Last week, I shared my 5 self-improvement areas for 2014. The little project I have to share with you today is the first aimed at keeping my focus areas top of mind.
I have been itching to decorate this little sliver of wall in my bathroom since the day we moved in. It is just across from the shower. In fact, I can see it while showering. I do some of my best thinking in the shower, so I wanted this little wall to trigger thoughts about the right things.
The Wake Up and Be Amazing print is fitting for this space, but it is the other two pieces that really inspire me. The bulletin board holds special reminders of my 5 focus areas.
The family picture represents strengthening family.
The superhero picture of my boys is a reminder that I want to be their superhero by being a good role model!
The quote, “The only person you have to be better than is the person you were yesterday” (unknown) is a great reminder for all my focus areas, particularly our healthy lifestyle and homekeeping goals. I added extra emphasis on “better than yesterday”.
The lone earring is a bit random. It was from my wedding jewelry and the other one is missing the pearl. Since I can’t wear them, might as well decorate with the one good one.
The mini business card featuring my logo and tag line, Make It Home, Make It You, represents growing my business this year.
Last, but certainly not least, the relish card! “Relish” is my 2014 word of the year.
rel·ish
/ˈreliSH/verb
To me it means relishing in the little moments. To relish in successes both big and small. To relish in my love with my husband and my friendships. To relish my kids while they are still little. This year I will relish everything!!! I made the relish card with one of my Project Life cards and gold leaf (gold leaf writing tutorial coming later this week!).
This once blank corner, is now a special place to put my focus areas front and center.
I found the cute bulletin board at Target (if you want one hurry, they are on clearance), but the original fabric seemed a bit juvenile to me and was not right for my bathroom color scheme. I easily recovered it with my own fabric (Organic Abacus in Pool – Mod Basics by Birch Fabrics).
I love that the abacus design on the fabric features 1,2,3,4, and 5 beads. I am going to pretend I carefully planned that to represent my 5 focus areas, and didn’t just scrounge through my fabric stash to find something pretty.
I cut a piece of fabric the same shape as the frame but slightly smaller. Then, I used a butter knife to push the edge of the fabric under the frame.
The art print is called Married To the Sea by Claire Elsaesser. I originally planned to hang it in my studio, but decided it was more fitting here in the bathroom.
To me the woman in this print represents some of the things I strive to be…calm, graceful, beautiful…even in an ocean of stresses and unknowns.
You can catch me standing by this corner watching the sunrise, but only in the winter …I never get up that early in the summer!
Fun fact: We used to keep a coffee maker on this counter in our bathroom to enjoy a cup of joe while getting ready in the morning. Since we switched to making coffee with fresh ground beans and an areopress we moved that operation to the kitchen with a coffee bar.
How do you keep your goals and inspirations in front of you?!
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I love the idea of having a small area to look at to remind you of your goals.
Love this nook! I have a tiny bathroom myself, but I’m always on the look-out for inspiring pieces to see each day when I’m getting ready. The idea of a bulletin board with your focus areas is awesome.
Thanks Meg!
Love this little area! I have that picture that I’m about to frame for our bathroom too! The colors are gorgeous :) Clicked over to your blog from Makely…glad to be contributors together!!!
Lindsay, Thank you! Happy to be on the Makely team with you, too! I am working hard today to finish up my first project!!
I spy a little Project Life Jade Edition:) I think I Love you even more now lol.
Ash, You are correct. I love those little cards for making everyday notes cuter!
That’s a beautiful pic of you. I just did a vision board and put it in my room so I can see it when I wake up. My word for 2014 is TRUST. My last vision board propelled me toward my dreams. It was amazing.
I love your corner. Neat. Organized and meaningful. With your daily focus there to remind you even briefly, it gets into the subconscious, and you see that sunrise and you take thirty seconds to ‘relish’ it. You did not clutter the space with every thought you have. You kept in simple and focused. Yet aesthetic. Loved the butter knife tool! They do come in handy!! I’d never heard about the word deal much but on my own, did a project and painted Rejoice over a closet mirror I’d framed with various sized shims I water wash stained in various colors and then just used Modge Podge and some copper trinkets I’d saved for the corners. I liked the mirror up high above cabinets, the never saw this before shim frame but my disability made writing so hard. I forgot how to make the letters so I’d fatten letters to correct it and my word? Rejoice and in small print in The Lord always. So all year people commented positively on this project that was not perfect. But I realized what was more important? My personal perfection or doing as my word said? Rejoice even in my imperfections. It took all year and I’m still learning. So I cleaned it all off for my focus this year. A new word for 2014: Blessing. Many from The Lord and not to be too self absorbed to see them. To thank God for all the people who help me and send a blessing to me in big and small ways, and that I notice and show thankfulness. Lastly, That I might be a Blessing to others.
No Blessing is not painted perfectly along the stretch of the mirror but my husband loved it when he put it up. He even cried for he knew the effort I’d gone to to do the project. And you know what? I got many unexpected blessing upon blessing over the next few days and I’m humbled by the goodness of my Lord and thankful
Gwen, What a beautiful story. You have a loving and wonderfully supportive family. I love the word “Rejoice”!
wow, so happy to find your blog, love when I run into one that I can not only learn ideas from but also shares my esthetic… I ALSO picked up the Target bulletin board on clearance.. and Set it back down because I wasnt thrilled at the fabric… Kicking myself now for not thinking outside the obvious box of changing out fabric….
What caught my eye was the Painting by Married To the Sea by Claire Elsaesser. That has been an ETSY favorite of mine for years… So excited to see it utilized in a real home. Now it is a MUST HAVE.
You have a beautiful home and GREAT TASTE! Happy to find you!
:-) LIZ
Liz, Thank you for the sweet comment. The Married to the Sea Print is amazing…so glad I out it in my bathroom where I see it everyday!