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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / family / {a peek into our home}

{a peek into our home}

September 29, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Filed Under: family, giveaway, Gussy


We moved into our apartment
{from Detroit to Minneapolis} four weeks ago yesterday. My goodness! Some days it seems like just yesterday; other days it seems like we’ve been here for a lot longer. There are great pros to Minneapolis, just like there are cons to not living in Michigan. Today I’d like to focus on all things positive.

There are a lot of things going on with sewing, Gussy, and our new lifestyle. I have to work a lot harder to keep things going forward. When we lived in Michigan, I sewed full-time. I blogged full-time. I was able to put in hours and hours and hours into this business.

Nowadays I have to find other {creative} ways to keep it going. There are a lot of sales and other events going on to help me with that.

Whoops.

I’m having a sale: 20%-off, refunds via PayPal.

There, I told ya ;)

Other events = two giveaways: here and here. Both ladies hosting are fun, creative, and full of spunk. I love to read their blogs because I look forward to their inspiration, laughter-causing, and creativity.

{I know I’m getting off-track here.}

{But this is my blog.}

te he he :)

After seven months without a “job”, two weeks living in another state, and an entire month of zero sewing, my life officially changed. We moved 13 hours away, live in an apartment instead of a house, and I now have limited hours where I can sew, blog, photograph, cook, dream, and be sassy. Sigh. See? My life has changed. BUT I WILL NOT BE CHANGED!!! I have to adapt, and adaptation means coming up with a new game plan so I can continue my Gussy success.

You should see me argue with myself {or Zack} only to realize I was right {or Zack}.

Certainly there are other things I do besides sew and talk {but not much, OK? Not much.} I knit, talk on the phone {see? more talking!}, work, ride the city bus while struggling to not laugh, stare/eavesdrop or miss my stop. I also like to make up new phrases, like:

When worse comes to shove, and Spilled the juice {instead of beans}.

If none of that makes sense to you, understand you haven’t missed much. Really. Not too much.

Honest, I’m trying hard to reel this back to a point.

Hmm…

My life has changed. Change can be good. Gussy isn’t the same as it was back in November when I sewed my first stitch on my vintage sewing machine. But I believe Gussy today is better than the Gussy nearly one year ago.

With all of this change comes a new normal. I’m going to have to struggle through it and find a way to make it work. I know {and God knows, too} there is a way to make it all work. I bought some fabric over the weekend and made it work into this:

Dear Neighbor,

I’m not sure what you’re doing, but please stop hammering on your floor.

Love, Gussy

Earlier I typed, Today I’d like to focus on all things positive. Back to that thought. Below are some pictures of our new home. Are you ready to see them? They are all things positive, warm, comforting, and family-filled.

***

Super awesome bookshelf holding all things super awesome:

.baby palm tree, a plant split between my maid of honor and me
.wedding pictures
.decanter from Zack’s grandfather
.books, cookbooks, and coffee table books
.pottery made back in my college girl days ;)
.family pics
.my grandmother’s teacups


My lovely, lovely, lovely red textured couch.
sigh…

I love this couch.

My parents used it when they were first married. It then followed me to college, to my first apartment upon graduating, and now our third home together as hubb + wife.

Remember when I took this couch and moved out?
That was a red hot, sassy day.

This yellow blanket is a bridal shower gift from mama Gus. It’s from our favorite store in Lansing, MI — October Moon. I picked the color and texture of the blanket because I knew it’d be beautiful draped over our couch. Or even on the floor in a frumpy hump. {Just being honest!}

This antique turquoise swivel chair is from my mother-in-law. She found it, thought it would look great with our couch, and gave it to us. It’s amazing and served as my Etsy backdrop for many photos. I hope to bring it back to the scene!

Before our lease ended in Michigan, Zack and I spruced up the two end tables. We put a white wash on them one hot Sunday afternoon… our first decorating project together. Aside from painting the house in Michigan.

Ahem.

If you’d call that an us project ;)

Bed frame + little bird lamp + textured white throw blanket = happy Gus!

engagement picture + bird pretty + wedding collage + Ikea plant = happy Gus!

see my wedding bouquet?


***

What are some positive things in your life and home?

I encourage you to make them focus points in your home to so you can remember the positive memories and meanings they bring.

***

Three things {remember how it takes me 15 minutes to say Goodbye?!}

.20%-off Etsy sale
.giveaway #1
.giveaway #2

***

Bye! :)

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Filed Under: family, giveaway, Gussy

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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.
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#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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