I used to enjoy drama in my life. No, let me be honest: I used to actually seek and attract drama, like confrontation in work situations. Now? I consider stepping away from drama in my life as self care. Taking care of the home your soul lives in is just as important as taking care [...]
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Habitation: A Heart of Gold
As early as I could walk my mother carted me around to the many different antique stores she loved. We’d drive for miles in her small, red, Chevy Monza with the tan leather bucket seats. Invariably getting lost along the way turning our trip into a “Joy Ride”. Down country lanes, and curving roads, she [...]
Habitation: Shedding the Need To Be in Control
I have lots of post-its scattered around my house with encouraging phrases and verses that remind me to “practice peace” and “ramp up my love walk”. Thank goodness my husband loves me because when I am really going through a challenge, the post-its run rampant throughout our home. On the kitchen cabinets. In the bathroom. [...]
Habitation: The (Real) Season of Change
January 1. We ring in the new year. We dream of a new us, after a month or two or three of over-eating, over-drinking, over-shopping, after 9 months or so of broken resolutions from the last first of January. We dream, we plan, we resolve. It’s hard to start over in the middle of winter. [...]
Habitation: Grits
I’d like to think I’m a Southern girl at heart even though I was born north of the Mason Dixon line. My mom cooks with leftover bacon grease when she makes her fried rice and she makes the best fried chicken sans the waffles. For awhile, I had this hankering for grits even though I’ve [...]
Habitation: Blooming Lovely
“Happiness? The color of it must be spring green…” – Frances Mayes, American memoirist Under the cold, wet blanket of snow lies the birth of spring. Mother Nature’s tiny bulbs pushing up through the cold, dark soil. I saw them the other day before our latest coastal storm. Delicate and green, yearning for the sun [...]
Habitation: Prepping Your Home (And Soul) For Spring
Spring has supposedly sprung. The clock has moved forward and the calendar already announced the first day of Spring, yet behind the walls of my house I wait. By the end of February, I am usually crawling out of my skin, anticipating stormy days and crisp fresh air, which inevitably brings sunny skies and new [...]
Habitation: Patience and Trust – The Keys to Staying Within A DIY Budget
I am a very instant-gratification type of person. I see it, I like it, I accomplish it. Incompletion and disarray make my head spin and my blood boil, but sometimes there is no way to avoid destiny. Some projects just aren’t meant to be completed quickly. After weeks (months…) of drooling over master bedroom inspiration, [...]
Habitation: Food + Mingling = Conversation
I’m notorious for overloading my guests with mass quantities of food whenever I host a holiday festivity. My menu can rival any 20 course meal served at a royal function. I over-stuff my expectant company with little bites to tide them over until the actual meal is served. This is the kink in my armor [...]
Habitation: Old Painted Ladies
Some girls go crazy for make up, while others obsess over shoes and bags (a la Carrie Bradshaw). Some girls adore jewelry, like my mother, who has a vast collection of baubles and trinkets. I don’t seem to fit into any of these categories. My interest is slightly different, and what I collect is larger. [...]
Habitation: Visual Reminders of the Past
If you are anything like me, you are wrapped up in the here and now. Today, and everything that is happening today, and in the next five minutes, and probably in the next five items on your to-do list. Life can feel busy and full, but sometimes that fullness can feel stifling if it isn’t [...]
Habitation: Personalizing Your Home
I found an old book published in the 1930’s at my grandmother’s house. The tattered ends and fading cover shined out from the stack of well-loved literature. I was giddy with excitement to bring it home, but hesitated displaying it , wondering if the book would compliment our décor. Reasoning that I did not have [...]
Habitation: Cutting Back Doesn’t Mean Cutting Out
I have this one pair of wool pants that “helps” me gauge how well or how horrible I’ve been eating. They’re the perfect trouser cut, but they fit just a little too well. There really is no room for error when I wear these pants. So if there is just a little bit of tightness [...]
Habitation: Gushing Inspiration
Knowing I am expecting a son has really pushed my inspiration into overdrive. Everything I see I store into my “inspiration bank” and now it seems to be gushing out of every pore. My need to create has become insatiable. I’ve been stalking Etsy and Pinterest for some great ideas on how to add some [...]
Habitation: Flowers – A Necessity for the Soul
When’s the last time you bought flowers… for yourself? I used to buy flowers for myself from time to time when I was first teaching and making what I considered a “real” paycheck. It was a luxurious treat to myself; I knew they would die and I would throw them away, but fresh flowers do [...]
Habitation: Menial Moments
At the end of the day, I usually want to be alone. Detached with my thoughts and free from arms tugging at me. I got into this mindset that the night time was “me time”, but recently I realized there was someone else still awake and ready for time with me. My husband. Yes, self-care [...]
Habitation: Home Projects Put On Hold
The beauty of home renovation and redecorating is also a curse, as it almost never seems to go to plan. In the midst of designing our dreamy master bedroom, our water heater decided to take a run for the hills, leaving us with no choice but to “invest” in a new one (and spend 24 [...]
Habitation: Thanksgiving Leftovers Redux
Sometimes I think the whole point of Thanksgiving is to create a giant feast so you have leftovers to devour for the next week. While this all sounds good in theory, having the same meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner can turn into a Groundhog Day scenario. The last thing you want to hear from [...]
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Cover Girl Stephenie Meyer: An Interview (Part One) with Deb Smouse
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Live Alone and Like It The Classic Guide for the Single Woman
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My Plan to Thrive while I Deal with Grief this Holiday Season
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Life, Love and Lesson Plans by Wynn Godbold
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Under the Bed by Jody Keisner
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