Layered Living: assembling, spray paint, + rewards

Hello friends! Welcome to my weekly update of all the things happening over here. This week let’s talk about assembling, spray paint and rewards.

This week I traveled back to California with my granddaughter, after her visit. It was a week that would include plans for visiting my 94-year-old father, helping my daughter with a few projects, visiting my sister, enjoying a night out with a friend, and much more.

Thankfully, it was one of those weeks where my soul was filled to the brim.

Thoughts for the week

Each time I go to California to see family, I do some heavy reminiscing of all the times we spent over the years visiting my parents in Dana Point. We would walk at the beach at night before sunset, and it was always a time to just slow down and enjoy the day.

I think we were meant to do that more. So most nights before dusk, I go to that beach to watch that sunset. I observe all the people that come to enjoy the beauty: many tourists, doggies and their owners, old people walking arm in arm (much like my parents did), and lovers spread out on picnic blankets, waiting for that romantic moment when the sun slips below the horizon.

There is always the loner, staring off into the sky, appearing to look for answers the universe might provide. I breathe deep, in and out, and try to take it all in. I find peace and joy.

Even sitting near the cliffs, overlooking the Pacific and at the backs of multi-million dollar homes, I am comforted by the fact that my life has been enough. Would owning property with that view make it any better? In some ways, I guess. But in most ways that really matter, absolutely not. I have enough. I have been blessed beyond compare.

So after a week of a visit for an In-n-Out burger, visiting my mother’s grave, playing cards with my girlies, helping my daughter and being a spectator to her amazing life, I am always so grateful to leave the traffic behind and head home. This time with my BFF in tow, and we’ve got lots to do! I can’t wait to show you next week all the things. Stay tuned!

Assembling

This week, my daughter and I were super focused on making her four daughters rooms super efficient. So we headed to IKEA, cause, why wouldn’t you?

I assembled three full pieces of furniture, and six basket frames to put in their closets that would hold all their little clothes and make it easy for them to put stuff away. She runs a tight ship!

We removed clunky dressers that had been in their rooms and sold them on Marketplace, lickety split! Everything ended up being so efficient, which left lots of space for all the cute things.

If you are near an IKEA, definitely go in and check out the great feather pillow inserts they have (amazing prices) and super fun patterns in shams and duvets.

Spray paint

Have you used spray paint much to paint furniture? Obviously, me owning a furniture paint company, that would never be my go to, but I tried it this week. I normally wouldn’t use it in this way, even though I do use it for lots of other things.

My daughter wanted me to spray a few items; some boring nightstands we bought for her tween daughter at Home Goods that came alive with a few cans of blue spray paint and the coffee table in their family room that everyone lays on and jumps all over.

It ended up being super easy. Only issue, colors are usually limited. However, we did find that exact green we needed to mesh with her existing rug. And everything went really quick.

Rewards

After a busy week spent working to make things more efficient for my daughter and her family, I received many rewards. Not only was spending time with them, the best reward of all, but little niceties came my way.

First, one day, as I was dropping my granddaughter off at a church event, I was blessed with this beautiful sunset. God was showing off that day!

It is also said that laughter is the best medicine, and it felt like such a reward for me. From story after story about the funny stuff the 3-year old says and does, I was howling and enjoying myself everyday. She literally is worth the trip.

One such story, I am still laughing at. My daughter said that one Sunday, the little one stood up on the pew at church and shouted very loudly “Jesus is diarrhea!” Wait, what? Everyone busted up, and her little family wanted to slink down in embarrassment. Why would she even say that or put those words together? But I can tell you, never a dull moment. Rewarding indeed!

The last night I was there, my daughter and son-in-law treated me to my favorite barbecue place, Heritage BBQ, in San Juan Capistrano. It is soooooo delicious, so if you are ever in Orange County it is a must stop! Even with the lines wrapped around the corner during the lunch rush. The banana pudding is to die for.

Weekly finds

I was reading this article on House Beautiful that was talking about the “happiest states in the nation”. Hmmmm, by whose standards? Check it out to see where your state ranks.

Of course, I believe they were waaaaay off, since Michigan came in 35th. Ummmm, excuse me? Who couldn’t be happy around lakes and trees? Just sayin’.

I was knee deep in the word of the month, REARRANGE this week. And the fun is continuing. I will have lots to share next time too!

Think of the many ways that word can inspire you now. Fall is a great time to switch things up, so give in and let yourself take action! You’ll be glad you did!

Until next week

Well, thanks for spending some time with me this week. Drop a comment below and tell me what you’ve been up to. Rearranging anything? Enjoying the season? It’s all good, cause we are alive. Good times!

For more inspiration, follow along on these links.

Pinterest | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram | LTK