minding my nest

practicing the art of an ordinary life

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About Me

Hi There! I’m Kelly. I am a wife, mom, light seeker, homemaker, and storyteller. From an empty nest to an abundant life, all it took was a little time, a lot of faith, and the courage to see my life differently.

You can read more about my story here.

So now, armed with my trusty Canon camera, here is where I share my journey to live an inspired and intentional life.

Welcome to my little corner of the interwebs!

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Regular Contributor to Focusing on Life.

Story Teller for Ali Edwards Design Team

Currently Teaching at Big Picture Classes.

My Portfolio - Kelly Ishmael Photography

“Yes.” It’s always my response whenever my b

“Yes.” It’s always my response whenever my beloved asks me if I would be interested in going on a little adventure. And so this past weekend, Tripp and I took a road trip down to beautiful Broken Bow Lake.

Along the way, we stopped in Hugo, Oklahoma to check out the ‘circus cemetery’ which is actually a rectangular section of the Mount Olivet Cemetery called “Showmen’s Rest” - the final resting place of some of those who dedicated their lives to the circus (including some animals).

I mean, who knew this was thing? Oklahoma is always full surprises.

After that we made our way through a myriad of small towns until we arrived at the lake. We stayed in a darling cabin just outside of Hochatown and spend our time there exploring the lake, watching the PGA, and/or sitting on the rocking chairs on the front porch drinking coffee (that last one was mostly me).

Also, for the record, Broken Bow Lake is located in SE Oklahoma and NOT (as some would like to boast) an annexed part of North Texas (yes, I’m looking at you distillery tour guide).

It was a short trip, but man it was so nice to get away for a couple of days. And discovering unique places in my own state is always so much fun. Mini road trips are the best. 💯 Highly recommend.

#TravelOK #OKHereWeGo #MyOklahoma #OutdoorOklahoma #oklahomastateparks #BrokenBowLake #HochaTime #BrokenBow

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

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