How to Create and Enjoy Your Outdoor Space

I don't know about you, but I basically live for all things outdoor. I thoroughly embrace each season (okay, that's a lie...I think I hate winter!!) so when they shift and each one makes room for more opportunities spent outside, I take every chance! When we moved into our new house last summer, the first thing we noticed was how empty the back deck felt. We already had a gazebo with globe lighting, but I dreamt of outdoor furnituture; preferably some that I could comftorably lounge and get sleepy on. We knew that realistically we couldn't afford to buy anything (buying a brand new house is *kinda* pricey all on its' own.....) so we waited until the time was right. 

See this sectional? You better believe this is where I do the majority of my ME time. Sometimes I let my husband join me... kidding, kidding, kidding! We spend a LOT of time talking and cuddling right there. I remember the first night he set this all up. It was still cool and crisp outside (not 103 degrees as it CURRENTLY is) and we completely dozed off under that Opalhouse blanket. Thank you, Target, for generating a brand new line that basically resembles Anthro, but is way more affordable, am I right, Girls?! 

All of the pillows can be found yet this season at Target. The long rectangular one is not technically an 'outdoor pillow,' nor is the throw, but I decided to risk it anyway. They didn't have many options that I loved that are considered 'outdoors,' so when it rains I just do my best to grab them and put them on our living room couch. 

The sectional is an amazing Amazon find! It is seriously SO comfortable and very easily washable. It IS considered an outdoor couch, so yay. It came with the table, and we went with the Nature Brown option. Honestly the table came broken, with a piece of wood split open on the side. We decided to fix it ourselves instead of shipping it back, and Amazon was great to refund us $100 for the trouble. 

The two side chairs were also purchased on Amazon, but are technically Walker Edison Furniture pieces. They came in a set of two, and while the wood doesn't match 100%, it's very, very close and looks great with the sectional. We love that we can host 6+ people easily on this patio, because one of our biggest passions is gathering and fellowshiping with our friends and family. It's not just us who love lounging in this space, clearly our pets spend a lot of time here as well. Our grey cat, Manny, starts to howl around 6 in the morning to be let out and when I actually get UP for the day, I always smile when I see him curled up in a ball either on the couch or in the circular tray on the table.

My biggest advice for designing your outdoor space, is to create it around your family's needs. Sure, cute things are great, but they're not always functional. We made sure that we had a couch large enough that we could host, but made sure to choose one that could be cleaned and would [hopefully] last a long time. The outdoor rug is also easily sprayed off, and can still be found at Target.  

Pops of color are always great in a neutral space, which is why I went with the Opalhouse line of products that I did. I am obsessed with those salmon, and light pinks, and they look great on that cream colored sectional! And lastly, I am a firm believer that fresh flowers make *every* space better and more appealing. So at least whenever we host or plan to spend a few hours on the deck, I like to buy some and fill a vase. 

I would love to know what your dream deck looks like! Or what projects you're currently working on! I am so grateful to have this space and look forward to many cozy nights spent outside because of it. 

Gather: There is Always Room at Our Table

Moment of truth: as I photographed this space and scanned through the photos I was taking, the thought, "This is MY dining room???" went through my head. Y'all, I am in love. When I first walked through here, I was a little hesitant and doubted whether our eight foot farmhouse table would FIT. We've had this table for almost a year now, and it's one of our dearest household possessions. I don't know about you, but for us, the table is where memories are made. 

One of my favorite author's, Jen Hatmaker, said in her book For the Love, "Instead of waiting for community, provide it, and you’ll end up with it anyway.” If there is one thing my husband and I strive for, it IS community. We have had led small groups for years, hosted the past three Thanksgivings, and have people over for dinner weekly. The table is where our kids eat all of their meals, it's where we recap our full and busy days, it's the place that we laugh and come together. 

Well, my husband and I have been the king and queen of hand-me-downs and vintage furniture. When we got married (ahem, almost nine years ago!) we were blessed to have parents and friends who gifted us with pieces they no longer needed. But the last few years, and especially once we received this gorgeous table, we really longed for better seating. Seating that would actually match the space, and that looked like it FIT. 

When my friends at Walker Edison Furniture gave me the green light on collaborating for these chairs, I almost cried. Literally. I mean SERIOUSLY...what more perfect chair could GO with this table?!?! The dark wood and white seat backs are almost exact, it's like they were made for each other. See for yourself, just how amazing the dining room looks thanks to these beauties. 

Thank God for a beautiful new house, with an abundance of natural light, white trim throughout, and for a gorgeous place where I look forward to hosting SO MANY meals with friends and families. We are having so much fun decorating and styling this home, but I'm 99% sure that the dining room is complete. 

We are big on loving people. On helping others feel welcome. Inviting individuals in to our mess, because frankly, as pretty as this room looks, that doesn't mean we have it all together. Here is where the goodness happens. Around my husband's home cooked meals, fresh flowers (most days), and often on chairs that have remnants of our children's messy fingers. There is always room at our table, and it's with a very special thanks to Walker Edison Furniture, that I am even more excited to gather here. 

Hello, Boyhood!

Summer vacation is FINALLY here and we are so excited for what these months will bring! Truth be told though, I am struggling with one part of it: my sweet first born will be turning four in just a few short weeks. When Pierson was a newborn, we received a beautiful plaque from one of my husband's friends. It read: "Nonsense. Young boys should never be sent to bed. They always wake up a day older, and then before you know it, they're grown." -J.M. Barrie

Well, little did I know how true of words these were. I feel as if we brought him home yesterday and here we are...saying goodbye to his toddler years! So for parents with babies, this one's for you. If you have a toddler, wonderful! People tell me, "The best is yet to come," and while I'm convinced they say that just to be empathetic and sweet, I have found that my heart loves my children more each day. I don't know how that's possible, since the love currently residing there is so powerful, but I'm hopeful that the moments ahead of us are going to be just as beautiful. 

I'm often asked what I love about the ages and stages of my children. I've said it before, but I will never believe anyone who says that "two is the worst." I'm sorry if you've had a different experience, but our son was so much FUN at two. My daughter, who is the prime of two currently, is continuing this fact for us that this age is just magical. So what's three? I've written a post here before called, 'In the Trenches with a Threenager,' and I meant every word. For a few short (felt like never-ending) months, Pierson was r-o-u-g-h. The tantrums, the whininess, the complaints and the indecisiveness. But when those moments passed, out came the sweetest, most endearing and polite child I could have ever prayed for! This kid has been saying 'I love you' on repeat, explaining to me all the reasons why he loves his house, his pets, his new bunkbeds (thank you, Walker Edison Furniture!!!) and his family. He's always said great prayers, but now he lays in the bottom bunk, and goes into such great detail about who and what he is thankful for. With the days passing quickly, he seems so much older, so much more grown. A few nights ago we snuggled together and with a flashlight, did numerous shadow puppets on the bed above us. He giggled so loudly and then wrapped his arms around my neck as he said, "Mom, I love you SO much." So guess what? Now I am convinced... three is my favorite. 

But wait, two is my favorite too! And I loved the newborn stage, the baby stage, the twelve month stage, so perhaps after all, I have just loved it ALL? Moms of older or grown children, right now you are nodding with me. You might also be thinking, "This lady is a little crazy, but she's right. Every single stage you will love your children more and more." Pierson's toddler years are almost gone. He looks forward to turning four and has been asking repeatedly for a sleepover in his new bunkbed with the cousins. He loves all things Avengers and can't wait to have a 'Captain America cake and balloons,' (his requests.)

Parents who fear the 'threenager year,' please don't. People will tell you that the terrible two's are hardly survivable and that three is even worse. These years, they are so fleeting and in the blink of an eye, you will be holding your almost 4-year old saying, "Where did this time GO?" I remember his crib and I remember lying silently beside it when he was a tiny babe falling asleep. The transition to a 'big boy bed' came so fast, it was the month after he turned two. His twin bed felt so enormous to me and when I saw him there, sitting proudly in the middle of it, I held back tears as I cheered him on. Over the last year he has been a huge fan of Peppa Pig and in the cartoon, she has a bunkbed. "Maybe I can get a bunkbed, Mom!" he would say. When the opportunity arose to work with Walker Edison, I couldn't pass it up. And when the box arrived on our front porch, I thought Pierson was going to lose his ever-loving mind with excitement. Within two hours, my husband had it up and ready to be slept on and I thought, "Here we go again. Hold your tears back, Mama." 

Life looks different now. My children no longer need me the way in which they did as babies, but you all know this. And they do still need me to read them books and sing them lullabies. They need me to cuddle under the covers (or for my daughter's sake who Lord help me, hasn't been transitioned to a big bed yet)--in the rocking chair. They need me to pray with them and teach them, walk beside them and laugh with them. June 15, this awesome kid is turning four, but my heart is open wide to the adventures that await with this new and exciting age. I'll hold tightly the years behind us, and I'm giving a huge HELLO to his boyhood. 

*A sincere special thanks to Walker Edison Furniture for this collaboration and your beautiful bunkbeds! We are so in love!!*