Home Décor Galore

Having moved 5 times within the last 5 years...and looking back even further about 10 times in the last 11 years you can save I'd had my fair share of decorating experience. We've lived in rental apartments, owned condos, rental homes to owning two homes. Each move provides a chance to renew and refresh.

The first few years were not much to share. We were living in small rental condos with furniture that we'd picked up from family members, IKEA or Facebook Marketplace. We didn't care, we were just happy to have a condo in the city. Our only motive was to able to afford the basic necessities while also going out and enjoying the city nightlife. So needless to say, we didn't really have much that was worthy of keeping with us through the years.

After we got married, we bought our first 1 bedroom condo in the city, and this was the first time we really planned to settle in to our place. So, we decorated our bedroom in the classic gray style of the time, redid the flooring and kitchen and added a few of our own touches. We were there for about a year until I found out I was pregnant with my first born. We planned to stay there for a few years until a job opportunity came up that moved us to California. Where we rented our first home.

I've never felt at "home" in a rental, but we did our best to settle in. While out there I kept myself busy with projects like refinishing furniture and sewing. What I really got in to was home design in my free time. I would watch countless hours of HGTV and research home decor trends and style types. Useless fact: as a child before HGTV or any of those shows or channels even existed, I would wake up early each Saturday morning to watch hours of "Cambridge Homes" show which would showcase their latest model homes. I would drool over the new models and study the designs. This was the beginning, but I guess I never realized it.

We've moved quite a bit and done our fair share of work. These next few blog posts I plan to take you through our two homes. The first was our starter home in Chicago which we'd lived in for about 14 months. Our current home is still in a work in progress situation, but I plan to update along the way.

Welcome to The Glamour-less Life

I started this blog with several intentions:

1) To share my thoughts, ideas and passions. More specifically related to fashion and home décor.

2) To be open about topics that people tend to shy away from discussing when it comes to motherhood.

3) To provide honest reviews and product recommendations for products I've found for the home, beauty or clothing.

Becoming a mom can be isolating, exhausting and test your patience in ways you'd never imagined possible. But it's also rewarding and can change the way you look at things completely. It has given me a redefined sense of self, and pushed me down a path that I was always afraid to travel...such as starting a blog.

Since having my two boys Grayson (4) and Arlo (2), we've moved 5 times between 2 states. So not only has the isolation been real...but it's forced me to jump into motherhood with no "tribe" to cling to for help. Now, this was possibly the scariest thing I could imagine. And I gave it my ALL...so much so that I had lost myself in the process. This...is my journey on finding my way back. To learning and understanding myself in a way that exists today with the desires and interests before I had kids. Because lets face it...they demand pretty much all our attention.

"The Glamour-less Life" is how I began to reference my current state of life. Before having kids we had the privilege of being a dual-income working class couple who enjoyed traveling, dining out, entertainment, sleep and other fine luxuries on a weekly to monthly basis. Once having kids, I decided to quit my short lived data marketing career and stay home full-time with our son. Little did I realize how drastically my life would change. Being one of the first of our friends to have children really didn't ease the transition either. We've had to adjust our way of life and I've had to adjust my expectations of what being a stay at home mom really means. But, I've learned to welcome my new self while making fun of my old self along the way.

I wanted to start a blog to provide context behind the photos. More than just a side-by-side before and after, but something that shares my journey through trial and error and hopefully provides some inspiration. Same rules apply for fashion. Not everything you buy or try on is going to be exactly what you thought. People only see one angle of those who share their stories through social media. Though aesthetically pleasing, it sets up followers to believe that they can achieve this same standard without seeing the work that goes in behind the scenes. And let's be honest, no ones life is as glamourous as they portray and it's not possible keep up with those unrealistic expectations. Don't get me wrong, I love fashion and home design they are my two favorite hobbies. But this is what I do for fun, no bullshit...and at a reasonable budget.

5 TIP FRIDAY

Whether you are a new mom, toddler mom, working mom or just looking for the everyday staples. Here are 5 go-to tips when putting together a chic, effortless look.

Basic is Best

Start with your favorite white T-shirt, button up or blouse. These are your staples. You can dress them up with a more polished look, or dress them down by tying up the front. They are so versatile and your best investment piece if you are willing to spend more on these items. I've found both to be sufficient, but the more expensive brands do hold up quite a bit better with wear.

Denim Trends

Denim trends tend to have a short life span. I used to think it was a good idea to have 10+ pairs of jeans, or buy more of the expensive brands because I thought they would last longer. Really, denim and jogger trends change each season that I've found it's best to buy yourself a pair of the nicer demin (Mother's, #Agolde) and a pair or two of what's currently trending from more reasonable boutiques (#VICI)...maybe even throw in a pair of joggers. If you rotate these properly, you don't need a ton of pairs of outdated jeans.

Layer Up with Jewelry

Let yourself have fun. Mix and match lengths, styles, and colors for a layered effect. This simple addition can add so much life to your outfit and draw the attention to your face. I love #gorjana for the latests jewelry trends.

All About the Shoes

Shoes can say a lot about a person. With the trends out there now, we are lucky that comfort is in! You can add your favorite white sneaker to your outfit for comfort and a classic look. I always love a little added detail so I love to wear anything with studs or metal detailing. Depending on the season, leopard and snakeskin are always in rotation. Make sure that they do not overpower your additional accessories. Remember, basic is best and we only want to add a few details to make the outfit.

Add An Accessory

Depending on the time of year, add a timley accessory to your look.

My go-to's:

- Leather Jacket

- Hat

- Hair accessory (headbands, etc)

- Statement purse

- Belt