Home – A Working Definition (Thoughts and Tips for Special Moments)

When you hear the word home, I hope your reaction isn’t to focus on your to-do list—paint touch-ups, mystery piles, and the bathroom you keep intending to upgrade. Ideally, home evokes thoughts of favorite people, favorite meals, inside jokes, and the kind of everyday moments that turn into “remember when…” stories. Yes, some of us genuinely enjoy moving furniture and choosing paint colors (guilty 😊), but underneath it all, there’s a deeper reason we keep tinkering with our spaces. We’re trying to create a place where the people we love will someday look back and think, “Those were some of my favorite memories.” That, more than anything, is why home matters—especially as the holiday season starts to peek around the corner.

The Homes We Come From (And Carry With Us)

When I think about the homes I grew up in, I don’t remember perfect decor or matching furniture. I remember a lot of laughter, not quite enough space, and a front door that never seemed to stay closed because someone was always coming or going.

I’m half Greek and half Italian, so “quiet and orderly” was not really the family brand. There was always one more person at the table, one more story being told, and more food than we could possibly eat. It was full, loud, and wonderfully alive. At the time, it was just normal. Only later did I realize how rich it really was. Those crowded rooms and shared meals shaped how I see home today.

I wanted that same feeling for my own kids and their friends—to wander into the kitchen, raid the pantry, flop on the sofa, and know they were welcome. And now, as an empty-nester, I still want that. I want our adult kids, their friends, and now the grand-kiddos (we’re lucky enough to have two so far!) to feel like our house is a place they can land, rest, and belong. The homes we grow up in stay with us. The good parts of those memories are worth recreating.

Why We Keep Adjusting Our Spaces

For that kind of life to happen, a home has to work. Not in a magazine-perfect way, but in a real, everyday way.

That’s why we keep nudging things around. Shift the sofa, rethink the dining room, plan how the guest room can be special when visitors stay. As the holidays approach, you might notice needed changes even more. Suddenly you’re thinking about where people will sit, how the kitchen will flow, and whether your spaces can handle a little joyful chaos.

When you look around your home right now, ask yourself: Does this space support the kind of gatherings and memories I want to create?

What feels cramped, awkward, or inconvenient? What would make it easier to say, “Yes, come over!”? You’re not just arranging furniture. You’re shaping how life happens inside your walls.

This is why my business motto is love where you live. When you feel good in your home, other people feel it too. That’s when the beautiful, ordinary moments start to stack up into traditions, stories, and memories that outlast any trend or paint color.

Before the season kicks into high gear, choose one small thing you can do to make your home more welcoming or more comfortable—for you and the people you love.

Simple Home Tweaks Before the Holidays

· Clear off one surface (coffee table, dining table, or kitchen island) so it’s ready for food, puzzles, or board games.

· Add a lamp where the room always feels a little too dark—soft light is an instant mood upgrade.

· Refresh the guest bathroom with fresh towels, a candle, and a small tray of essentials so visitors feel cared for.

Small changes can make a big difference in how much you love where you live—especially when the people you care about are gathering under your roof.

Now, what will you do next to love where you live?

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