Musings on Momentum

design a life you love

My Empty Home Tour

I think today’s post of our empty home tour is my most requested ever and, for that reason, I have been putting off sharing it for the last several weeks.  Let me explain why.  We moved into a house that is very much a fixer upper and will continue to be a work in progress.  We don’t often see works in progress online or on social media, rather we tend to celebrate only the beautiful end result of blood, sweat, tears, and cash.  I was, admittedly, feeling a bit self-conscious about the state of our home when we took ownership.

When I browsed Instagram and Pinterest I felt like everybody but me had a picture-perfect kitchen with those super on trend blue cabinets, marble countertops, and brass fixtures.  You know the kitchen I mean, right?  Their master bedrooms aren’t missing nightstands because they just can’t find the perfect fit.  Oh, and their front yards.  Their front yards are perfectly manicured with uniform bordered flowerbeds, of course!  I was being really hard on myself and on our adorable, wonderful just as it is house.

I think today’s post of our empty home tour is my most requested ever. So, I give you our Little Blue House on the Prairie, our Kansas City, MO fixer upper.

The front of our Little Blue House on the Prairie. All decisions on landscaping are on hold until we determine how soon we need to replace the failing retaining wall to the left of the driveway.

After a few weeks of this, I took a deep breath and had a chat with myself.  I reminded myself that we packed up our lives and moved halfway across the country to a city where we didn’t know anyone a mere month ago.  There were no awaiting jobs.  There were no guarantees.  Crazy?  Perhaps to some, but we chose this path because it would be an adventure.  That is the same reason we chose to buy a fixer upper in cash rather than move, get traditional jobs, get a mortgage, etc.  It would be an adventure to jump into this with everything we had and figure out a way to make it our own.  So, I am cutting myself some slack and sharing photos today of our house as it was on the day we took ownership.

Remember, we purchased this house sight unseen.  In fact we purchased this little house before I had ever even set foot in Kansas City!  This house, to us, represents a leap of faith.  In essence, we bet on each other, our resilience, and our ability to create something great out of this together.  You will see in the initial photos some very obvious issues – one of which involves the ugliest shade of green you’ve ever seen – but I am hoping you will look past them and be as won over by our little home’s charm as we were.

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How to Cleanse a New Home with Sage

If you are wondering how this post came to life, well do I ever have a story for you!  When my ex purchased the home we formerly shared together, he did so when we were separated.  That is how I initially missed a crucial piece of information regarding our former home – the previous occupant passed away in the house.  Prior to spending my first night in the house, my ex’s mother, who was also his real estate agent, threw out a suggestion about how we might try cleansing the home with sage and a blessing.  I initially scoffed at the idea but, an hour later, I was driving around town, desperately in search of a sage smudge stick.  Long story short, my ex and I cleansed the house and, whether it was simply a mental shift on our part or whether the ceremony actually did something tangible, we immediately felt like our home was happier, lighter, and full of a lot less emotional baggage.

I have moved five times since leaving the aforementioned home and, prior to this last move, had not had a desire to cleanse a space again.  This last move felt a bit different, however.  Moving into this new house with my husband was in many ways a fresh start for us in terms of our relationship, our careers, and our life together as a whole.  I wanted to ensure that we did everything in our power to make this a positive shift in our lives so, once again, I decided to cleanse my new home.

My husband and I wanted our sage smudge stick to be special so, prior to our departure from Los Angeles, we went to The Green Man, a metaphysical shop, in Burbank, California.  Their knowledgeable staff walked us through the steps involved in cleansing a new home with sage, along with providing us with additional suggestions for creating a shift in energy in our new home.  We gently packed up our smudge stick, carried it with us to Kansas City and, on our first night in our new house, we faithfully followed the provided steps on how to cleanse a new home with sage that I am sharing with you today.

The shift in energy following our ceremony was palpable.  While I personally believe that there is actual science behind these rituals, ultimately it doesn’t really matter.  The point of a ritual like this is that it serves you.  When done correctly, a ritual can leave you with a tangible sense of new beginnings and abundance.  Even if these shifts are occurring solely in our minds, who cares?!  We can all use an infusion of hope and possibility into our lives wherever we can get it.

This comprehensive guide on how to cleanse a new home with sage will walk you through the steps and materials necessary to clear the energy in your new home and prepare it for times of happiness and abundance ahead.

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Simple Summer Decor

Having just purchased a new home, I am all about finding ways to incorporate cheery and affordable summer-inspired items into my decor.  These examples of simple summer decor have motivated me to get creative when it comes to utilizing every day household items in my design.  The Cliff Notes version is this: lemons reign supreme when it comes to simple summer decor and immediately elevate any interior or tablescape to the next level.  They also happen to be the most budget friendly way out there to infuse a little summer color into your life.

These examples of simple summer decor will inspire you to get creative when it comes to utilizing every day household items in your design.  The Cliff Notes version is this: lemons reign supreme when it comes to simple summer decor and immediately elevate any interior or tablescape to the next level. 

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A 4th of July Inspired Americana Home Tour

The 4th of July is a mere two and a half weeks away and I am enthusiastically getting into a red, white, and blue kind of mood.  My newfound holiday spirit is still catching me a bit by surprise but I have decided to embrace it and go all out this 4th of July.  I was scouring the internet for heartland-inspired homes, to further get myself into a patriotic mood, when I came across this stunning Americana home tour by Magnolia Home.

Chip and Joanna Gaines need no introduction to those of us in the United States.  Their television show, Fixer Upper, has been a staple on HGTV for half a decade.  Over the course of five seasons,  they have graced us with their flawless design collaborations time and time again.  This Waco, Texas Americana home tour is no exception.  It is full of wide open spaces, clean lines, and touches of patriotic spirit around every turn.  Simply put, it is the perfect home to celebrate the 4th of July in.  Bring on burgers, fireworks, and summer fun!

This Waco, Texas Americana home tour is full of wide open spaces, clean lines, and touches of patriotic spirit around every turn.  Simply put, it is the perfect home to celebrate the 4th of July in.  Bring on the burgers, fireworks, and summer fun!

Be sure to check out the rest of this beautiful home tour after the jump!

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A Desert Family Home Tour

I wrote today’s post a good week and a half in advance, prior to our departure from Los Angeles, under the assumption that one of two things would be happening in my life right now in Kansas City.  My first hunch was that there would be an issue getting our Google Fiber internet connection up and running at our new house (I am crossing my fingers and toes that this did not come to fruition).  My second fear, prediction, rather, was that after spending a week packing and a second week driving across the country, I would be in no position to be putting together this home tour.  And so, I am writing this post about a stunning California home from my own California home in hopes that, a week and a half from now, seeing this luxurious desert family home pop up on Musings on Momentum will make me feel a bit less homesick.

Today's luxurious desert family home is not one to be missed! This 7,000 square foot La Quinta home may cater to children of all ages but make no mistake, the overall aesthetic of the space remains clean, fresh, and sophisticated, proving that you don't have to sacrifice on style to achieve a family friendly home.

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