minding my nest

practicing the art of an ordinary life

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Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

It was one of those rainy, gray, cool weekends that put me in the mood to make ALL. THE. THINGS!

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recipe box::jambalaya

recipe box::jambalaya

i have two go-to dinners when i need to clean out my refrigerator…my infamous (and so cleverly named) ‘clean out

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celebrating summer ~ summer peach frizzante

celebrating summer ~ summer peach frizzante

you guys. it’s been well documented here on my blog how much i love peaches.  and by now i think

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celebrating summer ~ blackberry gin fizz

celebrating summer ~ blackberry gin fizz

well it’s official you guys.  i am having a love affair with gin this summer.  just so you know…i am

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celebrating summer ~ mango gin cooler

celebrating summer ~ mango gin cooler

it’s official you guys!  summer is here! if you happen to follow me on instagram, you know how much i

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spring pea salad

spring pea salad

for the longest time, i was under the assumption that you couldn’t grow sweet peas in my neck of the

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AROUND THE WEB

Regular Contributor to Focusing on Life.

Story Teller for Ali Edwards Design Team

Currently Teaching at Big Picture Classes.

My Portfolio - Kelly Ishmael Photography

I understood the assignment. 🌸 A while back my I understood the assignment. 🌸

A while back my friend B shared a photo of her nightstand which was styled simply and beautifully with some books and fresh flowers. The whole vibe of it was so restful and serene. And it got me to thinking about my nightstand which is usually cluttered with abandoned hair ties along with my cuticle clippers, reading glasses, and cholesterol medicine. Because nothing promotes peace restfulness like being reminded of your LDL levels. 😑🙄

Anyway, I was so inspired by her post that I went upstairs and tidied up my nightstand, stowing away all the minutiae of everyday life. That alone instantly made that space feel more serene. And then as a final touch, I brought in a few roses from my garden to add that extra little bit of loveliness which elevated the whole setting. 

I got to thinking about how I tend to keep the “public” spaces of our home at least somewhat tidy. Especially the kitchen because I can’t really function quite right in life when my kitchen is a mess. But our bedroom, arguably the most private room in the house, is almost always an afterthought in terms of the attention it receives. Which seems so strange to me now that I type it out.

Why wouldn’t I want this space to be as lovely and inviting as the other rooms in my home?

Since my friend’s post, I’ve started giving a little more love to our bedroom on a regular basis. In addition to making the bed everyday (a really awesome habit I started last summer), I’ve also been making the effort to put away the laundry that usually sits on the chair or gets piled on the dresser. Or picking up my flip-flops that I tend to leave by the side of the bed. 

Now when I get into bed, it feels like a calming, restful space. Thank you B for inspiring me.

#tv_flowers #ethereal_moods #still_life_nature #transfer_visions #moody_tones #raw_allnature #moodforfloral #moodyflorals #ihavethisthingwithflowers #davidaustinroses
I’m staring the week with a very full and gratef I’m staring the week with a very full and grateful heart. In our family, the first half of May is two-week stretch of birthday celebrations, and I have loved every minute of the time I got to spend with my favorite people.

It’s like I told my mom on the phone last week, to know that you are loved and to have people to love in return - it’s all that really matters. It’s the greatest blessing. 

#tv_flowers #ethereal_moods #still_life_nature #transfer_visions #tv_allnature #tv_closeup #jj_justnature #moody_tones #raw_allnature #moodforfloral #moodyflorals #inspirenaturenow #charming_nature_ #ihavethisthingwithflowers #nb_nature_brilliance #davidaustinroses #kaigarden2022
Peony Season 🌸 Peony season is here! Every yea Peony Season 🌸

Peony season is here! Every year I look forward to their bodacious blooms and heavenly scent, and today I thought I would celebrate by sharing some interesting facts about these beloved beauties.

🌸 Peonies belong to the Paeoniaceae family and are native to Asia, Europe, and North America. There are between 25-40 different species of peonies in every color except blue.

🌸 Peony flowers are distinguished into six basic types: Single, Japanese, Anemone, Semi-Double, Bomb, and Double.

🌸 They are one of the longest living flowers in a garden - often 100 years or more!

🌸 Peonies symbolize romance and love which is why they are often used in wedding bouquets.

🌸 Peonies are named after Paeon (or Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. One egend has it that Paeon used a peony to treat a wound for Zeus. When Asclepius became murderously jealous of his pupil, Zeus saved Paeon by turning him into a peony flower.

🌸 The white peony is one of the oldest remedies in traditional Chinese medicine. Peonyroot is the part valued in Chinese medicine to treat conditions such as convulsion.

If you’re looking for me today, you’ll most likely find me either 1) with my camera taking photos of my peonies or 2) with my face buried in a peony bloom. 

Do you grow peonies? And more importantly, do you say “PEE - uh - nee” or “pee - OH - nee”? 

#gatheredstyle #foreverfaffing #loveliest4 #astilllifestyle #floral_faffery #still_life_gallery #tv_stillife #jj_still_life #tv_living #global_ladies #transfer_visions #tv_neatly #tv_flowers #tv_retro #etherealmoods #moody_tones #moodforfloral #moodyflorals #curated_nature #ihavethisthingwithflowers #stylingtheseasons #petalsandprops #floralperfection #thefolkpr0ject #blissfulphotoart #creative_florals #flatlayflowerpoetry #kaigarden2022
I specifically recall a day when Kelsey was a litt I specifically recall a day when Kelsey was a little baby - maybe 2 months old. It was a really bad day. Kelsey and I were home alone and she was super cranky that day. Nothing would console her. I didn’t have much experience being around babies so I had zero perspective. I was frustrated and completely overwhelmed. 

Later in the afternoon, I was finally able to get Kelsey to nap. I walked around our tiny house picking up the mess from day. Crying my eyes out. Feeling like a complete failure as a mother.

In that moment though, I thought of my own mother. Who I am sure had those kinds of bad days. But she didn’t have a mother to call - her mother died two weeks after I was born. She worked full-time. My dad worked 14 hours a day as a truck driver. She too was often overwhelmed. 

My mom struggled a lot during those years. So many times in my motherhood journey I have wondered how my mom did it. How she survived. As a young child I didn’t realize the pressure she was under. But once I became a mother, I understood so much more. And it made me so grateful for all the ways she showed up for a family.

There are no perfect mothers. My mother would be the first to tell you that. And then I would be the second. But I’ve learned that with some hindsight and empathy, that it all comes full-circle. And that’s a beautiful thing to celebrate.

Happy Mother’s Day!

#tv_flowers #ethereal_moods #still_life_nature #transfer_visions #tv_allnature #tv_closeup #jj_justnature #moody_tones #raw_allnature #moodforfloral #moodyflorals #inspirenaturenow #charming_nature_ #ihavethisthingwithflowers #nb_nature_brilliance #davidaustinroses #kaigarden2022
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