For the past several weeks life here has been busy, to say the least. If you’ve been following us on social media, you know we recently moved from living with extended family to our place a few miles away. It’s been a very packed summer for us, and searching, vetting, waiting etc, for a new home has definitely been a large part of it.

We’ve been slowly settling into our new little spot, and although there are several lingering boxes and totes lined up against a few walls, this little apartment in a coastal neighborhood of Los Angeles is starting to feel like home. And that feeling is so very sweet.

Home is one of those words with such weighted nuances and deep feelings, yet when it comes down to it, I find it rather hard to describe in words. For me, it is a safe haven, a place where deep peace flows, where you feel a sense of belonging, respect, wholeness and love. Safe. Clean. Cozy. Family-Friendly. Comfortable. Functional. Affordable. Those were the essentials when it came to looking for a new home for our little brood. “Home” is something I find unequivocally in my husband’s embrace, and my heart yearned to find a place that could be an extension of that for our young family.

An assortment of household things does not a home create. That said, picking out items and setting up a household  is really fun, and these things really do help make a home feel unique and personal. Since we pretty much have a clean slate to begin with, having left behind nearly everything home-related when we moved here from Prince Edward Island last year, it’s been challenging and fun, and yes expensive (although we try to go as frugal as possible) to set up our home and to discover together what our tastes are when it comes to decorating and styling. In this regard it feels like we’re newly weds again. 😉

Here are just a few snap shots of a typical morning here. We get this glorious sunshine pouring into our windows in the kitchen/dining area which helps me alongside a strong cup of coffee to wake up in the mornings. Also this little sliver of a view of the ocean/beach from the kitchen window by the sink kinda feels like God’s little gift to me. Something about the ocean has always had a calming effect on me, and a beautiful distracting view gets me through the dishes I wash several times a day (no dishwasher here).

On any given day, you’ll find Dominic running around in his underwear and his little sister not far behind, both with their crazy bedhead, and sometimes showcasing the cutest little bare bums as we continue on our potty training.

We’re currently still working on the kids’ room, bathroom, and play area, as well as the office and creating a “mud-room”/landing zone, as we have 2 entryways but no dedicated space for that. It’ll be a work in progress for a while, I’m afraid, due to budgeting and time, but little by little, we’re getting there! Let’s just say I’ve been spending a lot of time on Houzz, Pinterest, and Apartment Therapy late at night before bed. However, I’m definitely excited to start planning decorations for the holidays in my head, and to get these guys involved with some easy crafts we can use towards that effort. Wahoo!