Teaching you to create a home and life you love
This post contains an affiliate link. I may earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you so much for your support! Do you ever feel stuck? Or, like you have pent-up feelings that you can’t quite name or put a finger on? Me too! In those moments, I turn to my journal. Journaling is one of
I’d planned our itinerary for the next ten days, booked all the Airbnb’s along the way, planned every outfit, and was ready for our family road trip across the country. But, I couldn’t have planned this. Hear the story of an unexpected journey, and hopefully find your own path in, The Long Way Home: A
I remember driving home with an SUV full of new toys after every Christmas and my daughter being surrounded by a sea of presents at every birthday party. Hannah was always filled with anticipation and excitement while I was filled with dread and overwhelm at the idea bringing all those toys into my home. I
Entertain. Host. Those words are enough to send dread through the hearts of many. I get it. There’s a lot of planning and preparation involved. Not to mention getting the house ready. When I was single, I fantasized about being a socialite who could entertain her husband’s important clients or host fancy dinner parties at
I remember my first apartment like it was yesterday… How excited I was to pick out the wall paper border for the kitchen and bathroom. Shopping for living room furniture with my Mom. Rescuing the electric fireplace from my parent’s garage to dress up my simple living room. And, my determination to create a stylish
The master closet design just wasn’t working. Dirty laundry spilled out from the hamper, which was really in the way. I had a hard time reaching some of my accessories, and there wasn’t enough space for folded clothes, but I was determined to make this closet space work. Three Tips to Successful Space Planning You
My life behind closed doors wasn’t at all what I’d imagined it could be. My marriage was on very shaky ground. I was fed up with my sedentary, confined lifestyle. And, I no longer knew who I was or what I was supposed to do with my life. Little did I realize I was about
Having trouble deciding what stays and what goes as you declutter your home? We all do. Because, purple beaded bracelets your daughter made, or a collection of barware you inherited from Granny. The good news is decluttering isn’t just about letting go: It’s also about deciding what you keep. As I decluttered my home last
January 10, 2018 Ten days into the new year, and the “new me” hasn’t gotten the memo yet. She’s still chasing dark chocolate Reese’s cups with Mexican Coke for breakfast, and piling a mountain of mini marshmallows on her hot chocolate as a “winter treat” nearly every night. And…there’s one lone Christmas garland still gracing
After dinner, we decided to take a walk along La Jolla beach. We were enchanted with the charming town as we coasted up and down the streets looking for a parking spot, eventually parking curbside on a quaint road with big, beautiful houses perched above us on the cliff’s edge. As we made our way
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But this picture? It’s worth more than words could possibly capture, but I’ll try because there’s a story of heartache and triumph behind my smile; one that needs to be told. The last time we “spoke,” I mentioned I was looking forward to what Fall may
I thought last Summer was unforgettable; that nothing could compete with the simultaneous joy and sorrow we felt while celebrating my niece’s engagement in a hospital room, where we desperately hoped and prayed for my Dad’s recovery. But, this Summer caught me by surprise. It’s been filled with some of the best times of my life. Also, one of
I spend the last day or so stunned into stillness, too shocked to do anything. But, as the night fades into morning, shock is giving way to strength. I’m ready to rise up with the rest of Houston and find ways I can help my town, within my means and abilities. Since many of you have asked how
“I’m not doing well. Mentally, emotionally or physically,” I confided in a text message to my friend. If felt so good to get that off my chest, I continued my confession, explaining the why behind it all: Leaving my daughter thousands of miles away. Financial woes. Physical ailments and now, Hurricane Harvey. The Storm photo
![The Long Way Home: A Scenic Route to Self-Discovery [Day 1]](https://www.mrshinesclass.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/westtexassunset.jpg)
