevey commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 8:23 am

Hi Holly,

I am so sorry about the news of your father. That has to be difficult, despite the distant relationship. You are such a positive and strong person, and you always see the best in things. Wishing you brighter days ahead…
.-= laura trevey´s last blog ..Art Studio / Home Office =-.
10 frauheuberg commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 8:48 am

Hello Holly,
Fine to hear that you had a lovley weekend.I have read about your sad news just few minutes ago.So i send you here my good thoughts and a big hug to you.Hopefully everything will be have a good way for your family…wish you all the best and think to you and your family…
Oh, and i´m so exciting for your book, too.Cross the fingers for a super creative photographer, but i´m sure you will find the right for this job.
So i had a great weekend, too.We were on a Flea,- and Artmarket near Ulm and it was held in a wonderful magical gardening center…and the weather was fantastic. So wish you a great week and sucess with your work…until then a big hug…cheers Ines
.-= frauheuberg´s last blog ..Stranded at a cozy weekend, or at the airport? =-.
11 Samantha commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 10:20 am

I’m already looking forward to Friday as my Hubby and I are taking a short trip to France to go visit the Ikea store in Rennes, its the closest one to us from where we live, it will mean a boat trip and a car drive, but I hope it is worth it, might bring back some other little french souvienirs.
holly I hope that your week is filled with lots of good things this week, and no sadness. :)
.-= Samantha´s last blog ..Light Lunch =-.
12 Haley commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 11:36 am

Happy Monday! This weekend I went to sheep shearing day in Philadelphia!!! It was so nice to get out of the house and out of my routine and watch some sheep get haircuts. I always need to remind myself that living in the city there are so many free ways to spend your weekend.

Here are some of my funny sheep photos.

http://wemadeithome.blogspot.com/2010/04/sheep-shearing.html
.-= Haley´s last blog ..Metal Cabinets =-.
13 Tod commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 2:01 pm

my weekend was filled with some unexpected drama so the beginning of a new week has never felt so good! thanks for sharing the joy in monday and the fabulous feeling of a fresh start!! hope your week turns out to be the best week yet!!!
xoxo
tod
14 Cassandra commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 2:37 pm

Hi Holly,

Interiors photographer – Matthew Williamson. He is quite simply brilliant. The best interiors photographer in NZ, and now based in New York. Have a look at http://www.matthewwilliamsphotography.com and http://www.nzhaouseandgarden.co.nz. He’s recently done work for UK Elle Decoration and Dwell mag. He also shot my house which you can see on my website. He’s fast, captures light beautifully – is a kiwi – so great to be around, and is trying to cut it in the Big Apple. Just a thought.

All the best

Cassandra
.-= Cassandra´s last blog ..New cushions =-.
15 Cassandra commented:
April 19th, 2010 at 2:41 pm

sorry Holly – in my haste I gave you the wrong website – it’s http://matthewwilliamsphotographer.com/.
.-= Cassandra´s last blog ..New cushions =-.
16 Miriam commented:
April 20th, 2010 at 2:25 am

Happy Monday to you, too! (Well, its technically Tuesday now, but the sentiment is the same.) My weekend was wonderful with a fourth birthday party for my three favorite little ladies. We are participating in TV Turnoff week so I knew we had to get out of the house and the weather couldn’t have been better. I love spring! Strawberry picking tomorrow!

I’m so happy I link-hopped to your blog!
17 Lea commented:
April 21st, 2010 at 9:44 am

Sorry if I’ve somehow overlooked the announcement, but I can’t find where you announced the winners. Could you point me to it? Also sorry if you haven’t yet and I’m coming off as impatient. It just says on this post you’d announce it later Monday.
18 Danika Dingman commented:
April 21st, 2010 at 9:53 am

I too have been wondering about this. It hasn’t even been mentioned.

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