Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I co-host the Your Home Story podcast and believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm so proud to say that we've put out 100 episodes of the Your Home Story podcast!! It's been two years of putting love and energy into this project and I SO appreciate all of you who've tuned in! I hope you've loved learning from us!!
This week we have a fun episode and giveaway...
This week on the show Ashley and I take a look back at the previous 99 episodes on the show today. From fan favorites to personal favorites, hear our thoughts on past shows and where the podcast is going next year!
I shared that I loved Episode 53 which was all about having friends over while renovating, Episode 70 which was the interview that we did with Nicole Wear about real estate and staging, and Episode 79, about how to make a cookie cutter house more personal.
Another great podcast episode was episode 83, where I shared all the behind-the-scenes details on our kitchen reno!
Make sure to check out our post on Instagram this week to enter the giveaway with Sleek Socket!
Otto will be 20 months old at Christmas this year, and he is such a fun age and getting to really enjoy holiday decor, colors, characters, and new activities. At Halloween he loved the scarecrows we passed at stores and now he loves brightly colored Santas and snowman faces. He also loves our lit-up Christmas tree and the little animal ornaments I just bought this year.
Christmas is a very special time for both of our families, and Jason grew up with (at times 4) other kids in the house and a mom who did a great job of making the holidays magical for them, and all about family. All of this really has us thinking about what kinds of traditions we want to continue and create new for our family.
Childhood favorites: We’re bringing in some favorites from our childhood, like we just ordered Otto a personalized playful stocking that we hope he can use every year (sold out, here's a similar one). For subsequent kids we'll order them something similar, but not matching. I also ordered the cutest baby Santa hat, although that’s partly for us to enjoy how cute Otto looks at it! He does like it, though.
Christmas tree! This one has been really important to Jason and me, too, toddler in the house or not. Every year that we’ve been together we have cut a tree down, but this year we had to fudge the tradition a little because our favorite tree farm is pretty far away, and we just don’t have time with Jason studying and our limited weekend time together to go up there this year. So we picked out this live tree at Home Depot (I’ll actually be sharing more about that experience and their selection of live and faux greenery later).
Christmas itself: We live close to all of our parents so we’ll get to do the same classic Christmas Eve traditions with Jason‘s mom and then Christmas morning and brunch with my parents. We are lucky that Christmas Eve is the big day for Jason‘s excited Christmas Day is for mine, so we don’t have to trade off every year or anything. We get to see both sides in important ways every year.
New traditions: We’re also hoping to create our own new traditions, but it’s been a little hard choosing what we want to add. Visits to Santa was not part of either of our childhoods so we’re not too attached to that option. We did go to ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo this year which was fun, but I’m not sure we'll need to go every year. However those are the kinds of things that we think we should start doing most Christmas seasons, just some kind of special festive outing. Going to a tree farm might satisfy that, or driving around looking at Christmas lights, or other kind of touristy thing.
Bundled up the baby and saw the zoo at night for ZooLights!
Christmas movies: Next year Otto might be old enough to pay attention to and understand Elf, one of our favorites, and Muppet Christmas Carol, family classic for both of our families. Right now he doesn’t really watch TV or understand what’s happening much, I don’t think.
Santa mugs: It’s silly but one of my favorite things to pull out of our Christmas decor boxes are my Santa mugs (similar). I have a set of four and when I ordered them it was pre-kids and Jason reassured me that someday we would use them and our kids would all drink hot cocoa out of them. I think about that every year. For now I just drink my tea in the one or two that I unpack each year. But I really love them!, and they are our only festive dishware so I hope these can become part of the traditions too.
I guess I’m saying I’m kind of reaching here and really trying to build traditions, and Jason and I have talked about it but not had any brilliant ideas. We both love Christmas and decking out our house and then spending time with our families, so maybe that's enough? But in our journey as parents we are also trying to create a kid-friendly household and lifestyle and are happy to change to accommodate our kids more.
Sounds like it will have to be something that evolves overtime! I’d love to hear your Christmas traditions, with little kids especially. Always love to hear from you guys in the comments below!
Ashley has done several great DIYs in her son’s room in the past, but he’s getting older and it was time for a space designed for his current needs. His room got some big upgrades including lighting, flooring, and decor, and turned out beautiful and kid-approved!
SO many sales popping up these days, it is getting exhausting! (And this is coming from someone who loves a good discount and watches for the big ones.) There are a few new sales to share for Cyber Monday so I'm keeping it REAL short and sweet!
It's not a deal if you don't need it, remember? Turn the other ear to all the sales banners popping up on every website everywhere and check out my SHORT list below of a few of the really good ones!
Best of Cyber Monday and Cyber Week sales for home decor, gifts, and clothing
Juniper Print Shop 40% off digital downloads, 25% off prints, through 12/2: Small business run by a designer I love. So many cool original and unique prints!
Serena & Lily25% off almost everything through 12/3. This is Serena and Lily‘s best sale of the year! I recently used their Sutter Velvet Quilt and shams, plus some throw pillows, and this winter bedroom makeover I did. Such nice quality, and everything is curated so beautifully so it all mixes and matches well. With the 25% off, it’s a great time to check out their beautiful bedding, lighting, and more.
Targetup to 50% off. Tons of categories. Overwhelming. High points: furniture, 30% off clothing (men, women, and kids) plus extra 15% off, half off this Instant Pot. I do recommend checking out the clothing, though, if you've been needing basics for you or anyone in the family. Also this beautiful candle that also smells amazing and rarely goes on sale!
Pottery Barn up to 50% off everything in-store and online through Monday: 40% off all throws, 20% off all armchairs, 30% off all stockings and tree skirts, 25% off all dining chairs, 25% off all dinnerware and entertaining. Up to 50% off lighting, they have some great pieces.
Madewell 30% off plus extra 10% off. This one was a surprise to Madewell fans out there! Never seen them discount their product this much. Makes it much more affordable luxury!
Okay, that's it, I'm tired just thinking about it. I just ordered a few more things from Target I've been eyeing, and I do still have some gifts to buy, but I hope to be done shopping for the season soon!!
Updated to cover all of Black Friday weekend (11/29-12/1)!
As I shared in this post... I really try to keep calm on Black Friday and have learned to pare it down to the sales on things I really, actually want, and are actually better deals than usual. With that in mind I'm sharing the sales I'm actually looking at this year, the really good discounts, and my favorite products for myself and gifts.
I didn't crowd this list with every single big retailer and their BF coupon code; nope, I kept it manageable and listed just the best ones I can actually recommend you spend your time on!
Top 12 Home Decor, Gifts, and Clothing Black Friday Sales
Home Decor & Gifts
World Market up to 50% off! through Sunday. 40% off all furniture, 50% off toys & games, 50% off mugs (great gifts!!), 40% off clothing & jewelry, 50% off throw pillows, 50% off baskets! I look to World Market every Black Friday because they have some really great sales on home stuff as well as jewelry/toys/gifts. A lot of these items do not go on sale outside Black Friday, so it is definitely a great time to buy.
Urban Outfitters buy one, get one 50% off through Saturday. You could probably buy all of your gifts at Urban Outfitters, they have something unique, fun, and quirky for everyone! I always love their home pieces (like sconces, which you often want two of anyway) during this big sale, but they also have some cute smaller items like candles and this sloth heating pad I shared about in my gift guide!
Serena & Lily 25% off almost everything through 12/3. This is Serena and Lily‘s best sale of the year! I recently used their Sutter Velvet Quilt and shams, plus some throw pillows, and this winter bedroom makeover I did. Such nice quality, and everything is curated so beautifully so it all mixes and matches well. With the 25% off, it’s a great time to check out their beautiful bedding, lighting, and more.
Targetup to 40% off home plus extra 15% off with code TURKEY through Saturday. Rugs, furniture, Hearth & Hand line, candles... lots of trendy pieces for you or gifts!
Wayfair up to 80% off. It'll take some searching but you could find extra great deals on anything you need for your home here... great place for rugs, lighting, and more. My bedroom light fixture is from Wayfair and is on sale right now. I get lots of compliments on it! It is great in an entry too!
Pottery Barn up to 50% off everything in-store and online through Monday: 40% off all throws, 20% off all armchairs, 30% off all stockings and tree skirts, 25% off all dining chairs, 25% off all dinnerware and entertaining. They have some really great classic Christmas stuff! Love these stockings.
Abercrombie 40-50% off entire store through 12/2 plus free shipping, no minimum. I've rediscovered Abercrombie lately and they have THE BEST sweaters and a ton of options for jeans. Excited to try these Curve Love skinny jeans!
J.Crew Factory 60% off everything plus extra 50% off clearance through Sunday. I have been loving J.Crew Factory lately for jeans that are good to wear to work--it is so hard to find high-waisted, straight jeans that don’t have frayed edges! I love a couple of options from J.Crew Factory. Definitely size down at least one size in these and others. I am ordering this sweater for sure! I also found some of the coolest patterned socks that I am totally buying my brother-in-law here!
Old Navy 40-50% off everything through Monday. Honestly, you can tell Old Navy must have a big markup because they do 50 to 60% off sales on select items pretty often. But the discount off the entire store is unique to the holidays and it's a good time to buy stuff that doesn’t often go on sale, like maternity and college/other sport branded tees etc.
Loft Outlet 50% off everything plus extra 15% off, through Saturday. They have more of the same that you’ll find at Loft (also doing a 50% off sale), but at better prices. Good place to buy work clothes. Tons of selection of sweaters also great for blazers. I am in love with this heart bobble sweater! I would normally get it in ivory but I think I have enough ivory sweaters, and I don’t have any red ones right now! I’m going bold!
Targetdoorbuster deals throughout the store including pajamas starting at $5 and sweaters starting at $10. Target goes a little crazy and I swear will have a different deal every week now until Christmas… But for Black Friday they are doing some bigger sales like these. I order a lot from Target because they give you free 2-day shipping most of the time, or ship to store, and returns are so easy. I just ordered these PJs!
Madewell 30% off everything through Sunday. So much style, good quality, everything is flattering. Higher prices but 30% off is the best sale they ever do and they don't do it often. Love their sweaters! Also, I just learned they have some incredible services like mending jeans that wear thin or tear, hemming jeans for you, and recycling any brand of old jeans.
Banana Republic Factory and Gap Factory 60% off everything plus extra 15% off online, through Saturday. You can shop both with the same/consolidated cart. Gap Factory has good basics and Banana Republic Factory has great work clothes. I love this blouse and this sweatshirt!
Good luck shopping and happy holiday season! May it be low-stress and fun!
I love a good bedroom decor update!! I used to refresh our bedroom (art above the bed, decorative pillows, bedding) more regularly, but since doing our bedroom makeover One Room Challenge last fall it's felt so "done" I haven't changed much.
But, Serena & Lily wanted to show off some of their products in our home during their Thank You Event (25% off site-wide!!!) and I fell in love with some of their pieces, and made some changes--and I love it!
Thanks to Serena & Lily for engaging me as a partner in design and providing this new bedding for my review!
