The Little Things

My sister and I talk just about everyday. It may be via whatsapp, iMessage, or FaceTime, but there's always something to talk about. We even like to share our normal day to day tasks that no one would really care about; including our wonderful significant others.

You are probably thinking, what could these two ladies be talking about. Many of our conversations have consisted of what we are cooking/eating. Both of us really do love our food but then we complain about how the food we cherish so much is making us fat. Another common topic of discussion is T's beautiful baby boy. Saying I am obsessed is an understatement, so you can only imagine how Apa (means older sister, A.K.A Tasneem) is. Over the summer when I was home I would taunt T with pictures of her baby stuck under the dining table chair and playing while she was working. Now she has the pleasure of doing the same to me. Luckily we have the miracle of video chatting, so I get to see the wonderful little guy as much as I want. There's also a constant struggle over me calling him potato, she isn't too pleased with that nickname. We like to talk about what we're watching on TV, if we have bought anything new, and any hobbies we would like to explore; the list really does go on.

Today we had our conversation about how sometimes we imagine going to get things in our head then realise we are picturing home. I mean home as in where we grew up, where our parents live. Both Apa and I are married and living separate from our parents, so it's funny how we still picture it in our minds when thinking to go get something. The amount of times I'm laying in bed at night and want some water but begin feeling lazy because I don't want to have to walk down the hall, down the stairs, turn on the lights, and then go in to the kitchen. But then I remember, I live in Manchester, in a one bedroom apartment. So the kitchen is literally in the next room.

Moving away has definitely been a struggle, sure it's been a year and a half now but I do miss home. I love my life here and am so happy. I'm lucky to have access to electronics and the internet to keep me in touch with people back home. The little things truly do matter. Just because we are across the pond, doesn't mean we can't act like we're right next to each other. Having such random conversations with my sister, other family members, and friends makes me feel right at home; wherever in the world I am.

-M

Blissfully Dreaming

I have been in my home for about a year now but have yet to feel like I have completely decorated any aspect of it...not even the coat closet (anyone have any good suggestions for shoe organization?). But I am ok with that. For me, the best way to decorate is to start using a space and really get a feel for how you will use it before you start doing things to it. (side note: Grace at Design Sponge has some great thoughts about being mindful at home)

I feel like I have made good progress on my son's room and the bathroom. And even though they are still in progress I want to start working on our bedroom. When we lived in an apartment in the city a few years ago I feel that the bedroom was sadly neglected. I had a burst of creativity and production and decorated multiple rooms at once and then burnt out. I recently read somewhere that how much you put into a room reflects how you feel about what you use that room for. So, the place where my husband and I cuddle (and usually the baby wriggles his way into bed too) needs some attention. After all, cuddling is essential to my being.

 I have put together a few mood photos to get a better idea of what I want to do in the room.

I really like the lanterns here and the texture in the bedding. Also, we recently took out our headboard and I like how clean it looks, so I am not really looking to add one back.

Once again I am all about the textures here. And the minimalist look of the duvet. Normally I gravitate towards ruffles, pleats and pom poms; but the graphic simplicity of this duvet really speaks to me.

This image has definitely traveled all about the interwebs but I love it despite the familiarity it now has. I really need more light around my vanity area and this looks like the perfect solution to me. Also, how great is the detail on the walls?

As you can see from the sum of all these photos I have a rather eclectic style. I am always looking for new ways to mix things together. In this case I am a typical Libra; when presented with options I see the virtue of all of them. This room does a good job of bringing together many different things. Plus, garlands!

Overall I have realized I wish our room had higher ceilings and more windows. In lieu of doing some major remodeling I will see what I can do to infuse some airy dreamy beauty into the bedroom. I am really learning to love the *new* home and enjoying making it really ours.

Want to see more? Check out my Pinterest and here is how I keep track of all my decorating related projects.

~T

photo credit: all the above photos were taken off of Pinterest

How I stay focused when decorating: the post-it list saga

I love lists. I make lists for everything that I need to do (to do list for the day, for the week, for the month, groceries, what I want to buy from Target etc). It makes me feel organized. However I am really not that organized. I am afraid I am very easily distracted when it comes to working around the house. For example, I may start folding laundry in the family room and then take one pile with me into the bedroom to put away and get distracted by how disorganized my vanity looks. Thus, the rest of the folded laundry is neglected until I finish putting away all my makeup and hair bobbles. It drives my hubby nuts.

Unfortunately I have this same issue when it comes to decorating my home. We moved into our new home a 5 months ago after some cosmetic work (new wood floors, painting, replace half the kitchen). I began with making a list of the overall big things I wanted to do in our home. And then I organized my list by breaking it down room by room. Once I had that list going I went even further and added all the little things I wanted to do in each room as well.

Needless to say seeing all these words in my ever growing "to do for the home" was overwhelming. I started feeling discouraged even before I began. I decided to take it step by step and tackle one room at a time. However, various needs for one thing here and one thing there threw that plan awry. Now I have a house full of half finished rooms.

I am not one of those people who feels the need to have everything complete as soon as possible. I feel that decorating a home takes time and evolves as you live there and your needs for each space become more apparent. However, I do have an overall vision for my home and I want to make sure I don't get lost in all the projects and end up regretting that there was something I didn't get to.

So, I decided to make my lists more visual. Rather than keeping my lists hidden in various notebooks or on my phone I made little post-its with my to do and to buy goals for each room. My home is a work in progress and it is my hope that these notes will keep my progress on track.

~T

Home Sweet Home

This is our childhood home

They say home is where the heart is, but for me my heart is in two places. In September 2012, I moved from Chicago, Illinois to Manchester, England to follow my dream of attending art school as well as to be closer to my soon to be husband. I have never spent this much time away from my family, and it has honestly been the hardest but best time of my life. No matter what, Chicago will always be my home. It's where I spent the first 20 years of my life. My family and friends are there. But Manchester is now my new home. It is where I will be spending the rest of my life. I go to one of the best art schools and have made amazing friends. The past few months Manchester has shaped me into an adult; I have never lived on my own before. I will be getting married in August in Chicago and will come back to Manchester. I will have a new home here with family and friends. This where, one day, I will start my own family. No matter what, though, I will never stop calling Chicago my home, part of me is still there. Home is where there is love and happiness, I am lucky enough to have two.

~Maria

Home Sweet Home

This couch was the first purchase I made for our new home

Growing up I always thought I would be the first one to really leave home. Not simply because I am the oldest but because I had grown up with the mentality that one day I would get married and move away from my family. After all that is what my mother did and her mother before her and I am a traditionalist at heart. However, of the three grown-up children in our family I am the only one who is still where we grew up.

That's not to say that I am stuck where we started. I went to college not too far away. I married an Englishman who generously offered to move to Chicago for me and we now have a baby boy and a new-to-us house only 10 minutes away from my parents' home. It's funny how so much has changed in my life while the scenery has remained the same. But, it isn't the scenery that makes my new home feel like home. It is my husband getting out of bed early to mow the lawn, my son squealing because he saw his reflection in the mirror, my bookcase rammed with books, the vase one of my best friends gave me as a wedding present and the family housewarming party filling our living room with banter and laughter.

The every day chores, tribulations and triumphs plus the people I share my home with are what make me feel like we really belong here. I certainly had my doubts and the path to getting this house was full of strife. But, now, I am glad to call it home.

 ~Tasneem