happies

I’m a big believer that anything that goes in a home should fall in at least one of the following categories: 

:: It has a great story ::

:: It’s super cozy ::

:: It makes us smile ::

If the item of debate doesn’t fit any of these qualifiers, then it won’t fit in our home. It may sound crazy, but I can count on 1 hand the number of things in our home that I’ve bought fresh off the shelf of a “home store.” If I had to break it down, it’d look something like this:

85%: Second-hand treasures, either from a thrift store or family or something I’ve made (and boy do these things have stories!)... 

10%: Things that make you want to open the windows, run around with bare feet and sip something sweet... 

5%: Bits of whimsy that fill in the gaps...

I don’t think nesting has to be crazy expensive or elaborate to be lovely and charming. I think it mostly just requires the vision and creativity to find inspiration and potential in unlikely places and things. Here are some of our treasures that are making me smile right now - all the while reminding me that simplicity is where it’s at! :)

{This little nook in our hearth room. The type writer was my wedding gift to J (found in a thrift store in Kentucky along with the lantern) and the wreath I made out of an old book... remember that project?!}

{a weed from our backyard}

{shells that J and I found on the beach in Mexico and smuggled back to the US which now adorn our fireplace}

{This thumbprint tree from our wedding - instead of having a guestbook, I painted a tree silhouette on canvas then let our guests fill it in with “leaves" and signatures. May 15th will be one year and this hanging reminder makes me happier by the day :) }