Love the Home You Have

Let's be real today. Raise your hand if you often find yourself comparing your home to those of your friends, favorite bloggers, or the ones you see in magazines or on Pinterest. Do you look around your toy-strewn, goldfish crumb encrusted family room and say to yourself, "That's it. I'm done. My dream home is never going to happen, so I just give up."? It's okay to admit it...because I'm raising my hand too! I want to share with you about Love the Home You Have, a new book by Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room, and how it inspired me. I hope it will inspire you too!

I rarely give a book its own review here on the blog, and I should note that this is not a sponsored post. Melissa didn't ask me to promote her book. She gifted me with a copy, and the second I finished up a book club read and put kid #3 down for a nap, I tore into the book.

First reaction?

Wow, she gets me!

I wanted to share about it with you because today is the official release day for Love the Home You Have, and if you struggle with finding contentment with your home, you need this book!

There are tooooons of housie books out there. Most of them are filled with jaw-dropping, glowing photos of homes so perfect that it makes your heart ache. Some have tutorials for DIY projects that cost money you might not have. They're fun to pore over during naptime, but they can also lead to frustration. 

So what do you do when you live in a home that doesn't quite live up to your expectations, and you lack the resources to transform it into one of those show homes you drool over in the housie books?

You see, according to Melissa, it's really a matter of the heart!

When I was finished reading Love the Home You Have, the book was so filled with highlighted advice, tips, and encouragement, that I should have just doused the whole thing in yellow marker. 

Melissa doesn't just fill the book with witty sayings, pictures, and Bible verses. (There are some lovely, whimsical illustrations that you can download as printables here-under "Downloads") She offers practical, real-life suggestions to help you see your home with new eyes. Once you understand that "creating a beautiful home is not about presenting a perfect image to the world," you can work to create an authentic home...right where you are!

Melissa shares tips on:

• Hospitality
• Clearing clutter
• Finding a cleaning routine that works for you
• Decorating 
• Taking the leap from "dreamer to doer"

One of the things I really appreciated was that Melissa includes questions at the end of the chapter to make you dig a little deeper. And there's a special 31 Day "Love Your Home" Challenge at the end of the book. I'm planning on starting tomorrow!

Love the Home You Have takes the reader full circle...a thoughtful, authentic, gentle reminder that whether you live in a magazine feature home or a 1970s fixer upper (like me), a true dream home doesn't exist without contentment. 

I'll leave you with some food for thought today...the first quote Melissa included in the book:

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." -Frederick Keonig

Watch the book trailer below:

Love The Home You Have from The Inspired Room on Vimeo.

Get the book on Amazon here. They also have a kindle version, but I prefer paperback or hardback for books that I want to take lots of notes on. I'm waiting with baited breath for the next book in her series!!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Hello there. The weekend's just around the corner, hurray! I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from this past weekend link party and the weekend before (got sidetracked with a hectic schedule) with you today.

The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Easy Bunny Banner via Living and Learning with Luisa

~Coconut Pound Cake via The Kitchen is My Playground

~Chevron Burlap Spring Wreath via Livin' the Dream

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Hello, and Happy Thursday! The weekend's just around the corner, hurray! I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from this past weekend link party and the weekend before (got sidetracked with a hectic schedule) with you today.

The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake via The Honeycomb Home

~Navy Powder Room Makeover via 24 Cottonwood Lane

~DIY Tassel Pillow Cover via Architecture of a Mom

It's as Simple as Support #sisterhoodunite

This sponsored blog partner post brought to you by The Sisterhood of the Motherhood. Today's post is meant to be directed towards moms, but I think it could really be applied to any woman out there who takes the time to read this. This is a continuation of our discussion on ways to stop the mommy judging. I want to talk about supporting moms, whether they make the same choices you do, or not.

It's easy to support the moms we have things in common with. The mom you invite over for coffee when you're not snowed in, the mom who makes you laugh at every book club get-together, the mom who has the shoe collection and fashion sense you envy.

But what about the mom whose parenting style or philosophy differs from yours?

Maybe she homeschools her kids and yours go to private school. Maybe her family only eats organic food and you are a regular at the Chick-fil-a drive-thru. Maybe her kids have a strict bedtime and routine, and yours are night owls. 

If you're a regular reader, you read about my first breastfeeding experience with my older two kids and know that I was able to exclusively pump with both of them. 

I had everything all planned out for baby number three. I planned to pump for as many months as I could, knowing it would be difficult with two girls in school and activities. I planned for him to be a healthy, thriving, breastfed baby.

But, as we all know, life is what happens when you are making other plans. Fast-forward a few weeks after Harris' birth, and I knew something wasn't right.

After some visits with the pediatrician and allergist, we determined that even after me going completely dairy free in my diet for over a month, Harris was not tolerating breast milk, though he wasn't allergic. Both physicians recommended that we immediately switch him over to a special (very very expensive!!) formula. 

It seems silly now, but despite the fact that my son's pain and discomfort went away within a few hours of starting the special formula, I was wracked with horrible guilt. 

I'd never given any of my babies formula that young before. Everyone up until that point had told me that "breast is best." Would he be okay? Was I a terrible mother? Terrible for not recognizing the signs of his pain earlier (it wasn't colic!)? Terrible for giving him formula? My sister did her best to encourage me, but living hundreds of miles away from each other made things difficult.

I focused more on me and my guilt than the fact that my son was finally able to take nourishment without horrible pain.

Enter Joy.

Joy was a lady I knew from my local MOPS group. She wasn't a close friend, but she knew about our situation. Not only did Joy take the time to encourage me to ignore the guilt and any commentary from other moms, but she offered me support.

We're pretty different. 

Joy has six kids, I have three. She does some homeschooling, mine go to the public school across the street. She likes tea, I like mochas...and so on.

But Joy knew I needed someone to speak some positivity into my life. She showed up on our doorstep out of the blue with dinner. She pulled me aside before our MOPS meeting to see how I was doing and to tell me how cute my new baby was.

But most of all, she let me know that there is no one right way to be a mom. I owe her a huge debt of gratitude. Her kind words helped me see how blessed I was with a baby who was thriving...and continues to thrive a year later.

In the past year, I have learned that you don't have to agree with another mom's parenting choices to support and encourage her. I'm sure that there are some choices I make as a mom that would be different from the choices Joy makes. 

But she didn't let that stop her.

Don't let it stop you.

Find a mom who could use some support this week. Give her a hug, send her a hand-written note with a Starbucks gift card, send her a private email with an inspiring quote, or stop by her house with a plate of cookies (after sampling a few to make sure they aren't gross or anything- I mean, be willing to make that sacrifice). 

Tell that mom that she's doing a great job! She is just the mom that her kids need. 

I guarantee that not only will this make her day, but it will make yours too.

As moms and women, we need to do more building each other up and less tearing down. Social media, especially, seems to be a hotbed of vicious activity. Why fuel the fire with all of the circular arguments going on? Are you really really going to change someone's mind with that article you share on Facebook or the comment you leave on an Instagram photo?

Our free time is limited as is with little ones needing to be diapered, fed, driven to activities, homeworked, bathed, and sent to bed. If we used those little windows of free time as opportunities for SUPPORT, think of what we could accomplish!

It's as simple as support.

What's one way you could encourage another mom or woman this week?

*You can learn more about Similac's The Sisterhood of Motherhood on Facebook and their website. There's also a hilarious Mommy Judging video you can watch!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!



Disclosure: Similac partnered with bloggers such as me for its Sisterhood of Motherhood Program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. All opinions expressed are my own. Similac believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Similac’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Weekend Bloggy Reading :: Link Up!

TGIF! Ready for some creative inspiration? Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Fridays are fun because this is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week here at Serenity Now, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects!

*Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link--I've had to bypass so many great projects lately because they didn't include a link back to my blog in the post!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Did you miss any of my posts this week? I'd love for you to click over:

Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake
Inspiring Project Ideas

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Hello, creative friends! The weekend's just around the corner, and it looks like perhaps more snow for my neck of the woods. I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from this past weekend link party and the weekend before (got sidetracked by snow days) with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Home Decor Supply Closet via Life and Home at 2102

~Eclectic Entry via Little Brags

~Easy Chocolate Mousse Pie via The Kitchen is My Playground

10 Inspiring "How to Decorate" Blog Posts and Series

I'm taking a little blogging break today to get parts of my house under control. It's been too many days of chaos with a baby dragging on my leg because he has a bad cold...doesn't make for getting stuff done around the homestead. So, today I thought it would be fun to share some great DIY and Decorating links with you. These are some of my favorite blog posts and series on How to Decorate!

Creating a Meaningful Home Series (Year One) via Jenna Burger

Decorating 101 via The Inspired Room

Decorating 101 via View Along the Way

How to Start Decorating via Home Stories A to Z

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Hello, hello! The weekend's just around the corner. I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from the weekend link party with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Framed Atlas Pages via Home Happy Home

~White Chocolate Mud Cake via Winnish

~Crayon Valentine Printable via The Scrap Shoppe

Turn Mommy Judging On Its Head #sisterhoodunite

This sponsored blog partner post brought to you by The Sisterhood of the Motherhood. Call it judging. Call it guilting. Call it shaming. The phenomenon of Mommy Judging seems to be everywhere these days, thanks to the power of social media. Moms criticizing and belittling other parenting choices, and feeling defensive for the choices they make for their own families. Today's post is meant to be a discussion of how we can combat the Mommy Judging in a positive way. Let's turn mommy judging on its head. Please join me!

As I mentioned in my last "sisterhood" post, if you have kids, you've probably experienced (or participated!) in Mommy Judging at some point (there's a whole funny video dedicated to it). I've encountered it a few times over the years.

One very uncomfortable instance I can recall was a few years ago with a casual mom acquaintance. She asked where we would be sending our oldest to school for first grade, and was appalled when I told her Natalie would be attending the public school across the street from us.

She could not, for the life of her, fathom why we would not send Natalie to the local private school that T and I both graduated from. Not that it was any of her business, but finances just would not permit that, and (three years later) we love our neighborhood school and are happy with it. The other mom went on and on, even offering *helpful suggestions* as to ways we could send Natalie to the private school. She went so far as to ask why my mom wouldn't use her staff discount for us.

I was embarrassed, to say the least.

I stammered and stuttered and looked around to make sure none of the other moms could hear the conversation.

How do you respond when other parents question your choices? Sometimes they really do mean well...and sometimes...sometimes they just want to validate their own parenting style and make you feel "less than."

I read Amy Poehler's Yes Please back in November for book club. I was surprised to find that I really connected to Poehler over her reflections on parenting. She's a talented, famous, wealthy actress and I am a stay-at-home sippy cup washer.

We couldn't be any more different.

Yet, we are both moms who want the best for our children.

The part that stood out to me more than any other part in the book was Poehler's revelation that just because a woman does something differently than you does not mean it's the right choice for your family. I highlighted the following quote and it's popped up in my thoughts more than once in the past few months.

"Good for her! Not for me. That is the motto women should constantly repeat over and over again. Good for her! Not for me."

Sarah's family lives on a 987 acre farm in Iowa and raises organic llamas and makes felted llama hair soap that she sells on Saturdays in the outdoor market and donates all the proceeds to blind chickens.

Good for her! Not for me.

Leah only feeds her kids kale.

Good for her! Not for me.

Tracy sends her four year old to college prep class five afternoons a week.

Good for her! Not for me.

Get the picture?

This concept of essentially minding one's own business and choosing to react positively was so freeing to me. {the obvious exception being when a child's health and security are involved--"what would a doctor or policeman say?" is my rule of thumb}

Our generation spends a lot of time behind computer and phone screens. It's become second nature to use social media as a platform to expound on the virtues of our parenting choices, add our two cents when someone hasn't asked for it, or to fire off a rapid response when a mom disagrees with our parenting style.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that the woman on the other side of the screen can do without our scrutiny and judgement, hastily typed out as our fingers fly over the keyboard. No, what she really needs is support, encouragement. A friend. A sisterhood.

I'm doing my best to adopt Amy Poehler's mantra when the schooling-sleep training-baby feeding-discipline-organic or non-organic-etc etc etc argument rears its head yet again in conversation or online. Because, quite honestly, there are more interesting things to talk about sometimes. Who wants to rehash the same thing over and over?

No one is asking you to change your mind or stop being passionate about your parenting style. Maybe just choose to focus on positives instead. Remember that we are all parents who love their little ones...and no one method or way of life fits all.

So, while your choices might be "good for [you], not for me," I think we can agree that an effort to support each other in this journey of parenthood is good for you AND good for me too!

*You can learn more about Similac's The Sisterhood of Motherhood on Facebook and their website.

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!

Disclosure: Similac partnered with bloggers such as me for its Sisterhood of Motherhood Program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. All opinions expressed are my own. Similac believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Similac’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Good morning! The weekend's just around the corner. I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from the weekend link party with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Budget Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel via Noting Grace

~Chalkboard Valentine Bookmark via Call Me Creative

~Peanut Butter Brownie Bites via The Life Jolie

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Are you ready to be wowed by some creativity? I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from the weekend link party with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Winter Living Room Decor in Blue via Life and Home at 2102

~Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe via Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

~Valentine's Candy Trees via Amanda Jane Brown

10 Ways to Organize DVDs {Organizing Tips and Tricks}

It's still January, so it's still "organizing season" in my mind. One thing I've noticed recently is that our DVD collection is a little out of control. My kids seem to own a copy of just about every kids' movie ever made. I hope to pare down some of the discs we don't watch or need...and reorganize the ones we keep. For today, here are some Organizing Tips on Ways to Organize DVDs.

As always, please be sure to Pin from the original source.

DVDs in Sleeves via Ask Anna

DiscSox  from The Container Store

Popsicle Stick Filing System via Turnstyle Vogue

Stop the Mommy Judging: The Sisterhood of Motherhood #SisterhoodUnite

This sponsored blog partner post brought to you by The Sisterhood of Motherhood. Today's post is a topic close to my heart. I've been thinking a lot about judging and feeling judged. Mommy Judging is everywhere: social media, TV, schools, and play groups. It can be overwhelming. I was over the moon when Similac contacted me about partnering with The Sisterhood of Motherhood, a new campaign for moms everywhere. Join me in watching this hilarious, honest, and encouraging video and we'll continue the conversation below!


"I can't believe they send their son to school there."

"You don't feed your baby organic, whole grain oats grown by nuns in the south of France and hand rowed across the Atlantic in a boat made from reclaimed barnwood?"

"Their daughter dresses like she went through the recycling bin at the thrift store."

"It must be nice to stay home and watch your DVR shows and drink Starbucks all day long."

"It must be nice to get out of the house and go to work and drink Starbucks and relax at a desk all day without a care in the world."

Moms, it's time to be real. Whether you have one child or nine, chances are you've sat on a park bench, roamed the aisles of Target, or been a part of a conversation when you feel judged by other moms for a parenting choice you've made. It could be anything from how you put your toddler to bed, to where you send your child to school, to what you feed your baby.

It hurts, it stings, it's deflating. And it can wash over you and cling if you let it.

If we're being honest with each other, I bet we'd put down our coffee cups for a second, look each other in the eye, and agree that we've probably done some Mommy Judging ourselves. We've turned and done the same thing to others that caused us so much pain.

If you watched the video, you saw that the moms (and dads) were so focused on criticism and one-upping each other that they missed the most important part of a morning at the park: a chance to bond with their children and a chance to connect with other parents.

It took the shock of an impending accident to shake those parents out of their respective bubbles and get them to see past their differences. When it comes down to it, we're all parents who love and cherish their little ones and want the best for them.

What if we took all that negative, frustrating, heavy, binding energy used to hurt and crush others and channeled it into something good, something kind, something encouraging? What if we spent that time focusing on our own loved ones instead of the perceived wrongdoings of other moms?

Yes, no matter what our beliefs, we are parents first.

The Sisterhood of Motherhood is all about a new mindset for moms and dads everywhere. Acceptance is the focus, not our differences. Isn't that refreshing?

CHALLENGE: This week, I challenge you to be on the lookout for a mom or dad who might parent differently than you do. Give them a smile (or a hug, if you know them), a Facebook shout-out, an email, text, or hand-written note, and tell them they're doing a good job!

Tune out the critics and celebrate The Sisterhood of Motherhood! #SisterhoodUnite

**You can follow along with Similac's new program on Facebook and YouTube.

What is one thing you've felt judged for as a mom or dad, and how has it affected you?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!




Disclosure: Similac partnered with bloggers such as me for its Sisterhood of Motherhood Program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. All opinions expressed are my own. Similac believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Similac’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from the weekend link party with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Breakfast Room Before and After via Home to Cottage

~Toy Car Box to Sewing Notions Storage via The Silly Pearl

~Puff Pastry Breakfast Pizza via The Life Jolie

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

I'm pleased to share some good creative features from the weekend link party with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Lemonade Stand Birthday Party via Te Amo Too

~Apple Shortcake with Honey, Cinnamon, and Lavender via Winnish

~5 Tips for a Winter Mantel via Reinvented