bringing plants indoors

Have you ever felt like a room in your home was missing something? That it is completely decorated, filled with your favorite things but isn't quite right? It may be time to add in some green - with a plant of course! Today we've laid out a few ways to use plants inside + indoor plants that help filter your air, keeping your space looking and feeling fresh!

Photo Credit: Adam Ford

Photo Credit: Life Simplified

Photo Credit: CONVIVAL

Photo Credit: Ashley Lauren Design Studio

Photo Credit: Kirsten Grove

Wheather you go big with a ficus or keep it small with baby succulents, adding plants into your home is the perfect way to melt the winter blues away and bring life into your space! Below, HYD has picked six different plants that not only look pretty, but also filter your air. (that's a win-win in our books!)

Images: 1/2/3/4/5/6

With spring right around the corner be sure to pick up your favorites at the local nursery! 

what is "hygge"?

hygge

pronounced: /ˈhʊɡə/
origin: Danish
noun
a quality of cosiness + comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment of well-being. 

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Where did this concept come from?

Photo from It's Me, Charlotte! 

US Ambassador of Denmark describes hygge as: "the felling you get around thanksgiving, like being cozy and being with other people". It is imperfect and very casual. Practicing hygge is more about how things feel than how they look. 

Charlotte Higgins, from the Insider describes it as "a feeling of calm togetherness and the enjoyment of simple pleasures, perhaps illuminated by the gentle flicker of candlelight." 

Listen to Tsh, from The Art of Simple and Erin Loechner talk about hygge on this podcast. 

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What does it look like?

Photo from House Beautiful. 

• Hospitality.

• Shared experience.

• Being an inviting person in an inviting space. 

• Creating a ritual, habit or space that allows you to enjoy the present moment. It isn't about striving for a specific style or look, but it is about being intentional with what you create space for in your space and mind. 

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How can you incorporate this in your life and home? 

Wanna read more? Check out this book. 

You might have a specific blanket, pair of sweatpants or coffee mug that you can describe as
hyggelig, meaning hygge-like. These are your things that induce coziness and calm for you. 

Bringing the outside in is very hygge. Incorporating natural elements in your home, creates a sense of life and growth. 

A way to engage in this way of being is by putting your devices down. Shifting our focus from a bright little screen - to the people and places around us, invites us to participate in the moment to moment. 

11 Ways to Make Your Life More Hygge according to Country Living. 

We love that hygge is not something that you can order online, or grab at Target. It is unique to your life, your family and the way you live. It takes a little thought and creativity to incorporate hyggee, comfort and coziness into your life. 

Blog image source: The Art of Simple. 

Today, grace.

It's Thursday.
HYD would love to share a tidbit of organizing wonder or a story filled with real life goodness.

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Image by: Watercolor Devo

But, instead... you're getting a confession. It's too-late o'clock and my body and brain are ready to call it quits. I started to dig down deep and pull together something worth reading, but my dear husband suggested I give our readers the truth instead. He's real smart like that.

First of all, my season is one I wouldn't trade for the world. I've got a three school-age, active, healthy, fun-loving, tree climbing, soccer ball kickin', musical, gymnastic-ing, fort-building, craft making, treasure collecting, sleepover having kids. My minivan tears up the K-town roads like you wouldn't believe. Many days it's full of kids until 8am, then discarded items from clients until 3pm, then kids again until the last lesson, practice, meeting, or carpool drop-off has finished.

I mean that too about not wanting to trade this season for anything. I truly do love watching these kiddos grow into their own unique individuals. I thank God I get to be present for so much of it. And with that, I say thank you for the grace to let this be HYD's post for the week. The last couple of weeks have been so full of kids and clients, that my time at my computer just didn't happen.

I also want to extend that same grace to you today. You're off the hook. Real life happens. And the good news is, there's always tomorrow. 

New Years Resolutions vs. Life Changes

Drawing by RabbitWifePen&Ink

Do you make resolutions each year? If you are like me, I usually make a few but rarely keep them. What's interesting is that I often find myself making the same resolutions that I tried to keep the year before. Change takes time, especially big changes. Here are a few tips on how to make changes for life rather than new years resolutions.

1. Involve your people. Whether your tell your friends, family, or co workers, make sure that your community knows what you are working on. Feeling a sense of accountability often helps keep you on track.

2. Be realistic. Think about what your current "normal" is and take that into account. Don't set your self up to fail. For example: I have a goal of walking 10,000 steps daily but in general my daily average is more like 4,000. My life goal will be to be active for 1 hour (aka 10,000 steps) 3 times a week. Once I get to a place where that is my normal, then I can adjust to make it more of a challenge and say maybe 5 days a week until I work up to 10,000 steps daily. Focus on small steps to create a change of lifestyle over time that's sustainable.

3. Figure out your motives. If I have a goal of losing weight or of eating differently, it's important that I understand why I have that goal. Do I believe that I will be more loved or admired if I attain this? Am I doing this because I feel pressured by someone else or by a physical problem? Am I searching for happiness or fulfillment? I've found that my motives usually make or break a change.

4. Come up with reminders for the life changes that are hard to remember on a daily basis. One of mine is to drink at least 64oz of water every day. I am doing a few things as reminders or as motivation. I bought a water bottle that has measurements on the outside, I track my intake through an app on my phone, and I must always accept when someone offers me water. These little things help me stay on track.

Purchase here

5. Schedule a monthly check in with yourself. Make a list of your daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly commitments and re evaluate whether or not you are able to fully commit in a way that is meaningful. If not, start eliminating. When your schedule is maxed out you are less likely to be able to add new changes into your routine.

image by allaboutami

6. Make a plan for how you will accomplish your life goals. For example, if I want to begin the habit of storing my clothes in my closet or dresser rather than all over my bedroom floor/furniture, then I first have to purge my closet and storage space until all of my clothing fits into the designated area in a manageable and comfortable way. Once I have a spot for my clothes I'm much more likely to hang them back up or fold them to store in my dresser. Often times our bad habits make sense. If my closet is jam packed and has no room or order, then I'm likely to leave my clothes on a chair where I can easily find them BUT if my closet it organized, I'm much more likely to make use of it.

Did you make resolutions this year? How are they going? Any tips or ideas you would like to share?

Be Yourself.

Our homes are the places where the majority of us spend the most time, the place where we laugh, cry, rest, dance, yell, sing, dream, make our messes, stash our treasures and share life with others.  We get that.  We love that.

Photo compliment of Stylish Eve

We also love our clients.  Just about every week, Help You Dwell gets the pleasure of meeting a new face and hearing a new story.  It has been such a joy for us.  Often, when we walk into a new clients' home, the first thing we hear is "sorry."  Clients are sorry for the mess, sorry they've let it go this far, sorry they can't do better on their own.  We understand.  We never judge.  We have a story too.

"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."  Maya Angelou

- Excerpted from Letter to My Daughter, a book of essays (2009)

As we walk through our plans to help folks find order and peace in their living space, we want to hear the story that brought them to this place.  It's so important in the process of organization of one's home.  HYD never wants a client to think that we're coming into a home to get rid of all the clutter just so it looks better.  Our goal is to always help the client live life with the freedom from the extras that pile up all around.  Working alongside the client, embracing their story, and being part of the process that helps to write a few lines in the next chapter is an honor for us.

Be yourself.  Just with less stuff and more you.  You are worth the effort. 

Let us help you dwell.

Holiday Shopping Ideas

Yep.  It's time.  Get it done now & November & December become much more enjoyable, allowing you to enjoy the Peace, Joy & Love of this special time of year.

Now's the time you can think, be intentional about each gift & budget. 

As a mom of three, my list always starts with my kids.  Several years ago, Matt & I were given the great advice to just do three gifts per kid (just as Jesus received three from the Wise Men).  This has been monumental for us in our giving to them & helpful for their receiving as well.  Our goal is that each of their gifts fit into the three categories:  Active/Sport-related, Educational/Creativity, & Something they love.  It has helped us be much more intentional & creative ourselves.  As you can imagine, it's also curved that last minute spending frenzy so many parents fall subject to in those last days before the big day.

Moving down the list to Matt, parents, in-laws, & friends the same mentality works.  Taking just a few extra moments to think of that one person & thinking outside the scarf, slippers, candle box can add much joy to your giving.  If handmade is your desire, you still have time for that if you start now. Etsy is a great place to find handmade items if you're not able to handcraft gifts yourself.  If creating photo memories with books or calendars is your plan, start now & you'll have plenty of time.  Two great sites for that are Shutterfly and Mixbook.

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Organizing my list has become much easier over the years after I found this super simple little notebook to keep my current list, receipts, & lists from previous years in.  It was designed by Pepperpot & has served me well for about 5 years now.  Your smartphone is also another option, but I love having the previous lists & receipts all in one place.

And if you're a local here in Knoxville, Help You Dwell is making it even easier to Holiday shop by offering a Pop-Up Market on Nov. 8 with all kinds of delightful items for lots of folks on your list.

We'd love to hear some of your unique & fun ideas for taking the stress out of holiday shopping.  Give us a quick comment below & help us enjoy the upcoming season just a bit more with your clever ideas.  Thanks friends!

To Do List

Having a rough week and don't know where to start....

Keep it simple and start here.

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