 Top down view of my bromeliad mother plant and her newly planted pups. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. About bromeliads… Without getting too technical, bromeliads are a type of air plant or epiphyte, meaning the plant draws what it needs from the humidity in the air. This plant doesn’t technically need soil, but the soil does provide a way to anchor the plant into a pot and provide an extra boost of nutrients and water. In nature, an epiphyte’s roots attach to trees or other plants, anchoring them to a good place where they catch the best nutrients and humidity from the surrounding air.
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 Homemade banana and raisin bread. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. The end of winter can be so dreary, can’t it? I find myself chomping at the bit with anticipation for the warmer weather that seems like it’s taking its good old time getting here! I’m craving the warmth of the upcoming spring. Maybe something warm and home-baked will help…
 Celtic Shamrocks Wood Burned Decorative Plate by Di's Studio Designs. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019. The legend of the shamrock is closely tied to St. Patrick—a man who was born in Roman Britain, lived as a slave in Ireland as a youth, escaped his bondage, and then spent some time back in England, where he seems to have become a Christian missionary or priest.  Pothos plant just misted. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. I have been refreshing the decor in my master bathroom and decided to add some greenery to the mix. Adding plants in a bathroom is a win-win for everybody. The plant gets plenty of humidity (which many tropical plants love), and we get a sense of healing and calm. If you’re using your shower regularly (which I hope you are!), your plants will benefit from the humidity in the air. If you have a window for natural light, that’s even better. Typically, tropical plants are the best for bathrooms or areas with high humidity.
I love having real houseplants in my home. There’s something simple and nurturing about puttering in plants. I realize not everyone has a green thumb...Even I kill a plant or two sometimes! There is also the issue of proper lighting. Plants need natural light to grow, and most will die if they don’t get enough. So what to do if you want greenery and plants in your home without the maintenance or lighting worries? Get creative with artificial flowers and faux greenery!  White faux floral bouquet. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. A recent trip to the family doctor reminded me that I need to eat healthier! So I thought I’d kick off March with one of my favorite healthy meals— homemade chicken soup. This soup is a slight variation of a family recipe passed down from my great-grandmother—a little Ukrainian woman who could make a paper bag taste good! I have fond memories of helping her peel and chop vegetables and making this soup takes me right back there to that tiny faux marble kitchen table all those years ago.  Chicken soup cooking in a pot. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. What better time to make warm homemade soup than on a cold, dreary winter day? We all need a little cozy comfort food when the dim winter daylight doesn’t seem to warm up our world like the rest of the year. Eating a delicious hot soup while snuggled under a warm, cozy blanket is good for the soul. Even better if the soup is homemade—much more nutritious than anything you can get out of a can!  Homemade creamy potato soup. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.  Tuna Noodle Casserole. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. Today's comfort food dish—tuna noodle casserole! I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea (I need to be in the mood for it), but a warm tuna noodle casserole can be perfect on a cold day!
 Bromeliad plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. Plants can add beauty and a depth of color and texture to a space, but there are also health benefits to having plants around. There is a houseplant for you, even if you don't have a green thumb! Just do some research for low-maintenance houseplants…and buy just one plant. Keep one plant alive, and you’ll soon catch the houseplant bug…I know from experience! (Plants are the new candy for me now!) If you are interested in houseplants and would like to know some of the benefits, read on to learn how adding live plants in your space can benefit your health.  Burning finished homemade soy candle with eucalyptus and spearmint fragrance. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. There’s nothing like homemade, right?
I used to work in a store where I merchandised candles and could never resist the urge to smell every new scent I unpacked. There’s just something about the allure of scented candles that’s irresistible! There’s just one thing about store-bought candles, though…They are full of pollutants I don’t want in my house. I decided to learn how to make homemade candles several years ago...and I was hooked!  Burning a homemade candle with hazelnut fragrance. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. It’s cold outside…and I’m on a mission to make the inside of my home feel cozy. If you’ve read any of my recent blogs, you’ll know by now that I am currently embracing a common theme—hygge. Hygge is a Danish concept of finding joy and coziness in your everyday life, and candles are a core part of that life view, especially in winter.
And as it turns out…I know how to make my candles!  Cup of tea on a cold day. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. Maybe it’s the time of year—cold, dark, uninspiring—but I’ve been thinking a lot about creating warmth and healing in my interior spaces. My studies in interior design have made me aware of the effects your spaces can have on your mood and sense of self. There is an art to designing spaces, and I love how interior design can help the people who inhabit the space. As someone who has had to deal with lifelong depression and anxiety, I am also acutely aware of the need to have personal spaces that can make me feel more at ease and calm.
What is hygge? There is no direct translation for hygge. Hygge (or the Swedish equivalent "mys") is a feeling or state of mind, a way of thinking about life. The term is Danish, but according to Visit Denmark, the term is originally Norwegian, referring to living with a sense of well-being and togetherness—what could be called the simple life. Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh) means celebrating joy and pleasure in simple things.  Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. It’s January. It’s cold and dreary…and I’ve discovered the concept of hygge, of making my life more meaningful, of creating a deliberate sense of coziness and joy. So what else to do but cook some comfort food? There’s no better way to cozy up on a wintry day than to fill your belly with warm, delicious comfort food.
It’s frigid outside…cold wind whipping around you, your nose feeling like an ice cube, frosty white snow covering every surface. You open the front door to your home, feel the warm air on your face, and eagerly glance at a warm blanket on the other side of the room. We all want a space like this to come home to during these dark winter months. It’s a universal need to find refuge and healing in our homes during the colder, bleaker months of the year. Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s explore ways you can achieve a warmer, more inviting space to ward off the winter blues…  Cream heated blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. Well, 2021 is over, and good riddance! It’s time to think about a new year and a fresh start for decorating our interior spaces. I did some digging to find out the word on the street for design trends to keep an eye on for 2022, so here goes!  Throw pillow and knit blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.  My new winter throw pillow and blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. So it’s January…and you’re staring at an empty room devoid of all the cheery decor that’s been up for--what seems like--months. It happens every year, and the feeling can be depressing and cold. That’s one way to look at it…But a more positive approach is to use this experience to be creative, as a chance to redecorate with a clean slate. A fresh new start…Isn’t that what January is about? I’m all about using design and decor to boost my mood and creativity, and this year’s challenge is to try to incorporate some of the winter home decor ideas I’ve discovered into my own space.  Corner closeup of finished stool. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. A few years back I bought a beat up second hand vintage foot stool with the idea that I would reupholster it and give it a new lease on life. Once it was taken apart, however, I came up with another idea…
 Finished and decorated dining room cabinet. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. Overview: Back in mid-Summer I found myself itching to do another DIY project. I had just finished a few other projects and my dining room was beautifully styled—except for this one miserable looking smaller cabinet. This sad looking piece of furniture had been sitting in my dining room for a few years waiting for me to find the time to give it a face lift and some style. We bought it several years ago from someone who must’ve been using it in their garage. It had no feet, no base, and the body was made of plywood with a pine wood top. Despite the haphazard materials, the piece was well constructed with classy looking door pulls and hinges. I knew I could make this cabinet look beautiful for my dining room. Besides, it was only $40 and I desperately needed storage! Fast-forward to this past summer, and I finally got around to giving this cabinet some much needed attention.  Living room side chair closeup. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. Today I decided to tackle a project that’s been on my mind for a couple of months now—cleaning the upholstery on my dining room chairs and two living room side chairs. I’ve never done this before (disclaimer!) so I did a quick search of Youtube to see if I could find any tutorials that would help me gain some insight into a couple of techniques that can be used at home. My budget cannot accommodate a bill for a professional cleaner, but I do own a shampooer that can be used as a backup. What I will be sharing with you below are upholstery cleaning techniques that I wanted to try for each set of chairs. So let’s get into it!
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