RX for the Soul

"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."

-Stephen Covey

I found myself repeating this quote over and over again last week.  It has become my new mantra.  There are so many things that I need to do for my family right now, and I am having a hard time balancing those things with my need for "me" time.  Since moving across country has taken my children away from all of thier life long friends and comfortable routines, I am scrambling to find ways to set up a new support system (for all of us), before the reality that we are all alone out here, really has a chance to sink in.  There is a new church to find, new friends to gather, new doctors and dentists and schools.  In the meantime, I am fortunate that hubby has figured out a way that I can stay at home (not work outside the home) for at least a couple of months so as to get all of these things accomplished, and although I am extremely grateful, I am feeling a desperation to do some things for myself that I know I wouldn't have the time (or energy) for if I was working right now.  Like this here blog.  And my Etsy shop.  I have wanted to do both of these things for a long, long time and have been working for months getting them set up. And although that wasn't easy to do while working and going to school and taking care of a family, it was rewarding.  And meeting so many other bloggers and fellow Etsians that are making the time for it, despite busy schedules, encouraged me to continue on.  But now I feel it is time to take it to the next level and really put myself out there.  And that is where the struggle begins.  How do I find the time to do everything, in the relatively short amount of time I have to do it in?  How do I balance family needs with my own selfish wants?  I just keep telling myself that the "main thing" has always, and will always be, my family.  Everything else is secondary.  I just need to remember to "keep the main thing the main thing" and (hopefully) everything else will fall into place....  

I can't be the only struggling with this issue, how do you find balance in your life?

Take Care,

Time for a Proper Entry

Hello everyone!  It has been awhile, but I think I am finally unpacked enough that I can focus on other things…like blogging!  And decorating!  And blogging about decorating!   Okay, seriously, I have some major decorating to do to this house.  We sold a lot of stuff before moving across country, so hubs and I (mostly I) have been spending a lot of time on Craigslist looking for replacement furniture.  Our first priority was a breakfast table.  Our large farmhouse table was not going to fit into the tiny breakfast nook in this house, so it has been designated to desk duty in the loft/den area, which solved one problem, but created another.  We sold our previous desk before the move, so the farmhouse table will make a nice stand-in, but we still needed something to fit into the very snug bay window/nook in the eat-in kitchen.  We were finally able to hunt down a decent table and chairs set that need some refinishing, but will work until I get around to that project.  Next on our priority list is getting our entryway under control.  Our former home had a laundry/mud room for dumping stuff, but this house does not… so everything keeps ending up in a heap on the entryway floor.  Nagging at the family to put their stuff away is not helping, (even though I think I’m the biggest offender….Shhhh!)    So of course, I have been putting together some inspiration photos, because this girl works better with a plan…

There is so much yumminess happening in these next two pictures....the beautiful patterned wallpaper, the lovely built-in storage, The colorful pottery and dishware arranged just so....(sigh).......

 Too bad I don't have an entire room just lying around waiting to be turned into my dream entryway/mudroom....And too bad I don't have a carpenter at my beck and call that is willing to work for free.  Because, if I did, he (or she) would be framing out some built-ins and putting up board and batten. For Me.  For Free.  Hehe!

Now these next two are totally realistic for me.  I can pull off the board-hooky thingies, and the shelf with the baskets and possibly even the bench with the color coordinated cushion. 

And I love the mirror above the shelf, here.  It really adds something special...

I Love these next two entryways for their artful displays.  A whole wall of photography artfully arranged above a long, stylish bench.  The only thing missing?  A place to hang all our coats and scarves.

These next few are pure eye candy.  Love the drawer/bench, the cubbies, the bulletin boards, and that wonderful, chunky piece of wood mounted on the wall.

The mirror nestled in the middle is perfect for last minute hair checks before dashing out the door...to ride your bicycle (hehe!).  But seriously, I do love the artful displays above the cubbies.

Love the nautical touches here.... so....nautical, I mean wonderful. 

These last few really epitomize the look and functionality I'm after.  I Love the shelf with the coat hooks and  cubbies, the padded bench with pull-out drawers, the board and batten wall , the seagrass wall paper, the gorgeous rug....love it all. 

So, I am going to try to get this same look for my entryway. The challenge will be: how do I achieve Pottery Barn style on a Target budget? Is it possible?

I just had to throw these last two pictures in just for the heck of it. 

I cannot stop drooling over this shelving!

Photos 1-6 BH&G, the rest, Pottery Barn

I do love a challenge...stay tuned to see what I come up with!

Take Care!



RX for the Soul

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are but small matters compared to what lies within us".

-Ralph W. Emerson

RX for the Soul

"Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing."

-Thomas Jefferson

Sorry for the long absence...I've been unpacking!  Our move went well, now we are just trying to "settle in".  I hope to be back soon with a more meaningful post....

Till then,