Spring House Tour! {my very own}

Let's face it, I don't get asked to do home tours anymore. I am hardly a blogger, and that's a-ok with me.  Don't get me wrong - I love that I can come on here, on my own terms and write and share - because I really, really enjoy writing and I am only now semi-comfortable with sharing photos of my home.  What?  

Let me explain. Back when I started blogging, I think in 2008, I shared photos of my home {I cringe!...}....but blogging has cha-cha-changed a whole lot.  Bloggers now hire professional photographers, are changing and rearranging monthly, semi-monthly, annually their furniture. art, pillows, houses! {not realistic in our lives}. Posts are filled with sponsored content, they are making up crap just to have fresh content - staging a 'Mother's Day Tea' tablescape, decorating for Christmas in October (then complaining in early December when their tree is dried out), linking to affiliates and don't even get me started on the hashtag 'contests' on IG......it all makes my head spin.....I can't keep up with that, nor do I want to, and NEVER, EVER do I want anyone to feel less than because they don't have what I have or do what I do and well, sometimes {no offense to these 'professional' bloggers} that's what I am often left feeling when I read blogs or scroll Instagram these days.  And Pinterest has reminded us "Comparison is the Thief of Joy" for goodness sake! And I mean no offense, this is the way these talented {and ENERGETIC} women choose to make money and I am all for women being entrepreneurial and pursuing what they are passionate about....and if it makes you some money, well, YOU GO GIRL!  What I am saying is this, the new model is not for me - I like my blogging like I like my home accessories......vintage.

Now, to appear to be a complete hypocrite, I give you a look into our home, in it's current state, shot this morning, by yours truly because it was semi-clean, I was home on a Tuesday morning {rare} and it was sunny in Portland {VERY rare these past 4 months}.  

What can I say about these photos?  Lots has changed in the six years we have lived in this house - but the big pieces of furniture have remained - I know those dark leather chairs aren't necessarily 'on trend' or are even something I would recommend to a client.  However, they are comfortable, work well for our family, are high quality and we paid a pretty penny for them about 10 years ago!  I don't hate them but I don't love them either -I decorate around them and right now, their function trumps their form.

My bookshelves have changed about 1,425,973 times during out time this house.  I cringe when I log onto Pinterest and see an early photo of these shelves that someone actually pinned! Needless to say, my styling skills have come a long way baby!  I am liking where they are today.  

There are a couple things that I do seem to 'invest' in that bring me instant gratification when I am itching for a change - art {either new or vintage} and rugs {vintage are my favorite}.  Theses are two items that bring soul to your home and add some personality - especially if you choose vintage.  Just my opinion.

I can't believe I am going to confess this but, here it goes......I have been tempted to paint this pine armoire!  I don't think I will ever have the guts to do it but I think it would look great a matte black with the interior painted a fun color like pink or coral or blue.....Don't worry, I won't, I don't think....

Like my faux peonies?  To all my clients who I make suggest to eliminate all the faux greenery from their homes, know that I am hanging my head in shame over this photo.....  I bought these peonies at the wholesale flower market in a moment of weakness and optimistic delusion that they could indeed pass for real.  I am in need of a trip to Trader Joe's or the farmer's market STAT.  

So there you have it friends - I have missed you, missed doing this....Please know my intent is to inspire .... pure and simple.  

I have thought a lot about 'connections' lately, in terms of my real life mostly - with friends, neighbors, parents, community, clients.....what I have come to realize is that connections are important to me, Lately, I have made a conscience effort to connect more. My introvert tendencies, I know, have kept me from knowing wonderful people.  And let's face it, these days, so many of our connections are on social media.  But I really value the connections  I make with friends and in recent years, with my clients - I KNOW with great certainty that it is why my little business has been successful. 

I can't say that I haven't been disappointed when a connection has been lost or not made like I hoped, but I will forever be a 'connector'.  Thus, this space is important to me - we come here with common interests, a connection.  I don't take that for granted, thanks for sticking around, especially if you have been here since 2008 and endured all the grainy photos, hypocrisy and random babbling {including today}.....

The 'She-Shed' trend.....my version!

What can I say, I love to design spaces, so much so that I was inspired by Arhaus to design my version of one of the latest trends, the 'she-shed' (don't get me started on that label, I almost hate it as much as the label 'man cave'), I jumped at the chance to do something for fun and design a space I would love to hang out in myself.   Whatever you want to call it (submit your terms in the comments) I like the idea of a space where people get to indulge in what makes them happy and really just relax - we all need more of that in our life, right?

First, my space would be a light-filled white space like the photo in the upper left corner of my mood board.  I would envision the space to be a gathering space for my girlfriends and/or our friends - a place to drink good wine - Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon preferably (thus the need for the big cooler and vintage inspired Smeg, ideally with a kitchen included to prepare delicious food to accompany the vino.  Yes!  Most  definitely a kitchen, to host cooking classes!  I see hosting celebrations in this space - birthdays, anniversaries, graduations etc...Then of course, after all the socializing I will remember that I am an introvert at heart and see this space to be a great place to work and read - or even take a nap!

All the activities mentioned above require comfy furniture - the sofa is from Arhaus and reminds me of a much more expensive style from a store you know as 'RH' but is a fraction of the price.  You can see more from Arhaus HERE.  Many of the other elements are sort of my signatures - vintage rugs layered over natural fiber, art, texture, a bit of vintage .....

Thanks for the opportunity to dream Arhaus!  Now can someone help me make my dreams a reality????

**This is not a sponsored post - I did not receive compensation, all ideas and opinion are my own.

2017 - the year I maybe never wanted to arrive.....

2017......

It's really here......

Ugh? Yea? Welcome? Go Away? Acceptance? Denial?......

Of course I knew you were coming 2017.  But dang, did you have to arrive so fast?  Time, it has a funny way of speeding up, it seems with each year....But long ago, maybe it was when my Emma (now 18 years old) started kindergarten, that it was mentioned that they would graduate from high school in the year 2017.  It seemed like such a long time away plus, I was consumed by all things elementary school - spelling words, math facts, recess drama......so that date was tucked away somewhere in my foggy mommy brain....until w-h-o-o-s-h....in a blink of eye that sweet class of 2017 kindergartener was graduating from 8th grade and headed to high school.  And well, let's just say, there are only four SHORT years of high school and it's a blur.....and depending on your kid.....could be a blur of many things...For us, and Emma, it was lots of soccer, homework, dances, Christian service retreats, growing up stuff like becoming a licensed driver, getting a job, a debit card, going through some hurts, disappointments and other 'fun' grown-up stuff.  So here we are....graduation is June 4, 2017.  We have nearly arrived at that long ago anticipated date.  I'll be honest, I am a mixture of emotions.  First, I am immensely proud of my daughter who has been a dream of a teen to raise - a great student, strong moral character, hysterically funny, a dedicated athlete.  I know she is ready to go.....I am not so sure I am ready to let her...... I would be 'guilty as charged' if asked to admit if I pitied other women who felt their identities were lost when their kids left the nest.  But dang if I am not feeling a bit of that right now.  Yes, I have another daughter still at home, but THIS first event is the BIG ONE.  It's the one that will change our 'normal', redefine the energy in our home (Emma brings ALOT of energy to everything) and signify the beginning of the end of our everyday parenting days.

And if having a graduating senior isn't enough, I turn the BIG 5-0 in April......THERE, I said it!  Seriously, I have never been bothered by aging, but this birthday has got me all kinds of crazy with angst and dread.  I am doing my best to embrace the age and celebrate it (because I certainly don't like the alternative).  I am perfectly content with where I am in my life - my business is flourishing, my husband and I celebrated 25 years of marriage this last year, we live exactly where I would want to, my girls are thriving.....so it's not about feeling like I am missing anything. Sure, of course I would l love to be 15 pounds lighter and more fit - but that is something I CAN (and will) do.  But like any birthday number that ends in a ZERO, this one brings lots of pondering on 'things' - both big things and little things.......I don't quite know if the fog in my brain is due to not quite being able to grasp the concept that I am turning 50 or just being almost 50 - ha!

My chosen profession forces me to live in the world of 'trends' - both in design and on social media.  Some of these trends I embrace - like mud cloth, statement lighting, mid-century modern.....others I don't, like Instagram stories (never!).  I hesitate to admit, but I can feel my age in this world - often dominated by younger women and wonder if my success or lack of it is affected by my 'older' self - COMPARISON - ah, the thief of joy!  But, I hope that immersing myself in the design and social media worlds will keep my mind challenged and my heart open.  I hope to live a life that makes my daughter's proud (and NOT just for the number of Instagram followers I have).

So why and I sharing?  I don't really know - I guess to give a voice to us momma's, who are launching our precious babies, who are BLESSED to be running the second half of the marathon of life.....figuring out who we are, what it all means and how to do it well, with grace and confidence, who wish to run that second half dressed fashionable but age appropriate too, to see the world with fresh eyes, be open to new adventures and dang it, find that miracle-working eye cream!

Our world is a funny place right now - and perhaps even saying that makes me an old lady - ha!  But I know I am better when I surround myself with friends who are different than me, women of different ages and backgrounds, really good women ...... I hope this post can be an internet olive branch to whoever YOU are reading this right now - I see you, I feel you and I know, no matter where you are you might be feeling a little like me right now.

My launching girl will play soccer in college so February 1st was 'signing day' for her - a big day for all of us.....a step closer to the inevitable.....to her dreams.....to our dreams for her......