Living Simply in the New Year

Living simply means different things to different people. For me, living simply is about:

• taking care of my home and those who inhabit it 
• taking time to appreciate and recognize the everyday miracles and beauty around me
• constantly being appreciative and happy with what I've got
• finding joy through giving and service
• connecting with nature
• not living beyond my financial means
• being self-sufficient
• staying mindful
• and truly realizing that the best things in life are free

These things combine to produce a balanced and fruitful life, the satisfaction with which is hard to put into words. It helps me to prioritize the things that are really important, and to live each day to the fullest. As the new year approaches I hope to simplify further by cooking more, shopping less, enjoying alone time, budgeting more, and learning how to garden. 

"He who is contented is rich." ~Lao Tzu

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

This Christmas is rather special for me. That's because it's the first year since being an adult that I've put up Christmas decorations (I'm a little late, I know). Now that things are up, I'm wondering what the heck took me so long! Christmas decorations are awesome. They make me feel warm and fuzzy inside, just like when I was a little kid. And nothing beats the smell of fresh pine on a winter morning. I confess, for environmental and financial reasons I have a fake tree, but these ScentSicles from Amazon make the house smell like the real deal.

This year the hubs and I agreed to give each other two gifts, one that costs nothing and another that costs under $25. I can't wait to see what he came up with :-) I hope all of you are enjoying your holiday decorating and gift giving.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Full Bath Update

Although our master bath was in good condition when we moved in, I decided to make a few changes to put our mark on it. Here's what the bathroom looked like before.

To improve things I got rid of the ugly pink paint, and switched to Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. I used a sample can to paint the small room to save money, it was on sale for only $5. I painted the vanity as well, and changed the knobs, which really helped it to look less cheap. For $150 bucks I highly recommend this vanity. Next I added a carrera marble countertop from a place called European Marble, which ran me $400. Then I added a chrome shower bar and chrome faucet, lighting, and accessories from Restoration Hardware (sidenote: it's a good idea to look for these items on Ebay for a discount). Though high-end fixtures are pricey, I think they're worth it because they have integrity and can last a lifetime (or two or three for that matter). Plus, since the bath was already small, the cost to install them wasn't too bad. I threw in all white linens to keep things feeling classic, open, and spa like.

The faucet is from Restoration's Asbury line. I like the timeless look of it, but be for warned that if you're considering installing it, because of all the crevices it's hard to clean. I use old toothbrushes and a t-shirt to get it back in shining condition.

As you can see bungalows don't come with huge baths, but that doesn't mean you can't make the most of em'. As they say....appreciate the small things!

Inn at Perry Cabin Here We Come!!!

My absolute favorite place on Earth is the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, MD. If I found out I had 7 days to live, I'd tell my husband to hurry and book my last days at Perry. We discovered it a couple of years ago, when I was doing some research on vacationing on the Eastern Shore. Ever since our first trip I've been in love.  This place has changed my life, literally. My whole design sense has changed  based on it's vibe. My birthday is coming up so the hubs surprised me with a weekend trip. OK, OK, I confess, he isn't really that romantic, he never surprises me. I Actually politely told him, "take me to Perry for my bday or else", and he obliged. He's such a sweetie pie. Anywho, here are some pics from around the venue. 

The lobby has a gorgeous reading room with water views.

Each time we've stayed in different rooms. This time we tried the Master Suite, which didn't disappoint.

The huge soaker tub is such a treat!

The other few times we've been it's been in the Spring, and it's even more beautiful then. I haven't been to another hotel that even compares to it. I kinda feel bad for discovering it, because now I'm afraid to try visiting new places for fear of disappointment. Check it out if you've got time.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?: 506 Cedarcroft, Baltimore, MD

I ran across this nice home in the neighborhood, at 506 Cedarcroft, that's for rent. It's been recently spruced up on the outside. Isn't it adorable? I love the color combo. If you're interested in renting it call Greg Fongheiser at 410-529-7900.

Lake Walker Bungalows

Since moving into our little yellow cottage, I have grown an extra appreciation for bungalow styled homes. One of the things I like most are their efficiency. The rooms are not too big and not too small. They harken back to an era where people used what they needed and not much more.  Though they are smaller they have materials with integrity that last for decades when taken care of, not to mention all their character! Living in my bungalow has taught me how to appreciate the small things. When I sit on our front porch underneath our giant Sycamore tree, I feel like I've found a piece of Heaven on Earth. I'm happy to see more people are coming into the city and restoring these homes. Here's a look at some of the cuties in Lake Walker.

Fall in Lake Walker

I love fall.....from the changing of the color of the leaves to the weather that's not hot, but not cold. Fall is awesome, especially in Lake Walker. Tons of neighbors decorated their homes for Halloween. We were bad this year and didn't decorate :-( Next year we will make a comeback and have the best decorated house in the neighborhood, I promise. Here are a few pics I snapped around the hood' to give you a look at how things look this time of year.

Looks like someone went to Michigan, boooooo! Go Green!