Our Little House Turns 32

 

Our little house 

turned 32  years old recently

and

it has me feeling all the feelings  of 

Love and Gratitude

As an empath I have 

always been heavily influenced by my environment.

I have been meticulous about styling my bedrooms since I was a small child.

My room was  always a space I had influence.

I have since spent the last three decades 

making our little house a home.

Thirty two years ago we moved to a brand new suburb.

My sweet dad had helped us with the down payment.

We  had a two year old with another on the way.

A house was the next step.

We left our luxury apartment  behind on Avenue of the Arts in the South Coast Metro

where we had rented in for seven years.

To say I wasn't excited

would be an understatement.

Tears were definitely involved.

I loved our apartment and the Arts area we lived.

But I had every intention into turning our little suburban house into a home.

Living in southern California

in a small house with a family of 5

outdoor spaces are as important as inside.

Jeff built the kids a play house

that transitioned 3 times over the course of the kids growing up.

Our yards have transitioned over the years as well.

Our house and gardens have grown and changed

just as our children have grown into adults

some with children of their own.

During the years we homeschooled

each of them had their own little gardens

in which to plant and play.

Over the years

we have made good use of almost every square inch

inside and out.

Always grateful for our little home.

We moved here when our oldest was just 2 years old.

Jeff and I have designed and styled everything

inside and out.

I usually come up with the design

and

Jeff brings my vision to life.

We really did  started with the blankest of canvases.

We moved into the house in 1994

by 1996 we began to get press.

I still love the jungle/circus themed room 

I did for our boys.

This sweet baby turned 30 this year.

The playhouse  Jeff built

had a deck complete with 

child size furniture.

This is the second rendition the playhouse had.

I remember really wanting to do a red and yellow room.

Truth be told

I probably had more fun with the playhouse than the kids did.

I just love creating small intimate spaces!

I even made all of the pillows and patchwork quilt.

We also had a little wooden bridge that crossed 

the backyard waterfall that Jeff also created.

We were doing things ourselves since the day we moved into our little house.

We let the boys build a pond next to the waterfall that Jeff built.

All of these sweet moments live in my heart to this day.

I remember taking theses pictures

knowing I would look back with a full and grateful heart.

I just didn't know that sometimes they would also make my heart ache

with the longing to go back with theses wonderful children

if even for a day.

For years we had a raised deck with a ladder that was part of the playhouse!

I loved styling this secret space every summer.

The deck also went through many design renditions.

Here it was part of my summer blues and whites.

This was the final rendition of the playhouse.

This time I let the kids decide a use for the space.

They each cut pictures out of magazines to decide the direction

and purpose of the space.

They were the cutest little mood boards that still exist in the family scrapbooks.

Beanbags and video games it was  the decision for the final redesign.

Bedrooms have also gone through many renditions and uses.

this was Eliss's loft bed

full of whimsy and tulle curtains!

This was her window seat which was flanked by bookcases.

As the children became adults

I did my best to invent new backyard uses.

One year it was a pingpong table followed by

an adult 

Easter Egg Hunt.

Since they were all over 21 I hid canned cocktails and little the little liquor bottles

and 

one golden egg with cash.

My sweet parents and brother would join us every year.

Boy do I miss them these days.

So much more than I ever thought I would.

I've missed them so much it has taken me years to really mention the loss.

But now it makes my heart happy to see pictures of them at

Our Little House.

Fast forward years

I am still 

Styling My Life.

Knowing in my heart

these days too

I will look back on with a yearning heart.

It's the impermanence of life

that makes me want to make the most of  the every day.

I love to Romanticize My Life.

with  a Grateful Heart

while creating meaning along the way.

To elevate even a meal to a family memory.

To create beautiful spaces that fill my heart with joy.

32 years later

I am still gratefully here

in our little house

trying 

to create 

beautiful family memories.

This Easter I set up a Craft Bar

to make bandana jewelry with charms.

Watching their wonderful creativity

made my heart so happy to see!

32 years later

I still love 

Styling My Life

to spend time with

and 

 celebrate

my family.

They say grandchildren are the dessert of life.

I couldn't agree more.

I am so grateful for ours every single day.

I still enjoy creating new spaces  to spend time with them.

We recently put the pool away 

for our first 

Fall  Backyard Campout!

I did bring out the small round pool

and 

filled it with glitter filled beach balls!

Inflatables do double duty at our 

Little House!

Even our tent is an inflatable!

They allow  Jeff and I the ability 

to dramatically transform our little backyard!

And on that note

I would never be able to be as creative with my spaces

if it wasn't for my wonderful and supportive husband Jeff.

I come up with the vision

and he brings the building blocks to life.

We have always had a beautiful partnership 

that way the entire 

32 Years in our

Little House.

Thank you so much for visiting here

for my stroll down memory lane!

Creating meaningful memories and beautiful spaces

is a core part of how 

I Make My Life My Art.

I appreciate being able to share it with you.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life