Home Sweet Home Part 2

I recently wrote about how my home is my sanctuary.  In that post, I showed you our living and dining room.

Today, I'll show you our kitchen.

Shortly after Andrew and I got married, we remodeled the kitchen.  Thanks to my handy dad and my father-in-law, we were able to do it rather cheaply too.

Because of the remodel, we have a lot more counter space, a dishwasher (perhaps the greatest invention ever...), several more cabinets, and a small pantry.  

Here is the view as you enter the kitchen.  I'm really quite happy with it.  I really love the contrast of the dark counter tops with the white cabinets.  I have often thought of adding crown molding to the tops of the cabinets but have never gotten around to it.  I would also love to have new stainless steel appliances but its just not worth the investment for the amount of time we plan to stay here.

I know it's not the most chic look, but I love to hang pictures and momentos on the refrigerator.  I believe that it's those personal touches that make a house a home, and really, I just like to see the smiling faces of my loved ones on a regular basis.

The paint job in this kitchen was a HUGE lesson for me.  I chose this yellow thinking that it would be much lighter than it was.  It has grown on me, but truthfully, it's still way too bright.  Though I do like a bright and cheery kitchen, I would have preferred a much paler shade of yellow.  Based on the painting we've done in this house, I have learned that paint usually appears darker on the wall than you expect it to.  And lighting plays a big role in how it will look.  Based on this experience, I now it make a rule to buy a small can of paint and actually put a few swatches on the wall before I decide.  That's really the only way to know how its going to look and it's definitely worth the few bucks that it costs!

Below is my tiny pantry.  I honestly don't know what I would do without this pantry.  It provides so much storage space and is packed full.  On the baker's rack you'll see the basket where I keep our cloth napkins as well as all of my cookbooks.  The container on the bottom holds dog toys. 

This sign hangs above our kitchen door.  It's a nice reminder for us to live more consciously and to make earth friendly choices. 

So there you go!  There is our tiny, but very efficient kitchen.  It's one of my favorite rooms in our house, and I really love the way the remodel turned out.  I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so in our next home, I really hope to have an open floor plan.  Until then, I'll choose to be grateful and enjoy this bright and cheery space!

xoxo

Home Sweet Home

This is a post I've been wanting to write for awhile because decorating my home is one of my favorite things to do.

I definitely thrive on living in a pretty, organized space.  Though I've always loved decorating and dreamed of having a pretty home to live in, it wasn't until I started teaching that my home really became my sanctuary.  

At the time I lived in a beautiful apartment in a historic part of the city. My days teaching in an inner city high school were pretty intense.  Coming home to a quiet, tidy, pretty space helped me to relax.  My home quickly became my oasis.

After I met Andrew, I moved into his house, a two bedroom bungalow that is over 100 years-old.  Since then, I've made lots of changes and definitely transformed his bachelor pad!  

We are definitely ready to leave the city and head for the woods as soon as we can, but until I finish this PhD, it just doesn't make sense to move.  Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for me is that there are so many things I would like to change about this home.  Most are small projects like paint and fixtures, but it's just not a good investment of our time or resources.  Instead, we are now beginning  a long to-do list of things that need to be done in order to have the house in selling condition in a year or two.

I must say, I love the character of older homes, but I look forward to having a newer space in the future.  One of the things I long for the most is storage space.  Old homes are definitely short on closets! 

As I often catch myself dreaming about a larger, newer home, I remind myself to be grateful for this space.  This home has treated us well.  We have made so many wonderful memories here, and there are so many days I'm grateful for the small size as I try to keep tabs on a toddler!

My decorating style has evolved significantly over the past few years.  In fact, our next home will probably look quite different from this one based on the decorating lessons that I've learned while living here.  

More and more, I'm finding myself drawn to rustic, natural elements.  I'm also love color.  However, I've learned that color is best in art and accessories.  I made the mistake in this house of painting all of the rooms bright, vivid colors.  When I moved in with Andrew, the dining room was royal blue and we painted the living room a deep red!  Yikes.  

It was fun for awhile, but I got sick of those colors fast.  I've learned that its best to keep the walls neutral and bring in color through other elements.  A couple of years ago we got rid of those brightly colored walls and painted the living room and dining room a more neutral, taupe shade.  It really helped to brighten things up and made the space feel so much bigger. I really don't have decorating rules.  My philosophy is to fill your home with things that you love.  Many of our items that are on display have sentimental value, and when we travel we like to buy pieces that remind us of our adventures. 


We'll start the tour with our living and dining room, which is where we spend most of our time.

This is the view from our dining room into our living room.  We have tall ceilings and windows, which is very nice and makes the place feel a lot bigger than it is.  I bought this dark green sofa and love seat 11 years ago!  Again, I learned a lesson that its best to stick to neutral colors when it comes to long-term furniture.  I've been tied to this color of green for a long time, but I like earthy, dark colors so it works.  I also switch out the throw pillows seasonally to mix things up a bit.  We used to have a nice coffee table but exchanged it for a more kid friendly ottoman last year.

When I first moved in with Andrew, we bought this painting together.  It was our first art purchase.  I love this painting and expect that it will be in our home for the rest of our lives.  Notice the tree theme.....

This is the view from the front door into the dining room.  Our dining room is multifunctional and includes our desk and home computer.  I really like that these two rooms are joined together creating a larger, open space. 

I have a love/hate relationship with this bookcase.  Andrew picked it up second hand many years ago when a nearby business was closing.  This thing is solid wood and sturdy as can be.  I love it as a place to display photographs and decorative items.  However, it is in dire need of some work.  And I hate those gold accents.  I did add some wrapping paper to the back of the shelves and changed the hardware to dress it up a bit, but I still think it's ugly.  

Once we move into a new home, I'll give this baby a good paint job and it will be good as new.  In the meantime, it works.  And yes, that is a record player and a stereo.  My husband is old school when it comes to his music!

This is our little office space in the dining room.  Its not the most ideal place for the computer, but we lost our home office once Liam was born so this is it.  We have a piece of plexiglass on top of the desk to protect the surface.  Last year I added some wrapping paper under it to dress it up a bit.  I like how it adds a little pop of color.

This antique sewing machine is one of my most cherished possessions.  It belonged to my grandma.  I remember sitting with her as she sewed clothes for my dolls.  It's a constant reminder of her and how special she was to me.

Andrew and I bought this piece of artistic glass last year for our anniversary when we were at a music festival in southern, Illinois.  We love trees so when we saw this, we both agreed that we had to have it!  Notice the sweet little heart at the bottom of the trunk.

This stained glass, which Andrew's parents gave him several years ago, hangs above our front door.  It was already here when I moved in, and I love it.  I couldn't think of a better piece of art to represent my arborist, banjo playing husband. 

It's pieces like this that represent what our home is really about.  It's a reflection of us, our family, our personalities, our love for one another, and this magical life's journey that we share.  

Soul Sisters

I recently traveled to southern Illinois with some of my favorite ladies.  Our dear friend is going through a difficult divorce, and we gathered together at a cabin to celebrate her and surround her with love and friendship.

I met these ladies nearly twenty years ago when we all worked at Camp Ondessonk in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest.  I am so fortunate to know such beautiful, strong women.  These ladies are my soul sisters, and I often refer to them as my "tribe".  

We know each other so very well.  The way that only friends who've known each other for so long can. We essentially grew up together...meeting in our teenage years and then growing into strong, educated women, and becoming wives and mothers alongside each other.  

We all share the same passion for nature and our environment.  We pride ourselves on being eco-conscious and consider ourselves tough, outdoorsy women. Collectively, we hold several graduate degrees, have traveled the world, and hiked and canoed hundreds of miles.  

Spending time with these women feels very similar to coming home.  It's always so very comfortable, as if we haven't missed any time.  They know me as well as anyone.  And I always come away from our visits feeling re-centered...as if my inner compass is pointing back to my true north.  They remind me of who I am and the kind of woman I strive to be.  Their nurturing spirits leave me feeling inspired to live more authentically.  

We are fortunate to see each other several times a year, gathering together every Labor Day and New Years eve at the camp where we once worked.  We dubbed this weekend "Shawnee Goddess Weekend" and decided shortly after we arrived that it needs to become an annual tradition.  We all welcomed the break from our lives and celebrated the chance to just hang with the girls. The weekend was intended to restore our friend who is going through a tough time.  I think we accomplished that and much more.  Our weekend consisted of no make-up, lots of comfy pants, and despite having a beautiful cabin, we were mostly outside. It was full of laughter, late nights, delicious food, lots of drinks (with little umbrellas!) and soulful conversations.

I realize that not everyone knows this kind of friendship.  I'm very aware of just how lucky I am.  I truly cherish them and all of our fun memories.  I plan to grow old with these women by my side, and I couldn't ask for a better, more beautiful group of friends to share in my life's journey.

On a Whim

I dyed my hair red last week.  It was an unexpected decision.

I was walking through Target and about to buy my usual "warm medium brown" semi-permanent hair color.  Then I picked up "medium auburn brown".  I figured I would just go for it...thinking it would still be more brown than red.

I was wrong.  It's definitely red!

What do you think?

I'm still undecided as to whether I love it or hate it.  The good news is that it will wash out so I'm not really committed to it.

I know that it's not a coincidence that I did this one day after learning I'll be submitting my proposal in six weeks.  When I'm stressed, I tend to do these kinds of things on a whim.  I've also been re-staging our bookshelves....trying to integrate some turquoise into all the red.  Nothing like a little home decorating project to keep you focused!  Don't even ask my husband about this one.  He thinks I'm certified crazy.

By the way, he also thinks I'm nuts when I ask him to take pictures of me for this blog.  It could have something to do with the fact that I make him take them over and over again, but the picture above speaks for itself.  I mean really? Who poses like that?!

Here's another great one for your viewing pleasure.  I'm not chewing anything.  I swear.  How's that for keepin it real ?!

Anyway, I'm going away for the weekend with some of my girlfriends and I can't wait to surprise them with my fiery redheadness!  

After dying my hair, I remembered that being a redhead is on my life list!  So there you go....now I can check that off!

Speaking of my life list, I looked back and there are a few other things that I managed to check off in the past year:

6. Quit my job so I can spend more time with my son  

49. Dye my hair red

31. Take Liam to a music festival

43. Learn embroidery

I quit my job in June, which was the greatest decision ever!  I'm so blessed to be able to spend more time with Liam while also focusing on my studies.

We also took Liam to his first music festival over a weekend in September.  It was a very family friendly event.  One that we'll definitely return to again this year.  Here he is with my sister-in-law dressed up as a gorilla for the parade.  Cutest. gorilla. ever.

I just recently started embroidering.  I don't necessarily have a lot of time to dedicate to it, but I find that when I do, I really enjoy it.  I like to keep my hands busy!  Plus, it's fun to learn the different stitches and to make something pretty in the process.  Once it's done, I'll share the end result...you can expect that probably sometime in 2017.

Now that I've re-read those lists, I'm inspired to do more fun things!  I just need to write that dissertation proposal first.... 

My Favorite Things: Beauty Products

Today I'm continuing to share some of my favorite things.  These are my favorite beauty products. I should probably add that I'm not being paid to advertise any of these products.  I'm just sharing some of the things I love to use.

I'll start off with a disclaimer that I'm kind of a sucker for beauty products.  I have been ever since I was about 12 years-old.  In recent years, I've cut way back and found some products that I stand by.  I should also note that while I'm thrifty in many areas, I'm not afraid to spend a little extra money for good make-up and beauty products.  It's a little luxury that I like to give myself.

I recently read that there has been some research linking parabens to cancer.  Parabens are in most beauty products.  Although that research is disputed, I'm currently trying to make our household paraben free.  I figure it can't hurt to take the more natural approach.

So, in no particular order, here are my favorite beauty products:

Raw Shea Butter.  This is by far the best body lotion I've ever used.  When I was pregnant with Liam, I used raw cocoa butter and raw shea butter and I didn't get one stretch mark!  After that, I was sold.  I also found that when I started using these raw butters those little bumps on the back of my arms went away. Another perk is that it's paraben free and smells nice.

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I also recently discovered Tarte make-up.  I used Aveda mineral make-up for many years, but as I get older, I found it wasn't wearing as well on my skin.  So, I went on the hunt for some new make-up.  That's when I discovered BB cream.  I'm not a fan of liquid make-up.  I don't like anything that feels heavy on my skin but sometimes mineral make-up is too drying.  I was given a sample of this new Tarte BB cream at Sephora.  It is the best!  It has this creamy whipped texture and is airy light on my skin. The coverage is also very light and natural. I've also been wearing Tarte powder, concealer, blush and lip gloss, and I've been impressed by every single item.  The best part is that Tarte is a natural line and their products are eco-friendly and cruelty free.

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I have also found that the key to good make-up application is having high quality brushes.  I like Sephora's brushes.  I apply the BB cream with this one, the Pro Flawless Small Airbrush.  When using this brush, I only need to use a pea sized amount of BB cream to cover my face.  It also makes blending super easy.

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Another tool that I found essential is a good pair of tweezers.  My mom used to have these tweezers that were amazing but they were also about 30 years-old....I would use them every time I went to see her!  Unfortunately, those tweezers finally gave out.  That's when I found these.  They are worth every penny and are the only tweezers I've found that can easily grab really tiny hairs.

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When it comes to hair products, I've always been a fan of Aveda, but recently, I discovered Moroccan Oil.
I really love the oil for smoothing out my ends.  And the curl defining cream.  I actually buy the travel sizes because they are so much cheaper and they last me awhile.

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Prescription Tretinoin, which is a retinol cream that helps to build collagen by causing cellular turnover.  This one isn't exactly natural....but, according to my dermatologist, it's the "holy grail" of anti-aging products.  I'm not one to stress about aging, and I plan to grow old gracefully.  However, I also believe in taking good care of my skin, a lesson I learned from my mother, who just so happens to look gorgeous for her age!  In fact, on my 12th birthday, she took me to the Clinique counter and purchased quality skincare products and make-up for me.  I'm often grateful for that, because I think my skin looks pretty good, and I don't have many fine lines or wrinkles.  I'm currently looking for a new skincare line, but no matter what, Tretinoin will always be part of my routine.  I use the highest percentage available, 0.1%.  It can be a little drying on the skin, particularly in the winter months, so I usually only use it every other night, and I mix it with moisturizer before I apply it at bedtime.

Jo Malone fragrances.  I like to wear perfume, but I also like my perfume to be light.  I tend to gravitate towards floral fragrances.  Jo Malone used to make a beautiful fragrance called Vintage Gardenia, but it was recently discontinued.  That means I'm going to have to find a new one once my Vintage Gardenia runs out.  I do like Wild Bluebell and French Lime Blossom as well.  One of the cool things about Jo Malone fragrances is that they are designed to be mixed together.

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And last but not least...Burt's Bees lip balm. My favorite is the kind that comes in the tin.  I've been using it for years. I apply it every night before I go to bed.

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As you can see, I like my beauty products!  These are a just a few of my favorites.  What about you?  What beauty products do you like to use?

Catching Up

Now that I have a bit more time, I plan to spend this week catching you up on some of the fun we've been having recently.

May was a busy month for us. We started the month off by travelling to southern Illinois to spend the weekend at a cabin with friends.  With both of us working full-time and in graduate school, we haven't had much time to socialize.  So this weekend was a nice treat.  It gave us the opportunity to get away and catch up with some people who are very dear to us.

There was fishing.

There was a lot of eating and a little bit of drinking.

The kids enjoyed themselves.

While there, we visited Makanda Springfest and enjoyed some bluegrass tunes played by some of our friends, the Moccasin Gap Trio.

We also got to enjoy the brightest full moon of the year with clear skies.

The weekend was lovely...filled with good people, good food, good conversation, and lots of laughter.  As my life starts to become more balanced, I hope to find more time for these kinds of visits.

Thank you friends! I am blessed to know such wonderful people.

Happy Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I would share some of my favorite outdoor adventures.


I am a nature lover through and through.  My love affair with nature began as a kid.  Some of my favorite memories center around summer evenings spent outside, barefoot and happy.  I distinctly remember coming in from those evening and having to wash my feet because they were so dirty.  To this day, I associate dirty feet with a happy kid.


When I was ten years-old, I spent a week at Camp Ondessonk....a magical place that still holds a special place in my heart.  Summer camp changed me.  At Camp Ondessonk, I learned to love the earth, to respect it and to want to protect it.  Throughout my years, nature has become my spiritual place.  In the mountains and trees, I don't just see beauty...I see God.  


Nature is also one of the things that brought my husband and I together.  We both have an intense love for the outdoors.  It's one of my favorite things about him.  He's pretty much up for any adventure that I suggest. Our activity of choice is backpacking.  I love camping anywhere, but the best camping is in the back country...those nights are the best.  Just you and the sounds of the wilderness.  The best part...the only way to get there is to walk.


Here are just a few of my favorite trips that we've taken:


Every Memorial Day weekend, we canoe the Eleven Point River in southern, Missouri.  Missouri is known for its rivers and this one is, by far, my favorite.  It's spring fed so the water is clear and the bluffs are breathtaking.

The Irish Wilderness actually trails along the Eleven Point.  This was my first backpacking trip in Missouri and our first backpacking trip together.  

We have hiked several stretches of the Ozark Trail which runs through Missouri.  I don't have many good pictures, but I have yet to have a bad hike on the OT.

And my favorite trip so far...we spent a week in Yosemite in March of 2010.  We did an overnight snowshoe trek up to Dewey Point on 8 feet of snow.  It was a tough climb, but the view from the top will be burned into my memory for the rest of my life.  I have never seen anything so beautiful.

None of these trips were easy.  But the payoff from the physical exertion is worth the effort.  It's exhilarating to finally reach your destination and to see all of the magical views along the way.  It's also a nice reminder of your physical strength.

And I would be remiss if I didn't share a photo of us with our partners in crime.  Our friends Justin and Mylisa share our love of the outdoors, and they accompany us on most of our adventures.  

These days, in the midst of graduate school, we don't make it to the woods as often as we would like.  And I'll be honest, city life drives me crazy.  After I finish this degree, we hope to buy some acreage amongst the trees.  That way we can walk out our back door and into the woods.  Until then, we'll make do with the occasional weekend trip and regular hikes.  


One thing I know for sure is that nature is my constant.  She never fails me.  Whenever I start to feel out of balance...tense and stressed, all I have to do is find my way to the woods.  It's there that I find my center. It's there that I remember to breathe and to find my peace.  Every. Single. Time.  


In the words of John Muir...

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

Sweet

These beauties are currently sitting on my windowsill.  How's that for a little taste of spring?


I just love fresh flowers.  


I also love my husband who brought these home to me earlier this week.

Here's to a wonderful weekend ahead!