Oh and I just have to share this before it gets too far past Valentine’s Day…definitely file this one away for next year… Hearts punched out of book pages, I love anything made using book print..Like this wreath that made the rounds on blogs..so wanted to do this but when did I have time to do this?? I didnt!  So I was so excited when my sweet friend Christi made this adorable Valentine’s Day version..

Appears she covered a green foam wreath with book pages and then glued a gazillion hearts all over…Hopefully she will comment and let us know how long this took. I am going to leave it hanging in my kitchen window ALL month and then carefully store it for next year…I love it so much.  I did not leave it on the front door..too damp outside but it sure looks fun on the red door.  Just had to share.

….and I must say, I am not really a “marriage conference” kind of girl..the thought of attending “A Weekend to Remember” or anything similar is just not my idea of fun. You could say I am cynical or have a bad attitude but I am just being honest… however, I really like John and Stasi Eldredge (they wrote Wild at Heart and Captivating, I am about to read this finally..excited) and it was a quick drive to Austin and back so I was able to go…without my husband unfortunately. But that’s ok because he was with our children and that is just how it works in this season of life. And I went with two wise and lively ladies.  And yall, it was good.  The book discussion was so honest and un-churchy and it was very solid and applicable information. 

So, I highly recommend this book..don’t let the cheesy subtitle “the marriage you’ve always dreamed of” turn you off (again my cheese radar is working for yall;;)…these people are authentic and real and offer the bigger spiritual picture but also talk about the day to day of where we live. oh and Stasi has a blog.

Has anyone else read this book???  thoughts? I really could go on and on but I will stop for now…

oh and why am I putting this on my blog?..well obviously (a) it is my blog and (b) what is more important to the beauty of a home than a good marriage?!

It is a tiny tiny hallway so the small scale is perfect…and I love the clear glass.

But really, anything is better than what it replaced.

I can explain about the brass.  When we moved in to our little house NINE + years ago, I found this little light in brushed nickel and it was fine, especially for $20 bucks.  BUT they only had one and I needed TWO (one for another little hallway upstairs)..  So I got the nickel for upstairs and the brass one for the hallway so we could have a light for a few weeks and then I just thought I would simply  replace it when I had time to find something I liked better.  You know how that goes…so finally…finally we have a better light in this little space and I love it! I will say it casts a shadow on the ceiling that bothered me at first but who cares, the brass is gone and I dont even notice it a few days later.

And THIS little light, which BTW is exactly what he is, pure light and joy, well he is 6 months old today!  We love you baby Henry, you are such a blessing to our family.  What did we do without you?

This is what I find in his crib every morning…a happy baby!

all day long for the most part…

don’t hate me, my first one was not this content so I am very thankful. 

soaking. it. up. thankful.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17

Seriously,  look around and make yourself at home!

I am still tweaking different areas so thank you for your patience . . . BUT  you can now do so much more here like subscribe to follow the blog more easily, search if interested, and actually click on one of the articles in the press section!  Yall this is progress! and I am working on categories and the portfolio is growing so keep checking back… this tidying up is work but worth it to have a more organized and functional blog for my readers and myself!!

Most of all, thank you for stopping by my blog during this CRAZY time of year when you are so so  busy! I hope you are having a happy and joyful Advent season.

and then Saturday on the way home from Nana’s house we stopped by here, 531 N. 33rd Street in Waco, Texas..my first home as Mrs. Mathis.

isnt this the cutest little house?! just seeing our little honeymoon cottage all decked out and ready for Christmas made me feel great. I could go on and on about this place (and i am going to for a bit so settle in for some gushing). The bottom line is look at how well kept it is… that is because the owners are the most awesome landlords EVER.. His name is Chuck (his brother Harold has passed since we lived there) but Chuck still lives across the street and sends the most beautiful Christmas cards every year.

and I am not making this up, not only did he take care of the yard (still does just look at that huge fern), but he also decorates for Christmas (in fact he would prefer you not touch anything outside..he did allow me or i should say NOT THROW A FIT when i took down the questionable pink balloon shades he had covering the interior windows which i carefully stored in the attic) which was great for me..not an outside person as many of you know. Chuck even CLEANS THE SHOWER! Yep, he cleans the shower..you see this little house has a massive, SOLID MARBLE shower and Chuck had a bad renter one time that did not keep the shower clean and it was a mess when he moved…so after that Chuck decided to do it himself. a little odd i thought at the time but it sounds awesome right about NOW.

the house also had a MASSIVE fireplace, i think that was my husband’s favorite feature. and wonderful green and black and white tiles in the kitchen and of course wood floors….very tiny it was originally built in the 1920s in this historic neighborhood as a honeymoon cottage, so no just our honeymoon cottage but the original owners as well (are you gagging yet?;;)..they built it at the rear of the lot so they could later build a larger home in front…they never did. SO this little house has sat at the rear property line all of these years.

Chuck and Harold grew up in the home across the street (where Chuck still lives) and later bought 531 N 33rd and began to lovingly restore it. …Chuck has it landscaped beautifully and has built a lovely courtyard area between the cottage and massive garage. I noticed he has added some carriage looking garage doors since we drove by last..he is always working on some improvement or upkeep project. I think he has owned it for about 20-25 years!

just look at the little courtyard..the washer and dryer are hidden behind one of those doors. notice the little mirror treatments over the faux garage windows/shutters..Chuck told me he got that idea from Southern Accents magazine!

and 531 N. 33rd’s claim to fame…Billy Graham’s granddaughter lived here while in college at Baylor.. and lucky me, i found it in the newspaper weeks before we got married..the perfect place for us to start married life..even though we were stressed with law school and graduate school, it was a great time!

the only drawback..basically no closets…one teeny tiny. but no fear, Chuck furnished the only bedroom with two huge pine armoires..his and hers.

so see why this made me feel better..i also remember that while living here i suddenly began to care less about academics and finishing a thesis and suddenly just wanted to have babies and decorate! sound normal for a newlywed?! I am glad my husband “encouraged” me to finish the thesis but i am also very thankful i am living the dream of the babies and decorating…so fun to look back and see all God has done in my life! Not perfect but surely blessed.

{images courtesy of husband’s Blackberry}

This is a good Monday @ Chez Mathis….I hope it is for you too.

OK so on with the Monday morning chat. Did you hear the buzz about THIS MOVIE and have you received your Traditional Home yet???? I laughed so hard because I was out running errands on Saturday and I saw the new TH and I nearly bought it right there at the expensive newstand price because (a) I could not remember if I renewed my subscription? and (B) I was dying to read about this new Nancy Meyers’s film. SO I get home and start checking my blogs and who has already written a thesis on the film and the interiors..YEP..Joni @ Cote de Texas. She is on the ball! Go read here, i am not even going to comment about it any more (until i see it) BUT I will just say I am not overly excited about seeing my favorite actress of all time Meryl Streep (Out of Africa totally influenced my design aesthetic..even more than Somethings Gotta Give, sorry Joni;;) in bed with Alec Baldwin…he is creepy (even on Thomas the tank videos) i am sorry to be negative and if his mother is reading this blog I apologize (I am sure he was a precious baby) but I just really dont feel good about seeing them together. Hopefully the kitchen will make the uncomfortable scenes worthwhile. (just check that cute little linen or burlap curtain in the left corner)

AND #2 on monday morning chat list (see how involved this gets, probably why some mondays i dont get much done)..I have pictures to share of Baby Girl Spencer.

isnt she adorable?? Remember she has FOUR brothers. wow!

oh and she sent me a text..she loves the toile drapes!; She really enjoys having a feminine space where she can get away from all of those rowdy boys.;;

please keep her in your prayers, she is having a little health issue, it is not terribly serious but her parents are hoping it will be resolved soon and as easily as possible. WE LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!

Ok last on the list (I have more but I need to stop and feed my child) I need to talk about the blog. Things are changing here at HMI, you will see some changes in ads and formats and I am giving lots of thought and prayer to content and other areas as well. I may even put up a little poll soon to see what topics you are interested in etc… so watch the sidebar and please leave comments. I know everyone is busy and dont expect everyone to leave comments each and every time but blogging is a lot of work (and that is ok because it is a part of my little business) BUT feedback is so encouraging.

Yall have a great Monday~ let me know what you have going on…

{Drew after school last week..it was picture day..this is more “him” with the play gun and hat than the sweater vest;;}

So we celebrated his birthday by going with a few friends and family to this place called Dewberry Farm. IT. WAS. NUTS. that is really all i am going to say BUT he was happy..the cute cake melted, the favors and cute animal cookies got looked over ..oh and i forgot the matches for the candles (supermom!) but it does not matter..the point was he had a great time and felt special…not every birthday can or should be decorated and obsessed over every detail like this one was….so glad i am relaxing and learning to enjoy my kids and various imperfections associated with life..i would an unhappy mess otherwise..

{notice the cake is melting;; but it was a cUTE cake and the sun made it warm and yummy;;} probably my last year for polka dot napkins and sweet farm themes and cowboy pajamas (for him at least..watch out Henry!)…i am sure it will be transformers all the way next year!

{and here is the little man having cake later that night and finally getting to blow out his candle}

so there you go, my first baby is FIVE.. Sorry to gush but i just love my babies so much..more than any house or any fabric.
{Drew in the leaves, 2005} “We love you Mr. Precious!”

Yall have fun this weekend and be safe!;

{image from Melissa’s beautiful home}

Her interest in “authentic living” is so encouraging..this is some of what she has to say about it.. “I am passionate about practicing what I call Authentic Living. Authentic Living is living a life that really works. It is focusing on things that are appropriate for me and the season in my life. It is about letting go of pressure to live out a life that isn’t really “me.” And that includes creating a home that may not look like the cover of a magazine, or just like my neighbors home, but nurtures my family and reflects more on WHO I AM than WHAT I HAVE. That is the beauty of “using what you have” to create an authentic home! Your home is unique to you! I like to find inspiration from others, but then I like to mix things up and make them my own.” good stuff huh? and there is more here..

It is exciting to see blogs like the Inspired Room and this new magazine (I mean they have fab photos by King Au)pictured above (check out the latest issue on stands NOW!)that focus not just on beautiful “material” living but a beautiful life on the inside (and when i say interiors i dont mean the kitchen) as well….. ha! did anyone get that bad joke but me;;

So i knew i wanted to get input from Melissa on this photo topic..here is what she said:

“I love using candid photos to decorate a wall or table top in my home. The candid photos capture real moments and remind us of what matters in life. I think it is important to create a home that not only reflects our family but inspires us to live the life we want. Decorating a home should be about creating a life, not putting together a designer showroom. When children see a “family wall” of photos every day as they head to their bedroom or another room in the home, they see that they are treasured, that they are a part of a happy family and that life is good. Photos encourage our family to be thankful for what we have and to count our blessings. Any time we can create a lasting happy memory for a child (or ourselves!) we are giving a lifelong gift. Family photo displays are a tangible reminder of happy times and the people we love — that is what a home is all about!”

so there you have it, what a great way to end this photo “two weeks” but by keeping the main thing the main thing..

there is much more we could discuss about living with photos and using them to decorate, we barely scratched the surface and i know i will continue to post on this topic occassionally..how could i not as much as i love pictures…soon i will try to discuss various “gallery walls” using things other than photos.. but for now remember to edit edit edit when using photos, frame similar if you want a sure fire cohesive and nice look, and think about this authentic living thing..so freeing! our homes arent to just be beautiful but really a place to love, nuture, grow and remember and teach God’s goodness!

Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. –Deuteronomy 4

[from Meg Duerkson's Whatever blog]

For today, let’s focus on the ever so subjective topic of what’s frame worthy and current trends/inspiration in photography..there are so many..and they are fun! we’ll just scratch the surface..feel free to contribute your two cents in the comments.

Many moms are really interested in photography these days and we can learn so much from them..totally inspiring… like Darby at Fly Through our Window and Meg Duerkson…many of these awesome family blogs have great photography tips and discuss their cameras, a great resource for learning to capture your own images…so forget olan mills and sears! i think that is what many designers in the past were so leary of..too many BAD PICTURES.but if you are taking great pictures and careful not to display too many it can look so great….moms today are taking some pretty awesome photos of their kids in everyday life..dirty feet, baking in the kitchen, kids being kids..no wonder they want to display some of these treasures in their homes. it would be a shame not to!

So whether you are capturing your own images or using a professional like many of the images featured below, they are all treasures. it is just a matter of training your eye on what to use in your home and editing and updating periodically (this is my opinion).. Emily at Chatting at the Sky suggests in this awesome photo post on the Inspired Room to go through all of your photos and pick out 5 to work with..she promises it is worth the effort.. more on Emily’s great ideas tomorrow..she is one of those inspirational bloggers!

One of the main trends, if that is even what you call it, is on the “unposed or non portrait photo”..capturing (I know i have used that word too many times;;) little pieces of the everyday..sort of a social history view of photography..i think it is wonderful. Like a farmer’s hands and his baby girl’s sweet feet.

[image from Lynsey at Yonder Way Farm]

So whether you are using antique or vintage family photos like i mentioned yesterday, your own recent work, or a professional photographer, they can all work in your home, alone or together.

One reader mentioned yesterday about only having photos in private areas of your home not public spaces..good point and i have heard that “rule” before too BUT i know many young families like ours live in older, small homes with kids everywhere and frankly the entire home is a personal/private space..no “fancy” rooms here..But this image above captured by my dear friend Lynsey is so special and intimate it might be something for just her in a private space. Just like my photo below (with my son Drew).

I have this photo pictured above on my nightstand…it really reminds me of how it felt to hold my firstborn those first few months, that sweet baby fuzz head nuzzled under my neck..seeing this image on my nightstand every time i got out of bed to deal with a colicky baby really blessed and encouraged me…and still does!

I think the point we all realize and want to incorporate into our homes is that photos dont have to be posed to be frame worthy. they can bring joy and life in to our homes..and that is what we are about, creating happy homes where we can nurture our families and grow together. I think that is the trend, and i usually dont like trends but i like definetly like this..

Even professionals are jumping on this bandwagon or maybe leading it..For instance, I love this from Kate Benson..her entire site is inspiring….this is casual but wonderful. and with wedding portraits like this why keep them in an album…

or this of children..

so what about the feel and style of your images that you choose to display?? how contrived should they be..what about the white shirts..the black shirts..should we do brown shirts this year??? I’m not going to tell you what to do…i think they are actually very nice but you can mix it up too, you dont have to match, you dont have to even see the shirts or even FACES, your children dont even have to be CLEAN..imagine! and of course on one wall or table you can have some white shirt photos mixed in with close ups of your kids playing with the water hose! i know photography people think about this and though i love posed shots like this below(I mean isnt this so creative and precious?!)i like the non posed as well.

from Sadie Olive (who designed this blog)

..i also think the classic things are, well classic..so do the fun neat shot for a while and then put it away maybe, rotate your photos (how many busy moms actually do that though?) but there will be classic photos that always sta
y out..like this one of my son in the church nursery..I cant believe my friend Tami caputured this inside with those awful lights..but she did! I love that is just focuses on his face and not his outfit or the setting. (although i love the trees in the above images too!)

[image from the K Gallery]
just his face..nothing trendy about the background(except “the tilt”, i love the tilt..my mother does not get the tilt!) just HIM and i love it…and i bet I will in 20 years..and not just love the picture and feeling but love the way it looks in my house too…(except for maybe the tilt?! ha!)

here are a few more in my own home that i just cant live without right now..maybe i will rotate out soon..but for now these make our house feel like a home…

yes, the white shirts AND in bluebonnets (a Texas thang) but i love it..

[also from the K gallery]

So, i say frame things you love (like the train bridge below i captured near my hometown..full of memories for me–photos obviosuly dont have to just be of people), find things that you dont just love because of the subject matter or feeling they evoke but also because of the artistic composition and how they will look in your home, in a certain frame, grouped etc…you cant go only on emotion but you cant just go on look either..that’s the rub. We’ll talk more about groupings tomorrow.

WOW. i have really rambled on about this..should have broken this post up..thanks for indulging me..I think i am really passionate about this decorating with photos thing..more soon!

One more thing…i really enjoyed the comments and emails related to yesterday’s post. Let’s keep the conversation going. Funny, Amanda mentioned yesterday she did not realize this is such a “controversial” topic ..and its not really;;..it is totally personal taste BUT there was a time (and still exists among many) when many design types said NO family photos if you cared anything about interior design. i am serious. I think most of us and many designers today think this is a little silly, unpractical and even a little cold and unpersonal but there is definitely that group out there that believes it unsophisticated to have photos in your home. Just throwing that out there..what do you think?? i would love to hear from everyone!

and no, not everything has to be black and white but as the Nester says…when they arebw then “you are drawn into the faces more than the tony hawk shirt my boys are wearing..” i have more to share from the nester and others tomorrow.