Wall of Love

I have lagged a bit on getting our Christmas cards out this year. But thankfully, many people have not. 

This year I wanted to display the cards that are so lovingly sent from those from near and far. Ideally in a place everyone could see them and the kids could pick out friends and family's faces. I had lofty DIY goals that involved string and stars and washi tape. 

And just like every other pinned DIY and bookmarked design blog challenging me to be creative and resourceful, it never happened. 

When the cards started arriving, I decided I did not need anything fancy, just some scotch tape and blank space. So the side of the fridge has become the Wall of Love. A once blank space has started to fill with the pictures of chubby baby cheeks and wide eyed toddlers. Of loving parents, very proud grandparents and tinseled homes. And when each day the wall gets covered more, it makes me a little teary.

There is so much love, so much joy, and so much to be grateful for when I look at that wall. What a beautiful reminder of those that love us and their happy lives. That they are feeling joy and love and special moments together. It really makes the season even more special. 

There is much to be celebrated, and not just in our own lives. But every one's. 

We all have complications, stresses, tragedy, and disappointment. Some more than others. But 'tis the season to be joyful. To be grateful. And to celebrate all the love.  Because there is a lot of it happening all around us. 

And that perfect display is not missed. In fact, the imperfection of it all makes it even more lovely. And I cannot wait to fill it even more. 

Happy Weekend
xo
Erin 

NEAT New House

Moving is a real bitch. 

And though the results are always great after the boxes have been put away and the glasses tucked into a cabinet, the moments before that are a nightmare. Even for the most organized of people (sometimes me). 

Our move has gone off without too many hitches and I am happy to say that I am actually enjoying the space instead of obsessing over it. There is plenty of time to decorate, rearrange the vases, and shop online for rugs. 

But you at least want the spaces that you use everyday to be in working order. I was lucky enough to live close by to our new house and move a ton of items myself. Not having to box every kitchen utensil was a godsend. I was even able to set up the kitchen before the movers even showed up. The nursery was next since even though I could sleep on a couch, the baby needs an actual bed.  

Then there was our room/closet/bathroom. The clothes were shoved into the closet directly from wardrobes and toiletries dropped into drawers. And I kept telling myself....

"I will get around to that."

"I will totally organize all this to fit the new space."

"I will absolutely have the time and patience to organize it all."

Lies. All Lies. 

Because though I am a decent organizer, I am one of those eighty percent organizers. I do a great job up until about twenty percent is left and then hurriedly finish the job. The results are a solid B. 

I really wanted to start off on the right foot for this house and calling in the girls from NEAT Method was the best idea I have had since the move. 

They completely transformed the closet to a place that actually holds all of our clothes and makes sense. Every bottle and brush in our bathroom has a place. It is glorious. 

They transferred all of our clothes onto slim, no-slip hangers and categorized. Shoes are all in a perfect row. Clutches have their very own shelf. 

Jewelry is easily seen and browsed in clear, stackable boxes. Bracelets hang from an easy to see display. 

 I can actually see what is in those normally messy drawers. 

Products have a place that looks great and is functional. 

I highly recommend NEAT for any organizing you need done in your home. They assess what you need, tackle the leg work, and bring all the supplies. 

Plus, they are a ton of fun. Check out their blog, too. 

xo

Erin 

On Display

As I wrote in this post, I have been looking for an organizational solution for my jewelry so that I can see it all and make the selection process much more fun. I ended up getting this glass display case from Ikea and I love the results. 

I have laid out all the pieces that I actually wear at the moment for easy access. 

I laid pieces out by category so I can see all the options. The cabinet has plenty of space so each piece has plenty of space to be seen and then replaced later. 

A vintage necklace display and my (creepy) hand mannequin offer a few other places to place items so I can browse easily. 

The bottom shelf is the perfect place to display clutches. The cabinet comes with doors, but I opted to leave them off for easier access. 

A hand-me-down crystal tray gives me a place to put the pieces I wear almost every day. 

There is plenty of wall space above, so the hunt is on for a few items to hang to personalize the space. A mirror is a must, since it will allow me to try things on and check out how they look. 

I keep other pieces in my original jewelry box and when I am ready to switch things out, this display makes it easy. I like how it feels a bit like a boutique. They always say to shop in your own closet and this certainly makes me feel like I really am. 

xo

Erin 

What Do You Collect?

Even if we try not to, somehow everyone has a collection of something. Whether it is photos from years past, old trophies from swim team you couldn't possibly toss, or your grandmother's tea pots, somehow there is something to display that might be tough to do in a modern way. 

Luckily there are some really people out there that can help us out. I thought all of these were beautiful and fun ways to live with those collections that may be piled around in not-so-cute ways. 

via brightboldbeautiful.com

This would be so pretty on a window ledge, bookcase or mantel. 

from google.com

 For shoe that still have the sand from their first trip to the beach, this would be perfect. 

via threadless.com

Long bookshelves are perfect for any collection, even your wooden pepper mills. 

via moredesignplease.com

Different sized mirrors covering a small, mint painted room is so fun. 

via moredesignplease.com

A border of antique hand mirrors in different shapes and sizes looks so chic. 

via thedecorologist.com

Love the stack of hats at the door.  

What collections do you have and how do you display them? 

xo

Erin