It has been awhile, friends! As our home and life settles into a pace where there's less renovating and decorating going on, I've been inclined to post less. But, I do want to share with you when there's a project worthy of sharing. Sound good? We made some changes to our dining room recently. From the soft jute rug to the vintage mirror to the new trim paint (serendipitously called Jute AF-80 by Benjamin Moore), these updates have infused our dining room with the charm and warmth it was missing. Let's talk a bit more about that jute rug as I feel natural fibre rugs are something you can ..read more

Hey friend. I hope your holidays were wonderful and you've had a great start to 2024. I'm starting the new year - and this first post of the year - with a new mindset. There's a question that's been lingering in my mind for quite some time, and I think, finally, I have my answer. Part I What's your endgame?  What are you working towards? What do you want your legacy to be? Heavy questions, I know. But really, this is what I've been pondering. Especially today... it's the start of the new year... and it's my birthday! :) For those of us in the second half of our lives, these kinds ..read more

Does it feel like winter where you are? I had wanted to share photos of our outdoor decorations and Christmas porch covered in snow, but the weather has been unseasonably warm. Not that I mind - I'm not a fan of winter so the less snow to shovel, the better. One outdoor task I do enjoy is setting up our Christmas Porch Decor. I try and create a nostalgic feel with our porch display. There's something joyful about walking by a house and being reminded of childhood memories and festive celebrations of years gone by. Christmas Porch Decor My porch decor always makes use of the same basic form ..read more

Have you been enjoying the month of December? It's amazing how quickly this month passes by.  We'll be hosting friends and family soon so I've added Christmas decorations to our basement. The basement is where we hang out for movie nights, crafting, and where the kids escape to during family parties. Today I wanted to give you a tour of our basement family room, our kitchenette, and laundry room with their pretty holiday touches. Christmas Basement Decorations When we renovated the basement three years ago, we transformed it from an awkward, dated room that always felt a little creepy t ..read more

Here's the thing I've learned as I've gotten older: the best gifts to give are those the receiver has actually said they've wanted.  A few weeks ago, my family decided to do something that I was doubtful about, but now I am 100% behind. We each put together our own personal wish lists on Elfster and shared those lists with each other. Since we have lots of family birthdays in December and January, this makes gift buying through these months so much easier. Not only that, but you're 100% guaranteed to love the gifts you receive.  No more receiving a gift that you would never u ..read more

It's a tradition on this blog for me to share a Christmas home tour. Today I want to share the heart of our home during Christmas time - our cozy living room. Here's 14 ideas that you can use to get that cozy Christmas feel in your own home.  Our Cozy Christmas Living Room   1. Set A Color Scheme The easiest way to bring a cohesive and cozy look to your holiday home is by decorating with a clear color scheme. Whether your preference is for wintry blues, neutral tones, or retro brights, you can bring a unique look to life with color. This year, I leaned into the traditiona ..read more

Have you put up your Christmas decorations? With the arrival of December, it truly feels like the holiday season is upon. I'll be sharing some of the spaces I've decorated for the holidays, starting today with the Christmas fireplace mantel. For me, the mantel (or mantle as most people misspell it!) is the most fun to decorate, even moreso than the Christmas tree. With the tree, you're likely using the same tree and mostly the same decorations year after year. It can be difficult to achieve a different look without buying lots of new things. In contrast, the mantel provides the opportunity f ..read more

It's here, Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. As a content creator, I get the heads-up on the biggest and best deals that will be landing in stores today so I wanted to share with you the best Black Friday deals you'll find on Amazon.  And to make your holiday shopping easier, I'm sharing the deals you'll find on Amazon Canada and Amazon US separately. As a Canadian, shipping fees, duties, and taxes are things I'm particularly sensitive to at this time of year so these gift guides come with no unexpected surprises. Note: some of these deals are exclusive for Prime memb ..read more

One thing I love about having a teen daughter? As she gets older, we get to share our things. From clothes to shoes to makeup, if my things go missing, I know who has them. Today's gift guide features gift ideas for the teenage girl. Funny enough, I wouldn't mind finding these gifts in my stocking either. Don't tell her but I just might need to borrow that liquid blush! Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!  Note: affiliate links have been included for shopping convenience. Gifts for Teen Girls Click HERE to shop the entire collection JavaScript is currently disabled in this ..read more

Are you hosting any holiday events this year? I'll be hosting our annual Pancakes & Pyjamas party - which really is just an excuse to enjoy breakfast for dinner. Hosting requires a lot of work, which is why its nice to acknowledge the effort your host or hostess put in by giving them a thoughtful gift. I like to give hostess gifts that are small yet practical, perhaps something they would love but would never have bought for themselves. Check out some ideas in my gift guide for the host & hostess below. And in case you missed them, see my previous gift guides for: Outdoor Decor, For ..read more