Noteworthy
I promise I didn’t totally throw in the towel on Noteworthy posts! What used to be a regular, reoccurring monthly series I very much looked forward to slipped away with my routine during the hustle & bustle of the holidays. Here we are, four months later- having finally found my footing, I figured it was time to get back into the habit of catching up, sharing updates, and casually chatting in one of my favorite types of blog posts. While some time has passed since I last shared, I’m excited to bring new Noteworthy ramblings your way today. Click through to kick off the week with monthly updates, links, inspiration, and random musings from me to you… oh, how I missed this! It’s a big one.
First, I’ve got a long overdue home update for you… Emmett is still working on the entryway. He has been replacing the doors, hardware, and is wrapping up the millwork. Once that is finished, we’ll begin the “fun phase” of the renovation where things really seem to move along… paint (or wallpaper, if I’m lucky), light fixture swaps, textiles, art, styling, etc. This has definitely been the most labor intensive project that has tested his finish carpentry skills and my patience, ha. He said it has been far more difficult than even our kitchen renovation, if that tells you anything.
While he’s chipping away at the entryway and upstairs hall, I’ve already turned my attention to another bedroom makeover… with MORE corner shelving I’m about to remove (shocking, right?). After sharing our maroon guest room, I thought I might as well tackle another quick and easy space. After having our family here visiting earlier this month- with all of our bedrooms occupied, the least put together guest room is the small one in our basement. It has a twin bed and was one of the first rooms I threw together, in an effort to have sleeping arrangements for our entire family who visited shortly after we moved in a few years ago. It hasn’t changed since and is basically a mismatched mashup of thrifted furniture and bedding we already owned. It’s a bare bones kind of space that could use some love. My plan is to choose paint this week and get going- a fast & furious makeover! As always, I’ll bring you along on the journey.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for my bedroom inspiration- you can find a bunch on this Pinterest board. Pinterest has been my happy place lately… it’s feeling like the old days over there! Are you following along? It has been fun!
As homeownership goes, we’ve also been in maintenance mode over here. We’ve been tackling things like replacing air & water filters, cleaning & tuning our HVAC, water softener, and house humidifier after having found wet carpet in our basement. Emmett is pretty confident our water softener is on the fritz (despite being new), so we’re trying to get to the bottom of that issue, while dealing with the mess. Consider this your maintenance reminder for those pesky home details! I’m looking forward to a good spring clean next month.
Many of you asked if I could share a travel guide from our recent trip to Canada, and while I didn’t take too many photos (this trip was primarily about skiing), I did want to share some photos throughout this post. If you are one of the few who have not had enough snow this season, here are 5 Cozy Hotels Where Winter is A Treat. We’re still in February, after all! We road tripped along the Trans Canada Highway from Calgary to Revelstoke to Banff, then back again to catch our flight. We definitely indulged in some craft cocktails, poutine (when in Canada, obviously), and took in some gorgeous views. The people were the absolute nicest. I’d love to go back during the summer season! In regards to outdoor activities, I skied until my legs physically couldn’t. We also had a hot springs & spa day, walked around Lake Louise, and wandered around the city streets window shopping.
Are you into astrology & horoscopes? It’s always been a fun ritual for me. I had to click into this old article on how you decorate your home according to your zodiac sign. Mine (Scorpio) honestly rings pretty true… does yours?
What I’ve been digging into lately…
Reading… To Shake the Sleeping Self (I’m going to Jedidiah’s writing & nature retreat this spring!)
Watching… The Climb on HBO and 1923
Listening to… Jay Shetty on Call Her Daddy (podcast) & Creative Classical Channel (playlist on Spotify)
Eating… Crock Pot Butter Chicken (modified for my restricted diet)
Looking for an interesting Parisian apartment home tour for a virtual escape with a bit of design inspiration? Look no further!
Remember last month when I shared my favorite interior design magazines for real life inspiration via print? Well- I have a new rec to add to the list! Definitely check out Frederic Magazine. It just moved to the top of my list after having received my first issue. Thanks to the reader who messaged me about this one… great tip!
My recent purchases? Here are five of my recent buys…
- Sheer Bronzing Stick // It’s that point in the year where I look like I’ve been hibernating and could use some sunshine. I restocked my favorite sheer bronzer stick to warm up my complexion and add some life back into my face. I love this stuff!
- Swivel Bouclé Chair // I snagged this affordable swivel chair for the basement bedroom I’m working on. For the price, it’s really an awesome find and comes in many colors!
- Trench Coat // I’ve been looking for a good structured, classic trench coat and I love the shape of this one! I’m waiting for it to arrive, but I’ll let you know the verdict once I try it on. I’ve been trying to build a capsule wardrobe and be very intentional with fashion purchases.
- Glass Kitchen Canisters // I needed additional glass canisters for our kitchen and laundry room. I was looking for an option with a good seal that is food safe and these look timeless.
- Woven Tissue Cover // One of my friends shared this really chic affordable find with me, so I snagged one for our main bathroom.
Are there any White Lotus fans out there? I absolutely loved this home tour! Michael Imperioli’s home is even more incredible than the popular set he worked on… and it’s not at all what I envisioned. What a fun surprise!
We had the pleasure of attending the Hair for Hope Gala last week. Emmett & I got all dressed up and it was an evening of inspiring stories that hit close to home. With my ongoing health struggles and hair loss, they gifted me extensions last year and I wanted to give back in some way. Tuesday Made sent over some items for their silent auction and I enjoyed hearing stories from seriously strong women doing big things in my community- it was super moving and such a great cause I felt lucky to be apart of. I’m feeling more optimistic about my health this year and Emmett is getting better at giving me daily injections, so things are looking up. I’m hopeful and just wanted to say thanks for being here, for continually checking in, and for being so supportive. Work took a back burner to my health (as it should), and somehow you all still show up to read blog posts and send encouragement.
This winter has seemed pretty packed with fun. Our family visited, we’ve taken multiple ski trips, we’ve skied locally, ice skated, gone sledding, had more hot cocoas & Irish coffees than I care to admit, and have been making the most of the winter wonderland we call home. Some other things I’m looking forward to in the weeks ahead? Laurie Anne is visiting next week- of course she’s bringing Hazel and her husband, Taylor. They’ve requested a ski day. We’ll be de-winterizing the camper soon, as we already have a fun trip planned for March… we’re meeting & camping with our family for Emmett’s birthday in Arizona. Of course, we’re also looking forward to crossing more house projects off the list as the weather warms. What are you looking forward to in the weeks ahead?
Traveling always makes me want to do more traveling. On our return flight home Canada, after watching Kelly’s Wearstler’s design class series, Emmett & I daydreamed of warm weather trips. These gorgeous Italian villas have me reminiscing on our 10-year anniversary trip to Italy last fall.
I shared my top travel items here, if you’re also planning trips for the year ahead. Of course you can see all of my picks, finds, and selections on my Amazon page and LTK page. I’m constantly sharing cool things over there, so be sure to follow along!
Despite all the daydreaming, we’re still very much in the thick of winter here in Salt Lake… in fact, we’re breaking records for our snowfall and ski base- which is fantastic news because we need the precipitation. Regardless, it seems every week brings more snow and I’m officially at that point in the season where I anxiously await the first signs of spring, despite the fact that our lawn is currently buried under almost two feet of snow. Articles like this one are helpful- winter decor ideas from designers from some of the coldest places.
Per usual, I’m talking too much. I’ve rambled on and this post is getting far longer than I had intended. Let’s wrap things up! Let me know if you have questions for me in the comment section below… life questions, house questions, design questions, travel questions, whatever is on your mind. I hope you’re all having a good winter and have a good week ahead.
