WHATEVER YOU DO...
don’t think about a bright pink house with white shutters.

Now I bet you're thinking about a bright pink house with white shutters, aren't you?
Have you ever heard of the reticular activating system (RAS)? It’s the part of our brain that helps us seek out what we choose to focus on. What we focus on, expands! This powerful conglomerate of neurons can either work for or against us. We get to decide. But oftentimes we get caught up in the events we are facing and default to auto-pilot, forgetting to be intentional with our focus.
When you really think about it, there isn't a whole lot that we can directly control. We can't control the weather, we can't control other people and we certainly can't control a worldwide pandemic. Quite simply, the ONLY thing we can 100% control is ourselves; our actions and attitudes. Crazy right? Don't get me wrong, we also can influence many things but that's just not the same. Our brain's default state is dwelling on the negative. If you think back to caveman days, this was pretty darn useful. We always had to be watching out for giant predators chasing after us. Today, it's not as useful. Realizing these simple but overlooked realities was a huge breakthrough that's helped me overcome quite a lot of brain funk over the years. And I need daily reminders to remember to focus on what I'm grateful for, to see the good in the world. I hope this can serve as a gentle reminder for you, too. We get to choose what we focus on. There are difficult and unfortunate realities that need to be navigated in life. But this life is precious. We have the choice to decide how we're going to live each moment.
One of the things my husband Zac and I are extremely grateful for in 2020 are all of our quarantine house projects. We moved from our 740 SF condo into our new home in February, just in time to not drive each other crazy while both working from home. If we didn’t have that extra down time at home, we would still have countless projects left to do. Exhibit A: Since May 29th, we have not done a single project. It's harvest season and the market is booming! We did not know this house was “the one” the minute we walked in; the house itself needed quite a bit of TLC. But the pond views really sold us! You know what they say in real estate right? It’s all about location, location, location - cant change that! There’s plenty of projects that we WANTED to do but there are also just as many that we still NEED to do. One of our favorite quarantine projects was creating our little backyard oasis. Now that weather is gorgeous, we love nothing more than sitting in our comfy chairs, listening to Kacey Musgraves, reflecting on the journey and all the things we're grateful for in this life. This is our happy place.

Here’s the BEFORE…

And here’s the AFTER…

The deck was looking pretty rough when we purchased our home. Originally, we planned to tear it all out and build something new. After reviewing our list of NEEDED projects, we decide to save some money. Instead, Manny (of-all-trades) and his team power washed, replaced a few boards and painted the deck a wonderful gray/white color. We LOVE how it turned out and also love how much easier it was for our pockets. So let me ask you, where’s your happy place? It could be as simple as a cozy chair in the corner of your living room or rocking chair on your front porch. Just a spot you can take a few deep breaths and practice gratitude. Always remember that what we focus on expands. :-)

Helpful links:
Conversation Patio Set: Search Facebook Marketplace and your local Nextdoor app like it’s a part-time job. Took me 2 months, and had to pounce on this set I found on Nextdoor for $400. Originally purchased from Wayfair.(https://www.wayfair.com/outdoor/pdp/ebern-designs-aavish-6-piece-rattan-sectional-seating-group-with-cushions-w003135024.html?piid=1631870982)
Frilly Umbrella: A Walmart score for $50.(https://www.walmart.com/ip/Better-Homes-Gardens-Ventura-7-5-Fringe-Push-Up-Tilt-Patio-Umbrella-with-Faux-Wood-Pole/907918893?u1=%5B%5Bat106140_a136702_m12_p12460_cUS%5D%5D&oid= 223073.1&wmlspartner=a1LgFw09t88&sourceid=26737647242352438595 &affillinktype=10&veh=aff)
Umbrella Stand: This one was a challenge. All the stores were sold out. Ended up finding this heavy duty one at Home Depot. You just purchase 4 separate concrete pavers and this sucker isn’t moving.(https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Steel-Outdoor-Patio-Umbrella-Base-in-Black-R04361-B/31017102)
Throw Pillows: Another Walmart find.
Striped Outdoor Rug:(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077FZL16W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Your to count on,
Jessica DeVries