Tomorrow I will be celebrating my third Mother's Day as an actual mother, and for the first time I feel as though I can speak with authority on the subject of 'what moms really want'. I think this is the first year that I've been able to slow down enough to give it some thought. My daughter is almost 2 1/2 and unlike my first two Mom Days -- when all I really wanted was to survive -- I've actually settled into this most important and fulfilling role, and took a moment to reflect on what I would like to receive this mother's day to make it that much more special.
Aside from the obvious trinkets and tokens of appreciation that we all love -- flowers, jewelry, and mom-only trips to the spa for some pampering -- I've realized I need time! Time to devoted to dressing up my nest. You see, since becoming a mom I spend an awful lot of time there. There's no more coming home after work, throwing on some fresh lipstick and high heels and running back out the door for a glam night on the town. Oh no. Now I'm at home at least six nights a week and we spend most of our weekends there as well. I want to love it. I want to be surrounded with objects that I adore and rooms that feel finished, cozy and beautiful.
With this in mind, I've chosen a few spaces in my tiny house that have been neglected these last few years and could use a little love. Not saying I need them all to happen tomorrow, but a firm dedication to finding some room in the budget for them sometime this summer, perhaps? Yep, that would make me one happy mama.
My Daughter's Room: A Finishing Touch
My daughter's bedroom (top image) is my favourite room in my home. It's the most recently decorated, and it feels fresh and somewhat new to me. It's also special because of all the incredible moments I've spent with her in there these last couple of years. There's one glaringly obvious problem with it though -- can you spot it? Yes, that ceiling light fixture! Please make it go away. The Bellavista 3-Light Petite Chandelier (bottom image) from Canadian Tire is reasonably priced and quite pretty and will add the perfect feminine touch to this well-used space.
My Own Room: A Finishing Touch
I recently recovered the headboard in my own modest bedroom (top image) and I think it has added a much needed pop of visual interest. I feel happy whenever I see it, that is until my eye wanders over to those shameful window coverings. They have got to go. Granted the windows are not as lovely as the ones in the photo from Westelm (bottom image) but I do love the simple, breezy feel of those white, crinkle-cotton curtain panels. A hardware update is also required. All in all, a simple and inexpensive fix that will make me fall back in love with the only room in the house that is still mostly reserved for mom and dad.
Because I Love Them and It's My Day: Penguins
I've never been a collector. In fact, I detest clutter and would live in a house that looks just like the staged, empty spaces I've been seeing in my recent house-hunt if it were at all possible/practical with a stuff-loving husband and a toddler. Maybe I'm loosening up a little, because recently I've noticed that what started as a casual interest in the super-cuteness of penguins (you have to admit, their colour-scheme is chic), has become a full-on addiction. The penguins you see on the left side of the image above are all actual items in my home. The middle one was supposed to be a Christmas decoration but I couldn't bare to put him away at the end of the season. And still I want more. Specifically, the one on the right of the image, part of the ceramic Menegerie Collection by Jonathan Adler.
Because I Love Them and It's My Day: Horses
The staircase between the second and third floors of my diminutive, stacked townhouse (top image) is a lovely, sun-filled open space that's just begging for an over-sized piece of artwork. As you can see, it doesn't have one yet. To purchase a print large enough to fill that wall is going to cost a small fortune and I want something special. I could have easily made some kind of DIY wall art project by now, like a few large canvases covered with pretty fabric, but truth be told, that's not special. And I like horses. And I want something like the print you see above (bottom image, from ApartmentTherapy.com), part of Roberto Dutesco's Sable Island series. And again, it's my day!
Let's hear it Moms - what improvements, trinkets or renos would make you love your own nest just a little bit more?
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