Adding in the Fun

Ever since I pulled back out these Christmas lights (see this post), I realized what I love about it so much- it brings a sense of fun and joy to our home and (this is going to sound weird) when I have more fun with my decorating, it feels like the toys that are inevitably all around kind of blend in with the decor.  Does that make any sense at all?

I love the look of a serene, neutral, clean, and almost minimal living room.  But if I were to have that decorating scheme, the jumperoo, the baby blanket, burp cloths, and cars that find their way on the floor every morning would jump out at me and make the house feel like a disaster.  But when the things I choose for my home add to a sense of fun and color, the toys feel right at home!

Now don't get me wrong, I definitely believe it is important to teach my children to clean up after themselves, and every toy has a place to go at the end of the day.  But I am learning about how to decorate and "keep house" for this season of life we are in right now.  I have baskets by the front door for shoes and socks.  I have an ottoman filled with toys.  I have a throw blanket and pillows on the couch that I am okay with ending up all over the floor.  I have a colorful jumperoo and exersaucer that are semi-permanent fixtures in the living area.  I have a coffee table covered in dents and scratches from the countless cars raced and toys banged on its surface.  But I can still look around and see beauty and a home that I love.


Once I kind of realized all of this, I remembered something I bought months ago but never hung up because I was afraid it was a little too "out there" for our house... its these chipboard letters ($1.50 each at Hobby Lobby) that I painted the same navy blue as the stripes in our curtains (see those here).  They've been painted but just sitting on top of our fridge for probably 3 months.  I hot glued them right to our cabinets (I use a low-heat glue gun and they pop right off with no damage whatsoever, by the way) and voila...

Hello happy, hello fun!  I'm loving it.  I'm just hoping I don't gain 50 pounds from feeling a strange compulsion to EAT all the time...

So with all of that in mind, one of my goals for 2011 is to maintain a home that adds some whimsy and fun to our lives, while at the same time keeping it reasonably clean and organized to add to a sense of calm and routine.  When I really think about it, I want my home to be a haven for my husband when he comes home from work.  I want it to be a fun place where my children feel comfortable to play and be creative.  This atmosphere comes from me- not just how I maintain the house, but also (and probably mostly) my attitude when we are in it.  My job is creating the mood, in more ways than one...

And all of this from one string of twinkle lights!  :)