Do you have too much stuff? I can relate! For some reason we seem to end up with a lot of excess things that we just might be able to use “someday.” We get nice “hand me downs” from relatives who are downsizing, we plan a move to a new house and hang on to extra things because aren’t sure what we will need, or our children head off to college and suddenly we have more in our house than we really use regularly.

Life… Read More

It is a great time of year to give some attention to the front of our homes. Besides the obvious need to mow the grass, pull the weeds and wash some windows, what can we do to give our house the “wow factor” known as curb appeal?

A few quick changes can make even an average home stand out from the rest. Whether you are thinking of selling your home or simply want to welcome guests to your front door, here are three ways you can give your home the curb appeal… Read More

More and more I find myself striving for the beauty and freedom of simplicity. I am trying to pare down, have less and really enjoy what I have rather than being overloaded with so many things. One of the ways I’ve simplified is to use the same dinner dishes for everyday as I do for entertaining at parties or holidays. And not only do I use those same dishes for all occasions where I serve food, I use them for decorating every day. The beauty of this… Read More

Every spring as I see the little green stems poking out from the ground and pink flowers start to burst on the trees, I get excited about leaving winter behind. While I do love the coziness of being huddled inside near the fire, after awhile I start longing for the first glimpse of spring.

The signs in nature of a new season emerging make me smile. I am in awe of the amazing textures and colors God created, so why not enjoy them inside too?

Here are a… Read More

In my endeavor to live life more fully, I’m always evaluating things I want to incorporate into my life and what things I DON’T want. I want to have a beautiful and organized home, but there are other things in life that are important to me too. I want my home to be in order so I am free to nurture relationships and enjoy living, but I don’t want to be a slave to my housekeeping routines.

So, how do I balance it all? I… Read More

Wishing you could escape on a romantic getaway? How about creating an escape right in your own home! A bedroom is the place where we begin and end each day. It should be a romantic, relaxing and restful space, but without regular TLC a bedroom easily turns into a clutter storage facility. With a little inspiration and attention, you can reclaim your bedroom as the most peaceful room in the house.

Here are 10 ideas for creating a romantic and restful sanctuary:

1. Remove Clutter
   Start by removing as many

Take one look at the struggling economy and it will become pretty clear, times are changing for everyone. Even people who once had their eye on home equity funds for a remodel are reconsidering how much they are spending and how they are spending it. Most of us can’t really afford to be living high on the hog.

So, what do we do if we are staring at our 1970s style bathroom and wondering how to make do with a meager budget? We get creative and work with our house’s charming imperfections.… Read More

This Christmas my family is preparing to move to a new state to start a new church. The opportunity is an answer to prayer and something we are very much looking forward to, but packing to sell a house during the holidays can take a bit of the shine out of Christmas decorating. While we won’t be spending much time decking our halls with boughs of holly, we can dress up our holiday table in record time with a few creative

“It was one of those perfect English autumnal days
which occur more frequently in memory than in life…”
—Author P.D. James

Oh, may it not be so!

Autumn gives us every opportunity to live an authentic life. Yet how easy it is to miss the little things in the pursuit of a “perfect” life! An authentic life treasures beautiful moments in an imperfect world. We must discipline ourselves to linger even for a moment on those things so they will become emblazoned in our memory like a snapshot… Read More

The crisp air and falling leaves outside my window remind me of how fleeting life is. Days turn into nights and before I know it, another month has passed in the blink of an eye. My son in second grade, my daughter is now a married woman and my middle daughter will be applying to college soon. Where is the time going?

One of the things I am so aware of as I watch my family grow and change is my need to remain committed to living a life of… Read More