My New Fitness Blog is LIVE (Honey We're Healthy)

Hi guys!  I'm so happy to be launching my new health and fitness blog today!  I decided to call it . . .

as a "sister" blog to this one.

Right now there are 15 posts up, including "Making Time to Workout", which includes where I fit my workouts into my week, and "Getting Started Getting Fit", which I hope will help get you out the door and get moving!  If you're already working out and need a new workout routine, check out these "3 Weight Training Routines". 

and I will continue to update the blog pretty frequently, as I have lots of ideas that I want to write about and more posts that I just need to add photos to.  

Under the Honey We're Healthy title, you can click on "About Me" "Food" "Fitness" and "Before & After" to read more about each category.  I'm really hoping to get reader submissions for the "Before & After" section- please send your story and a photo my way via (honeywerehealthyblog@gmail.com).

I'm hopeful that through the comments we can encourage each other and help answer each other's questions.  You can just hit "Reply" under a comment if you have something to add to the conversation.  I will most likely be responding more in the comments on that blog, so feel free to check back if you haven't gotten a direct email from me after leaving a comment.  

If you are interested in following Honey We're Healthy, you can click HERE or subscribe HERE.

I'd be thrilled and beyond flattered to see my cute little button on your blog! 

Thank you again so much for your support on my new venture!

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I'm very thankful to Designer Blogs for designing the site for me and for doing it so quickly!  Lindsey was great to work with, responding promptly to my emails and fixing every last detail until I was completely satisfied.  Thank you!

The final installment of the Oswald-Green debate on home-owning in The Economist

It is here.

Organized Home Link Party (Your Posts Featured)

Thank you so much for linking up in my Organized Home link party!  I so enjoyed seeing everything y'all have been up to in your homes.  Here are a few of my faves . . .  ENJOY!

Desk Organization via 20 Minute Mom

Art Closet via This Is Happiness

Playroom via New House to Home

Organized Family Shoes via 20 Minute Mom

Organized Pantry via Hi Sugarplum

Organized Makeup Brushes via Domesticability

First Aid/Medicine Organization via A Thoughtful Place

Workroom Makeover via 11 Magnolia Lane

Organized Playroom via Shortcake & Orange

Closet Organization with a Printable via The Creativity Exchange

Getting and Staying Organized via The Sunny Side Up Blog

Magnetic Makeup Board via Momnivores Dilemma

Organized Scarves and Coat Closet via Hi Sugarplum

Organized Pantry via 11 Magnolia Lane

Organized Hall Closet via Home Everyday

Organized Bathroom Cabinets via Pretty in Place

Organized Linens via Our Fifth House

Organized Drawers via Simply Organized

Kids Artwork via Life Love Larson

Coat Closet via Penny Heaven

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Updates to Our Entryway

Thank you for all the sweet and supportive comments the last couple of days regarding my upcoming venture into the health and fitness arena- I really appreciate it.  I've been writing and photographing a lot lately, and hope to have the blog live soon.  In the meantime, my house got an update to the entry way recently.  

I'd had my eye out forever for a large leaning mirror.  I wrote about it back in July 2011, when our entry looked like this (and we had no dining room drapes or rug yet)!

A leaning mirror from Restoration Hardware finally won out.  It's huge (43 inches wide x 90 inches tall).  I love the subtle curves (kind of reminds me of a headboard), natural wood, and how it opens the space and reflects the staircase from this angle. 

After living with our new rug for a few weeks, I really like it.  It shed a bit at first but seems to have stopped now.  It's the Moroccan-style Beni Ourian rug from Pottery Barn.

The smaller, rectangular mirror opposite the leaning mirror will be replaced with a piece of art, but I've just started looking and haven't found the piece yet. 

My favorite part of the entry way is the DIY LOVE art though.  Go HERE to see how I did it.  (The picture below is with our previous rug- an indoor/outdoor rug from Home Decorators).

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Also, I wanted to let you know about exciting news from one of my favorite interior design teams, Casey Grace Design.  You probably know one of the designers, Courtney, from her beautiful blog, A Thoughtful Place.  

In addition to their regular design services, Casey Grace Design is now offering two new services:  

(1) Just 4 Things- where they will recommend four items to revamp your room (perfect for when you just want to change up a few things for a whole new look); and 

(2) Spruce Our Space- where they will provide you with a virtual consultation.  You just email them some photos of your room, and within three days they will email you back with a written description of how to arrange your furniture, ways to incorporate color and pattern and suggestions on accessorizing the space with decorative items and wall art. 

Go check out Casey Grace Design- you will fall in l o v e !

The Oswald-Green Debate in the Economist: Rebuttals

Andrew says:

If high levels of home-ownership impair the efficiency of the labour market, then the costs are potentially huge. It is the job of economists to point that out.

I say:

Does home-ownership gum up labour markets? A number of papers sought to test Mr Oswald's conjecture and my takeaway is that the impact of tenure on labour markets is marginal.

[Note: as an American, I never myself would write "labour," so The Economist changed spellings to conform to their style].

I'm Starting a New Health & Fitness Blog

Hi all!  I wanted to share some exciting news with you and get your feedback.  Many of you know that I've been looking for a new job, and with this extra time on my hands I've been devoting more time to a passion of mine, health and fitness.  Even after I struggled to lose the baby weight, the emphasis on being healthy and maintaining my weight/gaining muscle remains.  It's even more important to me now because I want to pass on healthy eating habits to my son and let him become familiar with home cooking.  He certainly loves to help!

James might want you to know this is an old pic.  Paci now "lives in the bed" and is "only for sleeping." But he's cool if you still like your Paci too. 

I decided to start a separate blog on these topics so that Honey We're Home continues to be focused on creating a beautiful, well-organized and happy home and in case you have no desire to hear about food and fitness here.



I've been busy writing posts about workouts, (my routine, what works for me and what doesn't, and how I fit in into my week- even with a child and full time job), along with recipes that are healthy and taste good, including the splurges (that aren't so healthy, but a real part of how I live).  I have discovered I am kind of obsessed with food photography, so I've been experimenting more with my camera in my kitchen too.  I've got a lot to learn, but I enjoy it so much.

I also want my new blog to be a source of motivation to help get you started or keep you moving toward your own fitness goals.



I'd love to hear your thoughts, what you'd like to read about, need help with, etc.  Also, can you let me know if you workout and how often.  Do you participate in classes, run, lift weights, do yoga or  Pilates and how often?  What are your goals- maintain your weight, lose weight, gain muscle?  Are you content where you are?  Is there a fitness/food blog you like? Feel free to comment Anonymously if you prefer. 



You can also email me at:  honeywerehomeblog@gmail.com with "New Blog" in the subject line.  I want to get a sense of where we are in this journey and how I can best contribute.  Thank you so much for sharing with me.



I'm working with Designer Blogs on the website design and I'm hoping the site will be live soon!

Ed Glaeser weighs in

He advocates neutrality:

The government should neither encourage nor discourage home-ownership. Significant public interventions require evidence of significant market failure, and confidence that the costs of state action will be less than the costs of those market failures. These conditions are not met in the housing sector, whether we are contemplating pro or anti home-ownership policies. 

The case for home-ownership often begins with the view that home-owners are better citizens, who create social benefits by investing more in their communities and their governments. My work with Denise DiPasquale does find that home-owners are more likely to work to solve local problems, to vote and to know the names of local leaders. These effects reflect both home-owners' stake in their community and their tendency to live in one place longer. 

If Apple is so cool...

...why doesn't their new map ap give public transit directions?

Instagram

Yep, I've been bitten by the Instagram bug!  Have you?  I've had an account for a long time, but wasn't using it until Cassie (Hi Sugarplum) recently prompted me to join in on the fun.  I must say, I'm quite addicted and love it in a different way than Pinterest because you can see glimpses of your friends' daily lives.  It's a small (fun) way to stay connected across the miles.



Instagram not only allows you to edit your photos with really cool effects, but you can also write captions and your friends can comment.  Yeah, pretty fun if you have some time on your hands. :)

I'm @honeywerehome if you're interested in following along.   

Left to Right // Top to Bottom

1.  Cassie and me one year ago

2.  Carnations in a mason jar in my kitchen 

3.  Too hot for anything but ice cream

4.  Birthday gift for my BFF

5.  L O V E

6.  Me & James

7.  James' monthly haircut with his hottie haircutter, Andi 

8.  Paint swatch for kitchen cabinets

9.  My new toys

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Fall Bag

With the "official" start to Fall beginning on Friday, I'm ready with my new Fall Bag:)  I've been wanting one in this pattern for ages and found this beauty at DSW of all places!  It's by Elliott Luca and has a shoulder strap and double arm straps.

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Andrew Oswald and I debate the merits of homeownership in The Economist

Ryan Avent moderates:

The view of home-ownership as a pillar of economic and social welfare is deeply ingrained across much of the rich world. It seems natural to think a household that owns its home is invested in society in a way a renting family never could be. It is bound to be richer, thanks to the ability to accumulate equity. Its members are sure to take a greater interest in the health of their neighbourhood and the quality of local institutions, if only to help protect the value of their property. And because of that interest in property value, home-owners may be more politically active, to help secure sound and stable governance....

Andrew Oswald defends discouraging ownership:

Home-ownership has reached inefficiently high levels; it has become a distorting totem; modern generations have been brainwashed to believe there is something wrong with them if they rent. We do not want developing countries to mimic the West's post-war obsession with owner-occupation.

There are five reasons to discourage home-ownership. Let's call them: look at the data; efficiency of the labour market; macroeconomic stabilisation; sensible lifetime budgeting; entrepreneurial supply; the common sense of diversity...

I argue against discouraging homeownership:

The motion "Should home-ownership be discouraged?" takes a novel formulation. Generally, the question policymakers ask is whether home-ownership should be encouraged, which suggests that there are social benefits to owning a home. In this case, the affirmative position is that home-ownership should be discouraged. This implies that having people own their homes is socially costly. Thus, my task is to show that home-owning is not socially costly.

I can think of three potentially legitimate arguments for why home-owning might be socially costly; I do not think that any of them are straw men, but I also think that none of them is convincing.

Fall Decor in Our Home (Simple Updates)

Slowly but surely I've been welcoming the Fall season into our home.  One of the quickest ways to change up the decor seasonally is by switching out the pillows on the sofa.  Over the weekend, I spotted two plaid! pillow covers at Pottery Barn and brought them home.  They add the perfect cozy feeling I want for Fall with the pattern and colors (brown, tan, orange, and cream), but also have light blue, which goes great with my drapes and existing blue pillow and throw.

With the sofa properly outfitted, the rest of the house was sprinkled with Fall touches.  Don't pumpkins signify Fall?  These ceramic pumpkins from Hobby Lobby had purple stems and leaves, so I spray painted them gold.  

Before putting them on the wooden console table, I tried them out on the gold glass table. 

A gold bowl filled with pinecones, apples, and pears sits on the second shelf.

I waited for weeks to find these lanterns half off at Hobby Lobby- I just kept missing the week they were on sale.  Finally, I picked up three- two shiny silver ones, and one giant aluminum one.  

In the butler's pantry, I added my Hobby Lobby Harvest sign that I've had for years.  

                                                 Are you in the Fall decorating mode yet? 

Linking up with Sarah (Thrifty Decor Chick)