Aaaand we’re back! Not sure how I managed to take almost two full months off from these Friday update posts, but the Holidays have a way of doing that to you, don’t they? Anyway, let’s get caught up!
Christmas was quite a discombobulating experience for us this year, but it was still a good one. Just like so many other people, we were hit with that big snow storm right before the kids were supposed to be out of school for Christmas vacation. We were all pretty thrilled to get the extra day of at-home time in before the holiday weekend, but the joy was dampened a little bit by the fact that we were pretty sure we were going to lose power and have to worry about pipes freezing and that kind of thing, so we were running around making preparations for that instead of being fully in the holiday spirit. We ended up not losing power at all though so it was a cozy few days and we just changed all of our plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so we could stay home and just stay safe as the wind howled outside. Definitely a Christmas to remember!
I ordered a few things to refresh the mudroom during the Christmas break. It’s just so nice to go around refreshing the house for the new year, isn’t it? I’ve been doing some pretty serious cleaning and decluttering, which is always the best at this time of year, but sometimes it’s nice to bring in a few new things to replace other things that are feeling tired or worn out. Along with a good clean-out, the mudroom is also getting a new, smaller lamp for the console table, a new Ruggable runner, and some sturdier baskets for the cubbies to replace the old fabric bins that have seen better days. I’ve also been on the search for boot trays that I don’t hate for about the past two years and I’ve finally realized that the best thing is probably just to bring in the boot mat version of my indestructible doormats that I love so much. Will share more on this very simple yet satisfying room refresh when everything comes in!
“Work” is absolutely insane right now in the best way possible. We’re currently completely overwhelmed with all kinds of beautiful projects to shoot and we’re booked solid until almost the end of April at this point. I find myself up to my eyeballs in styling plans and all my favorite styling elements every night as I’m packing up to style the next day’s shoot. As a design school drop out, I really feel like I’m living the dream. I get to work with these beautiful spaces to put the finishing touches in place and bring them to life and then we capture them so all that beautiful work can be shared and admired by others all over the world. Such an honour and a treat to get to do this every day.
Jack insists on having us take a photo together on his iPad right as the clock strikes twelve every New Year’s Eve. He sets a timer and everything. Always blurry and grainy, but it’s the cutest.
Do you do New Year’s resolutions? Or goals? Or a “word of the year”? The last two years my goal was to give myself everything I need to be successful at whatever I’m trying to do. Basically, the idea was to get out of my own way and allow myself to achieve what I was trying to achieve in the most direct, straightforward way possible instead of thinking that I should somehow be smart enough to figure it out and do it with less than the job requires. Like somehow being able to bake a beautiful cake without the right tools and the time to do it properly, or decorate a whole room in five minutes using only string from the dollar store. That was a very effective goal that I think has mostly become a habit and a way of life now and things are so much simpler. This year, my goal is to learn to take breaks and I think this is actually very much a continuation of what I’ve been working on the last couple of years. Breaks and rest are necessary for success in anything. I’ve always been the kind of person who felt like they need to be continuously productive every second of the day or everything will fall apart. I’m learning that’s just not true and in fact I get more done more easily when my mind is clear and rested. I think we all figure this out at some point and now is my time. 🙂
My style has really changed a lot in the last couple of years, and that’s OK. It can be so easy to feel guilty about no longer loving things that you’ve invested time and money in, but I think the best thing is just to go with it. I always think home decor is kind of therapeutic and what you put in your home really represents your hopes and goals for the kind of life you want to live and what you need around you to feel good and happy. Maybe it’s related to all the crazy world events of the last few years, maybe it’s just because we’re extra busy now and I’m craving efficiency, but I feel like I’ve become a little more… subdued? Less fun? More practical? I’m noticing kind of a feeling of settling in and hunkering down. More than ever, I want neutrals, classics, untrendy things that aren’t super exciting now, but will (hopefully) still be pleasant to live with and useful in 20 years. It has definitely crept up on me, little by little, but I think I may have become thoroughly boring and I like it. Let’s call it “classic” though, OK?
NEWS AND FINDS
-I finally finished and published the post about what camera gear we use for shooting interiors! I’ve been working on this one for months and it’s been requested for years, so it feels great to finally have it finished. You can read it here if you’re someone who’s interested in learning to photograph the rooms in your home a little better.
-I asked for a new immersion blender for Christmas. It’s probably not something that’s the most exciting thing for everyone, but I used my old one a lot for making soups and the wand was plastic and a bit cracked, so I wanted something sturdier. I was actually so impressed with my new Kitchenaid immersion blender that I laughed when I first used it. The difference is hilarious. Not only is it so much more powerful than my old one, it’s almost silent while it blends. If you’re in the market for a new immersion blender too, this one is so great.
-For my fellow short people who are always cold: I ordered this “swiftly” long sleeve from lululemon to wear during the winter months at the gym. The “race length” is a bit shorter and just perfect for me at 5’3″, however the shirt is meant to be a light, form-fitting layer and it is really form fitting. I knew this so I ordered one size up (size 2 instead of my usual 0), but ended up deciding to return it and go up to a size 6 so that it would feel more like a reasonable shirt for actually wearing in public. 🙂 So keep in mind that you may want to go up more than one size if you want it to feel like a normal shirt. Anyway, once you get the size right, it’s a really good one!
-Another somewhat boring thing from my Christmas list that I love: This classic black cashmere sweater. It’s just perfect. I got an XXS and the fit is just right and not too tight. The bottom of the sweater hits mid-hip on me and it’s a length that I think will be able to blend in as shirt hem length trends change over the years as they tend to do. Just a real classic that I’ll definitely be wearing on repeat forever. It’s a sweater to rely on and I love that. 🙂
-Found this little side table on Amazon and you know I can never resist a good tiny table. Such a great price and I love the little details on the legs and the color of the marble on top. Would be perfect as a night stand or a plant stand as well.
MORE RECENT POSTS
- Soft and Chewy Plant-Based Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The Camera Gear We Use For Shooting Interiors
- Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies
- Neutral Traditional Christmas Living Room
- Natural Christmas Front Porch 2022
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