new house has brought out the perfectionist side of me. People have asked “Are you going to show more pics?!” And my thought is, “Yes of course! …When it’s perfectly decorated!” … Well reality is setting in. Our last home was just under 1300 square feet. I decorated the whole place in one weekend while Michael was on a retreat!! It was so easy because I had tons of frames from college and it didn’t take much to fill up our little house. We like to use the term “cozy” when we refer to our first house! It’s not that our new house isn’t cozy…. it’s just double the size and so what I used to be able to do in a weekend is going to take MONTHS to accomplish!
Someone told me it takes 10 years to decorate a new house that is a decent size and I thought to myself, “Have you been to IKEA?”. haha We love that place! We have made some hefty furniture purchases for the pieces that need to last forever but for the accent pieces, IKEA is the way to go!!! Michael is making his second trip in two weeks to IKEA tomorrow to pick up a few things! We need a loyalty card there… seriously, we’d at least get a free LACK table or something! Anyway, I’m realizing that the decorating process in this new house will be an on going project and I’m going to have to be patient. I have also realized that if I don’t share pictures until the house feels DONE, it’s going to be 5 years old before anyone sees it! So I’m adopting the Young House Love approach of showing rooms as a “Work in progress”. So while this isn’t a huge peak into the new house, it’s a start! We just got our living room furniture in from Bassett and we LOVED working with them!! Enjoy a little snippet of the living room area!!
Soooo… these are my CRAZY chairs! The walls of the living room are two stories tall and so I knew that I couldn’t do a pop of color by using paint so I ordered these chairs! BAM! They look crazy but I LOVE them and Michael is a fan too! And they’re my favorite colors!!! Can wait to add curtains and wall accents to finish this room!! Our living room is two stories and opens up to a loft area! The arch and the columns were a standard part of the floor plan and it’s one of the main reasons we fell in love with this house! We also love that random walls are curved. It would have been cheaper to make those foyer walls meet at a square point but I love that they made it look more custom with that little corner nook! We have a similar nook in our bedroom! (Another reason we love Eagle!) The foyer leads into the living room and the kitchen and morning room are on the left! More of those later! It’s not close to being done but it’s definitely getting there!!Life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it? Over the last few months, I’ve been on a medical rollercoaster that I never saw coming.
If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’m always looking for ways to do life differently. Whether it’s in business, family, or personal growth, I’ve learned that stepping away from the norm often leads to the most profound transformations.
In today’s world, the idea of a “healthy home” can feel overwhelming. With constant information about toxins, processed foods, and environmental risks, it’s easy to feel defeated before you even start. So I’m sharing our journey and the small, impactful steps we’ve taken towards a healthier home.
Wedding days can be incredibly stressful for everyone involved. Photographers, brides, grooms, and guests alike often find themselves overwhelmed by the schedule and the numerous details that need attention. However, there are key “in-between” moments throughout the day that can be leveraged to create a smoother experience and better outcomes. As the photographer, you can calm the nerves of everyone there and capture their day beautifully!
This week, Michael is sitting down with me at the microphone to join me on the podcast! When we started our Acton Academy journey, we had big dreams and very little idea of the practical challenges that lay ahead. Today, in year three of running our own Acton Academy, Michael and I are thrilled to reflect on the incredible transformation we’ve seen in our learners, our community, and even our own perspectives on education.
Photography is an art that thrives on creativity and technique. If you don’t have the basics of lighting and posing down, this tip won’t work- but if you’re looking to elevate your style, this is for you!!