Hi, I'm Jessica. I'm a Harvard-trained architect who is now happily a stay at home mother of three kids under 5.
Being a stay at home mom can be an empty landscape of sippy cup refills, feeding babies, sleep deprivation, sleep training, and more. But just like any good fashionista puts her personal spin on fashion, this is my spin on staying at home. Being at home is fun, with a flare for design, food, and a focus on family.
In May 2011 we moved into our dream house, a house that took four years, from the start of design to completion. My husband and I both studied Architecture at Harvard (that's where we met), so while I designed the house and functioned as the Project Architect, he had tons of input and acted as our General Contractor. That plus having two kids kept us pretty busy for a number of years.
Now that we are settled into our house, and I gave birth to our third in November of 2011, I wish that I had taken the time (where would I have found it?) to document the process. This is my chance. Here you will find details about our house, fun decorating projects, food ideas, kid projects, pretty much my life in pictures.
I designed the dream, but we are still living in reality.
I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at stayathomeista (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks!
Here's a peek at the whole family:
Your house is beyond gorgeous!! How I wish I could have that square footage and architecture. Absolutely Lovely.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica!! Thanks for visiting Inspired Honey Bee!! I was looking through your pictures and I knew immediately: she lives in the Bay Area!!! Yeah!!! Here's the Boston & SF prints source: http://www.orkposters.com/
ReplyDeleteJust a beautiful about me! I love your blog and I enjoy reading it! ;)
ReplyDeleteI am a friend of Elaine who just sent me your link. I am soooo impressed!! You are my kind of girl (2 sons, 2 grandsons--no one to take shopping at Nordstroms) and I can't wait to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI have been in the Design world since 1967--worked for a studio doing residential, then opened a shop in a house in Bethesda to sell accessories and charm with my rich girlfriends as sales girls. I took them to the wholesale shows in NY so they could buy anything they wanted. The house came down to make room for a Metro Center so I did Embassy design with a different country every day. Then the Design Center was built and a major manufacturer overpaid me to manage his showroom. It was fun, but I became a manufacturer's rep selling the most expensive furniture ever made, art, lamps, etc in a territory Md. DC and Va. That was the best! Come East and I'll take you to the wholesale markets--NY, High Point. That will knock your socks off to see all of the fabulous merchandise available. Keep up the cooking, design, etc. You have talent! Margot Heckman mulberryhs@msn.com
Love your blog~
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your blog and am a new follower-so impressed you designed your house! And I hear you about the empty landscape-that's why I have to still do creative things-and I'm a mom to 3 under 4. Looking forward to coming back again!
ReplyDeleteJessica...I am now a sold-out Homeista follower! ;p I love your house. If I could decorate how I'd like...that's what my house would definitely look like...colors & all. Thanks for stopping by my blog so I could discover yours! Love it! And...your family is adorable.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your blog. I'm also an educated STAHM (2 kids...3 and 2) and appreciate the chance to read about your journey. I especially enjoy the posts about your home!
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica, I am the co-founder of RookieMoms.com and 510Families.com. Would love to connect with you! I found you through the post in which you linked the Codornices slide photo to our site.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica, found you at Living Savvy commenting about auto-watermark in Picasa! Do you have a post telling how to do that or would you mind messaging me and letting me know if you have time. I would love to use that feature to save TIME but I'm not sure where to look/what to do. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica, I just found your post and couldn't believe how much we have in common. I grew up in the Bay Area, went to MIT for grad school with a Civil Engineering degree, then came back to the Bay Area to be by family. I have two young kids (3 & 1) and am currently doing a whole house gut and remodel where I acted as the designer and am also currently doing the GC for.
ReplyDeleteWhich brings me to my question... I would love to use marble in the kitchen which ended up with similar materials as yours (white cabinets, marble subway backsplash) but am scared of maintenance. How has your experience been with young kids? And is there anywhere you can recommend for sourcing the marble that wouldn't break the bank?
Where did you get that butterfly backpack? So cute :)
ReplyDeleteJessica!
ReplyDeleteYour comment on my blog made me blush! Your home is ahhh-mazing. I can't believe I have never stumbled upon your blog until today. I'm going to be up all night reading to catch up!
Your newest, biggest fan,
Janice
HI there!
ReplyDeleteI was searching for this crate and barrel textured art print and they don't have it online anymore. The store needs a name to search by and as I was trying to find it online I saw it came up in your living room. Do you know the name of that print? Can you give me that info??? I am desperately wanting this to put over our new bar cabinet!