“A house is made of walls and beams, but a home is built with love and dreams” William Arthur Ward

So what is the difference between a house and a home?  If you looked up the definition, you would see how similar they are.  But when you ask people their interpretation, you quickly see there is a big difference between the two.    A house is a structure, something very concrete.  A home, however, has a much more personal meaning.  It evokes a feeling of belonging, and many times comfort and security.  While money can buy a house, it takes heart and soul to make a home.  The good part about this is heart and soul is something that every single person has.  And it doesn’t matter the size of the house, the number of people living in it or where it’s located, you can make it a home.  Many people spend so much of their lives waiting for perfect that they miss living.  Life is made up of thousands and thousands of everyday ordinary kind of days. It is in those everyday ordinary kinds of days that a house becomes a home…that heart and soul are added to the brick and mortar, and the beautiful transformation occurs.  This transformation doesn’t require large amounts of time or money, just a desire to celebrate the ordinary.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Find a space where you can have a seasonal display
• Have rituals that celebrate first… the first day of school… the first day of fall….first snow
• Burn seasonal candles
• Change your door decorations and outdoor flags monthly
• Keep fresh flowers in your home-grocery store bouquets can last a long time when you change the water daily
• Cook in season 
• Hang your sheets outside for a fresh sunshine smell
• Play music and dance
• Display pictures of family and friends throughout your home
• Start a collection or, if you already have a collection, display it in a unique way
• Buy a chalkboard and collect quotes to write on it
• Find a small Christmas tree (thrift stores are excellent sources for these) and decorate it for different holidays and seasons
• Grow herbs in pots on your kitchen window sill…and use them in cooking
• Fill your home with laughter
• Entertain often…and by entertain, I don’t mean elaborate dinner parties.  During fall and winter have a tray with assorted teas and hot chocolates…stick some slice and bake cookies in the oven, and you have a party.

As we approach this busy time of year, a time where people, time, and resources are stretched to the breaking point, slow down and savor your surroundings and take the time to create a haven for yourself and those you love.