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Elsie’s Wearing: Jacket/Madewell, Dress/H&M, Shoes/Swedish Hasbeens, Bracelets/Madewell.
At the end of a long week, there really is no place better than just being at home. These days I treasure it with all my heart. My home is what I make it whether messy or serene. I choose to fill it with the best vibes (and music) every day or to let stress and being “too busy” dampen the mood.
I’m really embracing this, and owning that the grass is greener literally NOWHERE else. It feels good to have that control over my own surroundings. And it’s amazing how far speaking positively about how much I love them has taken me. Instead of being stressed about the next few things on my to-do list, I’m trying to just open my eyes and appreciate how far we’ve already come. In each day I’m trying to really appreciate and enjoy what’s beautiful about this place we call home.
Honestly, I know that even admitting that I struggle with thankfulness will make someone angry. And I get that. Because to you my Internet home looks so perfect. But to me, it’s a real home. A home with a list of things my plumber needs to take care of and dirty dishes and a LOT of laundry to take care of. It’s not perfect, just like all homes.
Similarly my marriage, my job, my body, my schedule… all imperfect things yet I still have so much to be thankful for.
So I guess that the phase in life I am in right now is about learning to train my brain and my heart to see the good in each day.
Sorry if this is too somber. Haha! I’m awkwardly passing it along to Emma now… 😀
Sister, why so serious? Jk. I’ve got a homebody heart too. I feel you. Actually July and (soon) August are two months where I’m not traveling for work or fun hardly at all – so I’ve been filling my nights and weekends with little home renovation projects I’ve been meaning to get to. Plus binge listening to podcast episodes as I go. And it’s been making me SO happy. I also think that in addition to just staying home more, I’m also the type of person who really enjoys routines, which is easier to achieve when you’re not traveling.
And in case you are curious about podcasts I’ve been enjoying, well, let me fill you in. I’m (once again) way obsessed with Undisclosed. They’ve just started season two and it’s great, but probably going to be heartbreaking just like the first season. Also two good friends of mine started a podcast, and I think it rules. It’s called Shailey and Katie. They were kind enough to have me on an episode as well as Rachel Denbow, but I really love it when it’s just them too. I know I’m actually friends with them, but I swear listening to their show is like having two friends over while you are painting (or cooking dinner, or whatever you do when you listen to podcasts). And I still randomly listen to episodes of the Smart Passive Income podcast to get my small business idea juices flowing.
Idea juices… ew. Sorry I said that.
Emma’s Wearing: Plant Lady tee/Oui Fresh (order yours now, people!), Vest/Max Jeans via Marshalls, Jeans/F21 plus a bunch of white dog hair because, well, I can’t stop holding my dogs even if they shed like crazy, Shoes/Luxury Rebel
What about you? What are some of your favorite reasons to stay home? Are you a crafter, a baker, a candlestick maker? 🙂 xx. Elsie + Emma
Credits // Authors: Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman. Photography: Amber Ulmer and Janae Hardy
Elsie,
I want to thank you for this post and also the post about organizational tips. I have been in a real funk lately and missing my family (my husband and I have a 6 month old baby and live far away because of the military). My on-post house is less than perfect, I can’t have a lot of plants because we’ll be moving every few years (and I L O V E plants, so this sucks a lot. I frequent my local nurseries and just walk around to help fill the void), and I don’t really love the state we are in. My house has just felt very….chaotic? Cloudy? Overwhelming? I’m home a lot with my baby, but haven’t really felt the drive to make changes around here because of the layer of well, depression, I have been feeling lately. This post really resonated with me and helped me to overhaul my attitude and house to begin making it a place I love coming home to. We went to The Container Store this weekend and had a hayday…and my house is already happier. Probably have to save a couple more paychecks to get the remaining organizational tools we would like, but that’s ok. It’s a HUGE start. I’m sorry to spill so much information out, but I want you to know how much I truly appreciate you and this blog. Thank you for making my world a little brighter everyday. I hope you and everyone else at ABM has a wonderful week! <3 <3 <3
I love podcasts! My friends think I listen to them way too much 🙂 Undisclosed has been on my list for a long time. I’m really excited we get two episodes a week. Have you listened to Criminal? Its sometimes silly, sometimes serious, sometimes unbelievable crimes.
Two styles are good, I prefer the first one, the red shoes are sooooooooo cute.I don’t know jacket can match this kind of shoes well. Thanks a lot.
Http://www.stylewe.com,A designer clothes platform.
Girls this post is SO sweet. I love reading about your motivations to stay home and that you are keeping it real about not having it all together. Thanks for being willing to show us your imperfections, we love you more for it! ❤️
After I finished reading this post with your adorable pups in it, I was randomly looking for a tea infuser on amazon and stumbled upon this most adorable pug tea infuser! Thought you might appreciate this since you strike me as a tea drinker and pug lover!
https://www.amazon.com/KABOOCHY-Silicone-Infuser-loose-strainer/dp/B017U739DK/ref=pd_sim_79_8?ie=UTF8&dpID=41zrAUIf0eL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR136%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=X4BAWRQ9A90V8H3FX7EY
What a cute little adorable doggie <3
I so love your jacket Elsie!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
I don’t think anyone assumes your home is perfect; what might rub some people the wrong way is that you have so much more than so many people and yes – you should be thankful for that. You have the means to purchase a large, beautiful home and immediately conduct extensive renovations. I don’t begrudge you this success (though this comment might suggest otherwise, I guess) but you can see how it might be frustrating to read that you struggle to be grateful for that, while I myself am currently struggling to afford my one-bedroom apartment. (My one bedroom apartment that I actually ADORE and am so so thankful for.)
It’s from Rugs USA
-Emma
Love this! And I’m in love with that white rug under the piano. The white and bright color combo is amazing. Where is it from?! Thanks!
Love both of these looks, and so digging that embroidery on the denim jacket! I’m definitely a homebody, and love staying home to knit, sew, read, cook, and chill with my family!
-Lauren
http://www.chic-ethique.com/
I second this motion!
Elsie- I am right there with you. This week I was letting myself get bogged down by a to-do list that felt like it had me running in a million directions. But at every turn it is all working out and it’s like someone above is reminding me to chill out and take it a step at a time. So, here I am, embracing the day and being grateful for all that’s going right and that I have an afternoon starbucks in hand. Cheers!
Y’all are seriously the cutest! Love you guys and appreciate you always being real with your readers!
scrapbooking or reading, summer is my big reading season, so I love to read on our deck in the evenings!
Elsie that’s a cute detail on your denim jacket!
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com
It’s wonderfully refreshing to see such inspiring ladies as yourselves be honest about thankfulness and positivism. Love that phrase, “the grass is greener literally NOWHERE else.” because it is so true.
Reminds me of my favorite quote from Rainer Marie Rilke: “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
Cheers to you for opening up and sharing such raw truthful moments about the often hidden side of our lives. <3
I would like to thank you for this post, because I’ve been going through the two craziest years of my life, and although I accomplished so much, I still waste too much time stressing over things that are not that important compared to all the beautiful things happening to me all the time.
You two are just wonderful role models for girls and women everywhere in the world. I guess we all have uncertainties to deal with, and I think only a fool would feel annoyed by the fact that even someone as successful as you are can struggle sometimes. We’re all human, aren’t we?
I appreciate the heartfelt reflection in this Sister Style <3
I’ve felt out of it/not me lately and I think it has to do with not grounding myself in my home. I share my home with others as a renter and it’s not always an option to make a messy meal from scratch or blast some loud heart-building music, but I think that’s where gratefulness comes into play. I need to be more thankful too for having a place to call home, even with its imperfections.
Love your blog, your homes and your style. Been reading for awhile now. Question as I’m seeing this a lot lately and am clueless. What is a Podcast? Where/how do you listen to one?
Thanks!