Me, Myself and I Project

With less running around this summer, I'm enjoying more time at home to putter on projects.  The kids are really content right now to stick close to home and are enjoying the chance to sleep in, putter around the yard and work on little projects.  I have yet to hear "I'm bored" which is a good sign.


Today I spent some time working on my bedroom space.  Since we moved into the house 12 years ago, I focused most of my decorating and space improvement efforts on the areas I spent the most time in - the kitchen, dining, living space.  The master bedroom was always a last priority.  Over the last year or so, I've decided to make my personal space (or shared with my husband space!!) a bit prettier.  My goal is a peaceful, serene, soothing, organized sanctuary.  It's a space that's easier to control the clutter because of the lack of kid-related items (in theory).

Here is a photo of my bedside table.  I like to keep current books I'm reading on hand since I usually read a bit before going to sleep.  Lately I've been making the effort to bring in fresh flowers that make me smile.  Our sea roses are in full bloom and are incredibly fragrant.  It is so pleasant to wake up to the smell of sea roses and the sound of morning birds and ocean waves this time of year.  It starts me off on the right foot each morning, making me feel thankful for simple pleasures.  I also keep a little photo of my mother and I when I was about 5.  It's a reminder that I was once a little girl and to be kind to myself each day.....to treat myself with the same kindness and patience I would with a child.

I recently acquired an essential-oils diffuser!  I run it each evening for about an hour with a mixture of lavender and tangerine.  It is a very soft, relaxing scent.  I prefer it to candles, which I used in the past.  I don't trust my kids around them unattended quite frankly! 

This is my dresser top.  I love this little antique dresser.  It used to be in my grand-parents' beach cottage and I was lucky enough to get my hands on it.  It's old, stained and the drawers stick, but it reminds me of my Nanny and summers at the cottage.  I like to keep my daily jewelry on hand, which is minimal and simple.  I pretty much wear the same jewelry every day - a silver necklace, silver hoop earrings, a menswear inspired Nixon watch and a meditation ring (can't forget my wedding bands!).  My son made this driftwood whale/tail jewelry holder for me to store my bracelets and necklaces.  I will love this and him forever!!

I'm also working on organizing our shared closet.  Since I started trying to incorporate the Jennifer L. Scott inspired ten-item wardrobe in my life, this has been much easier.  My husband's side is a work in progress!  Good news is that he too is trying out a bit of a ten-item wardrobe (:  It's fun to help him so I cleaned up his side a little.  I keep the off-season items stored and only have what I'm currently wearing hung up.  I like Fiona's idea of hanging everything, so I even hung up my summer shorts.  I like having all options in plain view and this also keeps items that would normally be folded wrinkle free.  I might expand more on my ten (I think I'm at 15 or 16 actually) wardrobe in a later post. 


Our bedroom is a work in progress, but I'm enjoying puttering away at it.  I'd like a new duvet cover and I'd like to hang our art (it's about time after 12 years).  I enjoy the feeling of having a pretty, soft bedroom.  It's the same feeling I felt as a little girl...always organizing, rearranging, decorating.  I realized that my husband could care less how I set things up in there, so it really is my place to play with! 

And yes.....this is what I found in my room last night.  That pet chicken was snuck in the house and ended up in our bedroom room of all places!  He was sent out to the coop immediately.  I don't want to squash my son's love of the chicken, but my bedroom (and the entire house) is no place for this guy.  Maybe my son can work on beautifying the coop!!  There's a project.....it's a better idea than the chicken diaper he tried to make.