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Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I 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 also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

11.30.2017

Girly boho nursery design! Mood board

I have a friend who recently moved into a charming old house and is decorating room by room. Her 1-year-old daughter's room is on the empty side and she wanted to create a playful, pretty space for her!

I collected a bunch of ideas inspired by some of her favorite pins, and helped her shop. Check out the mood board we came up with!

First, here are some of our top inspirations.
Source/Source/Source

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11.27.2017

Top 6 Cyber Monday-Tuesday sales 2017

This happens every year. You think you're going to get a bunch of shopping done on Black Friday and over the weekend, but the relaxing days off pass so quickly and then those sales are over. Thankfully our consumerist culture (love/hate) has created Cyber Monday and we all have ONE more chance to be “first-minute” shoppers and get great goodies for gifts, home, and maybe ourselves at some of the best deals of the year.

But it’s Monday, so who has time?? I’ve rounded up my favorite SIX sales this year—at places you probably already shop, and places with great gift ideas—for easy scrolling below. Can you guess what my favorite is??!?

Some are good through Tuesday!

J. CREW FACTORY
60% off everything!!!! and 50% off clearance
DATE: 11/27-28
CODE: CYBER
(I loooove their jewelry! Great gift too!)

MADEWELL
Take 25% off everything
DATE: 11/27
CODE: GOODMOOD

NORDSTROM
Extra 20% OFF selected sale items. FREE shipping. FREE returns.
DATE: 11/27

SERENA & LILY
25% off everything
DATE: 11/20 – 11/28
CODE: BESTDAY

TARGET
Extra 15% off almost everything!!
DATE: 11/27
(my top pick is this mirror which is an extra 15% off the sale price, I want one for every room! PLUS--all the Magnolia Hearth & Hand stuff is 15% off!!)

UPDATE! Tuesday 11/28: 40% off bed and bath at TARGET!

URBAN OUTFITTERS
$50 off $150 purchase or $15 off 75
DATE: 11/27
(That means my favorite throw of all time, that I wish for every year, is basically 30% off!!)

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11.23.2017

TOP Black Friday 2017 sales for early bird Christmas shopping, home decor, sewing, and more!

We never did it when I was a kid, so as an adult I used to be totally into early bird Black Friday morning shopping for deals and sales. But the past couple years it has been stressful, time-consuming, and not that fruitful!

This year I have HAD IT with in-person shopping at the big stores and I'm doing all my Black Friday shopping online--and hoping to make a big chunk in our gifting list!

I've been watching for the sales that I actually care about (and you will, too) and have rounded up the TOP ones! Read on for gift ideas, home decor, a great quality fabric source, good stuff for yourself, and more!

Some of these have launched early--shop Thanksgiving and Black Friday!

TOP Black Friday Sales for Home, Gifts, Sewing, and You



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11.22.2017

Fixer upper gift guide! For the DIYer/Home Improvement Lover

It’s that time of year again and I am pumped!! I love the holidays and really enjoy thinking about gifts for people, always wish I spent more time on it than I can find later in the season. So I want to start earlier this year and be a "first-minute shopper" (term I just heard for the first time the other day!!).

I’ve shared a few of our favorite, most useful, best purchase items during our home renovation of last year, and I had a request for a gift guide with more ideas! So if you have any new homeowners or even seasoned home improvement lovers who could use some new tools (or if that’s you!) please enjoy these ideas for useful, but still exciting, gifts!

These are not boring things like extension cords--these are things you and your friends and family will actually want, not just need!

Things for hard work, big projects, little projects, rest and relaxation, and celebrating your DIY efforts!

Read my notes on each of these below and click the black/white plus sign icons to shop.


What'd I miss? What are your favorite project, inspiration, or relaxation projects after you've finished working on a DIY project (or just cleaning up around the house)?


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11.16.2017

Sweaters for fall/winter--for the very occasional, reluctant shopper like me

I used to love shopping. In high school, shopping for clothes was probably my favorite activity. I saved my allowance and lunch money up and took lunches from home so I could accumulate enough to buy quasi-designer brands at Nordstrom Rack. I went shopping after school, on weekends... this was before online shopping was that successful, so you really had to go out to do it. SO time-consuming.

I had time back then I guess, but now, I almost never make time for shopping and I find it so unpleasant when I do decide I want to buy something in particular and I go to multiple stores and can't find it.

I guess you could say "I hate shopping"... but, what I've found works for me is avoiding the stores altogether most of the year, then around November-December when there are really good sales and my wardrobe is looking pretty boring, I treat myself with what I need and it feels so good.

So I did that again recently--ONLINE!! I bought myself sweaters, a quilted vest, some tops, and some maternity jeans...


It was a big success. I ordered two sizes of a couple things like the jeans, and returned the wrong size to the store. But the sweaters all fit, which is great because they are almost sold out of some in-store.

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11.14.2017

The easiest--Satisfying sausage & greens Paleo soup recipe (and my formula for easy, comforting soups!)

I'm in the second trimester now but still not feeling my best, but hungry all the time and know what sounds the best?? Soup! Not thick soup like chowder or chili, but a soothing, savory, simple-flavored soup with plenty of broth.

I went to a girls' night with friends a while back and the hostess made a big pot of Paleo Zuppa Toscana, with Italian sausage, potatoes, and kale. It was sooo good and just what I wanted! I've since made my own at home, but with whatever ingredients I have on hand. It's so easy and fast, and the perfect soup I've been wanting! Here's my recipe, which you can modify with different proteins and types of greens, even different starches if you like.
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Best of the Magnolia + Target Hearth & Hand collection

11.10.2017

Best of the Magnolia + Target Hearth & Hand collection

You've probably heard about the Hearth & Hand collection by Chip and Joanna Gaines that hit Target stores on November 5th. If you were out shopping, you may have seen lots of stylish-looking women hitting up Target first thing that Sunday morning, and if you were at home, you may have seen loooooots of Instagram Stories of the same iron house-shaped frame inside the store, and the same cute kitchen and holiday goodies in black, cream, and green. This is probably one of the more universally exciting Target collaborations ever and the buzz has been huge!

I checked it out in person and yes, it is fabulous. In case you haven't had a chance to peruse all the goodness online or in-store, I've rounded up my faves plus the items I've seen the most excitement about among fellow shoppers and home design influencer community!

Turns out their current aesthetic is SO perfect for the holidays, too.

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11.07.2017

90's fixer upper reno before and after listing photos!

First, a real estate update. The first offer we accepted fell through, but we had so much interest and offers over asking that we raised the price $5k. That'll give us more room to negotiate on repairs for the next buyer. We did the whole open house/coordinating house showing thing again and accepted another offer on Sunday. Phew. (Read the whole story of why we're selling here.)

It's now been several solid weeks of living in the house in its cleanest, tidiest, most finished state ever!! I posted the after tour here and did an Instagram Live the other day of an even more thorough tour. 

I wanted to go back and compare the listing photos of the Stanley 90's reno when we bought it (yikes) to now, the ones that got it so much attention and kudos from buyers!

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11.01.2017

What I know now about the first trimester

As I said with our big announcement... I am so, so, so grateful to be expecting our first child next spring. (And thank you for your support and interest!!!)

However, even just 16 weeks in, this pregnancy has already been very humbling and has had its challenges. I read every post I could about morning sickness cures and what to expect at 5 weeks or 8 or 10, but I still wasn't mentally prepared. I wanted to share my experience with you all--experienced moms, future moms, and even my future self for when I do this next time!!--as a thank-you to my body, an affirmation that perfection is probably impossible, and a reminder to focus on what's really important.

Also--I am brand new at this, so it is exciting to have more experience than I did before at this whole pregnancy thing, and I want to share!

Almost 16 weeks. Sunday morning walk in nature. I had a headache, felt pretty gross, and hadn't slept well... but being outside felt good.

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