mod mom furniture - life in my garage

The Nothing About Furniture Post: Gluten Free Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Happy Summer! We're finishing up school around here which is why this blog has been quiet. I do want to pass along some info that has nothing to do with wood but everything to do with good health. A friend of mine has started a gluten-free cooking website where she shares recipes and I have had at least three friends tell me recently they are going gluten-free. Check out Jessica's fantastic website and you're on your way to gluten free goodness. :)

Jessica's Website Link: http://livelightfood.moonfruit.com

One of my favorite recipes is......

Chocolate Cake/Cupcakes
1 1/2 cup(s) gluten free all purpose flour (Bob's Red Mill® All Purpose Flour)
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
1/2 cup oil
1 cup(s) sugar
1/2 cup [quality] Cocoa Powder
2 large eggs,
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
3/4 cup(s) rice or coconut milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all wet ingredients in a small bowl. Combine all dry ingredients in a separate, medium size bowl. Next combine wet ingredients into the dry ingredients bowl. Whisking together until batter is smooth.

Prepare a: cake pan, sheet cake pan, muffin or mini muffin pan by spraying with a non-stick spray. Spoon or pour mix into pan or muffin cups. Cook until inserted toothpick (or butter knife) come out clean.

Let cake/cupcakes cool, then eat and/or serve!

A Letter to our Mod Mom - By Scott Hathcock

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:37:00 +0000

A letter to our Mod Mom…

To our mother, wife, teacher, furniture designer, encourager, lover, friend, disciplinarian, giver, healer, counselor, volunteer, technician, organizer, printer, worker, shopper, seller, marketer, play buddy, History Channel viewer, Vampire lover, non-bather, homework helper, listener, laugher, cook, partner, animal lover, bad impressionist, non-gamer, driver, entrepreneur, learning coach, mentor, visionary, artist, soul mate, and self-taught carpenter,

We offer our thanks on this Mother’s Day. We appreciate and love the work you do with us and those around us to make this planet a better place. Balance might be “bullshit” in your world, but in our world you help keep us balanced.

Love,

Your family

Profile: Amazing Slovenian Furniture Manufacturer

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:42:00 +0000

One of the perks of being on the TV Show Shark Tank is that people from all over the world reach out offering congratulations, encouragement, asking for advice and offering opportunities. I'm really touched each time I get an email from someone who saw my Shark Tank segment.

Recently, out of the blue, a very kind man by the name of Gregor reached out to me telling me about his family-owned Slovenian furniture manufacturing/design business, MizarstvoGrm. I've been talking about European expansion (even investigating the Baltic region) for about a year now, starting to put the pieces in place to make it happen. As soon as I read his email, I knew it was one of those cosmic connections. We shared stories and I told him, due to European interest, I had been looking to manufacturer with a small, family-owned shop in Europe similar to Ray's in Ohio. I could manufacture in China like almost everyone else does but it doesn't fit the core values of MMF...and it just doesn't feel right. Gregor and I are working to make MMF Europe happen but I also know the down economy has hit business hard and I want to do whatever I can to help them bring in new clients.

In the past, they've worked as manufacturers for Ikea and Habitat. Gregor has also launched a very cool slot together crib that is being sold exclusively through BeeZee Designs. Check some of their work below!

If you or someone you know produces furniture (modern or otherwise) in Europe, please consider Gregor and his family business for your production needs. Also, they are looking for potential investors as well. Feel free to contact me for more information, if you'd like! I'm happy to rave about them. :)

CHECK OUT THIS NEW CRIB DESIGN BY GREGOR EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT BEE ZEE DESIGNS! WILL SHIP TO THE US FLAT PACKED! (This is not an MMF design.)

Teddy Bear Slot Together (No TOOLS!) Crib

(I used Google Translate from Slovenian to English on the text below)
For you developing a new children's program. The first product from the child development program that develops ga Woodworking Plant is quick to assemble and to dismantle bed that allows for easy transport and quick assembly of cribs. Bed is a design solution and designer Gregory Bush accomplished by Bianca Žvorc, dizajnerke and business owners BeeZee Designs.
The idea has evolved from the need for easy, usable and safe crib, which will be the design, ease of use and delight the most demanding parents, and children and provide a pleasant sleep. Bed is made of birch wood veneer panels (thin layers of wood glued in thickness), which gives the bed of high strength and flexibility. All edges are fully rounded, merges elements are designed to be easily folded up bed by simply sticking items into one another.
Bed is composed of the exhibition and in 3 minutes and is suitable for frequent transport, as well as for permanent installation.Comes in a natural birch wood, waxed with beeswax or painted with white water-based paint.
The number of registered patent 1-360882811 in New York, USA.
When you purchase you get a GIFT summer stickers BeeZeeEcoKid BeeZeeEcoKid and healthy toy of your choice!SIZE: 130 cm x 72 cm x 102 cmFor the mattress 120 cm x 60 cmMATERIALS:- Laminated birch wood- Natural wax- White water-basedFor all questions: info@mizarstvogrm.si or info@beezeeecokid.comDELIVERY:5-10 days outside the EU2-5 days in the EUFaster delivery available on demand.


How cool is this bedroom set?!?!? I would've killed for a slide as a kid! (Gregor design. Not an MMF Design)

WHO IS MIZARSTVOGRM?
The company was founded in 1987, throughout its existence, grows, builds to production, as well as personnel capacities. From the very beginning until today the company has successfully operated in the production of finished joinery products for domestic and foreign clients. Through different periods involving large Slovenian and world known companies and organizations. Founder Anthony Plant was his carpentry business started operations in 1987 in a village not far from the center Trebnje. The workshop, which did not measure more than 95m2, initially sufficient for the initial needs of the self-employed craftsman. Soon, this working environment has become too small for new orders and additional staff. The family business has expanded, has also joined his wife, but the practical knowledge with theoretical fundamentals and build an expertise and an excellent son and daughter, who with his academic focus further influence on the modern wind in the company, which he has contributed a significant added value .

One of the gorgeous doors they've produced.

Cool Things That Have Happened Over the Past Few Weeks that included Rachel Zoe and Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:26:00 +0000

How do ya like that blog title?!? I couldn't come up with something cool, funny, ironic or poignant so there it is. Not that I went to Vegas with Rachel Zoe but I bet that would be fun!

I've been plugging away on Mod Mom, homeschooling Noah, that other job of mine, and life in general and in between all of that, a few really cool things happened and I wanted to share!

Rachel, Rodger, and baby Skyler

This is not Rachel's living room :) It was mine in 2008.

I had the pleasure of delivering a toy box bought and paid for by Rachel Zoe, celebrity stylist and TV star on BRAVO network. And ya know what? She couldn't have been nicer or more complimentary. She showed us Skyler's nursery and asked our opinion (Scott with with me to help me deliver.) She's already put an order in for more toy boxes! She and her husband bought the Gracie Toy Box for their living room for their adorable son, Skyler's toys. I'm thrilled she's a Mod Mom Furniture fan and I'm looking forward to working with her again in the next few weeks. Rachel bought the Gracie through http://www.modernnursery.com, one of my favorite retailers who's been with me since 2007!

Now for Vegas....

Las Vegas World Market - July 30-August 3, 2012

I was recently asked to be a keynote speaker at the Las Vegas World Market (international furniture and home goods convention)! I'm really excited to share how I built an international brand with no money...or carpentry experience...or design experience. I'm not sure exactly when my hour session will be held yet but I'll let you know ASAP. I'll give real-world tips and talk about things that worked for me in terms of social media, marketing, and strategy.

If you're in Vegas for Market, I hope to see you!!

The Finished Outdoor Feature Wall Using Old Pallets-- By Scott Hathcock

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:06:00 +0000

A few months ago I blogged about building an outdoor feature wall using old pallets....AND, NOW THE BIG REVEAL!

One significant change you will notice from the original concept rendering (pictured on the left) is that I ended up doing a patchwork layering rather than a precise lining of the planks. I've learned it is rather difficult to find pallets with similar lines and wood types, so I had to embrace all types of pallet wood, including the split pieces. But, with using so many variations of pallet wood types, one of my favorite outcomes is that it is texturally pleasing as well. Weather will certainly continue to play a major role in the overall color pallet of the wall, so that should be interesting to watch. If we should ever grow tired of the colors, repainting will always be an option. Vertical gaps left between some of the boards have allowed for removable shelving for the occasional row of candles.

I call her "Mod Pioneer." For no money and little time, I am very pleased with the outcome.

For renters with small or large patios, the feature wall may be a great design option without breaking the bank or losing a deposit. Free pallets are everywhere, so have fun and start creating something with them today.

Met up with Shark Tank entrepreneur, Shelly from SHOWNO

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:27:00 +0000

I'm proud to call Shelly Ehler a friend. We met when she reached out prior to her episode of Shark Tank airing and I instantly knew I really liked her. We even have similar experiences (job loss, struggle, building something from our homes, and our spiritual beliefs). Shelly is the owner/designer of SHOW NO - poncho style towels for you and your kids. www.showno.com

We recently met for lunch at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Hollywood and snapped the picture you see above. To top off our fantastic lunch, we got to meet Little Richard who was seated one table away. He gave us both books about "Finding Peace Within," which was amazingly kind and generous. And ironically, we were talking quite a bit about peace and spirituality over well, chicken and waffles, before a very kind gentleman in Little Richard's entourage handed us the books. It was surreal to say the least.

I'm finding more and more that amazingly good, caring, genuine people are coming into my life while others are or have moved out of my life. And I don't think this is a coincidence. In my experience, nothing really is a coincidence, not even the hard stuff.

I feel like Shelly and I, despite our past trials and tribulations, have found our peace. And a fantastic friendship.

Don't miss Shark Tank on May 4th - there's a follow-up for Show No and some fantastic things happening for Shelly since accepting Lori's deal in the Tank.

You win some, you lose some

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:07:00 +0000

I've learned a lesson this weekend.

My best design work is done when I'm actually building the prototypes. This past Friday, Fed Ex delivered an impeccably built Chase Toy Box design but as it turns out, I'm not really sold on my design. The Amish construction quality is exceptional as always but I'm just not a fan of this piece. Funny how the one I design on paper and don't build in my garage is the one I'm not really so sure about. I think I've learned that I am very much a hands-on designer, at least when it comes to toy boxes. I can design things on paper (beds, dressers, etc) and they turn out just fine but somehow, the toy box is surprisingly harder to make happen on paper for me. I have to be able to see how the elements look together in real life before I commit. I know what I want to do to change the Chase so I'll work that out from a design and a manufacturing cost standpoint (and will reveal it soon!) but I think the lessons learned are priceless.

Time to get some sawdust in my hair again!

Embrace the Happy Accident, by Scott Hathcock

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:41:00 +0000

When I took art in college, I learned a valuable lesson-- never point out "mistakes." Professors tended to always reward choices over admitted mistakes and excuses. Design like life, is about working with whatever life throws at you-- expected or unexpected. Do not fight for control over something you have absolutely no control of but rather learn to create design that works with it. You will find that much like professors, the universe will reward you.

The "happy accident” can include anything from your accidentally spilling paint on a canvas that you carefully and methodically prepped, to your basement flooding, or to a store not carrying the paint color you had in mind. Happy accidents should always be embraced and turned into “artistic" choices and new directions. You just might be surprised at how relinquishing a bit of the "presumed" control you have and just enjoying the creative process works to your favor.

What's been happening in my kitchen/office/headquarters

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:19:00 +0000

I'm reporting from the headquarters of Mod Mom which is conveniently located next to a refrigerator with vanilla ice cream sandwiches and a living room with DVR'd episodes of Vampire Diaries. But that's not all I've been doing lately. Things at Mod Mom are really busy (in a good way!) with international expansion, new designs, and new partnerships. Check out some of the stuff that's been happening below....

I had a blast as a panel member for WithIt's (www.withit.org) "Influential Women of Home and Design" in Las Vegas at World Market in January. Pictured with some amazing leaders in home furnishings: (from left) Lori Dennis (celeb interior designer), WithIt President Julia Rosien, Kelli Ellis (celeb interior designer), and Kassi Smith, WithIt West Coast VP. (P.S. I'm the one in the subtle green dress. :)


We even made the elevator doors at World Market!! Surreal to say the least. We're the tiny faces on the left side of the door. :)

Sneak Peek of the new Chase Toy Box! Coming very very soon!! It's also available in white with birch (see below). Designs are registered copyright of Mod Mom Design, LLC.

This is the white/birch version. Pictures to come. The sample is on it's way to me next week! Designs are registered copyright of Mod Mom Design, LLC.

In addition, I'm tackling something I hate: 7th grade algebra. Noah (our 13-year-old) is doing online schooling for just this year so I'm technically his "learning coach." This makes me laugh because he's smarter than I'll ever be so coaching him is easy. Except for Algebra. It's good for me, I know it, but it's definitely outside of my comfort zone. But so much of the last two years has been outside of my comfort zone so I know I'll be better for it. And when someone out there is in trouble and getting out of their particular jam MacGyver-style requires the know-how of figuring out slope and y-intercept, I'll fly in with my cape on my back!!

thanks deeringmath.com for this photo!

Redesign and Relationships- By Scott Hathcock

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:36:00 +0000

I can’t tell you how many times we move furniture and artwork around our house before it settles into a permanent spot. We like change, and for that reason rely heavily on the rotation of using what we have rather than acquiring new stuff (or moving) to feed our habit. In our house, “permanent” only means lasting more than 6 months before we get the itch to switch it out. As the need for change relates to our relationships…well, it works like this. I am happy to move heavy furniture and rehang art AND she is happy to sign-off (or not) on what I’ve done. In other words, Kiersten typically gives the final say and very rarely do I involve her in the physical labor part and here is why. I like to see my options in how furniture looks in the different spaces and sometimes that means moving furniture around more than once. I understand how this might drive a spouse or friend crazy if they were to be included in my process, SO I don’t. For our relationship, we find it works best when I just wait and give her the “big reveal.” We will periodically try her taking a stab at the first run, but typically she loses interest halfway during the process and I take over anyway.

With ever-changing rooms, no single room is safe with the exception of my son’s. Ironically, he is not a fan of change or of good design so we avoid his room at any cost. The rest of the rooms are fair game. Adding one piece of artwork or furniture to any room has the potential of starting a massive domino effect for total home re-arrangement EXCEPT in Noah’s room. My process with him is quite different. My wife and I just recently upgraded our children’s beds from twin size to standard platform beds (this was approved by our son Noah). Who would have thought that move would have affected the way our foyer looks now? Actually, I did because it gave me the creative licensing to make other changes that I had been wanting to. In the end, he had a total room makeover without really realizing the complete displacement. He accepted the change believing it was all in the name of good “function” and I got what I wanted from the “form.” The lesson here is to know your audience and plan accordingly.

Now, on to my daughter’s room, Grace, where the opposite is true for her and redesign. She would like to redecorate her room daily, BUT let’s just say her tastes haven’t fully developed and they tend to follow her Disney Channel viewing habits. So, with Grace, Kiersten and I tend to make design changes while she is out of the house. We do take her ideas into consideration though and modify them…greatly. Then, once we have completely finished making our change, with great “move-that-bus” enthusiasm, we sell her on the changes we’ve made and position them as if they had been her own.

That’s our formula and it’s had a 100% success rate in this family. What works for you?

Creating an Outdoor Feature Wall Using Old Pallets-- A Work in Progress, By Scott Hathcock

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:07:00 +0000

I wanted to share a design project I'm working on right now. This project includes my current fascination for using old pallets. You'll have to see the finished project in a future blog, so for now here is the tease:

This is the way the current patio wall looks (minus the pallets leaning against the wall).

And...now, my plans for the future feature wall.

Intuition in Business - Trusting Your Gut

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:51:00 +0000

"Trust your gut."

I've heard this my whole life. But it's only been in the last year I really pay attention and recognize when something is coming from my gut (aka my intuition). Growing up, I was always known as the sensitive kid. Sensitive on all levels -- scratchy clothing drives me mad, my ears are super sensitive to loud sounds or specific low tones, I'm sensitive to how people are feeling around me, and am highly sensitive to smells. From the time I was a kid to now, I've always been intuitive but there were times in my life when I ignored it or let my cognitive mind take over too much. I've never fully shut it off but I know I've used it more in the last 2 years than I have in probably any other time in my life.

Without risking going off on a New Age deep end, I want to share with you how I know when something is my intuition. It's helped me in business and in life and I'm hoping it might help you as well.

When something isn't right: I get a feeling of pressure just below my rib cage - upper stomach area- that feels heavy. For example, when I was prepping for Shark Tank, I had to present my pitch to producers before I presented to the Sharks and all week long, I had that heavy pit feeling. The time comes to pitch (what had been my script originally but then was heavily edited by producers), I bombed it. REALLY BOMBED IT. I couldn't even remember what I was supposed to say...about my own company?!?!. Talk about embarrassing! Now coming from background in public speaking and even teaching public speaking, I knew it had nothing to do with being nervous about presenting. That pit in my stomach was my intuition telling me that I needed to go against producer's directives and say what I knew I wanted to convey to the Sharks in my own way, my own voice. So I told producers I was re-writing it (which wasn't exactly supported). Two days later, the doors swung open to cameras, lights, Sharks, and a nervous production team. I pitched my heart out NOT using what we'd worked on for weeks, but what I came up with in the one day between pre-pitching and filming. I'm confident the only reason I got offered two deals was because I stayed true to what my intuition was telling me. To be honest, be real, and speak from the heart. And ya know what? That pit I had in my stomach was non-existent the day I pitched to the Sharks. Sure I was nervous, but I was confident. Big difference.

Since then, I've learned a lot about the body's energy systems (think Eastern medicine) and the very place I felt that heavy, pit in the stomach feeling was a place called the Solar Plexus. Here's the description for it...

"The Solar Plexus Chakra, located above the navel and below the sternum, is the home of the ego. Your own inner confidence, your will, your self-esteem, and your voice are all traced from the energy of this bold yellow chakra center. Manipura is the Sanskrit word associated with this chakra, and translated it means “lustrous gem.” It is this shining aspect of your personality that allows you to step forward and say ‘I can do it’ in any situation. The way you view yourself as a capable and praiseworthy person is a reflection of this resilient chakra center. In a way, the energy springing from the Solar Plexus Chakra is like sunshine, lighting your way in the world and empowering you to make yourself heard."

It was clear from the way my body was reacting, I didn't feel confident in what I was being told to say in the first pitch but it's hard to go against authority so I pressed on. The defining moment when I bombed what should have been a piece of cake was the push I needed to listen to my intuition which was screaming all along. It's the same place you feel that kick in the gut feeling when you're told really horrible news. It affects the energy of your body significantly.

Learning to acknowledge what that feeling is when I have it about deals, partnerships, investment opportunities, and people in general has made all the difference in the world. If something lingers in your mind to where you feel paralyzed to act and/or you feel that heaviness in your solar plexus, take a good hard look at what you're about to do. Even if it goes against what everyone else is telling you to do, your intuition is telling you what is right for you.

Religion has nothing to do with this. While I'm the first to admit that I very much believe in the afterlife, spirit energy, and a higher power, this is more about learning how the body reacts in times of stress and uncertainty. And that, I've found, has EVERYTHING to do with making good decisions. Decisions that are right for you as an individual or a business.

What If I Own One of Those Large Enclosed Television Cabinets? By Scott Hathcock

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:01:00 +0000

Remember not too long ago when the depths of our television sets were more than 3 inches? Before the days of plasma TVs hanging on our walls? If you are like my family, you went out and bought a large enclosed entertainment cabinet (maybe even more than one) to hold your television and all the connected media gear. Today, you might well be wondering what to do with that huge piece of furniture? Trust me, you won’t be able to sell it, so here’s an idea. Paint it to work with your patio furniture and stick it outside.

Our cabinet sits on the back patio and holds all of that “stuff” that couldn’t find a place in the house. Here are a few potential uses for your “new” outdoor entertainment center:

gardening station for unused pots, gardening tools, and hoses
storing outdoor cushions and table cloths
game and sporting goods station for all the nets, bats, balls, and croquet sets
hiding exercise equipment
earthquake supplies preparedness station

Wow…in our case and judging by the photo, it’s a combination of all of these, so don’t look for organizational how-to blogs anytime soon.

There are people you meet in life....

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:11:00 +0000

....that are just the best of the best in every way and you know it immediately. Katie is one of those people. I'm thrilled to share an in-depth article that ran in the Santa Barbara News Press about her work in the design industry and her consulting business (one of her clients is MMF!)

Katie is as business savvy as she is kind and generous and in my 19 years in business, I've found that particular combination to be rare.

Find her at...

http://www.katie-hatch.com
http://pinterest.com/katiehatch/

Guest Writer: Scott Hathcock on Interior Design -- What If I....Am Renting?

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:20:00 +0000

What if I…Am Renting?
By Scott Hathcock

Kiersten and I have had our share of moves. As of today, we have moved 11 times within a span of 14 years of marriage. With so many house moves, you will not be surprised to learn that 9 of the 11 were rentals. Not wanting to let renting and landlords stand in the way of our personal stamp, we’ve managed to do some pretty cool transformations. I will be featuring a few of these rental redesigns (with before and after photos) periodically in the blog.

One common thread is the use of paint. While there are some exceptions with landlords not allowing you to paint the walls; for the most part, changing the color of your walls is always a viable option…especially, if you are okay with painting them back to the original color before you move out.

This first redo we will be featuring is a den/family room. As you can see from the original photo, the room was beige prior to moving in. The floor and fire place surrounding was tiled in neutral colored ceramic squares with smaller blue tile accents. Not a bad pallet, but for us it lacked in warmth and personality.

Before

Now, the after picture…

after

The swimming pool, in the backyard, was right off the back of this room, but the backdoor placement and windows deterred us from making the pool our focal point. So, we opted to play-off the pool's color pallet and paint the walls with a greyish blue color. Inside the built in bookcases (left of the fireplace), we painted the back wall orange to add pop to an otherwise unnoticed architectural feature. One of the biggest and most noticeable changes however was to the fireplace.

Here’s what we did:

Removed the dated brass fire screen from the fireplace facing completely.
Covered the surrounding area with a tin sheet (cut by hand with tin snips) and attached it with screws.
Overlaid the fireplace tile with a sheet of ply wood cut to cover the tile area and attached it with 4 screws to the outside corner studs.
Covered the plywood with blue and teal glass tile sheets using the standard tile application.
Made a new (4 sided) mantle that sat on the top of the original white molded mantel and attached it with a few finishing nails. The mantel was stained maple to continue the look of the mid-century flavored furniture pieces.

Estimated cost of paint and fireplace remodel $65.00.

Furniture wise, I should note, the mid-century looking sectional sofa and round sofa coffee table were purchased upon move-in from Craig’s List for a total of $400.

Guest Writer: Scott Hathcock -- INTERIOR DESIGN ON A VERY SMALL BUDGET

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

For those of you who know my husband, Scott, you know he's a genius with interior design. Not because he went to school for it, but because it's a God-given talent. He can write, draw, paint, design, sing, act. It really makes me wanna punch him because he has such natural talents. We are your typical artsy couple who design and love making things look beautiful but we tend to mostly do it without a pocket full of cash (read: layoffs, unemployment, etc.) Scott has been asked on numerous occasions (or he's volunteered because he's very generous) to help re-do homes, schools, backyards, cottages, you name it. I've asked Scott to write weekly on this blog to give tips and tricks for making life beautiful on a budget. I'm honored to have Scott writing for me and lucky for me, if he misses a deadline, I can just reach over and pinch him. Best kinda guest writer EVER.

INTRODUCTION TO SCOTT'S WEEKLY INTERIOR DESIGN SERIES

By Scott Hathcock

Frankly, I’m not sure what I would do if someone ever said to me, “You have an ‘unlimited’ amount of budget to spend on this room. Now, go and create something!” I have always found it more exciting to “fix” what has already been done, decorated, created or painted. In other words, I like to use what’s already there to inspire a design. Maybe it’s because when Kiersten and I were first married, like most folks, we didn’t have a lot of anything. What little furniture we brought to our union was handed down. Framed works of art were a lavish expense. And, no single piece of anything in our house cost more than a thousand dollars or came brand new from a showroom floor. We were then and still are today a family of design “re-inventors.” It doesn’t hurt that we are also change addicts; after all, choosing to move 11 times within a 13 year span would be painful to most, but we have always looked forward to the challenge of re-purposing what we had so that we could feel reborn in our new space.

There is no doubt in my mind that, had we not moved so many times, our houses would have seen an equal amount of room design facelifts and re-arrangements.

For purposes of this blog, we will be looking at our own personal room projects from the past (including missteps), our present musings and including client projects and challenges. This will not necessarily be a “how-to” in the traditional sense, but more designed for you to ask yourself the question, “What if?”

“What if I painted this wall green?”

“What if I built my own coffee table?”

“What if I found a wing-back chair on the curb?”

“What if I built a stage?”

There are literally no limitations here…except budgets. We are going to explore all things that go into creating an environment.

COMING UP...."WHAT IF I'M RENTING?" (INCLUDES INFO ON HOW TO CREATE A REMOVABLE TILED FIREPLACE FRONT, PAINT COUNTERTOPS, INSTALL FLOATING FLOOR, AND MORE!)

Balance is Bullshit

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Balance is bullshit. Yep, I said it. Driving in the car today on my way to pick up my daughter from school, I was actually thinking about the saying "having it all." This is something that's been said about me because I work from home. Well, I call bullshit. After coming home, working on a billion different work-related tasks, I saw this article, written by Cali Williams Yost, posted on Linked In: http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/02/08/3-reasons-entrepreneurs-need-to-discuss-work-and-life-but-stop-talking-about-balance/. And I almost high-five'd the computer screen.

I've written about my different stints as work-out-of home mom, then stay-at-home mom, and finally work-from-home mom. I've lived every scenario since becoming a mom 13-years-ago. And each time, the talk is always about balance. When I was a stay-at-home mom, I desperately missed the creative, business woman side of me. And when I'm working, I, of course, miss concentrated time with my kids where I don't feel on-call all the time via Blackberry. Am I happy with the path I've chosen with my career and Mod Mom? No doubt about it. But do I feel balanced? Nope.

When I was a guest on the Nate Berkus show, Nate asked me how I balance and I said that for me, it was about figuring out when to try to fit it all in. If I'm tired, it's not a good time to use the table saw. But seriously, that's the kind of juggling I've been thinking about since 2007. If I'm gonna be "present" with my kids after school, then I have to get up early to do the manual labor stuff so I don't cut my hand off and schedule the computer work for later. And that being a work-from-home mom didn't mean I work less, it just means I have to weave 40+ hours of work in and out of my life as a mom. Oh, and now that I'm not building, it doesn't mean that I'm just phoning it in. It's quite the opposite. Sometimes I look back at life in my garage as the "simpler" times. It was easier to manage 100 orders in a year that I had control over than growing internationally, designing new lines, and managing manufacturing from a different state. Wait, where was I? See...even my brain can't keep up. Back to balance....

Do my kids lose out sometimes? Absolutely. Does work take a backseat sometimes? Yep. Mainly I think we all have to get real about what it means to run a business from home, or work in an office, or raise kids 100% of every day of every year. Or to just live and work in this day and age, period. It's not about balance. For me, it's more about juggling and knowing that "having it all" is not reality. I sometimes feel like I have it all when I manage to shower. That's just the way it is. Clearly, someone who has a tough time fitting in a shower during the day isn't going to win the "balance" award. And I don't want to because, well, balance is BS.

Mod Mom Furniture Expansion Team

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:53:00 +0000

Mod Mom is growing and I'm very proud to introduce you to our team that is making it happen! I'm a big believer that things happen for a reason and our development staff is proof of that. Below, you'll find an introductory blurb about each team member followed by their bio.

Back in August of 2010 (after getting the news that I was a finalist for Shark Tank), I reached out on Linked In to a furniture designer I didn't know in Santa Barbara who is the VP of the American Society of Furniture Designers. Knowing virtually nothing about manufacturing outside of my garage, I asked her if she could give me some advice on figuring out where I might be able to manufacture my products and what that looked like from a cost perspective. Much to my surprise, Katie called me almost immediately. I still remember where I was when I heard her message because I was so shocked she called to help. I have reached out before to many design professionals but either haven't gotten no response or got the standard, "good luck but I don't see how that's possible." From that first call, Katie has been and continues to be an integral part of the growth of Mod Mom Furniture. It was Katie who recognized that Amish manufacturing would be a perfect fit and she introduced me to L&J Woodworking.

KATIE HATCH - Business Development, Design, Sourcing

As the founder of Katie Hatch Design, a Division of Zumus Inc., Hatch’s extensive educational and professional experience facilitates her ability to continually develop new and innovative approaches in designing traditional, transitional, and contemporary furniture and home furnishings.

Hatch’s designs have been sold in numerous retailers including independent stores, mass merchants, specialty stores, big box stores, and club stores. In addition, Hatch provides consulting services to the home furnishing industry including trending predictions, market analysis and international outsourcing, delivering an aesthetic blend of economic efficiency. http://www.katie-hatch.com/

I've known Lauren Tucker since the days of my faux Dorothy Hamil haircut in elementary school. We've gone from spinning on the floor together as kids to developing distribution models for selling modern furniture. And we still have the same belief in each other that we did when we were ten. Lauren is a sought after business development professional who has put her whole heart into helping grow Mod Mom Furniture internationally as well as stateside.

LAUREN TUCKER - Global Trade, Distribution, Logistics

Tucker has more than 15 years excellence in global business development and management. As the managing director of RedigoGlobal, with dual office sites in the UK and United States, her company has yielded growth revenues in excess of $100 million, spanning more than 30 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East. In addition, Tucker has effectively managed the service and delivery of high visibility, mission critical projects for U.S. multinational companies such as Intel, Cisco, MBNA, Adobe, and DHL.

Tucker received her MBA from is Brunel University in Uxbridge, England, MBA, with an educational focus on entrepreneurship and management for the future. She is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Julie Sunich came into my life when I lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. She knew me back when I was teaching executives how to use Microsoft Word (one of my many careers.) We lost touch for about twelve years but found each other again through Facebook. I'm so fortunate to have such an amazingly talented woman handling the PR side of Mod Mom.

JULIE MARTIN SUNICH – Public Relations/Communications Strategy

Sunich has over 30 years marketing communications management experience with several Fortune 500 firms including: Apple Computer, Citicorp, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich and the New York Times Magazine Group, as well as extensive account management background in the advertising and public relations industry. Currently, Sunich is the principal owner of Full Circle Communications, working as a communications consultant and writer, and as a past professional resource for the Florida Virtual School’s journalism department. Sunich has received recognition for her fiction writing from Western Michigan University and has been awarded several ADDY awards from by the American Advertising Federation. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism.

Lastly, there are few words to describe how thankful I am for my father's influence in my life and continued support and guidance with regards to Mod Mom Furniture. My dad, Barry Parsons, is officially the VP of East Coast. In addition to handling manufacturing details and sales and marketing functions, he puts his woodworking skills to use on occasion. In August of 2011, he built the Mod Mom trade show booth by hand in his garage.

BARRY PARSONS – VP East Coast

As an experienced finish carpenter, retired educator, sales and marketing executive, football coach and athletic director in Ohio, Parsons has a keen eye for performance and perfection. As the director of quality control for Mod Mom Furniture’s manufacturing operations in Ohio, Parsons monitors all production procedures and plays an integral role in all national and international sales and marketing events.

Updated Retailer List

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:35:00 +0000

Mod Mom Furniture retailer, JellyBean in Hong Kong, Japan

We are in the process of updating the retailer list on the website but wanted to post it here as well. If you're a retailer and we've mistakenly left you off the list, please let me know and I'll get that fixed immediately!

Brick and Mortar

Canada

Soko Distribution
www.sokodistribution.com * Stay tuned for details on lots of new Canadian retailers!

Japan

Jelly Bean
Shop A 138 Queens Road East
(Corner of Ship Street)
Wan Chai
Hong Kong
2527 8600
www.jellybean.hk

United States

Arizona

Little Artika
Biltmore Fashion Park Store:
2502 E Camelback Rd
#105
Phoenix, AZ 85016
www.littleartika.com

California

Aldea Ninos
1017 Valencia Street
(between 21st and 22nd)
San Francisco, CA 94110
http://aldeababy.com/

Decoro360
1454 Lincoln Blvd@Broadway 90401
Santa Monica, CA

www.decoro360.com

Eat Your Peas and Carrots

2538 east main street
Ventura, California 93003
805.755.5336

http://www.eatyourpeasandcarrots.com/

Juvenile Shop
13356 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 986-6214
FAX (818) 986-8314

http://juvenileshop.com/

SPROUT San Francisco
1828 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 359-9205
www.sproutsanfrancisco.com

New York

Sprout NYC
1375 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10075
(212) 861-0670

Washington

Wee-Tots
10245 Main St Suite 103
Bellevue, WA 98004
ph: 425-502-7182
fax: 425-270-4335
www.wee-tots.com

ONLINE STORES

Canada

http://www.Babybot.com

United States

www.aldeababy.com

www.allmodern.com

www.americanlivingfurniture.net/

www.artisticsensations.com

www.atgstores.com/

www.babyandmeboutique.com

www.bobbyberkhome.com

www.brookstone.com

www.clevertomato.com

www.dadababyboutique.com

www.designpublic.com

www.ecostylishfurnitureanddecor.com/

www.fawnandforest.com

www.madisonorganics.com

www.raintree-boutique.com/

www.rightstart.com

www.shopsparrowla.com

www.sproutsanfrancisco.com/

www.spunkysprout.com

www.kmidesign.com/stitch.html

sweetgreentangerine.com

www.themanicorganic.com/

www.upcycleinteriors.com

www.zacandzoe.com

The Las Vegas Market - "Influential Women in the Home and Design Industry"

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:17:00 +0000

After two "rant-y" posts, I give you one that's not! If you're heading to Vegas for the massive Market for the home furnishings/design industry, let me know! I'd love to see you!

I'm really excited to have been asked to be on a panel called "Influential Women in the Home & Design Industry" on Monday, January 30, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m at the World Market Center LasVegas, Building B, 16th Floor. The event is being put on by the Market and WithIt - Women's Leadership Development Network.

Here are the details below...

Social media, sustainability, community-building blogs and mid-stream career changes have altered the fortunes of many home furnishings professionals and brands. WithIt has invited four home industry leaders to share their successes in what promises to be an informative and spirited discussion.

Interior designer and sustainability expert Lori Dennis; celebrity interior designer and TV host Kelli Ellis; Mod Mom Furniture owner and product designer Kiersten Hathcock; and social marketing strategist Julia Rosien will engage in a timely and topical discussion, and ultimately empower attendees to become leaders in their companies.

RSVP kassie@kassiesmithlifestylegroup.com

Artist's Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:43:00 +0000

As some of you know, I recently dealt with copyright infringement. To the company (and owners) credit, he very kindly admitted to copying and said he wanted to do the right thing so he's stopped marketing his products.

Admittedly, when I first started out in 2007 and was figuring out if I could indeed build furniture, I made things that looked too similar to others on the market. And I got my hand slapped and was terribly embarrassed. I was naive to think that, like the traditional furniture market, you can build a rocker that looks like every other rocker and it's OK. In the modern furniture world, you can't build a piece that looks like someone else's work in the least or you're ripping them off. In my case, I built two pieces that looked too similar to other work on the market and upon realizing I messed up, took them down immediately and moved on to creating my own distinct designs like the Owyn Toy Box. I wasn't maliciously trying to rip anyone off, I was just trying to find my footing and to see if I could indeed run a furniture business from home. I was a naive newbie and I'm not proud of that but I did immediately realize the error of my ways. I am, after all, the woman who can't in good conscience leave the grocery cart by the car and not put it back in the cart corral.

I'm no longer the naive newbie and now, as Mod Mom has grown and my designs have been shown on national TV, I'm dealing with copyright infringement cases like the one I mentioned in the first paragraph. Faith in mankind was restored after settling that case only to have a second case come to my attention and this time, I feel very disheartened because I don't believe they see anything wrong with what they're doing. Someone created an exact copy of one of my designs back in 2011 and tried to pass it off as their own. At that time, I sent a cease and desist. The exact copy went away but other designs that are clearly inspired by (dimensions, function, materials, veneer, artwork concept, market segment similarities) are now up for sale. The way I found out about it was through an international retailer who saw some of the designs and sent me an email that said, "What's wrong with these people?" Indeed, a good question.

I tend to give the benefit of the doubt to everyone I meet. I'm learning to trust my intuition more but I am definitely a glass half full kinda person so it's hard for me to find fault sometimes where obvious fault lies. I'll make excuses or I'll think, "Oh, they're going through a rough time and it won't happen again. Or like I was when I started, they are just naive to the laws of the design world. Surely, when they find out they've done wrong, they'll fix it. They'll do the right thing." In this latest case, I find I'm asking myself the same question my retailer did, "What's wrong with them?" Why don't they see that outright copying someone's protected artwork and then proceeding to create something so similar that it causes confusion in the marketplace is just not OK?" It's not like I'm making nondescript pieces. Sure, I'd expect this from large manufacturers overseas but not from small shops in North America.

I know I'm not the first to deal with this type of thing and I won't be the last. But one thing is for sure, there is just no excuse for continued copyright infringement. It's just not OK.

So Long, Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:20:00 +0000

Welcome to 2012! After some much needed and appreciated time off, I'm back at it! I wanted to let you all know about a few changes happening....

ETSY

I sadly ditched my Etsy store. Seriously, I really did. Here's how it went down. I started my business on Etsy in 2007 after a my friend Denise told me about it. I think it's a fantastic concept and even after I created my own webstore on my website, I kept my Etsy store open because I wanted to support the site. Sure, I have to pay Etsy when an order comes through but again, they helped me build Mod Mom Furniture so why not keep it open. Over the years, my Etsy sales have waned due to MMF being carried on other web stores, in brick and mortars, and on my website. But orders still come in (or did) on my Etsy store before I received this letter...

Hello,

This is XXXXX from Etsy's Marketplace Integrity Team. We're glad to see your shop on Etsy!

We're writing to ensure all of your listings meet our selling guidelines. Please answer the following questions, and feel free to include any other information you'd like.

Please send your response in the next two days so that we can update your account. If you need more time, please let us know. If we do not receive any response from you in two days, we may have to deactivate your shop until we hear from you.

1. First, how many people are involved in your shop, and what role does each person play? This includes making things, creating listings, running the shop and shipping items.

2. Where are you located? From where are your items shipped?

3. Could you tell us how your products are made? Please include information about each type of item you sell in your shop.

4. Do you have any other Etsy accounts? If so, what are they?

In addition to this information, we require that you send photos of the step-by-step creation process of your items so that we can clearly see how these items are made. Please include pictures of your raw materials and work space.

If there are any concerns, we may ask you to send more information or make changes in the shop. In some cases, we do remove listings that clearly do not meet Etsy's criteria. We're always happy to work with you to get things in order.

Here is a link to our policies in the DOs and DON'Ts of Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/policy/dosdonts

Let us know if you have any questions. We're looking forward to your response!

Best,

Etsy Marketplace Integrity
http://www.etsy.com/policy/dosdonts
____

Now, please know I'm all for Etsy making sure their goods are handmade but frankly, this letter irked me. Yes, I am no longer building every piece myself. Yes, I was up front and honest about that in my descriptions about partnering with an Amish manufacturer who is making everything by hand in Ohio. Yes, I do think Etsy should crack down on mass manufactured, big business products that try to pass themselves off as handmade. But I'm not one of those said companies. From the letter above, you'd think I was, that's for sure. You'd even think that someone at Etsy would have maybe, oh, I don't know, CLICKED A BUTTON that shows how much MMF merchandise has been sold on Etsy since 2007. It's more than $30,000!! Or how many press listings (28,700) they can Google by typing "Mod Mom Furniture + Etsy." By no means am I expecting them to know who Mod Mom Furniture is, but I was disappointed that zero due diligence was done before shooting a message like that out to a seller who's been a loyal, paying seller since 2007.

Had the letter had read, "Hi Mod Mom Furniture! Thanks for being a seller with us since 2007. We noticed that production has changed from your garage to an outside manufacturer and we'd love to know more about that change," the outcome would have likely been different. I decided to shut down my store on Etsy because frankly I don't have time to go through all of the steps required in the letter...oh, and my Amish manufacturer can't use cameras because, you know, they're Amish so capturing the process on film is not going to happen unless I fly myself there. Overall, I'm just disappointed because I think Etsy does a fantastic job of promoting handmade goods. But seller beware. If you grow to the point of expansion, even if your goods are handmade, you'll probably get one of those handy dandy letters.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention I did write back letting them know I was closing my shop and why but never received a response.

Thanks to all of you who have purchased via Etsy! I've included the Etsy feedback I received over the years below....

Lessons Learned

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:17:00 +0000

2011 is a year that will stand out in my mind as a year of major change and growth. Some of it is really so unbelievable that I keep finding myself looking back in awe of how life unfolds. Through the highs and the lows, I've learned so much about myself and life in general that I know I can never go back.

I've always been a hard worker (credit to my parents) who grew up thinking that if I worked really, really hard, I can make things happen. And to a huge degree, I believe this works. It's worked for me in terms of my business/career. But I've also come to believe there are no coincidences and that sometimes, no matter how hard you work, if it's not in the cards, it's just not in the cards. And that in itself happens for a reason. We've endured four layoffs/pay cuts since 2003. Obviously, that's a lot of stress on a marriage and on a family. It's so hard to put into words the kind of fear you feel when you're faced with worrying about paying for food/heat/housing. Unless you've lived through it, it's very difficult to grasp. You're thrown into a panic state-of-mind which doesn't allow you to really trust that it's all playing out the way it's supposed to and that there's a bigger plan in place. It took a lot of work for me to balance my "go-getter, make-it-happen, work hard, OMG we're gonna have to live in my parents basement if things don't change!"mode that I'm used to operating in with my more faith-based, intuitive side that was screaming at me to trust without proof. This year has been all about that balance and releasing the fear. Turns out, I'm equal parts analytical and intuitive. Only now, I let the intuitive side call the shots more.

In 2011, we endured losses on all fronts. Jobs. Friends. Loved Ones. It was so difficult, and still is to some degree, to understand why giving all that you have at a particular moment isn't enough. On a cognitive level, I may never really be able to wrap my brain around it. But in my heart and spirit, I know that what is meant to be will be. Even if it doesn't make sense and is terribly painful at the time. I'm learning to release old wounds, pains, and fears but at the same time, be thankful I endured them. We've been lucky to have found wonderful friends over the years, even those with whom we no longer communicate. Those friendships shaped us and made us who we are today.

In 2011, we also received so many gifts in the form of amazing family support, friendships we cherish, "gifts" that virtually came out of nowhere, a deeper understanding of what it means to have faith, and more time with our precious, amazing kids. I don't want to leave out the other brave children that have taught me so much about life and courage. One in particular, by the name of Amber, will always have a place in my heart. While I know she believes I helped her immensely, I want her to know it is really the other way around.

While I know 2012 will bring more challenges on a global level; more than we've seen in years. I know I'm in a better place to handle whatever our little pocket of the world endures. Turns out for me, balance is truly the key. But not the kind of balance most moms talk about when juggling work and kids. The kind of balance that forces you to listen more carefully to your intuition and know that whatever happens, it will all be OK.

**I'm going to take a bit of time off starting this Friday to spend the holidays with my family. Unless there's a "wood emergency," I promise to get back to an email or phone call after the New Year. Of course, orders will still be taken and customer service questions/issues answered right away. :)**

Overload

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:13:00 +0000

Mom Of The Year FORGOT to attend a school function on Friday for Grace. Every year, her elementary school has an All School Picnic where parents can come for lunch and hang out on the lawn with their kids. I've managed to make every one of them since 2006 but this year was different. I just plain forgot. I even had it scheduled in my Blackberry to remind me but the damn device must also feel like it's on overload because it locked up prior to noon and rebooted itself long after the event was over, when the buzzer for "All School Picnic" rang out loud and clear. My heart sank picturing Grace at school sobbing because neither parent showed up when we made it clear one of us would be there. Turns out, she was tear-less (until she saw me after school, of course), happy, and running around with friends. Oh, and sometime before the end of the one-hour picnic, she had enough time to make a Christmas card that said, "You Ditched Me." I couldn't have written it better myself. All I could say was, "I'm so sorry. I screwed up." I, of course, felt horrible that I unintentionally ditched my third grader but I have to say, it did make me think about this overload mode I'm spending more and more time in.

As you know from a previous post, I'm homeschooling my 7th grader until the end of this school year due to unforeseen circumstances. In all honesty, it's something I NEVER saw myself doing but it's going pretty well so far and knowing that we both understand it's just until the end of May, we make it work. Then in between all of that, I'm managing all aspects of Mod Mom Furniture which includes marketing, invoicing, order intake, operations, growth, international distribution, taxes, some finishing of toy boxes, and all the media stuff. Holy cow, keeping up social media alone is a full-time job. And now you see why even my Blackberry said, "screw it - it's too much."

Every year since 2007, I work my tail off through Christmas, barely taking a day off even though the kids are off school. I'm not saying this to sound all "higher than thou." It's just a fact that if you run your own business, you have to do it all. And last year, I had to do all of the production as well. This year will be different. I'm learning that I can't control the economy or how quickly Mod Mom Furniture grows in light of the economy so I'm giving up control. Letting the universe take over in that department. And I'm letting go of the pressure to make all the right moves. Clearly, I'm messing up left and right anyhow (i.e., you ditched me) so I'm embracing that and learning from it.

The State of Overload is a crappy place to live. I'm vowing that as soon as my kids are officially off school, so am I. I've never done that in all my years of working. I'm going to service the immediate needs of my company but first and foremost, I'm going to do fun stuff with my family, bake cookies, watch movies, spend time with friends, and in general, just let it all go. I'm ditching the little voice that says, "But you have to keep going to get ahead or everything will fall apart. People are counting on you."

This morning, as Grace was walking out the door to school with Scott, she called out to me "Don't forget this (pointing to herself) today after school." "I won't, hon," I shot back. Partially because I'm moving out of overload and partially because I've set three very loud alarms to remind me to pick her up at 2:55pm.

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
~ Elbert Hubbard

Things that run, reveal, inspire by Hayley Strandberg

noreply@blogger.com (Mod Mom Furniture) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:12:00 +0000

Things that run, reveal, and inspire

By Hayley Strandberg @ www.chalkboardsandsandcastles.wordpress.com

One of the things I like most about running is that it doesn’t require a lot of things. All you really need is a pair of running shoes. It is the best sport for minimalists.

Once you start running regularly, however, it’s easy to get caught up in the stuff, and once you start training for a marathon, it’s even easier to start buying extras – fancy watches, socks, bras, etc. I’ve certainly made my share of unnecessary trips to local sporting goods stores.

When I was getting suited up to run the ING NYC marathon earlier this month, I made the bold decision to leave the deluxe water belt that I had trained with at home. I had started to feel that the belt was weighing me down. At first, I loved the belt because it stayed secure just above my hips and made me feel like a serious runner. But a month before the race, I found myself fidgeting with the belt a lot, wanting to take it off but anxious to lose easy access to water. Though it had been giving me problems, the belt was a kind of security blanket that I didn’t want to let go of.

In a pair of sunglasses, running shoes and a Mod Mom Furniture t-shirt I ran the best race of my life, finishing the 26.2 in 3:57. I didn’t need the belt at all and received all of the water and Gatorade I needed from the thousands of volunteers and spectators that came out to support and help. I received even more than I imagined from smiling Brooklyn five-year-olds and affectionate Manhattan canines.

“Go Hayley, Go Traci!” the crowds cheered directly to me and my friend, who wisely decided we should put our names on our shirts. The first 13 miles didn’t even feel like a marathon, we discussed after. The energy of the spectators seemed to magically propel us toward the finish (at least for a while - at mile 25 we breathlessly watched Mario Lopez blow past us). I had never felt so close to strangers or so much part of a city as I did that day.

In the photo above, Traci and I proudly sport our finisher’s medals. For the next day, I was reluctant to take the medal off. I had worked so hard, and it made my achievement concrete. I also love that it’s something that connects Traci and I with the 48,000 runners that raced that day.

I’m not sure where the medal is now. But a few weeks after the race, my finish still feels sweet. I took off the medal and have spent the past few weeks living a life that feels strange and unfamiliar because I’m no longer training for a big race. But it also feels nice, light and full of possibility.

Since the marathon, I’ve gone to a few concerts, tried new restaurants and recipes, and got caught up with The Good Wife. I’ve been dreaming of getting a dog and learning how to play the guitar. I started writing a novel. Last Sunday, I sat down with a Sunday New York Times for two hours.

Sometimes, opening up new possibilities means making space – moving things around, leaving things at home, and putting things away.

Other times, opening up new possibilities means creating space — bringing things together, making things at home, and putting on a tool belt.

Kiersten Parsons Hathcock, Los Angeles-based owner of Mod Mom Furniture, constructs possibility for a living. Her beautiful, contemporary toy boxes invite wonder. They are playful, functional, sophisticated and innovative.

A self-taught designer and carpenter, Kiersten created a thriving business from her garage. With fierce determination and inspiring imagination, she’s carved out a life and a product that are, quite literally, full of possibility. In New York, I proudly wore a MMF shirt across the finish line and am convinced its Mod Mom magic helped me dig deep into my potential to get there.

I’ve been reading a lot of minimalist blogs recently that have made me skeptical of the things that surround me. “You don’t need things” the bloggers say.

It’s true – there are few things in life that we really need and it can be liberating to get rid of things we don’t need. But like Kiersten’s furniture, things are beautiful products of the human hand and spirit. Literature’s most famous castaway Robinson Crusoe naturally took to making things. It was making pottery that helped Crusoe survive in solitude for 28 years; there’s something primal about the creating things.

Things, in turn, seem to reveal something essential about us. Perhaps the things that create the most problems are those that don’t seem reveal something about us, those things that have become estranged from those who have created them or those who most need them.

I’ve put my running shoes away for a few weeks, but they will come out of the closet soon. My feet are starting to wonder where they will run next.

***** Read more from Hayley at http://chalkboardsandsandcastles.wordpress.com/ *****