After yesterday’s post, I thought I’d share some of my favorite photo display ideas that I’ve come across:

*arrange them on and around a shelf – image from Heather Chadduck/Cottage Living

* string them on a wire and use mini clothespins – from House of Smiths

pic source

Five years ago, 320 Sycamore began with a blog-warming and a giveaway (you can read my whole blog story here) We’ve been through a couple of blog re-designs,

some awful flash pictures, lots of makeovers, 2 moves, a baby, Favorite Things Parties, Under $10 Under 1 Hour Parties, Some Things I Have Learned About Being a Mom series, 1063 posts, 14,446,509 pageviews and about 30 gallons of paint. Whew! What a fun ride it’s been though.

After my first year of blogging I pretty much knew it all, so I wrote a post about what I had learned my first year blogging :) Do you know what? It is still true and relevant to me today, but I want to take a little different direction with this post. I often fall into the same comparison/I’m not good enough because I don’t make homemade marshmallows for my kids/I’m fat/why doesn’t my house look like that trap. Here are a few things I’m learning about looking at blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, you name it.

1. Start your day before you turn on the computer.  If the counters are cleared and wiped, my bed is made, dinner has somewhat of a plan, I have some good smell from a candle or warmer burning, a load of laundry is going and I am dressed then I am usually inspired from being on the computer. I pin, I comment, I bookmark recipes, I think of future projects and I move on. Awesome!

If I’m in my pajamas, eating fritos and marshmallows (sweet + salty=yum), dishes are all over the counter, clothes are everywhere and I haven’t exercised in 3 days I all of a sudden feel overwhelmed and miserable. And begin to feel bitter towards my favorite bloggers. And make fun of what people are making on Pinterest. And click on every video and article anyone is sharing on Facebook. And get sucked into makeup videos! It’s not good and is just better for everyone if I begin my day right. Just taking notes from myself here, don’t mind me.

Here are some things that caught my eye this week that I wanted to share with you!

* I love Erin’s meal planning ideas! Because I always seem to get in a rut and I love new food ideas from others :)

* Some great TED podcasts/talks to listen to while you are doing the mundane around the house. Or driving. Or whatever.

* Love this photo gallery from Emily A. Clark. I just bought a whole slew of gallery frames from Target at 70% off that I’m brewing up plans for. I love hers!

We have lived in some tight spaces. Our first was a one bedroom basement apartment,

 

and since then we have bulged some houses right to the seams. Right now we are renting a 3 bedroom duplex while we are building and things are feeling a little uncomfortable again, so I thought I’d share some favorite tricks for squeezing out every inch of space.

10. Under the bed: this is a perfect spot for toys in bins, out of season clothes, suitcases

9. Use vertical space. Think up! Install shelves, find pretty baskets, use the space above your cars in the garage, and in closets.