favorite things: emily from remodeling this life

I knew I wanted Emily from Remodeling this Life to join our favorite things this year, because she just doesn’t focus on things.

In her own words: “I try to focus on what the beauty of choosing to live simply results in – more time to spend with the ones I love, doing the things I love.”

If I get a bit overwhelmed with the pace and tone in the blogosphere, Emily’s blog is my one of my go-to sighs of relief and calm. You can get to know Emily on her About page and read more about her family’s story of replacing debt and stuff with simplicity and frugality.

Here are a few posts that I love:

Enjoy Things As They Are

The 2nd Annual Christmas of yes

I’m still in love with this dresser in her daughter’s room.

The New Old Bathroom

Here are her favorite things~

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Hi!

I am so excited to be here today sharing some of my favorite things. I just love Melissa and her blog, so forgive me if I'm a little starstruck. My favorite thing in the whole wide world is folding laundry. Did I fool you? You believed me, didn't you? I don't mind putting the laundry in the washer. I don't even mind then moving it to the dryer. But the taking it out of the dryer and all that folding and putting away gets me every time. Can't stand it.

So, here are some of my actual favorite things.

Who doesn't love these? They are perfect for the girl like me who really doesn't care for real lipstick at all. Yuck. I can put any shade of these Burt Bees lip shimmers on, throw my hair in a ponytail and still be in my yoga pants but still feel cute. I hope I get lots more of these in my stocking this year. Since I am in charge of stockings, I don't have to worry.

  I love this stuff. It's so expensive, but I am lucky and my sister-in-law works for a company that she gets things like this for free and she's nice and gives them to people she likes. I don't look 18 anymore, but if I did it would be thanks to this stuff.

Jeans and boots. I live in Florida but I'm from New York. I live for fall and winter when I can put on my jeans and boots everyday. If I can also get away with a turtleneck without sweating, I am so happy. I love cozy.

  The beach. This one took a while for me, but it's definitely on my favorite things list now. I am a lake girl. I used to really dislike all the sand and salt when I'd go to the beach. But now, with the ocean 5 minutes from home, it's become a place we love to go and get salty and sandy and get our energy out while being completely in awe every time

. My running shoes. Without these I'd need weekly therapy and would have to give up carbs. They have been there every step of the way when I've done things I never thought I could.

  Coffee. It gets me out of bed in the morning. I love the experience of coffee - grinding the beans, pressing the coffee, pouring it into my cup and then sitting in the quiet enjoying it before the chaos of each day begins.

  Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. These have saved my sanity more times than I can count. When my kids have colored on freshly painted walls, when they've dripped goopy stuff down my white kitchen cabinets. I even use these on my baseboards. Every time I clean my house, I ask myself why I wanted white trim, white cabinets and white doors. But then Mr. Clean comes to the rescue, making the process less painless and I get over it.

Sleeping kids. My son is actually fake sleeping here - he's such a stinker. He had me totally convinced. I love playing with my kids, running around with them, reading them books. But oh how I love when they are asleep too!

  My camera. I would be lost without this thing. I love capturing the moments. My blog wouldn't be without my camera. My kids wouldn't have an entire childhood to look back on someday without this thing. And, obviously, this post would be more boring if I didn't have it.

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Thanks so much, Emily! I hope you’ll all go take a minute to meet her at her blog! Our Favorite Things Party is coming up and I’d love for you to join us!

~Melissa