December 26, 2016 Organization

Celebrate Organization Home Tour

Happy Monday! Post Holiday clean up and the beginning of a fresh new year is always a
great time to tackle some organization projects around the home. So, today I’m taking part in Julie Blanner’s blog link up of ideas designed to motivate your own organizational efforts.

One of my best posts on keeping my closet (above) organized can be found here. I also have a few ideas for purging your unwanted clothes here. Unlike my pantry-which is still a work in progress, my closet is super organized. I go out of my way to stay on top of it if it starts to get a little chaotic. You can see the before and after photos of my closet make over here.

For me, and I’m sure the same holds true for many of you as well, “Outside order contributes to inner calm.” This is a quote from Gretchen Rubin’s podcast (highly recommend) It’s no coincidence that I often listen to this while putting away laundry or organizing parts of my home. I think most of us just want to feel peaceful and calm at home-a sense of control over some parts of our lives.

Which brings me back to my pantry-despite best efforts (see this post) – I still find myself wishing we had a more organized system for maintaining tidy shelves and over all order…but with three kids and a dog, this might be wishful thinking…

Be sure to visit all the other participating blogs below for some great tips and ideas for making 2017 your most organized year yet! Hopefully, these posts will inspire you with fresh ideas.

Julie Blanner

Shades Of Blue Interiors

Thistlewood Farms

My Sweet Savannah

French Country Cottage

Beneath My Heart

Boxwood Avenue

December 16, 2016 Weekend Wrap ups

Weekend Wrap Up

image via

My kids officially start their winter break today – one week away from Christmas AND Chanukah, two weeks away from New Years, it’s such a cliche…but the days are truly flying by!

Thankfully the tree is up and the stockings are hung! Head to Instagram stories to see a peek of this.:)

I’ve done quite a bit of shopping and not nearly enough wrapping…how ’bout you?

Favorites for this week:

-The Best Holiday Windows In NYC.

-Obsessed with these boots! #frommetome

-I’ll be frying up these latkes on Saturday.

-Discovered these social light lighters in Vermont last weekend…obsessed! Perfect last minute gift idea for that hard to shop for person on your list.

-Loved this interview with Garance Dore!

-A super cozy and soft scarf.

-Want these beautiful make up brushes from Target.

-30 Movies To Watch With Your Family.

-Latest Instagram obsession: Overheard New York

-How To Master Small Talk.

-The Best Gifts For Under $25.

–Anyone else can’t wait to see La La Land?!

-And, finally…congrats to comment #47! Laura Leni – you won the giveaway for the Nordstrom $100. gift card! (Please email me here: thezhush@gmail.com)

December 15, 2016 Connecticut Home

Progress Peeks: Our New House

blue lamp // brass table // beach print

Next week marks the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. With the sun setting around four thirty in the afternoon every day around here, it’s no coincidence that most of the updates at our house lately have involved lighting.

The new lamp in our sitting area in the master bedroom is my favorite. It adds the perfect pop of color in this neutral room – not to mention some much needed light! The bonus is that it was on sale when I bought it…and it still is here!

Over in my office, things are still quite dark after the sun goes down…but this mid century inspired floor lamp is helping quite a bit.

Finally, in the dining room a new sideboard with plenty of much needed storage was added, along with two very handsome “malachite” green lamps.

That’s it since the last update in October. I still have a few bigger projects left to do, mainly our finished attic area…hoping to tackle that room in the new year.