Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Kitchen Update

Here's a few pictures of the kitchen progress on our remodel. Still a few more projects to go, but it's getting there! I hope to post my DIY pot rack and shelf I made that is going on the right side of our stove. After this crazy week of speaking in three different places and my husband speaking twice this week I should hopefully have some time to finish up this project :)


Pantry with our barn door. Found a great price for the hardware on Ebay. Love how my storage over the fridge is inside our pantry. Save us from spending money on a cabinet too :)                                        Love our backsplash tile. It's a great statement piece and fits with our cottage/farmhouse. Super easy to install these 18"x18" tiles that we purchased on Wayfair


Love my wall art over our fireplace from Smallwoodhome.com 




The ten-item wardrobe | Jennifer L. Scott | TEDxStGeorge

Minimizing the Wardrobe!...where to start

Here are a few tips I shared yesterday while speaking at a Mother's of Preschoolers group....


BABY STEPS with CLOTHING


  • Box things up - don’t give them away until you have a good plan


  • With younger children pick things you like


  • Older children: have them help you select the items they keep out


  • In Michigan think in terms of layers - short sleeves can be used in the winter

  • Once you take the leap you begin to feel the freedom

HIGHLY RECOMMEND WATCHING

Monday, January 22, 2018

Decor has meaning...


Mixing old with new...wooden brain teaser mixed in with a table center piece. 



Most women find themselves in the clearance section finding little things to put on shelves, trinkets for a table and something to put on a wall. Unfortunately, that means whatever was popular 6 months ago defines what is significant to you. Our decor should reflect meaning and significance. We should be surrounded by small reminders all around of us memories of days gone by, of things we cherish, hobbies, and above all else the things we love. 

Why a dog, teapot, and horseshoes? Sort of a strange collection of items. Yet, they all go together. My grandmother's teapot that reminds me of afternoon teatimes with her. The horseshoe is a brain teaser. You'll find brain teasers throughout our home. My husband is a huge fan. I keep them in fun places where guests would sit. Kitchen table or island, coffee tables and even sometimes in the bathroom. Last is an antique Newfoundland dog nut cracker. I raised Newfies for many years. 


Nate Berkus put it this way in an ABC news article "I think things do matter," he said. "Obviously people are important. They're more important, but things really do matter. They're what we touch every single day. They're what we surround ourselves with." 

And sometimes you just need a few new things that give you a chuckle and tie things together. This little piece of art work gave me a laugh because this is SO ME!



I have yet to read Nate Berkus' book "The Things That Matter".  Next on my Amazon purchase list :)