World Wide Web of Wisdom
What good comes from social media?
Have you ever asked yourself this question when it all feels too heavy? I have. And I’ll be honest and tell you I long for the day when I log off for the very last time. However, in this season of life when I use it as a tool to stay connected with friends and family that are far away, my children’s activities, and for work, I’ve decided to be very particular about what social media I choose to consume, and I’ve found a few gems of wisdom through a curated selection of accounts I follow.
Some tidbits I’m sharing today are deep. Some are not. All have remained in my brain for consideration much longer than anything else I’ve seen on the web, and so I want to share them with you.
“It’s not about spending more, it’s about noticing more.”
In a post about romanticizing her life, specifically enjoying breakfast by molding her butter into seashells and other shapes just because it makes her happy, @iamkarimedina responds to some critical comments about her desire to use a butter mold. I love her quote above along with everything else she says in the video. If any ritual makes you happy, you should partake! Everyone should incorporate little experiences that bring life and whimsy into their days! It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to inspire the presence of your mind.
“When did we become addicted to convenience instead of connection?”
This was another profound statement that stayed with me. First in this reel, and then again in this one, JeriLynne, @the_hill_country_bon_vivant, calls out our obsession with convenience. Listen, I’m a mom of teenagers, a working mom at that. I understand and appreciate drive through windows and Amazon Prime. However, I also understand JeriLynne’s sentiment here that as a result and an over reliance on those things, we’ve lost connection with people, with food, with life. No wonder so many of us exist on autopilot. I felt so inspired after hearing this quote, that I’ve (re)made it a point—yes, I’ve done this before—to say “no” more. My goal is to not cram so much into my day; doing so creates a reliance on convenience, and I’m choosing connection over convenience.
“Store a toilet bowl brush in an inexpensive vase.”
When I saw interior designer Isabella suggest to store the toilet bowl cleaner in an inexpensive vase, I thought, wow she is really on to something. It’s aesthetically pleasing and easy to disinfect—literally just spray a disinfectant spray in the vase after using the toilet brush. Love this idea.
“Use two pretty curtain panels plus two clear liners instead of a typical shower curtain.”
Just like her suggestion above, I really love this idea for being a “prettier” option. I haven’t adopted this into my own home (yet), but I’ll post a picture when I do. I think its a much prettier way to style a bathroom. This might just be a fun project to work on next spring.
“Make your bedroom better than a luxury hotel.”
I love all the content Anni Vanderbeek shares, but have recently really loved her tips in making her bedroom even more comfortable than a hotel. What about the beautiful spa armoire that holds all her self care items? I love that she has a jewelry holder on the nightstand that doubles as decor. Or the tiny iron and ironing pad she can easily pull out while she’s getting ready if needed. I have some built in cabinets in our bathroom that I feel inspired to spruce up since watching Anni’s video; I think I can turn them into a spa armoir like her!
“Use small, interestingly shaped picture frames instead of typical rectangles.”
Okay bare with me here. I still have school-aged boys who get class pictures and sports pictures plus I have pictures taken of them every year, so I understand the need for basic sized frames such as 4”x6” and 5”x7”. But one time, Annie Meyers-Shyer of @thisoakhouse mentioned in one of her stories (that has since expired so I can’t link it) that she prefers small picture frames in interesting shapes as opposed to typical rectangular ones, and I felt intrigued. I never, repeat NEVER purchase picture frames in a shape or size other than standard, however, when @thisoakhouse gave this suggestion, it immediately made me think of all the tiny silver picture frames my mother kept on her vanity when I was growing up.
I began purchasing smaller frames in different shapes: hearts, circles, tiny squares and what I noticed is this: the uncommon size and shape accents the story told in the picture. The heart shaped frame of BP and me on the Spanish Steps in Rome, the tiny terra cotta frame of mom, Court, and me in my backyard, the miniature gold square outfitted with a bumble bee holds a picture of a college bestie and me on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. The size and shape of the frame brings a special, unspoken attention to the moment, and I love this element of non-verbal communication in our homes.
Spiritual, decor, and thrifting guidance from @willowbrookfarmlife
I randomly came across @willowbrookfarmlife when she showed up in my feed about a year ago. I had been experiencing a spiritual drout, and her infectious love for the Lord was the exact connection I was needing. In no way do I believe the algorithem that day was coincedence, but coded directly by God.
Since then I’ve loved her reels, not only about her faith—this one is so good for anyone experiencing anxiety, but also her funky decorating style, and her thrifting to styling adventures. It’s alway so good to have a loving heart show up in your feed.
“There’s something really chic about a girl with a tote and a handbag.”
You’ve heard me share this tip before in my blog post called Totes and Handbags, so you know why I love this idea. And for an extra bit of fall fun for you, I’ve updated the shopping links in this post to reflect some gorgeous fall totes and handbags!!! Have fun!
So these are a few nuggets of fun and wisdom I’ve found on social media. If you haven’t done this recently, make sure you are regulating what you’re consuming. Unfollow or “silence” anyone who brings anxiety. Limit the amount of time you spend scrolling. And if someone you follow says something that brought you some joy or peace, take a minute and let them know that what they provided benefitted your day in some way. 💜
