No Place Like Home

My family moved a whopping 18 times by the time I left for college. My dad is a builder and sometimes we would just move three doors down, but it was always a (not always welcomed) adjustment.
After years thinking about it for years, I finally came up with a list of three things that must take place before somewhere goes from House to Home.

1. One must survive some sort of illness. It’s incredible what bonding takes place with your ceiling when you’re forced to stay in bed, at first staring blankly at it, and then eventually talking to it.
2. One must cry. I know– another kind of bummer one. But crying in a new home (though sometimes spurred on by the new home itself) does something in your brain that triggers you to react instinctively. Whether it’s heading for the kitchen to make a comforting meal or sitting on the couch and staring at the way the light hits the walls or taking a long walk in your new neighborhood once you’ve pulled it together a little bit.
3. Finally, one must throw a dinner party. Because duh. Housewarming gifts. Laughter filling the space. Realizing that the oven runs way too hot and you’ve burned your roasted potatoes. Instant memories made.

And yes. After complaining about moving for my entire childhood and swearing that I would never move, not once, ever, ever again, I find myself craving the smell of cardboard boxes and new carpet. Isn’t life funny?

Moved into my first non-student house last year (however still with roommates) and all of our guests always comment on how our place felt so homey. I’ve always attributed it to our giant bookshelf in the living room filled with all of our books. With 3 roommates it feels like our own little library and everyone loves to guess which books belong to who.

Lol the mystery food in the fridge!!!

I laughed so hard at the shampoo one! Many years later, I still remember a guy friend in college looking at my shower and saying “HOW can you possibly use all those?” . And I thought, “I just do, buddy.”

I also recommend saving sweet cards from loved ones and putting them on dining room tables and kitchen counters. It’s such a neat reminder of all the love we hold in our homes even if we live there on our own. Salt lamps glow joyfully too in new spaces.

So on point!

Ahh, this is so poignant for me right now. I recently moved back into my apartment after another unit burned. I had water damage that needed repair. I’m SUPER lucky in the whole situation but I’m still having a hard time getting the homey feeling back even though everything is all fresh and newly renovated.

I LOVE this! Now following her on Instagram!

I would also add – fill it with the people you love!