Taking time to smell the flowers

Since we are having a bit of a cool & dreary spell here in Texas {which I know come July, I will be begging for this weather so I am not complaining!}, it's been a great day to stay home and catch up on cleaning and my 40 day challenge for Lent.  The only problem is that sometimes when I'm in project/task mode, it's hard to see what else is going on around me.  This can be great for completing the goal of the day or the to-do list, but this morning as I was in the heat of it...I realized I needed to take time and enjoy the day at home.  My youngest two were playing SO well together, but why not take just a few minutes and enjoy them.

I think the simplicity of this week's flowers sum it up...$5 bouquet of little white flowers in antique mason jars.  Does simple beauty get much better than that?

Taking time to smell the flowers for me meant putting down the dust rag and playing a game with these two { a made-up game that happened to involve blowing into a bowl of soapy water in the middle of my freshly cleaned bathroom...deep breaths, deep breaths...}.

What does it mean for you today?  Stopping at the store on the way home to pick up some flowers to enjoy God's beauty in a simple way?  Writing a note to thank someone for the good friend they are to you?  Or maybe you are like me and you need to put aside your to-do list to make a little room for the more important things in life....whatever it is, I hope you'll find time today to enjoy it.  I did and I know at the end of the day, it will probably be the highlight of my day.

How do YOU do it?

Not that I'm worried about being at the point anytime soon that my house is so clean and perfect that when my friends come over they are afraid to touch anything and ruin the perfection.  But a conversation with a friend lately made met think about the purpose of my house when entertaining.  Is it to show of all my projects and gawk over my good deals?  (OK, I have to admit I have gotten really excited about something like that and couldn't wait to tell some CLOSE friends : ))  Is it to get a potential client?  Is it to show off that it is white-glove clean? (yeah, I didn't throw this one out there for me : ))  Is it to show that I'm the hostess with the mostess?

Maybe no one else struggles with the idea of perfection when entertaining...and while I hope my my house is presentable and I am a warm and inviting hostess, I hope even more that my home can be a place of encouragement.  A place where people feel comfortable (both my kids friends and my own).  A place where even though my kids may have chipped paint off the trim (which may or may not have happened during a scooter race during the "Snow Week" we had this year), people can come here to reach out to other people, and not just see the items on my to-do list.  I hope this home is a place where when someone has a bad day, they know they are welcome here and will be welcomed with a hug a big cup of coffee (and I'll even share my hidden Milano stash : )).  I want my friends to know that if they need a babysitter last minute, they can call me, because whether it's before cleaning day in the week or after, I care more about the friendship than them seeing my house in a crazy state.  I hope when anyone walks though the door, they feel comfortable enough to kick up their feet and make themselves comfortable or help themselves out in the kitchen.  I hope out of town family and friends know they always have place to stay or a place at least to hit up for a home cooked meal.  I hope I can become the first person people think when they need a home/hostess for something.  I know I have work to do in this area, but being focused on the goal of loving people instead of solely concerned about the state of my house has changed my methods and perspective.

Ok, so I KNOW some of you reading this, are right on board with me.  How do you do it?  I'd love to hear thoughts on how to do better in this area from other women I know do a great job of this. 

(I was going to post pics of a baby shower I recently had, but I forgot to take any...and I thought our S.S. class member would probably appreciate me not posting pics of the costume parted we hosted last fall....so sorry, for the pictureless post!)

The design tip found at your grocery store

No, it's not some crazy craft made out of lima beans or plastic bags.  This one takes hardly any work at all really, and it can make a WORLD of difference.  So...are you intrigued yet?  I'm talking about fresh flowers.  Scroll through any home decor magazine and you are guaranteed to see it throughout.  It adds that special pop of color and just an extra dose of "life" to any room.

I have to admit...I might be a little spoiled on this one.  I always had an aversion to flowers for special holidays.  It's not that I don't love them, because I do...but it sometimes meant "I didn't think much about this special day, and so I picked some flowers up on the way home from work to keep the peace."  Can I hear an AMEN???  So, this summer in a effort to keep things exciting and new in our marriage, my sweet husband decided he was going to buy me fresh flowers every week...just as a reminder that he loves me.  This was huge...my thoughts on flowers were no secret, and the fact that he came up with this all on his own meant so much to me.  (This is NOT an endorsement to go tell all your husbands/significant others that the key to a happy marriage is flowers every week...it just works for us! :) )

Now, we are on a budget, so a lot of times these just come straight from our local grocery store, but I cannot tell you what a HUGE difference this makes in our home.  The color, the changing selection....it all adds so much to the overall look of our home.  See for yourself....

bathroom...just a couple red gerbera daisies help the neutral color scheme

Ok, these were from an upscale grocery store (bought because I was hosting a baby shower), but aren't they gorgeous??

Now onto some more rooms from Decor Pad that are lit up by their flowers....

The greenery brings so much life to this kitchen

I think I'm ready to cook brunch up in this gorgeous kitchen

One of my favorite kitchens, designed by Caitlin Wilson.  Preppy and clean. (Did you notice that amazing wallpaper too?)

Love the monochromatic color in the flowers...you notice them, but also all the other details in the room

You can't go wrong with a centerpiece of hydrangeas for the dining room

Love the contrast of color these add....and I ADORE that table those flower are on!

Gorgeous color scheme....and the flowers complement perfectly

Isn't this room to die for?  Such a mix of feminine and masculine...like the light pink roses on the rustic table.

So maybe getting flowers every week isn't an option, but maybe next time you have company or host a party in your home, try picking up some flowers while you do your shopping and see what that little change can add to your space!

Do you love it?

I don't know if y'all are like me, but every once in awhile I come across something that I really LOVE.  Whether it's at thrift store, at Target (am I the only one this happens to ALL the time here?), a boutique, or wherever it may be...you see that one thing, and you can feel your heart pitter-patter a little bit.  But then, you realize you have no place for it in your house...so off it goes back to shelf.  But when it calls your name a little louder, you convince yourself you'll find a place because it's that spectacular, and of course it's on sale.  : )

But, when you get it home it sits in your closet in the bag for months and months because you can't figure out where to put it.  Or maybe it is out, but it's just not taking center stage like it should.  So, my challenge for today is...pull it out of the bag, dust it off and put it out for everyone to see it, because my guess, is that they will love it just as much as you do!

What have I taken out of hiding recently??

This silver that I couldn't find the right thing to go in....finally met it's match

Both the large flower pic/frame and the sunburst clock had been waiting for a home for awhile...I love the statements they make

I'd love to hear what your favorites do to freshen up your home!

23 Design Co. : : Name, part II

I didn't mention this one in my last post, well, because it was Valentine's Day, but there is another reason that 23 Design Co. made the final cut.  Right about the time I began search for the perfect name, our kids  began memorizing Psalm 23 (mentioned in this Sunday Meditation).  I was reminded that I have every single thing I need and in this world of wants and trying to keep up with styles (both in my home and in what I wear), I felt like having the constant reminder of Psalm 23 will help me keep focused.

How have do I try and live this while decorating?  (And I do fail often so I'm not claiming to have this down yet...that's why I need the reminder!)

• Re-purpose what I already have...I have taken a can of black/white/silver spray paint to a ridiculous amount of surfaces in this house.  Whether it's to touch up or to create a new look, this is a great way to change it up for almost free.

This beveled mirror that came with our house was a gaudy gold...much better now!

• Shop thrift stores, garage sales, etc.  Keep an open mind....some of my "ugliest" finds have become some of my most-complimented items with a little touch-ups.  Also, with clothes, especially for kids, you can have them looking great on the smallest of budgets!
• Think outside the box. For example, I needed to revamp my kids homework and project center.  I decided to take my old silverware caddy that has not gotten much use at this house and organize it all probably better than any product I could have bought.



This caddy works so much better than trying to keep all these in their boxes

• Shop your house...when focusing on one room, instead of making a list and heading to the store for your accessories, look what items can be better used in the room you are working on.
• Check the clearance racks first in every store you go in...whether it's Target, Ikea, Pottery Barn, or wherever you are...you may find exactly what you need for a fraction of the price, just by finding the clearance bin....and remember KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN! : ) 

Pottery Barn luminaries, $29.00 down to $1.97

This list could on for quite a while, but I'll leave those few thoughts for you all to think about for now.  There is nothing wrong with spending a good amount of money on a piece for your home (if you have it, of course), but keeping focused on remembering that you have everything you need and the rest is just icing on the cake can help keep it all in perspective.

I'd love to hear your ideas...I know there are some thrifty and creative minds out there!

23 on 14

Being that today is Valentine's Day, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to explain the meaning behind the name I've chosen for this website, 23 Design Company.

A few months ago, I began toying with the idea of trying to get my foot in the door of interior design.  I had quite a few opportunities come my way in this area recently, and not only did I get great feedback, but I LOVED it.  But trying to figure out what the next step was somewhat daunting...even the idea of starting a blog gave me quite a bit of anxiety.  I would try to "forget" about it or put off trying to figure out a name or find some other way to stall because I just wasn't quite sure I was up for it.  That's where my 23 comes in...Trey, my husband, was so encouraging, giving me the extra push when I needed it most.  He believed in me and helped me muster up the confidence to get this up and running.  Without him, I most definitely would have left this dream behind.  And the 23?  It's our anniversary date, February 3. 


I know I'm only 2 weeks into this, but I am loving every minute of it.  So, on this Valentine's Day, I'm extra thankful for my Valentine.  He puts up with my constant projects, my garage space used for all these ridiculous projects, my thrifting, and all my other crazy ideas.  He is exactly what God knew I needed and I couldn't be more thankful for him...especially this year!

Army men in the silver

In my first post, I wrote about how I try to incorporate my love for interior design and my family's need for functionality.  I love to look through Southern Living, Architectural Digest, and other gorgeous home magazines for ideas, but I also want people to know that people live in this house...we live here, play here, make messes here, and entertain other families with little kids here.

I don't have many of those pieces that I just love and would be heartbroken if anyone broke it....because it probably will get broken in our home...mainly due to this.... 

 

Yep, it's a basketball hoop in my living room...and I wouldn't change it's place for the world. We have nightly games of "HORSE" on this thing...and maybe even a couple longer games of "ALLIGATOR."  And although the blue and orange plastic isn't exactly Southern Living material, I love it.  I know someday I'll miss it. Just like the red army men in the silver Pottery barn bowl....I'll miss those guys too.

Home is where my heart is...

I spend a lot of time trying to make my home fit all the needs of our family...functional for all of us, aesthetically pleasing enough for me, durable enough for my little man, childproof enough for my baby girl, fun enough for my husband, etc. How do I combine all these things in 1 house on my budget? Lots of trial and error. I used to think that once I placed an picture on the wall or a floral arrangement somewhere that it was there for good. Now, there is not a week that goes by that my house stays the same...and I love it. No committment, no worries! So my first design tip...don't stress about decorating, try it out and if you don't love it....there's always next week to change it up.

So, what may or may not be staying in my house for next week??? My daughter's kindergarten artwork on my mantle. I decided this morning that I hate my old artwork's size in that location so while we were spring cleaning this morning, I found her piece with my living colors...so I'm trying it out.

What are you going trying out this week? What do you think about my new "artwork"?