Real Inspired

Life As We Know It

2021-06-08T00:12:00.000-04:00

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

This post has been a long time coming and it's been percolating in my head for a while. It's been years since I have written a post but this blog has never been far from my mind. I always knew I would come back to it someday.

I just knew I couldn't write until I had a more settled understanding of myself and my family.

After our big move to Michigan a few years ago, I was dealing with a severe back pain issue along with all the post-move adjustments that came to our family. I was depressed and anxious and so were my kids. My husband was dealing with a new job. It was too much.

I burnt out.

It was a dark and hazy time for me. I don't know how much further to get into it than that because I have no clue where the TMI line is. But there have been a lot of things to work through and I've made some self-discoveries. Now I feel like I'm finally functioning fairly normally again.

In the midst of it, we've been the process of seeking diagnoses for my neurodivergent kiddos, along with navigating therapies, IEPs, and homeschooling. And Covid.

Still not sure how we caught that one.

So, I'm still here. I stink at sharing personal stuff and writing lengthy blog posts but I do have plans to blog more often. I'm also trying my hand at fiction writing so I may start sharing some of that as well.

If you're still here following along after a three year break, you can leave me a comment and let me know!

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New Year, New House

2019-02-20T19:58:00.000-05:00

Last year I kinda sorta gave up on writing. Not completely though because I'm stubborn. And because I do so love writing, especially research papers(totally not being sarcastic, I love research papers).

Yet here I am again.

Because I'm stubborn.

I'm certain that my innate stubbornness is one of the main reasons I made it through last year. It's been nearly that long since my last post and so much has happened in that time. It's been a year full of stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and upheaval.

Last summer, we said goodbye to Virginia and moved to our place in Michigan. When we first bought it, we didn't expect to live there a long time but then Hubby made a career change and everything happened rather suddenly. We are currently living in the basement since we already had renters upstairs.

I suppose it's a good size for a basement but coming from a two story house to a basement has definitely been an adjustment. There are some things I've enjoyed about it though. I can hear the boys playing from wherever they are, I'm forced to only unpack what I need and live simply, and there's no stuff gathering on the stairs for me to put away(I feel like much of my time in our last house was spent going up and down stairs).

The cons are that I can still hear the boys playing from wherever they are, I can't unpack all my stuff so there are boxes everywhere, and all our stuff just gathers on the pool table instead. The sink and dishwasher is miles away from the actual kitchen area and I think that's my biggest issue so far.

The view of the backyard makes up for a whole lot.

I wish I had more before pictures of the house. My phone broke after the move so I lost some of my pictures but I did manage to salvage a few photos. Excuse the horrible photography. I'm pretty sure that my old phone had the worse camera ever. These are all from the basement the day we moved in. I shared more upstairs pictures back when we first bought it.

We had so much help from family to get it cleared and ready. There's no way we could have done it all on our own. They cleared out trash, donated stuff, ripped out carpet, moved furniture, and cleaned everything in the couple weeks before we arrived. Someone even loaned us their RV for us to live in while we got things more livable in the basement.

I feel like this move has been good for us in a lot of ways. There's that feeling of starting over brand new, everything clean and free of expectations. The property is quiet and secluded; I'm already attached to this small city and its slower pace. I feel more at peace now than I have in a long time, even if there is a Ratatouille situation in my attic.

We've fought off stinkbugs, met the local fire department, and survived Arctic temperatures. I even bought myself a puffy coat and snow boots, things I never thought I would own. I guess we're Michiganders now after all.

I'm excited to see where it leads us.

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Choosing the Right Cotton Sheets

2018-04-24T19:01:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been confused with all the different kinds of cotton sheets out there? All the labels touting thread count, percale, and Pima. It can be confusing.

For me, I'm all about soft, smooth sheets and I couldn't care less about wrinkles. They get wrinkly when you sleep on them anyway. Other people like sheets to feel crisp and, for some reason I shall never understand, feel the need to iron them. So how can you know what you're getting before you buy?
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I Need Your Help!

2018-04-03T22:45:00.002-04:00

Some of you may have noticed a few glitches on the site over the last couple days. This is because

Google recently made a secure https setting available for bloggers who use Google for hosting. This means that my blog will now use a secured https url and my blog will no longer show the unsecure message in a Chrome browser. I have made this switch, but I'm noticing issues as a result and I am working on correcting them.

You may notice that some of the links, share buttons, images, etc., are not functioning. Some I have noticed already but I'm sure there are others that I may be missing. Different browsers show things differently(duh, right?) and the browser that I'm using may not show me a certain problem that you are having. Please report any issues with my site that you have noticed through a comment or an email to help me identify the glitches and find solutions more quickly!

If you’re on Blogger too and have recently switched to https, I want to help you find support for any issues and anything in general related to Blogger support. I am part of a Blogger tech/troubleshooting support community with hired support available for your SEO and tech needs. You can find the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LGandKSBloggerSupport/

Thank you for your patience as I work to get this all squared away. I appreciate your loyalty as a reader!

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5 Things You Might Not Know About Me

2018-03-16T21:46:00.000-04:00

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I'm not much of a voluntary sharer. I probably should have thought about that a little more before deciding to write and publish anything but here we are! And I'm so glad you are. I don't write this kind of post very often. I tend to have a hard time finding that happy medium between too little and too much info sharing so I'm hoping that I've managed to do that without completely embarrassing myself!

Some of you that have been here a while may have picked up on some of my quirks already but I know there are some new readers here too. Since you are here to read my words, I'd like you to get to know the person behind them!

To start with, I've been married to my wonderful, fellow introvert Hubby for 8 years and we have two boys that we are currently homeschooling. I'm working my way toward a degree in Interior Design while also attempting to figure out my path as a writer and watching way too many superhero TV shows.

Here are 5 other things that you might not know about me.

1. I'm a highly sensitive introvert.

With a touch of social anxiety and a face that always looks grumpy. Not such a great combination for winning friends and influencing people. Writing works better for me. You can't see me unintentionally glaring at you behind this screen and I get time to think through my words without those weird stops when I glance out into space. Win-win for all of us!

I have my difficult moments in our extroverted culture but I do love being an introvert.

2. I have a weird fascination with birds.

I'm not sure that I like birds. I don't even want a bird(ok, except for chickens but that's only because they make me eggs and I need those to make cake). However, I do like to watch birds and identify them. Doing a "Big Year" sounds like a great way to spend some time. The movie, The Big Year, with Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson, is one of my favorites.

I am fully aware of my weirdness.

3. I'm a nerd.

And a Hufflepuff.

I'll read or watch pretty much anything, from sci-fi to fantasy to the classics. I was always the studious kid that (mostly) followed the rules and got good grades. Last week, I received an A- on a paper for my art history class and then proceeded to grouse about it all day.

Hubby was not sympathetic.

And I kinda feel like I'm the odd mom that has no problem with the husband and kids playing video games. Probably because I'm playing them too. Ask me about my level 29 wood elf with super sneak and mad archery skills.

4. I broke a personality test.

I'm not talking about those random "What Disney Princess are You" quizzes. I'm talking about those free tests on supposedly reputable personality profiling sites. I took the test and, after calculating my answers, I was told that the algorithm couldn't figure me out. I get a different answer on every test I take and I've been typed as every introverted type at least once.

Based on my ~~obsession with~~ research of the Myers-Briggs personality typing and after taking pretty much every single free test out there, I've come to the conclusion that the "I" is strong with this one and that every other letter is extremely balanced. Based on cognitive functions, I believe that I may have finally found a home in the ISFJ camp, although sometimes I relate to the INFJ type as well.

As far as the Enneagram goes, it confuses me but I think I'm a 6? Or maybe a 9? With some 4 thrown in somewhere? My best guess is that those three make up my tritype.

If that means anything to any of you, yay! If it doesn't, Feel free to ignore my crazy rambling. I hope you'll stick around here anyway!

5. I can't really pick a favorite book but if I had to...

I would have to pick The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. Set during the French Revolution, it's just got that right mix of history, fiction, romance, action, suspense, and cleverness. I also highly recommend the movie version with Anthony Andrews, Ian McKellen, and Jane Seymour.

Two more book favorites are Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

So that's five things about me!

Due to school and family, I don't get as much time to work on projects and write as I have in the past. However, the boys are getting bigger and sometimes they can play with each other without needing a referee so I grab those times when I can.

Thank you for being a reader. It means so much to me that you are here despite my inconsistent posts. My life is crazy just like yours so I'm glad we can journey this together and maybe make a pretty home along the way!

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Top 10 Favorite Decorative Pillows from Amazon(and Four Ideas for Styling)

2018-02-21T21:12:00.000-05:00

I am a pillow hoarder. Hubby and his friends say that I need an intervention. Apparently it's hard for them to sit comfortably when there are pillows on the couch. For me, sinking into fluffy pillows is the definition of comfort and coziness. Plus, they are such an easy and relatively cheap way to change up a room.

Because I love pillows so much, I am always looking for new ones to add to my ~~hoard~~ carefully curated collection of decorative throw pillows. Target, H&M, and Marshalls's are my favorite places for pretty pillows. Ikea even has some good ones and that's usually where I find my pillow inserts for cheap.

I'd never really looked at what pillows Amazon has to offer but, you know, since everything else is on Amazon, I figured I'd check it out. There's so many pages of everything to go through! I mostly searched for the style of prints and colors that I know I like so just know that there is way more on Amazon than these! These just happen to be my favorite.

You can find each pillow on Amazon by clicking the links below! If you do buy one, I will a get paid a small commission as an affiliate but all opinions are mine! I'd use any of these in my own house.

Velvet Throw Pillow Cover, Watercolor Floral Pillow, Pink Floral Throw Pillow, Cable Knit Pillow, Crochet Pillow Cover, Grain Sack Farmhouse Pillow Cover, Herringbone Pillow Cover, Ticking Stripe Pillow Cover, Buffalo Check Pillow Cover, Striped Pillow

A note though that these aren't all pillows with inserts. Some are just the covers so the inserts have to be bought separately. My favorite place to get them is Ikea but Amazon has them too: Set of 2 18x18 Feather Pillow Inserts

Sometimes it can be hard to see how different pillows would work together so I put a few combos together for you to see how they would look. Which one is your favorite style?

1. Modern Glam Farmhouse

2. Elegant Artist

3. Sophisticated Neutrals

3. Comfy Casual

4. Romantic Cottage

My personal favorite is #3: the ticking stripe and pink floral. I do love the idea of that buffalo check combined with the green velvet though! Which is your favorite combo? You can leave a comment below!

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My Word of the Year for 2018

2018-01-30T20:57:00.001-05:00

Perhaps it's a bit late to be writing a word of the year post. This one particular post for me is always late, usually because I only get to slow down and think about it after the craziness of the holidays. This year we've been sick since Christmas and no one feels like writing about goals while one is laid up with the flu. But we are finally starting to get better around here though and I'm finally feeling more myself.

As I stand here in the new year and look back at 2017, realize what a wild ride it was. There were so many challenges and stressors that we never anticipated. Not only did we have the normal stressors of work, school, and family, but we unexpectedly bought a house too.

I overwhelm very easily. Some days I wake up overwhelmed. When I'm like this, I retreat into myself and become frustrated at the slightest thing that dares disturb my desire for peace(like noisy little boys). I've been living haphazardly, hoping everything would just work out eventually.

This year, I'm working to change that.

My word of the year for 2018 is intentional.

We Bought a House!

2018-01-17T10:25:00.000-05:00

We really did this crazy thing.

We bought a house.

And not just any old house. This one is special. This house was built by Hubby's grandpa on 24 acres of land in Michigan.

Yes, we are crazy. No, we are not moving.

So how did this happen?

Last summer, Hubby's grandparents were planning to sell their house as they didn't need to be on their own anymore. It's a beautiful place that has always been special to Hubby and we were devastated that it might leave the family. We figured there was no way we could afford to buy it, especially with the amount of land that came with it. After discovering the actual estimate was much lower than we expected but still more than we could manage alone, we asked our family for help.

To make a long story shorter, we were able to save it.

Although we are now broke, we are so happy about this unexpected turn of events! The bones of the house are good but it does need some work. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it and figure out how we are going to make this work with us still renting our current place in a completely different state.

We really want this place to stay in the family for generations to come!

How We're Homeschooling this Year

2017-09-12T01:00:00.000-04:00

It's time again! We are heading back to school! Technically, I did have a math class over the summer so I really just got a few weeks break before the fall semester. Good thing I love school.

This year I'm taking Art History. It will be so much fun after almost two years of math classes(you can read more about why it took so long here). I only have two more general education classes to go before I start my interior design classes next year.

This is also the first school year of officially homeschooling our little kindergartener!

Last year we enrolled him in a program called Classical Conversations and we are still doing that this year, but this is the first year we are required to notify the state of our intent to homeschool. Last year, we were just trying out new things. This year, it's for real.

So what exactly are we doing schoolwise?

How to Design a Room from a Fabric Swatch

2017-08-15T14:08:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, I walk into a store and just see something that inspires me. My thoughts start whiring and before I've even left the store, I'll have a vague picture of a room already formed in my head. Unfortunately for my friends and family, this means that I tend to daydream my way through shopping trips.

My cup of coffee and I can get lost for a good three hours in the home decor section of any store.

So I saw this tablecloth in Target several weeks and fell in love with the print.

Why is Interior Design Important?

2017-07-25T19:25:00.001-04:00

Interior design has always been one of my passions. When I was little, I would create paper dolls and draw elaborate rooms and houses for them. Bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms...I drew them and laid them all out on the floor in the order I wanted.

Every time we would go to my Aunt's house, I'd look for the new Better Homes and Gardens magazines that had arrived since our last visit. I'd curl up in a chair and go through every single one, soaking up all the designs and colors like a sponge.

Rustic Independence Day Decor from Target

2017-07-03T13:39:00.000-04:00

If you are anything like me, today is your day to pick up all those last minute things for the 4th of July festivities. Because, as usual, you forgot to do it before today to avoid the other crazy people buying beer and burgers. In my defense, I’ve been slightly preoccupied and housebound because of the bathroom renovation(Yes, it’s still going on. More on that to come).

At least my kids have flag shirts from grandma.

Because I will be out doing my last minute shopping today, I put together a list of all my favorite rustic 4th of July decor from Target. Because Target gets my style. And, all too often, my money.

These items are things I would use in my own home. I’m not too keen on obvious decorations; I like to be subtle. Any of these things mixed with a few small flags in a glass jar would be the perfect red, white, and blue Independence Day decor for me!

A Vintage-Inspired Bathroom Idea Board

2017-06-05T01:00:00.000-04:00

It's been so long since I've written and I have so much to tell you! The last couple months for us have been filled with unexpected happenings. Good, bad, neutral: it all hit at once.

The biggest happening isn't quite finalized so I can't share it quite yet. It's so exciting, I can't wait to tell you all! It's a super big thing for us so I want to make sure everything is settled first . What I can tell you is that our small, dated rental bathroom is getting a renovation!

It all started with a clogged toilet that overflowed one weekend. Exactly one week later, the sink backed up and then overflowed because a certain little one forgot to turn off the water. Both incidents involved water covering the floor and water pouring through the kitchen ceiling.

A few days after the sink overflowed, water started pouring through the ceiling again while the tub was being used. A small chip in the tub had given way and there were two additional slower leaks in the tub plumbing. Not only does all the water damage have to be fixed, but the tub also has to be replaced.

Since replacing the tub involves taking out the toilet and fixing the floor and walls, the whole bathroom is getting redone!

I've been on cloud nine. Who cares about not having an upstairs bathroom for two weeks if it means a new, pretty bathroom! And I get to help design it? Icing on the cake.

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Positive Negativity

2017-04-13T10:25:00.002-04:00

If you have ever seen the movie Inside Out, you know the story is from the perspective of five emotions in the head of a girl named Riley: Fear, Anger, Disgust, Sadness, and Joy. The emotion in charge, Joy, can always find the bright side of anything and tries her best to make sure everything is always upbeat and happy. One of my favorite things about the movie is that it showcases the importance of all the human emotions and the roles they play in our lives.

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15 Lessons to Learn by 30

2017-03-30T23:04:00.000-04:00

This month I turned 30.

For me, birthdays are usually not too different from any other day. I'm not sentimental about them and, since I prefer to avoid being the center of attention, I'm perfectly fine with letting them go by with little to no fanfare. Except this one. When I reached 30 it hit me hard. Much harder than I thought it would.

I've been married almost seven and a half years and it really doesn't feel that long. In the next seven and a half years, I'll be nearing 40. The realization of just how fast time goes now that I'm older, the pants that fit tighter than they did last year, a week of sick kids plus sleep deprivation, all added up to one bad day.

So I started doing what I normally do when I'm stressed. I made a list. A list of 15 lessons that I've learned in 30 years. I filled in with posts from my Instagram account ~~because I was lazy~~ for something different than my usual photos. Just for fun.

1. It's ok to start a project or hobby and then quit if you fall flat on your face. You learned something about yourself even if all you learned was that you weren't good at it.

2. How to make my own phone calls and schedule appointments.

3. Coffee is amazing. I'd also like to add that I began adoring coffee before it was cool. It's better hot anyway.

The best part of waking up is seeing this every morning. And every afternoon. At night it's just cruel. #coffeelove #drinkallthecoffees @realinspired

4. It's possible to outgrow friendships, especially as you get older and your interests and values change. You may always be friends and love each other deeply, but you might not be as close. It is sad but it is also ok.

5. You don't ever have to give up on your ideals or quit hoping for their realization.

The Sherwin Williams guy took pity on me and gifted me with this. It's a dream come true! I was sqealing over it for the rest of the day! #colornerd #ilovepaint by @realinspired

6. Public speaking isn't the end of the world(but I'd still rather jump in a pit of nonvenomous snakes).

7. It's ok to be introverted. If someone thinks less of you because of it then it's their problem, not yours. You are not broken; our culture is.

8. Read anything and everything. Never stop.

When #bookworm loves #harrypotter and #cslewis. Oh, the irony...@realinspired

9. Broken hearts heal. They might not forget, but they do stop hurting.

10. Trust your intuiton.

11. Perfection is impossible. Strive for it but be ok with falling short.

12. You have to make your kids do things themselves. It's so hard to implement in real life and I still fail at it, but I know I have to allow them to fail or fly on their own.

13. Marry your best friend. Someone with similar interests that understands you and loves to let you be you.

I don't usually get all sappy and share this kind of thing, but this is my Valentine gift from hubby. I share it because it made me cry and gifts usually don't do that. This one did because this man encourages me to pursue my dreams and try scary things. He's the reason that I'm finally finding my voice and writing the daydreams I've carried in my heart my entire life. He makes me feel brave enough to try. I'm so glad I married my best friend! by @realinspired

14. You have to be that kind of person for the person you marry too. It goes both ways.

15. Listen. Listen when people talk. Listen when they're hurting or disagree with you. Really listen. Sometimes that's all you can do or all anyone needs. You might learn something in the process too.

When I was little, I thought home improvement stores looked like places where dreams came true. That's still what I think at 30. by @realinspired

Here I am at 30.

Do you have any lessons you have learned that you could add to the list? Want to follow on Instagram? Follow this link to the Real Inspired Instagram account!

Create a Meaningful Spring Mantel

2017-03-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

How many of you have left your Christmas decorations up until way into January? Usually that's me. This was the year I determined to get it all put away and redecorated right after New Year's. I had everything packed up except the tree before I remembered the Christmas tree box fell apart when we brought it out of the shed.

The tree stayed up until February.

Once I got our new Christmas tree storage bag and the tree was packed away, I resumed my plan: clear everything out of the rooms and give it a chance to "breathe" for a few days before bringing in any other decorations. I removed everything but the wall art. Those few days stretched into a couple weeks because, after all, I'm the one in charge of this show and I'm a turtle.

My Nana always said I had two speeds: slow and slower.

It's true.

Since I took so long to get around to it, spring is nearly here. I skipped straight over winter decor and went straight to something that works for anytime but has a subtle spring theme too. I made sure to use all neutrals to make it work with our new(to us) retro flower chair. It need reupholstering but I'm planning on a slipcover for a temporary fix because that print is way too cool to paint over.

This may be my favorite mantel decor so far. Why? Because nearly everything I used has a special meaning or memory attached to it.

That camera belonged to my great-grandpa. The silver pitcher was my grandmother's and the feathers were found on land belonging to Hubby's grandparents. I've had the turtle shell since I was a little girl, I bought the small horse figure on a trip to Mexico, and the wooden tray was used at our wedding. I love horses and we both love books.

This mantel tells a story about us.

nateberkus.com

Decorating with the things we love, that tells our story, makes a home so much more than the four walls that keep the rain out. It makes it meaningful. It creates bridges for the spaces between people by telling others who you are.

You are not the sum of your things, but without your story connected to them, those things are merely empty trinkets. Use the things you love, not the things you think you should use because it is a trend, or was expensive, or because it was a well-meaning gift from your great-aunt Josephine in Ohio whom you have only seen twice in your life. If you love it, use it.

Tell your story, in the way only you can.

The One Thing That Changed My Kitchen

2017-02-27T14:34:00.001-05:00

I have been at war with my kitchen since we moved in over 5 years ago. I rearrange stuff on the counters and think to myself, "Yo, I totally won this fight. You don't look awful anymore. I winnnnn"! And then the kitchen sits smirking all night because it knows that tomorrow I'll shuffle in bleary-eyed and slump my shoulders in defeat.

It's come a long way for the kitchen with the wallpaper from Mordor, but the magical white paint is not quite magical enough for this one. Here's a reminder of where we started...

And then we moved on to this(old pictures but I don't have recent ones because it's been my least favorite room)...

The wallpapers gone, it's been repainted. we've put in new flooring(twice!), I've arranged and rearranged. Still this room has baffled me. It feels cluttered even when it's clean and organized. That is, it did until I did this one thing.

I hung a platter over the range.

That's it.

Suddenly, the cabinets weren't so orange and the countertop didn't look so cluttered. I have no science explanation behind this one, except that I'm sure it has something to do with a focal point. Since this is the first wall you see when you walk in, I should have thought to create a focal point here years ago, especially since there isn't any backsplash.

I rearranged this kitchen over and over for years after I removed all that wallpaper. I groaned every day over those orange cabinets. In the end, all it took to make this room bearable was one large, white platter.

10 Perfect Blue Farmhouse Rugs

2017-02-16T20:07:00.001-05:00

Rugs are hard to pick. There are so many patterns and colors that it can be hard to decide on the best option. You also have to take into account durability and cleanability. I know, not a word. We've been over this.

Our house really doesn't need rugs because we have carpet(ugh!) but I do think rugs really define a space. I would love to add a rug to any of our rooms but, when you don't need them, it's hard to justify the expense.

Well, I can justify the expense. I doubt my husband agrees with me. I also have little boys standing in line to ruin any rug I bring home so I'm reluctant to buy any until they are a little older and not tracking play-doh everywhere.

All this doesn't change the fact that I can drool rather profusely over a good rug.

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My Favorite Way to Hang Curtains

2017-02-10T23:08:00.002-05:00

It is not fun to sit in front of an open window at night. We all know that's when the boogeyman comes out. No matter how many times you tell your inner 7 year old to grow up, you still can't bring yourself to look out the window.

I don't even watch horror movies but I'm pretty sure open windows are a big no-no. Those empty windows must have window treatments of some sort, especially when it's dark. If not for my own privacy, then for the sake of my own overactive imagination. Take that, Jason(full disclosure: I actually had to look him up to make sure I had the right character)!

Flowy curtains are my favorite, especially when they puddle slightly on the floor. My favorite way to accomplish this is to hang my curtains with ring clips. The only reason all the windows in my house aren't like this is because I haven't gotten to them yet. I'll go ahead and add that to the million things I haven't done.

But just you wait.

The latest room to get the curtain treatment was our kitchen. I used an Ikea rod that I stole from the guest bedroom(so I could hang the pretties up in there instead!), covered it in a few coats of oil-rubbed bronze(ORB) spraypaint, and added some ORB curtain rings from Target. I used rehemmed tablecloths, also from Target, for curtains.

There are three reasons why this curtain hanging style is my favorite...

1. Easier to open and close. Having my curtains on rings allows me to pull the curtains back quickly without having to climb on a chair and wrestle a curtain over that pesky bump where the two halves of the rod come together. It's why I never use those fancy S shaped shower curtain hooks either. Just jiggle these a little and they glide right over.

2. Feels casual. The look of traditional tie back curtains lends itself to a more polished look. I happen to prefer the comfy, casual look. The exposed hardware adds interest and an industrial feel. Curtains on ring clips are a common look for farmhouse, cottage, and industrial styles because it feels more relaxed and unstructured.

3. Curtains cover less window area. I like to open my curtains every day and the wider the better. With the rod hung wider, the curtains don't cover any of the window, which means better lighting and an unobstructed view.

Obviously, ring clips aren't the only way to hang curtains. There are grommet tops, tab tops, rod pocket, ring clips, and pleated. How you hang curtains is all about your preference and personal style. As long as those windows get covered up when it's dark! Which way is your favorite?

I Give My Kids Playdough

2017-02-02T21:44:00.003-05:00

I give my kids playdough.

Not just on rare occasions. I'm talking every single day if we happen to have it in the house. I buy playdough as often as I buy groceries. It gets tracked over the carpet and, on occasion, it has even made its way upstairs. It ends up on the bottom of shoes, contributes to the daily loads of laundry, and at 5 and (nearly) 3 years old, my boys still aren't convinced that they can't eat it.

Sometimes I have to sweep it up every day. Sometimes I dont feel like sweeping the floor 20 times in 24 hours. Sometimes I give it a couple days and let it build up into a little minefield of dry playdough rocks.

May the odds be ever in your favor if you happen to drop by unannounced.

So why do I torture myself thus?

45 minutes, all to myself.

Ok, probably closer to 30 but that still gives me time to do the dishes. Or not, because Pinterest. Pinterest and coffee. The winning combo.

It makes kids happy which means I usually don't have to hear any fighting for a while. Boys seem especially drawn to things they can smash, crumble, and make into Star Destroyers. If I have to pick between sanity or a house sans smashed playdough, I'll pick my sanity every time. The mess is worth it to me. When I'm caffeinated and sane, everyone's a lot happier anyway.

I'm not even really sure why I felt the need to talk about this except to say that it's ok to have constant messes to clean up. You can have happy kids and make a home that's comfortable and welcoming, even if you have playdough smashed into your carpet occasionally. It's fairly easy to clean up anyway.

So take a deep breath, pull out the playdough, and just let 'em play.

Farmhouse Inspired Guest Bedroom

2017-01-12T23:56:00.000-05:00

Remember when I had that great idea for a farmhouse guest bedroom makeover? Well, that plan changed. I had come to terms with repainting and was all excited to redecorate our guest bedroom and then I realized just how much Hubby loved the current color. Since he uses that room as a reading room more often than I do, I figured it was only fair to keep the Woodlawn Sterling Blue on those walls. See how much I love you Babe?

I still loved that color anyway so I decided to make it work(all bets are off whenever we get our next house and I'm currently calculating how long I have to wait to redo our master bedroom again...).

Anyway, the guest room is mostly done but with blue instead of the green I had originally planned. Sort of a nautical farmhouse theme, if you will. I like it more than I thought I would, considering that I've struggled with getting our guest room to come together for a few years now.

This curtain rod might just be my favorite thing in here right now. I spotted it at Target months ago and finally bought it when I found out we were having more company over Christmas. Nothing like company to get you moving!

I also have a thing for antique glass or crystal door knobs. I often wondered just how much money I'd have to set aside on glass door knobs for our forever house. Probably too much but one can dream. My Nana had a couple that she kept sitting out and used for decoration. I always loved to look at them and feel how heavy they were. These obviously aren't the real thing, but it reminds me of them and I love it.

These wall sconces are actually cheap ones from Ikea. Originally, they were brushed silver but I gave them a few coats of oil-rubbed bronze spray paint to get that antique-y farmhouse look. Yes, I made up a word. I do that.

There are still a few things I'd like to add. Like an actual headboard, at the very least. Maybe a bigger mirror that comes down farther on the wall since the dresser is so short. Some pillows that work better together. An area rug would be nice for someday when I actually have money to blow on a rug I don't need instead of replacing the car that just died.

So now our guest bedroom is mostly done. Like everything else in our house. Maybe I should just change the blog name to "Mostly Done" already...

Life These Days

2017-01-04T16:37:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I hope you all have had a great holiday season! I know it's been a while since I've written anything. I have very much missed writing but as the school year started, life got busy. I started my classes at the community college and I've been working hard to stay on top of the homework.

So, an update on life these days...

Little Man has his own classes now too. He is taking a tap dance class and is enrolled in a Classical, Christian homeschool program called Classical Conversations. He is loving it and I can't believe that my first baby is old enough to start school already! He's a tough, independent, little fighter who loves to argue and march to the beat of his own drum so I'm praying that my nerves and skills can handle teaching him.

So, along with all my math homework, every day with the kids, all the classes, exercise time, and the normal housework, there hasn't been a whole lot of time for anything else. I know math is good for my brain but it turns it into mush first! All my thinking power and extra time have been going into it.

The last few months I've been going to bed after midnight and waking up at or before 6:30. In between, I don't sleep well because both boys still wake up at least once or twice at night. I'm exhausted, cranky, over-caffeinated, and plagued by migraines. I'm pretty sure I went a couple weeks without vacuuming somewhere in there.

I haven't been able to do everything and I've been beating myself up over it.

Today I am done.

I've had to struggle through many days and a lot of emotions to finally come to terms with this stage of life. I want to write more but I can't right now. I want to decorate for all the seasons and work on little projects around the house but I can't do that right now either. I've been trying to do it all and I just can't.

I am not giving up on writing or blogging, I'm just giving myself permission to not post if I can't find the time or mental energy. I'm giving myself permission to not decorate anything. If all I can do is wash laundry, make food, love on all my boys, and work on homework, then that's ok.

I do have some new ideas tumbling around in my head and I may have some extra time this week ao maybe I can get a new post up soon!

Lots of love to those of you that are still hanging around here! I am thankful for you!

Breezy Farmhouse Bedroom Mood Board

2016-08-16T14:53:00.001-04:00

Guys, I am not sure I've been so excited about a room design before. Seriously, I wish this was going to be my room. I can see it all in my head and it is going to be fabulous!

Our current guest room was thrown together with what I had at the time. I never designed it. When we decided to move the nursery and turn Little Man's room into the new guest room, I just left the color in there because it was only a couple years old and I still loved it. I just used old bedding and whatever lighting I happened to find at the thrift store to make it usable. It never quite felt right, no matter how many times I rearranged and added things.

Until I bought the rug.

How to Make No-Sew, Knock-Off IKEA Curtains

2016-08-08T15:22:00.001-04:00

I put up my boys' vintage modern nursery reveal last fall and I just realized that I never told you all about the curtains! I hinted at a curtain tutorial and then never did it. Whoops!

Well, here it is now and it's super easy!
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Top 5 Favorite, No Fail Paint Colors

2016-07-27T19:45:00.001-04:00

It's no secret around here. I love to paint. It's like therapy to me. There's something about the smell and watching the walls change colors with every pass of the roller. Add in some great showtunes to sing along with and it's a perfect way to spend an evening.

It's also no secret that I'm a weirdy.

Since I love painting so much, you would think I'd have an easy time picking out paint colors. Nope. I love the process. I love the paint chips. I love testing out the colors. But it stresses me out.

It's like I can feel the colors. It has to feel just right and have the perfect undertone. A perfectly good color can make me feel extremely uncomfortable depending on the room and the lighting. Weirdy, remember?

My top five favorite paint colors are colors I have agonized over finding. Like, there may have been tears involved. I've spent a small fortune in discovering them(would you believe how expensive 20 sample paint pots can be?). These are all colors I have lived with in my house and that I love.

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