Friends! I have missed you!! Thanks so much for the emails and tweets wondering if I am alright and telling me that your lives are not complete without regular Vintage Revivals posts. You guys make me feel way more important that I really am…
So here is the question of the day.
What do you do when you are feeling not-in-the-least inspired?
How do you get your creative mojo back?
There are tons of people that generate creativity by browsing their fave blogs, hanging out on pintrest, reading mags etc.
When I hit a creative block I just shut everything down.
No blogs, no pintrest, no nothin.
Am I crazy? Well, that is a different post in itself…
The reason that I do this is totally selfish.
I want you to come to Vintage Revivals to get ideas that you haven’t seen anywhere else. I mean yes, there are absolutely things here that I have knocked off from someone amazing, but as I am growing my style and growing my voice I want it to be as pure and inspired and organically Mandi as it can be.
Is this starting to feel like a Kashi commercial?
If I sit for hours on pintrest I can totally come up with projects but they are not MINE. Does that make sense?
So I don’t force it. And you shouldn’t either.
If I want to spend time with my girls making s’more popcorn and pipe cleaner bracelets then that’s what I am going to be doing.
So after a week or 2 off I have a whole new room design that is AWESOME and original and motivates ME to get working again.
Also.
Did you know that I have the most amazing husband in the world? Really I do. Tonight at 6:30 I told him I wanted to get a wall in our bedroom done. (something that I have been putting off since the beginning of June.) Instead of getting frustrated with me because there is weeks worth of laundry to do, he understands that sometimes I need to create to clear my head. So he proceeds to bust out the ladder and the saw with only 45 minutes until he has to leave for a meeting. I love him so dang much.
And just so you don’t think all I have been doing is watching weeks worth of DVRed shows and eating lots and lots of popcicles,
This is what we have been up to this week…
Only the most important thing that will ever happen to our little family….EVER.
![girls at the temple[3]](https://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xa13bXUq4Nk/TikUfOtAbRI/AAAAAAAAEY8/5YCsdVOWARc/s1600-h/girls%252520at%252520the%252520temple%25255B3%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "girls at the temple[3]")
![IMG_3970[4]](https://lh4.ggpht.com/-2uAdye4KpN4/TikUgfQto0I/AAAAAAAAEZE/dnve7EXp6iY/s1600-h/IMG_3970%25255B4%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "IMG_3970[4]")
(I am working on writing part 6 of My Real Life Story that will talk about this special day a little more.)
There were lots of preparations made, dresses sewn for the girls (out of my wedding dress, and no I am not doing a tutorial on it cause all of the real life sewers would burn me at the stake immediately.) Then Ivie’s dress was resewn…3 times…until it was just right.
So I hope that you will take a little time for yourself to recharge, how ever that may be.
And really I want to know what inspires you, so leave a comment about it alright?
I can’t believe I’m ACTUALLY going to say this right now… but,(whispers) I love your guts.
GAH! really though! I’m so proud of you and happy for your little family and all that you’ve accomplished. You’re amazing, friend.
Enjoy the Summer, we’ll chat soon! 🙂
~Shell
Are those white dresses for what I think they are for??? YAY! I am SO happy for you guys! Love your guts.
BTW when I am feeling a lack of creative juices I like to try to deep clean my house. Cleaning the house usually helps me to think of things I would rather be doing or creating.
Oh my heck!!! Congrats! That’s so wonderful! How special. The dresses look so beautiful.
I haven’t reached the level of creativity yet that I can come up with things on a whim, so I just do the copy cat routine. Maybe someday I’ll be able to think up things on my own.
Xoxo. You are a rock star. Thanks for chatting today.
I immerse myself in junk, I go thrifting and embrace all the little bits of things i would normally ignore.
Sounds like life is good, that’s amazing…. we’ll all still be here when you get back.
much love
Congratulations on your time and eternity!!!! Love your guts and I’ve never even met you!!! MamaRa
Your pictures made me cry! But what’s new? I’m the worlds biggest cry baby! CONGRATULATIONS! Like everyone else, I LOVE YOUR GUTS!!!!
Congratulations!! I almost started crying!! Ok maybe I did a little. What a wonderful day for you and your family. I hope you get your mojo back and give me ideas that I can in turn make my own. I love your gutz!!!!
Loved that Mandi! It should come from you! Every single one of my rooms has. NO pininterest nothin’. Otherwise, I wouldn’t start a blog. I think you should be original. I can’t wait to hear about your special day. We’ll be celebrating our day tomorrow, along with my daughter’s birthday. I can’t wait to hear what you have to share.
What a sweet and special day for your family!!!
Well we are here when you are ready. I get you totally on the crafting creating coming 100% from you. Since I started obsessing with Pinterest and then the blog hoping I have felt like OH’ MAN’ how can I be unique and original with all the talent and ideas out there…. I so here you….
am I seeing a baptism possibly? I’ll be back. P.S. I think your hubs has served me n the fam./ aka rang us up at Durango’s in St. George the one by Old Navy… fyi. WINKS-jen
Congrats on all the white:) It is the most important thing EVER! SO happy for you!
Nope I believe I am wrong… it starts with an “S” so so thrilled for your family, a complete blessing, and special special day. HUGS, jen
Oh yeah for your family! Im so happy for your special day. What a great chapter to your life story! I can’t wait to see pictures!
I’m pretty sure I know what a bunch of white dresses mean…I’m SO happy for you and your adorable family. Congrats!!
Aw, congratulations, girlfriend! The girls look beautiful.
Mandi. You are an amazing person. An amazing mom too for taking the time to do what you do for your girls and family. What a sweet husband too!
I meant “taking the time” for your girls away from everything else…=) Do what you gotta do…your real fans will always be here!
So very, very happy for you!!! That is a huge event. Congratulations. Isn’t it the best feeling in the world? Take as big of a break as you want to just to enjoy these important, cherished moments!!
I seriously got chills when I saw those photos! Congratulations!!! And the fact that you made the dresses out of your wedding dress is so awesome! PERFECT!
Love your guts!
Congratulations! That is wonderful! I love the Rambo-style headband! Perfect!
sooo, did you renew your vowels? what are the beautiful ‘lil’ girls in frilly white for? im inspired by YOU! and blogs and magazines but then i get intimidated by my lack of space in my one bedroom upstairs apt. and no storage or yard of my own to create!
im so happy to hear from you and content knowing all is well. you deserve the break from blogging and your family needs you more than us(i think)! just next time forwarn us! much love and squishy hugs!! Be well!!! ~Melanie
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I am exactly the same way. Yes I love to try things that other people have done, but when I come up with something totally original, all me, it means so much more than doing a repeat. You go girl, and take a break no worries.
Congratulations are in order ~ 🙂
I just shut it all down too and do something for me. I cook or bake, do laundry…like pillows, throws, rugs, everything!…organize, read, whatever. Don’t beat yourself up! Being with your girls is the most important thing you can do.
Pat
Congratulations!! So happy for your family! You’re right. That’s way more important that any DIY project… 🙂
! i forgot about your special day! so happy for you! you need to AT LEAST post full pictures of the dresses….
love you!
Mandi,
What a great idea to make dresses out of wedding dress for your girls. How precious!
Recently I found this hutch that had great lines but needed alot of help. I was inspired at local craft store. I couldn’t figure out how I should paint it. I found these beautiful boxes that were teal, brown, and white. I ended up designing the whole hutch around the boxes.
My best advice is when you create stay true to yourself. That is where pure inspiration comes from!
Mandy- I think focusing on your family’s special day is reason enough to take a break! I am so happy for you.
Lately I have been getting discouraged about my own creative abilities. Thanks for reminding me that we all need to take time away from the world to fuel our souls.
sooo excited and happy for you guys! how amazing!
i am the opposite of you when it comes to inspiration. i am not creative AT ALL and the only cute things i’ve made/decorated/done have come from blogs like this one. i am really good at copying other ideas. i wish, wish, WISH that i was creative and could come up with stuff, but i’m bunk at it.sooo, yeah. there you go.
At first I thought it was a baptism, but that wouldn’t express the smallest of the white dresses. I am SO excited for you that even though I haven’t met you, you’ve got me all choked up. You are right, this is your best day EVER!
I totally recognize the tiles on that floor…( btw, I happen to have lived next door to the guy that laid those tiles – he’s in S. Am. working on another) and so your family experience truly is the most wonderful, AMAZING, and important thing every. Super happy for you and your fam!!!! Major blessings will come your way for it!
And who doesn’t have a creative block now and then…it happens even to the best, as you are proving.
As I read through your personal story a number of months it home a bit. I am so happy for your cute family and what the white dresses mean! Congrats, this IS the most important thing ever!!!!!
i would take a month off just to relish those feelings of our special day again. how much more special yours must have been to actually see your little ones there with you!
Congrats to you and your fam… What a wonderful day that must have been for you!
When I’m out of inspiration I get out of the house and have a family day. At the end of it something always come to me!
I have been thinking about you ALL week. I am so happy for you and your family. I know you’ve worked hard for it. I can’t wait to see your cuties in what is sure to be beautiful dresses.
stacinay.blogspot.com
Ya, I’m crying a little too! I love the idea of making your girl’s dresses out of your wedding dress. I’m sooooo going to do that when my little family has our special day. My awesome hubby needs to get a little wet first! 😉 LOVE your blog…I found you through the Nate Berkus show and you’re a total motivation for me! Big hugs from California! 🙂
So happy for your beautiful family! What a wonderful day! Your girls look adorable in their dresses. You rock the sewing machine too! It was so nice to be able to talk with you again. Love ya! Leanne
Congratulations Mandi!!! I am sooo happy for your family that you are together forever! That is amazing. And I seriously LOVE that you made your girls dresses from your wedding dress! You rock.
When I have a creative block I go back and finish all those projects that I once started and then left undone when I moved on to something more exciting. That gets my juices flowing.
Congratulations to you and your family. What a special time for you. Taking time for that is reason enough to take a blogging break.
Hooray for forever families!
Mandi- this post TOTALLY speaks to me!!! I’ve just gone through something very similar too! Not that I’ve lost my inspiration or anything, in fact, I’m feeling quite motivated again, BUT I did start to feel kind’a blah with ideas and just had way too much “other stuff” on my plate. With that, I unintentionally just stepped back from it all. Not realizing what I did at all… until RIGHT NOW… when I read your post. It was like a light went on! Thank you for that! 🙂 So, I suppose that my answer to your question is that I like to step back, shut down, and clear my mind too!
…and then back to Blogging, Pinterest, etc… 🙂
Thanks for the great Friday post!
I feel the same way Mandi! No one can stay on GO all the time…and if they say they are they are lying. When your uber creative you have to give yourself time to recharge. I go through all of that too…I know I am getting close to being creative again when I veer off the road to go to goodwill when I should be going to the grocery. You can’t force creativity…you know that yourself…it is organic and beautiful and you just take it when it comes 🙂 many hugs 🙂
I’ve been wondering where you have been……but if those dresses are for what i think they are for, then thats so awesome and i guess much more important then inspiring us all by your creative juices 🙂
Congrats!! can’t wait for part 6….
I recognize where those pics were taken :)…SOOOO happy for you and your family. What a wonderful day and such a happy ch. 6 to your story, which is what got me following you in the first place.
I. Love. you. And I’ve been thinking about you all week. I can’t wait to hear all about it. And I want details. 🙂 Congrats! You are fantastic!
Gahhhhh! Seriously, my eyes are misting up right now ’cause my sweet little family is about to celebrate our four year anniversary for our most important day ever! I am so happy for you. Okay now i am full on crying, love love!
Oh Mandy!!! I love that you used your old wedding dress to make theirs. I love that you took a well deserved break. I love YOU! I am with you on needing to find your own inspiration. I don’t use pintrest and I don’t follow trends for that same reason. I knew you special day was soon and I am glad all went well. 🙂
Sometimes my mojo goes on hiatus when I’ve got stuff of a higher priority going on. Little white dresses? My guess is that you had some makeovers of a spiritual sense going on. Congrats- and celebrate the family for a while.
When it comes time to get back into the swing of blog things, I like to have a “rebound project”. Kind of like a rebound boyfriend. Something you don’t intend to keep, something you don’t need to have pride in… just something to get the ball rolling. And who knows? You and your new rebound project may just become good friends, or it may introduce you to “the one” (project, that is).
Mandi!
You are so wonderful! I love opening my e-mail to see what you’ve posted for the day!
Congrats about you and your family all in white. So happy and excited for you! You are my decorating inspiration.
I’ve only been reading your blog for a week now, but I read back almost to the beginning. So I was beyond excited to see girls dressed in white next to a temple patron. This was a real spot of joy to find in my blog reader. Congratulations!
I’m SO glad you said this!!!
I really want to blog more regularly, but like you I want to share my truly unique projects (in addition to some occasional “inspired by” designs), and I’m a single mom, work full time, plus struggle with health issues. So sometimes I just need downtime. A lot of it.
However, I often think that downtime is EXACTLY what we creative types need to come up with something super-inspiring!
Most of all, I think people notice – or at least I do – when someone is blogging just so post on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or if they constantly recycle their content and photos.
Ultimately, I think that growing organically is the best way to be! Just another way to keep it real!
Congratulations to you and your family!
Really amazing!
Take all the time you need!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I think you just solved a problem for me. I’ve been suffering from creative block for a while now. Just getting frustrated with myself for what I was interpreting as lack of motivation. But I realize now that I was actually overloading myself with too much “inspiration” from other people and not giving my own creative juices room to flow. A light bulb went on over my head when I read this post. Thanks for your honesty and your ability to be real. You have amazing guts and, yes, I love ’em. God bless you and your family!
Yes, this is the best thing for your family! Congrats!
Mandi, Congratulations to your family. What an awesome blessing for all of you. I’m sure it was an amazing experience and I’m so happy for all of you.
I find I need to be a good blend of knowing what’s out there and being true to myself. I don’t watch design shows because mostly they annoy me because I want to tell them how to do things my way. 😀 I find that my most creative projects are usually an organic blend of bits and pieces of things I’ve seen but used in a different or new way.
Whatever your process is, it clearly works for you girl, because you have got it goin’ on and then some!
Can’t wait to read the next part of your story and see your new room.
I am so happy for you and your family. That is the best day in your life. Knowing you will always be together forever.
I have been missin your posts, but when I saw you pics today…you are totally off the hook! I am so excited that your family got to have such a wonderful experience! Blessed!! That’s what it is!
I’m over from ohdeedoh. I love your blog and all of your projects. you are one clever lady!
also- i thought it was pretty cool to see that i’m a ‘mandi’ (with an i) too and have a daughter named dylin too! how fun!
Congrats on your families most important day. I am truly inspired by you. Thanks for sharing your talents with us. They help make the rest of us better too.
Christina
I wish blogs had “Like” buttons for comments. If they did, I would “like” the loads of comments on your oh so special day. I’m sure like me many others are reminiscing on their own special day just by getting this small glimpse of yours. So happy for your family!
Mandi! I met you at evo and love your blog :). Congratulations to you and your little fam. I hardly even know you and I am a little teary looking at those pictures of your girls!
Family Sealing??? THat is so wonderful, my eyes just got a sting. I so enjoy your life story! Ummm, when I get in a creative rut, it really does help to look around…not to copy things, but from seeing something, I get another idea that pops into my head that generally has nothing to do with what I saw! Weird how it happens…
you are doing it!! yayayayayayayyyyyyy! congrats! tearing up for ya!! i myself will be making my way that direction but as a single person…. 🙁 at least i get to go back… 🙂
YAY!! It truely is the most amazing feeling to see your little ones dressed in white and knowing they are yours forever! I got to take my babies to the SLCT this last April and it was the best day of my life. Period. I was on a high for days afterwards. Congrats! There is nothing better.