The Not So Pretty

I'm not sure what this space would be defined as. Laundry room, kitchen nook, original breakfast room? Oh, how I would love to meet the original owners and have them walk me through every space and say what the intended purpose was. This space currently serves as the open laundry area. Part of me loves being able to be in the kitchen and do laundry at the same time. The other part of me can't stand that it invites clutter and well it really is messing with my pretty new kitchen re-do look. Since closing in January I have evaluated this space over and over. 

Here are just a few options that I have mulled over since moving in at the beginning of the year...

1. At first I thought we would enclose the space and add some sort of old schoolhouse door so light could still shine through. The space would remain a full functioning laundry room and I would add simple shelving for storage. This one is just perfect. 

2. & 3. I then came across Michelle Adams office and LOVED the builtins. Of course I have never stopped thinking about Jessica De Ruiter's office since spotting it years ago. We do desire having an office space that is more open to the living area so as the kiddos get older I am able to monitor more closely their computer use. I think a combination of both the offices would solve the office storage dilemma and also give us a space to work. I love the thought of having a more communal office area. 

4. We have also considered moving the refrigerator into this space and adding open storage to serve as a pantry. Love how the above uses a window to define the two spaces so light would still come in. This would also give us room to get the microwave and some other appliances out of this main kitchen area. Since it is plumbed we potentially could add another small sink into the mix. It potentially could be what pantry dreams are made of. 

In both the latter two options we would move the laundry to the huge hall closet by the bedrooms. It was serving as a play place for Ellie, but she hasn't used it in months so now it's just wasted space. What way would you all lean towards? Wish it was a big enough nook to serve all purposes, but alas it's not. 

3 things

FAMILY: I've been putting the house together slowly when it comes to making holes in the walls that we painstakingly painted for weeks on end. I did finally add my most prized piece of art though. I could not stand it being packed away any longer. My mother passed it down to me. What make it so special? Ellie's namesake painted it, my grandmother. It's a little reminder of my family daily as I walk out of my bedroom. 

NATURE: We added a new tree to our home that is quickly becoming a greenhouse of sorts. It's in the olive tree family, but I can't remember the official name for the life of me. She has dropped a few leaves which can be the shock of the move or something else entirely. I am really praying she stays awhile. Could not imagine killing such a beautiful piece of nature. 

photo by: Rylee Hitchner

LIFE: I turned 36 yesterday. The kids were baffled why I would work on my birthday, but alas that is life. Does one ever really feel their age? At times I feel like I am still in my early 20's straight out of college. The girl who is still trying to figure out her place in this great big world. Then other times I feel like I've done enough laundry to last a life time twice over. I am a girl who has lived a long enough life that I can now help others through whatever stage they are in. I did find a gray hair and I am gaining laugh lines that no potion can erase. I enjoy getting another year older. Maybe it's because I enjoy the thought of growing another year wiser. My story has lasted 36 years thus far. It's had it's high's and low's, but it's my story and one that I am grateful to share with you all. 

New Traditions

I grew up in Massachusetts and one of my fondest memories when I was little was visiting my best friends home. Their house always smelled like fresh baked bread. Normally it would be paired with a tomato soup yet we never grew tired of it even though we would have it multiple times a week some months. I can still recall spooning the soup into bowls right off the stove and then having the bread laid by its side. I hold dear the times I sat at their dining table learning and laughing along with their family. These memories are stored deep within. We parted ways when I moved down south, but that memory has lingered on. The sweet smell can still transport me back to a simpler time and maybe that is what led me to starting a new tradition for our little family. Every Sunday I have began making bread for the kiddos lunches although I can quickly see that this bread may need to be made more than once a week. As I grow another year older I am realizing it's the little things that matter and I am slowly but surely distancing myself from things that don't contribute to building a life of meaning. A life that I want my children to emulate with grace not with a force that comes from striving to be something else. So here is my new tradition of making our house smell sweet and everyone grabbing one more slice.

I use this simple recipe here. I swear by King Author flour for baking.

* as most of you know my diet is dr ordered strict and I have been off gluten since KJ was just a baby so I have been trying to find a good "bread" alternative. The little muffins are so close to being just that. A few more times and I think I will have the recipe just right even if KJ said he likes them as is. Of course I will be happy to share if anyone is interested once I have it perfected. Can I tell you how hard it is to bake without grains, sugar {even natural}, and eggs.

{plates by vagabond vintage}