May 2020

5/1/2020

LIVE LIFE LIKE IT'S SPRING...
ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO BLOOM!

Cherry Blossom Spring

I was hoping to finally get a chance to swing by D.C. & enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival or @ least the blossoms in full bloom! However, since the whole Coronavirus thing, nobody can go enjoy the festivities. So I decided to capture the mood in this months blog post...light, bright, & down right springy!

DECORATING IN SPRING...

Since we're social distancing, I've been doing a lot of my blogging from my back patio/catio. I love being outside, & so do my cats, but they're inside only cats. So, I decided to create a space for all of us to relax (& get some work done comfortably) on my screened in back porch. I gathered random items from around my house & realized that I had a great boho scheme going on... but I like to do things a little differently than everyone else!

I created my Cow skull out of a tree limb, some jute string, & a few personal trinkets I've been collecting over the years. Soon, I had a mobile in the shape of a bull with horns, making it more abstract than literal! My love for elephants & mushrooms have also been sprinkled about in different ways... both are parts of the mobile! How many can you find throughout the space?

Abstract Bull Skull Boho Style by Jenn Honeycutt

Natural Elements Create Boho Style by Jenn Honeycutt

By Jenn Honeycutt

Boho Back Patio/Catio

I sanded down our old wooden patio furniture from the 70's... yes, the one that had a brown-goldish velour with a nature pattern. Then, I upcycled it into this boho inspired style of dark brown stain contrasting with the light & bright patterned cushions. Topped off with a stenciled, white paisley butterfly print on the armrests & tabletop. The matching side tables have a different pattern with a stenciled mandala!

Retro...

Retro Restyled... without the cushions.

Next, I had to have a functional teepee... but not for me. I turned my metal folding table into a cat teepee/scratching post! Jute comes in a variety of thicknesses, which is perrrfect for cats. The lower half is a fairly thick piece, while the top is quite thin to allow for the different functions. The thicker jute is best for scratching, walking up or down, & keeping out the enemy! The thinner jute is more flexible allowing the cats to lay on it, put their paws through it to play, & still fold up the table to be stored out of the way if needed. The cats hang out there all the time, both on top & underneath, so we leave it up all the time. It's great for a good cat nap, too.

I layed a thick, lush, & soft grass rug down to feel like it is literally the outside without the hassle of mowing. Walking on it is just like being in the park, no joke. Next, yoga on the catio anyone? They love a good down dog on the grass, lol! I should've got a picture of that...

Of course, I had to have a cactus & some macrame sprinkled about to fulfill the boho style... To create a cactus (because I don't want a real one), I took a switch from the mulberry tree out back & shaped it into a cactus. After a day of drying into the cactus shape, I strung it up randomly with thin jute string. Thus, creating cactus wall art for my air plants that enhance the boho aesthetic!

The macrame plant holders I created to give some interest to the corners. The bow & arrow element is in the jute curtain of peacock feathers decorating/hiding the screen door. The water can holder is handy for form & function that utilizes a variety of techniques. And, who can have boho without the papasan... The cats love to play "hide & I gotcha" under the papasan.

ORGANIZING IN SPRING...

Space to Work is a Powerful Thing!

Paperwork & going digital...
Paper is often a trap area that keeps coming back with a vengeance. Mail is a never ending story (just like laundry, cooking, & cleaning). Take a good look @ the mail that comes to your house for a week or two. Identify what accounts can be paperless, like magazines, bills & statements, that may have paperless options. Eliminating the amount of paper that flows into the house is the 1st step in your digital adventure & clearing the clutter for good.

When going digital, you have to be responsible in setting a time to look over anything that you would normally be looking @ when it popped in the mail. Set notifications on e-bills, a calendar, or phone. Getting an app to manage all of these reminders can be a great idea for those peeps that have many reminders on many platforms. We utilize our digital family calendar to remind us of upcoming events, as well as, seeing what everyone has going on helps with time management!

ARTING IN SPRING...

Garden art...How about creating a fairy garden this spring. This is a great way to incorporate a little science lesson into playtime fantasy! Plant mini succulents among tiny houses. Use some of those broken pots from the winter freeze into fairy land adventures. How about adding some rock painting to your garden; try mandala style or garden favs like strawberries & turtles!