CURRENTLY...

Some days I feel like I have zero material to blog. The house is at a bit of of a stand still, the kiddos after school activities are at an all time high, I haven't been feeling the best and I am still finding the balance {there have to be a better word} between work and home life. Thankfully though I am finding inspiration in every day life daily...

HOME LIFE INSPIRATION...

Ellie is on a swim team and I LOVE every single second of it. 

Both kiddos have started piano and my dreams of having music fill our house may become a reality.

I am completely hooked on this series. Yes, they are Ellie's books but they are so good. Plus it's fun having a sort of book club with my main lady. 

The Mr and I have been rewatching the Chef's Table on Netflix. I find such beauty in the process that they create. The episode on Dominique Crenn leaves me breathless. Plus they make for a great date night in. 

WORK LIFE INSPIRATION...

Brian Parquette can do no wrong when it comes to design. He has really honed his style and I always find myself wanting to see more of his work. The above image is from a home that truly leaves me in awe. 

Jenni Kayne had a living room make over and I love her use of warm woods. Her spaces always feel so inviting which I feel is the most important element to any design. Wouldn't this coffee table fit in perfectly?

I recommend this coffee table for an upcoming project. I love the warm tone of the metal and how it serves as a place to put drinks yet does not take up visual space. It feels a bit like of an art piece to me. 

This sconce I am pretty sure wants to live with me. Oh my. 

This week I am heading here for a little work trip. Hoping to find new inspiration along the way. 

INTERNAL ALARM CLOCK

My whole life I have been one who LOVES to sleep. Even as a baby I pretty much slept through the night. I was never one who would fight a nap and as I moved into high school and college years my much too late nights did not hinder me as I could sleep in to absurd hours. This way of life didn't seem all that bad until I had kids. The lack of sleep pretty much made the babies years a blur. Having two in a 19 month time span made the first few years ones with memory lapses. Like there really are events that others will talk about and I draw a complete blank. Small groups that we hosted, Ellie's 1st birthday party, places I went, and so on.  The kicker I had great sleepers just not enough for my need of sleep. Now the kiddos are at the age where I getting up with them is technically not a must, but a desire. For years I prayed to become this person who would rise before her alarm and not dread the whole getting out of bed thing, because I needed another hour or two. Not sure what happened over the course of this year, maybe it's age, maybe it's an answered prayer, maybe it's the way God designed it all along, but I wake 20 to 15 minutes before my alarm every morning. It gives me time to read my one year bible before the routine of the day begins. It truly has been the greatest gift for me. Granted I have to be sure to be in bed when my body demands it which is between 10 and 11 which is a vast improvement of my 9 to 10 in the past. Also the impending joy of a morning cup of tea or coffee doesn't hurt either. 

Our current tea kettle we have had since our wedding 12 years ago. It's time for a new one and I am leaning towards a matte black to go with our kitchen since it will sit out. The above are my top contenders. Anyone have an electric kettle and do you prefer it over a stove top one? I like the idea of being able to have it off to the side and having a hold temp incase a second cup is in order. 

source: one | two | three | four

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. - psalm 5:3

WORK IT

Now that I am working again the house projects that were somewhat left behind are starting to be done once again. First on my list was to finish the kiddos rooms. Although we made them functional with using everything from our prior rental home I was ready to personalize the spaces according to the kiddos wish list and in general make them look more finished. One dream for KJ was to add a desk and chair. A place for him to write and illustrate his stories and do perler beads. He came up with the placement and helped pick out both the desk and chair. Both were at a great price point and look good. A win win in my book. I can't wait to share more as we progress over the next month.

* I may have another Two Ellie tag sale soon, but for now I am 100% sure we are selling Ellie's pink rug. You can see more of it here and original listing here. It's a great rug, but pink is no longer her favorite. Imagine that. Selling for $75.00. It's more true to color in my images rather than the listing. 

sources: desk | chair | lamp no longer available {similiar} | pillow no longer available {similar} | fish tank now being used to hold baseballs | roman shades