GREEN - THREE THINGS

THINGS I ADDED: I added the most beautiful footed planter to my pottery collection although I can easily see it being used as a candy bowl. It was hand-crafted by the oh so talented Jess of The Honey Blues. Can't wait to add to my collection with more of her pieces. 

THINGS TO DO: Although we have gotten so far in checking things off our list on making this place home we still have quite the list remaining. Some of that list has been moved to a list saved for years down the road as budget loosens. There is also some of those to-do's that should have been checked off long ago yet they linger. One, for example, is this old telephone jack that just hangs there. It has no power and I finally bought a plate to cover it yet it just sits starring me down every time I walk down my favorite hall. 

THINGS THAT ARE DONE: I finally decided to hang one of my staghorn ferns in this empty spot in the kitchen. I tried art and nothing seemed to fit, but this little guy. It adds the natural element I love and the movement this spot needed among a whole lot of hard edged appliances. 

EIGHT

image by Jason Wallis for Birmingham Magazine

Today, 8 years ago, I started blogging. It has been an amazing journey that has brought me opportunities beyond my wildest dreams. I had the pleasure of partnering with Home Depot, minted, Park Studio LA, Industry West, Comfort Works, Boden and many more. I have been published in Birmingham Home & Garden, Birmingham Magazine, B-Metro, and Fresh Style magazine. We moved three times, you have walked with me through my highs and lows, and pretty much saw me through my late twenties now to my later 30's. You have seen me evolve and mold into who I am today. I began as a stay at home mother of two young babies who was just trying to find her role in this big world and now I have two grade school children, work within the design field, and have seen our photography business take off {which also turns 8 this year}. I have made some of the best friendships a girl can ask for. Being able to travel all while visiting people I would have never met any other way is a joy that can not be surpassed. I thank you all for sticking by me all these years. I truly am grateful for each and every one of you. 

8 Things I have learned over the years...

1. Just to name a few of the ladies who began the blogging journey around the same time as I and who in turn became real-life face to face friends. Thank you ladies for spurring me on... Tiffany, Brooke, Marianne, Bonnie, Marianne, and Trina. Happy to have walked the beginning of the blogging journey with you all. 

2. First house, second house, third house. The kiddos have declared they never want to move again, but I learned a lot in every season of life. A gift that I didn't know I needed. 

3. I have finally settled on makeup that works for me and hair care that actually works for my hair. That only took me to my mid-thirties to discover. To think the years of huge big hair and broken out skin that could have been avoided. 

4. You can do all things through Christ who strengthened me - Phillipians 4:13 - The very scripture that has carried me through my health troubles.

5. I have read 100's of books and shauna's have been read multiple times a year since her first book. She speaks to my soul and that I am grateful for. 

6. These tee's have become a staple of mine. I have adopted a uniform of comfort. 

7. The blog evolved and my heart stirred to write more about my faith and where the Lord is taking me. 

8. This tea brings me joy. I mean it really took me thru the time of having to be coffee free. 

THE MUD ROOM

Here is a snippet of our new mudroom. When we first moved in it had heavy cabinetry and a place for two extra freezers that the prior owners moved out before we moved in. You can still see the marks on the floor. To the left is the door we enter and I am shooting from the den. We used the same boards as the uber talented Daniel of Manhattan Nest used in his office for the bench. I also followed his instructions on sealing them. Grateful for bloggers like him! The hooks were simply mounted to a primed piece of lumber from Lowes that I painted to match our walls. We each have our own shoe basket. Love being able to bring a hint of copper over into the space as it is also in the kitchen. The light is the same one that we used in the den to keep the look flowing throughout since it is all in the same line of sight. It was such a budget friendly project and made the BIGGEST difference. Wish they all were so easy!