I have talked A LOT about the love languages so if you've been following for a while, you probably know what a fan I am! I think understanding our own and each other's can be so helpful to loving each other well. We keep this template on our fridge as a daily reminder of how [...]
29 creative ways to celebrate love on valentines day (& the rest of them too!)
I shared this blog post last year and thought it would be fun to resurface the ideas in light of the love week! 😉 Only this year - I'm adding one more! Because it's a leap year now and the extra day of the month deserves an extra idea! So here's my bonus idea for [...]
Simple systems + habits that help my family stay organized
Before I talk to you about organization, I thought I'd share a little blurb from today's instagram encouragement: I had GRAND plans for January! I was ready to take on this new decade with so much intentionality and anticipation! But somehow, the first month is already over and it kind of ended up feeling more [...]
Our babysitter notes template + some simple self-care tips to start today
The topic of self-care tends to make me uncomfortable. You too? I don't love the buzzword meaning it's come to hold of splurging and spoiling ourselves... If we hold our self-care to that standard, I think we'll face disappointment regularly (at least I will) because that just isn't often realistic. Don't get me wrong, I [...]
Tips for simplifying your home & heart this year
Does it seem crazy to you that it was a whole year ago we were throwing out everything that didn't "spark joy" and de-cluttering our houses along with everyone else in America influenced by the Marie Condo craze?! The year FLEW by and, if the first half of January is any indication, it's only getting [...]
Yearly intentions tool
Am I the only one who's felt a little overwhelmed by the hype of a new decade and all it's "new you" possibilities?! We shouldn't already feel burnt out by 2020 on day 3, right?! Asking for a friend.. 😉 Well, in the words of my last January self, "Goals are good. Goals aren't God." [...]
Festive & (nearly) free toddler activities to try this season + a few of my favorite resources!
This one's for the moms of littles who don't necessarily consider themselves a "crafty" or "Pinteresty" mom! Because boy oh boy, is it the season of seeing what every other mom is doing on social media is and wondering, "How do they have time to build that doll house by hand AND make bakery level [...]
3 steps to overcoming holiday stress
It's no secret that I love making the most of every opportunity to create magical memories around the holidays! And I LOVE sharing those ideas with you... Just take my latest blog posts, "Mom's Make the Magic" or "How-to Make a Homemade Holiday Advent Calendar (in under an hour!)" for example! But the other side of [...]
How to make your own homemade holiday advent calendar (in under an hour!)
One hour before it was time to leave town for Thanksgiving celebrations and you know what I was doing? No, not packing - too predictable! 😉 I was creating my first DIY advent calendar of course! When I get inspired to tackle a DIY, I tend to just jump in and figure the rest out [...]
Moms make the magic!
This week I sat on the couch with a dear friend grieving her mom going to heaven earlier than you ever think your mom will. I can barely imagine how that must feel. My heart hurts for hers and inevitably feels a heavy sense of appreciation for my own mom, remembering that our future on [...]
Honey for the holiday soul + My top 5 farmhouse show & bazaar recommendations in the PNW
The older I get the more I think the end of the year is becoming my favorite! Don't tell summer 😉 There are plenty of reasons to love it, but I think the best part is a universal shift in focus. Fun and joy become a priority. Our schedules fill up with gatherings and we [...]
My favorite (affordable) fall staples & where to find them + my fave festive breakfast recipe!
I've heard it going around that, "September is the new January." I don't know about you, but I totally feel this way! The change in weather and the holidays around the corner make me feel like anything could happen! All the hustle and bustle of this time of year is so exciting, but it can [...]
The secret to finding peace in a new season
Today is the first day of fall! I don't know about you, but this time of year always makes me think deeply about new seasons. I love the fresh start feeling fall brings. I always have. Don't you remember the way the first day of school felt like a chance to be whoever you wanted [...]
My top coffee table titles + styling & where to start
It seems like every living room magazine cover and Pinterest picture is complete with a perfectly styled coffee table that looks like it's never touched. Do you ever wonder how they actually use their table for coffee? 😉 Or think it looks nice, but feel unsure about where to start in achieving your own look? [...]
7 (family friendly) hikes in the PNW that should be on your adventure list!
I know Starbucks has officially come out with their pumpkin spice drinks, but this is your friendly reminder that summer is not actually "over" until September 21! And if you're a Pacific Northwest local, a little rain doesn't stop you anyway! 😉 That means there's plenty of time to soak in the great outdoors - [...]
The easiest whitewashing how-to in just 3 steps!
We're in full on remodel mode at our house and projects are happening everywhere. If you don't follow along with us on instagram or hadn't heard, God recently provided a way for us to buy the house we've been living in unexpectedly and we are SO thankful! Also so ready to start making it our [...]
The advice I’d tell my newlywed self
Last month we celebrated 6 whole years of marriage! It doesn’t even seem possible, but then again, I’m just a few years away from being with Jordan for more of my life than not, so it does kind of feel like we’ve been together forever! A whole lot of learning has taken place over those [...]
The easiest surf & turf nachos you HAVE to try before the summers over!
It's been a while since I shared a recipe here and this one is easily one of my favorites ever. We've been making an extra effort to open up our home and prioritize community this summer, but sometimes that also means extra work and that can be enough to hold you back from extending an [...]
The secret ingredient to meaningful party planning (it’s simpler than you think!)
We've had a whole lot of reasons to celebrate and parties to plan recently so I decided to round up my best tips for maximizing meaningfulness in your even planning! Because isn't that the whole point?! Thoughtfulness is THE secret ingredient that takes an event from "fun party" to sentimental moments and memories! A while [...]
Pack up & get moving! – A pep talk for when God says “no” (or worse, “nothing”)
Once there was this job I thought was surely mine. I hadn’t even graduated college yet and I really wanted it (I thought I did anyways), but that job was not mine. It was my first big rejection and it wasn’t fun. When I didn’t land that job I was embarrassed and even a little [...]
How to cultivate a positive family culture (+ an easy & kid friendly 4th of July recipe!)
I've been thinking a lot about the power we have as women to shape the future memories of our family. Now that I'm a mom, I look back on fond childhood memories with a whole new understanding that there was very likely a parent behind that memory - fostering an environment, creating an experience, and [...]
A new dad’s top 7 tips for new dads
Let me introduce you to my husband (& Finnley's dad), Jordan! If you follow along with me on instagram or have been reading here for a while, you’ve probably heard of him a time or two 😉 I’m not just being nice when I call him my better half! He’s a gem - the kind [...]
2019 summer bucket lists
Not too long ago, I looked forward to making summer bucket lists with my own little fam and I pinned fun ideas for how to display them together... well you better believe that this year our list is on the fridge and I'm already having so much fun with it!! You know what I wish [...]
How to survive a quarter life crisis
The other day on instagram I shared that birthdays always feel bittersweet to me. I wrote about my 24th birthday and the way I cried sad tears about getting older because I was overwhelmed with the sense that time is running out for me. I recognize that 24 is pretty young and so is 26, [...]
How to turn your pinspiration into a party that won’t break your budget!
In the last 30 days I hosted two bridal showers for my sister, a 1st birthday party for my son, and a Mother’s Day lunch for family and friends. It was a party planning marathon and I'm combining all the fun DIY and budget friendly tips from each of them in this one packed post! [...]
How to turn your DIY hobby into a side biz (+ how it can strengthen your relationship!)
Recently I shared my best tips for furniture flipping and we went step by step through my latest DIY project! If you haven’t read that yet, you can right here! 🙂 I’ve always had a love for DIY and it’s something I’ve taught myself through a combo of the internet, learning from others, and a [...]
DIY for everyone! Basic furniture flipping tips to help you tackle your next project
Recently I shared about how The Guest Room all started with some DIY projects in the spare room of our little apartment. If you haven’t read that yet, you can find it here - hope it encourages you 🙂 At that time, we were approaching DIY for a profit and we learned a ton of [...]
The Guest Room – Where it all started + the calling you & I have in common!
A couple years ago, Jordan and I started new jobs, moved to a new city, and started fresh in almost every way. We had led very busy, full lives up to that point and that year was a time of forced rest and intention as individuals and in our marriage like we’d never had. It [...]
Permission to Shine
FEARLESS! That was going to be my word for 2019! I chose it prayerfully and purposefully. I chose it hoping God would align events and opportunities in my life throughout the next year that would allow me the chance to exercise this declaration and grow to really claim the identity of a woman who laughs [...]
How to have impact!
After becoming a mom I felt this weird insecurity about going back to church. Getting there in the morning felt like so much work and the fear of throwing our son off his schedule was an easy excuse so I let the worries about the little things keep me from showing up. I know church [...]
28 out-of-the-box ways to love your Valentine this week
My very first real date was on Valentines day in 2009 (with my then childhood crush/now husband!) We ate a heart shaped pizza and went to a movie… good times 😉 It has been so special to call him my valentine through so many stages and seasons of life, but it makes coming up with [...]
3 ways to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day (no matter your budget or season!)
Our first Valentine’s Day together, Jordan was 16 and his driver’s license was so new he couldn’t even legally take me anywhere! So let’s just say we had lots of living room dates that year! From then on, we spent most Valentine’s in the gym at a basketball game or working around an evening practice. [...]
Who do you think you are? (How personality assessments can change your relationships!)
The concept of knowing ourselves is kind of odd. I mean, who knows you better than you?! The funny thing is, life has a way of making us question, "who the heck am I?!" I'm not just talking mid-life-crises (or quarter-life-crises or new-mom-life-crises... a very real thing, I'm learning!) The most famous psychologists throughout history [...]
What are your intentions?
Hey there! Remember when I said, “New Years Resolutions are SO 2018”?! Well, this goals oriented girl is learning a lesson in following her own advice and letting go of unnecessary expectations! For instance, one of my intentions for the new year was to be more consistent around here. Ideally, I’d love to send new [...]
What sparks real joy (clearing the clutter of our homes & hearts)
I don't know if it's the Marie Kondo craze or just the fresh start feeling of a new year, but I feel the need to out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new everything in my house! It seems like everyone I know is on this bandwagon, but between saving our home budget for a someday downpayment and now having registered for [...]
Is date night dead?
I turned 20 the month before getting married. The people close to us weren’t surprised (actually, we even got a few “finally!”s) but from most people we heard, “Why would you do that?” “You’re so young!” “You have your whole life ahead of you!” And my personal favorite, “Say goodbye to freedom, fun, and romance!” [...]
Why New Years’ Resolutions Are So 2018
Haaappy New Year! It’s the first day of 2019 and I cannot believe how much life last year brought (literally! 😉 ) We wrapped it up with a snowy adventure and rang in the new with a slow day of reflecting, resting, and enjoying each other! I have a bittersweet love for the last days [...]
Why I Chose To Be A Stay At Home Mom (& the financial approach that works for us!)
Some days being a stay at home mom is magical and I soak in the blessing and privilege it is. Other days, I really miss feeling a greater sense of day-to-day purpose and I feel… less than privileged. Maybe even less valuable in this world. Isn’t it funny how quickly our sense of identity can [...]
5 Soups Your Family Will Love This Winter (& my best tip for building friendships this season!)
Happy December! As much as I LOVE providing great meals for my family, I don’t actually enjoy cooking all that much. Thats why I usually aim for meals that are homemade and delicious, but require minimal ingredients and time to prepare. Ideally, I like to make at least one meal a week that's a favorite [...]
You Were Made For This
“I do not fear… I have God. It was for this that I was born.” -Joan of Arc A while back I attended a women’s retreat with my church. During the weekend we were encouraged to listen for what God was speaking over our next season and to declare that word for our lives. I [...]
How To Overcome Loneliness (& 5 tips for making your house homey)
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” (Acts 2:46) The more women I talk to the more I hear this same thing, “I need more friends! You too?! Oh, I’m not alone!” Oh my goodness it’s sad and relieving all at once because I have felt like that [...]
How To Quiet a Noisy Heart
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) Recently I was sitting on the beach completely alone, completely quiet, and it was like I couldn’t even hear myself. Do you ever experience that feeling? When your mind is so full and you’ve gone for so long without being truly still that your heart [...]
How To Have A Life Giving Marriage
One of the most meaningful compliments I can receive is someone sharing that they look up to my marriage. Mostly because (as easy as Jordan makes loving him 😉 ) it’s probably the thing I’ve worked the hardest at. We’ve been working towards loving each other well for 10 years now! There are a lot [...]
My Top 24 Podcast Picks
Podcasts are my new obsession! I started getting really into them when I was commuting for work and these days I try not to have the TV on much while I'm home with Finnley so I'm all about listening to podcasts. Sometimes when I just feel like the voices of the world are getting to [...]
7 Prayers to Pray Over Your Husband
Praying over my husband has been a game changer! I believe God uses it to not only bless his life, but to change my heart towards my husband to be more like God's heart towards him. To give you some suggestions for how to start praying for your significant other, I've created this prayer page [...]
The 5 Love Languages
I think I’m super funny when I tell people that donuts are my Love Language. 😉 But really my top Love Languages are Words of Affirmation and Receiving Gifts. (Pretty sure donuts count as gifts though!) There have been times in our marriage when either my husband, Jordan, or I will feel like we could [...]
