Design Series: Making a House a Home - Shelving

It’s Super Bowl weekend, and since we live in Atlanta, it’s got us locked down in our neighborhood. Much to my husband’s chagrin, this means I’m contemplating projects.

I’ve been working on making our daughters’ rooms more functional spaces for them. We’re living in a rental, and while I can’t paint the walls and do some of the things I would do if it were our own home, I can do things to make it “ours”. As I’ve been doing this for the last few months, it’s occurred to me that there are so many of you out there, trying to style a place that probably feels less your style than you’d like, or more sterile than you’d prefer.

This is the first in a series of how to make a new place feel like home. I’ve done this 12 times, and with each move, I’ve gotten better and better at making a house a home, or a flat a home. This doesn’t just apply to rentals, but I just wanted to make sure you renters realize that these are all rental friendly fixes.

We’re going to start with shelving. We’ve had so many different kind of shelving situations. The infamous “cube” shelving from Ikea, standard bookshelves, traditional built-ins, and modern built ins.

People get really bent out of shape about styling shelves. Let’s stop for a minute. Take a breath. Think about things that you really love. You could Maria Kondo this and think of ‘what sparks joy’. Now, think of things that make sense paired together. We have items from our travels on our living room built ins, as well as coffee table books that we’ve collected from our favorite places. We also have some beautiful children’s books.

I think most people have some beautiful things that they’re proud to showcase, but have zero idea how to style it. First, let’s start with the rule of 3. I typically follow the rule of 3. This isn’t a hard rule, but it’s a healthy places to start. Take three things that make sense, for instance, pottery in the same color scheme, three books of similar theme, a row of 3 shelves such as the ones we have, where there are three strong, balanced items, similar in height. Trust your initial reaction. If things appear too busy, they are.

Height is a big thing for me. It’s okay to do things in a wave- low, high, low. Just make sure that when you look at your shelves- and I don’t mean stare and overthink them- they feel balanced. Look at the diagonal. Does it have a good flow?

Lastly, you may have a lot of beautiful things, I know we do! I like to put things on our IKEA cube shelves in our storage room where I can see, them, so I can easily change out what’s in our living room, or in other areas of the house. It keeps things fresh. I’ve been to so many homes where it looks like the shelves have been thrown up on, and if they were just willing to switch things out from time to time, rather than have 800 things out at a time, they’d really enjoy their home more.

Most of all, trust yourself. Whether you’re renting or not, it is your home. Make it yours! Don’t allow yourself to get frustrated, and just keep the shelves empty. Unpack, try some different configurations, and do what feels right.

Treading Water

We bow, we don’t break, we branch out.  Women have this ability to see the entirety of things, the ability to find the good stuff, the ability to connect people- that’s the sisterhood showing its best self.

Eight years ago, I looked at my husband and told him that I had a feeling his career would take off in a way that would cause us to move around.  He, being the most humble person I have ever met, laughed at me and kind of brushed me off.  A year later, we were told that we’d be moving every year or so for a program that would accelerate his career.  Here we were in our mid-twenties, about to go on the ride of our life, with our beautiful one-year old baby in tow.

Fast-forward almost a decade, and we’ve got three little girls, have lived in 8 homes, 3 countries, and 5 cities.  Our kids are the most chilled out travelers you’d ever meet.  They’ve eaten food you’ve only seen on “No Reservations” or read about in “National Geographic”.  They don’t care what language you speak, or what you look like.  They care if you’re kind, fair, and are willing to play hard on the playground.

My husband and I have learned to get by in different languages and to quickly immerse ourselves in other cultures.  It’s changed the way we parent, the way we view family, and in some ways, it has helped us learn to appreciate just how valuable family time is.

You might be thinking to yourself, this woman is bonkers.  Cultures aren’t that different, Western Europe is all the same, people are people no matter how you shake them, and I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong, but also that you’re right.  People are people. True.  But, the way you’re raised, the idea of what is and is not safe, what’s moral and immoral, that’s cultural, my friends.

Who are you at your cultural core?  As an American, I’ve learned that other countries don’t lean on the cultures of their ancestors the way we do (to be fair, the vast majority of those counties are older than ours).  How has it impacted your choices, who you are, your beliefs, and what you like to do?

For me, the last four and a half weeks have consisted of my family and I trying to navigate our feelings about being back in the US.  It feels differently than it did from when we moved back from Italy.  Very differently.  We all feel like cultural melting pots, and we can’t figure out where we fit.

You know how we turn into our spouse and our friends the more we’re around them?  You don’t mean to, but you do.  That’s how living in a different culture for an extended period of time is.  You gradually start to absorb certain aspects of that culture, whether you want or mean to.  So, leaving that culture, in the same way that starting with a new set of friends, or a new spouse, is difficult.  The thing is, when you’re returning to your own culture, everyone assumes you’ll be fine, but the reality is, you’re trying to wear jeans that used to fit, but they just don’t. 

I’m in a fortunate situation where even though I left a place that my family and I really loved and felt at home in, we have moved to a place where there are so many people that we love so much.  I have such amazing friends here in Atlanta, the kind of deep friendships that some women just don’t seem to think really exist.  I’m here to tell you, sisters- your people are out there.  Just be open, be kind, and give it time.

I know that I’ll see my Zurich and Florence sistahs sooner than not, and that I’m so lucky to have my Atlanta sisters to welcome my family and I home, and help us adjust.  I know that in a year, I’ll have a different perspective, but right now, right now I’m trying to tread water to stay afloat.  I’ll swim to shore soon.  Just not yet.

"The Good Stuff"

A month or so ago, we moved back to America.  Since then, I’ve been very busy trying to build a home for our children, help them navigate American culture (we have one daughter that was born in Switzerland, one that lived there since she was 2, and one daughter who has spent half her life in Europe- America feels foreign to them).  During my down time, I’ve been trying to organize my thoughts.  I’ve been flipping through my travel notebooks, and I had a short story that reminded me about my drive to spread what I have lovingly referred to since the beginning of my blog, as “the good stuff”.

When I was last in Florence, I was walking through the Ognissanti from Santa Maria Novella.  A man was walking behind me, whistling.  For whatever reason, he startled me.  I stepped to the side of the sidewalk, as I often do when I get nervous, or a feel someone too close to me.  As I did this, the man apologized for frightening me.  It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

I feel like we live in a time where we highlight every awful thing.  We fail to recognize the positive moments.  We don’t publicize shows of respect or acts of kindness.  How is this to change if we don’t share our positive stories - both big and seemingly small?  How will people learn that the way they behave matters?  If the only ones getting press are people that hurt or emotionally wound others, how will good ever truly prevail?

Sure, having information about the scary things in the world arms us to protect ourselves, but at what point is it too much?  At what point will we recognize if we focus more on the positive, if we share more of “the good stuff”, that positive influence will spread, and I truly believe, create change.

This is a call to action for all of you out there.  If you see something positive, please share it.  If you want to share it on my blog, reach out!  I want to share the amazing things people are doing- big, small, and creative.  I have personally experienced more than once how an act of compassion or kindness that feels small to you, often has a big impact on others, and those around them.  Share your stories! #thegoodstuff

Experiencing Andalusian Lifestyle in Seville

When we flew into Seville from Basel, our family was buzzing with excitement.  It was the beginning of our three-week trip to Spain.  My husband has always dreamed of visiting Spain, and I was so excited to plan the trip from Seville-Cordoba-Toledo-Madrid-Segovia-Zaragosa-Barcelona-Valencia.  It was a crazy 3 weeks, but Seville was the perfect, magical start to an amazing trip.

Seville is one of those places that the moment you get off the plane, you're relaxed.  As you walk out of the airport, the sun is shining, the air smells like oranges, and everyone seems so happy.  The architecture is gorgeous.  Every time I think back to Seville, I smile because it's just such a magical place.

The best way to experience Seville is to allow yourself to get lost.  Experience the relaxed way of life.  Dine al fresco, grab a churro, or stop at La Cacharreria de Sevilla for the best toast, pastries, and coffee in town.  We didn’t have a bad meal during our visit, so trust your gut, check out the menu, and go for it.  We had some of the best tapas in Spain during this leg of our trip.

Keep an eye out for some particularly beautiful Moorish tile and pottery during your visit.  I was able to score some gorgeous ones at an antique shop.  Triana is a neighborhood in Seville that is known for its gorgeous tile and pottery.  Make time to visit if you can.  The locals take a lot of pride in their neighborhood, and you can tell by the bustle of the markets, and the rush on the streets, that this is a very happening neighborhood.  Our favorite pottery shop was Ceramico Triana.

I have the fondest memories of our girls running through Alcazar Gardens and Maria Luisa Park, the scent of oranges filling the air.  We walked through Barrio Santa Cruz (aka the Jewish Quarter) and were spellbound by the whitewashed buildings and the peaceful streets.  Enjoy some flamenco, treat yourself to a flamenco fan (we bought gorgeous, hand painted ones at Aire Distinto), and allow yourself to be taken over by Andalusian culture.

Seville was the perfect place to welcome Spring and sunshine back into my life.  After months of grey in Zurich, it was so recharging and refreshing to bask in sunshine and a laid-back atmosphere.  I hope to plan a visit back sometime in the near future.

Sites to See:

By Foot:

• Metropol Parasol (aka The Mushrooms)
• Monumento a Cervantes
• Plaza Nueva
• Catedral de Sevilla
• Plaza Virgen de los Reyes
• Plaza del Triunfo
• Plaza del Cabildo
• Barrio Santa Cruz (Juderia)
• Real Alcazar de Sevilla
• Igleisa Santa Maria La Blanca & wandering (We saw a really amazing procession for Semana Santa)
• Plaza de Espana
• La Alameda
• Torre del Oro
• Maria Luisa Park
• Casa de Pilatos
• Palacio de las Duenas

By Car or Public Transport (depending on where you stay, of course)

• Triana (We drove and didn’t have trouble finding parking.)
• Check out Puente de Isabel II
• Triana Pottery
• Walk down the river and enjoy the views

Good to know:

There are playgrounds tucked in many streets and piazzas.  As I’m sure you’ve read, if you’re traveling with kids, the Spanish are extremely accommodating.  Many places have baby chairs, but I found it helpful to have a travel baby chair to make things in restaurants easier. 

The majority of the streets are cobblestone.  Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Things close for a few hours after lunch.  Lunch is generally from 1:30-3:30.  Dinner is served after 8pm. Tapas are served all day. 

Seville is the home of Flamenco.  If you want to see a show, book well ahead of time, or you’ll find, as we did, that you’re out of luck.  We saw it in Barcelona, and it was great fun, but I think it would’ve been amazing to see it in Seville

More Joy, Less Stress

Things have been busier than normal the last few weeks, and I realized that I needed to take a moment and reevaluate how I’ve been spending my time.   

This week I made a commitment to get the things that were necessary (like my arch-nemesis, Laundry) done while the kids were at school, so that after school we could play and go on a few adventures.  Maybe this sounds like an obvious change, but I feel as if I’ve been so busy going through the motions, fighting to stay on top of work and family, that I’ve been missing out on enjoying both.

Interestingly enough, a close friend sent me an article about self-care, and it resonated with me.  Self-care isn’t about going out and buying some aromatherapy candle or doing a face mask- it’s about doing things that make your life feel balanced and calm.  For me, that means having time to go to go on dates with my husband, attending Forest Club with our eldest daughter, baking with our middle daughter, and playing blocks with our baby.  If I don’t get enough time with my husband and our girls- especially one-on-one, I don’t feel like I’m living my best life.  If the laundry piles up and the dishes aren’t done, it makes me feel as if I’m suffocating.  Yes, this sounds dramatic, but I may or may not have a small case of OCD, and a house in disarray affects my psyche.

Committing to scheduling the things I don’t enjoy doing so that I could do the things I love to do gave me such a sense of accomplishment and freedom.  Yes, I see the irony in putting freedom and schedule in the same sentence.  I think this is one of those times in life where I’ve had to recognize that I have too much going on in my life NOT to schedule the mundane tasks that make life function.  Knowing that those things will be done, and have a time to be done, afford me the ability to be more fluid with my personal time.  This results in me feeling more present with the people in my life, and able to fill my time with more fun.

I know that I won’t maintain the schedule every week.  I know that I’ll overschedule myself sometimes (this is kind of a chronic occurrence for me- overbook myself, do all the things, burn out, recognize I need to slow down and chill out, rinse and repeat), but I’m hoping that I can make it a better habit to make more time for joy and less time for stress.  It’s not romantic to schedule life, but sometimes you need to create a routine to feel balanced, and to have room to be spontaneous.  After all, you can’t throw away and replace every load of laundry, rather than wash it.  Especially not when you have three kids!!  And you certainly can’t jump in the car and go on a spontaneous road trip if no one has anything to wear.

Check in on Monday for tips on visiting Seville!

Sunshine in Barcelona

Parque Guell

Last Spring my family and I took a three-week tour of Spain.  We started in Seville and ended the trip in Barcelona.  Over the last few weeks, several people have asked me for advice on visiting Barcelona, so I thought it would be a great start in a series about one of my family’s very favorite countries.

Barcelona is a gorgeous city.  The sun is almost always out, the city is extremely kid-friendly, and the food is great.  The wide walkways are lined with trees, and there’s a vibrant, relaxed feeling about the city.  The pace is whatever you choose it to be.

Sagrada Familia

We rented an apartment down the street from Sagrada Familia.  I highly recommend staying in that area as it’s super walkable, is near a lot of great restaurants, and has easy access to the hop-on/hop-off bus.  We are not normally hop-on/hop-off bus people, but we learned quickly that Barcelona is so spread out, we couldn’t just walk everywhere like we normally do. Staying near Sagrada Familia allows you to easily walk to places such as Barcelona Cathedral, Plaza Cataluña, Old Town, and Las Ramblas. 

Goofing around at Poble Espanola

The hop-on/hop-off bus is very helpful to get to sights such as Parque Guell (do yourself a favor and get tickets ahead of time), Montjuic Castle (a gorgeous fortress on the water that you can reach via cable car from the Montjuic Funicular Station, where you can also pose for a souvenir photo), and Poble Espanol (a reconstructed medieval village with artisanal shoppes, experiences, etc.  There are food carts and restaurants in the center and throughout that you can easily grab lunch, and if you have young children like we do, there is space for them to run.). The bus can also get you to Olympic Stadium, but we didn’t hop off for that.  Our baby was sleeping, so it was a drive by and see situation.

Sagrada Familia was such a show stopper for us (again, get tickets ahead of time).  After living in Italy, our eldest daughter is desensitized to gorgeous architecture, but when she walked up to and into Sagrada Familia, her jaw hit the floor.  We listened to the audio guide and were completely transfixed by Gaudi’s still-evolving masterpiece.  We’ve promised Laela that we’ll go back to see the completed project in 2026 or 2028.

Barcelona Cathedral

Barcelona Cathedral is beautiful, but with a darker, more gothic style.  When you walk in, there’s an unexpected courtyard filled with birds, beams of sunlight spraying through the windows like a fairytale.  It’s a special place with intricate architecture and a unique feel to it.  Our girls liked it so much they went in twice.

My favorite church in Barcelona was Santa Maria del Mar.  The relief in the front was so outstanding, and the feel to the church was incredibly peaceful.  It’s one of the few churches we’ve visited in a long time where people were praying and not just sight-seeing.  The church was filled with sunlight, and like many of the churches we visited over Easter break, it was fabulous to see how they decorated and celebrated for the holiday.

Santa Maria del Mar

Eating in Barcelona is easy.  If you have little ones that cannot manage the typical Spanish mealtimes (lunch at 1-1:30 and dinner at 8-9pm) tapas are served all day.  If you’re on the hunt for some fabulous Mexican, head over to the laid-back La Cantina Mexicana.  For delicious breakfast pastries or an easy lunch, try The Bristol (the pastries and beetroot burger were my favorite.  I still dream of that burger!!).  For a slightly more formal dinner that you will love with or without kids, try Tragaluz for gorgeous, modern Mediterranean cuisine.

My family’s favorite thing to do on trips is just explore.  We love walking around towns and cities and seeing what it’s really like to be a part of that place.  Wandering down Las Ramblas, exploring the historic old town of Barcelona, strolling through Plaza Cataluña, gazing at Gaudi’s famous buildings Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, talking about his inspiration to create such fluid, amazing buildings, playing at tucked away playgrounds, and grabbing tapas when we were hungry and needed a break was sheer perfection.

Take your time in Barcelona.  Savor the sites.  Enjoy the city.  It’s one worth getting lost in.

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Casa Mila

Shopping tips…

I’m not one who buys kitschy souvenirs.  I like to find things that are special, that I want to keep forever, and that will evoke meaning for my family and I when I look at them.  These are some shoppes where I found some great things:

-Itaca They have lovely traditional items, as well as ceramics, art, and fun finds.

-La Nostra Ciutat I loved this shop for local art.  We walked out with a lot of neat things for our girls and gifts for friends.

-For a cool shop featuring local and upcoming designers, visit Nuovum

-OMG Barcelona is great for fun, sometimes quirky art, décor, jewelry, etc..

-Espardenyes is one of the lesser known espardille manufacturers in Barcelona.  We'd tried going to a more famous shop, but it was slammed, and had off hours due to the holiday weekend.  The staff at Espardenyes were great, and I found their shoes true to size.

Welcome to Bow and Branch!

Almost two years ago, my family and I moved to Zurich, Switzerland from Atlanta, Georgia.  I was 32 weeks pregnant, moving pregnant and internationally for the second time.  Excitement ran through my veins, curiosity enveloped my brain, and hope for a great life in our new home consumed many of my thoughts.

I know, there are a lot of blogs out there about being an expat.  This is not one of those.  Sure, I’ll occasionally take you along for the ride of my expat adventures and experiences, but above all else, this site has been born out of a desire to share that the world is a truly amazing place, filled with good things and fantastic people doing great things.  I am the mother of three gorgeous girls, the wife of a global businessman, and the friend to people that live in and are from all pockets of the world.  I am also an avid traveler, lover of international food, and I have learned that the global perspective, the global lifestyle we lead is something that could start a conversation, connect people, and inspire new thoughts, ideas, and even skills.

Earlier on in this journey, I wrote a food blog for many years (if you’d like to take a trip down my memory lane, it’s still online here).  During the majority of that experience, I was a young, first-time mother who was moving every 6 months to 1 year.  I was intensely curious about cooking the food of each place we lived in the healthiest way possible for our little girl.  I immersed myself in the cultures and local cuisine of each place, taking as many cooking and baking courses as I could find.  Eventually however, after becoming pregnant with our second child, my passion started to move in a new direction.

One of our early moves was to Florence, Italy.  It was hands down the most influential move of my life.  It was also what made me slowly drift away from writing a food blog. For Italians, food is not something to be Instagrammed; it’s important for their culture, family, and sense of place.  I began thinking about things more broadly than before – my love for great food and fantastic restaurants was still there, but how could I incorporate it into something greater?

Living in a culture hub like Florence reignited my desire to chase after some of the dreams I’d been ignoring for fear of failure.  I dreamt of learning about art, interior design, antiquing, and wine and I was in the perfect place for it!  I went to so many markets, exhibitions, and pop up shops, learning about antiques and artisanal goods, and came to find (through a dear friend) that I have an eye for design and things that people want but aren’t sure how to access.  By the time we left Italy, I felt I’d finally found that what I loved were things I could do for a living when I was ready.

Now that our youngest is almost 2, I’m finally pulling the rip-cord and am chasing my dream - Bow and Branch.  I’m so excited for monthly features of business owners, artisans, and taste makers as well as frequent posts of my family’s adventures, fun finds, classes I’ve taken, and team building events I’ve hosted.  Stay tuned here for more, and also check out my Instagram and Pinterest for an extra helping of “the good stuff”!!

Appreciating the beauty and peacefulness of the Temple of Debod in Madrid.