Get Your Own Tree Mural As A Print + Still We Rise Auction!

Big news!

The tree mural I painted on the wall of my home office is now a print!

I've received many kind requests for the painting to be made available as wallpaper and/or as an art print, so your wish is my command. I'm pleased to make my design available for folks to hang on their walls without the 100+ painstaking hours I spent painting it. 

The tree mural photographic print will be available in a variety of sizes and printing options. However, before I release it to the public, I'm making a single print available for a great cause.

Still We Rise

A community-supported auction is benefiting the non-profits Everytown, Moms Demand Action, and Emily's List. Artists, brands, and makers have donated goods and services to raise money for these organizations that aim to end gun violence and elect women into government. I'm so proud to be participating in the auction by making the first ever tree print available to bidders with 100% of the sale benefiting these organizations.

The auction is running March 19-26 and bidding is as easy as leaving an Instagram comment - literally. Over 200 other items are all available to bid on over at the @_stillwerise Instagram feed. Auction rules and FAQs can be found here.

You can bid on the tree print and all of the other items through Monday! Then, come back next week to purchase a print in the size of your choosing.

Happy bidding!

P.S. How would you prefer to purchase the tree painting? a digital download? an art print? a custom framed print? or even on a pillow, mug, or notebook?

Changing the Floor Plan of the House! + I Want Your Feedback!

I've spent the past three years trying to decide on a new layout for the back of our house. We've come up with lots of ideas, but there is ultimately always a compromise of some sort and we struggle with identifying what we want to give up on. I think we've solidified a plan, but I'm still not 100% so I want your feedback!

Below is the existing floor plan.

We have three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a nice flow between the spaces that makes the house feel airy yet not too open. The ceilings are nine feet tall so even though our house comes in at just under 1,400 square feet, it still feels perfectly spacious. I love this little abode.

But, here's what we don't like.

1. The master bedroom is accessible only by walking through another bedroom, or the kitchen. It's fine right now when the guest bedroom is actually just a TV room, and access to the kitchen is very convenient for rolling out of bed straight to breakfast. But, I'd like to access the master without tripping over a sleeping house guest or a stove.

2. We'd like to have a second bathroom in the house, ideally in the form of an ensuite off the master bedroom.

3. The kitchen layout isn't the most functional. It's decently sized but with wasted space on half of the room and with the two mudrooms. These two little rooms are inefficiently used for storage, and the walls block all of the natural sunlight from the back of the house.

4. We want a more indoor/outdoor feel. Right now, the only backyard access is through a door that's tucked away in a mudroom. We'd like to see the kitchen and the master extend into the outdoor space.

Here's the plan I'm toying with:

In this new layout, we'd gain a second bathroom, a bigger closet, both the kitchen and the master the would open up to the backyard, and we'd access the master through a hallway instead of another room. YAY! The only compromise is that the guest bedroom would get significantly smaller. To remedy the small space, I'll add transom windows over the guest room and hallway doors so natural light can flow between all the spaces. We will also install pocket doors to gain as much floor space as possible.

Here are each of the floor plans side-by-side so you can see the changes.

Since it's hard to visualize a space that you've never set foot in, I put together a video walkthrough using the renderings I created to design the floorplan. Take a look at the 2-minute video below for a better idea of the house will flow.

Reducing the size of a bedroom isn't ideal, I know. But the other options I played with had much bigger compromises. We toyed with adding on into the backyard, making the master accessible from the dining room, by jogging the hallway over to not take away bedroom space, and so many more.

If you're into floor plan configurations, cycle through the ones below. The differing rendering styles are because some are mine, some are from the previous owner's plans to add on, and the others were sketched by Ross' uncle who we cornered at a family reunion to brainstorm a bunch of ideas together. He's a prison architect - yes, prisons - but in a nice rehabilitative way. I have probably 30 other drawings in a notebook, but looking at them is too exhausting. If you're a layout nerd, let me know and maybe I'll upload the rest of them.

So, tell me! Any thoughts? comments? questions? concerns? I genuinely am interested in what you have to say! I'm not an expert, and I haven't lived in a variety of houses to know how different designs function but I'm taking inspiration from house tours, blogs, online images, books, and asking all the pros I can. Please weigh in - whether you're an expert or not! If you want to sketch up an idea to send my way, here's a pdf of the current floor plan.

We're taking this project on in phases, but phase one starts soon, so speak now or forever hold your peace! Note also that the kitchen isn't fully fleshed out. The renderings are not the final layout and most certainly not the finishes you can expect in the kitchen remodel - so stay tuned for that.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

See The Latest Kitchen Renovation Posts

My Interview On the Style Matters Podcast! + Audio Recording Tips and Tools

A few weeks back, I sat down to chat with Karen and Zandra of Little Yellow Couch for an interview on their Style Matters podcast. We discussed the latest One Room Challenge (and the mural), my work in museums and its influence on my blogging, taking on stop-gap DIYs in the kitchen, the passion I have for art, where I like to donate when I clean house, seeking inspiration, plans for 2018, and why I think style matters.

Listen to my episode!

Use the player above, or on iTunes, GooglePlay, or Stitcher.

This is the audio set up Ross put together for my interview. As an audio professional by trade, and as our home's Chief Technology Officer, he's a good resource for all things music/voice recording. He helped me round up tips and tools if you have recording needs yourself!

A few tips for audio recording if you're being interviewed, want to launch your own YouTube show or podcast, are recording vocals to mix your own music, or even if you do lots of conference calls online:

• Turn off the AC/heater, don't run a load of laundry, and pick a room in the house with sound-absorbing materials (i.e. soft things). Also, remove clattery jewelry and avoid fidgeting with things that can make noises. Even vibrations from working on the table that the mic sits on can be picked up in your recording.

• Silence your cell phone and put it far away from the mic so there's no cellular interference.

• Use headphones to listen to the other side of the conversation. If you use your speakers, your microphone will pick up the other person's voice and you'll get an echo.

• Speak closely to the mic for more direct sound and less room echo.

• If you're going to laugh or yell, pull away from the microphone a bit.

• Sit up straight (or even stand) for clear breathing.

• Avoid drinking milk-based beverages or coffee before talking. Eating an apple before you chat will help clear your voice and a glass of room-temp water will keep you hydrated during your conversation.

• Use a pop filter to remove the strong "p" and "s" sounds.

• Lastly, always do a test run before going live!

Using your computer's built-in audio won't get you the best result, so we've rounded up some tools to make you sound your best. Ross recommends the pro gear for long-lasting and high quality audio, but he collected a few cheaper options to play with until you're ready to make a more "pro" plunge. You can also mix and match pro and budget, too!

Pro Gear:

Microphone: A pro mic that works great for speaking or singing. It picks up detail in your voice without picking up unwanted reflections in the room - $159

Mic Stand: It's adjustable and weighted so it won't tip over - $30

Pop Filter: A must have for reducing hard "p" and "s" sounds. This one is made of metal so it will last longer than plastic or DIY versions - $50

Audio Interface: It amplifies a professional microphone and converts it to USB to record directly into your computer. It also has a guitar input if you're a musician - $99

Mic Cable: To connect the interface to the mic - $6

Headphones: These headphones are the priciest of all of the items, but luckily they are the most versatile. I use this pair on flights for my movie watching because they are super comfy and have great audio quality - $222

Budget Gear:

Microphone: This USB mic plugs directly into your computer without needed an additional interface like the pro set up. Plus, it comes in different colors! - $70

Mic Stand: The budget mic has little legs, but if you need more height, a stand will make chatting more comfortable. Plus, it's easier to attach the pop filter to a stand. Note that it doesn't have a boom to bring the mic closer to you like the pro one does - $13

Pop Filter: For less than $10, it makes your voice sound so much better (you can also make your own for pennies) - $9

Headphones: I like over ear headphones, but you can always use the ones that came with your phone - $15

Software:

All of these tools will send your voice to your computer, then you can use any software to record. My podcast interview was hosted on Skype, so I used the built-in Skype Call Test Service to make sure everything was working well. For recording, you can use the native Mac app, GarageBand, or download Audacity for free for PC users. Pro Tools is the industry standard audio workstation but is overkill for simple projects. Ross recommends TwistedWave for someone looking for more than what the free apps provide.

I hope that's helpful for anyone making music, movies, podcasts, or internet calls! Send me any recording questions, or if you want recommendations for pro PRO gear in the thousand dollar range, and I'll pass you along to my in-house audio engineer.

I got carried away talking about recording gear, so don't forget to go listen to my interview on iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, or the player below!

So, why does style matter to YOU?

Valentine's Day Art That Isn't Cheesy

Ross and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day, but if we did, I'd probably use it as a reason to buy more artwork. The new piece would be a gift for him, but I'd get to enjoy admiring it on the walls. A win-win! I've rounded up my favorite artworks that aren't super mushy, overly romantic, nor too cutesy. Any would be great to gift or to decorate with during the love holiday - or even throughout the rest of the year.

Click the thumbnails below to shop 'em!

If you want to go for a customized sweet and sentimental gift, here are a few faves. There's Framebridges' Heartstagram which mattes a photo of a loved one in the shape of a heart (get $100 off four of them with code HEARTYOU). They will also frame notes, cards, shirts, buttons, photo strips - you name it! Minted has some custom gift options like maps of a meaningful city and graphic ways to display a special date. One of my favorites is a print of what the sky looked like on an important day.

KonMari Style Closet Organizing with Natasha Habermann + A Video!

I thought my wardrobe was on the slim side until my dear blogger friend Natasha Habermann schooled me on getting rid of the clothes I don't love. And, she knows best, so I have no regrets about purging over half of my wardrobe.

Natasha and I went live on Instagram Stories so she could help me sort through all my clothes and answer your questions about the organization. Did you tune in? If not, that's okay! At the bottom of the post is a video of the key points!

Inspired by the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, Natasha has transformed her home (and her life!) using the KonMari method, which, in summary, is owning only the things that bring you joy. Learn more about how Natasha keeps her bedroom organized and how she folds her clothes.

Psst! If you're in an RSS reader, you'll have to click through to see the fun before and after animation.

I started with a pretty packed closet with mismatched hangers and overly-stacked shelves. But now my wardrobe is a true representation of me. Look at how much more refined my color palette is! I can't believe I owned so many jewel tones even though I know I gravitate towards dark cool colors and neutrals.

I purged so many pieces that don't bring me joy, and I don't miss them at all. In fact, I have so much more joy knowing that someone else will get to wear each of those garments. Goodwill is definitely my friend, but I like to donate particular items to specific places.

To see how Natasha and I did it, check out the video below. It's a slimmed down version of our live chat plus a time lapse - and who doesn't love those? If you look closely, you'll see a cat taking a bath in the backyard during my purge, and, more importantly, if you listen to Natasha, you'll certainly learn a lot.

See any garments in my closet that you like? You can shop my favorite pieces below. I've been literally living in that grey mock turtleneck for weeks - and I never use the word "literally" lightly.

Check out Natasha's post recapping the process, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and happy organizing!

Where to Donate Items After Cleaning House

January is often when I get the bug to purge the house. Holiday decor starts to get claustrophobic towards the end of December, and winter travel to tidy hotels rooms (like Rivertown Lodge pictured below) gets me excited about minimal living.

There are many more options than your local donation drop-off center to take your unwanted items. In fact - did you know many of the items dropped off at Goodwill just end up in the landfill?? I'm listing my favorite places that put things to the best use - since there’s always a better solution than the landfill and so many go to such a good cause. Please share your favorite alternatives in the comments!

Linens/Towels

I give our unwanted sheets, blankets, and dingy towels to animal rescue centers. They use them to pad the beds for our critter friends during recovery or while they wait for forever homes. In San Diego, I donate to Project Wildlife or the Humane Society.

House Parts and Tools

Habitat for Humanity is my go-to for anything house related. Items from furniture to doors and paint to light fixtures are sold at their ReStore centers and the proceeds support affordable housing projects. Psst! It's also a great place to shop for house parts.

Toiletries/Makeup

San Diego has the largest K-12 school for kids experiencing homelessness. They have an extensive wishlist including school supplies and kids' clothes. Since I don't have either of those at home to give away, I donate toiletries and unwanted makeup. Women’s shelters are also a great option for these items.

Cleaning Products

I’m obsessed with giving things away on my local Buy Nothing Project Facebook group where neighbors can post things to give away. I posted a collection of cleaning supplies that I no longer needed and someone that runs a local nonprofit picked them up to clean her community center. Consider joining a similar giveaway group, or think of a favorite nonprofit when cleaning out the cleaning cabinet.

Electronics

When I upgraded computers last year, I donated my old iMac to a favorite local nonprofit, Include Autism, but many community centers, nonprofits, or schools would be more than happy to receive old computers, iPads, and electronic toys. If your electronics are broken, they need to go to e-waste recycling. Look up a local recycling event in your neighborhood or check earth911.com.

Books

Local libraries will take your used books, but you can also take subject-specific ones to places that will read them more. Consider kids' books for a local YMCA and coffee table books for a retirement home. Also, your neighborhood may have a Little Free Library where you can drop off a book and pick up another one in exchange.

Magazines

Glossy pages filled with colorful images are great for collage art projects. Consider taking a stack of catalogs, magazines, maps, and scrapbook paper to a children's museum, art center, after-school program, or school.

Art Supplies & Paint Samples

Schools, art museums, and youth programs can put unwanted paints, brushes, and craft paper to use. Before dropping it off, check to be sure they can use what you want to give - oil paints are toxic and won't be put to good use with young kids, so gift them to older artists.

Furniture

Salvation Army will pick up big furniture items that you'd normally have to pay someone to move, so it's a win-win. Smaller furniture items can go to Habitat for Humanity or your local donation center. If it's too small to have Salvation Army pick up, but too big to fit in the car, I put it on the curb with a free sign, post it on my Buy Nothing Group, and/or post it on Craigslist. It's often gone in an hour.

Light Bulbs

Do you have any of those pesky incandescent bulbs laying around but don’t have a need for them because you switched everything to LED? My local animal wildlife rehabilitation center, Project Wildlife, uses them in incubators for baby animals without their parents because those old bulbs emit heat. Consider finding a similar organization near you!

Office Supplies

If you ended up with too many Sharpies (guilty) or you're changing out your office chair, consider giving to your favorite community organization. You may be used to donating dog food to the animal shelter, but the administrative staff that support the pups could benefit from your extra office accessories.

Eyeglasses

There are thousands of people without access to vision care so giving your old glasses can help someone have the ability to read for the first time. When I upgrade to new frames, I mail in my old ones to Lion's Club where they redistribute them.

Food

Feeding America will accept unopened non-perishable food items at their distribution centers. It's a great place to give when you do a major pantry clean out, but when I have a couple of items we don't need, I keep them in my car and pass out to folks on the street that are hungry.

Clothes and Housewares

Donation centers are an easy option for dropping off clothes and housewares, but your community likely has organizations that can give directly to folks in need. Refugee families can benefit from clothes and basic housewares as they settle into a new country. Women's shelters are in need of child and adult clothing in addition to basic home items as they transition housing. Consider donating old suits and business attire to an organization offering job training for underserved individuals. This is a good one for women’s clothes. If your clothes are so worn that they can’t be reused (think a sock with a hole in the toe or very worn undergarments) take them to a textile recycler - H&M happens to be a drop-off center for textile recycling.

Houseplants

I haven't done this one myself, but I'm sure any retirement home would appreciate houseplants that no longer fit your space, or those you need to give up when you move. I’ve also listed nearly dead plants on my Buy Nothing Group and had a few neighbors pick them up to try to revive them. 

Kids Toys and Clothes

If you receive kid toys or clothes for your little ones that you don't want, you can donate brand new ones to children's hospitals. Gently used toys and clothes can help kids at a shelter where they may be displaced due to housing, domestic violence, behavioral challenges, and more. Refugee families and women and children’s shelters would also love these items.

Camping Gear

That tent you never use can be put to great use for someone living on the street. You can walk up to someone that is struggling with housing and hand it to them directly or work with a local organization that serves folks that are displaced.

Gift Cards

I've received $5 gift cards to places I don't frequent then they end up in a pile, or clogging my wallet. Many nonprofits will use these to give to their volunteers as gifts. Local children's centers will use them when they go on outings with kids that are living on the center's campus.

Pet Food

When we changed Mabel's diet, we ended up with a bunch of open bags of treats and kibble. I found an organization that takes these snacks to animals in Tijuana. Unopened items can go to your local animal shelter.

Random Odds and Ends

There’s always that something that you’re sure nobody wants. But I’ll bet you someone will take it. When you take a weird item that doesn’t have a specific purpose or needs explaining to a major donation center, it’s likely to get trashed. For items like this, I turn to my Buy Nothing Group and post it to my neighborhood where they can get a description as to what it is. I have given away twist ties, canvas photos of me as a child (not kidding), nearly dead plants, coupons, an open container of milk, and so so much more.

Save the Wishlists of Your Community Organizations

Many nonprofits share wishlists on their website. Some are like Monarch School's list of needs and others are shop-able Amazon wishlists like the Humane Society where you can purchase items online to be mailed directly to the center. The wishlists can often inspire cleaning you didn't even think of (I now know to take the wrong-sized batteries I accidentally bought to the Humane Society). I also like to keep my local non-profits in mind when I see BOGO deals at the store. I can buy a tube of toothpaste for myself, and drop off the free one at Monarch School. Also, many organizations will take your recycling off your hands, too - our local children's museum is always looking for toilet paper tubes.

The list above is just what I do in my city with links to San Diego organizations, but here is a list of national organizations to support. Please share the ways you clean out your house for a good cause!

If you’re in the giving spirit and want to make monetary donations, here’s a list of my favorite non-profits to support.