A New Chapter in our Life and Bucket List- With Printable
Five Tips for Family Pictures and Spring Outfits
We took some family pictures the other night. You can imagine how easy that is with a 3 year old (see photo below, Kevin dragging Finn out of the play set š) Really it can be tricky to get photos no matter the age and really to make sure the setting is somewhat decent! Not too much wind or sun or rain. I first put together a “mood board” for our outfits! Just like you would for a room. Head to the blog to see how the pictures came out and also I linked to all the clothes below (believe it or not, all from Walmart!) 
My Workout- that has brought me RESULTS!
Believe it or not one of the most asked questions I get is- “what do you do for workouts?” How did you gain muscle? Well, I shared it all on the blog today! And a new little fitness tool that I have been loving. Read the post HERE.
Also wanted to share the baskets below that I just found- a budget friendly version to the Serena & Lily lidded baskets!! We are talking $49 compared to $129!
Click on a basket to shop it- (they will sell out, so weaned to mention it here!)
Friday Favorites starts with NYC and What we Bought
Blogging Q&A – Do Bloggers Make Money and other Frequently asked Questions
I just went to the HGTV Block Party and spoke on a panel with other bloggers/ influencers. I shared on this post what they asked me and my answers. And I went into detail about blogging- how long it takes me, how much money I make š³ when I work etc.
Oh and shared my favorite podcasts I listen to at the end of the post!
Hope you enjoy it and please let me know if I missed anything- HERE
Bee Keeping- Must Read before getting BEES!
This is not my normal post. I wanted to write this post for family. But it also relates to home. My mom said “the point is- every bee has work together by doing their job. Same is true in a home, when that doesn’t happen it weakens the hive (aka the home).”
My parents have a beehive and we got to watch them harvest the honey when we were in Utah. I took a bunch of photos of the amazing process and wanted to share them. I also received some great questions as I was sharing videos on my instagram stories. So I asked my parents and I learned a lot!!! It was so awesome.
You might be surprised at all that you know or don’t know about bees. They also shared what it cost to have a beehive. And ways that you can help save the bees! Because bees are essential to our food source.
Make sure to watch the video at the end. It is pretty cool. See it all HERE.
HGTV Full Magazine Spread- 1100 Square Feet Then and Now!
Today’s blog post I shared the FULL Magazine spread that we were featured in for HGTV. I also shared what it looks like today! Compared each room and talked about the changes that have been made over a year and a half. It was fun to see the difference, especially the front room and the kitchen. See the post HERE or keep reading for a design question…
If you are new email subscriber I answer YOUR questions via this email I send out with each blog post. I do this in hopes that it can help MORE than just the homeowner! (I am not taking any new questions at this time) I still have some I am working thru. I will let you know when I can take a question. I might do random selection from my email subscriber list! Pick out 3-4 a week.
Design Question-
“This is my living room – I didnāt get it super tidy for these pics. š¬ but anyway. This room is connected to the dining room in a āLā shaped room formation if that makes sense. I used to have my sofa facing the fireplace but it felt so closed off. I have already ordered a new bigger rug following your suggestions for sizing. I have a vintage style and I like fun textures and colors. My biggest struggle is lighting – itās super dark in here even with lights on and middle of the day (all the windows look out to our covered patio). Also Iām not in love with my current arrangement – the dresser looks crowded. Help!” Thanks, Melissa
You are on it to get a bigger rug! I would still suggest facing your sofa to your fireplace. BUT I don’t know where you tried it…. If it were me I would move the piano inside the space, to the right where the chalkboard is. And move the sofa back- really open up the room! I would then do the white chairs by the window and move the brown leather chair out.
Ways to lighten it up-
-Paint the rock fireplace white.
-I notice you have a lot of brown accents and that adds to the dark feel- you could paint those or switch them out. And simplify what it on your mantle.
-Add an arch floor lamp that gets into the room more like THIS
-Lighter rug (I know you ordered a rug, but that is an option for all).
I hope that helps! And if any of you have made the changes I have suggested for this “Ask a Designer Series” email me the AFTER! We would all love to see it!
Behind the Scenes of our HGTV Magazine Photo Shoot
I wasn’t allowed to share with you (well I mentioned it on Fridays post) but in October of 2016 HGTV Magazine came to our little home and took pictures for a full home feature. I shared our experience and behind the scenes photos over on todays blog post HERE.
Design Question-
I don’t typically share the messages you send me. But this one fit’s with our magazine photo shoot and small space living- enjoying your home no matter the size. And that includes large and small homes.
“My husband and I were looking at buying a new house late last year because we are in our starter home and have since had two kids. We felt like it was getting too small for us, but the market in Colorado has gotten crazy! Houses here have gotten insanely expensive & we were about to resign to being house poor. However I stumbled across your Instagram account (thanks to Reese Witherspoon), and it was a game changer for me! Seeing how you make a 1200 square-foot house work for your family of five inspired me to make our small home work for our family of four! It also made me think about upgrades for our house & got me excited about it all over again. Now we have a ton of projects on the list to make our house as cute and nice and cozy as possible! We are starting with doing built-ins in our living room which is also inspired by you! So I just wanted to thank you!”
We upgraded our kitchen last year, but I canāt decide on a backsplash. I donāt know if a white subway tile would be too much white? And also when we did the new countertops we extended it out on the left at an angle to get as much counter space as possible. Now that the counter extends past the cabinets, Iām trying to decide where the backsplash should stop. The bottle opener will obviously be gone. Would you stop the backsplash at the upper cabinet? At the window? Or somehow go all the way to the end of the countertop? We love having a little extra counter space since our kitchens small, but I didnāt think about how awkward it makes for a backsplash. Any help would be much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Julia
YES- I would go straight across to the very edge of your counter. If you are doing the tile work then end it with a nice tile edge. I do not think subway tile would betook much white and it is very affordable. I would do a dark grout to add some depth and contrast. Hope that helps!
Head to see the behind the scenes of the HGTV magazine shoot HERE
How to Manage Messy Cords and Papers
Hi friends! Is Christmas consuming your every thought? Well I interrupt that to share some paper organization ideas and mainly cord solutions. Our Secretary Desk got out-of-control, I shared how I organized it and my nightstand. Two areas that get the messiest at our home. You too?
Well I did have a lovely reader (Clarissa) want to see how I manage the command center in our kitchen. So I am sharing it just with you in this email! It is not the prettiest picture, but it is really organized and works well for our small home. Head to todays blog post to see the rest of the places I organized! And there is a really great gift idea if you are still shopping like I am!
This is what it looks like. Not very pretty. But this area is where the keys, markers, crayons, scissors and daily schedule, extra homework papers and anything we are currently working on. (Notice the bottom area is basically empty? Remember I have a 20 month old boy…enough said).
Head to todays blog post to see the AFTER of this—— (Click on photo below)
Halloween Decorations Outside, Tour of Fall Porches
Friday Favorites starts with Most asked Questions Lately
Happy Friday! Almost Halloween, I am only excited because my mom and sister are coming in town from Utah!
Anyways today to kick off my Friday Favorites I answered YOUR questions that I have gotten lately over on Instagram. And I talked a little more about Instagram Stories and what I think of them. Also shared a new sweater that I just got and have worn a couple days already (I have it in two colors). Some Christmas things I already bought, a link to an interview that I did from Rank and Style and more!
Also I will be back on Monday for “Ask a Designer” series!
Have a good weekend!
