spice it up!

 if you've been following my posts over the past two weeks, 

you've seen the way that the color red has made a first-time appearance in our winter home decor.

like a pinch of cayenne, ginger, or cinnamon in a great recipe,

we're enjoying the way just a touch of this hue spices up our rooms - and our moods!

that sweet little red wood birdhouse shown above was made by my grandson...

and i love having it on the sideboard in the entry hall where i see it many times a day.

the other red accents in our home are similar - just a small pop of color, but with big impact.

the best part?
i've incorporated this hue into our decor without spending much money at all! 

i already had everything i used (except one red thrifted sweater and one tan & red plaid blanket),

either in the house (in cabinets & closets) or the garage (seasonal decor bins + camping gear!).

continue reading to see how i created some of the 'fast, cheap, & easy' details!

making a happy home

a brand new year is a fresh new start, in so many ways...
every year, i choose a single word to be my intention and focus (rather than resolution).
i like this approach, as it is more about 'be' than 'do'.

THIS year, my word is 'happy' - for many reasons.

Mom and i also select a word that is our shared 'Word of the Year',

something that reflects a purpose or mission or quality that we intend to pursue together.

and this year, that word is 'HOME'.

we chose it for a few different reasons...

but the really amazing thing is that as soon as we decided on it,

all KINDS of things started showing up to 'confirm' that it was the right choice:

things like songs, and sentiments in cards from friends, a book that a friend of mine was selling, 

and us noticing little objects we had around here already

that would bring the word 'home' resonance in our home and our daily life.

and when i combined my word with our word, it really came to life...

continue reading to see how our winter decor evokes a 'happy home'!