My New Office: Day One

I woke up this morning confused. Was I late for work? Had I forgotten to do something? What day was it?

The time on my phone read 8:30. And then I remembered. Oh, hell no, I wasn't late. I was EARLY. For my 9:00 appointment with my NEW LIFE.

I thought you might like to take a little tour of my new office, also known as my living room. Please excuse the terrible light in the pictures -- there have been ominous thunderstorms all day. I'm sure it was just the universe's way of saying congratulations.

Anyway, here is my new coffee station. My new assistant had already made the coffee and set out a mug for me. (Just kidding. It was Vince Chao. He later confessed that he chose the Oprah mug so that I would have an inspiring start to my day. I am not making that up.)

Next, I ate several peanut butter cups for breakfast. Don't judge me.

A nice lady sent me some gorgeous flowers this morning. I am not ashamed to say that I did the ugly cry at the card, which read: "May every day be design, hamburgers, and Oprah. Love, Sarah."

Welcome to my new office. I don't know that I've ever shown you this view of the living room; the fireplace is directly behind me. I love having my desk in this room -- the light is usually lovely in the mornings, except of course for today, which is why I have every single lamp burning. Anyway, there's my desk on the ostrich wall, and I've arranged lots of seating in here, for client meetings and/or group napping. So that's pretty cool.

I've tried to make it so my desk stays fairly uncluttered, even though I have a million cords and wires hidden behind the machine. The basket is good for holding pens, my constant rotation of lists, and bills, bills, bills.

The note leaning against the computer is from my boyfriend Greg Berlanti, which he sent me a long time ago along with notes on my spec script. It reads, in part, "Life is too short to have the wrong dream." Indeed.

This is the other side of the living room, which you've seen before -- the desk is now directly behind me. I sat here today while Helen Jane and I discussed our fun times panel for Mom 2.0 in a couple of weeks. I also sat here while on the phone with a new client. NEW CLIENT!

And then I went into the bathroom and took this picture of myself wearing pigtails and jeans, because I can do that now.

So there is my office, and that was Day One. Here's to many more days that are just as good -- nay, even better. Stay tuned.

Comments

[the mrs]

I LOVE your new office, and I also like your choice of breakfast foods. If you ever do need an assistant, let me know. I'll work for peanut butter cups and pigtail breaks.

[Leah]

#1 You are adorable

#2 Your office is mad fab

#3 We both have that Jonathan Adler "dolls" canister and it makes me happy

#4 Technivorm MoccaMaster's degree

#4 Of course the universe celebrates you, because you are wonderful and I am SO EXCITED for you

happy! xo

[Helen Jane]

Our panel is going to be deliciously informative. Also dude, your living room is GORGeous.

[Allison]

Congrats! Your work space is gorgeous.

And oh, pigtails. Your hair appears in pictures to be even shorter than mine, but I cannot get pigtails to work. It is the #1 reason I'm considering growing my hair back out.

[megan]

aw, how cute are you, and how lovely is your home? congratulations on everything -- so excited for you!

[lori]

congratulations! I hope you love your new life :)

[maria]

Happy Day one! so adorable, you are.

[Notorious MLE]

Congrats on your new career, may it be everything you dreamd and more! PS- Incidentally, anytime I read the words "pretty cool" my mind instantly cues the SNL Miley Cirus skit theme song.

[Kathleen]

Congrats, you! P.S. I TOTALLY just had peanut butter cups sent to me by a client/friend as my afternoon snack!

[Kendra]

Where is that LOVELY chevron rug from?

[attygreen13]

congrats! so happy for you! and thanks for showing the rest of the world that Louisianians do have style/cute hair/blog-ability - represent, girlfriend! :)

two quick questions: (1) where'd you get those awesome roman shades/rolling blinds (?) in your living room windows?? must have! and (2) please share your source for sliding barn door hardware, as seen in your fab garage.

that is all - i will let you get back to work, since I hear your new boss doesn't put up with any sh*%.

[Sarah Brown]

Hooray for today!

[Natalie]

I love your office.
Also, would like to hire you to come fix my entire house. Please tell me you'll accept queso as payment? It's in Austin!

[abchao]

@Notoriious MLE, me too! It's pretty cool.

Thanks, y'all! Hooray for today and for nice readers. Everyone come over for coffee.

[sarahb]

You look so, so wonderfully happy in that picture!. I'm sorry I made you ugly cry. Let's hug about it soon. xoxox

[Rhonda]

I want to just hang out with you for a week. I'm adding that to my Life List. Amazing home for an amazing girl with amazing talent. Looking forward to Thursday lunch - hope you can be there.

[Sarah-Rose]

I'm not gonna lie - I'm so excited for you!

[Raina @ If the Lamp Shade Fits]

I swear being gainfully self-employed has taken 20 years off you. You and the bairn could pass for sisters.

[Danielle]

Yes! High fives for living the dream. I'm proud of you.

[Omar G.]

We're redoing our home office (or at least buying new desks and doing a major de-cluttering). This is inspiring! I'm so happy for you and your beautiful new workspace.

[Savvy in San Francisco]

Congratulations on your first day of your new adventure! Your living room is gorgeous!

[tracy]

this makes me smile. the pigtails. the oprah. it all. congratulations!

[Chedva]

Working at home is the best! So excited for you, you're going to discover daytime tv;) no, seriously- loads of luck and pigtails!

[Rayray]

AB- I am sooooooooooooo excited for you, and super jealous. Congrats on your new life at the office. So we will have to catch up soon!!

[maile]

Toasting you with my coffee from here. So happy for you! xo

[Anna H.]

Oh, happy first day! Sounds like you had a fabulous time!

One question: your striped shirt -- where, oh where did you get it?

[Suzanne]

I have to ask: what is that gorgeous lipstick you're wearing?

[Johanna]

Great work space, it's beautiful, looks comfortable and so inspirational. I have to ask where is that color stripe pillow from (I lurv it!)? Great luck on your new adventure!

[abchao]

Y'all are so funny. Here's a source list for this post.

Rugs: eBay
Shades: Lowe's, I painted the stripe
Color stripe pillow: Pier 1
Shirt: J Crew
Lipstick: Nars Funny Face

[Diane]

Your room is so beautiful, I'm sure you'll dream up tons of beautiful design-y schemes in there. :)

[jodi]

hip hip! congratulations on your new work life!! your space looks amazing as always.
and i am totally jealous of your cute pigtails and jeans attire.

[carmencatalina]

Full confession - I found this blog after I read the wonderful article about your place in the first issue of Anthology Magazine. Love the blog, love the living room/office, and wanted to wish you the best of luck with your future!

[Kelly]

all of that is so right on. you are going to be an adorably pigtailed star.

[Katie A.]

Yay! You did it! Yes, I'm super sad we don't work together anymore (especially when I tried to walk over and talk to you about wallpaper, like I did the other day not realizing your cube life was over), but I'm super happy that you're doing exactly what I would love to be doing if I won a million dollars and didn't immediately spend it all on, like, Frederic Fekkai shampoo or 400,000 cases of Abita or something.

So, new site looks great! Also, did you paint your porch? The kids and I bike down D----y on our way to Neville almost every day and I noticed your porch looks different.... and awesome! We're finally getting ready to paint ours so stop by if you see us out and HELP ME PLEASE. Wait, what? I meant "and casually peruse my front door color choices".

[fpfj]

Yay! Congrats on the lovely space and new adventures. You've inspired me to start my own life list and also - I'm starting my own business (!!).

Also, your top is very french.

[Christine]

Congratulations on the new office! It was so great to meet you at SXSWi that it helped convince me to register that night for Mom 2.0! I can't wait to see you in NOLA next week! Hot Mamas, represent! *grin*

[erin@designcrisis]

Do you have some extra room for me to move into your new life? Because it looks awesome.

[Trude]

1) I would like to move in. I'll gladly sleep on that lovely chevron rug. 2) Your hubby is kind of awesome. 3) I can see the excitement and motivation all over your pretty face. Congrats on this new stage! :)

[sunny]

how was your first week?

when you mention group napping, did you think of the Friends episode where joey + ross nap together once and realize it was the best nap they'd each ever had??? I adore that episode.

[The Inside Source]

We love your new office too! (Especially the wallpaper!) We can't wait to see what you create!! Go AB, Go!

http://theinsidesource.com/article/home-and-garden/gregory-parkinson-fashion-designer

[rorasleeple]

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[toilet plumbing]

Nice shots! I love it!

[Vahn]

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