We Made it To South Africa (+ how to follow along with our trip!)

Kathrynne woke up yesterday morning and said, “I can’t believe we’re flying to South Africa today!”

I couldn’t believe it either!

I was a mixed ball of excitement and sadness and nerves. I was so excited that I get to go back to South Africa — I’ve been so ready to go back ever since I left! And I’m thrilled beyond words that I get to bring my family with me this time!

However, I feel sad because Joy and Lisa-Jo aren’t going this time. I will miss those girls so much. But I’m super, super happy that my other manager and good friend, Brian, is coming this time.

And there’s some anxiousness that I feel, too. Mostly about how my kids are going to do on the flights and with the time change and with all of the newness all at once.

I usually am fairly minimalist when packing. I mean, I’m the girl who can pack for 8 days in a carry-on.

But taking my family halfway around the world and being gone for 8 days made me set aside my minimalistic packing skills and go more for the Have Options & Prepare Well mode.

Because there’s nothing like (2) 15+-hour-long flights with 3 kids to make you want to make sure you have options!

Everyone got a backpack for the flights + a suitcase that we checked. Mom got the last say in what they brought (“Yes, you must bring an extra change of clothes in your backpack. Trust me, a LOT of accidents can happen in 15 hours!”)

Oh and you can see the final stack of books I opted to bring here.

South Africa may not be ready for us, but we’re coming for you… right before boarding our flight.

The best part of our flight to South Africa? They gave us Milano cookies (my very favorite)!

The worst part? The kids only slept a few hours and they DIDN’T have wifi (despite the fact that they advertised that they did and I’d kind of banked on it to get a few projects done!)

Oh well! I got to sleep (thanks, Dramamine!) and read a book and it was nice… Aside from some bad attitudes coming from the 10 and under crowd.

I have decided that if you want a good test of your inner character, take 3 kids on a 15-hour flight. I had quite a few prayers going up for extra patience during that last hour when it felt like we were on the verge of imploding.

15+ hours later… tired, but oh so thrilled to be here in South Africa!! Our kids were especially excited to have their very first stamp in their brand-new passports!

(Oh and it was amazing how the kids could barely seem to keep their eyes open and had all sorts of bad attitude going on the last hour of the flight, but as soon as we got off the plane, they were fired up and ready to go again!! They just finally all crashed and fell asleep 30 minutes ago and we’re hoping they stay asleep for a good, long time!)

We spent the evening with Lisa-Jo’s parents — eating, talking, laughing, and playing Bean Boozled. Tomorrow, we’re headed out to one of the communities where Take Action is ministering at. I’m so excited to get to go back and see the progress that has been made since I last visited!

We got our very own South African scarves, courtesy of Lisa-Jo Baker’s parents — who are so graciously hosting us right now.

Isn’t my scarf absolutely the perfect color?? I love it!!

Also, I’m grateful to be sharing this South Africa trip with these two guys (my wonderful husband, Jesse, and my business manager, Brian), both who gave up a whole week of their lives and flew halfway around the world because they believe so passionately in what God has called us to be a part of here in South Africa!

What You Can Expect Here While I’m Gone

In case you are wondering, my wonderful assistant, Meg, will be sharing great deals here, answering comments, and posting on Facebook. I’ve been training her to take over for me this week and she’s already been doing an AMAZING job!

If you want to follow along with our trip adventures, be sure follow me on Instagram. I’ll likely be posting there most consistently.

I also discovered tonight that the wi-fi may, indeed, be strong enough for me to do a quick video on Periscope each day. You can watch tonight’s video here. And then download the Periscope app and search for MoneySavingMom to follow the rest of my scopes this week.

I also plan to blog at least every day or every other day to get you a peek into what we’re doing and learning and trying. No promises, but I’m hopeful I’ll have a chance to check in and post at least a few times while we’re here.

Thank you so much for your prayers, your encouragement, and your excitement about this trip. It’s truly a dream come true to be here with my family!

Hello Nashville | Girl's Weekend

This past weekend was my first girl's trip in ages and I had a blast. Nashville is such a great town - thanks to everyone who gave me a heads up on their favorite spots. With just 3 days, we barely scraped the tip of the iceberg - can't wait to return to see more.



Even though time was short we tried to have as well balanced a trip as possible. We started with a little history by touring Belle Meade Plantation. No photos allowed inside but it was an hour well spent seeing the beautiful old home and hearing it's history.



We didn't want to take ourselves too seriously so we hopped on the Music City Rollin' Jamboree tour which was lots fun.

Of course a trip to Nashville isn't quite complete without stuffing ourselves at every possible opportunity. There were simply way too many great places to eat and not enough time. We really enjoyed Loveless Cafe and Pancake Pantry despite the crowds. I have to go back to try some other famous spots.



We also hit the Country Music Hall of Fame which I was considerably less impressive. It really should be called the Outfits + Guitars of Country Music. While it was cool to seem some of these items, it just didn't seem quite worth the admission. On the plus side, there was a great letterpress studio, Hatch, inside the same building which I really enjoyed.




Of course I couldn't leave Nashville without a little junking and we just so happened to be there during their monthly flea market at the Fairgrounds. It was a great size, not too crowded and had several things I would have loved to bring back with me but alas, would not fit in my suitcase.




We also did a little spot shopping around town. My favorite eye candy was in the beautifully styled Franklin store, The Iron Gate. I also got to visit with a fellow home blogger who runs the adorable Rich Hippies.

I would have loved to pick up some cowboy boots ( I'm completely smitten with the lighted pair I posted on my instagram feed) but only seemed to find tourist outlets. Next time I'm getting some real boots. Also note, I must have a painted chicken on wooden boards so you should expect to see a DIY soon. You've been warned.



Last but not least was the amazing musical talent at virtually every turn in Nashville. Considering the nickname, Music City, it should not have surprised me but it totally did. Every bar we stopped in had truly talented musicians and I enjoyed every minute of it.


There is so much more I would have loved to do but I'm saving it for next time. I can't think of a better spot for a girl's weekend. Until we meet again.

Want a sneak peek at my latest project? Follow Brooklyn Limestone on instagram, facebook and twitter for lots more.

My home style over the years

After last week's post about Instagram messing with my mind and making me question my taste in things, I wondered how much my style had changed over the years. So I went through the archives of my blog (and when I say archives, I mean the archives via Wayback Machine - this poor blog has been majorly hacked a couple of times over the years, meaning a whole bunch of content has yet to be posted to this site; I could win awards in procrastinating). Anyway. Going through the archives I realised my style hasn't changed too much at all - maybe refined a little, but mostly, the basis is the same: white, black, grey, hits of natural timber and a shot of surprise. For colours I still like them muted and with a touch of grey.

I also spent a silly amount of time looking through my Pinterest boards - back to the start when I first starting pinning images I loved. Aside from the odd WTF picture (usually after looking at it for a little while wondering if it was an accident, I noticed there was some small part of the image that spoke to me, not the entire thing), I realised again, it was pretty consistent. Looking through my past, it's clear I've always had these relatively clean, simple spaces. Even when the mess was insane covering every surface and you're ankle-deep in tiny toy cars or dolls, the spaces were still relatively simple in terms of furniture, decor and colour. I've always said I was afraid of colour and would joke that I'm boring in my decor. I wondered when the urge to throw a red cushion on my couch would hit. Or to buy bright art or paint a wall something other than black, white or grey. It never has! So boring or not, this is obviously who I am and I guess there is nothing wrong with it. It's taken me a while to accept that. I thought I was waiting to grow up and find my style. It turns out it's the same style I've always had and most likely always will. I realised, though, while the rooms are pretty simple and standard, I've always tried to incorporate some kind of statement feature - murals in a kids room, driftwood hanger, cut-out recessed shelves, stencilled window, black wall, fairy lights in a branch... Just one thing to make it look a little more unique - and it's not often something bought, but something made - something just for you that not every single person on Instagram has bought from Typo or Kmart or the wall decal store. Creating something yourself - or directing someone else to do it for you! - is the best way to inject that bit of personality into your home. After all, a house is a home when it reflects those who live there.

I can't imagine me straying too far from this formula for our upcoming extension and renovation - in my mind the house itself is all blindingly white walls with black accents on door hardware, the fireplace and fans, stair rails and balcony and the odd piece of furniture. The floors will be natural timber (my whitewashed floors were nice, but annoying to upkeep so they're going), there'll be a few statement pieces of furniture (hopefully!), a bunch of greenery with houseplants, simple and stylish rugs, a few fun kids elements and pieces and features that we love and that bring us joy (see previous post!).

It's all going to be simple and clean - the calming backdrop for our chaotic lives, the perfect blank canvas for our colourful crafts and imaginative play, the ideal space for our family to grow, spend time with each other and have our own spaces for that all-important alone time. The kids will get a say in how their rooms will look and Steve will have his own library space to play with, leaving me in charge of tying it all together. I can't wait.

{All images of my previous homes. Pictures by Belinda Graham for The Happy Home}

Creating and Grieving

There's something I've been wanting to chat about. See that bronze sculpture to the right of the fireplace?

Here's a better look:

It's a sculpture that my grandfather made, in his early days of making art. He experimented and practiced and sometimes things turned out a little wonky, but eventually he honed his skills and for a time he even owned his own art gallery in Toronto. I have three other pieces of his work: a small bird on a branch, the striking centaur, and a tumbling gymnast (plus the headboard he made us).

I've been looking at this sculpture a lot, thinking about how much my grandfather practiced his craft.

As a kid, I was so prolific - much to my Mom's chagrin. I churned out drawing after drawing, doodling on anything and everything, including important paperwork. She had to deal with stacks and stacks of messy drawings and wibbly wobbly clay pots. I just loved art and was convinced I'd be a photographer, painter, or interior designer (much to my Dad's chagrin), but somehow I've lost some of that joy. I sometimes find myself overwhelmed - instead of inspired - by the sheer volume of (sometimes kind of disposable) crafts and DIYs that are shared online. Lately I've channeled much of my creativity into "practical" projects, like a pot holder, catnip toy, painted planters and home renovations - money saving projects I can use and feel good about. For some reason, I've felt the need to justify the time and expense of making things but this preoccupation has really done me a disservice.

I could really benefit from some time spent making things just for the sake of making things. I have to admit that the traumatic passing of a relative this spring has been difficult to process and my family is still reeling from the shock. I, myself, have good days and bad days, but I've tried my best power through the bad days and downplay the stress, anxiety, and grief I'm feeling. I spent the first half of September in Toronto, helping to tie up some lose ends, and that re-awakened all kinds of feelings. I left feeling immensely guilty and sad and agitated. Creating things is said to help alleviate stress and anxiety, and is especially recommended to help with the grieving process. So why has a craft and DIY enthusiast like me not jumped at the chance to create things as part of the healing process?

Hopefully this gal will encourage me to recapture some of my childhood zeal for arts and crafts! To make stuff, just because; to try some of the 1000+ projects I've pinned... I'm thinking that a pottery class might be just what the Dr. (that would be me) ordered...

The 20 Toy Rule: How We Decluttered Our Playroom & Simplified Our Life

I debated whether or not to post about this, but when I shared it on my personal Facebook page, I received such a positive response (particularly from fellow mommies), that I decided I should share. Here’s the deal: We have too many toys. My kids have been spoiled. And before I write one more word let me just say that I am fully aware of what a ridiculous “first world problem” this is. I know. The thing is, somewhere along the line we started accumulating “stuff.” Please don’t misunderstand and think that we don’t appreciate what we have — we do. I’m just tired of the mess, tired of the clutter, and craving more simplicity.

Somehow, without even realizing it, we allowed our children to buy into the idea that “more” is better. “More toys” = more fun, more happiness, more excitement, more to experience.  The truth is, that is a big fat lie. “More” isn’t always better. Sometimes, more can actually be worse. Now, let me also point out that our kids really aren’t spoiled brats. Sure, they have their moments, just like any child does, but in general they are well-behaved, good kids. Even they realized that enough was enough. It was time to bulldoze through the clutter and “decrapify” as my friend Ann Marie says. (By the way, you must check out her 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge if you truly want to simplify and organize your life.)

Our playroom had become a cluttered mess that was impossible to keep clean. Just the idea of cleaning it had become overwhelming, not only to my children, but to me too. Every square inch of the floor was constantly covered in toy bits and pieces. We have a front and back staircase in our house, both of which we use equally, but you have to pass through the playroom to get to the back stairs. We also use the playroom as a backup guest bedroom, so we can’t be hopscotching through a Lego minefield every time we attempt to traverse the room. (Of course, I didn’t think to shoot decent photos before the room was cleared, but I did snap a few with my iPhone during the process, so please excuse the picture quality.) These photos don’t even capture the worst of it! This was about halfway through the decluttering process.

THE 20 TOY RULE

Here’s how we decluttered: I told my boys that they could each choose 20 toys to keep. At first, they panicked, but they quickly realized that there were tons of toys in bins and on the floor that they rarely even played with, and the mess was making it hard for them to find things or even see what they had. They quickly conceded that it was a decent idea, and they spent time thoughtfully choosing which toys meant the most to them. I gave them a couple of days to slowly form each of their piles of 20 items. There were a few caveats: Legos, Playmobil, art supplies, blocks, books, and Jake’s beloved squinkie collection didn’t count toward the total. (Although they were required to organize all of these items.) These are the things they play with the most, and since there are so many tiny bits it just didn’t make sense to include them. We did organize them into designated bins/buckets, and they were instructed to keep them put away at all times when not in use or they will get taken away. (This is not only due to the mess factor, but also as a safety precaution for their crawling baby brother.) We keep art supplies in the blue dresser drawers, and a couple of small bins full of pens and crayons on their art table in the corner of the room. Drawings get hole punched and filed in binders. Miscellaneous toys (action figures, etc.) go in our beloved white toy bins. I found them at Target — we have 3 of them and they each are divided into two sections. (I couldn’t find the exact same ones available now, but these are the same in an Espresso finish, and they also have single storage units.) We keep our sports equipment in a big tub like this one.

(FYI I did not stage any of these photos so the shelves aren’t immaculately styled and Pinterest-worthy, but this is real life, people. I also have a tiny photobomber.)

Chalkboard Gallery Wall

Bookshelf Makeover / Blue Dresser / Rug / Clipboard Wall

I mean, are you seeing all of this glorious floor space?

After the 20 toys had been selected, they helped me stash the rest of the toys into storage bins. Six bins, to be exact. Six ginormous plastic bins full of toys. I’m ashamed to even admit that we had so many. (And we have donated plenty in the past.)

So here’s the plan: For now, the storage bins are stored in the basement. I want to give it a little time before I give them the permanent boot, just to make sure that we don’t hastily get rid of something that might have sentimental value. In a few months, the majority of the toys will get donated, while some will stay in storage and be periodically swapped and rotated in and out of the playroom. From now on, every time the boys get something new, they will donate something old to make room for it.

So, how’s it going so far? We’ve lived this way for about a month now, and so far, so good. They’ve only asked for a swap one time when they realized they’d like to have a few of their superhero action figures in exchange for some lesser played-with stuff. And you know what? They don’t miss the clutter any more than I do. They didn’t cry or whine, and they genuinely seem to be enjoying all of the extra space in the playroom, along with the fact that clean-up only takes about 10 minutes per day and they can much more easily find whatever it is they are looking for. There is plenty of free floor space now for baby Jonah to crawl around, plus we just moved a bed into the room to create a secondary guest bedroom/playroom combo. (More room updates and plans for the room coming soon.) A few extra toys have crawled out of the woodwork since we put the storage bins away, so we will have to revisit the toy situation again soon and pare down even more if need be.

My advice for you if you plan on doing something similar, is to modify it to fit your family’s needs and goals. Maybe 20 toys isn’t the magic number for your household, or maybe it is and you don’t even need to create as many caveats as I did (as far as making exceptions for Legos, etc.). The goal is to simplify, and I think you and your kids will both be pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoy having fewer things to sift through when trying to find specific toys to play with.

I plan on decluttering the entire house little by little. And while it may be time consuming upfront, it is well worth the time saved cleaning and organizing in the future, and the freedom we will feel when we break free from the “stuff” that has been ruling our lives.

So tell me, how do you stay organized? I can use all the tips I can get!

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Thanks for visiting!

-Erin

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