Happy New Year, dear friends in the Blog World!

I pray that all is well with you! 2016 was a crazy year for me, one where my head was just barely above water. We went from “one thing to the next,” all year long AND did a major first floor renovation (read: THIRD full time job) in the midst of it all. Renovations went from April until Thanksgiving, and BOY am I glad we are done! (—> Pics are coming. Won’t say when, because … under promise and over deliver!!)

I shared a bit about my New Year’s Resolution on Instagram recently, and I wanted to share it here with you as well, friend.

Because maybe, just maybe you are in the same boat. My sweet baby is three, and I am not fully out of the toddler and baby fog, but almost. When we have little littles, we are on call 24/7 as a food giver/maker and also an irrational toddler negotiator. Tough work, folks. A fleeting blessing, but tough. And even harder when you are a foxy mama of 41, homeschooling 2 emerging tween boys and running a kick butt leadership business. Phew…

2017, for this giving mama, is all about “Darlene” emerging again. Slowly. Surely. With the hope to UnderPromise and OverDeliver. I am starting to care for myself more intentionally.

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[A selfie I snapped before heading to an accountability “weigh in,” with my hot lemon water and my Fitness essential oil in hand! Look, even my nails are painted! No small feat for this mom!!]

Here is what I posted:

My New Year’s resolution? “Put my oxygen mask on first.” Those of you who fly a lot with kids know what I’m talking about: if there is a loss of pressure in the cabin, mama’s are supposed to put their oxygen mask on before they assist their children to put their masks on. That way, everyone has a better chance for survival.

Last year, everyone else came first. This year, I’m not trying to elevate myself above others, but I am looking at self-care as a matter of survival. Because the truth is, if I don’t put my oxygen mask on first, I am no help.

What does this look like for me? Well, in the last week I have said this a lot: “Sorry, honey. Mommy is eating her breakfast right now, I will help you when I am finished.” …or this one: “In 20 minutes, sweetie. When I am all finished with my workout.” In all honesty, I was not saying these basic things to my kiddos. When you have a newborn and a toddler, you sort of forget how to take care of yourself. I am re-emerging this year, and putting my own oxygen mask on first!

So, mama. You truly must carve out some time, or something for yourself!

Share with me!

What areas of YOUR life do you need

to be putting your Oxygen Mask on First??

MY GENEROUS BLOG SPONSOR:

(& A HUGE KEY TO MY ROCKING NEW YEAR!!!!)

January is the LAST MONTH, I am giving BACK $25 on your PSK when you sign up via my link!

This blog post is generously sponsored by my YL. My Young Living essential oils are also a serious passion of mine, and the oils are so well loved that they sponsor my blog!!! Thank you, friends!  Enroll by clicking here. You will not regret it! You NEED NEED NEED these amazing bottles of life-loving oils (that don’t even COMPARE to the cheap-y stink oils) in your life!! Do not look back, jump in and join us, and find out WHY we feel empowered by these happy bottles.

I am SUPER excited about the new Premium Starter Kit. You are going to LOVE it… unless, of course, you hate things that smell heavenly and make you smile. #spaliving #livewithbeauty #wellness #MyHouseSmellsLikeASpa

Questions? Because I know you are curious!! Head here:

*****

Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

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{This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much  for reading and supporting FHD! }

Contrast is King

Here is some Sunday morning inspiration for you!

Contrast is a POWERFUL design tool. There are lots of ways you can drum up contrast:

• contrasting colors (on the color wheel),
• contrasting black vs. white,
• contrasting pattern vs. plain,
• contrasting textures,
• contrasting sizes, etc.

I have designed my entire kitchen project with a main goal of creating contrast.

I wrote a post that I still love, all about contrast and why I am SO crazy for it. I think, if you love the pics below, you should check it out: Lessons in Design: The Power of Contrasts.

Are you using CONTRAST in your home? If not, I hope these pics will get you thinking about ways you can add strong pops of contrast for a bold effect in your spaces. I encourage you to give it a try.

Here is a collection of my latest/greatest FAVE  “Contrast” inspiration (many of which have directly inspired my evolving Project FHD Kitchen. These spaces are brilliant examples of well-executed contrast in design:

{find these graphics/sources, and more, on my Pinboards: My thing for Contrasts, My thing for bold patterns, My thing for Contrast Piping, Fieldstone Hill Kitchen Renovation, Inspiration Bathrooms, Inspiration Kitchens}

{Pin this graphic:}

{^^^^ those last two amazing pieces of art can be found here, and the artist can also be found here}

Tell me your thoughts!

Where do you already have contrast in your home?

Where can you add some contrast?

MY GENEROUS BLOG SPONSOR:

This blog post is generously sponsored by my YL. My Young Living essential oils are also a passion of mine, and the oils are so well loved that they sponsor my blog!!! Thank you, friends!  Enroll by clicking here. You will not regret it! You NEED these amazing bottles of life-loving oils (that don’t even COMPARE to the cheap-y stink oils) in your life!!

I am SUPER excited about the new Premium Starter Kit. You are going to LOVE it… unless you hate things that smell heavenly and make you smile. #spaliving #livewithbeauty #wellness #MyHouseSmellsLikeASpa

Questions? Because I know you are curious!! Head here:

*****

Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

* * *

 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much  for reading and supporting FHD! }

I am having a ball as the final stages of our kitchen project unfold. It had been moving along slowly, but now, things are really picking up the pace. Most things are ordered, and the final steps are happening! Of course, as a family of five, we are READY to move back into our kitchen, but I truly am enjoying this process!

Join me on Instagram to see more real-time changes to the kitchen, but here is today’s shot (taken during install. That is NOT my camo rug. wink. ). The overall feel will be quite different from this, since a lot of the detailing (including our tile, which will change everything) is not in yet:

With our kitchen project, I have been aiming for – design wise – a few overall elements that I really want:

1. Black and White and Graphic. I want a lot of contrast happening.

2. Well-loved and antique wood tones sprinkled in, to warm things up.

3. Glam farmhouse – I want this kitchen to fit well, and be true to, its farmhouse roots. But I also want the fun and contrast of some Glam.

4. Gold/Brass/Copper for the cherry on top. This brings in much of that Glam I was talking about.

Sooo, since Gold and Brass and Copper touches are our “Cherry on Top,” I have been pouring through lots of ideas for bringing copper into my kitchen in glorious and practical ways. I thought I would share some of the fun ways to bring that shine into your kitchen, particularly with copper.

Copper is ‘hot’ right now in kitchen design, but lets face it: Copper always has been ‘hot.’ It is a kitchen staple, especially in European kitchens. There are plenty of ways to incorporate this stunning metal into a working, beautiful kitchen. And, you don’t have to go all-in if you are wanting some Copper in your kitchen.

10 Ways to Use Copper in Your Kitchen:

{All images via my Pinterest board: My Thing for Copper and Brass. Follow the links to the original source}

SAVE THIS POST TO PINTEREST:

1. Canisters

All kitchens need a little bit more storage. Why not make it pretty? And copper? I love looking for vintage copper canisters on Etsy.

2. Hanging pots

Nothing says ‘European kitchen’ more than hanging copper pots. I love this look. Have a bunch of pots? Hang them in rows. Have just a few? Hang them from a small bar or rack.

3. Pot sitting out on the stove

Ever think about storing one of your pots right on the stovetop? I make a lot of soup, and keeping a pretty pot on the stovetop adds character to my kitchen and it inspires me to get dinner going. In my new kitchen, I will have a copper pot with brass handles sitting on my stovetop.

4. Teapot

Copper teapots are so pretty. And when you have a pretty teapot, you can just leave it out (next to your copper pot) and it will make you smile… and drink more tea.

5. Cups

Mugs for all of your hot drinks. Moscow Mules. Indian drinking cups. Copper mugs are perfectly useful and stunningly gorgeous to display. There are some amazing choices out there, from vintage to modern.

6. Coffee Accessories

Why are coffee accessories so beautiful? and even more so in copper? Make your morning cuppa more glorious with copper.

7. Kitchen Tools

Big labels, stirring spoons, measuring spoons and measuring cups. All of these are such simple, affordable and easy ways to add a splash of copper to your kitchen. Maybe it is time to replace those mismatched (and partly missing) measuring spoons? That is what I will be doing – finally – in our new kitchen. #Livewithbeauty , right!?

8. Stack it up

Copper kitchen goodies look even better when grouped en masse. Together, copper makes a huge visual impact and adds instant bling to your kitchen.

9. Appliances

A copper Kitchenaid, or Vitamix, or Espresso maker. Keep it out on the counter, since it looks so pretty and makes your kitchen look French 😉 !  J’adore when practical and beautiful meet.

10. Sink

Want to really add a stunning feature of copper? A copper sink is incomparably beautiful and unique!

{All images via my Pinterest board: My Thing for Copper and Brass. Follow the links to the original source}

Ready to shop for some Copper? If I have inspired you to integrate more copper into your space, I would be honored if you click through these (affiliate) links to do your Amazon shopping!


 

MY GENEROUS BLOG SPONSOR:

This blog post is generously sponsored by my YL. My Young Living essential oils are also a passion of mine, and the oils are so well loved that they sponsor my blog!!! Thank you, friends!  Enroll by clicking here. You will not regret it! You NEED these amazing bottles of life-loving oils (that don’t even COMPARE to the cheap-y stink oils) in your life!!

I am SUPER excited about the new Premium Starter Kit. You are going to LOVE it… unless you hate things that smell heavenly and make you smile. #spaliving #livewithbeauty #wellness #MyHouseSmellsLikeASpa

Questions? Because I know you are curious!! Head here:

*****

Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

* * *

 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much  for reading and supporting FHD! }

Hi friends! I have been missing you!

Life – and summer – is moving a million miles an hour, and I am trying to be so intentional about what matters most. I see my kiddos growing up before my eyes, and even thought I homeschool them and get to BE with them A LOT, I still see the clock spinning faster and faster. My oldest just turned 11, and suddenly, I have a TWEEN! A middle school boy. Hold me.

I have been pouring a lot of my creative energies into parenting lately. You certainly do need to get more creative as your kids get older, can I get an Amen? Our summer has been busy, but without much structure, mostly thanks to our fabulous kitchen project and some traveling adventures…. oh, and potty training.  Also, we are a mostly screen-free household (I know. I am crazy!), so I spend much of my time redirecting my kiddos into good activities and projects. I know most of you don’t come to this blog for parenting anecdotes, but this is SO where I am right now. Just pouring into my kiddos. I want to give them the BEST of me, not the leftovers. This discipline has resulted in me being offline a lot more….

all this to say, I miss you!

And yet….. In my off moments, 😉 , I sneak in some kitchen designing! I pour through Pinterest and find rooms that make my heart sing. That is definitely my momma time! My summer evening habit has included a piece of chocolate, a glass of wine, a fire pit, and some Pinterest browsing. Now, doesn’t that sound delightful!?

Anyway, loves, here are some pics from our kitchen renovation. Starting with the oldest, and ending with a pic that was just taken yesterday. Welcome to our crazy:

I will keep the pics coming when I can! In the meantime, know that you are missed.

I will catch on Instagram in the meantime!!

In fact, I should have a brand new pic up on there sometime today that is not shown here in this post. See you there!!

MY GENEROUS BLOG SPONSOR:

This blog post is generously sponsored by my YL. My Young Living essential oils are also a passion of mine, and the oils are so well loved that they sponsor my blog!!! Thank you, friends!  Enroll by clicking here. You will not regret it! You NEED these amazing bottles of life-loving oils (that don’t even COMPARE to the cheap-y stink oils) in your life!!

I am SUPER excited about the new Premium Starter Kit. You are going to LOVE it… unless you hate things that smell heavenly and make you smile. #spaliving #livewithbeauty #wellness #MyHouseSmellsLikeASpa

Questions? Head here:

*****

Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

* * *

 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much  for reading and supporting FHD! }