*My mom and me at her favorite place on earth: Red Pine Camp*

I had a different post planned for this week.

But with Mother’s Day around the corner, I kept thinking about how much of what I do — and how I do it — was shaped by one person: my mom.

Nest & Notion didn’t start as a brand. It started with watching my mom work — through chaos, clutter, renovations, moves, and a million little moments that added up to what “home” really means. This post is a thank-you, a tribute, and a glimpse at how she shaped the way I approach both design and life: with precision, patience, and a quiet kind of strength.

If you’ve followed Nest & Notion for any length of time, you’ve probably picked up on a few themes around here:

→ Home should feel like you, not like someone else’s Pinterest board.

→ A little creativity goes a long way.

→ You can figure out (or DIY) almost anything.

→ Bold choices are good choices.

Well — I didn’t pull those ideas out of thin air.

I grew up with them.

My Mom, in a Few Words

First things first: my mom is the best.

She’s strong, creative, helpful, unique, and awesome in about a hundred ways I can’t fully fit in one post.

She’s also one of those people who never sits still — unless maybe there’s a sewing machine involved.

If you picture her at home, she’s probably sewing. Or painting. Or quilting. Or gardening. Or loading a full van of furniture by herself. (True story.)

A Home Full of Creativity (and Slight Chaos)

When I was a kid, it was basically a given that we’d do a craft together after school.

Every day.

Paint, sewing, random art projects — we tried everything.

She made our Christmas stockings. We crafted new ornaments every year (most of which were... let’s say “charmingly ugly” — and she still proudly hangs them all).

*Making a big sign in the front hallway of my childhood home*

She wasn’t the type to decorate in a fancy designer way — my parents were very frugal.

They even made their own furniture when I was little. (The coffee table lasted until a few years ago!)

But the walls? Covered in photos, paintings, crafts, and things she (or others) made. There’s probably never been a bare wall in that house, ever.

Also: plants. Everywhere. No idea how she kept them alive.

And one day, when I came home from camp? She’d completely redecorated my bedroom — with a bedspread she sewed from IKEA fabric. White and yellow stripes. I loved it.

Come to think of it… maybe she was a decorator after all.

*Christmas was always a big deal. In the background you can spot those ugly Christmas decorations that she still hangs on our tree to this day,.*

The Lessons That Stuck

More than the crafting and the projects (though I definitely credit those for why I love what I do now), my mom taught me this:

→ Home is about family.

→ It’s okay if things aren’t perfect — if they’re loved, they’re perfect enough.

→ You can work hard, learn things, and make things happen.

She encouraged me to try new things constantly — whether it was sports, crafts, or whatever hobby-of-the-week I’d latched onto.

If I was curious about something? She’d show up with supplies the next day.

If I struggled? She had my back every time — and wasn’t afraid to go to bat for me. (She taught me to stand up for myself too — more on that in a minute.)

*Skiing. Every. Single. Sunday. One of the many things we did to keep ourselves busy.*

How It Shows Up Now

Is my current house style the same as my mom’s?

Not exactly — we like different things. But I can definitely see her influence:

→ I’m drawn to bold colours and accents → 100% from growing up with a mom who wasn’t afraid of being different.

→ I tackle DIY projects and renovations because I grew up believing “you can probably figure it out.”

→ I started this business knowing she’d be proud and encouraging — even though (as of writing this) I haven’t told her about Nest & Notion yet. I want to have it ready to show her first!

And the standing-up-for-myself part?

When I catch myself writing a pointed email or pushing back on something unfair, I 100% hear my mom’s voice.

She was never afraid to speak her mind — even if it meant her name ended up in the local paper (it did… often).

Fun fact: when her teacher’s union went on strike, she knitted a sweater while picketing. Because of course she did.

*She always encouraged me to be creative. Even if it meant dancing when you had no rhythm!*

Because of My Mom...

“Because of my mom, I learned that home should be filled with stuff to keep you busy every second of every day.” 😂

But also: it should feel like you.

It should reflect what you love.

And it should be a place where creativity and curiosity are always welcome.

Little Things We Share

✧ She often asks me for colour advice — she says I have an eye for combinations she wouldn’t have thought of.

✧ She still teases me about how I pronounce “both” (apparently wrong — I maintain she’s making it up).

✧ We both love making pretty things with our hands — and she amazes me with how much she gets done in a day. (She still texts me pictures of her latest paintings or quilts!)

What It Means for My Work

It’s no surprise that my approach with Nest & Notion clients is shaped by how I grew up:

✧ Listening and caring.

✧ Encouraging people to take chances.

✧ Believing homes should feel personal and unique — not generic or cookie-cutter.

✧ Helping clients create spaces that reflect them, not a magazine.

There’s only one you — and your space should embrace that.

So this Mother’s Day, I’m raising a glass (and probably a paintbrush) to my mom:

The strongest, most creative, most encouraging person I know.

And the reason I do so much of what I do today.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom — can’t wait to show you what I’ve been building. ♡