When I started this blog, I wanted it to be about not just our house projects but our life. The design of my blog header has my family picture in it because FAMILY is a huge part of my life. But as time has passed, I find that unless it's a project or craft that's related to our home, it's much harder to write about. I wonder will my audience want to even know this or that.  Will they even care?  I have enjoyed building an audience so the last thing I want to do is scare people off by sharing something about our lives. In fact, one of my first blog posts where I got a little personal was not that long ago. The fact of the matter is that we like it when people are real with us. It proves that they are just like us. When I close this laptop, I'm the same trying-to-find-a-balance, house is never perfect, when-will-the-madness-ever-end woman that you are.  Aren't you? If not, then just flatter me why don't you. 

So, I'm making a change starting today. I will write about what I feel and what inspires me, rather than being overly concerned with the perfect subject and pictures. In addition, I will write what I feel and will do my best to not compare myself to others accomplishments. That may mean more posts about the most uncomfortable and complicated pregnancy ever or about my work-life balance,working from home with my husband and our toddler. These subjects surround us everyday and are REAL. I'm hopeful that as I continue to share more with you that you'll feel inspired as well. Inspired not just by the latest project I've completed but by me, the real me. In making this change (or just doing what I originally set out to do) I feel that I will be able to write more for you. So expect, more posts about the real Hollidays' at home and what makes us unique. You won't be disappointed. 

Have you missed me and will you join me on this evolving journey?  I surely hope so. 

After a while, the decor on shelves and mantels gets stale and needs some updating. For me, it's actually very satisfying to change the mantel up a couple of times a year. It tends to set the tone for the entire area and I love that about having one. I finally got around to finishing the decor of the mantel for spring. Here is what the mantel looked like for fall/winter. I didn't have any experience with mantels up until now, so my decorating skills weren't up to par. But if you must know, it worked. 

And here is what it looks like now...ready for spring. For the spring mantel, I was able to re-use items around the house to decorate. If you don't know that rule already, then get to know it. If you desire change in any room, with little or no budget, then work with what you have.  I painted a few items to match the set-up, and printed a spring printable I found over at this cute blog Jojo and Eloise. The DIY rope vase also made a move over to the mantel. Everything else was brought from another room or area in our home. It was pretty hard for me not to include this one element that I love so much, but I did. 

There are plans to do some other updates to the fireplace, but for now I'll light my candles and enjoy the view. Does anyone else put candles in their fireplace? Even during the warmer months, it's nice to have some candle-light flickering from the fireplace. 

How do you like our spring mantel? What do you do to prepare your home for spring or summer? New mantel decorations or fresh ferns for the porches?  Please share. 

Linking up to: Not JUST a Housewife

As I've been contemplating how to change up the living room mantel for spring, it occurred to me that I never shared the current set-up.  Ha! Believe that! I never shared my fall/winter mantel with you. So, now that the mantel is clear and ready for updating, I figured it would be the perfect time to share what it looked like before. Kind of like a "before" before the "after". Got it? It's nothing spectacular but we really enjoyed it.  

The colors that were incorporated were what I was aiming for, but overall, I still feel like something was missing. For spring, my plans are to have the perfect living room mantel! You will see some of the same colors again, like that pretty duck egg blue, and touches of green.  All the fall decor has come down and we've started patching any damage to the wall. I've even started laying out different decor options.  I'd like to use what I have on hand to complete this project, and hope to have it finished by the end of the week.  So stick around, to see how it turns out.  Catch behind the scenes action, by following me on Instagram.  

Have you started decorating for spring, inside or outside?  How do you prepare your home for spring?  I love to respond to your comments, so don't be shy.