It has been a MINUTE since I've done an actual personal, from the heart, "here's where we've been" post on Nosh and Nurture and I feel like I need to bring a lot of that back.

Since becoming a mother of two, I feel like I am trying to relearn who I am, or maybe I'm just getting to know the woman I'm growing into. Either way, it's been a lot of adjusting and prayer and self discovery. 

This year has been spent healing and loving so hard and so big.

In 2021 we lost our beloved mother-in-law to the virus. My husband was also very sick and there has been a lot of healing that's needed to take place. My parents are also very ill and it's been a season of struggle co-existing with joy.

We are trying to grasp every opportunity and live life to the fullest. With our two sweet bundles of pure light and joy, it's been easy to focus on the goodness and what we are grateful for. God was so right when He said children are the greatest blessing. 

In the world of babes, we are still homeschooling, LOVING Masterbooks for most subjects and The Good and the Beautiful for math.

Greyson graduated Kindergarten and is now in 1st grade and is still the BEST kitchen helper. He plays piano beautifully, is so smart, is reading and is a whiz at math already and he just joined his first soccer team! #SoccerMomWhatUp.

Lexi is as smart as her brother, 19 months old and can count to ten, knows her colors, talks up a storm and sings her ABCs. I'm actually mind blown at what she knows just by listening to him. I adore my sweet princess and still can't believe most days that I get to be a girl mom too.  

On the work front, honestly things slowed down SO, SO much through the pandemic. Having a TV show (something you dreamed of forever) come out the same month a pandemic takes over the world is  not ideal.

Not even a little bit. We couldn't travel to do the press tour and though viewership started off so strong and the reviews were so humbling and so, so sweet, viewership dwindled and we were left looking for a new home for the show. 

Luckily,  we have found one and I have an amazing producer and co-creator that has unwavering belief in me and us and our projects and we are in the baby stages of creating something new and exciting to bring to our audience and I'm so looking forward to pouring back into my passions and showing my kids that it's important for them to follow their dreams and do the things that bring glory to God and helps others.  

I'm hoping you all will stick around to see what's next. 

I would love to know what all of you have been up to? I've missed the personal connection here on the blog. IG has been my home for all of our conversations, and I love that, but this is the place that feels like home. My little space to share me and our little family and home and mission and I'd love to talk to more of you that stop by to hang out amongst it all. 

Share in the comments below your favorite memory of your 2022 this year. I'd love to know! 

One of the main dreams I had for our farmhouse renovation and for our home long term, was that it would be a place of learning and exploration for Grey and our future children. 

We specifically designed a classroom off the kitchen for access to start school each morning after breakfast. We also had double doors put in that lead to my office off of our master suite, so Grey would always be close by when I need to work on the blog or do housework. 

I have said many times, I adore the flow of this home. The flow from one room to the next and how it compliments the flow of our day is one of my very favorite parts. 

Our plan is to take you all on a home tour, room by room as we complete them and I wanted to start with one of the happiest spaces, our school room/play room. 

One of the best parts of the room is the large window at the end of the room. It makes the room bright and inspiring for work and play! We kept the antique metal frame windows that lends so much charm. The rest of the room was transformed with the same grey wood tile we put throughout the home, fresh white walls and a built-in closet for my teacher supplies. 

I worked on dividing the room into various areas that include work spaces, play spaces, "yes" places to create, display areas for Grey's works and a soft reading corner that invites cozy book reading. 

Utilizing bins to house toys, books and games has been a dream in keeping the room clean. We've implemented a "one bin at a time" rule which works so well for our family. I'm blessed to have a toddler who loves organization and cleanliness like his mama (Thank you Jesus!) so we both enjoy this system. 

While toys such as action figures, legos, playdoh, animals, cars, balls and pretend play items are in bins, all books are visible to invite reading. In addition to bookshelves lined with books, I also have floor bins filled with themed books for the seasons and current school topics, as well as our library books. 

Grey is now at the age where I'm comfortable having colored pencils, crayons and markers available in jars at all times. He also has his own drawer organizer of scraps of paper, pom balls, toddler scissors, glue, pipe cleaners and more craft items should he want to craft on his own. 

As for my aforementioned "yes" spaces, his school table has a dry erase top with a cup of dry erase markers, the chairs are also dry erase and I've attached a large dry erase board low on the wall as well as a dry erase and chalkboard easel. I want him to know that this space is his space and there are so many avenues in which to express himself creatively! 

Aside from the art spaces, we have a school table set up in the center of the room where we do our morning book and work projects. Separated by shelving and bins, I created a dramatic play space where he can play kitchen, cafe, store, vet, ice cream shop or wherever his little mind takes him. 

Under the window, we currently have a train table where he can drive cars or build legos and truth be told, between this and his kitchen, this is where he spends most of his playtime in this room. 

I hope you all enjoyed spending sometime in our classroom today! We've enjoyed having you! 

Do you have a schoolroom/play space in your home? What are your favorite elements that make it an inviting space? 

Do you have any questions regarding our school day or room set up? Leave them below! ​

Photo Credit Amy Termini Photography