3 Tips For Styling A Dark Sofa

3 Tips For Styling A Dark Sofa

May 24, 2022

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I love our sofa! It's the Kivik from Ikea and we've had it for a few years now. It's my favorite. We upgraded from the beloved Ektorp (still love that one, too!) but we really needed more space to spread out.  The shape of the Kivik fit our space better too! 

I also LOVE the removable and washable covers. I will admit it's a pain to remove the covers on this style. But, they are removable and washable which is a must-have for any sofa we purchase. Recently we decided to purchase a new cover. Our dog, Toby, is old and smelly and he's got a particular fondness for rubbing against the sides of the sofa and they were just getting worn down and dingy. We had a light grey cover and we ended up going with a dark gray cover. And, the first thing I realized when we got it home was how dark it made our space look. The second thing I realized was that none of my throw pillows were going to work anymore. 

So, I sat with the new cover for a few days and then switched some things up and I thought I'd share a few ways on how I styled our dark sofa!

Don't surround it with "matchy" objects.  Don't buy the sofa, chair, and ottoman all from the same collection! Your house will look like a showroom and it won't be a cute vibe. Instead, piece things together. Take some time, shop around, and find pieces that go together without "going" together. PS. This is why we don't currently have a coffee table. Our sofa is a large L-shape and I know that I don't want a matching fabric ottoman but I don't know what I do want. So, we've got a black wooden sofa table behind the sofa and we use that until we find the perfect piece.

Lighten it up! I had off-white and emerald green throw pillows and I quickly realized that the off-white wasn't too cream and the green blended in. I loved the existing pillow inserts so I found white linen covers to replace the green (I did keep the off-white pillows...) and then picked up a few more light colored throw pillows and the sofa fit the space so much better. Mixing in white and off-white pillows gave the sofa enough brightness without looking like the pillows were all too stark white. Our curtains are white and airy but if they had been dark or heavy, I would have changed those as well. 

Add texture. Soft throws, textured throw pillows, styled pieces nearby - like my scalloped ceramic bowl - all add life to the space and balance out the heaviness of the sofa. A chunky jute rug layered with a softer rug, ceramic or the concrete/stucco vases that are all over right now, and large woven baskets can all add texture to your space and make your the room look lived-in and put together.

the sources

white linen pillow covers / black dotted pillow / velvet off-white covers / pillow inserts / textured white pillow, out of stock from Target - similar here / black and cream textured pillow, out of stock from World Market - similar here 

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How To Get Into The Fall Mood

How To Get Into The Fall Mood

September 13, 2021

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I was born in the full swing of summer, but for as long as I can remember, Fall has been my season. There's just something about crunchy leaves, cozy sweaters, a chill in the air, and all the pumpkins that gives me a contented feeling. It's like taking a deep breath of fresh air.

Living in the south most of my life though means when the calendar rolls over to September, the weather still doesn't drop out of the 80s/90s and I've learned to take things into my own hands to cultivate that warm and fuzzy feeling.

Here's a few of my favorite things to to find that fall mood...

Open the windows.  Is there anything better than a crisp breeze blowing through the house? 

Make it smell good. Burn your favorite fall candle or make a simmer pot. 

Make a fall playlist. Mine always includes a few favorite songs from the You've Got Mail soundtrack!

Fill the house with pumpkins! Spotting a pumpkin on a front porch always makes me smile. Our pumpkins make it inside the house too - on shelves, kitchen counters, and bedroom dressers too. I like to spread the joy from room to room. 

Make comfort food. This time of year gets hectic for us with soccer schedules/after school activities/halloween events so falling back on some cozy meals that have been cooking all day in the slow-cooker always makes an evening feel a little more peaceful.

Curate your kids' books! I start this early so I can fill their shelves with books from our own collection and ones we grab from the library. Festive bookshelves in my kids rooms is something they look forward to. And, we always have a basket of seasonal reads in the living room so the kids can easily grab a book and snuggle on the sofa. 

Grab your coziest sweater or build a fall capsule wardrobe . I just picked this sweater up at Target and I'm obsessed. I'll be postpartum most of the season so I'm thinking all the leggings, oversized tees, and cozy sweaters to streamline my mornings.

It's really just being deliberate with the moments in our days and really soaking in the little things that make the season. The season is so short and I wish it would last forever! 

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Life Lately

Life Lately

September 2, 2021

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It's September, friends! Around here that means that it is officially baby month. It's crazy just typing that, much less digesting the fact that it's true and we are so close. We're all waiting semi-patiently for her to join us earth-side and dreaming of the next few cozy months.

The kids are in school and thriving! Nico has settled right into first grade like his Kindergarten year wasn't half-muddled by covid and watching him grow into this person who is confident and sure in himself fills my heart. Lia is balancing out what it means to be in middle school and the schedule and responsibility that comes with it. She's finding her way in this big world and I couldn't be prouder of her. She's currently home on quarantine due to a close contact in school but she's symptom-free and has tested negative so she's returning to the building next week. It seems we are all figuring out how to take school life day by day.

They both love school though and it's been easier to jump back into that daily routine than I expected!

I'm 36 weeks pregnant and feeling it all. I'm trying to find the balance between getting all the things done and soaking in these last few weeks of having my own free time during the day. In all honesty, I'm too tired and sore most days to do much of anything so it's not been the easiest balance to find. I'm hoping to find time to read a few books, put together a jig saw puzzle, and spend a cozy afternoon on the sofa with a good movie. It's blissfully weird to have large chunks of time all to yourself during the day.  I'd also love to fully settle into a week-day routine with household chores so that I can incorporate as much peace into our evenings as possible and have a good starting point when life shakes up in a few weeks and we find ourselves on a newborn schedule again. 

August was full of end of summer hurrahs and late night bedtimes, a couple of the sweetest baby showers to celebrate Olive, and the return of after-school sports and activities! It was a good month. 

Life has been good lately and with a new chapter right around the corner we are all feeling grateful and settled. I hope you've been feeling the same way!

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OUR FAVORITE BACK TO SCHOOL MUST-HAVES

OUR FAVORITE BACK TO SCHOOL MUST-HAVES

August 10, 2021

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School starts next week and we're going to have a 6th grader and a 1st grader! It seems impossible and yet, here we are.

We tackled all of our back to school shopping with the exception of a few small things (mostly teacher wish list items and a planner for L to track her new middle school schedule) and I feel like after years of having kids in school, I've got a few favorites in my back pocket to rely on. 

Jansport & L.L. Bean backpacks // In the past we've done Pottery Barn backpacks for the kids because they loved the prints but this year I decided to stick to simple, solid colors that we can get a few years of use out of and Jansport was a no-brainer. Free shipping, life-time guarantee and a great brand to backup their product. L.L. Bean is another great quality backpack! I used one for my entire high school career. 

Pencils, crayons, & folders // We buy the Target brand for the majority of the kids school supplies. Their plastic folders are always priced well and they last the entire year. However, we do splurge for good name-brand pencils and crayons - Crayola and Ticonderoga are perfect to get your kids through the school year!

Vans slip-ons // Both kids have chosen slip-on vans for their school shoes recently and we all love them. I know they aren't struggling with laces throughout the day and Nico can put these on by himself. A huge bonus because bending over to put shoes on him at 8 months pregnant just isn't happening! If actual sneakers are your thing - these New Balances are another one our top choices. 

Classic polo shirt // Our school district requires uniforms and we have tried so many brands for polo shirts. Children's Place is well-priced but they shrink! Target is okay but haven't been our favorites. We stumbled on these Izod brand polos and they were so soft and great quality (and very affordable on sale!) so here's hoping these are a winner. I love other pieces from their brand so I feel pretty good about these.

Jogger pants // Gap quality has always been good for us and these joggers are the perfect uniform pants to get Nico through our short-lived winter season. 

Pleated skirt // Our favorite uniform skirts, hands down. Izod brand for the win. Very affordable when you catch a sale (and I haven't had any issues finding them on sale), super comfortable, and no ironing needed! They check all the boxes for us. L has used this style skirt since Kindergarten! They also sell extended  sizes online when you get to that weird stage when your kid is between kid clothes and adult clothes.

Fulton lunch bag // This is a new style for us but I've eyed them for awhile at Target and they have great reviews. The selling point for us was the removable hard insert. L had a few issues with food leaking inside her lunchbox last year resulting in bringing home a damp lunch box. 

Bento style containers // These are great! Well-priced, easy for kids to open and close, and dishwasher safe! My kids don't love when their food touches so these give us the ability to pack a range of foods in the same container. They also have different styles online (like 4 compartments and even 5 compartments) and they fit in most lunchboxes. 

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The kids backpacks are filled with supplies and patiently hanging up in the closet. They are excited and nervous about their first day of school and we're all hoping for a smooth year! 

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A Summer Sketchbook Kit

A Summer Sketchbook Kit

July 8, 2021

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We're hitting the full swing of summer and my kids love screen time. Which is all good, sometimes, and I try to find a natural balance between being relaxed about it and making sure they have plenty of other options on hand as well.

A summer sketchbook sounded like such a fun idea to incorporate. They are packable and we can easily toss them in the car for an afternoon at the park or on a road trip. Inspired by lots of Pinterest images and this post by Kelle Hampton.  

The kids and I picked out the supplies together and filled their kits with:

Crayola washable watercolors (we'll bring along a plastic bowl and some water for this!)
Kid scissors
Tape
Pencils (and a travel sharpener)
Sketchbook
Colored pencils 

Everything fit perfect inside these mesh bags from Michaels.

I also taped this list from Kelle's post to give the kids some ideas when they are feeling uninspired or need a quick plan. 

I'm hoping we'll have lots of watercolor drawings of all of our summer adventures that make up one magic-filled summer story!

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The Sunday Edition, 35

The Sunday Edition, 35

July 4, 2021

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It's Sunday, it's summer, it's a holiday weekend! We're visiting family in North Carolina this weekend. Some we haven't seen since before covid, so we're all excited for some fun and family time. We aren't doing many big things this summer (besides preparing for babe coming this Fall!), so we've soaking up the fun excitement of a road trip and a mini vacation in between finding our summer routine. How's summer going for you? 

And here's a few things from around the web this week...

Adding these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to my search for the perfect cookies!

Baked Potato Bar! Perfect for summer weekends. 

Patriotic ice cream cone cake pops!

A great (and really handy, right now!) post on family road trip hacks.

How to do anything.

Summer burger mix. We had burgers at a local place last week that made a similar mix for their patties and they were so good!

Sesame Street features two gay parents for the first time in show history!

Cute Fourth of July inspired shorts I grabbed for Nico.

So many good pieces in the new Justina Blakeney line x Target. 

And, Red, white, and blue muddy buddies. 

Happy Fourth of July, friends! 

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The Sunday Edition, 34

The Sunday Edition, 34

June 13, 2021

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What a weekend! We spent time with friends, watched In The Heights (so good!), and did a little plant shopping. We're mentally preparing for the last week of school before summer break. It's bittersweet to wrap up Nico's kindergarten year and Lia's elementary school stage, but we're all excited for a couple of months of fun and sun before routines and life shakes back up.

And here's a few things from around the web this week...

I take thee, Rachel. Who else has been reliving their love of Friend's lately?

In other TV news, Gossip Girl is back!

A gorgeous home tour in Mexico City. Its giving me all the cozy, fresh design vibes.

Potato salad for the summer.

For when you need a little help with dinner ideas.

Human libraries! 

Pots with staircases for bugs! How charming even though bugs kind of freak me out.

I've decided I need to find THE perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe to have tucked away for rainy days or last minute dessert plans for a BBQ with friends (not that this happened to me recently... ha). These are going on my to-try list!

And, the most perfect print we're putting in the nursery.

Enjoy the week, friends!

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How To Style Grocery Store Flowers

How To Style Grocery Store Flowers

June 8, 2021

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Fresh flowers are one of my most favorite things! There's just something about a gorgeous flower arrangement that brightens my mood. But, they can be expensive (and rightfully so!). But, I thought I'd try my hand at pulling together a scaled down version of some of my favorite arrangement ideas.

Grocery store flowers! Don't knock them until you try them. When I ran my party business, I almost always used grocery store flowers. They are fairly inexpensive and between a few of my favorite grocery stores, I could usually find what I needed. 

As far as grocery store flowers go, I'd say Trader Joe's is the best. My closet TJ is about 2 hours away though so I stick with Publix and Kroger and occasionally The Fresh Market. 

I grabbed these on a whim when picking up some things for dinner so the choices were pretty limited. I picked up a bundle of beige carnations, a filler bundle that caught my eye, and a handful of greenery. Eucalyptus is my go-to but when my store is out, I settle for whatever greenery I can find.

The arrangement cost me around $12 and took me about 20 minutes or so. I taped off a grid pattern on a vase to help structure the arrangement then I started trimming down all my flowers and put them all in a pile to pull from.

I started with greenery around the outside and a few pieces on the inside then used the carnations and fillers as the bulk of the middle of the arrangement. I personally prefer more greenery with pops of color so I will definitely be doing this again when I can shop around for more options! 

I love to use non-traditional vases - milk jugs, vintage crocks, glassware I've painted. The less typical "vase shape", the better. Target usually has a few great vintage-style crocks every season and thrift stores are fun to pick through.

At the end of the day, I've got a pretty good arrangement for $12 and it's definitely bringing some light and joy this gloomy, rainy week! 

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The Sunday Edition, 33

The Sunday Edition, 33

May 30, 2021

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Happy weekend! We are off on a fun little trip with the kids. We're meeting their grandma and aunts at Great Wolf Lodge and I know they'll be so surprised and happy! Since school lets out late this year, we're in the stage where we know the final days are coming but we're dragging every morning to get to school on time. A long weekend is just what we all need!

And here's a few things from around the web...

The ever wonderful Summer Bucket List by Kelle Hampton is up! 

Finding joy in the simple acts of the everyday. 

A post full of gorgeous gardens. Give me a blanket and a good book and I'm set!

Some very dreamy sunroom vibes for the sunroom I don't have!

Grilled chicken wings I think we'll try this summer.

Micro-habits that will transform your life. 

And, I just finished this book and I absolutely loved it. I'll be bringing this one on our weekend vacation. 

Have a happy weekend full of summer vibes!

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My Favorite Target Finds This Month

My Favorite Target Finds This Month

May 25, 2021

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I popped into Target last week to look at some plants (have you seen the Hilton Carter line?) and found myself dreaming of bringing some summer touches to our backyard!

Striped blanket // Honestly, we don't have a need for a blanket outside in the summer here, but it's the perfect touch to our sofa and as summer fades away, it's just what we'll need to continue our backyard movie fests!

Clear tumbler // We recently added a dining table to our deck and I'm dreaming of outdoor place settings that are kid-friendly. 

Outdoor dining plate // These striped plates are made from bamboo melamine and perfect for outdoor dining.

Gold lanterns // Love the simple shape of these lanterns!

Jute outdoor pouf // An outdoor pouf has a key player on our back patio. The kids can easily move it around and it doubles as a foot rest and extra seating! 

Inflatable pool // They had me at the black and white stripes.

White planter // I loved this planter in person. It was a creamy white and the perfect addition to any backyard jungle. 

As usual, Target has done it again!

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The Sunday Edition, 32

The Sunday Edition, 32

May 23, 2021

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Happy Sunday, you guys! For the first time in months, I felt okay enough to meal plan and do an actual grocery haul. I think the kids were the most excited to see all their favorites stuffed amongst the bags. Here's to being able to stick through the plan and not decide that I'm too nauseous for it right before it's dinner time.

The sweetest stack of mini pancakes.

Saving this color-inspired nature hunt for a summer day when boredom strikes.

A Hocus Pocus sequel? Give me all the Bette Midler as Winifred, please!

The parts of quarantine I want to keep.

Super lazy but still want to be a plant person? 

I loved this post on a kid's capsule wardrobe.

A very kid-friendly well-designed living with kids space.

Favorite feel-good songs from 90s and 2000s movies - a playlist I'll be blasting while I clean up the house this week.

A great, bump-friendly maternity swimsuit. 

And, the cutest line of baby clothes at Target. 

It's in the mid-80s today and feeling so hot already. I think we're going to take a dip in the pool before tucking into a greek chicken dish my sweet friend meal-prepped for us. Here's to a fresh new week!

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The Sunday Edition, 31

The Sunday Edition, 31

May 16, 2021

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Our washing machine broke this week and it just felt so crushing for a day or two. But, it led to a family day at the laudromat and a stop for donuts & ice cream, and new memories made. It reminded me to focus on the good and the bright and the joy. Between being utterly exhausted with this pregnancy and trying so hard to keep up, it's easy to feel like I'm drowning in the midst of life. In the end, we fixed the washing machine together, as a couple, tackling something we had no idea what to do - the internet is a great thing some days.

So, here's my Sunday edition. It's full of the happy and the bright and the joy I've found online this week. They are crammed into the corners of my mind and my social media presence and I save them and collect them between the other joy-filled ordinary moments of life. 

The cutest DIY wrapping paper.

How to paint a faux-tile doorstep. I need to figure out where I can do this in our house!

A new salad recipe to try for the summer.

Good words for the week.

We recently finished watching the entire Big Bang Theory series and I stumbled across this photoshoot that Jim Parsons did and I almost can't believe that it's Sheldon Cooper!

Could I BE any more excited?

My new favorite dress from Target.

Katharine Hepburn's Brownies - yes, please!

Living with Kids.

I've been following Ashley & Dino start their inn and it's dreamy and summer magic with amazing design all wrapped together. 

"I'm the judge who approved the custody arrangement in The Parent Trap, but in my defense, I didn't think they would go to the same camp."

Here's to next week - come what may and find the joy in it. 

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The Sunday Edition, 30

The Sunday Edition, 30

May 2, 2021

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It's a quiet Sunday. My crew is off secretly shopping for mother's day and hanging out in the sunshine outside. I'm inside, trying to convince myself to clean something but instead I think I'll start a new book or catch up on a show.

We're six weeks out from finishing the school year and while the kids love it and masks mandates around here have been relaxing, it's still a lot and we're all dreaming of the summer that's around the corner. In the meantime, we're living for the weekends.

And here's a few things from around the web...

The best pizza in every state. We happen to live about 30 minutes away from one in Georgia and you know I added it to my must-try list!

Hilton Carter x Target. I can't wait for this new collection to drop!

That "blah" feeling you've been feeling? It has a name! 

But, another really good point of view on the blah and languishing.

A salsa recipe I think I'll try out this spring.

Downtown Abbey is coming out with a movie sequel and I'm already planning my solo movie date!

Me, everyday.

A new dinner time family tradition, maybe? 

And, the parenting advice of the year.

Happy Sunday, friends.

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My Favorite Target Finds This Month

My Favorite Target Finds This Month

March 12, 2021

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Target is not disappointing with the home decor lately. With my kids in school full-time now, I can browse the aisles of Target to my hearts content and dream about all the new pieces I'd love to incorporate into our home.

Textured wall art // These caught my eye on a Target run a few weeks ago and I resisted snatching them up but I'm obsessing over the neutral vibe they give off.

Concrete planter // My favorite style of planter lately. These would look great on a back patio with some lemon grass or a fern.

Jug vase // A great natural piece for open shelving.

Tall glase vase & Short glass vase // The perfect vases for trying your hand at the dipped vase trend. 

Striped doormat // The perfect doormat to freshen up your porch for spring!

Dots print // Another print that stopped me in my tracks. I love the entire thing!  

Basket w/handles // I did snag up this basket and it's perfect for holding our library books.

Pillow // The Hearth & Hand line has a lot of great textured pillows and throw blankets right now. Of course, I'm always drawn to the black & white ones!

I could easily find a space for all of these items in our home!

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The Sunday Edition, 29

The Sunday Edition, 29

March 7, 2021

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I'm tired, you guys. Just exhausted and finding myself waking up everyday and pep talking myself to just get through the day. It's just the season we're in this week, month, year. It's all a lot. But, I cling to the daily joys and the normalness wherever I can find it. 

A new library book, ripe tomatoes to snack on, friday nights gathered around the TV watching the newest episode of WandaVision, school projects coming home, morning kisses from my babes, a stroll through the farmers market, a Target run, restocking the toilet paper basket and folding all the towels. 

If you're tired too, keep hanging in there. Add up all those joyful, mundane moments of your day and use them as fuel! 

And here's a few things from around the web...things that brought a smile to my face and a little joy to my soul.

Our go-to pancake recipe, as of lately. There's something about the mundane task of making pancake batter from scratch that has a spark of magic each time I do it.

This St. Patrick's Day themed charcuterie board is everything.

And, so is this holiday bin!

The astrological signs as emojis - so fitting!

A chocolate chip cookie that looks delicious.

These colored tumblers are so fun!

Some thoughts on marriage in a pandemic. 

A quite possibly wonderful summer.

Did you know - Disney reuses animation?!

This instagram post hit me in such a good way.

And, some good words to live by this month.

I wish you a sunny and relaxing Sunday!

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The Sunday Edition, 28

The Sunday Edition, 28

December 27, 2020

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Christmas is over and we're in the weird time of the month where we don't know what day it is and the house is a mess and we're starting to think we should probably do something that resembles life and productivity again!

We let the mess sit for a couple of days. We binged watched the first season of The Mandalorian. We cooked dinner and ate on the sofa. Then, we cleaned up the mess and watched more of The Mandalorian. 

The next week will be a good mix of holiday laziness and getting things in order before we leave for Florida and celebrate the kids' birthdays.

For now, here's a little something that resembles life and a few things from around the web...

A really good chocolate cake recipe! I'm going to use it for Lia's birthday cake this week.

An oral history of The Family Stone. All the feels when I watch this movie. It's probably my favorite Christmas movie. And, it was extra feel-y this year!

The kids favorite gifts from Christmas morning // Harry Potter legos & a skateboard

Smashed potatoes! A recipe I tried this week that was a hit.

20 ways to turn a baked potato into dinner.

15 bingeable books to read over the holiday break! I need to find my next book to read and I think I'll start with this list.

A little shelf-inspiration. We're playing around with the idea of wall-to-wall floating shelves in L's walk-in closet and this post gives me all the shelfy vibes!

A phone case loop. I got one in my stocking and I am so excited about the style!

And, Five Nice Things - a dinner game that looks like a fun way to get everyone talking more at the dinner table!

Happy Sunday! 

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The Sunday Edition, 27

The Sunday Edition, 27

December 13, 2020

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Taylor Swifts' new album. Listen to it, then listen to it again, and embrace this holiday gift that has been dropped on our laps. It fueled me through a two-hour wait in the car and a Saturday morning full of cleaning this week!

Time-lapse videos showing how much our plants move in a day. This one is so fun to watch!

Rom Com Your Way to Christmas Day. Yes, please! There's definitely a few of my favorites on this list with The Family Stone at the top!

A thoughtful gift guide based on self-care in the bathroom. Because self-care is 2020 in everything.

Here's a super cute + festive craft for your kids.

A new blog I am excited to dive into and check out. I've followed Baby Boy Bakery on Instagram for years so this should be fun!

And, a fun snow paint DIY from her blog!

2020 in pictures.

And, on a totally different note, confetti holiday shortbread cookies that are finding their way to our Christmas baking day!

Lastly, a great DIY on how to create a gorgeous Christmas garland using inexpensive faux materials. 

Happy Sunday, friends. We're off to Michaels for crafting supplies and finishing up The Great British Baking show.

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The Sunday Edition, 26

The Sunday Edition, 26

December 6, 2020

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It's December, friends! I feel like we're entering the last stretch of the year but we still can't see the finish line. So, I'm filling up the month with lots of cheery and magic and trying to learn how to take things slow and breath and let go of the "extra" and the things that make me feel heavy with anxiety.

And here's a few things from around the web... all of which have made me smile, seem do-able, or have just made me sigh with relief.

Hibachi at home! We love doing hibachi in the kitchen with our countertop griddle and wok pan but we just upgraded to a Blackstone griddle and I cannot wait to start hibachi nights in the backyard!

Our nightly read-along with the kids this month!

Such a pretty + modern farmhouse in upstate New York.

A gingerbread craft I'm adding to our advent calendar!

I'm starting this series of winter novels this month and I'm pretty excited about them.

Some wise words while I, and I'm sure you guys too, are struggling with the decisions we find ourselves having to make.

'Tis the season for lots of Elf on the Shelf ideas. And yes, some of them are so basic making them right up my low elf-pectations alley!

A beautifully written article by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex after experiencing her miscarriage.

Santa mugs in different skin tones. Those are currently sold out but Target has a cute alternative! Fun fact, we collect one new Santa mug every year and eventually I plan to split the collect up with the kids when they grow up and have their own homes and families.

And there we have it. I wish you a sigh of relief on this Sunday!

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The Holiday Weekend

The Holiday Weekend

November 30, 2020

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Five days at home with no virtual zoom school and no real plans was bliss. We spent Thanksgiving day hanging out at home, just the four of us. We made monkey muffins for breakfast and snuggled up to watch the parade. And, we set out a new Christmas puzzle and worked on it all weekend.

It was a gorgeous, cloudy day so we pulled our dining table out to the deck and dined out there. The usual menu - roasted herb turkey, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes...and, a giant skillet cookie topped with ice cream to cap the night off.

The rest of the weekend was filled with family soccer games in the backyard, rounds of video games, tree trimming, stringing lights on the house, watching holiday movies, and visiting the big man in red himself!

There was also lots of errands and grocery shopping and loads of laundry. Real life sprinkled in amongst the magic and cheer.

Counting down the days until our next holiday weekend!

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What we're watching on netflix

What we're watching on netflix

October 28, 2020

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Has there been a better time to veg out on the sofa (or in bed!) and binge watch your favorite shows and movies? 

As a family, we have always bonded over a good movie or TV series. That's not to say we don't put some screen time rules in place, because we totally do. In fact, we allow screens (besides zoom school) only once during the school day and that's when we settle down for the kids' slightly overlapping lunch times and the kids watch a show together. Lately, it's been The Worst Witch and the bewitching, cozy vibes that fill our living room is such a feel-good thing for the middle of our day.

Our other family favorites include Hamilton (it's still a thing in our house!) and The Great British Baking Show. Despite having a list of favorites though, we still deal with the dreaded "what should we watch" situation where we scroll through apps for at least 20 minutes trying to land on the perfect thing to watch. So, it sounded fun to throw together a list for you guys, in case you too need to settle the next "what should we watch" debate!

Some of these are great shows to put on in the background that require no focus. M always turns on a show when folding laundry or washing dishes. My go-to lately is an episode of The Crown while folding 5 hampers of laundry. And others are good for family snuggle sessions on the sofa and some are just for mom to chill and veg out to!

Happy watching! 

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