Emily Bode 9/15/20 Emily Bode 9/15/20

Sandy toes

May I always live in a home where there are sandy toes. Because that will mean I’ll be in a home near the water near the beach by some trail to catch a sunset.

Joel looks at houses the way I check out books from the library — hopeful each one has the potential for dreams to be realized. He sends listings to me throughout the day. Slips in a comment about a feature he knows I’ll love in between flipping Sunday eggs & diaper changes. I am half-listening while he is full dreaming. The season we’re in, I suppose.

But just like this little lodge by the lake, the one I skipped over at first drive by, I will know when my sandy toes step over the threshold.

Until then, these sandy toes like the way they feel when they touch the hardwood, the jute rug, on the way to the shower before bedtime on the first of the Autumn days.

Emily Bode 11/23/19 Emily Bode 11/23/19

Bathroom Remodel: Phase 1

Image via Sophie Carpenter

You may have seen bits & pieces of my initial thoughts to remodel our bathroom on Instagram. Since then we’ve solidified our plan a lot more. We’ve talked about remodeling our bathroom for like 3 years! When I found the image above of Sophie Carpenter’s bathroom, I knew immediately the black tile floor was that ish I was looking for. It was also one of the few photos with a small floor plan in the same layout as our bath. It made me feel like, “We can totally turn our ugly bath into something beautiful. It does exist!”

A box of mermaid matches is our inspiration. I found these in Frankfort, Michigan.

Moon Lodge Bathroom Remodel

Deadline
April 2020

Phases

Design plan
Budget & materials
Schedule installs
Final touches

Inspiration
Mermaid matchbox from Northern Michigan

Moon Lodge Bathroom Remodel, Phase 1 | Emily Bode

Phase 1: Design Plan

After a few weeks observing how we use our bathroom, taking measurements, & some initial research, the vibe has been set! The Scandinavian trend of clean lines, light elements, & minimalism is my starting point due to our small floor plan. It’s only 35 square feet (7’ L x 5’ W). I want our bath to feel warm & relaxing. It also needs to be durable — our little cottage tracks in a lot of sand, snow, dirt, bonfire smell, you name it. I focused on materials that will handle our messy lifestyle instead of trying to tame our mess.

Natural Textures

Textures like walnut, matte glaze, and seashell inspirations will mix to create warm layers. I want a walnut wall-hung cabinet with an under-mount sink. The floor tiles will be hexagon-shaped in a matte black glaze with subtle seashell influences throughout the space. Often a bath is decorated with water motifs but I want to push past that. I won’t be putting literal seashells everywhere but will focus on textural influences.

I’m surprised I’m leaning towards a traditional walnut stain vs. lighter wood tones that are popular right now. We have warmer wood floors throughout the house so the walnut will complement the rest of the house.

The hexagon floor tiles will be the star of the show and that’s the perfect amount with limited square footage.

Shower & Tub

The shower & tub take up 1/3 of the space so it’s important we update this right. We went back & forth on just doing a standing shower to create more storage space or to keep the tub. We ultimately decided to get a new tub, remove cumbersome-to-clean glass panels, and update shower fixtures. Our bigger goal is to rent out the Moon Lodge to vacationers someday. When traveling, I love the little touches of luxury that allow me to unwind & relax. So, there was our answer.

I haven’t selected shower tiles yet. I know that I don’t want white subway tiles. However, I like the simplicity of rectangular tiles placed vertically. Whatever I choose they need to be at a great price point (lot of square footage to cover) and in a warm-toned, imperfect glaze. My dream would be to have zellige tile as we saw everywhere in Morocco but it isn’t in the budget (I’m still searching for a steal!).

Delta Tub & Shower Faucet via Home Depot

Fixtures

I LOVE this champagne bronze faucet from Delta but I’m going to play it safe — & budget-friendly — with the shower & sink faucets in matte black. It also matches other finishes throughout our space. I still want brass or bronze to warm up the space though, especially with the dark floors & one window. I want the vanity light in brass or bronze, which will match our brass-rimmed light in the adjacent hallway. Love when solutions click into place like that!

Moon Lodge Bathroom Remodel, Phase 1 | Emily Bode | Image via Pinterest

Walls

We know we’re going to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls but I haven’t decided if I want wainscoting or not. Pros would be: cabin vibes big time, can make a wider ledge the length of the wall for shelf storage, & less maintenance in the long run (?). Cons: Is the space too small to fit another texture layer? At 5’ wide, the width doesn’t have much wiggle room & I wonder if it will feel too cramped. I also really want to do moody, deep green walls but. However, with dark floors, finishes, & cabinet I think it could feel too small. Or it could feel super luxurious & comfy. I’m torn! There’s time to work through this as we go.

Palette

The palette is deep greens, mint, & nude tones. I’m trying to consider how all of these elements will be throughout the seasons. My first mood board for the bath was this Summer. It was an explosion of soft, sandy neutrals. The last time I painted the bathroom was a few winters ago. I chose a light blue because of a Robert Frost book cover I loved. Basically, I change my mind a lot. So I want to make sure my decisions have longevity since this is an overhaul. Paint color is easy to change.

Sarah Sherman Samuel puts monstera plants in the bathroom because they love humidity. I love how large Monstera are & their leaf shape so I plan to squeeze one in near the chimney (yes, our chimney is in the bathroom!) or the toilet.

Next Steps

There might be a few changes from this but I’m set on direction now. We’re 25% of the way there. The floor tiles will be on order early next week. I’m going to participate in Black Friday/Cyber Monday this year to scour deals on the larger items we’ll need.

After chatting with my dad & father-in-law, we’re going to gut the room to the studs & start fresh. We have a lot of updates we’re excited to make like dimmable lights in the shower & a heater for when you step out of the shower.

My Mom & Dad remodeled their bathroom so they’re familiar with the process. My dad & I are similar in our approach to projects. We’ve started planning electrical adds, tile work, & the install schedule. My father-in-law has built houses his entire life. He helps us with a lot of projects, including this one. It’s a family affair!

I didn’t show any Before pictures this time because it’s still so early in planning but maybe I’ll do some overlays to start filling in things we know? I’ll check-in here if you have any questions. Just ask! You can also ask in the comments & I’ll respond.

I’m excited to take you with us through this process as we go – I learn so much from following renovators; all the good, bad, & ugly! Hopefully this can help or inspire you if you’re planning a small bath reno soon.

Emily Bode 3/24/19 Emily Bode 3/24/19

A Studio Refresh for Spring

A bright & feminine studio refresh for Spring | Emily Bode blog

Some of you already know about my studio refresh if you follow me here. But that part of the story doesn't do the space justice. I stepped away from my studio for a few months during the Holidays out of frustration and impatience; a clear sign that I was exhausted and needed a break. I'm not so good at knowing when I need to step away (as I sit here watching my favorite golden hour set behind me) but I'm getting better.

Since I spend so much time in my studio, it was time to give it some TLC and bring in some comforts and coziness. The quickest way to both: pillows! I read somewhere pillows are the adult's version of stuffed animals. I love pillows to bring in texture while sticking with the same color palette and just changing up the sizes with subtle patterns to blend in with solid colors.

Lately, I start my morning writing amidst all the pillows. Then I get ready for the day, check my project tracker for what to work on first, and get started on each task. Easing into the morning has been a game-changer for me – it was something never "allowed" in past office jobs so I'm grateful for the freedom to choose my schedule. Knowing your rhythm is what makes you more productive, not having a required time to start your day. I also get up a bit earlier to have more time for myself.

With each space in our cottage, I like to feel things out before committing. It drives Joel mad sometimes (like how we still don't have many pictures or prints framed on our walls after 4 years of being here) but you have to listen to what a room is telling you it needs, right? One thing was obvious, I needed a large desk. Joel installed a large butcher block slab of wood that runs the length of one wall held up by sturdy piping. Leaving it open underneath feels airier with a shelf above for storage. There's also an anti-fatigue mat hidden under the rug because I switch between standing and sitting on my captain chair (Joel's term). A little footstool adds more coziness and reminds me of the Beauty and the Beast footstool that acts like a dog.

A few baskets for loose ends and washi tape to moodboard my wall per project helps keep it organized but flexible. I used to think to be a graphic designer meant working in a blank space with cool tones, hard lines, and strictly black and white everything. But those spaces never led me to creativity. It felt impersonal, cold, and the furthest away from being able to focus. I'm happy I've finally dropped these ideas that being a graphic designer can only be done one kind of way.

I love the warm, bright, feminine tones that are in my studio now. Little butterfly placemats, a moon poster from my sister-in-law and touches of seashell-toned picture frames with photos that remind me why I do this. I think my studio will always be a work in progress, the way that an artist is always discovering new layers of the world or the world within them. See more studio inspiration and my studio wish list for spring!

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Emily Bode 2/5/19 Emily Bode 2/5/19

Matcha Latte Recipe

I'm near the end of my 3-month wellness program with a nutritionist, Diane Teall Evans. I won't go into all the details of how amazing it's been (not enough time), but I want to share how Diane completely proved me wrong. At the beginning of the Root Cause Reset program, she had me write out my goals for our time together. They were lofty and there were a lot of them. I noted that I will never get to a place where I don't need, want, or crave coffee.

And I was wrong. After a lot of hard work shifting my diet and lifestyle, taking Diane's recommendations, trying new recipes, recognizing when I'm stressed, and doing something healthy about it, I have come to a place where I wake up with energy. I no longer look for my own power at the bottom of an empty mug.

I'm not caffeine-free and probably never will be but I've found a good alternative to limit how much coffee I have in a day. During a stressful week, it's worse for me to have coffee because it heightens anxiety and cortisol levels. My focus is off and my head feels scattered. Reducing the amount of coffee I have makes me enjoy it more when I do have it. I love Diane's salted fat mocha recipe for my coffee days. On stress days (AKA deadlines, full schedule, trying to fit too much in) I make a matcha latte.

Simple & Quick Matcha Latte Recipe

Boil water
Add 1 tbsp. of matcha powder (matcha green tea latte dry mix at Trader Joe's)
Add milk of your choice (I'm loving Elmhurst oat and cashew milk lately)

Having a special mug makes it more like a treat too. My favorite mugs are my mom's, East Fork Pottery, and little delicate cute ones I find at thrift stores that speak to me.

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Emily Bode 12/20/18 Emily Bode 12/20/18

How to honor the winter solstice

The winter solstice is officially the first day of winter. There are a lot of negative connotations about this, especially in the North, because there's this impending doom mentality to know there's still probably 4 or 5 months of cold weather, dark days, and crappy drivers. But with the state of our environment, increasingly intense storms, and weather patterns my relationship to the cool and dark season is changing. Just because I haven't liked it for years, doesn't mean I want it to go away. The balance to the Earth to keep winter as it should be is something that's been on my mind more and more lately. The best, or maybe the first, we can do is be aware of moments like this. What can we do to make the most of the darkest day of the year?

3 easy ways to honor the Winter Solstice | Emily Bode blog | Wood block print by Becca Watz of Soul Sister Studio

1 | Perspective

I think to check in with our perspective helps to honor the solstice. Are you being cranky or bitter to others? Not letting others in when traffic is heavy or being a jerk in the checkout lane? Both of these I've been the victim of and have done to others already this season. A change of mindset could help. If I'm feeling this way, others probably are too. This is a human thing, not an everyone-is-out-to-get-me-kick-me-when-I'm-down thing. Or do like my mother says, "Count to 10 before responding". It might seem childish to count to yourself but being petty and cranky is childish too so which is better?

3 easy ways to honor the Winter Solstice | Emily Bode blog | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb Photography

2 | Have a ritual

I've found having a ritual or a routine helps to stay positive. Something I do every day or every week, no matter how small, that I can count on when everything else seems to be falling apart. Writing for 10 minutes with coffee and a candle to start the day or having a winter bonfire to end the week are a couple ways to soak in the darkness instead of avoiding it.

3 easy ways to honor the Winter Solstice | Emily Bode blog

3 | Work up a sweat

This is the probably the hardest but most rewarding to do during these darker days. Difficult because it's cold and the couch is calling or it's dark and...well, the couch is still calling! But working up a sweat is SO good for your immune system. It releases toxins from your body that have stagnated and gives you more energy. Just think, there's a nice hot shower at the end of it!

There are a lot of advantages to darker days. If you're a busybody, it might be difficult to slow down or sit still with your thoughts and feelings but it's so crucial to check in with yourself every once in a while. Take the time to reflect on your last year with these 3 questions from Marie Forleo in lieu of New Year's Resolutions or start a ritual with a partner or close friend to keep you going. Whatever you do, remember that the days will continue to get lighter & brighter from here on out until the Summer Solstice, literally!

Happy Winter Solstice, friends. xo, Em

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Emily Bode 9/21/18 Emily Bode 9/21/18

How To Eat Local...Without Spending Your Whole Paycheck

Written by guest contributor Jess of Poppy Rose Co.

Living consciously. Protecting our earth. Eating local. Sustainability. How many times a day do you see these words buzzing around our online and offline world? I keep coming back to these seemingly simple words; Eat Local. But how do you eat local in a climate where great produce has a minimal harvest season? How do you buy locally when building your own business and funds need to be spread around lightly? Where do you start? I am not an expert but I am a West Michigan woman passionate about food, where it comes from, and what to do with it once you have taken it home.

How to eat local without spending your whole paycheck | West Michigan Farmers Markets | Emily Bode blog | Guest post by Poppy Rose Co.

A book inspired a year-long challenge

Two years ago, my husband and I moved to the West Michigan area from Chicago. As we reacquainted ourselves with Grand Rapids/West Michigan and began building a community of friends, we quickly found ourselves repeating the same Saturday morning routine weekend after weekend. Morning coffee at home followed by a leisurely walk through the Fulton Street Farmers Market, and back home to make brunch with our findings. We continued this ritual through the fall of that first year until I read a book. Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingslover challenged the way I thought about groceries, animals, and food in general. It's a great read if you're interested in food, cooking, and local eating. Closing the final page, I was ready to overhaul the way I shopped, cooked and ate. But, this was not the first time finishing a book that I was ready to overhaul some portion of my world. So, my sweet husband listened to my passionate words about local eating, food miles, waste etc., without believing I would actually uproot our current system of eating.

The one year challenge of eating local

In the new year, I presented my challenge to him: One year of 75% local eating. One year of shopping at farm stands, farmers markets, CSA boxes, and intense cooking at home. One year of truly making due with what we had in the pantry (DISCLAIMER: This did not include dining out, but we did try to mostly dine at local restaurants supporting local farmers).

Challenge ground rules:

Maintain current grocery budget.
Weekly farmers market trips and a weekly stop at a local farm store (West Michigan friends, we went to Rakowski Family Farm Market).
Menu planning once the produce & meat is purchased.
Minimal grocery store runs for necessities like baking supplies, olives oils, and vinegars.

75/25 local eating ratio

The other 25% was budgeted for non-local purchases to cover spirits not made in Michigan, tropical fruits like oranges and bananas, nuts, and the occasional box of Cheez-Its. To make this challenge harder, we counted produce grown locally but sold in the supermarket as part of our 25% – the goal was to purchase directly from local farmers.

A word of caution if you want to start a similar challenge: Do not begin this journey in January, especially without preparation. Starting in January meant living on root vegetables, apples, and the occasional green lettuce grown from Michigan food goddesses that used a greenhouse all winter long (THANK YOU). We had not prepared by canning tomatoes and summer fruits or frozen some of the early fall bounties. So, we had to be savvy with our 25% to make sure fruit and hearty greens were in our diet. We were committed, despite the lack of color on our plates, and we ate well with creative minded menu planning. We found vendors that pickled or canned products to keep us out of the potato rut & were resourceful with our 25%.Let me tell you when I knew the first asparagus would arrive at the market I was there at 7:30 am and walked away with 10 lbs. Yes, 10 lbs. of asparagus for two people. And it was heaven. If you ever need an asparagus recipe, come this way, I think we tried them all. As spring evolved into summer, we were overjoyed with new tastes and smells at the market. Our garden was planted and harvested, and we prepared for our remaining non-peak harvesting months.

Biggest takeaway? How wonderful it was to really think about what we ate.

Yes, some days I wanted to scream when I went to the market and literally bought the same beets and turnips as last week. Or cry when I drove across town and arrived at the farm store on a Monday to stock up knowing full well they rest on Mondays. There is such ease unrealized in driving to a supermarket and buying whatever you need. Some days I missed that ease but the lessons we learned committing to local eating were well worth the occasional hiccup.

4 Tips for Eating Local During Harvest Season

Find a nearby farm stand, store, or market
Farmers markets guarantee local fare and are a great way to meet others in your community doing the same thing. Plus, regularly visiting the market will allow you to be more in tune with what is in season and when. Typically, food purchased in-season is less expensive. Many grocery chains post sales on in-season items and locally grown produce if you can't make the market.
Discover your passion point.
Do you want to eat all local fruits and vegetables? Do you eat meat, but are passionate about the way animals are raised? Have you been thinking of signing up for a dairy CSA? Money is an important factor and we cannot always afford everything. Decide what you feel most passionately about sustaining and go with it! We ate very plant-based meals with occasional meat entrees thanks to my 'everything, all or nothing' personality.
Know your farmers
They are amazing, helpful, funny, and smart. During our year of local eating, we met various vendors at the market. We asked how produce and animals were grown/raised. We shared about our year challenge and they, in turn, shared their hard work. If met with blank stares or someone who was not interested in answering our questions on their growing practices, we would politely move on to the next booth (this was rare). I cannot tell you the amount I learned from the farmers growing and caring for our food. A few things they taught me to stretch my dollar:
- Spoiled milk can be used for making yogurt & the best ricotta During the first six months of the challenge, we often over-purchased milk. When sharing my woes of spoiled milk, I learned how to make my own yogurt before it went bad. Also how to use slightly spoiled milk to make the creamiest, most delicious ricotta I have ever tasted. AND IT WAS NOT HARD. All of this taught by the lovely woman who runs the Rakowski Family Farm Store.
- 6-minute lamb chops We bought lamb from S&S Lamb and learned to grill tiny chops three minutes per side on high heat to make the most delectable lollipop of lamb ever tasted.
- Endless ways to use root vegetables in the dead of winter In the rut of a root vegetable depression, I was given more ways then I could imagine to use potatoes, carrots and celery root from Visser Farms. Depression over.
Remember why you're eating local
You clicked through to this article because eating local is important to you. Our family continues to focus on local eating. While we do not chart our purchases anymore, we still primarily buy local whenever we can. Over our year challenge, we learned how to meal plan and that fridge-dive meals can be the most fun. Cooking was an essential part of eating local, but cooking did not need to be complicated.

Picnic dinners became our favorite – a plate of steamed or roasted veggies alongside locally made cheese and breads with Traverse City wines was always the perfect end to a busy day. We learned to be comfortable shopping in a farmer’s market and treasured the excitement that came from seeing the first asparagus or rhubarb after a long winter. Mostly, we learned how to appreciate and care for the tiny space of the world we choose to call home.

Resources from this article:

Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingslover
Rakowski Family Farm Store
Fulton Street Farmers Market
S&S Lamb Visser Farms

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Emily Bode 8/17/18 Emily Bode 8/17/18

Urban to Rural: Back to the Moon Lodge

After talking to a few people this week about what I've been up to lately, I realize I never mentioned we've moved back to our cottage near the lake! It's been a whirlwind of a summer. When I talk to different clients and blogger friends, most are like, "Oh! You're not in town anymore?" Nope, we moved back to our house, lovingly called the Moon Lodge.

Why we moved back to the lake

We kept finding ourselves in the city escaping to a body of water. We grabbed dinner and drinks at Rose's on Reeds Lake a lot last summer. We laughed about moving to the city just to do what we did back home; spend time together by the lake.

During more stressful times at work and with my sick cat, Belle, I would drive out of town to an old farmhouse and dream about starting a family, having chickens and bees, and sitting on the front porch with Joel listening to the cicadas sing in the open space. I found myself escaping the city more than staying in it.

From Joel's rational and pragmatic perspective, it was a financial loss to have an expensive place in the city we were never at. He was right. Don't get me wrong, we had an amazing time in the city. We were more accessible to meet up with friends after work. It was easier to be part of a community of blogger ladies and attend events with them. I'm so happy to have met women in similar walks of life with blogging and owning a business. The city led me to my tribe and allowed me to be present for friendships to grow that I can't always do when I'm at the lake.

Joel and I had a fun city routine and Tiger got a lot of walks to Wilcox Park. We don't regret our year in the city AT ALL but ultimately, the beach was calling...and we had to go.

When we decided to make the change

Quite simply, we love the lake life, in all her seasons. There were so many times last year we craved the water. We went on a vacation to Florida a few months before our lease on the apartment was up. We needed to make a decision if we'd stay or go.

Traveling brought us clarity and a fresh perspective at a time we needed to figure out our next move. We didn't put pressure on ourselves to have an answer by the end of the trip but talked about the topic a lot. It was ironic that our vacation was in Ft. Myers Beach. We were surrounded by water again.

We stayed in a one-room cabin on the bay, waking up to dolphins and the marina out our window each morning. Each night we'd watch the sunset over the bay after biking to the beaches. Our answer kept showing itself every time we did something.

By the time we landed in Michigan in time for New Year's Eve, we agreed the lake was where both of our hearts really were.

What we gained from our year in the city

It would be have been easier, and definitely cheaper, to ignore the idea of moving to the city. There were many logistics to consider and financial preparation to make it possible. However, it was good timing for Joel and me in our new marriage with our steady careers. It also worked for my brother and his friend who rented our house for the year. We would have always wondered "what if?" if we didn't just go for it.

We learned a lot about each other through it all. Joel needs at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to wind down after work. I need uninterrupted Netflix and wine when I shut down work for the day. Some things challenged us immensely, like finances, schedules, and my aversion to committing to ANYTHING. It required we become better communicators with each other and helped us to empathize with one another on how we view money and what motivates us.

What's next...

So what's next? Well, we both agree we want to own a boat soon! There's a lot of things to fix, organize, and update now that we've moved back. We've been reminded of the woes and wonders of homeownership and we're trying to respond accordingly with as little blaming each other as possible. It's tempting on days when the kitchen sink keeps leaking and the front yard keeps sprouting weeds and the lawnmowers broke...again...to say we made a mistake moving to the city. To think we should have stayed home, ignoring the call for an adventure.

But then we take to the tree-lined trail with a happy Tiger. We turn the corner and see the lake, smell the fresh air. The gratitude we feel and the new perspective we have of an old familiar place.

Home.

It was all worth it.

Emily Bode 5/31/18 Emily Bode 5/31/18

Urban to Rural: The Things We Keep

I almost put on our wedding invitations – No plastic, please.

If you were to visit our home you wouldn't find Tupperware in the cupboards. Unless Joel snuck it in. Or it held a treat from a gracious friend and will be returned to them soon. Most didn't end up getting us plastic items after all. They know me well, for that I'm grateful. Plastic is inevitable but I do what I can. During our continued Spring cleaning Joel has said this on repeat: Don't throw this out, I'm still using it. On a scale of 1 to Irrational, I'm an impatient 9 when it comes to organizing the Moon Lodge.

Through all the box-digging I've wondered, Why do we keep the things we keep?

I'm just shuffling things from one room to the next in hopes the piles will become smaller and smaller – making space. It's tempting to box it all up & donate. Out of sight, out of mind. Then I find a box I forgot about. It's holding an old WNBA Shock jersey, CDs from my 90's childhood, a vintage butterfly box, an olive green fork, boat tickets to Beaver Island.

Why do we keep the things we keep?

In all the minimalism are memories being forgotten? Might there be a space where both can be kept? Yes, & it looks like my Grandma's cabin blanket at the end of our bed. A walking stick from a trip to Lake Superior with my Dad next to a dish holding my sage from Kate on the credenza we built last May. A mermaid, like my Mother's, nearby.

There are piles and they're getting to me (my drive for clarity is a curse). But they are piles that surround me with memories & moments from the ones I love & who love me back. That will always be worth keeping. Off to put a fresh coat of paint on the studio/guest room before my parents arrive for a weekend visit. May we take care of our people like we take care of our piles, friends.

Follow me on Instagram to see what else I've been up to lately! xo, Em

Emily Bode 5/20/18 Emily Bode 5/20/18

Observations as of late

“The heart can think of no devotion, greater than being shore to the ocean, holding the curve of one position, counting endless repetition.”

— Devotion by Robert Frost

When the water is like glass on the surface, there is most often a quiet rumbling down below. When it arises, it will be powerful. Verbalizing what you need is not needy. Your partner, friend, parent, co-worker will most likely thank you for clearing that up for them.

Most anxieties dissolve the moment I'm by the water with a good book in hand. Don't underestimate the sexiness of a man who does laundry after constructing a wall before making dinner but only once the lawn has been mowed. Joel, you are a dream. You amaze me every day.

There is a time for rest. There is a time for restlessness.

It is beneficial to know which one of those you are feeling and honor accordingly.

Happy Sunday, friends. May the week be nourishing & gentle to you. xo, Em

Emily Bode 5/1/18 Emily Bode 5/1/18

The Time We Give

I woke up to the sound of thunder & rain today. The storm after a long, silent winter. The one that reminds you are, in fact, alive & it's going to be okay. Snuggled in a bit deeper, to let that really sink in.

And then: a book on the couch with my first cup of coffee. I have had to gently nudge myself to give TIME to me at the start of each day. Not a luxury, a necessity. Why is it we are always the first to go when the schedule gets full? The last on the list. Are we not the most valuable person in our own life? Are we not the sole being we are with second to second? To think we are not, to treat ourselves as if we are not, is a bit nonsensical, yes?

And so: a book on the couch with my first cup of coffee. Surrounded by words and letters, prints and frames. I suppose the thing I needed so badly showed itself to me...in time.

Hoping the same for you. xo, Em

Emily Bode 4/2/18 Emily Bode 4/2/18

Urban to Rural: Spring Cleaning

"Spring cleaning is not a metaphor, my dear."

I woke up to this text from my mom this morning. As I sit here drinking my first cup in our old house that is again, our new house, it's the message I needed to hear. Joel and I moved BACK to our little Moon Lodge by the lake last weekend. A back story: last Spring we moved to a one-bedroom apartment in Grand Rapids for one year simply because we wanted to try it. After college, each of us considered moving to a larger city like Chicago or Grand Rapids. Soon after we got married something inside us felt the need to try it out. We just couldn't stop wondering where that path might take us so we headed East for a year.

That path brought us right back to our two-bedroom cottage on the lakeshore one year later. Neither of us regrets our time in the city. It brought so much growth to each of us. And definitely in our Marriage the way we treat each other in moments of transition or change.

So here I am in the now clean kitchen after organizing a dozen of boxes and bags getting ready for a new day in an old place that feels like a new place. I can't quite describe how odd the feeling is but I think my mom's text about spring cleaning says it perfectly. What is so hard and so beautiful about the Spring is it's a season of buds growing and waking up from the dark, cold Winter. I'm cleaning out these little crevices in our cupboards as if our year in the city almost didn't happen. Even though these cupboards and these rooms are the same, I can feel inside that I am not, and it's so reenergizing.

It's a fresh start.

We have a lot of plans for this little cottage of ours now. How we want to update it and have it better reflect who we are and the lake life we love. I rarely talk interiors here and I'm not sure if I will. But between our move and a large project I'm working on maybe, I'll share more on that topic.

Now I'm off to work on that large project I mentioned for the day and to organize and clean the living room tonight. Sometimes the only constant is change, my friends. May we soak it up as gracefully as we can.

Follow me on Instagram to see what else I've been up to lately! xo, Em

Emily Bode 1/6/18 Emily Bode 1/6/18

Local Spotlight: Boxed by Bare

As I snuggle up with my handmade mug watching the snow falling outside I'm excited to share a new local business I love with you, Boxed By Bare. Jamie and Riley are the sister duo behind thoughtfully curated gift boxes of handmade goods, like the Baby It's Cold Outside Box. They're based near the lakeshore in Zeeland, Michigan.

Local Spotlight: Boxed by Bare

One of my favorite things to do when meeting founders of locally-owned businesses is to learn why they started and their inspirations and dreams as they build their businesses. Read on for my conversation with Jamie and Riley about why they started Boxed by Bare and how they're supporting local artisans and crafters:

What’s the story behind your name?

Bare: plain, simple, essential, fundamental. We wanted to create gift boxes that use simple products that are functional and useful but also fun giving. We look for products that are very natural looking in both color and material.

Why did you start Boxed by Bare? What inspired you?

We have very different personalities but both had the desire to start our own business. When we first talked about starting one we knew that we had to take the adventure together. We both love giving and finding that “perfect gift” but we bring two sides to the business. Jamie is the creative one, the one that packages the gifts, making sure the products sourced work well together and create an “experience” for the person opening the gift. Riley has a very minimalist view. She doesn’t like clutter or extra “stuff” laying around the house. She’s great at sourcing products that will be useful for the person receiving the gift. We tossed around a few angles for the company but we always came back to the same main goal: support handmade, small businesses, and local when possible.

“We always came back to the same main goal: support handmade, small businesses, and local when possible.”

— Jamie & Riley

What's one of your biggest challenges as a business owner and how do you overcome it?

Time. We struggle to balance our day-to-day jobs, family, and life. We make it work by finding pockets of free time in the day and cold calling each other.

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

— Mother Teresa

What’s your favorite Bare box for the season?

That’s hard. I really like the consumable boxes (All You Knead Is Love, When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip, and Soup For The Soul). The hot cocoa box (Baby It's Cold Outside) is Riley’s favorite – it is such a comforting box and is fun to give...who doesn’t love mallows?!

What types of goods do you source?

Almost all of our products are handmade by small businesses. We really appreciate the love that artists put into their products and we want to support that and share their talents with others. We look for mostly simple, natural-looking products that are timeless and functional. You’ll see a lot of wood, ceramics, linen, and neutral colors. We also love the idea of consumable gifts. How many times have you received a gift that just sits in a drawer or is tucked away in a closet for years? We want to avoid gifting products that are just “cute”. When we include something in the box we really believe that it will be useful.

Drinking hot cocoa from my Christi Ahee mug that comes in the Baby It's Cold Outside Box
Local Spotlight: Boxed by Bare gift boxes | Brave Girl Design + Blog

Who is one person you admire?

Our Dad. He works harder than anyone we know. He taught us to wake up early and start our day. Even though we live in different states, we are usually the first people that we talk to in the morning.

*Oh, and a little inside scoop on the hot cocoa box...the Good Stuff Cacao raw and organic dark chocolate is the best chocolate I've ever tasted and the North Mallow marshmallows are such a fun garnish for hot cocoa (I also add a dash of nutmeg). They're better-for-you sweet treats without all the bad-for-you stuff (ie: artificial flavoring and chemical preservatives). Such a great box for a midwinter pick-me-up for yourself or to gift to others.

Find Jamie & Riley – and their gorgeous hand-dyed ribbon! – on Instagram and shop their gift boxes (here).

Emily Bode 10/21/17 Emily Bode 10/21/17

Rural to Urban: What we like and what we don't

It's been six months since moving from a small lake town to a more urban area in an apartment in Grand Rapids. We're about halfway through our year-long visit and we've been learning a lot about ourselves, each other, and what we like and don't like about living in the city.

Urban life: Likes

1 | Convenience

Everything I need is within walking distance. Whether it's groceries, going to the farmer's market, walking Tiger in the park, the coffee shop to plug in and work, our favorite brewery, or getting my yoga in – it's all right here and opens during realistic hours (vs. everything closing at 7pm on the lakeshore or closed for the winter). It's a homebody's haven because you don't really have to go anywhere.

2 | Connection

Meeting up with friends more often has been easier because it doesn't take planning a week ahead and the long commute to make it happen. I feel way more connected and like I've found my tribe of freelancers and creatives to hang out with. It's energizing and uplifting, to say the least!

3 | Kitchen

I like knowing I only have 3 bowls to store leftovers – small, medium, large. We've removed or replaced a lot of plastic items and because we have fewer items there isn't a bunch of mismatched tops to bowls taking up space (a big pet peeve of mine). I like the "one of everything" rule that the size of our apartment keeps us to.

Urban life: Dislikes

1 | Small space

I thought I could do it, you guys. I thought I could live a minimal lifestyle with a small footprint. While I like being intentional by room, like the kitchen, I'm not enjoying it from a home standpoint. My studio has gone from a spare bedroom to the leftover cabinet in the kitchen. I also like decorating seasonally and it's limiting to do in a space where I fear putting a nail in the wall. I prefer OPEN SPACE, and so do Joel and Tiger.

2 | No house projects

It's been good for my design business that I dedicate more time to work but it's limiting Joel and me with house projects we like to do. We enjoy dreaming about the next project to build, make, and fix. I grew up in old houses with little quirks and personalities and Joel comes from a long lineage of builders. It's in our blood to create resourcefully but this place is already done (not that we don't think it's beautiful, because it is). I don't know how many times we've looked at each other on a weekend, sitting on the couch, and asked, "now what?"

3 | Noise

The noise outside makes it so that the windows are closed. And the windows being closed creates stagnant air. I hear sirens multiple times a day and every time I say a prayer for the people they're rushing to. I'm praying a lot. And I don't think the tenants above us are aware we can hear their every move. Especially at midnight. While I'm happy they lead a healthy sex life, I'm not happy for me who is trying to fall asleep.

What's next for us?

We're still not sure. We've reflected on a few options but are really just doing our best to keep the faith that "what's next" will present itself when the time is right (and praying time will be right before our lease is up). Otherwise, we may be forced into a different direction. Equally encouraging, I suppose. Until then, we're hopping around to our favorite breweries like Harmony Brewing and Brewery Vivant, discovering hiking trails north of town, and balancing this season of work with things like yoga, disc golfing, and walking Tiger so he doesn't give us a 'tude.

Now I want to hear about you...what do you like and dislike about the place you live?

Emily Bode 10/18/17 Emily Bode 10/18/17

Ordinary Dreams

"You guys, doesn't that look like Terrance's mom?!" he asked mid-catch.

"Hey guys, doesn't that look like our teacher?!" he repeated.

It took me a moment to realize one of the boys playing football across the street was talking about me. School-aged kids with their outdoor voices after being inside all day, unaware their subject is within earshot.

I was on a walk with Tiger enjoying an afternoon of crisp air, sunshine, and fall colors. I acted as if I couldn't hear them but as I walked the next block ahead it hit me; I'm the age of those boys' mothers and teachers.

Once I got over my surprise at that reality (didn't I just leave home for college?), I liked his vision. A student of mine recognizing me walking my dog in the neighborhood after school. A young child seeing his friend's mother in me.

A reminder that ordinary days to one are dreams to another.

Emily Bode 7/5/17 Emily Bode 7/5/17

Rural to Urban: A moving update & where we are

An update on moving from rural to urban life and how we're transitioning in Grand Rapids, Michigan. #becomingthebodes

It's been 3 months since moving from our first house in a rural lake neighborhood to a one-bedroom apartment in the city. Like most transitions, it's been messy, overwhelming, and not easy. Of course, we could've made it easier on ourselves. We didn't need to have the new Moon Lodge renters move in the same day we were moving out. Or schedule an afternoon flight to Texas for a week-long vacation the same day. Definitely didn't need to do ALL OF THAT at once, ha. But we did do it that way and survived with minor injury.

I want to share with you why we moved, how we prepared for it, and what's next for us.

Why did we move?

We moved from our cozy cottage to a bustling city to see if we could do it, quite simply. I considered moving to Chicago after college. Joel's often entertained the idea of city living. After we got married last fall, I thought it might mean we'd be settling into one kind of life and I didn't like the feeling we'd never try something we've always wanted to (why I attached that to marriage, I don't know. Always been a thing). Joel responded to my concern with a, "Let's do it" and so here we are in Grand Rapids.

Of course, it wasn't that simple. We prepared for a year to transition to this new lifestyle. Everything didn't go the way we thought it would. We learned a lot about faith, hope, and flexibility because of it though.

How did we prepare?

We started by listening to each other's differing concerns. We lived in a small lake town for 4 years before moving so there was a lot to dig through. I was most concerned with how our fur babies, Tiger and Belle, might handle the transition with a smaller place and no yard. Joel was concerned with the long-term financial aspect of moving to an expensive city and the challenges that might bring.

Our concerns led us to solutions; We'll walk Tiger each morning and night and stop by during lunch. We'll be able to keep a closer eye on Belle with her age-related health issues. I set up our budget with the Everydollar app so we can track our expenses and "move" our money into new pockets easily. We knew the gas & oil budget would decrease and the restaurants & entertainment budget would increase in the city. I honestly enjoy this kind of organization, haha, and it allowed us to see this just might work. Asking ourselves these kinds of questions let us see this move could be a reality.

From there, we started looking for a place to live. We found a brand new, 700 sq. ft., one-bedroom apartment in the city and chose our move-in date (this is where faith and gratitude came in!). We set it for a couple of months later and got to work finding renters. Renters we trusted were found soon after (more faith and gratitude!) and we became landlords as well as renters in the city within the same month. I thought renting out the Moon Lodge would make it so we had one less thing to worry about. I quickly discovered it's another responsibility altogether. However, we're good with it. It's allowing the lodge to be a new experience for our renters as we have a new experience with apartment living. Win-win.

I had to become unattached to material things in order to go from a 1,000 sq. ft. cottage with a basement and yard to a 700 sq. ft. apartment with 2 closets and a balcony. We donated most unused items to Goodwill, gave some away to family and friends, and sold valuable items we couldn't take with us. There was clarity and freedom to all the purging and one of my favorite results from the move.

We have 8 drinking glasses, 6 coffee mugs, and 4 bowls now. Joel has 112 clothing items and I have 120, including bags, shoes, and accessories. I haven't felt the need for more since we've been here.

What's next for us?

It's difficult to say. Both of us have never felt more uncertain in our lives and I think that's the hardest part. Not that the move prompted all this uncertainty. We were uncertain already. Moving to the city is a way we're trying to find the answer.

One of our favorite ways to discover things about ourselves and the world is traveling. I like to think of our new city life as a little pit stop on our travels. We essentially are in an Airbnb for one year, now what will we make of it?

So far, we've discovered new restaurants and cafes. This one and this one being our favorites. I've found a guacamole and margarita combo that alone could convince me to stay here longer. We've walked at least 100 times already to a beautiful park around the corner from us. Tiger's practically a celebrity there. Joel has a favorite running route around a nearby lake and brewery. He continues to discover new corners of this city for us to explore. We do this thing where we drink wine and watch Netflix almost every night as the sunsets. Not our lake routine, but a routine in togetherness I enjoy for the time being.

I've opened the digital doors to Brave Girl Designs, my shop with courage-based art prints for purchase. I would've never had the courage to sell prints had we not moved here. Being immersed in an inspiring creative community with kind people has made all the difference. There's an openness to collaborate instead of competing that's hard to find on the outskirts. I don't know if we'll be here forever, but we are here for now.

For that, I'm grateful. xx, EM

Answer one of these questions in the comments below:

Do you have any tips for living in the city with pets?
If you could move anywhere, where would it be?
What's your dream vacation?

Our couple photos courtesy of Sincerely Ashley

Emily Bode 3/25/17 Emily Bode 3/25/17

Moon Lodge Goodbyes, A Moving Announcement

It was a warm August night. I was coming from a meditation session at the little beach down the road from our place in the woods.

We pulled up to a quaint house in a quaint neighborhood. The kind of neighborhood where lazy lawnmowers run before the week begins. Where you can smell the fresh-cut grass as the sun sets and the fireflies light up — the epitome of a rural American summer.

Two bedrooms, one bath. Two blocks away from the beach, one block from the trail.

I stepped over the threshold of the front door and knew this was the place we were meant to live. Wood floors, kitchen nook, backyard with a bonfire pit.

Before we had degrees we sketched out our dream world. It involved a home with a heart in the gable and a lake behind us. We didn't think that sketch would come to life one year later but it did. In hindsight, of course, it did. We worked our asses off for it. We compromised a lot for it. And we fought like hell to be here. Homeowners.

We've lived in the Moon Lodge for about 3 years. It's brought us comfort, safety, and community. I haven't felt this way since my childhood. Joel & I created this together, our little cottage by the lake. Birthday parties, engagements, holidays. The Moon Lodge held us through these moments. Disagreements, doubts, and exhaustion. The Moon Lodge held us through these too. Maybe a little extra.

But then, we started to wriggle from her grasp.

The commute too long.
The winter too cold.
The home too...not us anymore.

We're leaving the Moon Lodge next month. On to a new adventure. The very things we fight for are the same things we grow away from. The time has come to grow. We're moving away from the place that held us through our first years. This next month I'll be full of nostalgia and reflection. It'll be hard to say goodbye to our neighbors, our friends, and the community we've been part of yet we're excited about this new adventure.

The Moon Lodge is not a physical place, it is within us. Housed in this life we've created together.

Shop our home as we downsize | Brave Girl blog

There's a lot we've collected along the way that we're ready to part with. For a local listing of what we're selling, head here and have a piece of the Moon Lodge as part of your home.

Photos by Leigh Ann Cobb Photography

Emily Bode 10/27/16 Emily Bode 10/27/16

Fall Style: Moon Lodge Edition

Since we moved to the Moon Lodge 2 years ago, I've slowly been adding touches to our little home by the lake and slowly discovering my style along the way. This season it's been fun adding some items to make our home cozy, moody, and a little spooky!

Last week I started filling out the mantle in our living room with some leftover tchotchkes from our wedding, a book from our honeymoon, and a birch tree branch for a natural element. But something was missing.

Thanks to you guys, I added a candle (black birch scent, perfect!), a skull to complement the taller height of its crow counterpart, moss to fill in the empty spaces, and a black garland for an added layer above the buffalo plaid. Oh & a "B" tin letter to honor our new family name.

I think it's a million times better, what do you think?!

I filled in the rest of the mantle with pumpkins, gourds, and my favorite candlesticks that I use every season in different ways. I kept the tallest candlestick to the right of everything because Joel hates when they block the TV, especially on Sundays. I have no idea why, ha!

One of the biggest things I've learned about my style is how much I love texture and mixing them in unlikely combinations. It needs to be soft, durable, and usually has a natural-looking aspect to it. Buffalo plaid has become my favorite secondary texture, instantly making any space feel like a cottage. I added muted oranges with notes of moss green and black to have that moody and cozy fall feel.

In preparation for Halloween weekend, I added paper bats on a blank wall in our kitchen and put a fun bat curtain up in our living room. I'm not much of a fake insects kind of girl so skulls, bats, and pumpkins are as spooky as I get. I freshened up our doors with some moss-like wreaths and surprise, more buffalo plaid!

We're celebrating Halloween with my family this weekend which was a great excuse to have our house ready for a laidback celebration with cider, costumes, and hopefully a bonfire in the backyard! I have a fun DIY napkin idea for the stew/chili cookoff my parents have challenged each other to (score for being the host, woo!). I'll be sure to share if they turn out!

I think what I'm happiest about with the fall style at our Moon Lodge is that it's decorated for a holiday and can span the entire season with the textures and hues by simply removing the bats and skulls and replacing them with more browns and golds and softer textures as we near Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. I'm excited to reuse and rearrange for the winter.

The temperatures are getting cooler and I want the Moon Lodge to be the warm place we can come home and unwind in. Happy Friday, friends! May your weekend be wonderfully spooky, Em

You can see more day-to-day style vignettes throughout our Moon Lodge at #bravegirlstyles

Emily Bode 10/19/16 Emily Bode 10/19/16

Time & Empathy

Last Sunday I was dead set on cleaning our yard for fall. With the past year being everything about our wedding, it was refreshing to focus on the leaf piles, trimming the bushes, picking up soggy pumpkins.

Soggy pumpkins: compost pile.
Leaf piles: fire pit.

Branches from spring, a lone leaf bag that hasn't moved for months, and beer boxes from summer nights also went into the fire. Like a period at the end of the sentence that makes room for the next thought to solidify, this Sunday bonfire was releasing the past to make room for us and our new dreams.

It was clarity, and it was cleansing.

Then Monday rolled around. Joel and I came home to our birch tree in the front yard cut into tiny pieces, detached from the stump that used to hold it all together. Its branches protected this little Moon Lodge for the last two years, always welcoming us back home after a long day. Now the spot where it stood tall is barren. Empty. Exposed.

I look out the back window and see some of the remnants from our poor birch in a huge pile near our fire pit and think, how funny life is. You cleanse, you find clarity, and the next moment you're wondering how to save your world from destruction. How to clean up the mess without being wasteful. How to get rid of your piles in a conscious way. The only constant I have found in this cycle of clarity and chaos?

Time. Empathy.

Fortunately, you all responded to save our fallen birch after I sent out this PSA.

Some of the uses so far:

decor for a first-born's nursery
fireplace decoration
centerpieces for a work holiday party

Woohoo! Thank you for saving our birch and letting her live on for your special events and homes.

Emily Bode 8/6/16 Emily Bode 8/6/16

Washed Away

We had a slow Sunday. Slept in, eventually found the coffee.

We took up the same space but held it differently. It was midday when we discovered a few inches of water covering our basement floor. Clothes and cardboard drowned in last night's storms. In a moment, we held a different space in the same way; strained, frustrated, action-mode. This wasn't the "getting on the water as soon as we can" we had planned for today. But the Universe showed up – or rather demanded we pay attention – forcing us to look at our life. All that we have, how easily it can be swept away in the darkness of night while we sleep.

We made the best of the clean-up, smiled at each other in between dragging wet piles of carpet up the stairs and drying cement floors.

This is our mess, let's tackle it together.

As the fan whirred and the last of the carpet sat in a defeated pile on the lawn, I looked out from our stoop as a heap of exhaustion and thought, "Thank you for saving what we need and clearing out what we don't."

Emily Bode 3/31/15 Emily Bode 3/31/15

Home

Home is something I've been trying to recreate ever since I left my parents' house 5 years ago. All my college apartments didn't cut it, as hard as I tried. The rental Joel & I lived in for a year almost felt like home but then we moved as soon as the furniture was placed "just so" & the backyard maples became something I could count on. I'm hopeful our house will become our home in time. It's silly to expect anything else because as thrilling as a new place is, as exhilarating as being on an adventure to unknown land is, it isn't home.

Home is soft moments.
Home is the way the light sits right before dusk.
Home is the smell of bonfire on your clothes.
Home is the way the wood floor creaks as you dance around the room.
Home is the closest of souls housed in sturdy walls.

Staying soft, Em

Week 11/52 of the #52handlettered project with Miranti Kayess (formerly Pen & Peplum)