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Decorating
a slice of life

early thanksgiving & a thrift store score

Today was one of those days that I tried to pack in more than was really reasonable, but I managed to get it all done!  I have two Thanksgiving freelance articles due this week and one of them involved putting a spread together that at least looked like a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  So, in addition to styling a shoot, I was baking pie, roasting a turkey with stuffing, and all of the fixings.  I took some shortcuts with pre-made mashed potatoes and by microwaving the green beans, but I still I made a disaster of the kitchen and was running out of light by the time everything was done.  I got the final shots in probably about 15 minutes before it would’ve been too late. I have to hold most of the details for the article, but it’s focused on tips for setting up a buffet-style Thanksgiving meal.  I enjoy projects like

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October 31, 2018 56 Comments
All Things Home

Instagram Q & A | Home Stuff

A few weeks ago, I invited my followers to ask questions on my Instagram Stories.  I was initially planning on just answering them as they came in, but as I was flooded with over 100 questions, some of them with answers that would take longer than a 15-second frame, I decided these would be better answered in blog posts.  I consolidated ones that were similar and then sorted them into categories – home, business/blogging, art, MMS Milk Paint, & random.  I’ll write a post on each category, answering the questions. Today, I’m answering all of the home-related questions. Are you going to be doing bathroom renovations? Yes!  We are starting on a renovation of our half bathroom next week.  We’re working on that one first because it’s connected to our foyer, which we’re having retiled.  It just makes sense to do it all together.  I’ll be sharing the plans for

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October 25, 2018 16 Comments
All Things Home

hall/foyer update

Believe it or not, fireplace season has started in Rochester, Minnesota!  My boys love switching the fire on, turning the chairs to face the firebox, and basking in the warmth.  And I love watching them do it. We also had our first snow.  I thought it was just going to be a few flurries, but it snowed almost all day and we ended up with about two inches by the end of the day!  People keep telling me this isn’t usual, but we got snow in October last year as well, so I think they are just in denial. I happen to love winter and snow, so I was enjoying it immensely.  I will admit that there is a small part of me that feels like we only experienced fall for about 2 1/2 weeks.  I hope it will reemerge for just a little longer.  Our leaves haven’t even finished

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October 15, 2018 45 Comments
All Things Home

rearranging the studio

The very nature of a creative space dictates that it has to be dynamic.  My furniture and belongings are accustomed to being maneuvered and shuffled around, but that’s doubly true for the stuff in my studio.  Each new artistic endeavor or novel idea can put new demands on the space.  It usually starts in stacks and messy corners, but then it has to be managed.  Accommodations must be made, so the new venture has room to live, and be nurtured, and grow. And all of that is a wordy way to say I did some cleaning and straightening in my studio that turned into furniture scooting.  And it was long overdue. This space is my sanctuary, and it’s perfect with its big windows, planked walls, and painted floor.  The issue is that I ask a lot of this room.  It has to be a functioning art and photography studio, and it has

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October 3, 2018 34 Comments
All Things Home

subtle seasonal dining room

The week after I got back from Europe, summer was still hanging onto Rochester, but it finally released its grasp.  The trees are turning fiery hues at their tips, there is a refreshing chill to the air, and I donned my favorite leather boots in church this weekend. Fall is here. Having missed a week and a half of September, it feels like autumn will be shorter this year than usual.  For that reason, I’m not going to spend too much time or money decorating for it.  I’d rather put our decorating dollars towards the work we’re having done in the foyer (painting and new tile flooring) and my time playing catch-up on work that was neglected during the more relaxed pace of summer. I couldn’t let it pass without some recognition or subtle nod in the home, though!  While out running errands last week, I bought a couple of

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October 1, 2018 33 Comments
a slice of life

apple tart recipe review – fall desserts

My mom and I leave for Paris on Saturday and I have been a bit of a crazy person the past few days.  I’m pretty set when it comes to packing my suitcase, but it’s the backpack/purse I’m going to be carrying with me daily that has been causing all of the angst and I started to second-guess my plan.  In a nutshell, I ended up buying two anti-theft bags and one was too small and one was the right size, but very uncomfortable.  I’m returning both of them and sticking with my original plan! Does anyone else turn into a maniac and change your mind a million times before packing for a big trip?!  I can’t wait until I’m all packed and out the door.  I feel like then I can settle in and just be excited. Anyway, I decided I would try a French recipe before we leave,

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September 7, 2018 No Comments
a slice of life

apple tart recipe review

My mom and I leave for Paris on Saturday and I have been a bit of a crazy person the past few days.  I’m pretty set when it comes to packing my suitcase, but it’s the backpack/purse I’m going to be carrying with me daily that has been causing all of the angst and I started to second-guess my plan.  In a nutshell, I ended up buying two anti-theft bags and one was too small and one was the right size, but very uncomfortable.  I’m returning both of them and sticking with my original plan! Does anyone else turn into a maniac and change your mind a million times before packing for a big trip?!  I can’t wait until I’m all packed and out the door.  I feel like then I can settle in and just be excited. Anyway, I decided I would try a French recipe before we leave,

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September 6, 2018 37 Comments
All Things Home

back to school deep cleaning

Now that our fall schedule is under way, I really needed to dust off my day planner and start making some lists of things I dropped at the beginning of the summer and was ready to pick back up again, so I worked on that some last week.  I scheduled meetings and cleaned out my inbox and took care of some paperwork.  It felt good to be sitting at my desk again, ready to dig into ideas and opportunities. But before I could really get going, I needed to do some serious cleaning.  My fellow neatniks will understand that it’s really hard to get focused work done when the state of your home is below your cleanliness tolerance level.   Those who get it, get it.  Those who don’t, think we are a little crazy.  Maybe we are.  But, we will be crazy in a clean house, thank you very much.

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September 5, 2018 34 Comments

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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