Home for the Holidays

We’ve firmly established a tradition of visiting Christmas Creek Tree Farm, and this year we cut down our fourth tree from them! The kids love scampering through the rows of pines and surveying their options, but the highlight of the trip is always the free candy cane and seasonal treats. 

EDW and me year one (2022) and this year (2025):

Once home, and after several trips up and down the attic stairs, the decorating frenzy began. With the wonder-filled energy unique to children—and a stepladder to aid them—our Christmas tree was decorated in no time. Christmas spirit, holiday cheer, yuletide greetings — my trio has it all!

Now the house is dressed for the season with lights, handmade ornaments, chocolate advent calendars, and Casper Babypants "Winter Party" album playing on repeat. With longer darker days ahead, I'm thankful our home still feels bright, especially with the preschool artwork we saved and plan to hang year after year (my parents always did this for holidays too!) 

Snuggled in tight, 

-SJW

Leapin' Year

An extra day every four years feels like a sweet little bonus. I used my 24 hours on February 29 as an opportunity to revamp our living space. It always amazes me what 10+ hours and a can of white paint can do to a room. To keep things simple, we used the same color as in our bedrooms two summers ago and the amount worked out perfectly - I didn't even have to make an extra trip to the paint store :)

Perhaps even more significant than freshend up walls, after seven years of marriage, we purchased our first couch! Ten inches longer than our former loveseat, we can now fully stretch out comfortably. Ebony would likely be content on any couch, but I think we all agree - this was a good choice! White walls with a toddler on the otherhand...time will tell. 

Bright & airy,

- SJW

February Features: Lifestyle Consultant | Whitney Leigh Morris

Our family resides about 1.5 miles north of downtown Seattle. I cherish our walk-ability and easy access to fun places like Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market, Belltown restaurants, and South Lake Union. My regular walks with Ebony and NLW take us a variety of places - up Queen Anne, over to Myrtle Edwards, or often, near the footsteps of the Space Needle in Seattle Center. While we live in a stellar location, we've made a sacrifice in our amount of living space. For almost seven years we've lived in just 600 square feet, curating our possessions, finessing our use of vertical storage, and limiting the items we bring into our home. It's an ongoing and evolving process, and I welcome creative and inspiring ideas.
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For Christmas this year, my sister-in-law gifted me the book, Small Space Style: Because you Don't Need to Live Large to Live Beautifully by Whitney Leigh Morris. I like her intentional efforts to re-purpose spaces and keep areas multi-functional.

"Most of my belonging need to serve at least two purposes."

"Living out of a suitcase can be a pain, but it can also be very eye-opening when it comes to assessing material clutter."

"In a small space, it helps to make the bed every morning so there's a large surface on which to drop items like handbags, filing baskets, and laundry"

What really stands out to me is her beautiful use of their outdoor space. Granted, she lives in southern California and has much sunnier weather than we do. But nevertheless, I'd love to spruce up our own patio and deck, both for midday sunshine time with NLW on a play mat or quilt and for evening al fresco dinners with friends.

Blueprints and green thumbs,

- SJW

O Silent Night | Nursery Tour

Tonight feels a little like Christmas Eve as it's the night before NW's due date. I doubt he will actually arrive tomorrow, but the possibility still lingers. Each night from here on out will hold some of that same Yuletide magical anticipation, falling asleep with childlike excitement for a celebration ahead! And while there's no cozy armchair by a spruced up tree or halls decked in red, green, and white, I happily find myself in a rocking chair in a nursery trimmed in grey, white, brown, and blue. Visions of diapers and onesies dance in my head : ) Just as Mary and Joseph welcomed baby Jesus on that first Christmas, we'll be welcoming our own little son soon enough!

DIY "PLAY" screen print poster from SLU Block Party

Curtains and paintings originally from Target, purchased at Goodwill.

Rocking chair from Offer Up, lamp from friend.

Dresser purchased from old neighbors

Rug from Offer Up. Borrowed mini crib from friends.

Side table from old neighbors with DIY fabric added.

Family heirloom dresser. Prints from She Reads Truth.  

Trading Christmas carols for lullabies,

SJW

A Melting Pot of Styles | Home Tour

I'm willing to bet that my childhood home is more eclectic than yours. My mother has a love for all things vintage and she gladly displays her interest! Vintage can mean everything from farmhouse rustic and Victorian charm, to shabby chic and retro fun. Suffice it to say, it was a great house for playing dress up : ) Plus, there's nothing like functional art. Need a purse for a date? Just snag one on your way downstairs!

Entryway

Living room fireplace

Kitchen

Dining room

Dining room

Hallway

Stairway

Landing at top of stairs

My room

...my very girly room

My sister's room

Storage shed

Patio with fire pit

"Collect things you love, that are authentic to you, and your house becomes your story." - Erin Flett

SJW