Occasionally, I do write more than 2,200 characters (thanks for the limit, Instagram), and when I do, you will find those words here. I also love participating in Calling It Home’s One Room Challenge, which happens every spring and fall. You can find past rooms I’ve worked on here. Want some help with your own One Room Challenge? Let me know so that we can get planning for the next round!
Ahh, January. The time when goals are lofty, confidence is high, and energy is in full swing. The time when retailers and magazines tell us spring has sprung as if they have replaced the groundhog. The time when we are culturally drawn to all things organization. And, is it just me, or is it also the time when we want to purge all the things?
Read MoreIt’s raining and cold outside today and all I want to do is curl up with a blanket and a good book. Do you remember the last time you actually did that? Me either. As much as I’m very squarely in the camp to stop the glorification of busy, I’m still guilty of completely over scheduling myself at all times. Don’t get me started on the over-programming that is our lives these days. I could write am entire blog series on my thoughts about over scheduling our kids, and of course, I continue to do it myself. “She really wants to play soccer and take karate and be in scouts and do book club and yoga. How can I make her chose when she’s just exploring her options?” It’s a sickness, I’m sure.
Read MoreI’ll be honest, last week was a blur and this week has gone by in a blink. Between the North Pole preparations and the continuing kid-related commitments and trying to keep a business running, the blogging piece has fallen by the wayside. Raise your hand if you are feeling fully in the trenches right now. I know it isn’t just me.
We talked a few weeks ago about how to put joy back in the holidays. One of those items was to decorate. You knew I’d come back to this one. Grab the kids and hang some garland or make an advent calendar. I've made you a couple of decorating cheat sheets in case you aren't inspired yet. Want to go bright? I’ve got you covered. Want to keep it mellow? I’ve got that too. Need help finding somethings to make your house festive? I’m ready to help!
Read MoreThe clutter of kids is unfathomable. The doll accessories, the Legos, the stuffed animals (oh, goodness, the stuffed animals!), the clothing, the school papers, the sports gear, the art projects… It’s enough to drive any parent mad. If only there was some way to contain the chaos.
Before you get all excited, I don’t have *the* magic answer here. My kids leave their socks in the middle of the floor and walk over them 30 times just like your kids. I do, however, have some tips to lessen the load. And let me get right to it by saying that my number one tip isn’t a decorating tip at all, but rather a way of life instilled in my husband by my mother-in-law that actually works: the old circular file is your best friend.
Read MoreThe saga finally begins. You’ve heard me talk about this remodel for what seems like 200 hundred years already but now we are really getting somewhere. Maybe. The city took its time issuing our permits because someone over there thought we had plumbing where we didn’t have plumbing and required our builder to dig a 4’ trench across our yard to prove that we didn’t have said plumbing. Tiny hiccups. If you are one of those people who likes things done on a very specific timeline, I’m telling you now, don’t remodel.
Read MoreYou all know that pink is still flying high as color of the moment. Or maybe you think orange is the new pink. But did you know that pajama lounges are the new “it” room? This little blurb in the current issue of House Beautiful caught my full attention last week:
Read MoreI dread being asked “What do you do?” There is something about this question that makes me want to crawl into a hole. The answer should be save the world or create world peace, but let’s be honest, the Nobel Prize team is not going to be knocking on my door any sooner than the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes team.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled to talk about design. I’m going to talk all about it in a minute here and you are going to want me to shut up (good thing you can always x out of this page). That thrill is because there are things about family living that turn me from normal to nerd in half a second. I am now lucky enough to be pursuing something that makes me tick, that keeps me awake at night in a positive way, that creates energy rather than sucking it…You know what I’m saying, right? If you don’t, let’s definitely talk about that.
Read MoreWhat is the first thing you do when you decide to throw a party? I'm not talking the practical things like picking a date or making a budget. I’m talking the fun stuff. Do you plan the food? Shop for decorations? Make a guest list? I’ll bet you throw a great party.
It turns out, decorating your home is a lot like throwing a party. There are four major things to look at when doing either: theme, mood, guests, and venue. Let’s see how far this analogy can stretch, shall we? I suspect it could be a whole dang series…
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