Home

"Start by making your own home a place where happiness and love abound, through your love for each member of your family and for your neighbor. Try to put in the hearts of your children a love for home. Make them long to be with their families. So much sin could be avoided if our people really love their homes.

-Mother Theresa

It's no secret that I've been pining over a brand new home the last couple of years.
I wanted a bigger house (ours is currently 1900 square feet), with newer everything.  I wanted a bigger lot, preferably one with a couple of acres.  I wanted a pool, and I wanted more bedrooms.  (We currently have two kids sharing)  Most importantly, I wanted my own space.  A space to work.  A space for a studio.  A space to create.  A space that I could close the door.  (Are you noticing the "I", not "we"?)

I scoured the internet for houses.  I looked at a few with one of my friends, who is a real estate agent.  I did drive-by's and talked to financing people.  I convinced myself that we could afford our dream home. 

It's not that time.  My husband and kids were never on board.  I realized that we could not move without making huge financial sacrifices.  I was willing to put our family in a sticky situation to have the house that I thought I deserved.

Sigh...

Thankfully I saw the light (after my husband gently took the blinders off :)  I realized that I am not entitled to a brand new house just because I want one.  (Hello, age of entitlement)  I realized how lucky we were to have survived the huge housing boom.  So many of our friends have gone through unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcy, and broken marriages due to all the financial stress.  Why wasn't I happy and content with what we have?  Is it my intrinsic nature to just want more?  Or is it a sickness that we all share as a society?

Soooooooooo...
I am encouraged and excited to make our home a lovelier place.  I love to decorate, re-decorate, move things around, create my own wall art, and find new furniture on a budget.  I've been so inspired by my friend Tiff over at House of Belonging and her series on "re-booting".  I'm ready to start with what we have and make it even lovlier. 

Here's a few pictures I took over the weekend.  I'm planning on painting a lot of furniture that we already have.
This big bookcase for example.  I'm thinking white?

This room needs big bright fluffy pillows.  Maybe sell the black chair on Craigslist and look for a colorful chaise?  Oh, and the TV stand peeking out from the corner?  Turquoise please.

 

This is the bathroom in our house that serves as the kids bathroom and guest bathroom.  It is small but easier to keep clean!  :)  I'd love to make a mosaic mirror for above the sink.

Those are just a few projects I have in mind.  I'm excited to get started.

 

Oh yes, and my pinterest boards?  Maybe I'll finally get to a few of those ideas!  :)