Photo courtesy of Matt Crump

We only left Texas 4 short months ago to relocate to the Pacific Northwest but we are forever Texans.  Our hearts break as we continue to watch coverage of the devastation by the effects of Hurricane Harvey, which has created unprecedented flooding and forced thousands to flee for their lives.  I know this has been leaving people everywhere wishing they could do something to help. HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO.
(I have researched to make sure these are all valid ways).

1. Donate to the United Way Flood Relief Fund by texting “UWFLOOD” to 41444.
2. Text the word “HARVEY” to 90999 to make a $10 donation to the American Red Cross.
3. Donations to the Salvation Army can be made at HelpSalvationArmy.org
4. Donate through  the LDS Church (see article here) and 100% of every dollar donated is used to help those in need without regard to race, religion, or ethnic origin.
5. Donate to IRTeams.org/donate to donate to the International Relief Teams that bring in personal hygiene kits to victims.
6. Donations to Portlight.org will help those with disabilities who have special medical needs.
7. Donate to the Texas Diaper Bank to help those who have small children that need diapers by going to TexasDiaperBank.org

These are the only legit sources I’ve checked out so far.  If you have any other suggestions, leave your comment below and we’ll check them out as well.

Of course, we continue to pray for Texas and ALL those who not only suffer from the effect but ALSO for those that are out volunteering their time to help the victims.  We pray for all those that are out in their search and rescue efforts that they can find and save more Texans who are waiting for their help.

To echo the words of Little Texas in their well-known song….
God blessed Texas
With His own hand
Brought down angels from the promised land
Gave ’em a place where they could dance
If you want to see heaven, brother, here’s your chance
I’ve been sent to spread the message
God blessed Texas.

Yes He did.  We love our Texas and hope you’ll share your love as well by donating in any way you can!
(No, I do not profit in any way from this post…..just spreading the love for Texas.)

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xoxo,

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The post How You Can Help And Donate To Texas Flood Victims of Hurricane Harvey appeared first on Summer Adams.

And just like that….May is gone!  It’s the last day of May so it’s time to print out your June 2017 printable calendar that I have for you today.  Not only is it free (personal use only please) but I’m also including some digital inspirational graphics and tech wallpaper for you.

Last month, I had a cute pair of heels on the calendar.  In sticking with the blush theme but also thinking of summer time, what cuter thing is there than a flamingo pool float on this month’s calendar? Here’s what it looks like.

Isn’t that too fun?!

That’s just to preview.  TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT, click HERE.

Ok, I thought of another fun idea as well…..

The flower from April’s calendar and the Valentino heels from May’s calendar were very popular.  So, I decided to offer 3 different versions of the calendar each month.  You can pick the fun flamingo calendar above (this fun monthly-themed calendar will change each month) or you can download and print off the flower June calendar (that will also be available each month)…

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT this flower June calendar, click HERE.

Or you can also print out the heels calendar (below) each month.

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT this heels June calendar, click HERE.

So you have 3 fabulous calendars to choose from.  And because you know I love inspirational graphics, you get one this month to go along with the flamingo pool float.

This first one is a 5×7 print you can download and print HERE.

Below is an 8×10 you can download and print HERE.  Wouldn’t this make a cute gift to give a friend or to your daughter?  I’ve always loved this simple saying and I just love flamingoes.

For your iPhone or Android, here is a tech wallpaper below.
Just right-click and save to your phone and then set it to your home screen on your phone.

I don’t know about y’all, but looking at this cute flamingo pool float makes me want to get out in the pool.  I think I’ll put on my swimsuit and head out there.

I hope you enjoy these and I hope you have some fun summer plans that include many days at the beach or pool!

Thanks so much for stopping by and grabbing your freebies!  I would so appreciate it if you pinned it to Pinterest (hover over picture for the “pin it” button to show up) or shared it on Facebook!

I would also love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest posts and hear about your next month’s calendar or freebies.  You can follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

The post June 2017 Printable Calendar, Digital Graphic & Tech Wallpaper appeared first on Summer Adams.

As I sit and write this blog post, my oldest child (and only daughter), Brooklyn, is 10 1/2 years old.  And going on 16.  It happens so darn fast.  I remember every detail of the day she was born like it was yesterday.  Between then and now, we have done so many things that my pre-motherhood self dreamed of doing with a daughter one day.  There are so many events and milestones to come and memories to be made.  I’m in no way rushing it, not one bit.  But there are so many things that I want to tell her and things I want to teach her.  Many of these things are very deep or spiritual or personal and so those will be written down somewhere else.  But the advice for my daughter that I share here, I hope someone else can also benefit from.

To keep from writing a novel instead of a blog post, I decided to choose just 10 (of the 500+ things I could tell her) to share here. I hope she takes these bits of advice to heart as she grows into a woman and marries and has a family of her own.

1- Make dinner time your sacred family time!  When kids come home from school, it’s snack time, homework, maybe a short break and then either dance, sports, scouts, cheer, church activities or play dates.  We are a very close family and I want it to stay way. I don’t just mean that I want us to get along but that I want more.  I want us to be connected! Dinner time is sometimes crazy or quick and even an occasional frozen pizza on paper plates.  But we make a habit of sitting and blessing the food and eating dinner together.  I love it.  Every single time I think to myself, “THIS is what it’s all about.”  You will get this one day.

This pic was taken for our Back To School Party dinner….see more HERE.

Occasionally I’ll set the table in a special way or throw a surprise themed dinner and I feel like a cross between June Cleaver and Martha Stewart. And then there are the times that dinner is whatever I can throw together quickly or order and grabbing the paper plates and I feel more like Peg Bundy ha!  But that time is still sacred!  Many times, you kids will share something you didn’t feel like sharing earlier or forgot about.  It’s time to resolve problems or talk about goals and plans. It’s time to be a family!!! I love it.  Every dinner. For one day my babies will be gone and I will miss those conversations and cooking for both of you.

This was a fun night!  See more of Our Luau At Home dinner HERE.

2- Fall in love with homemaking!  Whether you live on your own one day or have a house full of children, your home is your castle. Make it yours! Beautify it and make it comfortable and a place you long to go to at the end of the day.  Find your own unique style and don’t listen to everyone else telling you how you should decorate (unless you ask for opinions).

Take pride in keeping a beautiful, clean home.  Learn how to find a look or style for less.  Always be learning new things and find some DIY projects you love that can add a special touch to your home or be useful.

My DIY bathroom shelving tutorial found HERE.  You can also search on my blog for other DIY projects that I know you’ll just love!

Keep up your love of baking and make sure you learn to cook, too!  I love that you love to make “healthy choices” and I’m also so glad you love to bake things with me like macarons and cookies and cupcakes and cakes.

These Lemon Cream Cupcakes (recipe HERE) were sooooo fun to make with you!  Our new frosting bulb was hilarious to figure out and make it look like this.  But you catch on quickly.  You’re a natural!  Baked goods are even more fun when they’re shared!  So always do what I do (your kids will probably complain about this like you guys do) and give some away!  It brightens someone else’s day when you show up with baked goods at their doorstep for no good reason.

3- Take care of your skin and body!  I’m currently 38 years old and oh how I wish I would have listened to my mother and grandmother and taken care of my skin!   They said to wear sunscreen, even on my face. I did not. They said wash your face each night.  I am not always good at this, eek.  But you need to wash off that pollution and everything that your face endured that day.

They said wear moisturizer early and eye cream when you’re older.  I just started doing this the last couple of years.

Ugh, I cringe and wish I would’ve listened. I see the sunspots now and I am starting to see the fine lines.  NOW I’m listening.

And treat yourself to a face mask!  It is so so good for your skin and feels amazing.  Now that was one I enjoyed, even at your age, with my girlfriends when we had sleepovers. Ok, we mostly liked the pictures that came from it and jumping out to scare our brothers with green and brown faces but still…so fun!

Trust me….you’ll be so grateful for this advice 30 years from now.

These gorgeous robes were sent to us by our sweet friends at Plum Pretty Sugar and they are dreamy!   Shop below!

4- Don’t compare yourself to others!  This might sound impossible because, especially as women, we tend to do it. BUT DON’T!  I don’t see you struggle with this now and I’m grateful.  But you’ve not hit your teenage years and everyone is trying to figure out “how to be cool” and “who they are” and “what they should wear or look like” during that time.  Just be you. You’re fabulous.  You’re gorgeous.  You have the funniest and best attitude I know and the biggest heart! Don’t forget that quote we love, “She knew WHO she was and WHOSE she was.”

More on Brooklyn’s Pursebox (lunch box) HERE.

I wish I had half of your self-worth and confidence at your age that you have.  I’ve tried hard to instill that in you.  It wasn’t until, maybe the last 4 or 5 years, that I just didn’t care anymore.  I realized I was beautiful, at any size, and I knew I was talented and smart and funny and had a pure heart.  I’m not perfect, but I LOVE MYSELF! I want that for you, now and always!  You’ll always be content when you realize that you are uniquely you and NO ONE can be YOU!  That’s your superpower, girl!  You’re everything I could’ve hoped for in a daughter and I’m very proud.

I think I would have enjoyed my teenage and young adult years so much more, had I known “who” I was.  Meaning, I wish wish wish I knew my value! But I do now!  I love sharing that with you!

5- You CAN have a stylish AND comfortable home while raising a family!  Except for baby-proofing cupboards with poisons and outlets with covers, I didn’t ever “baby proof” anything.  I taught you and Beckham how to wash your hands, not leave the kitchen with food, grab a tissue to wipe your nose and not wipe it on my nice sofas or curtains.  I taught you to not knock over or touch my floor pillar candlesticks or pick at my beaded pillows.  And you didn’t.

People told me “you can’t have nice things when you have kids” or “you can’t have white bedding when you have kids”…

…and especially “you can’t have white sofas when you have kids”.

Well I always have and they are all still in good shape.  It’s up to you!  If you take time to teach your kids, then hopefully they’ll listen and obey.  Consistency is key and there must be consequences if rules are broken.  That being said, some of our little ones come to this earth with stubborn little personalities (haha) and if it’s too much of a battle, it’s not worth it.  Use good judgment.

See more details on this look-alike Restoration Hardware Balustrade Coffee Table HERE.

And ALWAYS remember that you can have a beautiful home on any budget!  Find joy and thrill in getting the same look for less!  It brings a great sense of accomplishment and that is how you can also give support to your family’s finances.  If you are smart with your money and live within your means and stay on a budget, you might be able to stay home and continue enjoying your role as a homemaker.

6- Organization is your key to sanity!  You see me run around like a crazy person but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I wear a lot of hats and you probably would too.  Between our family activities and my personal commitments and all that you children have going on…there is no way on this earth we’d be able to do it all without organization.  It’s 2016 and thank goodness for cell phone alarms and alerts and calendars to keep me straight and remind me of all we have to do and places we have to be.

See more HERE on my office space and DIY Framed Wallpaper Panels.  Office reveal coming soon!

I make lists weekly and daily. Not to pressure myself or feel this award-winning sense of accomplishment (although there are many days I do a happy dance and feel a trophy is deserved for checking everything off hahaha) but I make these lists to keep me focused and driven and remember what tasks have the higher priorities and are essential in keeping our family and household (and my business) running smoothly.  I see you with your planner now.  Keep that up!  It’s a good habit to be in, to keep a planner.

Organization applies to your home!  Your closets and cupboards and pantries and even your fridge can be organized and tidy kept in order.  Not everyone values this advice and that’s fine.  To each their own.  Not to say I don’t have that junk drawer (a necessary evil) in the kitchen or that small little secret “Monica closet” (Friends reference haha…i need to clean that and organize that thing) but you will feel greater peace and a sense of order and pride in a home that is organized and neat and clean.

You won’t have a meltdown when someone announces they are coming to stay with you as they are passing through town.  You’ll be ready and it will be a joy to have them.

7- Create your own special occasions for no reason at all!  It doesn’t need to be a birthday or holiday to create something special.  You can serve and present things in a way that make people feel special and enjoy what you’ve made even more.

Celebrate the fact that it’s cold outside….finally! (We’re in Texas so we wait longer for the fall and winter seasons.)  Remember the time it was freezing and you and Beckham came home from school to this fun little Hot Chocolate Bar I put together for you and your friends?  You loved walking in the door, shivering and cold, to find this.  Y’all got soooo excited!

We also “celebrated” our first time making macarons together and then made them over and over and shared them with guests so beautifully.

Fresh-baked cookies is always a “special” occasion ha!  I love that you kids appreciate how I put them out for you.  We even did this for our movers and they felt so special.

The first day of school is always special but last year you and Beckham didn’t want anything heavy or fancy.  You wanted muffins and juice.  That’s it.  Well, that left me with the need to get creative to make it feel a little more fun.  So I did.  My muffins weren’t very big and fluffy but they were delicious and I loved seeing the look on your faces when you came downstairs.

Last year you kids walked in from school and saw this…..

“What’s the occasion?  What’s this for?”, you asked.  No occasion.  It was just Friday, the end of a long school week, and I had just bought fresh pink peonies (our favorite).  Do you see now?  Everyday is a good day to make it a special day.

8- ALWAYS have a grateful heart and have an attitude of gratitude!  Count your blessings and tell people “thank you”.  A hand-written note is becoming a lost art and it makes me sad.  Sit and tell someone you appreciate them.

One of my favorite quotes….”When you look at life through eyes of gratitude, the world becomes a magical place!” ~Jennifer Gayle

See blessings and miracles tender mercies in each and every day!  The more you focus on your blessings and what you’ve been given, the happier you are and you will have room to receive more and more of the good things in your life.  God wants to bless you and He loves when His children are grateful.  Go to Him and tell him “thank you”.  This will keep you happy and optimistic and it will continue to be 2nd nature for you to find joy and beauty in each day.

9- There is always room for one more!  This has been repeated over and over to you since you could understand it but please don’t ever forget it.  Do NOT belong to a clique.  Do NOT have a name for yourselves or publicly announce that you are a “tribe” or “club” or “squad” or give yourself some title.  That is exclusive and hurtful to others.  Do NOT limit yourself to just one group of friends.  Be friends with EVERYONE!  You are no better than anyone else.  I have always wanted to be friends with everyone and it has brought me so much joy!  I have met the most amazing women! You might be missing out on very dear friendships and the blessing of getting know others.  Some, of which, might desperately need your friendship.  Some of my closes friends are women I never thought I had anything in common with, until we got to know each other.

That being said…know who your true friends are and in whom you can trust.  Stay away from the “mean girls”.  Forgive, but move on.  Do not put yourself back in a position to constantly be hurt over and over.  Remember our favorite saying that, painfully, we’ve had to learn over the last few years?  “Invest in people that invest in you!”

This advice doesn’t come from a bitter place.  It comes from a grateful heart.  You will find so much joy in this principle as you grieve friendships that are not healthy or in friendships with those that don’t make an effort with you, as you do them.  You open your heart to those that God will put in your path and can become great friendships.  Also, and this is huge, make sure that you are kind to everyone but in no way do you need to hang out or be friends with those that make choices that do not live up to your standards.  If they constantly participate in behavior that is not in accordance with your standards, the standards we’ve set as a family, and if they are not kind to others.  Walk away.  Be kind, but walk away from them. (I know you’ve done this already.) They will not bring out the best in you or uplift you.  They will not encourage you to be the best you can be and attain your full potential.

10- Stand up and be counted!  Never follow what everyone else is doing.  Think about it.  Be a leader. Do what is right, no matter how hard it is.  You are special and not sent here to fail.  You’ll make mistakes, but I see how you pick yourself up and get right back to it. You’re a go-getter.  That’s my girl!  I love how you stand for what is right even though {at an early age} some have given you grief for it.

There was a poster I saw hanging in my Life Skills Class in high school and it said…“What’s popular is not always right and what’s right is not always popular.”  You might stand alone in certain choices or opinions or beliefs.  That’s okay.  God is with you and He is there for you.  He will strengthen you and bless you for your courage and right choices. Don’t forget…You ALWAYS have me!!!  And your dad and Beckham and all your loving family members.  But I’m always here and you can talk to me about anything and everything.  You’re already doing that and I love it.  I love our talks. I love pillow talk and I love our obsession with Audrey Hepburn and Anne of Green Gables and pink and baking.  We have the best time.

BONUS tip- Find what brings you JOY!  Yes, life is hard and we are here to learn and grow.  But we are also meant to have joy.  Find joy in the big things, eternal things, important things.  Find joy in the little things like….a butterfly landing on your arm, a dance party while we make dinner (or in our robes in my bathroom just before bed, haha), finding a good sale on our shopping outings, and putting on your rain boots and dancing in the rain!  Life is so good.

Excuse our selfie but we wanted to remember this hilarious dance party we were having!

You’re like looking into a mirror.  You look like me and you act like me and, as Dad says, you even cry like me.  Not because you’re not your own person, but because you are a part of me.  You’re also much better at some things than I ever was (i.e. being on time).  Take pride in that all!  You have so much ahead of you and I’m loving watching you grow into this beautiful young lady.  If I had picked out everything I wanted in a daughter and ordered you online, you’d be exactly what you are now.  You made my dreams come true the day you were born and every day since.  Even on your worst days, I have been proud of you.  You’re learning and growing and trying your best.  Keep it up, sweet girl!  I love you more than Diet Coke, Disneyland, Creme Brûlée and Christmas all put together!

Love, Mom

The post Advice For My Daughter appeared first on Summer Adams.

Social media has been such a blessing in my life because, besides getting to blog and share my creativity in different outlets, I also get to meet so many friends all over the world that I would not have met otherwise.  When I meet woman who inspire and uplift, do not compete or feel threatened, love sharing others’ accomplishments and helping them…I find an instant connection with them and know they are kindred spirits.  In speaking of sharing each others’ accomplishments, I want to share these women who inspire me here on my blog from time to time so that you might also get to know them and find inspiration from them. So today I invite you to be inspired by “The Design Twins“.

Julie Lancia & Jodie Kammerer “The Design Twins”

Julie Lancia and Jodie Kammerer, a.k.a. “The Design Twins“, are twin sisters who both joined Instagram and shared their homes and passion for interior styling in the home decor community.  They have both shared their faith, their kind hearts, and their incredible talents with those that follow them and are truly inspirational in so many ways.  It gets even better….they are working on a new blog that is soon to be up and will be a fabulous source of all of their projects, thoughts, and ideas.  I interviewed these dear friends recently to get to know them better and share with you their joy of homemaking and it’s value in their lives.  Come and enjoy their homes with me!

An enchanting view of Julie’s home at spring

Where did your passion for interior styling come from?

Julie:  I am very in tune with and affected by my surroundings. I can be inspired or completely distracted. It’s difficult for me to think or focus amidst clutter. Conversely, I am stimulated by harmonious, beautiful decor. From this, natural connection I have with my surroundings, has grown a strong desire to create beautiful, inspiring spaces. When Jodie and I were in our twenties we happily lived together with our husbands in our first house. We were obsessed with decorating and DIY. Back then we didn’t have any of the resources we have now. We literally would look at decorating magazines, hatch ideas, head to the hardware store, and have at it with one overriding truth: together we can do anything!

Entering Julie’s Home

Jodie:  My passion for interior styling is really my solution to finding happiness where I am. Unlike most, I came to loving interior decorating in a very round about way. I have always searched for creative outlets in either music or scrapbooking or fashion.  However, when our financial situation changed drastically a couple of years ago, I had to make a lot of personal changes. I used to look for ways to get out of my home. I focused mostly on travel and shopping for inspiration and happiness. When I realized I had to stop spending, I started trying to find ways to make small improvements through DIY craft projects and, slowly but surely, found out how rewarding it could be.

Jodie’s kitchen nook has a beautiful balance of farmhouse and traditional style.

How would you describe your style and how do you make it your own?

Julie:  Defining my style is as challenging as it would be to define me. My one constant is change! I am not the same from minute to minute and my style is an ever-evolving reflection of that reality. We both embrace change.  In fact, we crave it. At the same time, we have constraints all around us and consider ourselves to be practical girls. We are not wasteful nor necessarily that spoiled. For example, we don’t look at a room and do a complete overhaul EVER. I work piece by piece almost always repurposing, reinventing, not wasting. We of course LOVE to shop, but the question, “do I need it?” and “where would I put it” always comes into play. My style is eclectic and ever-evolving currently a combination of farmhouse, rustic, contemporary, and french country cottage.

Julie’s beautiful family room allows a lot of natural sunlight to brighten up their home.

Jodie:  My style is very casual and livable. I love the feeling of openness and light. I love clean lines so I am constantly trying to find a balance between simplicity and detail. I also love the character of something vintage, but love some more modern elements.  So again, it’s a question of balance.  Some would call it “eclectic.” I love anything classic and elegant, but again, real life gets in the way and I end up choosing comfortable over elegant as a result.

What do you love most about your home? Or what is your favorite room/space?

Julie:  It’s honestly hard for me to choose what I love most about my home. I remember when we finally moved into our current home after a year-long wait. My kids saw how I was pretty much beside myself with joy, and they asked me what my favorite part about the house was. After a long pause, I answered that it was the setting. The setting is magical to me. Set amidst tall evergreens and lush gardens on a very quiet, private street it is an oasis. We don’t have a ton of land. I don’t need a farm or an expanse to call my own, just a quiet corner of the world. Coming from a long-standing drought situation in our old northern California town, the wet, green majesty of Washington is more appreciated than I can say. People ask us if we miss the sun and my husband and I reply, “No, not yet!”

Julie’s lush backyard

Jodie:  What I love most about my home is the open space. The first thing you feel as you open the front door is that you are pulled into this open space that continues all the way through the great room to the back of the house. Even the hallways are open and double-wide and feel luxuriously spacious throughout. My favorite room is definitely the great room that includes the kitchen, eating nook and family room, and an open entertaining space that we have affectionately dubbed the ‘dance floor.’

Jodie’s great room is always exquisite and displays fresh flowers

What does being a homemaker mean to you?

Julie:  Being a homemaker I can sum up in one phrase, “a labor of love”! I stayed home for many years but returned to part-time work when all my children were in school to fulfill my creativity. When we moved 3 years ago I spent a couple years getting myself and my family settled and acclimated to our new home in Washington. It was solitary time, because my children were growing and needed me less and I had left all my friends behind in California. During this period I really had time to ponder what it was to be a homemaker and had to reach deep inside in order to find meaning and motivation to do things like making beds. It was a meditative for me. During this time I heard God calling me. The slower pace and solitude allowed me the space I needed to listen and soul search. Each day I would do the same things: clean, tidy, organize…and listen.   I prayed as I made the beds and cleaned each child’s room. Instead of feeling resentment at their inability to do this on their own I let the love pour out of me. I was grateful. I would think of each of them, pondering over memories from their lifetimes, from past and current day; sometimes I would be so moved I would leave them little love notes. In so doing, I found joy in the mundane, and my faith grew. I knew God was about to direct my life in new ways, and for once, I was ready to listen. I grew a patience and a trust I never knew I could have.

Julie created this bright, feminine room for her daughter

Jodie:  To me being a homemaker means creating a space that nurtures family time and a lifetime of family memories. Our hallways serve as gallery walls hung with photos of my children through the years. The boys’ rooms are decorated with framed artwork that they have done and the shelves with beloved projects. 

Jodie’s dining room is elegant and functional.

How do you make your home a haven where your loved ones enjoy gathering?

Julie:  I think it is so important for a home to really work for a family. A home functions when spaces cater to the collective and individual needs of everyone. As children grow, spaces need to evolve to fit. Now that our children are 13, 17, 19, our house needs to provide different things than it did when our children were babies, toddlers, or even gradeschoolers. My husband and I are raising independent children who we respect. With our respect for them comes a mutual respect. Everyone needs their own space to work, reflect, and have enough alone time to discover their own selves. There is a communal teen space and a communal adult space, and an all-together family room in the center of the home. We mainly gather in the family room and kitchen. I seek to create spaces that are comfortable and inviting, never too formal. I want my kids to feel like they are welcome everywhere.

Julie created the perfect loft for her teen children and their friends.

Jodie: My home isn’t perfect and isn’t static. For us it’s not a place to just look at and admire. It is alive with movement and change, evolving with our family’s changing needs and passions.

Jodie’s stunning chandelier and fresh roses make for an exquisite view.

How do you feel you influence each others’ style and/or decisions with your home? Do you consult each other or ask each others’ opinion about changes you make? Have you done any home projects together?

Julie:  Jodie and I are in CONSTANT contact. Before most large purchases we will consult the other. Big design changes are always consulted. We send most IG pics to each other before posting. We exchange feedback as a matter of course. Because we are not the same person; our styles are not identical because our aesthetics are not identical. As a general rule, Jodie seems to like a little less (less is more) and I tend to go bigger,bolder,louder. That is a reflection of our personalities. But we respect each other’s style tremendously. Last summer Jodie arrived for a visit and announced immediately that we were doing chalk paint. She held my hand the whole way and it was great. I’m not sure if I would have done it without her. Back in our twenties we did all kinds of projects together and we had an absolute ball.

Julie’s master bedroom has a strong, rustic elements with a romantic, vintage flair.

Jodie:  Julie and I have differing styles, but influence each other’s choices and decor decisions daily. We don’t always consult each other with every purchase, but definitely include each other in making changes and check with one another about final details and touches. If we have decor dilemmas the first thing we do is reach for the phone. Whenever we want to try out something new (DIY project) we look to the other for advice and support. The first time we chalk painted we tackled the project together. (It turned out great!!) We each have our areas of confidence and strength so where I need help, she reassures me. Where she is unsure, I support her. For example, I am more confident with DIY projects and tackling new techniques sometimes. Julie’s strength is with arranging vignettes and decorating with details. I think sometimes I am better looking at the “big picture”…picking colors or knowing when something needs to be changed. Julie is amazing with the details.

Jodie’s master bedroom is such a perfect blend of clean, masculine lines with a touch of femininity.

How has your style changed most over the last few years and why?

Julie:  Currently I am integrating a more rustic, farmhouse style with touches of French provincial and cottage influences. I am integrating these styles into my existing decor, piece by piece, room by room. In my early days of decorating, my husband was involved and influenced me toward modern. Living in Singapore added to the modern edge but infused some vintage Chinese and Asian antiques into the mix. Then back to the states our home in California for 14 years was a very modern home, so that influenced my home decor style. By the time I moved to Seattle 3 years ago I was ready, more than ready, to evolve! I bought a more traditional, classic home with some modern elements. I related to the mix of styles presented by this home. As I’ve been creating this home I’ve had strong influence of farmhouse from IG and also the store where I work, which features a mix of styles, including a lot of farmhouse and modern industrial.

Julie has truly found some fabulous rustic, vintage-style pieces.

Jodie:  We are gemini….and everything is always in a constant state of evolution and change for us! the past year I have really transformed my house on a very tight budget. It was pretty much a blank slate that hadn’t been attended to since we moved in 8 years ago. I’m mostly proud of how I was able to transform my home without spending much at all. I started by going through boxes that hadn’t been opened since we moved. It was like treasure hunting for decor items that I already owned! The next thing I did was make DIY drop-cloth curtains….first for the great room, then for the dinning room, then the living room. For $10 a panel and $20/window hardware all of a sudden I had a NEW HOUSE! I felt happy! I felt empowered and excited about what possibilities lay ahead. That was just the beginning! 

Jodie has a great vision for making her home elegant by creating a look for less, as she did with her window treatments.

What have been your favorite transformations or makeovers in your home?

Julie:  When we purchased the home there was a ton of built-in recessed lighting, which was great because it was like a prewired blank slate! It allowed me to really make my mark on the home by adding my own unique fixtures. In two years we’ve added 8 chandeliers, and I am not done yet! My family thinks it’s funny, but lighting is a powerful way to make a huge style statement, and I love to make a statement with decor.

Julie picked this chic chandelier for her master bathroom for added glam.

Jodie:  I started painting this past year…chalk painting old furniture, painting the walls! It was a big year for change and I was just getting started. The last project we did included my husband, and together we built industrial pipe shelves. They turned out amazing and now we BOTH have something that we are very proud of.

Fabulous industrial shelving that Jodie and her husband put up this year.

How does your spirituality play a part in the feel of your home?

Julie:  I love this question! I feel it does so both directly and indirectly. First of all, my faith makes me who I am today. God gives me the confidence to be me more than ever before. So I feel freer and more confident to express myself in all ways, and that includes decorating. I love to proclaim my faith by using custom made signs that are so popular in the fun farmhouse style. I currently have 4 incredible signs in various spots, including a huge one in my kitchen that says, “Let Go Let God”. This hangs above the kitchen in prime real estate for the whole family to enjoy as a beautiful reminder that God is everything and shold be the center of our lives and hearts. I have another beautiful sign by the side entrance we use, so it literally is the last thing we see as we go out into the world and it reads, “

This sign in Julie’s home is a lovely reminder of her faith in God and that He in mindful of her and her family.

Jodie:  These last couple of years, as we have faced some very scary financial challenges, my spirituality has become more and more important to me. Where my answer to problems used to be to buy something to fix it, now I have to look to my faith in God and his plan for me to find comfort and strength. When I had to make serious lifestyle changes a couple of years ago, and I turned to the solace of my home. I needed to find happiness inside my home rather than looking for it elsewhere….and that’s what started my creative juices flowing. I found creativity and crafting skills that I didn’t even know I had. This serves as a metaphor for my spiritual happiness as well….where I might have just bought my way to a happy outcome, now I have to look inward…to my relationship and trust in God to find the reassurance that I need.

Jodie’s breathtaking backyard allows her to retreat somewhere peaceful, whether it’s alone or entertaining friends.

What is it that you want others to know about you after leaving your home and what is it that you want them to take away?

Julie:  My home is a reflection of me, my family, my travels in the world, my evolution as a person, a woman of God, a mother. I don’t try to be anyone else but me. I want people to get a sense of who I am and what I value. I want people to feel comfortable and welcome. I want people to be inspired to decorate with confidence. I don’t follow rules, I don’t worry about labels or impressing people. I am just me, and God created me to speak truth, light, and love…I hope my home speaks that for me.

Julie knows exactly how to bring comfort to sophistication and that is what you see throughout her home.

Jodie:  Above all else I want people to feel welcome and comfortable, accepted and at ease in my home. I want my home to reflect my own optimism and the joy I have in creating a beautiful, casual inviting environment. There is nothing overly fancy or intimidating because that’s just not me. I don’t believe in labels or exclusivity I am not above anyone, and I don’t want to portray a lifestyle that feels overly privileged or pretentious.

Jodie’s home is inviting, warm and elegant, just as she is.

*****

With two sisters of my own and all of us having such strong devotion to be mothers and wives and homemakers, I can truly understand what kind of bond these lovely “Design Twins” share.  I was drawn to Julie and Jodie in seeing their sweet connection with each other and pure hearts for sharing with those around them.

These 2 twins sure know how to have fun! They always make time for each other and nurture their special bond, sisterhood and friendship.

However strong your passion is to create a beautiful home or whatever your style may be, I hope you take away something from Julie and Jodie today that will strengthen your desires to create.  Not only creating beautiful rooms and spaces, but creating a place where your family and those you love can come and gather and feel something special when they’re there and have a reprieve from the rest of the world.

Leaving Julie’s home

It was said once, “A happy home is but an earlier heaven”, Thomas S. Monson.  I believe that is true by not only having strong family relationships and a peaceful, uplifting, and safe environment but also by making home a lovely place to retreat to and enjoy. I’m sure we can all agree that my dear friends, Julie and Jodie, have accomplished that very thing.

Please visit them on their new BLOG to follow along in their inspiring journey.

xoxo,

The post Be Inspired by The Design Twins appeared first on Summer Adams.

You know that saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”  Yeah well….it drives me nuts! Ha!  Sure, they mean well but we are human!  We have emotions!  It’s just not always that simple!

I should follow that up by saying that I truly DO believe that attitude is everything!  We each have a choice how we are going to face any given situation and what kind of attitude we are going to have.  We can be optimists and see the glass half full or we can be pessimists and see it half empty.  Either way, faith or no faith, the choice is ours.  I’ve always preferred to be positive and optimistic.

I recently met up with a friend while our kids were in school and I knew she was going through a rough time.  This friend is amazing, and that’s an understatement.  She thinks of others before herself, always looks on the bright side of a situation and is constantly serving those around her.  I thought it would be fun to bring her a little something and let her know that I heard her, I was thinking about her, and give her a little encouragement.  That saying about lemons came into my head but my response was, “That’s not what I’d do first!”  Sometimes I just need to have a brief cry or pity party and then get on with it.  So I came up with this….. “When life hands you lemons, you don’t have to make lemonade.  You can throw them at the wall, stomp on them, squeeze them and even scream at them.  THEN you can make lemonade.” Ha!  Isn’t that a little more realistic anyway?

Download here —-> LemonadePDF

Or right-click and save the image below:

I attached this with twine to a plain white bag that I had and tissue that I had also.  I bought lemons (to make fresh lemonade), lemon drops, and I found this adorable lemon kitchen towel recently at Home Goods.  You can whatever else you can think of as well….lemonade crystal light packets or anything lemon-flavored would also be cute.  Oh, and speaking of lemonade…..I have a great recipe HERE from last summer that has no sugar added and is absolutely delicious and refreshing!

I hope this brightens someone’s day!  Don’t forget to pin this to Pinterest and save it for later or post on Facebook!

xoxo, Summer

The post You Don’t Have To Make Lemonade appeared first on Summer Adams.

Yesterday I picked up my daughter and a group of her church friends (8-11 years old) from their annual Activity Days Conference. They did a service project, fun activities, listened to a wonderful speaker and made some fun crafts. One thing Brooklyn said that she loved that the speaker shared was, “I am beautiful like me, not beautiful like you.” LOVE this and so grateful that stood out to her! Especially in the world of social media, it can be easy for us to compare ourselves to others. DON’T DO IT! Search for inspiration but find JOY in YOUR life and count YOUR blessings!

One of my favorite quotes has always been, “Comparison is the thief of joy!”  Isn’t that true?!  Year ago, I remember being taught that if I could control my thoughts, Oh what power I would have!  Since then, I have recognized if I have even started to have negative self-talk or started comparing myself to others.  It’s like anything….practice makes permanent!  After year of this, I can honestly say it has become MUCH MUCH easier for me and RARELY do I get down on myself!  And if I do, it’s because I felt I could do better at something or needed to improve in some way.  But I do NOT allow myself to compare material things, nor outer beauty!  My challenge to you readers this week:  When you find yourself “comparing” or being “critical” of yourself….STOP!  Immediately turn that thought process off and occupy yourself with positive self-affirmations, count your blessings, do something you enjoy, or serve someone else.  Our minds truly are powerful and we should NOT be our worst enemies!

I’m so grateful to know and surround myself with so many women that constantly uplift and inspire me.  I hope I do the same for them!  Also very grateful that these messages are being shared with our youth.  They are good reminders for women of all ages though so I wanted to share this with you today as a gentle, loving reminder. I encourage you to share this with a friend or someone that needs it or pin it on interest.  You never know when you or someone might just need that gentle reminder! Happy Sunday, friends!!

xoxo, Summer

The post Gentle Reminder Women Need appeared first on Summer Adams.

There’s a primary song that I learned as a child growing up in church.  It consists of 2 lines and very simple to learn but has stuck with me forever…“I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right you see!  So I say to myself, remember this….Kindness begins with me!”

I knew at a young age that I loved people; I was a “people-person”.  I liked to feel good about myself but I really liked the way it felt to help others feel that way about themselves and to see the beauty in them that I saw in them.  To this day, I can’t walk past a stranger in a restaurant, grocery store, my childrens’ school, or anywhere it may be and not tell them “That color is gorgeous on you” or “You have a beautiful smile” or “Your kids are so darling and well-behaved” or “You are the nicest cashier and just make my day happy!  I wish all cashiers could have the talent you do for making others feel good!”  My husband will tell you I LOVE to serve.  It is true.  It’s partly selfish because, although, I know it makes someone else feel good and loved….I feel elated and happy to serve THEM.  It fills MY soul with joy.

How often do we think about saying or doing something kind and we don’t.  We don’t want to make the effort OR we worry about other people’s reactions or feeling silly.  But have you thought about how your little bit of kindness can make such a HUGE impact on others?  I’ve been surprised at the reaction of those who have benefitted from a kind comment or small act of service from me.  And even more…..I’ve been surprised and overwhelmed at the impact I feel when others take just a moment to write me a sweet card to share their love for me or pay me a nice compliment or reach out to serve me.  It is HUGE!  Not only do I feel loved by them, I feel love from my Heavenly Father and know that He is watching over me and blessing me through the kindness of others around me.

On that note….a friend sent this short but beautiful documentary on a family whose kindness and love for others also helped them heal and helped them through a difficult time.  I am so touched by this I just had to share,  PLEASE grab a tissue and take 15 minutes to watch this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLoBWpiOczQ#action=share

The post Kindness Begins With Me appeared first on Summer Adams.

Welcome!  Grab a cup of tea and pull cup a chair for today’s posts (and get your pinning Pinterest finger ready haha).

As I started off this new year, a few weeks ago, I made resolutions (like we all do) and also wrote down things I wanted to learn how to do and goals I wanted to achieve.  It got me thinking about what a big year 2015 was and all that I learned.  We had a LOT of fun too!  So I went back through my blog and decided to share with you the posts that were YOUR favorite!

1.  Dirty Diet Coke 101  Some of you had never heard of my FAVORITE drink.  I gave you the recipe and a fun, free printable to gift your friends and your feedback was so fun!  I’m glad I can share my love (aka addiction) of Diet Coke with you and an added kick.

2.  “14 Days of Valentines” have begun!   Valentine’s Day, as well as the 13 other days leading up to it, is one of my most favorite times of year.  I LOVE love!  I’m a hopeless romantic.  I also love making it fun and full of reminders for my kids that we love them so much.  Sharing my 14 days with you and what our tradition is was something everyone loved.  If you search all my Valentine’s printables, you will find that I’ve made a BUNCH and they are FREE for you to enjoy as well!

3.  Have Courage & Be Kind  The new Cinderella movie was not only one of my favorite classics remade, and remade well!  But it brought a reminder for all of us to be a little kinder and braver and to stand up for what is right; to stand up for ourselves.  I shared a heart-warming experience with my daughter that a lot of you related to.  Thank you for your feedback.  This has been one of our most-pinned and most-visited posts and has circulated Pinterest and Facebook.

4.  Knock-off Swig Cookie Recipe  If you haven’t had a Swig pink sugar cookie, you are missing out!  The St. George original has made national, even global recognition and I share the perfectly exact recipe.  I love how many tags and texts I received that people were making them and LOVING every bite.

5.  Sneak Peek!  As we moved from one side of town to the other, I gave you a sneak peek into my new home (aka a really cute rental while we are living here in Vegas) and showed you that you can spend little money but with a good eye and organization and sticking to neutrals, your rental house can feel like a cozy home.  Thank you all for your generous feedback!

6. DIY Wooden Box Centerpiece  One of my personal favorite DIY projects AND apparently yours too!  I love all your pictures after you’ve followed the plans and instructions for this fun and easy project!  Everyone needs a wooden box that they can change up all throughout the year with flowers and candles, pinecones, etc.

7. MINT To Stay Strong  As a friend of mine successfully finished her rounds of chemotherapy, she approached me and asked me if I’d be willing to make a cute thank you tag along these lines that she could give all of her fellow chemo friends that would be there continuing their treatments after she left.  It was so thoughtful of her and I was honored to do this.  SOOO MANY OF YOU have touched my heart with your connection to this and being able to use this as well.  I’m so glad and I hope this finds you well and healthy!

8.  Easy DIY Hall Tree  My solution to covering such an awkward built-in alcove was fun for us all!  I shared how EASY and AFFORDABLE this was to put together.  And…It can be unscrewed and taken with you to your next home!  Isn’t it fun to share our projects with one another?!  This hall tree has been a topic of conversation many times when people come to our home and fun to switch up for each season and holiday.

9.  Master Bath DIY Shelving  Another popular solution to an awkward space in my home!  Every morning I wake up and look at it and am sooooo grateful I did this!  Thanks for enjoying it with me and being inspired to make your own!

10.  Chalk Painting Upholstered Furniture  Ok, this is one of my very favorites!!!  It was a sentimental and gorgeous piece, easy, and STUNNING transformation!  It’s been really fun to see this one circulate all over social media.  THANK YOU for sharing and I’m thrilled that it motivated you to try it out for yourself!

11.  Ice Skates Christmas Decor   Hands down my FAVORITE craft this year!  And boy did we all have fun with this one on Instagram as my friend Rhonda and I (check out her gorgeous blog and online store at Hailstorm Home) shared our ice skates we made and invited everyone to go #iceskatingintotheholidays with us and share all their ice skates and other Christmas decor with us.  Such a blast and can’t wait for next year!

12.  Mini Gingerbread House Mug Huggers We all got a kick out of this one!  NONE of us wanted to buy the cute Anthropologie version of these for $10 but we all wanted them haha!  So, I figured it out and uploaded my template.  It was hard at first but after having the template it was a piece of cake and soooo cute!  Friends loved these as gifts, too, around the holidays in a hot cocoa mug.

THANK YOU for following along with me as I share a part of my life with you!  It’s been fun learning together and hearing your feedback!  Best wishes to another great year and MANY fun projects and memories made in your home!

xoxo, Summer

The post Top Posts of 2015 appeared first on Summer Adams.

My friend, Sheana @smalltowngirllife, and I came up with a hashtag challenge on Instagram called #TheBucketListTag where we share our monthly bucket lists at the beginning of every month and encourage others to do the same.  We share our favorite(s) on the the 15th of each month. (Find me on Instagram @sheleavesalittlesparkle or click my social media button on the side bar.)

I like to sit with my family and not only create a fun piece of chalk art to be displayed in our home, but as something that lists places we want to go, things we want to do or make, foods we want to eat, events that are coming up…..just a fun way to look forward to the month or even season.  This is our bucket list above for the month of November.  I made one for the summer since we were gone a lot, versus a monthly bucket list.
Our October Bucket List was so fun:
And we loved this creative way that our favorite IG friend shared her bucket list:
So get creative and sit down with your family (or just yourself) and create your Bucket List for this month!  Such a great way to set goals and plan fun activities!

xoxo, Summer

The post November Bucket List appeared first on Summer Adams.

My sweet friend is finishing up her 8th round of chemotherapy and wanted to give the 50 other patients sitting in that room a little something as she says goodbye.  Since chemo can make you severely nauseous, she decided on these cute gift bags of mints and asked if I’d make her some personalized tags for them.  Isn’t she amazing?!! Seriously so thoughtful of her!  It inspires me!  And she asked that I make them for others to use as well and put it on my blog.  So here you go!  I hope someone else is blessed by her kindness and thoughtfulness and strength out there, as many have been already!

Here is a link to the pdf of the tags —–>  Click Mint to stay strong tagsALL to download

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