A SCENTED IDEA FOR THE BATHROOM

Want a fresh scent in your bathroom each time you walk in it? I'm sharing a storage idea with you that will free up some space in your cabinets, but also make your room smell good. :-) It's really simple and can be fairly inexpensive. 

Use an open glass bowl to store your bars of soap.

I usually buy our soap at Sam's or Target. Soap is one of those items you can really save on when you buy it in bulk. So, instead of it taking up half a shelf in our small linen closet, I open the boxes and put them in this glass bowl. Of course any color bowl would work, but I like using glass and being able to see the soap. It adds a decorative look.

I'm not sure where my soap bowl originally came from, so I've found some others for you that will work just as well.

one  //  two  //  three

four  //  five  //  six  //  seven

Of course the key to picking out your decorative soap bowl is to be sure your hand will fit in it to grab the last bar--if you happen to let it get that low. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Kathryn

WARDROBE LOOKS FOR SPRING

I'm fairly simple when it comes to dressing. Every now and again I wouldn't mind being the flashy, hip momma who rocks the latest trends from head to toe. But, the truth is, basic and classic make me feel the most comfortable--I rarely even buy prints.

Since the weather seems to have finally taken a turn to the warm side, I took a look at my Spring/Summer Fashion board on Pinterest to get some outfit ideas. Anybody else use Pinterest to get dressed? :-) I pin looks that appeal to me and have something in common with what's hanging in my closet. Then, when I have trouble coming up with something to wear to work, I hop on my board and find something I can copy with my own items.

Here are some of my favorites. Maybe you'll see a combination for yourself that you hadn't thought of before. The source link will take you to the original pin if you'd like to save it for yourself.

Blue and White

Source

Blush and White

Source

Denim, Cream, and Brown

Source

Denim and White (one of my favorite combinations)

Source

Blues On Blues

Source

Neutrals and Denim

Source

Pink and Black

Source

Hopefully, you've found some new ideas for your own wardrobe. 

Happy first week of Spring!

Kathryn

THE FARM HOUSE TABLE

When Doug and I married, one of the first things we bought was a table and chairs. We picked it out together at Pier One almost 20 years ago.

Topiary Project

When we bought it, farm house decorating wasn't a thing. We just liked the look and the stability of the table. Eventually, three kids would be growing up around it. I felt like it was just the right amount of dressy (because of the dark color) with a hint of casual (so many lines in the chairs).

Who knew years down the road I would look at it one day and realize I had a farm house table, and I was "in style" in the breakfast room? :-) But that's what I did which got me thinking about the farm house style that Chip and Joanna have now made so popular and inviting.

I did a bit of looking around and found some sources if you happen to be on the look out for a new table in the farm house family.

Here are a few pictures of the many ways to use this style table.

This look from Wayfair is more formal thanks to the darker wood, and the "set" look.

Wayfair

Pottery Barn wins the award for casual elegance. I love the look of the fabric chairs with the Toscana dining table.

Pottery Barn

If you prefer a white-washed, lighter look, this table from Humble Abode, a new-to-me vendor, is perfect.

Humble Abode

Here are some other options I found.

1  //  2  //  3  //  4  //  5  //  6  //  7  //  8

So, how about you? What's your style?

I can't quite put my finger on mine.

Kathryn

MAKE YOUR BED AND HAVE A GOOD DAY!

I would love to tell you I make my bed everyday, but my mom taught me not to lie. Instead, I'll tell you I make it a couple of days during the week and usually, on Saturdays and Sundays. Why, you ask, am I suggesting you make your bed?

Most of you know by now I'm a teacher. I teach high school--the big kids. I'm dual certified in English and Spanish. For the past several years, because of the State Department's requirements, I've only been teaching Spanish. Almost every student had to take a foreign language. Recently we were learning to talk about the rooms in the house. The students learn how to describe their bedrooms and how to talk about chores related to keeping a bedroom clean. Of course that means making their beds.

It reminded me of a video that floated around Facebook for a while. Did you see it? Admiral McRaven explains if you want to change the world, start by making your bed.

I thought it was really good, so I showed it to my students. And then, everyday after watching it, when they came to class, I asked them if they had made their beds. More and more of them started saying yes. Some days they were coming in and giving me a bed report without me asking. Before they were saying, "Hola", they were telling me their beds were made! One student even told me the Admiral was right, that he did have a better day when he made his bed. :-)

If it works for teenagers, maybe it will work for us, too! One student, a male student, told me it was causing him keep the rest of his room clean. (I bet his mom would like to hug me.) Wouldn't you agree? It's much nicer to come home to a made bed...

So how about you? Are you in the habit of making your bed? Or an even better question I would love to know the answer to, do you require your kids make their beds daily? (I never did.) Leave your answers in the comments below.

We are in the middle of spring break week! Hope your week is going great.

Kathryn

A SUNDAY THOUGHT: GENTLENESS

A few Sundays back I volunteered to a be a reader in our Adult Bible Study class. The verses were familiar to me, but on this day, one of the verses resonated in a way it hadn't before. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say: Rejoice! 

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything...

                                                                  Philippians 4: 4, 5

That middle verse, the one about being gentle to people--all people--is giving me reason for pause, maybe a bit more than I would like. When I'm agitated with a student, a friend, my children, or even my husband, that short verse is making it's way to the forefront of my brain. It's showing up when I'm in the check-out line, or when I miss a green light because the people in front of me were looking at their phone and not the road. And then, of all places, it jumped in the car with me at the McDonald's drive-through getting breakfast when I was soon to be late for work. When it shows up, it instantly reminds me to watch carefully how the next words leave my mouth. 

Too bad it didn't say, "Let your gentleness be evident to people who are easy." I hope my gentleness is evident to all people. May we be people who strive to demonstrate gentleness. The world could use a big dose of it right about now... Wouldn't you agree?

Enjoy your Sunday!

Kathryn