I'm trying to be better at celebrating progress. I'm the type who accomplishes something and is immediately thinking about what I need to do next. Or wishing I'd done more. I'm working on giving myself a break and celebrating progress over perfection. You should join me! Let's kick it off by sharing the progress made in 2020. Despite all its drama, 2020 was a big year in many ways. It's the first time my sole job wasn't being a mom (since 2011!), it's the year I went from 2000 followers to 32,000, and it's the year I could finally stop using air quotes when I described the blog as my job. Here's what I did with a little more time on my hands, make that what WE did, as Joe and I 'stayed home' all spring.
You've heard me lament the process of meal planning and grocery shopping more than once, in stories. Well, I finally sat down and brainstormed ways to make the process easier- especially during this busy holiday season. And everything came up "have your groceries delivered." ha! I've been using Walmart Grocery Pick up for over a year but stopped short of paying for delivery each time. Now that they've introduced Walmart+, with one membership fee for the year, I can have my groceries delivered plus other benefits I'll share in a bit. But it's not just about groceries- although that's a BIG one. There are other ways I use it to mark things off my to-do list. Here are the little conveniences that add up with Walmart +:
Thank you, Wayfair for sponsoring this post!
Ever since the layered doormat trend, it feels like front porch decor has leveled up. Have you noticed? I'm seeing pillows, throws, stools, rugs, the works. And you know what? I'm not mad at it. It's fun creating a festive vignette to greet people walking by or coming over for a visit. Wayfair's Holiday Decor Event has so many beautiful options to choose from to create a pretty and whimsical front porch, and at every budget! Their Black Friday Cyber 5 Main Event is going strong, so make sure to check it out and snag deals up to 80% off, shop 1000s of flash sales, and get free shipping! Here are some fun ideas for your Christmas front porch!
I've shared a few round-ups from Wayfair's Early Access Black Friday Sale over on Like-to-Know-it but figured I'd share here too. The sale includes a variety of categories, but since I've been on the hunt for bedding I decided to feed two birds with one scone and peruse that one! There are so many great bedding items that it was hard to narrow it down but I did the best I could. ;) I included some basics like a cozy throw, a down insert, and a mattress topper but focused on gorgeous quilts, comforters, and duvets, mostly. If you're readying your home for guests, comfy, cozy, and good-looking bedding is a must. You should know that prices are up to 80% off and shipping is FREE over $35! Now, take a look at these and tell me which is your favorite?!
Thank you Command Brand for sponsoring this post. All opinions are Mine.
A few weeks ago, I showed you my 'Monica closet.' It was embarrassing but I wanted you to see the real-life before. After lots of purging and sorting, I'm happy to report that instead of a cluttered catch-all, I now have organized craft storage as well as a place to store my party supplies, extra home decor, and work supplies/products. Here's how to organize your own craft room! *Sources at the end.*
I've been a DIYer for a long time. Like all the way back when DIY = making a memo board or recovering a seat cushion. Now it seems DIY means renovating entire rooms and building furniture from scratch. While I don't see myself joining the big leagues, this year I challenged myself to make something with wood and a drill and to do it all by myself. This project is super easy and it's the perfect thing to make when you want to use power tools but also are afraid of power tools. Full disclosure, I did have Joe hang it up. Because I'm also scared (no wait, lazy?) when it comes to finding studs and drilling into them. And also, that's why I married him. So he can help me. Ok, guys, I'm getting way too real up in here. You came to learn how to make a ledge shelf- well here you go!
Thank you Joss & Main for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
We've been in our home for 5 years in December and we hadn't made ONE update in the Master Bathroom. Not one! How is that possible?! When I had the chance to shop Joss & Main's Winter Edit, I couldn't wait to use it as motivation to update our bath and add some finishing touches (though we're far from "finished") to our bedroom. Here's what we added and tips for finishing details in your own space.
Ever since I DIY’d this art ledge I’ve been looking forward to swapping out the art for seasonal prints. Halloween is the perfect time to change it up and surprise my kids who are always begging for more Halloween decor! When Command Brand approached me to share their Command Adjustable Clips and Hooks, I knew this product would be perfect for what I had in mind. This inexpensive and quick Halloween decor makes a big impact. If you don't have an art ledge, a gallery wall would be fun too. You could even hang framed prints with Command Picture Hanging Strips! Here's what you need:
I've always wanted to create a family costume! But if I'm being honest, I can be a little...let's just say "behind" with getting the kids' costumes, let alone planning five. This year feels like I'm nearing the end of the little kid era so I decided now was the time to make it happen. Guys, I don't mean to brag but I think we nailed it! Obviously you can buy each full Scooby Doo Costume (I'd start here!) but I always love to take the semi-DIY approach! Here's just what we bought to pull it all together!
Thank you Eckrich for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.
Holidays that encourage us to open our homes to one another are my kind of holidays. Halloween is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to your neighbors or get to know them a bit better. If we're being honest, sometimes we just need an excuse! One way to ‘treat’ your neighbors this fall is with a neighborly boo basket! If you’re not familiar, a boo basket is a fun Halloween tradition where you secretly leave a basket full of goodies on your neighbor’s porch. Then they pay it forward. Intrigued? Good! I’ve spelled out everything you need to put one together! Here's how to make a fun Boo Basket...
This post is sponsored by Handy Paint. As always, all opinions are my own.
A few weeks ago I shared our plans for our entrance from the garage. It was looking kind of sad and our hall tree was chipping and needed a fresh coat of paint. I never liked the initial color- it always felt out of place. I decided to just tackle it already! After tons and tons of sampling, we landed on a beautiful earthy brown to give the hall tree a fresh look.
When I was looking for a rug for Dax, I scoured the internet to find something affordable and boy-ish. In case you're curious, I chose this one- it's so gorgeous but features Dax's favorite color prominently- I tried to force him to choose green as his favorite color, but failed; it's blue. This rug also has more green in it than the stock images show, though, so maybe I got my way a little. The way I justify spending hours looking for something is to share my findings with you, so you're welcome. ha. The rugs below range in price from x to x, are categorized into tribal, vintage, and mod, and are all so great. If you don't see THE rug for you, click on any you find moderately interesting, and then use the site's suggestions to find others. It's basically a rabbit hole but it gets the job done. Ok, no more chatting. Here they are:
Thank you Libby’s for sponsoring this post.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret. My kids will eat almost anything if it's deconstructed.
Example:
Me: Kids want a salad?
Kids: No!
OR
Me: Guys, I made a choose-your-own-toppings salad bar!
Kids: Cool! Yum!
This will be short and sweet- I'm on the hunt for a dining table and as is the case with every big purchase I make, I'm overthinking it and trying to get the moon, under $1000. At least I'm consistent. ;) Here are my ideal requirements:
Recently, I was contacted by Triangle Home Design Decor Magazine to create a mood board of my living room for their August newsletter- but what I'm calling the aspirational version. I've created many "looks for less," but never have I created a "look for more." It was super fun and also um, I want it all. I shared some of my thoughts about decorating on a budget here, but to sum it up, designing one's home at all, is a luxury- even DIY. Owning power tools, buying materials- it's all something I don't take for granted. But I was happy to let my living room play dress up. Here she is:
Live Edge Coffee Table (or this one)
Carson Carrington Gold Chandelier
You can see my 'real' living room and sources here and the newsletter here!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cricut. All opinions are 100% mine.
Who wants to hang onto summer just a little bit longer? Granted, it's been a weird one but nothing beats lazy mornings, pool time, and summer fare. I don't have much of a green thumb but I grew basil this summer and really enjoyed it. I plan to carry that into fall, only this time, created a pretty, hanging herb garden with some of our favorite herbs we use all year. Plus we spend a lot of time on our patio in the fall and they also serve as a bug repellant. That's what you call a win/win people. I recently received a Cricut Maker - cue excited squeals- and thought it would be the perfect way to embellish my hanging herb garden by creating clean and modern labels for the pots. Here's what you need to replicate this project!
Vinyl Starter Kit - it includes vinyl, transfer tape, weeder, scraper, and more
Planter Hanger
-Any hanger will do. Just make sure you can see the label. This one is a similar ring style to mine (sorry, my specific hangers are sold out!) and comes with pots, but smaller. If you use a smaller pot you may need to resize the labels in design space.
Herbs
This was my first time using the Cricut Maker so these instructions are literally written for someone with zero knowledge/skill! And as you can see, my project is pretty simple too. You can do this!
But first, a bit about the machine. The Cricut Maker is an amazing smart cutting machine. Listen- this thing cuts leather, fabric, basswood, craft foam, denim, light chipboard...the list goes on. I love that it's so versatile because it means the possibilities are literally endless. In my opinion, that's one reason it's worth the investment. Besides what you can do currently- emboss, engrave, create perforations, etc, Cricut will continue to expand the suite of tools to add even more options. Lastly, as a first-timer, I can say the hardest part of this machine is simply getting over my fear of using it! It can be intimidating but is really easy to use. I suggest reading through the materials to get over the hump of feeling like you don't know what you're doing! Even reading the instructions that come with the Vinyl Starter Kit was so helpful. I also love that during the initial set up, it prompts you to cut right then and there which quickly gets that first time using it out of the way. I highly recommend not skipping that step! Okay back to the project-
DIY Hanging Herb Garden Tutorial
First, place your planter in its hanger and make a light pencil mark where you want your label. For my project, I marked just under the ring and then added about an inch.
You can find the labels I used here. Once you've opened the project, follow the prompts in Design Space to cut.
Once the machine is finished cutting, cut the excess vinyl off (cutting the labels apart from each other*) and then used the weeding tool to gently pull back the backing, starting in the corner and keeping the image as straight as possible.
Next, gently apply transfer tape over the label, slowly taking the backing off by peeling up the transfer tape.
Finally, place the transfer tape on your planter using your marking as a guide and use the scraper tool. Slowly peel the tape off. If the vinyl comes off with it, simply press it back down, burnish again, and try again. Take your time!
Repeat for each label.*
*For the rosemary label, I cut it in half and applied each side separately. Since the planter is round I found the label was slanting. You may want to cut it into 3 pieces.
I love how it turned out! The smell of mint feels like summer and I'm eager to make my smokey turkey shepherd's pie with fresh rosemary.
Make sure to check out a variety of projects here on the Cricut blog- there you'll find weekly home renovation project inspiration and tutorials! So many fun ideas await!
Slowly but surely we're getting the first floor together. I don't know what's "normal," but our pace feels so slow, guys! I keep thinking of a proverb we received from an older African gentleman in our first year of marriage "Little by Little, the bird builds its nest"- in his language. So sweet and oft thought of when I'm getting impatient. We made a big step in the entry when we had a hall tree (locker? what do you call it?) built but then I painted it the 'wrong' color and proceeded to ignore it for 2 years. Ha! Well here are plans for a quick and easy entry refresh.
One of the most fun things we use the Patio for is an outdoor movie night. Clearly, we had no idea it would basically become our real-life movie theater experience (Darn Covid) but it now serves as that too. It's a really simple set up but I get asked about it often so I wanted to break down how to set up an outdoor movie night and answer those questions, here.
You guys! We made it! We've arrived at the end of the One Room Challenge! Air hugs and jazz hands all around! What an eventful 8 weeks (in more ways than one)! I'm excited to show you the final result of the past 8 weeks- and really 8 months since we first began discussing this project. Joe and I knew we needed a place for me to work, a place for a family computer, and though I hope not (please please please), a place for the kids to 'do school,' if remote learning continues in the fall. We decided that the blank wall in the kitchen would be a great place for a DIY office nook. My goals for the office nook included:
I can't believe it's almost time for the final One Room Challenge reveal! Agh! We still have a few things to do and it's down to the wire! If you're new, here's what I've shared so far:
Welcome to Week 6 of the One Room Challenge! Week 5 was canceled (you can read about that here)* but I'm excited to share the next (and a big!) step in the process- making the wall shelves! If you're new, check out weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 to catch up on our Office Nook progress! The biggest challenge we faced with our DIY shelves was finding wood (white oak in this case) wide enough. My ideal width was 10-12" wide. To solve that problem, we decided to join two narrow boards together to make one shelf with a 10 1/2 inch depth. I was concerned that the planked look would lean "farmhouse" but that's not an issue at all. They look clean and simple and we're really happy with them! So here's how we did it!
Between my kids wrapping up school (this last week of remote learning has been as tough as the first!), traveling (we're at the beach!), and general busy-ness, I can't say I have much progress to share with the One Room Challenge. But I didn't want to totally ignore the fact that I owe you an update on our kid-friendly office nook, so here it is! Keep reading to see where we landed on the shelves, the brackets we're considering, and my secret weapon for shelf styling.
The first step to creating an office nook in our kitchen was figuring out the desk. That was a challenge and took forever. We settled on white oak and found two 8/4 pieces that were long enough- about 103 inches. In hindsight, it seems like a miracle that we found those! (I'll share more about those later as they're being installed)! As for the shelving, finding suitable lumber is proving to be even more difficult.
Well, I went and registered for the Spring 2020 ORC™! I considered joining last month but decided against it, blaming too many half-done projects. And let's be honest. I was scared. But you've heard me say it once and you'll hear me say it again- Feel the fear, and do it anyway! As the week 1 posts starting rolling in, I felt instant regret that I hadn't signed up and so I did! The good news is, I'm excited to bring you along for the ride, have a hard deadline for a project (y'all know I need one!), and be challenged in a new way. The bad news is, I'm already behind. Oops! So let's catch up! The room I'll be working on is
Our current sofa is GORGEOUS and super comfy but it's linen which apparently you can't touch. I have 3 rambunctious kiddos and while we don't eat in the living room, it's literally 3 feet away from where we do eat and a few more feet from the kitchen. Let's just say my kids aren't rule followers and I need a sofa I can wipe down or wash. Enter slipcovered sofas. While I love modern decor and clean lines, slipcovered sofas have the casual look I'm craving. They now come in low and deep styles with track or shelter arms that make my heart go pitter-patter. Per usual, my budget is smaller than my appetite (is that a phrase? It should be). So here are the best, slipcovered sofas I could find for under $2000...and one over that. Couldn't help it!
I don't always do gift guides, but when I do, I include face masks. ha. Who would have thought?! This Mother's Day might be a little different, but I'm thankful to be surrounded by my people even if we're bored in the house. bored in the house. bored. My perfect Mother's Day usually involves pretty things, not having to cook, and quality time. All of that can be accomplished despite #stayhome orders right? Here are a few things I have or want to have. ;) Buy something for your mom, your sister, your bestie, or yourself (I won't tell). Happy Mother's Day mamas!
Let me start by saying we love to color eggs (as evidenced by this very thorough science experiment!) and we love a good egg hunt. And while my kids aren't known to love the Easter Bunny I have been known to try to force a photo. ;) But at its core, Easter is a time my family celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. One way we honor the spiritual meaning is to add a devotional to their Easter basket. We have a decent collection- I didn't share them all here but wanted to share some of our faves. If I don't own one on the list below, a girlfriend suggested it! I've made notes by each one including age recommendations.
Have you ever looked at a room and you just couldn't take it anymore?! This describes our dining room. Even my 10-year-old comments, "mom, we need a new table!" Our table was purchased during my farmhouse phase so the style no longer reflects the rest of our home. But I could get over that- really, I could!-- if it wasn't for the quality of the table deteriorating before our very eyes. It was not built for kids or moisture and the top is destroyed. We plan to replace it eventually but it did not make the project/house expense list this year. Besides, I'd really like to push it a little longer in the hopes that there will be fewer messes and more cleaning up after themselves in the future. (I know, I know, but a mama can hope!). So here's what I did to avoid replacing all the things, which is what I really wanted to do! And here's what you can do to makeover a room with very little cash if you're in the same predicament!
Thank you OREO Cookies for sponsoring this post. Discover the Stufabilities
with OREO Cookies and Lowes Foods!
You are going to love this easy 5 ingredient Valentine's Day treat! This recipe was inspired by Genevieve. She pitched me and her siblings the cutest idea- a restaurant called Treat-za. The menu would consist of dessert-themed pizzas (Get it? Treat-za rhymes with pizza... How cute is she?) with a variety of sweet toppings on cookie crusts. When I was thinking about what treat I could make them for Valentine's Day this year, "Treat-za" popped into mind! While I've had fruit pizzas before, I've never had one with a delicious OREO Cookie crust!
You are going to love this easy 5 ingredient Valentine's Day treat! This recipe was inspired by Genevieve. She pitched me and her siblings the cutest idea- a restaurant called Treat-za. The menu would consist of dessert-themed pizzas (Get it? Treat-za rhymes with pizza... How cute is she?) with a variety of sweet toppings on cookie crusts. When I was thinking about what treat I could make them for Valentine's Day this year, "Treat-za" popped into mind! While I've had fruit pizzas before, I've never had one with a delicious OREO Cookie crust!
It's been a few months, ahem 4, but this party is too cute not to share! You guys know I have a running list of party themes I want to use and a space theme birthday party has been high on that list for years. When Dax couldn't decide what he wanted I jumped on it since a) he loves outer space and b) there were so many cute possibilities! Here are the details to look for:
It's baaaack. Not to be dramatic or anything but I'm comin back at ya with some killer looks for less. We've got a World Market look for less, a Lulu and Georgia look for less, a Serena and Lily look for less, and more! I always start these by saying, of course, there will be differences in size, quality, craftsmanship, etc (although sometimes I find the exact same item for much less!) so do your homework. Check dimensions and read reviews of these look-for-less items. Nevertheless, I love that regardless of a small budget you can find pieces with big style!
I can't believe how many affordable options for stylish lighting exist! Whenever I feel impatient to buy something (which is like all the time, haha), I have to remind myself that there will be even more great options later. Remember when I was searching for a budget-friendly chandelier? I had such a hard time coming up with inexpensive, stylish fixtures. Now there are plenty! I didn't intend my first post of the New Year (Happy New Year!) to be a round-up of affordable light fixtures for a kid's room, but alas, when I started searching for the girls' room last night I found so many, that I had to share. It's my duty as a blogger, right?? ;) I organized them by style but you should know the majority of them are less than $100, even starting at $28! Oh, and the light fixture in the top image is from here- I love it! I've listed them all out but you can simply click the image in the "shop the post" widget at the end to be taken right to the product. Ok here goes: