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For some time now, I've been wanting to change what I've had on my wall in my living space. Not because I didn't like it, but because I've had it for quite some time and I was looking for a change. I have vaulting ceilings in my living space, so finding a wall hanging, piece of art was always a challenge because it had to be big enough to fill the space. So my first idea was to paint a circle.. I loved this! That bright, bold pop of color was perfect in this space. Over time, it has seem many different pieces of art and wall hangings that adorned the center. I then decided to go green. Now you know I have a love for green, so this was the perfect change I felt this space needed to include this massive seagrass wall hanging. I've had the circle on my wall for about 3 years and I knew it was time for a change. Enter into the conversation Milton & King. You know, the wonderful folks that have amazing wallpaper and you saw the wonderful wallpaper print that I put on my ceiling in my laundry room. Well, they also have murals and with their help, I decided to use one of their murals to create a large scale piece of art that is by far the best thing I could have ever put on my walls. Let me show you my process. It was quite simple actually. All I needed was to prime my wall space and because Milton and Kings murals are numbered, we just went down the line and attached them to the wall. Milton and King 's wallpaper are paste to wall wallpaper and they recommend you use the brand of adhesive from Roman. You also need a scraper,brush or wallpaper roller to smooth out bubbles and sharp utility knife to cut off any excess. I chose the wall Mural called "Werrgaji" Werrgalji, meaning ‘green’ in Kija language, is a tribute to the expansive rainforests of our tropics – an entrancing world that prioritises balance. It pays homage to all living things and the sophisticated ecosystems which they inhabit, while highlighting the significance of self-care and finding peace amongst the busyness of everyday life. Designed by Kija Bardi artist Kamilya Lowana-White. I knew that this print was meant to be in my home! I had to sand the area smooth and then applied 2 coats of primer for maximum adhesion. Then we measured the space to make sure it was centered with our couch. We applied the adhesive to the wall, and then attached each one as numbered on the panel. I then cut off the excess and added a wood stained frame to complete the look. That was it! This took one weekend to complete and I couldn't be happier with the results. Let me know in the comments below what you think and thanks again to Milton and King for providing such a beautiful wallpaper mural. Until Next Time,

The time has come! I'm glad that I made it to the finish line. This was a labor of love for me and my husband(Lord knows I could've done it without him!) and I'm so thankful for the cheers and encouragement along the way from each and every one of you. 8 weeks of the door being off the hinges, 8 weeks of constant painting and sourcing all came down to this- amoody eclectic laundry room and i now enjoy being in. Hell, I don't even mind washing clothes anymore! Lol! Anyways, I'm not going to bore you with a bunch of words- I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves and list all the major sources below. First, a real quick look at the before... The Before A very unorganized space with bland colors and no imagination. After priming everything, we started with a clean slate. I decided to go bold and I color saturated the entire room and brought it to life. I hope you enjoyed my journey and I really hope I inspired you to be your own 'designer' in your home. The most important thing when decorating your home is that you love it and you're proud of the work you did. As always, many thanks to the ORC for hosting this challenge and for Apartment Therapy for being the best sponsor EVER! I really hope you take the time to look at all of the other participants who participated in this challenge as well over on the blog. There's some great designs over there and you will be inspired to change your home, one room at a time. SOURCES Wallpaper- Milton & King (gifted) Wall Color- Custom blend from Glidden Wainscoting- Ornamental Products (gifted) Fabric- Spoonflower (gifted) Lighting- Mitzi Artwork- Society 6 Rug- Rugs USA Door Pulls- Amazon Cabinets and wood- Home Depot Baskets- Amazon Roman Shade- Amazon

We are at the finish line. Technically, I'm finished- I just need a few little decor pieces and I'm all set. This blog post is a bit different than the others. I've been thinking a lot lately about how I show up on this blog and on social media as a whole. I'm a lot of things to a lot of people on here- a diy'er, plant expert and fashion influencer. The one thing I struggle with is designer. Some people( interior designers) will tell you if you don't have a degree in interior design or have clients, then you shouldn't call yourself a designer. So basically, you're telling people who have a passion for design but may not have the education, that they can't call themselves that. Or because you've never had a client that you were able to design their space, you shouldn't call yourself a designer. I think that's when people start having imposter syndrome. They truly have a passion for something- do it extremely well, but feel less than because they don't feel worthy of the title based on what the world says. Here's what I say about that- DO YOU BOO. I could care less if you call yourself a designer. If you came up with an idea, put the plan in motion and created a room that truly makes you happy, then that's really all that matters. I'm a designer- I design and curate spaces in my home for the world to see and be inspired by. My goal is to not only challenge myself, but to create beautiful spaces that my family can love and enjoy. It's not easy, but what challenge is?? I think we can all learn for each other and gain knowledge that can be a benefit to others. For those participating in the One Room Challenge- YOU ARE DESIGNERS. What we've accomplished in 7 weeks is amazing, and considering that a lot of them have never designed a space in 8 weeks is a massive feat that is worthy of applause. Next week is the final reveal and I can't wait to show all the hard work we did to bring this beautiful moody laundry room to life. Am I a designer- yes I am. I design spaces in my home for my family to enjoy and for you to be inspired by. Take bits and pieces of what I did and make them your own. Create magic and create wonderful spaces in your home on your own terms. Like I said in Week 1, the ORC was created to support and encourage people to push forward with a project they've been wanting to do in their home. Big or small, all of the spaces you've seen over on the blog is the cumulative thoughts and ideas from some very talented individuals who worked really hard to design a space of their dreams. I look forward to seeing everyone's reveals next week, and I hope you enjoy mine as well. Until Next Time,

Welp, we are on the down side of the One Room Challenge. Painting is complete, cabinets and wallpaper are installed and we completely finished installing the roman shade and door handles. Light fixture is hung and the laundry basket is installed under the table. We are now down to our final build- putting up the floating shelves and hanging the artwork. The final week will be my favorite part- styling. It's like adding a cherry on the top of a beautiful cake. So for your enjoyment, here are some progress shots of the space in the event you aren't following me on Instagram. I hope you've been following all the other participants progress as well. They're doing some amazing work and you can see all their weekly progress here. Thanks again to the ORC and Apartment Therapy for hosting and sponsoring such a great event! Until Next Time,

~ This blog post contains sponsored/gifts products. To read more about my privacy & disclosure policies, click here. It took a minute for the ball to start rolling, but we finally managed to get some real progress done in our laundry room for the ORC. This past weekend, we were doing all the things- remember my last blog talked about putting up wallpaper on the ceiling ( I did it! It was really hard and you can see my progress on my Instagram page in my highlight bubble here under ORC Spring 24) and then we also decided to tackle the wainscoting. Let me tell you about the company Ornamental Decorative Millwork (a Novo Building Products Company) In 1926, The Canadian Amplifier Company was founded in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, manufacturing horns for radios and gramophones. A second company, Ornamental Decorative Millwork and Carving Company Limited, was started in the mid 1930's producing embossed and carved wood mouldings and ornaments—primarily for the Canadian furniture trade. Over time the Waterloo plant evolved into Ornamental Decorative Millwork, a manufacturer of decorative wood mouldings and accessories for the building trade. Today Ornamental Decorative Millwork is A Division Of Novo Building Products that has a manufacturing facility located in Archdale, North Carolina, USA. Ornamental’s products are sold through fine building materials retailers worldwide. Now that you know the history of the company, I decided to use one of their wainscoting kits to make my walls come alive. Their kits are really to install and come with detailed instructions. I chose the Kessler kit. It's a solid white hardwood and comes in different sizes. I chose the 36'" to accomodate my walls. I decided to add the wainscoting to the focal wall of the laundry room because that's what you'll see the most. We did have some left over, so I used the remainder to finish up the side next to the washing machine. One of the main cuts we had to make was the opening for the outlet. I was surprised that we got it right on the first try and we didn't waste any boards. Next came the assembly. We first added the base board and nailed it into the studs on the wall. Then we added each board, first adding an adhesive and then nailing it to the wall. Then finally adding the top pieces using the same technique. There you have it! It really was very easy to install- We did have to purchase some additional trim at the bottom due to our floor tile being cut too short and it left a gap. Also, any gaps we saw, we filled them with a paintable caulk. Next up is painting the entire room( to include the wainscoting) so everything gets a good sanding, filling in holes and primer. We are almost at the finish line and what's next is the hanging of cabinets and floating shelves. As always, you can check the progress of all the other participant here and make sure to show them some love! Until Next Time,

This week, I decided to talk about the walls for my laundry room makeover. I've been going round and round trying to come to a decision about the wall color choice to go with this fabulous wallpaper and I think I've come to a decision. But first, let's talk about this wallpaper. *This blog post contains gifted/ sponsored content. To read more about my disclosure and privacy policy, click here I am fortunate enough to work with an amazing wallpaper company, Milton & King. Milton & King started in 2008 and is the shared passion of brothers Richard and Bryce. Milton & King is a humble family business blindly dedicated to the evolution of the wallpaper and fabric industry. Milton & King is a lifestyle brand that produces on demand, on trend, highly curated and globally designed products. Their products uses an array of one-of-kind techniques and are manufactured with absolute precision and care. Delivered worldwide, quickly and efficiently makes for complete satisfaction for each and every client which their main priority. My design for this space is to hang this wallpaper called Gardenia on the ceiling. Yes, you heard it right, on the ceiling. A big undertaking for sure and I definitely need the help of my husband, but thank goodness it's only a small space so I think we can knock it out in one afternoon. Products also needed- wallpaper adhesive and a wallpaper seam roller. Also, you could use a large paint brush or roller to apply the adhesive to the wall (we're opting for the roller) For those that know me well, know that I'm such a fan of Behr Paint. I would say they're on about 95% of my walls in my home and I just love the large array of colors and paint finishes they offer. I went with the color Tournament Field because I felt it complimented the wallpaper to a T. Adding to the walls will be some wonderful artwork from Society 6. They always have a wonderful assortment of art to choose from and I feel that these two will compliment the space nicely. That's it for this week- Stay tuned as I tackle adding some wainscoting and cabinets to the walls. That should be interesting! (fingers crossed!) Thanks again to the ORC and Apartment Therapy (official sponsor)for making this challenge such a supportive space. You can also check out what everyone else is up to over on the blog. Until Next Time,

This week is all about doing the smaller projects because the bigger projects require additional help. So sewing is on the menu this week and I must say, it's my least favorite thing to do. I have always been very crafty- I can do just about anything artistic, but sewing??? That gene kinda skipped over me. Now I say all that because my mother was a talented seamstress. During the 70s, my mom made outfits for my sisters and I and she even had her little side business called Bags & Totes in which she made monogrammed tote bags and garment carriers. I remember watching her in awe, thinking how talented she was to create outfits that we could wear and bags for people to enjoy. So as I got older, my thought was, how hard could it be??? She did it, so can I! Well, I didn't get it and sewing is not my strong suit. I know how to FAKE sew- you know, using fabric tape or glue adhesive, but sewing in a straight line??? Forget it!! I'm determined to make this work because I have a vision for this laundry room ORC and I'm going to see it through. *This post contains items that are gifted and/or sponsored. To read about my disclosure and privacy policies, click here The Before This is what I'm envisioning. Underneath my table is storage and a place to hide a hamper. Awesome but an eyesore. So the remedy is to cover it with a "Table Skirt" to give it a bit of an upgrade. I chose an amazing fabric called Belgian Linen from Spoonflower and let me tell you all about it. 100% Belgian Linen™ features the finest flax in the world, grown ecologically in the Flanders region and woven by Libeco™, which has set the highest standards for textiles since 1858. This medium-weight linen fabric showcases lustrous color over the beautifully textured surface. Stronger than cotton and naturally hypoallergenic, Belgian Linen™ will soften with everyday use and is a top-of-the-line offering for decorators and makers interested in unmatched elegance on upholstery, bags and home decor. I chose the design Whistler's Nocturne~ Southhampton by the artist Peacoquette Designs. It is vibrant and the green variations are gorgeous. I also love this unique pop of color making it look like a blood orange moon. Spoonflower is unique in itself because it gives so many talented designers and artists the opportunity to shine and get their work out there for all to enjoy. Here's the part I'm dreading- the sewing and of course, I ran into some issues. The fabric itself was very easy to work with. Belgian Linen is very sturdy and no need to iron hems before sewing. All you have to do is fold it over and press down and it creates a threadless hem. I measured the width and height of the space and gave myself few inches over to give it that ruched up effect. My sewing machine isn't the greatest and it tried to give me some trouble, but I managed to make it through and here's the final result- After I loved how this turned out! Of course it needs some steaming, but I love the color and pattern. I'll add some decorative pieces to this area, like some baskets at the bottom and some organizational elements, but you'll have to wait until the end of the 8 weeks to see that! Next week, wallpaper!(Hopefully!) Thanks again to Spoonflower for this amazing fabric and of course to the One Room Challenge team and Apartmenttherapy (Official Sponsor) Also, if you haven't checked out the weekly progress from all the participants, you can find them all here. Until Next Time,

Ok, for those of you who have never seen the process of the ORC, let me just say that there maybe some weeks that are strictly worker bee weeks. I mean like, deep in the trenches of primer and paint, or knee deep in laying some tile. Now I won't be laying tile (Thank God!) , but I will be painting. And I mean, A LOT! This is a small laundry room, but of course I'm going to be difficult and not move out my washer and dryer or the massive table. So that means I need to be creative and damn near a contortionist to prime and paint all the wall, including the ceiling. But first, let's tackle the textured ceiling.... So, I searched YouTube University(lol!) to figure out how to smooth out my textured ceiling without having to sand it or skim coat it. I'm really not trying to add extra steps or make things harder for me, so I found a video that showed someone removing a popcorn ceiling by doing this method, and I thought, "Why not??" I took my spray bottle and filled it with warm water and went section by section, spraying then scraping with a wide steel blade taping knife. I can't believe how easy it was! It came off so smooth and it took me about an hour to complete. I wiped off any extra residue and it was off to the next step- Priming! This took me the longest to complete because remember, I did not take out my washer and dryer nor did I take out this huge table. So working around them were a bit of a challenge, but I managed to get it all done, including the ceiling. I even managed to not have any dripping or spilling if you can believe that! So now that that is complete, we can start on the actual paint color and wallpaper, but you have to see that next week! You can always follow me in real time by watching my stories on Instagram and make sure to like and comment below. I know I maybe a little late in responding to your messages, but I DO respond and it means so much to me that you take the time to send me a message. Thanks again to the ORC and make sure you check out all the other participants here. Until Next Time,

It's that time of the year. The One Room Challenge Spring 2024 is on and I'm very excited to be participating again. My last ORC was the Spring of '22 and I worked on my outdoor space. I so wish I could show you the work I did, but sadly, I lost all of my blog post due to changing my blog host and forgetting to save everything before I deleted the previous server. In any event, this challenge is going to be the best on yet as I tackle my junky laundry room. First, let me give you a brief insight about what the One Room Challenge is. Back in 2011, Linda Weinstein decided to gather a small group of online friends to hold each other accountable while working on one room in their home. It turned into a large online community that showcases the progress of renovating one room in each participant's home without competition, but encouragement and motivation to complete it in 8 weeks. I'm going to need all the encouragement I can get so let me show you a few before pictures.. Before Ok, here's a look of how it looks currently. I love my washer and dryer and my table that my husband made, so those things will be staying. The other stuff all needs to go!! The Inspiration This laundry room is going to be SO good!!! Beautiful wallpaper, a new light fixture and rug, cabinets and floating shelves, and wainscoting on the wall. I may add a few more things (if time allows!) but overall, I'm loving this vibe. I hope you follow along with my along with the other participants and check out my sponsor list below to see how wonderful they are in helping me to create my dream laundry room- NOVO Building Products, Milton & King and Spoonflower. Thanks again to the ORC for putting together an amazing online event! Next up, working on preparing the walls and getting the ceiling ready for wallpaper- YIKES!!! Until Next Time,

Houseplants bring life and vibrancy to a home, and sometimes you gave a desire to bring more of them into your space but you don’t want to pay for them. I’m guilty of this,so I always know that I can propagate my plant to create new ones to add to my collection. Fortunately, there are several simple and effective methods for propagating houseplants, each with its own advantages and ideal scenarios. Let’s explore three common methods: stem cutting, division, and leaf cutting. ~ This blog may or may not use affiliate links: See my disclosure here Stem cutting is one of the most popular and straightforward methods of propagating houseplants. This method involves taking a healthy stem cutting from a mature plant and encouraging it to root in a new container. To propagate using stem cutting, begin by selecting a healthy stem with at least two nodes. Nodes are the points on a stem where leaves or branches emerge. Using a clean, sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears, make a clean cut just below a node, ensuring that the cutting is around 4-6 inches long. Remove any leaves from the lower portion of the cutting to prevent rotting. Dip the cut end of the stem into rooting hormone to promote root development, then plant the cutting in water with a small amount of plant food. I use the liquid plant food from the brand Happy Happy Houseplant because it's mild enough to use at each watering or you can place it directly into a well-draining potting mix. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide indirect sunlight to encourage root growth. Within a few weeks to a couple of months, roots should begin to form, and the cutting can be transplanted into a larger container. Save 10% off plant food using code 'MOCHAGIRLPLACE' at checkout. Division is another effective method for propagating houseplants, particularly those with clumping or spreading growth habits, such as ferns, spider plants, and peace lilies. This method involves separating a mature plant into smaller sections, each of which can grow into a new individual plant. To propagate by division, carefully remove the plant from its pot and gently shake off excess soil to expose the root system. Use a clean, sharp knife or gardening tool to divide the plant into sections, ensuring that each section has its own roots and at least one healthy shoot or growth point. Plant each divided section into its own pot filled with fresh potting mix, and water thoroughly. Place the newly divided plants in a location with indirect light and maintain consistent moisture until they become established. Division is a great way to rejuvenate overcrowded plants and create multiple specimens from a single parent plant. Leaf cutting is a propagation method commonly used for plants with fleshy leaves, such as succulents and certain tropical houseplants like African violets. This method involves removing individual leaves from a mature plant and coaxing them to produce new roots and shoots. To propagate by leaf cutting, gently twist or cut a healthy leaf from the parent plant, ensuring that the cut is clean and the leaf is intact. Allow the leaf cutting to callus over for a day or two to prevent rotting, then place it on top of a shallow tray or pot filled with well-draining soil or propagation mix. Mist the soil lightly to keep it moist, but be careful not to overwater, as excessive moisture can cause rot. Place the tray or pot in a warm, bright location with indirect sunlight, and within a few weeks, tiny roots should begin to form at the base of the leaf cutting. Once roots are established, new shoots will emerge, and the leaf cutting can be planted in its own pot to continue growing into a new plant. So, don’t be afraid of propagating your plants. You aren’t causing any harm to your mother plants, and it’s a rewarding and cost-effective way to expand your indoor garden and share your love of plants with others. Whether you prefer stem cutting, division, or leaf cutting, each method offers a unique approach to creating new plants from existing ones. By experimenting with these propagation techniques, you can enjoy the satisfaction of watching your houseplant collection grow and thrive. Until Next Time,

This blog is a bit different than most of the blogs I do. No DIYs, no room rearranging or plant talks. It's just me- I'm Tracey, the woman who likes to keep things simple and who likes to make things plain with some humor and class along the way. My life has been a series of "What am I doing???" and "Where am I going??" situations that usually led me in a circle of confusion when it came to what I wanted to do with my life. I've always had dreams- I got married to the love of my life, had 3 beautiful children and was a stay at home mom for the majority of it. However, being Ellis Hunter's daughter, I always had a strong desire to own my own business. My dad was a businessman through and through. I grew up seeing him working tirelessly on creating his own computer analyst company from the ground up. Being a black man in the 70s accomplishing this was definitely commendable and it showed me that anything was possible with hard work and a strong determination to create a space for a black man to flourish. So, getting to the title of this blog- Why I decided to become a content creator. I really had to have a conversation with myself. Why DID I decide to become one? Was it for the money? The exposure?? I suppose if I were honest, the answer would be somewhat. I've had several businesses over the years from making my own soap to organizing people spaces to having my own jewelry line and the one thing that I kept coming back to in my head is that I love being around people. I enjoy connecting with them on a intimate level. I enjoy the conversations and the engagement I get with people whom I truly feel have MY best interest at heart. These engagements that I have when I'm showing you a how-to or some kind of plant tip, really make me feel special. Working with brands are unique in that you tend to work with a third party that represents the brand. Sometimes you have general conversations about what is required for the collaboration, but then there are those other times in which you can build a relationship with a company and have those meaningful conversations and interactions. Those are the ones I truly enjoy the most. "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." ~Maya Angelou In the end, I became a content creator because of YOU. I enjoy watching you step out of your box to try and do something you've never done before all because you saw me try it. Most of the time I'm not sure if it'll turn out, but you are there cheering me on, while in your mind you're thinking can I do this too. Brands who see me and see those interactions are the ones I want to work with the most. They see and understand my engagement with you and are wanting to bank on me to showcase their product. Is this an easy field to be in- NO!! You are on most of the time and you're constantly working hard to get those brands to notice you. So will I tell you it's a profitable business?? It can be, but with a lot of work and patience. I would be lying to you if I said that anyone can do it. It's not for those who hate to be in front of the camera, who hate being vulnerable for the world to see and making most of your life public. The entertainer in me makes it fun (it's still hard though!) and I don't shy away from talking in front of a camera. I grew up singing in front of large crowds to singing in front of congregations to stadiums singing the National Anthem. Was it scary- You bet! Did I do it anyways- of course I did! I think that's what makes a good content creator. You never know what works. You just put yourself out there and be honest with who you are as a person and people will love and accept you for who you are and what you stand for. I stand for kindness and honesty. I create space for anyone who wants a seat at my table. So Until Next Time,

Well, it took me a minute, but we finally finished our fireplace. This was a process that took longer than I expected- not because there was anything wrong. I just didn't feel the need to rush. We don't use this fireplace for heat- it's simply for esthetics and honestly, what was here before was outdated and I just wanted a cleaner look. Let me show you the before... The Before This picture was taken back in 2021. It took me a while to find this photo ( boy, has my style changed!) because I hardly ever took a photo of this space because I didn't like it. I would usually just crop out that part in the photo. I knew I wanted something and fast forward to 2023, when I finally decided to make that move to subway tile. All of the items used for this project was from Home Depot, andI really didn't cost much to do. I will say, however, that it was very labor intensive so be prepared in th event you want to try tiling on your own. First thing I did was to find inspiration as to what type of mantel I wanted and what color tile. My vision was for it to be very clean and neutral in color and a big chunky wood mantel. So my husband created a floating wood mantel and I picked out white subway tile by Daltile from the Home Depot . We wanted to create the mantel first so we could see exactly how much tile we needed. We decided to go with the 4x8 ceramic white glazed subway tile. I used 6 boxes to create this look. You can find them here For the wood mantel, we used Behr water based wood stain in English Chestnut. You can find it here Now comes the hard part. Laying the tile. Once we removed the old mantel and tile, we had to redo all of backer board because it got damaged during the removal of the tile. Once we replaced that, we mapped out the tile and slowly got to work. We invested in a wet saw because we knew that it was going to be more than one day and renting one countless times would be the same as owning one. Our favorite brand, Ryobi, was our choice. Here is the final look of all the tile laid in place. We then waited 48 hrs to grout, and then another 24 hrs to seal it. And there you go! I'm so pleased as to how it turned out. As always, this job is done with my partner in crime, my boo, my helpmate, my husband Reggie. Big jobs like this require 2 people (or at least in my mind they do!) and we both worked really hard to get this completed by the end of 2023. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do- Drop a line below to tell me what you think. Until next time,