All things home. From the style that helps bring our home to life, the pieces that tell our family's story, and to the memories and traditions we are creating.
While roaming aimlessly through the aisles of Target I stumbled upon the prettiest set of “Building blocks” aka Jenga from Hearth and Hand by Magnolia. I knew our family would get use out of these blocks, logging many hours playing together throughout the years, but I also knew I wanted to display them. Do you ever stumble upon something that just brings you joy. For me it was the perfectly illustrated ombre’ of earthy colors used in these building blocks. Every single one of these colors felt like home. Each block perfectly blending into the other. As I began writing this post, I felt even more inspired from these pretty little blocks and how they are now part of our story. Our story just like anyone else’s story can be illustrated in our home in so many ways. Whether its art on your wall, or a piece of furniture that was handed down from generations, or maybe it’s just something you bought at target that was pretty. I know your story doesn’t necessarily need to be tied to things, but I hope the things you do fill your home with are things that tell your story, and of course all the love and laughter.
I hope that these pretty little building blocks remind my family to enjoy the little things that help us connect. My thought is that instead of having these stored in the basement & we will forget about them but having these building blocks on display not only because well they are pretty, but we will be reminded to connect. I hope that my daughter will always say “hey mom game of Jenga?” & My son will always try to do the craziest move first. I hope the laughter of my family connecting always fills our home. I hope that they are subtle reminder of the good times, the times, we loved and laughed.
Thank you, Hearth and Hand, by Magnolia for something so small that brought something kind of big in our home. When we look at these block’s I hope they are reminder of the family and the love we have built. I hope they hold a special place in my children’s heart that always brings them home.
As you begin to fill your homes with all the pumpkin things and fall vibe’s I hope you remember to harvest a home that makes you happy. A home that feels good and doesn’t just look good. I hope you get to fill your home with love, and laughter even in the hardest of seasons. Fresh flowers, and of course maybe a pumpkin candle or two are not bad either. I hope you remember less is more, and life isn’t about who has the prettiest pumpkin filled front porch. I hope as you continue to navigate cultivating a home you love, I hope you choose to fill it with the people you love the most, and who show you that same love in return.
As we head into a new season of life with each of our children growing like weeds, we continue to make it a priority to connect with our people. As we mourn the loss of less daylight, we find joy in the extra family time. We make time to connect doing the things we love, instead of filling our homes with things we don’t love. If you want to harvest a happy home fill it up by loving your people well experiencing all this season has to offer. How will you harvest a happy home this fall? I would love to hear. As always…
Its Fri-yay and Mothers Day is right around the corner. This week at The Hive Five I gathered five lovely things that may help inspire you to gift your momma or add to your wish list.
Anthro Mug: This mug is adorable. Love the colors, and cute quote tucked inside the mug.
Lemon Tree: I had one of these ladies on my list a few years ago, and its still thriving. I wouldn’t say our tree is as lovely looking as the one above, but we have enjoyed a few lemons from our tree.
Yoga Mat: Don’t mind the hefty price on this cute little yoga mat. HOLY COW, but it’s adorable and I am kind of obsessed.
Pearl Earrings: I hate to admit this, but I have lost two sets of pearl earrings in the past two years… ahh! One always seems to fall out somewhere. They are my go to earrings for everyday wear and I miss mine dearly. I bought fake ones and its not the same, so these are back on the list this year.
Daily Mantra Sweater: This four things daily mantra sweater by Amy Brown is all the things. This sweatshirt is not only adorable, but benefits a great cause as well.
I hope you all enjoyed this weeks The Hive Five and hope it helped inspire you with some Mothers day gift ideas. Have a lovely weekend soaking in all the sunshine!
I don’t know about yall, but I am finding myself gravitating towards simplicity and the less is more mentality. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s spring, but having the minimal things in my space just feels clean, fresh and organized. I am loving this desk refresh. We have always loved this desk because it is solid wood and has many storage capabilities, but was yearning for a more modern classic look. I hated to paint it, because I also love natural wood pieces lately as well, but am so glad I took the plunge. This desk revamp gave our office a modern, yet classic touch. It feels updated, clean and we are obsessed. We can’t wait to turn this cluttered office space into something a little less busy, and more simple. I hope y’all enjoyed this project, and are encouraged to make your space beautiful, and a little more simple.
Water Based Milk Paint- Shade is Lamp Black ( purchased at the Lazy Daisy)
Top Stain-Special Walnut
Here is a little before and after to show you the magic of a little Paint and TLC.
Hi friends! Welcome to week two of The Hive Five. Each Friday I will share five favorite things in our Hive.
Rug: I have been searching for the perfect entry way rug and I found it. We are loving this addition to our entry way. It is so soft, the colors are light, airy, and cozy. I hope all of our guests feel welcomed and at home as they step into our home.
Sandals: These slide on Sandals are adorable & you can’t beat that price. Mine will be here any day and I cant wait to slip these on and pair them with my favorite outfits as the weather is turning warmer.
Planter: I purchased this planter back in February. To be honest it was love at first sight. It’s so chic and goes lovely in our living room.
Growing Boldly: Another good read in the books. Emily Ley does another job at making me feel like I am a rock star. Not really, but she brings such confidence to its readers that imagining the life you want and building a life you love is within reach.
Shampoo/Conditioner: After a recent dermatologist visit I was told my scalp was super dry. So shortly after I had a hair appointment and my gal Lauren told me to try this Paul Mitchell tea tree shampoo and conditioner. One word AMAZING! My whole family loves it. It is a little pricey, but your hair will be so soft and full life after using it. Obsessed.
I hope you all enjoyed The Hive Five picks this week! Have a great weekend.
We have many traditions in our home, but one of our favorites is the red plate tradition. The red plate has been a long going tradition for almost two centuries. When I first heard of this tradition, I knew it was something I wanted to incorporate into our family. To celebrate the victories, the little wins in life. The traditional plate is all red and says you are special today. You can find it here. I decided to incorporate something a little different, a little more fun. Sticking with the red, I opted for a plate with red polka dots. Our plate says “It’s Your Day. We ordered it on Etsy years ago, but I am sure you can find one similar or make your own and personalize it to your family. Ours is starting to chip, and it kind of makes me sad that I will have to replace it, or maybe I wont, and maybe it will be a simple reminder that the little imperfections in life are just part of our story. I love that this tradition is part of our story our kids love it, they are so proud that they get to eat on the special red plate. We love celebrating them in this simple way. Whether it’s getting student of the month, getting noticed for doing something kind, or celebrating a birthday this is a fun tradition that will surely be passed down from generation to generation. When we celebrate the small wins in life, when we celebrate the people we love, we are laying the foundation of a family that roots for one another, celebrates one another, and loves one another. Do you all have any family traditions? I would love to hear about them!
Each Friday we will bring you five favorite things in our Hive.
April 9th, 2021
Basket: I love a good basket, especially for the farmers market. This chic simple basket is perfect for a Saturday at the Market
Linen Apron: How cute is this linen apron? Its perfect for gardening or cooking up your favorite meal.
Olive Oil Dispenser: This is such a pretty alternative to your ordinary olive oil dispenser. Its adorable and adds a fun pop of color & clearly I love the yellow mustard color.
Slip on MK Espadrille: These shoes are my fav they are so simple, but chic and a perfect addition to your spring attire. Also, very comfortable. Love them.
The Midnight Library: ( warning suicide in content)This book was such a good read. Without giving to much away, we all have regrets in this life, and we all question the choices and the path we are on, its about letting go of those regrets. This book was a reminder that you are right where you are supposed to be in this one precious life. I hope you are brave enough to live it & I hope you know you are so loved. Please know if needed you can receive 24 hour support here.
I am so excited to finally reveal my not so little guy’s room. How in the heck is he already 11? No one prepares you for how fast time flies as a parent, but I am grateful I have had the last year to spend all the time with him. Soaking in all the morning snuggles, and leisurely breakfasts. The little things we didn’t get to enjoy pre-pandemic. This pandemic reminded our family to slow down, find joy in being home, because the only place we get to go is home. That happiness can be found in the home you have instead of wishing you had a new home. The past year we have been cultivating a home we love. Turning our home into our haven.
Giving my children their own space has always been important to me. Growing up as a military child I was never in one house for long. I always longed to have that home, that room to come back to. This year a lot of things were taken away from our children, and as we have decided to tackle all the things, we just didn’t have time for before, giving our children their own space, designing a room they love, their own safe haven has been more important than ever.
Designing a room for a boy on the edge of being a teen is tough stuff. It was tricky to find the balance between being kind of little, but kind of big. To me it was important to define a space that could grow with him. Going into this project I had the perfect Pinterest room in mind, but had to change gears when I realized that wasn’t his story to be told.
This boy is full of adventure and loves to explore the world around him. I hope this worldly corner of his room reminds him to always seek adventure in life, to not be afraid to explore all that the world has to offer him. Take risks, travel, experience life, become cultured. All while being safe of course.
This boy and is trinkets. He has so many. I knew he needed a nice shelf to display all his favorite little things on. I stumbled upon this nice shelf on amazon. It came with the metal pieces, and then we bought wood from Home Depot and stained it. It was so fun to design this shelf, it came together so nicely, and I love that he gets to display all the things he loves without it looking cluttered on top of his dressers. This shelf gives you a glimpse into his childhood the little boy who was so silly, who loved cars, and army men and still kind of does. A boy who loves baseball. A boy who has worked hard to earn those trophy’s, that with each new season and year he has gotten better at whatever he has put his mind too. I hope as he is transitioning to teen years, I hope he is reminded to stay grounded in the things that built him.
The Curtains were a target clearance find, and really tied in the room. They are not what I had pictured in this room at all, but I think it really ties in the beachy, baseball, worldly vibe.
The gallery wall is the perfect mix of adventure, beach, and baseball (most of the prints were found from Etsy, and some at home goods. I love how it turned out. You see that wave picture? He had to have it. I was so unsure how I would tie it in, but after coming across this quote” mightier than the waves of the sea his is love for you” I was sold. I hope he always feels loved, by God, by his family, and those he surrounds his self with. In a world that can throw some big waves at you, navigating them can be tricky, just keep swimming. On the gallery wall you can also find, Chicago Cubs, and Washington Nationals pictures picked by him. His heart is with the Cubbies, but his home is with the Nationals
Did I mention this kid’s room is ginormous? He is also a big reader, so it was important for us to find a space where he could keep his toys and books while still looking clean and organized. So, we used this space over here for those things. We also decided to hang a Cubs flag over it, and he couldn’t be happier. We also displayed some of his favorite Legos on top of these shelves.
He has some solid furniture pieces that we have found at willow tree furniture. I love a good solid wood piece that will last forever. I want to update these outdated pieces (dresser, and desk), but am still unsure what direction I want to go. I will keep you all posted. I also plan to add a cork board over his desk. I hate showing you something that isn’t quite done, but rooms take time. You shouldn’t buy something to fill in the space, wait for the thing that you love. When you find it, you will know.
I hope you enjoyed exploring his room. Designing a room, you love doesn’t have to be expensive, it doesn’t have to be Pinterest perfect. Your rooms should tell a story. When designing a room, go on Pinterest to find inspiration. It’s such a great resource (a great little space to help inspire you), but don’t forget who they are, what they love, and what they want. Don’t forget to tell their story. Hope you enjoyed a peak into Lardon’s world.
A place to slow down is just what our souls needed to recharge this past weekend. We spent a night away in the most charming bed and breakfast, The Inn at Stinson Vineyards in Crozet, VA. The inn had lots of recommendations on things to do and we went into it with a general idea of what we wanted to explore, but those ideas failed us when we realized things were closed on both Sunday and Monday or had closed for COVID. It ended up working out and we started the trip having lunch at Crozet Pizza (so good). We had time before we checked in, so we decided to head to the vineyard and do some wine tasting. We both ordered a flight and nestled into a spot with two Adirondack chairs, a firepit, and an amazing view of the mountains. We both agree that the Cabernet was the frontrunner. We had so much fun chatting, drinking the wine, relaxing and taking in the views. Once 3 o’clock came around we headed just around the corner to the inn. We were greeted by the Inn Keeper who welcomed us and encouraged us to make ourselves at home. We were given the full tour of the Inn and fell in love with the charm and views that allowed the inn to nestle into the mountainous countryside. The inn is full of beautiful well-crafted rooms that will fit anyone’s style. We worked our way up to our French cottage inspired room that was the coziest, serene place to lay our heads. Our favorite spot was the window daybed, with all the views, the perfect spot to snuggle up, to close your eyes and rest, or cozy up with a good book.
Once dinner rolled around, we were still full from lunch and had left over pizza, crazy weather was approaching so we decided to make a quick run for dessert (insomnia cookies, when in a college town I suppose) they were pretty good. The next morning, we were prepared the most amazing breakfast from Chef Amy. The breakfast was a three-course delight. The first course was a pimento cheese biscuit garnished with bacon and onion jelly. Followed by the best parfait I have ever had (Greek yogurt, mixed with mascarpone, homemade granola, and fresh berries). Lastly, we were served avocado toast that was delish. Chef Amy nailed it and made our bellies and hearts full. She brought a variety of food to the table that was outside of our comfort zone and I am so thankful I got to indulge and try new foods. Amy was so kind and when asked for recipes for the things she made she was happy to pass them along (she said food is meant to be shared). So, thank you Chef Amy for sharing these amazing recipes that our family can enjoy or share with friends. We also had the pleasure of sitting down with a lovely couple from Williamsburg, VA and had a nice conversation with them. I went into this trip excited for time with my hubs, a little nervous and intimated to be in a house with others who I had never met, but ended the trip recharged, a full heart and full belly.
We can’t wait to go back. We think it would be fun to rent out the whole house and enjoy it with friends and hopefully enjoy the pool in the warmer months. The inn is a perfect couple’s getaway or girls weekend trip. We will definitely be back with a better plan in mind to experience all that Crozet and Charlottesville has to offer. Thank you, The Inn at Stinson Vineyards, for welcoming us and making us feel right at home, for rejuvenating our souls, giving us a place to slow down, a safe place to land and keeping our bellies full. You were good to us. See you next time.
I was hoping to share what I have been working on, but it’s not quite ready…Hopefully in the next few weeks I can tell you all about how a picture of a wave, a shark with a baseball hat, and adventure all inspired my sons room…
Have you heard of The Lazy Daisy? I have walked into this store dozens of times. It’s my favorite little local treasure hunt and escape. A stroll through the daisy with my favorite latte in hand jamming to all the best country tunes is a sure day maker. True story the original Lazy Daisy store started in Chester, VA in my husband’s grandfather’s old pharmacy. How cool is that! As I wondered through the store this past week, I stopped in front of this jar. Every time I have gone into the daisy something about this crazy looking jar pulled me in, but each time I put it back. The jar wasn’t the prettiest, but I saw its potential, but what could I do with it? I couldn’t quite nail down a use for it. This past week I saw that same old jar and it hit me… a vase. I pretty much always have fresh flowers on the counter. It’s my weekly grocery store treat to myself. If you don’t do this, I encourage you to start this week, I promise it will brighten up your week. I googled how to paint ceramic. There are lots of recommendations on how to do this. I wanted minimal work and supplies. Its certainly not perfect, but I didn’t want it that way, it has character. I’m proud of it and can’t wait to do more projects like this in the future. I hope you all enjoy this quick easy DIY project and I hope it inspires you to buy yourself the flowers, and maybe turn that old jar into something pretty.
Supplies:
jar
Krylon cover max spray paint white
acrylic paint- color blue jay
paint brush
Krylon clear glaze
I sprayed the jar with spray paint let it dry. I had the vision I wanted so once the spray paint was dry I painted the blue lines on the jar. I let that dry and sprayed the glaze. Easy peasy. I did not spray inside the jar, because I was not sure how that would work with water, since I would be using it as a vase.
Hive To Haven 