Making Your House a Home – Just Be Yourself – Cozy Living 

Oh boy, it’s been forever since I’ve posted to the blog! How are you? What’s new? How ya been?  How’s your summer so far? I’ve sincerely missed you, can you tell?! 🙂 If you’re at all like me – SUMMER has derailed you (in a positive way) productivity wise, the days are just clicking on by for us! And, we threw a vacation in there too, which was soooo awesome! I’ll be sharing a post on some of the cool things we saw while visiting the East Coast of Canada, eventually… I took SO many photos! So stay tuned for that.

Botwood, Newfoundland (where my Dad was from)

While we were away gallivanting I missed last month’s cozy living series – I’m very glad to be back in the saddle again though sharing for August. Can you actually believe it’s August already??? Our lovely host Jennifer from  Town & Country Living  must feel like she’s herding cats trying to get us all organized – especially during the summer months! 😉 So grateful for her organized brain – thank you my friend!  You can see more from the CL crew and see how they do cozy for August at the end of my post.

People “NEED”

I wondered how I would do cozy for August, I’m not sure how hot it is where you live, but here it’s been a scorcher! So, being cozy is the last thing on my mind with the temperatures we’ve been having, what to share then? Fast-forward to scrolling on the webz.

I saw this quote and it got me to thinking… 

What are your thoughts on this quote? Maybe I’m taking it way out of context, reading half a quote, maybe? Goodness knows I’m not here to slam anyone but I have to be honest, this quote bothered me when I saw it! I’m being a big old hypocrite right now too and judging this…  I’m about to go on and on about people judging what others put for decor in their own homes because of this quote. Just because this person feels this way, well that’s their business frankly… BUT, I would like say that these blanket statement memes are meant to be very very judge-y.  I mean maybe I’m being super judge-y myself right now, but I do have a point to make so bear with me. 😉

Making YOUR House a Home

In NO way am I affiliated with BBB (Bed Bath and Beyond) – so this isn’t a pro home-goods store post, I just want to make a little point by saying if hanging something from BBB in Y O U R home makes Y O U and your family happy then DO IT! If hanging weird art makes you happy – do that! If hanging soup tureens floats your boat, by all means, go for it.

Collect and arrange what makes you smile!

I think I may put succulents in these soup tureens… or leave them as is – for now, I really love how they look!

Is stuff from BBB (or any home-goods store) a usual thing in my home? No not really, only because the things that make me super happy and inspired don’t usually come from a home store – they don’t have to or they totally can – that part doesn’t matter – where our STUFF comes from does not define us as people or our houses as homes!  BUT, if I loved something from BBB or similar retail store and it made me happy you can bet your socks (is that the saying?) that stuff would be hanging on my walls!

Crazed bowls, old crates and beveled mirrors with patina make this girl do a happy dance…

Finally a point…

What IS my point? My point is; if you think something is cool and you think it would look nice in your house you should hang it and not care what others think! I know, I know easier said than done and that’s part of my problem with statements like above. I’m sure I’m being a little sensitive about this subject because of the whole social media culture today… AKA – the “comparison culture”.  A meme like that may hit someone’s screen, someone that just got home from BBB and was looking forward to hanging their piece up on their walls. And now, they don’t love it as much, maybe because someone they looked up to posted this meme.

This very old hutch is very used, nicks and scratches and worn marks, it’s so far from perfect – but it holds so many of my treasures, I LOVE seeing them every day.

Every single one of us is different and what I love for my home, you may NOT! Some people will think my “collected style” is junky! But I LOVE it – it makes me and my family happy! I have some real sentimental pieces that I wouldn’t part with for the world – and some just see junk – and that is their prerogative too.

Some people have said – too rustic for my taste. Seriously, I get that too, trust me! That’s totally cool… thankfully we aren’t all the same – more “junk” for me. HAHAHA And, as cliché as this will sound – how boring would our homes be if everyone followed the same home decor “recipe”? 

You do You (with respect to others)

NEVER hang a vintage heater as a light fixture… UM, no way, I ADORE my DIY light fixture, even with the bent grill – I’m so glad that I have a choice to ignore the NEVER-sayers.

All of this to say, please keep doing you – have what you want in your home – “you do you” with respect to others.  For goodness sakes please don’t force your styles or your likes and tastes on other people by saying their way is wrong. That is an opinion and that’s completely fine, take your opinions and create a space that makes you happy to come home to! There is more than enough room on this big ol’ world for all of our individual styles – colours – neutrals – modern – minimalist – all of it, even my “busy” or “junky” home has a place and I am so thankful for that! <3  I am thankful for all of the unique homes and people out there and ALL of the creativity. 

Who says you can’t put plants in bowls… even little fakers!

The simplest things make me smile and those things fill my home – you don’t NEED to do the same, only if you want to.

I guess I had more to say than I thought on this subject… I think with all of the “experts” out there in SM land telling you how you have to navigate this life, your decor, hell EVERYTHING, I think it’s just nice to know that if something like a simple rock that you’ve found on the beach means something to you… go for it and display that beauty – and please tell me the memories attached to it too while you’re at it! 

This little rock was found on our trip to Newfoundland and sits beside my Nanny’s (she was also from NL) wedding dishes. So much LOVE in this simple vignette.

I get feeling a little protective over folks that are persuaded to worry about what others think of them and their decor, I guess for me (and this is also just my opinion) it comes down to exploring what makes you smile and feel satisfied, ignoring all the “rules” and “naysayers” only if you want to! Discovering how you want your home to look is a part of hygge and is such an individual growing process. All of the hugs friends, keep on exploring what you love to do and my hope is that no one makes anyone else feel less than for something they hang on their walls or puts on their shelves. xo 

Thanks for popping in to see what’s up – I feel so much better now thank you for listening to me ramble!

If you care to, you can get caught up and explore the whole Cozy Living Series, visit all of my posts in one spot here. Or, follow along with this hashtag #CozyLiving on Instagram to see all of the cozy and inspiring ideas!

Now please go visit my sweet friends for all the inspirational and cozy ideas! 

Making It In the Mountains//Town and Country Living//Vinyet Etc.//Duke Manor Farm