Garden Dreams

How right it is to love flowers and the greenery of pines and ivy and Hawthorn hedges; they have been with us since the very beginning. - Vincent van Gogh

I love a beautiful garden. However, I do not like the act of weeding the garden! What's a girl to do?

Despite that it's only January, I can't help but to dream of Spring when the earth begins to unfurl from Winter's cold clutches and starts to come back to life. The sun's warmth feels so good on my skin. Colors seem more vibrant. Birds seem happy as they sing and flit about building new nests. 

I have a few things that I love in my yard: roses, monkey grass, and elephant ears. The only way I will be able to have a flower garden is to create one in pots. If that will keep me from having to weed all summer, I'm perfectly okay with that. 

There are so many ways to add beauty and color to your yard on a budget! Again, Pinterest is a fantastic resource for ideas, how-tos, and inspiration.

• Paint inexpensive plastic pots
• Make your own potting soil
• Make your own Miracle Grow
• Which plants attract hummingbirds or butterflies
• How-tos for growing flowers that tend to be difficult
• Make your own concrete pots
• Make a bird bath from clay pots
• The hardiest perennials for your area

Are you dreaming of Spring and gardens yet?

What plans do you have for your yard this Spring?

I can't wait to hear all about it!

Tracy x

The At-Home Spa Day

What woman doesn't love to feel pampered? One day I will have a pampered spa day, but until then I create my own spa days at home.

Beforehand I like to make sure my bathroom is squeaky clean and there are fresh sheets on the bed. There is nothing like slipping into clean sheets with freshly saved legs! I also like to make sure I have everything on hand that I will need for my spa day.

• Epsom bath salts
• Baby oil
• Pumice stone
• Charcoal face scrub
• Nail polish remover
• Nail polish
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Moroccan hair oil
• Fresh razor blade in the razor
• Aveeno shave cream
• Facial moisturizer
• Candles
• Music
• Ice water to drink

On my at home spa day I spend a couple hours bathing & beautifying, but this year I am going to kick it up a notch a make a full day of pampering. I'll prepare as much as possible the day before by going to the grocery store for healthy meals and salad fixings. I will also put a pitcher of water to chill overnight in the fridge with fruits and herbs to infuse the water. 

Here's a great article about detox water with fruit & herb infused water recipes.  

I'm going to aim for once a month to do a full day immersion of being at a spa resort and will report in afterwards. 

Who's in?

I'd love to hear your ideas for at home spa days and your results from doing a full immersion day!

Tracy x

The Heart of The Home: Kitchen

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home because that is where we create meals to nourish our family. We want to nourish them because we love them. 

Though the kitchen is the workhorse of the home, I believe in making it as beautiful as possible because we spend so much time in there. When you have a beautiful space you want to spend time in there and that makes the work seem a bit easier. 

How do we create a beautiful kitchen?

• Keep clutter to a minimum. 
• Everything should be useful as well as beautiful. 
• Paint is an inexpensive way to transform a space. Use the colors you love!
• Keep decor simple. 
• Have nice dish rags and towels. Replace as needed.
• Have nicely scented dish washing liquid.
• Use pretty decanters for oils and hand soap to replace the ugly plastic bottles.
• Streamline the counter top. Only keep what you use daily out. 
• Have pretty cookware, dishware, and glassware.
• Be organized. Put like things together and in places they will most likely be used.
• Add a pretty rug or two.
• Hang a few nice inexpensive art prints. 

If you don't know what your style is I encourage you to browse through Pinterest to glean inspiration that you incorporate into your own home. I have a few decor boards of my own which you are welcome to browse and follow if you so desire. You can check it out here:

My Pinterest

Hope this has been helpful for you. Let me know if you need help! 

Tracy x

The Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

I recently saw a graphic on Pinterest about the benefits of spending time outdoors. It stated that the 6 benefits of exercising in nature but I'll share 4 of them:

• Fresh air has more oxygen
• Greenscapes raise serotonin levels
• Increases feelings of well-being and lowers depression
• Sun exposure raises vitamin D levels and optimizes hormones

I know that when I spend time outdoors - even if it's just sitting on the porch - I feel more relaxed and happy. In the warmer months, it's easy to do. It's a bit more challenging for me to do in the winter since I hate being cold.

Thankfully we do have nice, warm days during the winter. Here in the south the weather fluctuates so much. It's freezing one day and can be warm the next. On those nice days though I like to be outside - sitting on the porch or working in the yard. There is always yard work that needs to be done. 

For the cold days, I need to invest in outerwear that makes being outside more bearable - a coat, gloves, and warm cap.

I think about the people in Denmark. Though they have long, dreary, cold winters they are the happiest people in the world. How is that possible? 

They embrace the outdoors - even on the coldest of days - and make the most of it. I think that is a great attitude to have. I try really hard to not grumble about the cold, but I'm not always successful! 

As with many things in life, it takes work and practice to improve. Our attitudes are no different.

The Danish people practice hygge.  Hygge is a Danish word for feeling happy, content, and grateful. It's feeling connected and making the best of things. It is the art of getting cozy. 

I think we could all use a little more hygge in our lives, don't you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Tracy x

Simple Beauty

"A smile is the best makeup a girl can wear." - Unknown

For women, we focus so much on outside beauty. Marketing makes us feel less than so we will buy their products in an effort to become "beautiful".  But we already are in our own unique ways. 

I'm not saying makeup is bad or that we shouldn't use it, just that we need to realize how beautiful we already are. Makeup should enhance the beauty we already have, not be used as a facade - a mask - to hide who we really are.

I'll be honest with you - most days I am completely makeup free. It's just the easiest route. But, this falls under the area of self care and it's an area that I need to work on. 

I have started working on my skin. It's very dry/sensitive and I wasn't very happy with the wrinkles that were becoming more prominent. I started using the lowest dose of Retin-A 2-3 times a week, mixed with my moisturizer. 

In the future, I'd like to see a dermatologist to get an expert opinion on my skin and it's needs. 

I've always kept my makeup pretty basic and simple - but I'd like to improve my makeup game by using the best products for my needs and improving techniques. I watch makeup tutorials on YouTube, but I know it's just going to take practice.

I think I will commit to doing my makeup 3 times a week to start. 

Wash my face every night and continue to use my Retin-A 2 - 3 times a week.

Moisturize like my skin depends on it. (It does!)

What are your thoughts on simple beauty?

Are they any improvements you have recently made or would like to?

Tracy x

A Bedroom Fit For A Queen

Pinterest

Years ago I named myself The Queen in jest, after seeing a Mary Englebreit pillow with the saying 'The Queen of Everything'. Oh, the family laughed in good fun, but it stuck. Now I'm known as the Queen. 

One of my goals for this year is to turn my bedroom into a beautiful sanctuary for my husband and I. A room befitting royalty. I want to work on this room first. 

People tend to work on the rooms that company sees - living room, kitchen, dining room, a main bathroom even. Meanwhile the bedrooms are looking pretty shabby. And I get it. But our bedrooms are meant to be restorative, intimate spaces. How much rest and intimacy can happen in a room that's haphazardly thrown together?

In November, I invested in new sheets, a king-size comforter, and curtains. But there is more work to be done. The room needs a fresh paint job. I need some shelves installed, paint my small antique 3 drawer dresser and replace the knobs, and get my husband to either declutter or organize his stuff. Hmmmm....

Being this is the year of my level up in many areas, I am declaring my bedroom as Home Project #1. This room is my top priority as far as beautifying and redecorating. 

Which room are you going to focus on first?

Have any decorating tips for bedrooms? 

Share below.

Listening, as always... x

The Basics of Self Care

We all know how important it is to take care of ourselves, but do we heed the advice? I am, at 45, really starting to pay attention to my health but it would have been so much better if I had done this 20+ years ago. 

The basics of self care are very simple:

• 8 hours of sleep minimum
• Drink more water
• Move your body more
• Get fresh air & sunshine daily

If you're not a water drinker (me!), start small and work your way up. I started drinking 8 oz. of water each day for a week, then jumped to 16oz. the second week, 24 oz. the third week, and 32 oz the fourth week (where I'm currently at). 

If you are sedentary, start with 5-15 minutes of walking and slowly increase from there. Doing something is better than nothing at all. If you are walking outside, you're getting the benefit of fresh air & sunshine, too! 

And rest. Since my husband has become disabled and forced to retire early, we don't have a set schedule we have to adhere to. I have read that the more sleep you get before midnight the better it is for your body. I try to go to sleep at 10pm but it doesn't always happen. It's a work in progress and that's okay! Sleep is when your body recharges and repairs itself so it's super important. Prioritize sleep over your to-do list. That's what Kayla @not.so.consumed on Instagram does, so I'm following her lead. 

Of course, there is so much more to good health, but just start with the basics. When you get a handle on these, start looking at other things you can do to improve your health. 

Do you prioritize good health or do you need to work on this area?

I'm listening and cheering you on! x

Pretty In Pink

I am a pink girl. It's my favorite color of all which is why I am making it one of my main colors in my wardrobe. 

Pink, denim, and grey. 

I used to buy clothes because they were cute or on sale but I ended up with a closet full of clothes where nothing really quite went together or it didn't fit right or ended up being uncomfortable. So I basically had nothing to wear. 

Now I am much more careful about what I buy. It's one of the benefits of decluttering a zillion times over the years! 

This year, I want to work on my personal style. I've always been a jeans and t-shirt girl (keepin' it real), but I want to look a little more stylish and put together without sacrificing comfort. 

I think that by adding a few accessories and upgrading a few wardrobe pieces I can do it on a budget. I'll be using Pinterest for inspiration and guidance on how to put things together to achieve my goal. 

What's my style? Very casual. I dress for the life I live, so I'm not buying business  or gala attire. I'll share examples below...

LoveCasualStyle.com

 ClassyStylee.com

ClassyStylee.com

Now these are winter outfits and we are technically still in Winter, but we get days where it's 70 degrees or better, so I'll share a few ideas for those days, too...

Glamour Farms Boutique

Glamour Farms Boutique

I like to keep things as simple as possible and my wardrobe is no different. I like clothes that can be dressed up or down to fit the occasion.

So my tips for creating a wardrobe you love:

• Know the colors you love & look fabulous on you!
• Evaluate your current wardrobe & get rid of anything that doesn't make you look or feel like a million bucks.
• Write a wish list of items you need to fill in the gaps. 
• Do you have accessories you can use or do you need to invest in a few pieces? Costume jewelry is fine! 
• Shoes. Do you have footwear that compliments your look and clothing?
• Take your time cultivating your new wardrobe. Shop the sales if possible & don't be afraid to try consignment or second hand shops. Buy on;y things you truly love in your colors! 

I hope this helped you. Now, it's your turn...
What's your personal style? 

Any tips you care to share on how you created your fabulous style?

You know I'm listening! x

Live As If You Are On Vacation

Vacations are such a wonderful thing, aren't they? 

You're able to get away briefly from the daily stress and predictable routine. You get to experience a change of pace as well as a change of scenery. But the best thing about going on vacation is there is no clutter. Non!

Why don't we look at things in a new way, oui? 

• What if you could live like you were on vacation every day?
• What would that look like for you?
• What do you enjoy most about vacation time?
• How can you make every day life feel like a vacation?

Wherever your favorite place to vacation is, you can bring that feeling to your own home. For example, if Paris sets your heart aflutter, bring touches of french decor into your home. Listen to french music. Watch french movies. Learn the language and practice it daily. Learn to cook french dishes.

The possibilities are endless. Be creative! 

Many enjoy the simple aspect of vacationing. Your accommodations are sparse and you are limited as to what you can bring with you. Here is where decluttering comes in (remember, I told you yesterday that we'd be getting to this soon)! 

It's hard to let go of all of the things you have worked so hard to accumulate. I get it. But are all of the things making you happy? 

Do you feel like if only you had a bigger house (and mortgage!) things would be so much better? Non! You would soon fill up the empty spaces with new stuff!

Dear Swan, it's time to release that which holds you back from being happy and having peace in your heart. 

Clutter is not your friend. It steals your money and valuable time. You can always earn more money, but you can't get the time back that was spent moving, cleaning, organizing, and maintaining your clutter. 

You deserve more from life than battling clutter!

Tell me now, what are your thoughts on decluttering? 

What area do you struggle most with?

As always, I'm listening... x

Falling in Love with Simplicity

Simplicity - the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.

One thing I know for sure is that today's world is anything but simple. In order to simplify your life it takes a conscious effort because you are going against the grain of what is considered normal in our modern society.

I tend to have a romanticized view of simplicity in my ideal life. I picture a darling little house with lush flowers gardens in which I meander about with a wicker basket and pruning shears to cut fresh bouquets to adorn my home. All the while, I'm wearing a white flowy dress....

Sigh, a girl can dream! 

But seriously, when you are starting out on the path to simplicity it can be a tad scary. All of your life you've been programmed to work more so you can earn more money to buy more stuff and then expand to bigger and better. 

What are you supposed to do now?

Well, this is where you will have to evaluate your life. 

• What's working?
• What's not working?
• What is causing you undue stress?
• What can you do to ease the stress?

For many, money is one of the biggest stressors. If you have been accustomed to living above your means, you have big changes ahead. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Begin tracking your spending. Note what you're spending on and how much. Do this for at least 30 days, but 90 days to get a better idea of where your money is going.
• Create a budget each month. Your income minus your fixed and variable expenses.  (Let me know if you need help with this and I'll make a separate post - or maybe a video - to help walk you through it.)
• Do you have money left over after everything is paid or are you living off your credit cards until the next pay check? Obviously, this will have to stop.
• Your variable expenses is where you can really reduce your outgo: gas, food, utilities, etc. so this is where you want to start cutting back.
• Don't drastically reduce your budgeted amounts immediately. Aim to cut 10% off and slowly work on reducing further in the coming weeks.
• Have money meetings each week with your spouse so you are both on the same page and can plan together and brainstorm if needed.

I used money in this example as the main stressor, but obviously there are other areas. Maybe your stressor is clutter and your constant embarrassment over the state of your home. We will get there, I promise! 

Share in the comments what is the one thing that stresses you out the most? 

Money stress?

Clutter?

I've been there, honey...

I'm listening. x  

Welcome 2020!

Welcome to 2020…

and to Simple Life, Happy Life!

I am Tracy - the blog creator. I am 45 years young and live in a smallish town in south Alabama, not far from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. I live with my husband of 27 years, two Italian Mastiffs, and our three adult children - who are all currently at home with us.

I am a dreamer, a romantic, and a lover of all things beautiful. Thus, the creation of this blog. 

I am considering this year to be my level up years in terms of adding more beauty to my life while simplifying, adding self-care, and a lot more joie de vivre (joy of living).

The way I see it, we only have one life to live. I spent my younger years raising a family, sacrificing a lot of my desires for the needs of my babies. Now the babies are grown and it’s time for mama duck to become a swan. 

The second act of my life will be for me. 

Now, tell me about you and what stage of life you are in. 

Are you knee-deep in babies and diapers?

Have your babes flown the nest?

Spill it, sister. I am listening!