Before I get into my tips for creating a space for yourself,  I want to start this post by saying that I am overwhelmed with the response to my previous #mg post “Should we name the babies we will never hold?” I appreciate everyones comments and thank you for opening up and sharing your stories with me. As I mentioned last week I will be putting together a tribute post to our babies that are no longer with us, I will be including the names of the babies that you have shared. If you would like to be a part of this tribute please message me either in my comment section below, tweet me @macglanville or email me at mac@reflectionsfromme.com. If you do not want a name mentioned, but would like your baby acknowledged feel free to message me and I will include them as angel, or snowflake. I am touched by peoples caring responses, saddened by how many people who have suffered such a loss, and in awe of peoples strength and courage. I plan on publishing the tribute at the end of January so there is plenty of time to message me.

I thank you again for trusting me with your stories.

Now on to this weeks post 

This past week I was thinking a lot about the importance of making space for ourselves. As you may, or may not know, we sold our house a couple of months ago and once the settlement took place we moved in with family as we eagerly await the build of our new home to be completed. (We have been informed this will be late March, so fingers crossed). We are extremely fortunate to be able to stay with family and also lucky that we get along so well. But one thing I really miss is having a space that is mine.

In our old home I finally had the chance to create a space that was I guess my equivalent to a ‘man cave’, a ‘woman cave’ or whatever you wish to call it, it was my bedroom. OK it was technically mine and my hubby’s, but I called it mine as I was the one who decorated it to my taste. He had his office, and his big TV in the living room, I had the bedroom. When I was stressed, overwhelmed or just needed a mental time out, I could retreat to my space where I had my favourite blogging/reading chair, my comfy bed and gorgeous candles, wall prints, books, lotions and my gratitude journal. This was ‘my space‘ and it was a space that kept me mentally healthy.

Where we are staying is a beautiful home, with vast gardens, a veranda with sweeping views, and it is a lovely decorated country home. But at the end of the day it is not my own space. I sleep in a room on a bed that is not my own, with a bedspread that is not my own, and I share the room with my husband’s office. I can barely squeeze past his oversized office chair to get to my side of the bed. Now I don’t want to sound ungrateful, like I said this is a gorgeous and welcoming home, but I am craving my own space.

I find myself daydreaming about decorating my new home, where will things go? The colour scheme, the new lounge suite I want to buy and of course wishing I had a larger budget to play with (insert me laughing here). I dream about putting my candles around the house and putting my motivational quotes back on my walls. It’s the little things I long for most of all, those little personal touches that make a house a home. Like family photos and my hubby’s beautiful prints. Check him out @photoglanville.

I think it is important that we all create a space like this for ourselves. Our first home as a family was very small and our bedroom was filled with toys and our baby bassinet. It is easy to turn our bedrooms into a store room when our houses are not huge, but by going through a lot of things and only keeping what is necessary (and I mean REALLY necessary) we can create a more calming environment.

I have learnt over the years that I am someone who needs my own space, even just an hour every now and then all to myself in order to clear my mind and re-focus on life. And having a space that is calming and beautiful is really important to me, it truly affects how I feel and makes me a more positive person. Here a few tips to creating a beautiful and personal space.

  • find a room, or even a space within a room that you can call your own.
  • think about the colour scheme of this space. Are you soothed by white or pale blues or are you someone who prefers to be energised by bright colours? Don’t ask for anyones opinion as this colour needs to make you feel good.
  • I prefer to keep the walls neutral and add colours to calm or invigorate by using cushions, wall art, or candles.
  • Head to a book store and invest in some beautiful books. These can be novels, or books on a favourite hobby like crafts, interior design or photography. Place these in your space to entice you to relax and inspire you to be active in following your passions.
  • A comfortable chair or bed are a must! Add that extra welcoming feel to your chair or bed by adding a luscious throw rug, fluffy pillow or a gorgeous cushion.
  • I love to pop some inspirational quotes into my space. Little reminders to make me stay on track with positive thinking.
  • Make the space smell lovely by using a diffuser in the room, or some room spray. Candles are a lovely way to create a smell you love and a ambiance to the room, but always be careful and safe when using them.
  • If you can afford it, invest in one luxury item, something special that brings that sense of opulence to your space. This can be anything from beautiful stationary, a gorgeous piece of art, a cushion, or some lovely hand lotion.
  • Declutter this space, don’t allow it to become a space where the kids leave their toys, make it yours and they will soon learn to know this is your space.
  • Be you, relax and breathe, this is your space.

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Thanks for joining me, love Mackenzie xx2015-01-12_17-32-00

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Again if you would like to be included in my tribute to our lost babies, this includes miscarriages, stillbirth or the passing of a child, please leave me a message and let me know. The tribute will be put together late January 2016. Thank you xx

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