Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Green Scene | Kale Chips

In my unceasing quest to make our home healthy, I challenged myself in 2012 to face my fear of the unknown, try something new, and find creative ways to replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones. I'm hoping to use this space to share with you the things I find or challenges I take on, as well as the latest and greatest ideas I find from others who are making a switch to a more sustainable lifestyle. But more importantly, I want to learn from you about how you green your space, your life, your routine, and your choices.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Project M & O | Step 1 Revealed

Okay, Friends!

Here's the first installment of the reveal for the kiddos' rooms.

Furniture arrangement is something I struggle with. Thanks to some dear friends of ours who were over for a pizza party, C's room received a rearrangement from what hubby and I originally patched together. I like this one much better! Thanks E & R, you're the best!!

These spaces are still a work in progress, so please bring on your thoughts and ideas! I welcome any insights you have to offer!!

Enjoy!

Project M & O | Step 1


This past weekend, we began phase one of Project Maximize and Organize. As true with all plans, they are made to be broken.

The plan was:
- Move M into her new room (our old guest room)
- Move C into his new space (M’s old room)
- Bring more organization to their rooms and spaces and create a more relaxing creative place for them in the upstairs of our home

What actually happened:
- M changed her mind about switching rooms (Result: rearranged her tiny room to make space for her extendable bed)
- C scored the bigger room and moved into our former guest room
- Sorted, cleaned out, and organized the kids clothes
- Everyone had blissful nights of sleep :)

Later today, I’ll post the after pics of where we are now with the spaces. But here’s what C's space looked like before**…

**Please note…I did not clean before I took the pics. In some ways, I wanted to “shame” (or should I say challenge) myself to create more organized spaces. So here is the unorganized reality of our deconstructed rooms.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Kid Room Cuteness: Wall Decals

This weekend, we begin phase one of Project Maximize and Organize. M is moving into a new and bigger room (our former guest room) and C is moving into his own space (M’s old room).

These decals from The Land of Nod have me thinking of the hours of fun, and oh the possibilities, with these great, creative wall solutions for their new spaces:


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Web Envy

Good morning, friends!

As G and I figure out how four people can coexist in a three bedroom, one and a half bath house, we are undertaking project maximize and organize. What has us stumped is how to maximize what we have and better use it with minimal remodeling. As if the stars are aligning in our favor, this article appeared on Yahoo! It offers up some ideas as well as cost figures (eek!). More on our project soon (with pics, 'cause you know I'm gonna need your advice, support and ideas, ideas, ideas).

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy some of these cute Etsy finds:
- Cute chandelier idea...
- Wish I were brave or cool enough to pull off these...
- I so want someone to ring me on this...
- Maybe I can figure out how to incorporate this into our project...
- So gorgeous...
- This is for one hip bird...

Happy Wednesday!

Peace,
Jenn

Monday, January 23, 2012

Finding Zen

From Flickr

Don’t know about you, but I often find Monday’s to be a rough, slow-churning day. After two days off routine, I find myself in slow motion as I try to get my work brain gears turning. It’s especially tough after a fun-filled weekend filled with laughter, dance parties, basketball games, play dates, and lots of snotty snuggles.

Lately, I have found it hard to get motivated at my day job. I know part of it is being a smidge sleep deprived with C (my 7 mos. old) and M (my 2 yr. old) swapping colds and being completely off sleep schedules. But I also know it’s because I’m having a hard time carving out a few moments for myself to just get recharged. A wise woman and mom I know gave me some special advice when I was expecting M. She said, whether I was a morning person or not, I should try to get myself up before everyone else in the house. That way I had my time before the demands of the day and the household stirred. 

Admittedly, I have not been very good about using this valuable piece of advice. However, this sweet post on Babble has me thinking about new ways to recharge my morning routine and find those small moments of zen we all need to reinvigorate ourselves and get us set for a new week.

I'd love to hear your thoughts...How do you get yourself centered? How do you make time for yourself in the sea of routine and schedules?

Happy Monday everyone!