Book Review: Homemaking (1)

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 The Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful

By: Myquillyn Smith

Recommend or not, to whom, for what reason:

Yes. Every woman creating a beautiful home, yes. Myquillyn challenges perceptions of what it means to make a beautiful home, and what it means to have a home, and every woman living in real life needs the insights of this book. 

3 Things of Interest:

1   1. This book is full of beautiful quotes and pictures, all of which are taken in her real-life, imperfect home which will never be "finished" as she challenges the idea that we will ever be done creating a beautiful home. It is a process of a life time. Life changes and needs of life change so the function and flow of our homes need to change with us.

2   2. "I've given up trying to control our circumstances and instead am determined to create a home wherever we are. And that's made all the difference." This quote from chapter 1 has explained my exact feelings over the past 5 years. I have observed when we surrender to the things which we truly don't have control over, and engage in the things which we truly do have control over we become effective and powerful in our own lives.

     3. "It's easy to make decisions based on what others will think, settling for the appearances of perfection instead of authenticity. But is that really how we want to live? Just keeping appearances?" It a world where every blog, every social media account, ever stranger is projecting how we aught to be living, trying to follow and do all the things suggested is exhausting. Not only are these modes of living a perfect life directly contradictory to one another, they don't get down to the heart of the matter. The heart of the matter is you are a unique and special individual human being, with your own contribution to make, and as we are all seeking to live a true life it is SUPPOSED to look a little different from person to person. YOU are supposed to have space in your home. Not the person you thing you should be, but the person you are and the one you are hoping to become. Not by mortal measurements, but measurements of the heart.

3 points of disagreement:

1. This is wonderful. The areas in which I disagree are completely based in personal preference and nothing more. Specifics of decorating. For example, I don't like the idea of painting real wood. I will paint particle board all day long, but solid wood I prefer to sand, stain and sometimes even leave raw for the "real feel" of the material. I also highly agree that when you have a piece of furniture it is intended to support you in your space. Finding ways it can support your purposes in your home is a great thing. So there you have it. The one thing I disagree about I also agree with.

1.    None.

1 Take-away or application:

Make my dwelling place a home. Do it now. Don't wait for the perfect house, perfect space, perfect carpet color. There are things I can do now it my right now real life to create a beautiful home for my family.

Is this a classic for the personal library?

          No... I'm so happy to have read it, and will likely read it again. I have limited space on           my shelf. It was a beautiful book to read, and I will probably read it again when I'm              needing encouragement in creating my home.

Unfiltered notes:

All my notes were quotes from the book, either the authors personal quotes or quotes she shared from other famous figures. I took them all on paper with pen, and I don't want to type them ;) So I'm not going to.

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