I didn't forget...

 I'm still working on my home decor project. There are a couple of things remaining and that are on the way. I'm getting anxious to show off my new stuff! I'm really loving the serenity it brings. I need that desperately, so it's amazing to have a home sanctuary I can retreat to. Home has always been a place where I could go and be safe, but it's more than that now. It's a place to recharge, a place to restore my sanity. I feel like I'm able to breathe and center myself. 

It's weird and also amazing how a place can do those things. I don't know that I've ever truly felt connected to a place (besides Paris, obviously), so this is new to me. I love it. I know I'll eventually have to move, but for now, I will enjoy my sanctuary and the ability to recharge.

Major Overhaul - Before

 So I decided awhile ago that I wanted to do a major decor overhaul in my apartment. It was probably influenced by redoing my pantry. I also have felt for awhile like I lived in a tourist shop in Paris. Not that shops in Paris are bad things, but I didn't want to LIVE in one. I've begun the process of changing to  French Country decor. I realized that I don't have a whole lot of photos of the parts that looked super touristy to me, so you'll just have to trust me. Here are a few before photos:

Pantry After Photos

I'm completely over the moon about my pantry reorganization! It's so lovely and I'm actually USING the things instead of looking at them and wondering what to do. It's been fantastic!

 

Organizing

 I'm a sucker for a good organization project. I like things to be in their place, and I like their places to make sense. My home library is organized by genre and then author within the genre. My classroom library is organized into sections: picture books, nonfiction, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction, and mysteries. Series are put together. I need it to be organized for my own peace of mind.

I've recently started a massive pantry reorganization at home. I haven't been a huge fan of my pantry. Don't get me wrong, I love the space. I just haven't felt like I'm utilizing it to its full potential. I'm posting a couple before pictures:

I don't love it. It just feels messy and unorganized place to me. I really need it to be calming and a place that feels natural.

I've always poked fun at the "pinterest pantries" that I see going around. It's always felt like that's a rich person type of thing to do. 

Well, now I'm doing it. I've ordered a bunch of containers, an over-the-door shelving unit, canned food organizers, and have mapped out a plan for the pantry. I've gone through my appliances and decided which ones I think I need to keep. Those are going up on the top shelf so that I can actually see them and maybe even use them. Containers will be labeled and put in logical places within the pantry. I may even get a bathroom shelf that goes over the toilet to have some extra storage space. I'm still debating that one. I'll see how it goes after I get it put together with what I've got.

After pictures will be coming soon!

Book Signings

This week has been a good one for signed books! On Wednesday, I drove down to Idaho Falls to attend a signing with Sarah M. Eden. She's one of my absolute favorite authors, so I always take the chance to go to her signings when she's in the area. I feel like an idiot though, because I found two more books at home in which she was a contributing author, and I didn't realize it. Now I will have to remember to take them to the next signing. I did get five additional books signed though, so that's always awesome!

Today, I went to a signing here in Rexburg with Sian Ann Bessey and Traci Hunter Abramson. I only had one book to be signed today, but it's one they collaborated on, so both signed. Everything else I have from these two authors is already signed, or is a kindle book. I also picked up some more book swag - magnets to complete my Georgian Gentlemen collection. Georgian Gentlemen is a series by Sian Ann Bessey that I really love.

In a couple of weeks, I'll head back down to Idaho Falls for another signing. This time, it's Sian Ann Bessey and Rachel Kelley Stones. Just one book for this one - Love Unseen by Rachel Kelley Stones. I read an advanced copy of it, and I loved it! 

Also, I wasn't supposed to go into school today to work in my classroom, but I DID ANYWAY. I'm irritated with myself. I'm trying to set boundaries and I'm the one who breaks them! Ugh!!!