Redefining Home: The Hearts of Our Snug | Childless

Luckily, home is where our hearts are. Because during our 19 ½ year marriage, my hubby and I have lived in 8 different homes in 2 different states. Now, I must clarify… To me, a home can be an apartment, condo, duplex, or stand-alone structure that is rented or owned (with or without a mortgage). We have lived in our current home for a little over 4 years. This is the longest we’ve ever stayed in one place. (The shortest was 4 weeks.)

Many of you know, we bought a fixer-upper and have been diligently remodeling it since we moved in. Currently (June 2020), we are getting very close to finally being done! As I look around our home, I truly see Dane and my personalities shining through…

Though we have designed our home for our entire family—me, Dane, Maddie, and Bruna—there is one space that is truly for our everyday family—me, Dane, and Maddie. We call that space our “snug.”

Our Snug…

More than a TV room…

Now, most people in the U.S. would call our snug a TV room. But Dane and I adore England, so we borrowed “snug” from our friends across the pond. I’m not sure we are using it as they would; however, “snug” really does describe this room—our room—perfectly. Because this room—our snug—is cozy and comfortable and, well… Snuggly. ?

A creation for us…

Our snug has evolved throughout our remodel. We are on our second paint color, second light fixture, second set of chairs, second gallery wall, and second furniture arrangement. And I must say that what we have created is absolutely perfect for me, Dane, and Maddie.

“The Black Piece,” which I wrote about recently, holds our TV and some sentimental items. (You can read about that here.) And the light fixture is “edgy,” according to one of my closest friends. (Read more about that here.) Our tea cabinet, Maddie’s toy basket, and two comfy recliners are also housed in our snug. And the gallery wall holds a large print in the center which says, “happily ever after” and is surrounded by photos of our non-traditional family. Nieces, nephews, friends… Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents… Our Oklahoma family. Our Brasilian family. Family that is now in Heaven. Our gallery wall also holds a special piece of artwork from a fellow childless not by choice warrior and friend…

With special artwork…

The fabulous friend (who mailed me this original artwork) and I have never met in person. We connected through Instagram—liking, commenting, and direct messaging one another. I liked a photo of various colored hearts that she posted, commenting that it would be perfect if she added some green ones. She agreed, creating a new piece with my suggestion. And she asked for my address, as she wanted to mail her creation to me.

I am so honored that she took the time to create something so special. And that is why I hung it on the most special wall in my home—the gallery wall in our snug. You see, different colored hearts symbolize various things to me. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you might have noticed that I use heart emojis often when commenting on Not So Mommy… social media. And I use certain colored hearts for very specific, very personal reasons…

The Hearts of Our Snug…

Photo of original artwork of multicolored hearts on Redefining Home: The Hearts of Our Snug... on Not So Mommy..., a childless not by choice blog What do the different colored hearts mean to me? Well…

Purple hearts signify friendship because purple was my best friend’s favorite color. She was the most amazing and beautiful person. I share purple hearts to keep her memory alive…

Red hearts show love, caring, hugs… Also, since there is no single pink heart emoji (only double ones or ones with sparkles and extra “stuff,”) red is the closest I can get to my color. Because I am a pink girl.

Blue hearts represent empathy, showing that my heart hurts for you, that I am sad with you… Blue hearts represent grief…

Orange hearts are for my infertility sisters because the Infertility Awareness Ribbon is orange. Orange shows courage and strength and overcoming adversity. It represents a connection on a journey that no one chooses to take…

Yellow hearts are for my endo sisters because the Endometriosis Awareness Ribbon is yellow. Yellow, like orange, also represents bravery. And an incredible power to battle a misunderstood chronic illness.

And green hearts… Well, I commented that adding green hearts would make my fabulous friend’s artwork perfect because green hearts represent our incredible childless not by choice tribe. The Childless Not By Choice Awareness Ribbon is olive green. (I created the CNBC ribbon. You can read about why I chose olive green here.) When I use a green heart emoji, it means that I know you are walking the CNBC path with me—either as a fellow childless warrior or as an amazing person who is supporting & trying to understand… So, green hearts are extra special in my world.

Artwork with meaning…

And this original piece of artwork, which has all these different colored hearts layered on top of each other… Well, it symbolizes so much to me… Lots of friendship and love. A bit of grief with only a couple of teal blue hearts. Overcoming infertility battles. Fighting through endometriosis. And finding joy despite a childless not by choice life…

This piece of artwork–that to others may simply look pretty—has deep and intense meaning to me. It represents my journey, my redefining, my life…

And that is why I chose to hang it in our snug. The room which represents my journey, my redefining, my life…

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, to my fabulous friend who gifted me her artwork. You know who you are…