Year: 2015

Ode to Summer: Capturing Memories

Written by Jenna on September 9, 2015. Posted in Decorating. 12 Comments on Ode to Summer: Capturing Memories

Is Summer really over?

In my eyes, the last 3 months went way too fast. I blinked and it was over.

As another Summer comes to an end and a new school year begins (for some of you school started weeks ago, but my kiddos headed back this morning – sniff, sniff), I want to hold on to every moment that this glorious season of fun unfolded. I’m pretty excited to share that I have figured out THE BEST WAY to capture the precious moments from the past, and how we can look back, smile, and remember all the incredible memories that were made.

A photo book.

I take a lot of pictures – for work + of my family. Every day, every moment, every occasion, I try to snap a shot and most are simply taken using my phone. It’s convenient and easy + it really takes good pictures.

Sadly though, I rarely print my pictures due to lack of time uploading, sorting, editing, ordering, etc… I’m sure you know the drill. Typically about once a year I will place a huge order of pictures when Snapfish is having their penny print sale. Often or not though, the pictures just sit in the envelope they arrived in because again due to lack of time, I don’t get them into the empty photo albums that are collecting dust on the shelves.

But, But, But… This Summer is different because after taking ALL THOSE PHOTOS, I acted.

I made this…

Instead of the typical waiting-for-a-penny-print-sale, I decided to compile our Summer snapshots in a photo book.

Best Decision Ever.

Snapfish has a great selection of photobooks to choose from. I chose the 12 x 12 hardcover photobook, that lays flat when it opens, to hold our special Summer moments.

From classic to travel to rustic chic, Snapfish has a nice selection of themes to choose from for the base of book.

Once a theme is chosen, it’s time to create!

Snapfish recently launched a new site that is very user -friendly and easy to navigate. I’m a long-time Snapfish user, so I was a bit opposed to the new site, but after using it a bit, I really came around and am now loving it.

Once I was ready to make my photobook, I chose the pictures that I wanted to incorporate from the various albums, and started creating my pages.

There is an option to auto-fill the book (to make it easy + fast), but with my Type A personality, I specified where I wanted each picture (not so fast, but 100% customizable). I also added cute captions.

From start to finish our memory book of Summer took me about 4 hours to make. Yes it was long, but in the end it was completely worth the time spent.

This is something we will forever treasure!

As much as I love it, so do my kiddos.

Like this moment, when I snapped a photo while the kids were reminiscing about our daily adventures…

FYI – we are a real family. A moment like this is rare…

All 5 of us (yes the baby loves it too – check out the picture below) have not put our new photo book treasure down. There are fingerprints, some small tears, and even a few jelly marks all over this book and I LOVE IT!

Isn’t my littlest lady the cutest?! She flips through the book, which sits on the coffee table, at least 10x a day…

I also had each of us share a ‘best moment of the Summer’ in the back of the book…

FAVORITE MEMORY.

My favorite Summer memory was when we visited friends on their working farm in Central New York. Maplestone Farm, home of the Winums, are a family of 8 and they harvest naturally-grown vegetables and pastured meats. The ‘husbands’ have been friends since grade school and it’s been years – about 9 – since we’ve seen each other. It was a trip long overdue.

The Winum family, who live in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lake region in New York, not only has a CSA program but they also have a Farm Stay where you can stay with them (check out their listing on AirBNB), visit the local wineries + shops, and/or enjoy a ‘follow the farmer’ experience. Ever dream of what it would be like to live & work on a farm? We had the opportunity to experience it firsthand and it was not only educational but eye-opening (plus a whole lotta hard, but rewarding work).

>>> If you want some amazing recipes, check out the Maplestone Farm blog

Their homestead in Stanley, New York is truly picturesque (the cover shot of our photobook is from their home) and I took SO MANY PICTURES.

Our visit to the farm made 4 pages in our Summer memory Photo Book…

What a Summer! It’s a bittersweet day for me as the kids head off to school, but I am ecstatic that I have something to hold on to to remember the special days we had together.

>>> Here’s one for you!

GIVEAWAY.

Now to the best part, I want YOU to remember your Summer or special occasion just like me, so I am giving away 2 Snapfish photo books!

To enter to win an 11Ã—14 Premium Hardcover Snapfish Photo Book, simply leave a comment below sharing what you would do with a Snapfish Photo Book. Two winners will be chosen at random and notified by email, so please be sure to include an email address! Giveaway ends on Sunday, September 13 @ Midnight EST.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER.

The winners are: Dorothea & Swati.

Thank you ALL for entering!

Want to share content and have more chances to win prizes and rewards? Join Snapfish Superfans!

THIS POST WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SNAPFISH, BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Krystine Edwards

Written by Jenna on September 7, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Krystine of Living Pretty Styled. Welcome Krystineâ€¦

Hi everyone I’m Krystine Edwards, blogger behind Living Pretty Styled! I love decorating, talking about and started a design business over a year ago to go hand in hand with my real estate career. So, to say I love homes would be an understatement. When Jenna asked me to be a part of her series, I was honored and excited to join and share my home and thoughts.

My husband and I, pre-children had flipped several homes. We would find a fixer upper, renovate it and sell every two years. This is the first time in almost 12 years that we have stayed longer in our current home. And, the main reason are the memories and happiness this home brings us.

Our door is always open, literally. Our friends and neighbors barely knock before coming in and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This home has a feeling of family. There is a lot of love and happiness in our home. Dance parties in our den with our children and afterwards when they’re asleep.

At the end of the day decor isn’t what makes my home meaningful. It’s the people, memories and love that is in your home. It’s the smile it puts on my face when I drive up to it. It’s the way sunlight shine through my kitchen window and warms the space. It’s the way my children laugh running through halls and room to room chasing one another.

Thanks y’all for joining me and Jenna today and hearing about what a meaningful home means to me.

As a designer + a real estate agent, Krystine is quite the busy gal! I was drawn to her style upon finding her on Instagram over a year ago. She’s been a favorite to follow ever since. Her home evokes color & beauty, but also warmth & welcoming. Check out this space she recently shared…

Follow along with ME on Instagram too, to see other fabulous designers + creators I feature.

Head on over to Living Pretty Styled, and give Krystine a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Bliss at Home

Written by Jenna on September 3, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home. 1 Comment on Creating a Meaningful Home: Bliss at Home

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Kristin of Bliss at Home. Welcome Kristinâ€¦

I am so thrilled to be here today as part of Jenna’s Creating a Meaningful Home series. This topic is something so near and dear to my heart because it is the essence of why I do what I do. I started my blog, Bliss at Home, when we decided to buy my childhood home and take on the task of remodeling it to suit our style and needs.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…designing for how you live.

Creating a meaningful home is a fundamental idea in design. You are creating spaces that reflect the style of the people who live there and designing for how they use those spaces. Being able to do this for my family has been and continues to be such a labor of love!

In our home, I really focus on this as we tackle each room. Our living room is the hub of the house. I not only wanted it to set the tone for the rest of the house, but I wanted to make the best use of the space. This room is the place we sit and chat in, listen to music, enjoy the fireplace, read books, and watch the occasional movie in. It had to be set up to handle all those needs.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…incorporating thoughtful details in the overall home design.

The fireplace incorporates our unifying material into the home. I selected Carrara marble to set the tone as you transition from room to room. Having it throughout the house is an intentional detail that makes a huge impact. You can see our before & after fireplace makeover here. Thinking through the overall design of our home is all part of creating this meaningful space.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…thinking outside the box.

My husband and I also wanted to create a place to conceal our stereo system and have a place to showcase books and memories so we created our DIY library wall with Ikea bookcases. Working with the space we had we really had to think outside the box to come up with a solution that would also enhance the space. We gave the bookcases a built-in look and added library lights for ambiance at night. It adds a major dose of style and function without taking away from the room. It is one of our favorite things we’ve created in our home and it is meaningful to us because it holds pictures of our kids, memories, meaningful objects, and our favorite books.

Photo credit: Tara Melissa Photographie

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…making even the utilitarian spaces have charm.

An example of the importance of unifying spaces in your home can be seen here in our bathroom remodel too. The same Carrara marble is used in the design. This space did not function for a family of four before, but now with the addition of double sinks and smart storage in the vanity it suits our needs. Little touches even in this space have meaning like the marble canister that was my Grandma’s and the shoe photography that is my husband and I on our 10th anniversary.

You can see our bathroom before and after remodel here.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…a constant process.

The truth of it is, creating a meaningful home takes TIME. It doesn’t happen overnight. Our home is proof of that, since there are still spaces to work on. Even the somewhat finished spaces, are always evolving and changing as the needs of our family change.

Photo credit: Tara Melissa Photographie

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…LOVE.

It’s the people who really make the space. Creating a meaningful home really is about sharing it and showing hospitality. It’s not picture perfect…even though it may look that way through the lens! Trust me, my home is far from perfect, but it is intentional.

My love and thanks to Jenna for having me share our home on her inspiring blog today! You can visit me at Bliss at Home and keep up with our renovation and design projects. We just started our kitchen and second level and I can’t wait to share what we’re cooking up!

I love everything Kristin creates. Her spaces are sophisticated but welcoming and her thoughts on what makes a home meaningful is spot on! Every project is a favorite, but one that truly stands out is the Mid Century modern + bright Ikea Rast hack… It’s bold. Its unexpected. And it’s Kristin. Amazing transformation!

Head on over to Bliss at Home, and give Kristin a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

World Market NYC + Shop My Dining Space

Written by Jenna on September 2, 2015. Posted in Decorating.

Sad to say but I wasn’t able to attend the World Market event 2 weeks ago as planned. Real life came knocking on the door and unfortunately my son came down with a stomach bug + 103 temp at THE. WORST. TIME. Yup, can you believe it?!

World Market Party VS. caring for my sick child? Hands down, my family comes first. Not attending was hard to swallow as I was super excited for this amazing opportunity because I truly adore the company + I was so looking forward to seeing friends that I haven’t been with in ages. But life throws you curveballs once in a while AND I chose what was most important.

No worries, I have pictures from the event to share + I had the chance to do a little shopping and chose to give my dining space a freshening up. Perfect timing as we are transitioning into Fall!

THE EVENT.

Even though I was absent from the sneak peek shin-dig, I was following along with my friend Kelly of Eclectically Vintage + Diane of In My Own Style. They schmoozed, mingled, and shopped!

The new World Market in Chelsea evokes a chic industrial rustic aesthetic with bold color + engaging texture. The store is located at 18TH & 6TH, 620 6TH AVENUE in the heart NYC amongst many top design stores.

The sneak peek opening 2 weeks ago was filled with editors + designers + bloggers. Also the fun & fabulous Kelly Osborne was in attendance to kick off the festivities.

If you’re in the New York area, drop everything and get to this store! Well maybe not everything, but seriously this new space is not to be missed. The store is more furniture based (whereas their other stores have a mix of decor, jewelry, food, furniture, and more), but has lots of take & go items – pillows, dishes, lighting, etc. The rest of what you love can easily be ordered and shipped to your home!

For me, I LOVE a great lighting fixture, so when I saw their new lighting vignette, I almost went to heaven. They have really great hanging fixtures + lamps. So stylish AND affordable!

With all this goodness, I couldn’t hold myself back from bringing some World Market beauty into my home. Check out my spruced up dining space for Fall…

When decorating a table, it’s all about mixing the intense with the calm.

For this Fall dining table, I started with a bold, mixed-print tablecloth (there are lots of tablecloths to choose from at World Market) that has a detailed paisley pattern + a geometric, modern border. Atop I added a large mirror with a weathered edge as a base for the centerpiece and layered on a minimal amount of simpler elements – vase, small cutting board, oil bottle, cloth napkins.

A simpler centerpiece is perfect too for when the food comes… the main course + sides can easily be added amongst the surrounding decor.

Any opportunity I get, I decorate with natural elements. From the mantel to the tabletop, I love incorporating bits of nature through plants, flowers, and greenery. For this table, I chose two natural beauties. In the large, high vase (you always need varying heights when creating a table vignette), I clipped a few branches from a tree in my yard. So simple AND free! The branches remind me of a fig tree and since I don’t have one (insert big ole’ pout), the beautiful limbs from this tree will do.

Honestly though, the tall vase filled with branches makes the table!

Here is another view of the centerpiece looking at my raspberry colored china cabinet (still one of my favorite projects ever). I adore the fluidity and simplicity of the oversized vase looks against the striking + bold cabinet. A space comes together when their is a balance of bold and calm, pattern and solid.

Simple woven chargers are the perfect separation between the strong tablecloth and the pretty patterned plates. The simple cloth napkins atop the plates are the perfect organic layer.

Sometimes pattern + pattern just makes sense. And on this dining table there is no lack of pattern! From the pillows on the chairs to the tablecloth adorning the table to the plates the food will rest on, the eye will certainly not get board…

… Yet, there is an overall calmness and inviting nature that this Fall table evokes.

I’m so happy + content at how this seasonal table resulted. I wish it could stay like this all Fall. I have kiddos and the reality of it looking like this tomorrow is slim… “Mom, what’s all this stuff on the table”.

In the meantime, for the few dinner parties + occasions we will host over the coming months, I have a go-to set up. It’s easy + simple + sophisticated and is perfect for the Fall!

A step back view of the overall space from the kitchen, looking into the dining space, and the living room beyond…

Want to know all the details that went into this revamp for Fall?

SHOP MY SPACE.

Details for you to enjoy & shop.

[1] Dining Table (similar)
[2] Side Chairs (similar)
[3] Bench (similar)
[4] Mirror
[5] Dinner Plates
[6] Cloth Napkins (similar)
[7] Appetizer Plates
[8] Flatware
[9] Glasses
[10] Vase
[11] Oil Bottle
[12] Cutting Board / Cheese Cutting Board
[13] Throw Pillows

If you live or plan on visiting NYC, be sure to check out the new World Market in Chelsea.

Thanks for checking out my dining space revamp for Fall! Are you ready for the season change? I don’t blame you… Not so sure myself.

THIS IS A SPONSORED POST BY COST PLUS WORLD MARKET. THEY HAVE REQUESTED I SHARE INFORMATION ON THIS STORE OPENING AND RETURN HAVE BEEN COMPENSATED FOR MY TIME. ALL THOUGHTS + WORDS ARE 100% MY OWN.

Creating a Meaningful Home: Beneath My Heart

Written by Jenna on August 27, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Traci of Beneath My Heart. Welcome Traciâ€¦

Hey there! I am so glad to be here to talk about creating a meaningful home today because it’s has been on my heart a LOT lately.

It’s something that has been churning in my heart all summer. Ya see, I am the mom of four boys (whom I adore!)

And for five weeks this past summer, our family had the amazing blessing of hosting an orphan from Eastern Europe. She is eight years old (the same age as my youngest) and is the sweetest little thing you will ever meet. (I would love to show you her adorable face, but it is against her country’s hosting guidelines.)

Because I wanted to be fully present while she was here and enjoy our time together as a family, I spent less time on my blog and blog projects.

After 6 years of being a DIY Home blogger, it was a much needed break. And deep in my heart, I knew this little girl didn’t need a beautiful bedroom (although I did have fun decorating it for her!) or pinterest-worthy tablescapes, or inspiring how-to projects to do……she just needed a family.

I wanted her time with us to be meaningful.

As I thought about what makes a meaningful home, the word that kept coming to my mind was MOMENTS.

Moments make a meaningful home.

My mom loved to decorate our home growing up, and it always looked meticulous…..but that is not what made home so meaningful to me. It was the moments I spent with my family in our home that I remember most.

Sitting around the dinner table talking about our day.

Waking up in the morning to the smell of fresh biscuits cooking in the oven and eggs and bacon in the frying pan.

Sitting on the couch with my dad watching football.

Being tucked in at night with a prayer and a kiss on the forehead.

It makes my eyes fill up with tears just thinking about it now. My mom passed away six years ago, and boy do I miss my moments with her!

I remember when she passed, I could hardly walk into her kitchen without it taking my breath away. I felt so close to her in that space. You see, my mom LOVED to cook. It was her way of loving on her family and creating moments to cherish. Her kitchen wasn’t always spotless, but it was filled with goodness and love.

{kitchen makeover}

As much as I loved renovating our kitchen and how much fun I have decorating it throughout the seasons, that is not what I want my boys to remember about me or our home. I want them to remember feeling LOVED when they walk into the kitchen. I want them to remember the moments we shared around the table.

{Dining Area Makeover}

We are in the process of adopting our sweet little girl, and we are praying that she will be back home with us before Christmas. As we prepare our home for her arrival, my heart is focusing not on how our home looks, but how it feels to her. I look forward to spending many moments with her, laughing, hugging, crying, dreaming, and just being a family. Something she has never had but desperately needs. Truthfully, those moments are what we ALL need to make our homes and lives meaningful.

Thank you, Jenna, for inviting me to be a part of this series. Thank you for helping me write down in a post what has been written on my heart by God…

Moments are what make a meaningful home.

Blessings,

Traci

That’s it… “Moments make a meaningful home”! Simple, but true. I love Traci’s story because she’s so real and speaks from the heart. I am so happy that she had a life-changing Summer with her beautiful foster child (who hopefully she will be able to adopt)!

One of my favorite projects of Traci’s is the industrial bookcase using plumbing pipes she made for her son’s room… Plus she added a brick backdrop and it’s so cool – I totally want to do it for an upcoming project!

Head on over to Beneath My Heart, and give Traci a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

A Green Planter + A Turquoise Table + A Coral Chair

Written by Jenna on August 24, 2015. Posted in DIY. 2 Comments on A Green Planter + A Turquoise Table + A Coral Chair

— a before shot of my garage sale finds that I shared on my instagram page last week —

This Summer I have been in complete survival mode. Simply surviving, making sure to create memories each day with the kids so they have the Best Summer Ever. BUT as each night falls, this mama is just d-o-n-e. It’s been a blast, but it’s been tiring. And we still have 2+ more weeks till school starts…

Packed days have left little time for personal creating, but after a quick stop at a garage sale last week where I picked up some ‘trash treasures’, I found myself with a few spare minutes + 2 cans of spray paint. And that makes this gal gitty with excitement!

First up, Green Citrus (by Rustoleum)…

Isn’t that such a vibrant, unexpected, fun color?! For $10 I made out well after stopping on a whim at a garage sale last Wednesday…

I picked up a wicker chair, a planter, and a table. ALL need a bit of TLC, but I am confident that ALL will look great with a splash of color!

THE PLANTER.

The planter update is complete. I chose to spray paint it a lime green hue called Green Citrus in a glossy finish…

A few coats later, it was complete.

And ready to fill with a pretty plant.

Now it sits beautifully on the front porch and looks awesome with the green front door.

Definitely one of the best + EASIEST before and afters ever…

THE TABLE.

A splash of turquoise spray paint gave this falling-apart-table new life. It’s still rusty but I find that beautiful. The new color is complete, but there is still work to be done – it needs a top. I’ve got some ideas, but still need to put it together…

Want to know how to spray paint like a PRO? Need Tips?
Check out these 2 helpful posts:

Simple Steps to Spray Painting Success

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint

THE CHAIR.

The chair hasn’t been touched, but I have a plan. CORAL is the COLOR that is going to make this chair shine again. I first need to prime it, then I’m going to paint it. I think I’m going to skip spray painting this one and instead try a hand sprayer. I’ve had one sitting in the garage forever and I think this is just the project to try it on… Wish me luck 😉

I’m looking for a wicker sibling to go along with this beauty. Not a twin, but a something alike. Have a wicker chair? Share details.

I’ve got plans for these new green + turquoise + coral additions.

You’ll see them finished soon. AND all together.

Somewhere around the homestead.

Before I let you go, here is another great score from the weekend. The fam & I were up & out early on Saturday at a ‘biggest yard sale’ event & I found these 2 headboards for the girls room (in a couple years). Oh the potential! Here is a picture I shared on my Instagram page…

How To Paint Pegboard + Build a Pegboard Frame

Written by Jenna on August 21, 2015. Posted in DIY. 8 Comments on How To Paint Pegboard + Build a Pegboard Frame

Thanks for all your kind + sweet words on my latest DIY endeavour of organizing my work space + creating a command center. No joke, I have been so motivated + productive over the past week since clearing the clutter!

The highlight of my newly organized office, hands-down, is the addition of the pretty pegboard. This was my 1st project using pegboard, but I have wanted to create something using pegboard for quite some time. When I first thought about the idea, I was bewildered at how the hooks would mount if the pegboard was attached to the wall… Right? Same thought you had? humor me please…

Well anyway, a few seconds later, I realized there does need to be some space behind the pegboard for the hooks to attach. Alas, build a frame. But how? I’ve got 2 ways, one of which I am sharing today!

The easiest way to build a frame (for anything) is with a Kreg Jig, but I know many of you don’t have one, so here is a down & dirty way using tools most of you have. I hope. And if you don’t, go buy them… you won’t regret it 😉

MATERIALS.

> (3) 1″ x 2″ x 8′ long wood pieces

> 2′ x 4′ piece of pegboard (I purchased a 4′ x 4′ piece @ Lowe’s and they cut it to my desired size)

> “L” brackets

> Wood screws, 1″ length

HOW TO BUILD A FRAME.

I started off by cutting the 1″ x 2″ pieces of wood using a miter saw (my recommendation for a good one) so they fit to size around the 2′ x 4′ pegboard. If you don’t have a miter saw or tool to cut the wood, Lowes will cut it to your desired length.

> Arrange the 1″ x 2″ pieces so they lay on the short side.

Once your wood sides are the right lengths around the pegboard, attach them using “L” brackets (if you have a Kreg Jig, then use it to connect the corners). Lay the “L” bracket on the front face of the wood and screw in.

Then at the 4 inner corners of the frame, add a 2″ x 2″ wood block which the pegboard will be secured to so it sits proud of the wall creating space behind so hooks can be easily added.

HOW TO PAINT PEGBOARD.

Some pegboard already comes primed or white, but my local Lowe’s only had the brown version. Similar to painting walls or furniture, it’s important to use primer first. So first I gave the face of my pegboard a quick coat of Zinsser Primer.

Once it was dry, I added 2 coats of my desired taupe-y color (I mixed a few hues to get the color just right).

Once it was dry, I was going to call it DONE… buuuut, I couldn’t stop myself and thought it would be really fun + unique to jazz it up even more, so I added a pretty stencil design.

Tutorial on > HOW TO PAINT USING A STENCIL

A few touch-ups and THEN the painting steps were complete!

I attached the dry pegboard to the frame using pretty gold wood screws…

…and then it was time to hang.

I used the screws that were already in place from the large inspiration board that was there before. The screws were anchored in the wall and at just the right height.

Because there is relief behind the pegboard, the frame was able to simply rest on the screws. The result…

Pretty cool, right?! And super simple. Pegboards are THE BEST organizational component for any room in the house. AND they can be jazzed up to look great for all decor styles. Maybe I should do a round up post of great uses for pegboards around the house… What do you think? Yay or Nay??

Anyway, after the pegboard was in, I was ready to start getting organized…

Here is how it all came together…

Check out my WORK SPACE REVEAL >>>>>>> click here

Where do you find pegboard most useful around your home?

Check back soon for details on how to build another simple frame for a pegboard!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Cleverly Inspired

Written by Jenna on August 19, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Tracie of Cleverly Inspired.

Welcome Tracieâ€¦

I was so honored to be asked to be a part of Jenna’s creating a meaningful home series this summer. Since I started my blog 5 years ago that has been one of the main missions in my life and on Cleverly Inspired, to not only place objects in my home that fill the space but those objects should bring joy and bring meaning to our life. I think that when you create a space that has meaning and is purposeful, any guest or friend that visits can feel that energy and they will know how you and your family feel about the space. It is a challenge because there are so many things out there to buy! All the pretties catch our eyesâ€¦and we want to just bring home the baskets, tins and the pictures and the artwork and put them all in your space. It becomes a clustered mess! One of my mantras that I live by when it comes to decorating isâ€¦

If everything is special than really nothing is special.

If you put everything on a shelf that you love or every piece of art on a wall â€¦then very quickly those special things become not very special at all. Your eyes should rest on an object or part of your space and be able to take it in without having to look past a lot of other things. What I tell folks is the things that you love should rotate in and out, maybe with the seasons or maybe just every couple times a year so that you can really rest your eye on the things that you love and really appreciate those items.

For me those things are items from my our past. Things from my childhood that I remember in my Grammieâ€™s house. Things that my dad has refinished for meâ€¦.pictures of our kids when they were younger. These things I want my eye to rest on every day so that I’m constantly connected and comfortable in those spaces.

We recently moved last summer into a brand new home. I think that is one of the challenges with a new home is to find your nook and crannies again. It’s kind of like buying new shoes that quickly become your favorite boots because they get old and worn ,tattered and comfortable and you sink into them when you put them on.When you buy a new home, even though the space is completely you and you designed it and you love it….it takes a little bit of time for you to sink into it. After we have been here a year I noticed where my favorite spots are to sink into and where I find peace. My husband and my kids feel the same way. We all have found our little spot that we like to crawl into and that is what a home should do for you at the end of the day. Allow you to drop your keys , take your coat offâ€¦ put your purse where it goes and then you just breathe a sigh because you know you’re in your space.

When I help people design for their spaces that is my one question that I want the real answer -, what will make you love being in this space. Sometimes it’s a piano…. sometimes itâ€™s a particular favorite chair, sometimes it’s books, a it’s a bar stool, finding what that thing is and using it to inspire your space will immediately calm you when you enter it. What is current might not make you comfortableâ€¦ so finding what makes you and your family at ease and comfortable might be a look from the 1970â€™s it might not be a current style. That doesn’t mean it has to look dated but to replicate what you see in a catalog or a magazine might not necessarily be your design style.Finding out what will make you and your family let out an â€œahhhhhhhâ€ at the end of your dayâ€¦.that is your goal. It really it really can be a very simple task.

Thank you so much Jenna!

Tracie has many wonderful thoughts that she shared. I like her perspective of, “if everything is special than really nothing is special” and the idea of rotating things you love seasonally or yearly to give your walls & space a break. It’s okay to love alot (I certainly do), but sometimes it doesn’t all mesh together at the same time in the same space.

One project of Tracie’s that I love and is perfect as the back to school time approaches is this repurposed ladder office organizer. So creative, cute, AND functional!

Head on over to Cleverly Inspired, and give Tracie a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

World Market Store Opening in Chelsea NYC

Written by Jenna on August 17, 2015. Posted in Decorating.

Happy Monday my friends – I hope you had a fabulous weekend!

I have very exciting news to share with you today… World Market, one of my favorite decor stores, is opening a new store in New York City later this week. You see, this is a BIG DEAL. Why? Because there is no World Market in the Northeast area. Until Now. You Southerners out there know what I am talking about, right? If you’ve never been, you are in for a treat!

So the 2nd part of this fabulous news is… I am going to their sneak preview party TOMORROW. How lucky am I? I totally know you want to be me right now, hehe. No worries though because I will sharing pics on instagram & facebook throughout the event AND I will have a full recap of the event + lots of pictures of the new Chelsea store to share when I return – pinky promise.

I’ll, of course, take my own pictures when at the event, but here are a few to gawk over in the meantime…

crushing over that table. AND the mirror!

so many rugs. so many options…

lighting galore…

And this chair with the lucite legs… OMG goodness!

In the New York area and want to check out this awesome + gorgeous new store?

DETAILS.

GRAND OPENING – CHELSEA (18TH & 6TH – 620 6TH AVENUE), NEW YORK

> The World Market Grand Opening is this Thursday, August 20th and there will be several events, special giveaways, and offers through Sunday

> Free tote bags for the first 100 customers in store each day + 10 lucky customers will find a $50 World Market in their tote each day

> 20% off Coupon —–> Click here to print

> On Thursday – grand opening day – Cost Plus World Market will be decorating 3 TOP PARK LOCATIONS in NYC adorned with their products. Snap a picture of yourself with their products using #WorldMarketNYC for a chance to win a $50 gift card (50+ cards @ each park location – don’t miss it). Follow along with World Market on IG, FB, and Twitter for hints on the locations…

Who’s as psyched as I am??

I’ll circle back with you later this week when I return from the event!

THIS IS A SPONSORED POST BY COST PLUS WORLD MARKET. THEY HAVE REQUESTED I SHARE INFORMATION ON THIS STORE OPENING AND RETURN HAVE BEEN COMPENSATED FOR MY TIME. ALL THOUGHTS + WORDS ARE 100% MY OWN.

Work Space Revamp: Creating an Office Command Center

Written by Jenna on August 11, 2015. Posted in DIY, Office, Organization. 7 Comments on Work Space Revamp: Creating an Office Command Center

THIS IS A SPONSORED POST THROUGH NATIONAL HARDWARE. ALL OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN!

Last week I hit a breaking point with my office niche. I just had enough with the clutter, piles of paper, and disorganization.

Since I’ve given up hope on keeping the rest of the house tidy while the kids are still out of school on Summer break (still a month to go till school starts in our neck of the woods…), I thought it’d be best to put my time + attention + energy on my little nook in the home, my desk…

For a while I’ve been thinking about saying adios to my beloved large inspiration board. As much as I love it, I knew the large span of wall could be better utilized. It was a bit sad to take down all the pretty + inspiring pictures (no worries, I didn’t toss them but instead stuck them in a folder for now), but once the board was removed, a world of ideas came fluttering to my head.

In no time (well it did take some time), I had a plan of action, my desk space was spruced up, and a new command center for my office supplies was created…

The command center all came together around the new pegboard.

I have wanted to work on a project using pegboard for a long time. From the garage to the office to the laundry room, pegboard is great for organizing any nook & cranny of the home and there are a plethora of peg hooks in a range of shapes and sizes to hold and hang whatever you need! For my project, I got my pegboard from Lowe’s and all the hooks came from National Hardware.

When working with pegboard, it needs to have a frame surround to create space behind for the hooks to connect in the holes. For the pegboard in my office, I had the kind people at Lowe’s cut me a 2′ x 4′ piece. Then I painted on a stencil design + created a frame around the outer edge – click for tutorial (I have an alternate pegboard frame tutorial coming soon too).

Before I decked out my new pegboard with all the organizational hooks, this is how it looked…

Let’s get started…

Organizing jars and small trays were the ideal solution for all the smaller necessities in my office. I found the jars perfect for holding pins, paper clips, erasers, labeling tags, etc. And the trays are just the right size for post-its, business cards, and larger tags + labels. As I was laying out my new command center, I was astonished at how much I had to fill these organizational tools!

Another need for organization was a home for my growing washi tape collection. The angle hooks and the hanging bar (from the assortment pack) gave me enough room for all my favorites + space to store more in the future (room for expansion – bonus).

I love that everything is so accessible and easy to get at, yet has a designated spot. And it really is all so pretty to look at too, don’t you think?! I love all the color & patterns.

Also on the new organizational pegboard, I was able to add a hook for my scissors (using a curved hook), hole punch (using a pliers holder), and clipboard that I take with me to client meetings. Above I was able to add a small shelf using shelf brackets.

My revamped work space feels so fresh and new, even though all the elements, with the exception of the pegboard, were here before. It’s amazing how a space can take on a new life with a few simple moves + freshening up!

My work space was freshened up 2+ years ago, and then got an overhaul when it was photographed for Storage magazine (which was on the cover). The stylist brought in the white console table and other organizational items like the baskets, white desk caddy, and orange boxes. I’ve lived with them + loved them for the last years, but found my office wasn’t functioning anymore as my needs have changed.

Over the years, I’ve collected many samples which I’ve organized nicely in the orange boxes which sit on the console top. It is so handy to have them right there to grab and go. And if I want, I can easily put the lids on the boxes for those moments when I want them hidden. I do feel though I am more accountable for keeping tidy + neat when things are open and visible – my laundry room is still looking good since the doors were removed.

These 12″ x 12″ boxes, which were purchased from Homegoods, are ideal for storing all the office supplies. From business cards, to envelopes, to receipts, to paper, everything has a spot!

In the box on the bottom shelf, I store all my camera supplies + cables…

I am a bit bummed not to have my large inspiration board anymore, so I added a small strip of cork (used from a 1/2″ thick sample) about 2″ wide X 24″ long under the pegboard frame to pin special, striking images that I can’t live without… I have another spot that I am thinking of to add more cork panels – my office isn’t complete without having inspiration surround me.

And there you have it. My complete revamped work space. Here’s another overall…

What do you find keeps your office organized?

A few other blogger friends have been hard at work organizing too. Come check out what others have done using pegboard…

Jessica – Four Generations One Roof
Back to School Homework Station

Becky – Organizing Made Easy
Office Organization

Karianne – Thistlewood Farm
Garage Organization

Emily – Decor Chick
Garage Organization

disclosure: This post is sponsored by National Hardware. They reached out to me about sharing organization tips using pegboard with their many organizational components. They did not tell me what to create or what to say – the project + my words are all 100% my own!