Growing up, the thought of having children was something that I truly never questioned. I was baby obsessed from day one and longed to be a mother from very early on. My childhood drawings often depicted toddlers waddling around, sweet happy family homes with little ones aplenty. And I did my best to convince my cousins and friends to play dolls and house with me until I was far older than I’d like to admit. For the majority of my life, I pictured myself with no less than four babies of my own. And the moment I found out I was pregnant (here, if you’d like) I felt as if my deepest desires and greatest wishes had been granted.

So when my daughter’s second birthday rolled around and the urge to procreate once more was still absolutely non-existent, it threw me into a bit of an identity crisis of sorts. The thought of being responsible for yet another life – a second child – felt literally impossible. I was, admittedly, still not sleeping for longer than three hour stretches at a time* – something that has since been resolved, but definitely not forgotten. And for a really long time I convinced myself that maybe we were just one and done.

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It took me months to come to the realization that the two (ish) age gap between children was a concept that had been entirely societally projected onto me. And that maybe, just maybe I wasn’t completely done, I just wasn’t ready for a second child yet. The relief that washed over me when I decided to undo everything that I had been pre-programmed to believe was immense. To allow myself the gift of daydreaming about what life could look like with a four year age gap, a six year age gap, and heck, even a ten year age gap instantly felt so much better on so many levels.

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It seems silly now in retrospect, but it truly never really occurred to me that we could talk about having another when my daughter is ten, if we’d like. And that there would be pros and cons to any and every age gap.

Though we still don’t know if a second child is for us – there is so much to be said for having just one and doing a really phenomenal job… I feel so much peace from taking the pressure off of this arbitrary timeline I didn’t even realize I was holding onto. I love the idea of simply seeing how things unfold.

All that said, one thing that I do find helpful is to picture our distant future. How many people do I see sitting around our Christmas dinner table? The reality is that the baby years are so short and fleeting, so to make a permanent decision based on a couple of potential hard years is something to be considered. After all, we will know our children as adults for far longer than we’ll ever know them as children (both heartbreaking and relieving all in the same breath.)

When I last casually mentioned a few of my thoughts and fears on Instagram stories a few months ago, I was inundated with people who were in the same boat. So if you, too, find yourself on the fence, I encourage you to do some digging. Try to figure out what’s yours, and what’s not. And give yourself some time and space to simply not have the final answer at this very moment. The not knowing isn’t particularly easy for me, but I will tell you it’s a whole lot more peaceful.

*My daughter, bless her soul, was a really terrible sleeper – she never got out of the newborn phase, waking just about every 2-3 hours every night until just after her second birthday. It was rough. But we made it and live to tell the tale!

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Design & Photo: Amber Interiors

SHOP THE BEST GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS:

In light of full discretion, I had this post all lined up to go live in celebration of Earth Day, and then COVID hit our home and completely knocked us out for a solid two weeks. Our entire lives were put on the backburner as we slept and Netflix’d our way through it. Now that we’re on the other side of it, my desire to deep clean and reset our house is in complete overdrive, so it does feel particularly fitting to be sharing this round up of Lark & Linen approved green cleaning products today.

Making the switch from toxic cleaning products to those of the cleaner variety was a move I made years ago in an attempt to heal my anxiety (you can read more about that here if you’d like), and it’s one I can’t recommend highly enough. They have come so far in recent years that it doesn’t feel like we’re making any sacrifices whatsoever. We’ve found some incredible green cleaning products during our healing journey, and I thought I’d share a few of them with you today. 

1. Walnut scrubber sponges | 2. Laundry detergent | 3. Pet stain remover

4. Sink scrub | 5. Toilet bowl cleaner | 6. Dishwasher pods

7. All purpose cleaner | 8. Laundry essentials kit | 9. Dishwashing soap

10. Tub & tile cleaner | 11. Floor cleaner | 12. Recycled trash bags

13. Baby stain remover | 14. Coconut scrubber sponges | 15. Magic sponge cloth

If you’re looking to make the switch to green cleaning products yourself, but feel overwhelmed by the process or worry about the waste (hi, guilty!), I recommend replacing things as you use them up. Run out of dish soap? Purchase a green one to replace it!  

Lastly, if you’re looking to clean up your beauty routine, I’ve shared a lot of my favourites here (the post is three years old and I still use 99% of the items listed).

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The post Lark & Linen Approved Green Cleaning Products appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.

Have you ever wondered how you can update your home for free? I mean, I’m of the firm belief that our homes are meant to be loved. And while investing in your home is never a bad idea, I completely understand that a large scale renovation or a living room re-do isn’t always in the cards. But that doesn’t mean that your home shouldn’t bring you joy. So if you’re feeling like your space needs a little more life, but you aren’t interested in dipping into your savings account, here are four things you can do today to help you fall back in love with your home. For free. 

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Shopping my home is is something I do often, and it’s amazing how it instantly makes a room feel brand new. It’s easy to fall into the habit of not noticing the beautiful things that already surround us, or feeling tired of seeing the same piece in the same spot year after year. Rotating pillows or moving art from room to room, for example, is a great way to instantly breathe new life into both the space and the item. It’s an activity that allows you to update your home for free, and I highly recommend trying it. 

TOSS EVERYTHING THAT DOESN’T BRING JOY:

I’ve definitely suggested regularly purging our belongings a number of times, but I will never not bring it up any chance I get, that’s how profoundly I believe in it. Take it from a former sentimental hoarder. Selling, donating, or tossing items that no longer light you up is the absolute quickest way to make a space (and you, for that matter) feel like a million bucks. You can read more about why this works in this post here. 

UPDATE YOUR HOME FOR FREE BY ORGANIZING:

Similarly, organizing and taking care of the pieces that you do love – ensuring that every last item has a happy home, feels equally amazing. 

REARRANGE THE FURNITURE: 

And lastly, re-arranging your existing furniture is a great way to update your home for free, with arguably the most impact. Instead of starting from scratch, challenge yourself to see if certain pieces can meet your needs elsewhere in the room or in your home. It’s something I used to do tirelessly as a child, and I loved how my bedroom regularly felt brand new with nothing but a little elbow grease (I also used to rotate our dining room and living room furniture, just for fun. Yes, my mother was a saint and I’m forever grateful for her allowing me the freedom to execute all my childhood design ideas). 

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1: Marie Flanigan Interiors | 2: Ashley Montgomery Design | 3: Marie Flanigan Interiors | 4: Marie Flanigan Interiors | 5: Shoppe Amber Interiors

The post 4 Things You Can Do to Fall Back in Love with Your Home appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.

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It’s in and around this time each year that I really start itching to spring clean our home. And while that typically means flipping mattresses and hosing down screens (so satisfying!) this year I’m looking to step my game up even further. As I continue on my healing journey, I’ve found myself deep diving into all things energetic, and what I’ve started to notice has been illuminating, to say the least. There is still so much for me to learn on this front, but so far I’ve happily landed in a place that combines quantum physics, feng shui, and spirituality. It’s something I’d love to expand on even further if it’s of interest but for now if you, too, want to increase your rooms vibration, here are a few great ways to do it…  

 OPT FOR NATURAL MATERIALS: 

It’s no secret that objects hold energies. Each one of us, and every thing that we surround ourselves with is, in fact, energy – it’s a scientific truth. But I recently learned that not every object holds the same energetic frequency. Research has shown that natural materials vibrate at a higher frequency than those of their synthetic counterparts, and by a significant margin too. Since making this discovery I’ve been making more conscious purchases for everything that I bring into mine (and my clients’) homes. From my new cotton tea towel, to the alpaca sweater that I’ve yet to remove, it’s a small change that I’m convinced will have a long lasting impact. 

SKIP SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES:

This one was devastating for me as I love scented candles. But not only are synthetic fragrances endocrine disruptors (meaning they can wreak havoc on your hormones), but they also emit scary chemicals that are definitely not filled with “good vibes only”. Instead, switch them out for soy based candles that are scented with natural oils and have cotton wicks (my husband bought this one for me for Christmas and it’s my favourite find so far). 

ADD PLANTS:

Not only do plants look great by instantly adding life to a space, but said life also helps increase your rooms vibration by a significant amount. The fact that they help filter the air certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s no secret that I love when form meets function, and this is a perfect example. (Note: I have read that faux plants don’t increase your rooms vibration quite as much as the real deal but they do help. Dried flowers on the other hand are rumoured to have the opposite effect).  

DECLUTTER: 

Think of it this way: that vase that you’re holding onto only because your great aunt gifted it to you is taking up your energy. It’s something you have to store, something you have to clean, it’s something that takes up your valuable time in minuscule increments. Lovingly donating (or selling!) it not only frees up that energy, but it also creates space for bigger better things to arrive. Walking into a room filled with things that truly bring you joy is the greatest way to increase your rooms vibration. 

CLEANSE YOUR SPACE WITH SAGE OR PALO SANTO: 

I was gifted some palo santo a few years back and it quickly became a regular tool in my arsenal. It’s not something I would have originally thought to pick up for myself, but cleansing our home with a smoke offering is a practice that I’ve come to cherish. I often use it before I meditate and there is a marked difference when I’m through. Something I’ve recently learned, however, is that you must leave a door or window open during the process so that the negative energies have a place to escape. 

There you have it. Five easy ways to increase your rooms vibration. I’m curious, is this something that you do as well? Do you have any other practices you use? It’s something I’m becoming increasingly more interested in and I’d love to hear about it. 

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1: This is Glamorous | 2: Moore House Design | 3: After Noah | 4: Amber Interiors | 5: Amber Interiors | 6: bkindcity 

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