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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!

gifts
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts

2.24.2022

Best new baby gifts/baby shower gifts

I have a couple of new babies to celebrate this spring and I just love picking out gifts! I shop from baby registries when I have them but sometimes you need a supplemental gift or an extra personal touch. Sharing some ideas I love for useful and thoughtful new baby gifts or baby shower gifts for today's babies!

Forgive the state of that Jellycat bunny--he is actually Otto's from when he was a baby almost 4 years ago!

Best new baby gifts


1. Great newborn toys. These two (NogginRings and Rainbow Glow Rattle) are some Jason learned about at his pediatric physical therapy rotation during PT school and we got for Lucy. They are awesome! More fun for newborns than the toys we had for Otto. You can tell the new mom they're PT-recommended. ;)

2. A beautiful baby blanket. I am in love with these Indian block print quilted blankets from Etsy. We have the turquoise one in Lucy's room and it is so cute and special and different than the mass-produced stuff you find at the big stores! I would seriously buy every color if I could find a use for them. In fact I might buy another one right, now, I see they're on sale... seriously though, for someone whose taste you understand enough of, I highly recommend these as a great soft, comfy, cheerful blanket for stroller walks, snuggling while nursing, etc. (and pretending it's the ocean if you're my 3-year-old).

3. A really nice stuffed animal. We've received several Jellycat stuffed animals as gifts and they are so nice. They're not cheap so you really think about which animal and find a special one for each kid! I think this is an especially great gift for a second or third baby since I know in our family, Otto inherited all the stuffed animals when he was a baby. He has mine, Jason's, Jason's brother's, etc. old ones, plus all the ones family members bought for him. Lucy hardly has any! We got her a big Jellycat bunny for her first birthday she sleeps with now. But I think this is a great newborn gift too since they're so pretty, soft, and cute as nursery decor even before the babies can snuggle them, and you almost always remember who gave you which stuffed animals. 

4. Swaddles (with zippers!) plus flannel receiving blankets, and a link to this video. Put this on the list of things I didn't know as a brand new mom: how to really swaddle. If your new mom gift recipient didn't have zipper swaddles and flannel blankets on her registry, and if you know how useful these can be, throw these in plus that helpful tip about how to use them together. Such a useful hack!!

5. Sweet books. These three are my favorites for new baby, first birthday, etc. book gifts. They're all Montessori-style: realistic, attractive pictures or photos of real babies and things. Everywhere Babies has so many interesting things to look at on each page, and the 100 First Words is just an essential, Otto still loves it, ha!

Hope this is fun and helpful! New moms always appreciate a little gift (along with some takeout!) those first few weeks/months when you come to visit the new baby, and as wonderful as registries are, sometimes it's nice to stray from the list just a bit and bring in a fun surprise. (I should also add I love Babylist for registries. I've used it for both of mine (see this post about how it works).) Enjoy!

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11.15.2021

Real-life minimalist gift guide/gifts for people whose love language is not gifts

I've been into organization, Kon Mari-ing my closet, and not buying more than I need for years, but I've recently been listening to some minimalism podcasts in the parenting realm and gotten inspired again. The holidays can be difficult for a minimalist or someone who really likes to control what we own. 
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11.02.2021

A very authentic design-loving homebody gift guide: what's on my list this year!

Gift guide season! This time of year you'll see a lot of gift guide posts, on blogs everywhere. I've produced them in the past too, in ways I think I can add value. I’m not going to be a "one-stop resource for everyone on your list" like some great websites and blogs out there, and as most of you know this is not my full-time job so I don’t have the time to put in to creating a bunch of gift guides and monetizable posts that someone might shop from. I also can’t share too many of the gifts I’m actually buying because my family reads this blog! 

So this year I'm scaling it back and I’m going to keep it really authentic: this post is looks like a gift guide but is honestly the most genuine one I could share: it’s all for me! My Christmas list is simple this year. For the reason I started blogging in the first place (I get excited about things and like to tell other people!) I'm sharing it here and I hope it is helpful! 

Defining myself in one short phrase… Mom of young kids, homebody, interior design lover, a little bit crunchy/appreciating natural products. Right? If you know anyone else like me and are looking for gift ideas, you’ve come to the right place!

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11.28.2020

9 Christmas shopping ideas from small businesses during quarantine

It's Small Business Saturday, and more important than ever this year to support small businesses locally and around the Internet. But it's also harder than ever to walk around downtown and pop into local businesses in-person. I've come up with 9 ways to support small businesses safely in COVID/quarantine times, and am sharing my favorite local Portland-area companies, many of which you can shop from anywhere!

Image source


9 ways to support small businesses at Christmas 2020 (gifts and more!)

I've gathered some ideas for gifts as well as other holiday season purchases you can choose to make from small businesses instead of the big online shopping machines. 


1. Coffee subscription or gift set. 

A lot of coffee roasters offer a subscription that would be a great gift, or have gift sets--Nossa Familia is a really wonderful coffee company in Portland and they have these great gift sets!

2. Small shops online. 

But leave extra time for shipping! Unlike Amazon, it takes more than 2 days for a lot of small businesses to pack and ship orders, so plan ahead. 

Re-Play recycled plastic dishware are the only dishes we use for Otto. We have plates, bowls, cups with two different kinds of lids, and utensils. They come in every color in the rainbow (but of course I just get the white, ha). They're made in the USA and super affordable, but are 20-30% off for the holidays! They also send hand-written notes with every order. Great company.

There are also a bunch of small candle shops with great gifts. Wandering Lark is one I tried out last year--my mother-in-law is a connoisseur of authentic evergreen-scented candles and I got her a sample set. Wandering Lark's O' Christmas Tree was a big hit!! She loved it!

3. Subscription or share from a local farm.

If you want to get a really generous, useful gift and support a local business and farm... you could buy a 1/4 cow as a gift! Or just plan ahead for yourself and spend your dollars locally this winter. It often takes months for a share to be ready, so this is a gift that you'd print out at Christmas and redeem later. Our favorite in the Portland area is Kookoolan Farms. You could also do this with a CSA veggie share for the summer!

4. Fitness club membership.

A lot of gyms are small businesses and many are closing these days. Some of the barre gyms near me offer virtual classes right now, though! A month or two of a nice fitness club would be a great gift.

5. Get holiday meals or gift cards from local places.

Since you're probably not hosting or going to any big family dinners, or going out to restaurants, or spending hours in multiple grocery stores... if you want some fancy food, order Christmas Eve dinner or any special meal from a local nicer restaurant. Here are some incredible options in Portland for Thanksgiving dinner that you could try any time this season.

Take out gift cards are also an AWESOME gift--my parents got us some gift cards to our favorite local takeout place, a Hawaiian place called 808 Grinds, right after we had Lucy and we so appreciated it.

6. Etsy.

You could easily buy all your gifts on Etsy. There's so much variety there's seriously something for everyone. A few Etsy shops I have personal experience with or have my eye on:

7. Winery club.

Gift someone a membership to a favorite local winery! Wine clubs usually give you a couple bottles a year, discount on any more you purchase, and unlimited free tastings at the winery. It's hard to use those right now, but hopefully in 2021... This would be a great luxury gift for someone who has everything else!

8. Small shop gift cards or shop online by phone.

There's an antique store in our town that does a Black Friday discount, and I would have loved to go this year but I just don't feel comfortable going out any more than necessary. I'd love to support them, though. Check with local businesses like this to see if they'll sell you a gift card or merchandise credit to use later or give as a gift--my mom would love that! 

  • Local toy stores also could do this. Piccolo Mondo is the one near us (although you can also shop them online!).
  • The shoe store in the town I grew up in, Gimre's, also sells online and has good brands you can buy elsewhere, like Birkenstock, Dansko, etc. They ship and offer curbside pickup.
  • For smaller stores that may not have much of a website--call! They may be able to describe products to you, or may sell things they've featured on their Facebook or Instagram.

9. Make your own gift certificates. We've done this for my parents and in-laws in the past. Often they'd rather spend time with us than have more stuff, so we type up a little homemade gift certificate and add logo and words for what it is--tea tasting at Smith Tea is a really great one! Then they can "redeem" it on a little date together whenever you both have time. In this case, whenever quarantine is lifted and it's safe to go out!

Hope this has been fun and helpful!

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11.27.2020

The THREE Black Friday sales I am shopping this year

I am keeping it real simple this year and only shopping these three places for Black Friday/BF weekend sales! Sharing some of what I'm shopping below!

With one exception, I realize I'm only buying (slowly) consumable things because we have everything we need that lasts longer. I don't need new pots and pans or vacuums or whatever else is usually on sale for Black Friday, but I do need clothes for my growing children and things for me and Jason that wear out or are a new style. Plus, I keep a pretty minimal wardrobe and household (I don't usually want to own two of the same purpose spatula or too-similar shoes, e.g.) and our budget isn't huge for seasonal spending. So, here are the stores I've found my favorite pieces and deals at, and what I'm shopping for!

J.Crew Factory. Everything is 60-70% off plus an extra 10% off at checkout (or 20% off if you spend $100 I believe. Plus free shipping. I ordered these jeans yesterday cause I really wanted to get them before they sold out, and free shipping no minimum so why not! I've been wanting some like this a while.

Old Navy. 50% off everything and $4-5 thermal tees today. The prices below don't reflect the extra half off. Free shipping when you spend $50.

Target. Lots of great women's sweaters 30% off! Plus toys are buy one/get one 50% off, and there are a few electronics-type deals I looked at--we bought this TV mount for 50% off for some changes planned for our living room!

There you have it! Hope you have a great long weekend!

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8.31.2020

My birthday wishlist this year and forever: best coffee table books for styling interiors

My birthday is coming up, and I've decided from here on out for birthdays and Christmas I'll be asking for the same thing: beautiful coffee table books with inspiring interior or lifestyle images, that look beautiful styled on shelves or a coffee table! There are few things more relaxing than flipping through a big paper book of lovely homes and decor, drinking tea, time to myself... plus, they look so nice on a shelf, mantel, console table, etc. in my own home!

I've rounded up my 9 favorites - some I own and some are on my wishlist - for beautiful mostly modern traditional decor inspiration, lifestyle/entertaining, home organization, and more. You'll love these, too!

9 best coffee table books for styling interiors

Big, hardback books look so beautiful on open shelves, a bookcase, a side table, a buffet... anywhere!

Image source

Here are my 9 faves--they have great content AND look beautiful as part of your decor!

  1. Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating. This is a best-seller for sure and you'll see its spine in almost any styled shelf with coffee table books. It's also a fantastic book with lots of helpful decor principles from Lauren Liess, who always creates beautiful, unique spaces. I got this one from the library but should have bought it!
  2. Down to Earth: Laid-back Interiors for Modern Living. This is Lauren's second book and features several different homes she's designed recently, so shows off several variations of her style plus how to get the looks. I own this one and love it!
  3. Make Life Beautiful. This one is available for pre-order now and I'm sure will be so popular on Christmas lists. Studio McGee has an incredible story of fast, authentic growth in their brands; they share about their story plus how they create spaces for intentional, beautiful everyday living. Their spaces are high quality but also so livable.
  4. Made for Living: Collected Interiors for All Sorts of Styles. Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors has finally written a book and I would buy it no matter what it was about, but this one looks gorgeous and useful, too! It's about layering and styling and features some of her most recent incredible projects. Also pre-order and will be on everyone's Christmas list this year if you don't already have it!
  5. Pacific Natural: Simple Seasonal Entertaining. This one is also really popular on styled shelves, etc. by lots of designers, but looks so beautiful to read through as well. Dreamy styled picnics, organic tablesettings for outdoor dining, California vibes... it's full of recipes but also decor/party styling tips.
  6. The New Southern Style: The Interiors of a Lifestyle and Design Movement. Also brand new/pre-order, this one looks so beautiful and fresh. It shows off 30+ homes of creatives and designers in the south and southwest (including Shea McGee, even) and talks about the changing style and culture of the south.
  7. Beautifully Organized: A Guide to Function and Style in Your Home. This is more than an organizing book... the ideas in it are more glamorous than your typical minimalist organizing guide, as well as high on function. She walks you through five simple steps and talks about home as a place for hosting as well as living practically.
  8. Live Beautiful. This one includes design more on the high-end side than most of the others on this list, but features quite a few real homes of designers and others (like Jenna Lyons) that are really visually inspiring and exciting.
  9. Old Home Love. This is the oldest book on the list but historic homes are timeless! This couple has so much experience renovating old homes and really keeping their charm.

Hope you enjoyed this list! Add to your wishlist or check back on this post for gift ideas this holiday season or for a design-loving friend's birthday or housewarming!

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12.03.2018

Holiday gift guide for the home! The essentials + new ideas

I am only doing one gift guide this year so it's full of my most favorite gifts for the home - for homebodies, friends with a new house or apartment, home cooks, or yourself!

This post contains affiliate links.

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11.22.2018

My Black Friday weekend shopping strategy (and favorite sale items!)

Love/hate Black Friday, anyone??! I don't have tons of time to spend chasing deals, but I do tend to save up shopping during fall waiting for some sales around Thanksgiving. Plus, every year I dream of being done with the Christmas shopping early! So I am doing a little Black Friday shopping this year and sharing my method (and favorite sales) with you!

Nowadays, Black Friday starts even before Thanksgiving. I know that doesn't make sense, but you'll see "Black Friday deals start now!" on tons of websites.

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5.07.2018

Just the basics: New mom/first Mother's Day gift guide

Mother's Day really snuck up on me! I always do something for my mom, but this year is the first time I get to celebrate me, too.

For many years now I've been sad to not be a mother at this time of year (and all the time). (I'm actually tearing up a little as I write this--dang postpartum hormones.) I am so grateful for baby Otto who made me a mom and I still can hardly believe it!! Already I'm learning that motherhood is hard. Nice that there's a special day to celebrate moms more than usual.

And there are a few gift ideas out there that I've liked in the past but that have never been right for me--now I'm a mom, so I can enjoy them!

I also realized, on a new mom's first Mother's Day, she doesn't need creative and unique gifts. She may want the cliches--flowers, a massage, jewelry... this is the first time the attention has been directed at her!

But, she probably wants to keep things fresh and trendy. I know I have a few things in mind! So I put together this gift guide of simple, classic gift ideas (for today's new mom), perfect for a mom who's been excited for this holiday for a long time.

This post contains affiliate links.

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12.13.2017

Fun, practical, affordable stocking stuffer gift guide 2017! For her, him, and anyone

Oops--I always forget about stocking stuffers. Chocolate bars are a tradition in my family, but it's fun to get a little creative and include a few thoughtful, personal small items. And a great opportunity to throw in your faves of the season for others to enjoy!

I did just that with this gift guide. There are fabulous mugs under $5, the coolest jewelry (all on sale right now), treat-yo-self items for men and women, and more!
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12.04.2017

New or expecting mom gift guide--for MOM, not baby!

I'm an expecting mom for the first time this holiday season, and my first thought was to request gifts from our baby registry--but both Jason and my mom immediately said that wasn't right!! Christmas gifts this year for me should be for me, they said, not the baby. But I was a little stumped!

So I asked folks on my Instagram what they thought a new or expecting mom should get for Christmas... lots of good ideas! And a few things in common--pampering, luxury, comfort, pretty things for mom. And some sentimental things.

So I rounded up everyone's (and my) favorite ideas and compiled this gift guide of special things for new or expecting moms!

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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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12.15.2016

Healthy holiday gift guide

We usually forget about January and New Year's resolutions coming up until right before January 2, don't we? We give tins of cheddar and caramel popcorn and go holiday shopping after work instead of to the gym or making dinner and packing lunches, right?? We stay up late at parties and work really hard at work to gear up for taking some days or a week off.

I imagine some people enjoy every part of this season, including abandoning habits in favor of celebration! But it's not that way for everyone, and I know I, at least, like to think about my health and make good choices even now. I've rounded up some favorite products that will help you and your loved ones with gifting fun, quality items that might make creating or sticking to productive habits easier! (Let's be honest, I'm not done with my holiday shopping yet--are you?!?)

Cooking


  • Le Creuset enameled cast iron mini skillet, 6 1/3". I have one of these and I use it every.single.day for my eggs. They don't stick!! It's so fabulous.
  • Lodge enameled cast iron 11" skillet. Such a good price; we use ours for burgers, stir frys, big sautes and skillets, pork chops... it goes right into the oven, so convenient!
  • The Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. I got one earlier this year and have gotten so much value out of it! It works like a slow cooker but in only 30 minutes or an hour! Or cooks rice in about 4 minutes. It does all kinds of things.
  • The Fed & Fit book. I have heard nothing but fabulous things!! Cassy Joy has zillions of healthy, nourishing recipes on her blog but has just published this book that presents four pillars of health--mindset, sleep & hydration, food, and fitness--before offering a 28-day reset plan for healthier habits and meeting your goals, then 190 easy, versatile recipes and a bunch of workouts designed by Juli Bauer of PaleOMG! These ladies are so energetic and positive, and also real, that you can't help but feel inspired by their helpful ideas and attitudes for making those four pillars easier in your life. This book would be great for a friend looking for some grain-free recipes or for yourself as we get into the new year!
  • The Inspiralizer! My mother-in-law got us a spiralizer for Christmas one year and it was just a great gift. We use it for zoodles, spiralized sweet potatoes for skillet/hash, and more (and yet I wouldn't have bought it for myself). This model is supposed to be the ultimate one!


Movement


  • High density foam roller. I'm literally kneeling on ours right now. We keep it in our living room most of the time so we can use it while watching TV together or working on our laptops. Of course, it's also good for focused rolling (I love this tutorial) and the big one is so easy to use for opening up back and shoulders! Aaah...
  • Really cool workout pants (I love these and these). I am a super minimalist with my workout clothes and usually wear any ol' tank top and bare feet or socks for most of my workout if I can... but I do like colorful or cute yoga pants! They're great on long walks or hikes, too!


Other goodies


  • Clean body products like Dr. Bronner's (peppermint bar soap, lip balms, or liquid soap gift set). These are such high quality and always organic and fair trade.
  • Really, really good chocolate. The Money on Honey brand are sweetened with California wildflower honey and sprinkled with fleur de sel. No cheap mystery ingredients. What a treat, and much better than candy sweetened with corn syrup or GMO sugar!


You can shop all these fun things directly here!



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12.07.2016

DIY gifts that are actually useful (DIY gift guide!)

Search "DIY holiday gifts" and you'll likely find a lot of options for hot chocolate in a jar, possibly even with pipe cleaner reindeer antlers and a red pompom nose. Another common DIY gift tutorial is the personalized coffee mug using Sharpie or other semi-permanent tool, but trust me, those do not hold up to many washings!!

I'm a pretty practical person, even around the holidays, and I don't love making, giving, or receiving cutesy gifts that aren't useful and I don't have a place to store or use. So over the years I've made a few really wonderful things that I like for myself and gift recipients, and that I think are useful to have as well as fun to receive!! My all-time favorites are my heat-up rice bag and flannel cases, which I've made for my mom, mother-in-law, and others, and my delicates travel bag sorter with cute labels for "wash" and "wear." 

But, I rounded up 10 DIY holiday gift ideas from around the blogosphere including a few others of mine and some I'd like to try!! (See all my DIY gift projects and tutorials here.) DIY gifts are more personal and special than storebought, and you can make them with friends on a cozy afternoon in December. Much less stressful than shopping at the mall.



10 DIY gifts that are actually useful


1. Pie potholder (or any custom shape you want! I love the idea of personal potholders this year.)

2. Pretty DIY serving tray from a cutting board. Brilliant!

3. Flavored infused olive oil  (& labels). Use a high quality olive oil and some pretty bottles, and print these free labels!

4. Pretty pearl string knot necklace. I am so proud of this one!

5. Essential oil epsom bath salts for sore muscles. Smells sooooo good and is great for an active person! I made some for my dad last year when he was doing a lot of construction on their rental unit.

6. Heat-up rice bag and flannel case. The classic. I have two for myself of different rice densities and they are so great for sore neck, low back, whatever or just for warming up!

7. Shibori tie-dye napkins. Looks a little tricky but so pretty and trendy, and would be so much more meaningful homemade!

8. Essential oil holiday room spray (& labels). These sound so delicious-smelling and are so cute!

9. Spiced soap for men. I would loooove to make soap, and it's hard to think of DIY gifts for men! Check and check!

10. Wash/wear delicates travel bag. I made this for one of my oldest friends for her bachelorette party and she brought it on her honeymoon. I made one for myself, too, and it's so handy traveling! The sewing part is easy and I made the cute labels and text with my Silhouette Cameo machine.

And a bonus--what better way to introduce your DIY gift than with these adorable free printable homemade gift tags!!

What are you favorite DIY gifts to receive, and go-tos that you like to make??


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11.28.2016

My top 6 Cyber Monday sales!

I have been totally converted to online shopping for Black Friday weekend and Cyber Week after a few great experiences online shopping and a terrible experience at the one store I tried to go to in person. Never again!!

And there are more great sales going on today, so I rounded up just a few (with top picks) I know I don't want to miss!
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11.23.2016

Preparing for black friday and cyber week (for the home)!

For most of the past year and a half we've been in maybe-we'll-be-moving-soon mode and I haven't bough much of anything for the house. Aside from changing out throw pillows and bedding seasonally, our townhouse looked pretty much the same for most of 2015-2016, but my style has changed! Since we found out we were buying our 90's fixer upper, I've been online window-shopping nonstop for rugs, lighting, and even some fun accessories, trying to put together the look I'm imagining for our new home!

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales coming up, I think now is the time for us to make some important home purchases. Maybe for you, too!? I remember a few of my favorite stores last year had great deals and I wasn't able to take advantage of all of them since I didn't need much new stuff! But this year is different!
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12.08.2015

2015 holiday gift guide! For home decor, books, kids, and yourself!

It was a lot of work but so fun putting together this gift guide! I'm a pretty practical person and gift-giver so I'm not drawn to all the perfume sets, fleece blankets, and small, specialized kitchen appliances I see in ads this time of year--does the person really need those??!? is always my concern. But there are definitely some things that I see that I know certain people on my list would like. (Or I would like, for sure.) I hope it's helpful!

Last year I put together "practical person's gift guide"s--this one for books, this one for kitchen goodies, and this one for the practical stuff/basics (like this amazing enameled cast iron skillet, a must have IMHO). This year I grouped all my recommendations into one, even easier for you!


Decor:


  1. This marble trivet set--possibly the most beautiful trivets ever. Coolest, too. What an awesome gift for a new homeowner or someone who love to entertain! (When's the last time you bought yourself a cool trivet? But we all use them!)
  2. A special cutting board! I love these in the shapes of the states. Everyone has cutting boards already, sure, but they do get old and your gift recipients may love getting a new one in the shape of your favorite/shared place!
  3. A really soft plaid throw. We got one just like this also from Lands' End last year, and it's the nicest throw I've owned and is so wintery and festive!
  4. A classy plush robe like this one. Robes are one of the things I never buy myself. If your gift recipients are like me... this would be a great gift!
  5. Clever Coffee Dripper. My mother-in-law heard about this and bought me one for my birthday. It's so genius! You need less of the coffee grounds since it steeps in them before dripping through. I do mine for 4-5 minutes and have delicious, strong coffee (though I use decaf, but I still like it to taste strong!). An awesome gift!!

Books:


  1. Better than Before (or hardcover). I will never stop recommending Gretchen Rubin's books. (The Happiness Project changed my life!) Better than Before came out this year and is all about habits and the four tendencies of people--so why some of us do better with different strategies for forming and keeping good habits. I really identify with how she explains things and has improved her own life, and her work (she has a great podcast now, too) has really helped me! I highly recommend this book--for yourself or a gift!
  2. An adult coloring book!! Need I say more? Tropical World: A Coloring Book Adventure. What a great way to spend the rest of your holiday break after receiving that book, right?
  3. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This book has been wildly popular and appeals to so many people, even those with less interest in housekeeping! It has a very positive take on "tidying up" rather than punitive. It's inspiring! 
  4. The Girl on the Train. This is the kind of book I would totally read and enjoy, but I don't have time to check out from the library (or read, let's be honest). But this book looks so engaging that it's totally the kind to get a person back into reading. Would be a great gift for someone you know loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl! (And, it's one of Mindy Kaling's gift picks this year!)
  5. DIY Wardrobe Makeovers. Of course I recommend my book as a gift!! It's great for any level of sewing enthusiast, from beginners (there are basic tips) to pros who don't do a lot of mending to their own clothing. I'm so grateful for the support I've received so far from my readers, and just wanted to throw in a reminder that if you know someone who's interested... please think of it!

Kids:


  1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition!!!! Why has it taken so long for this to be invented? I flipped through this at a bookstore the other day and was so hooked. Beautiful illustrations bring it to life and would be a great way to get younger kids into these wonderful books. 
  2. Striped long johns. Hanna Andersson are the CLASSIC kids' pajamas and now they're organic cotton (and only $20!!). They're unisex so they can be passed down, too! When I was little, I used to get to open one present on Christmas Eve night, and it was usually new pajamas or a nightgown. Then I got to wear it that night and on Christmas morning to open presents! It was a nice tradition! (These come in little kid and big kid sizes, several stripes.)
  3. Teeny tiny shearing boots. When my cousin's daughter was 3 or 4, she got a pair of boots and was SO excited about them she did the cutest announcement about them when she saw us, we'll never forget... plus, I know I love boots this time of year, to keep my feet and ankles (and the gap between the bottom of pants and socks as I move) warm... kids will love them too! (There's also these tiny riding boots--OMG.)
  4. Star Wars flannel jammies! Everyone's excited about Star Wars right now. How about the classiest possible Star Wars merch? These flannel jammies are amazing.

Treat Yourself (or your bestie):

My fave practical but beautiful gifts!

  1. A really pretty necklace. I love this one! (Matching earrings.) A monogram necklace is also a really sweet, personal gift.
  2. Pacifica all natural perfumes. I love this stuff. Super short ingredient list and the fragrances are all so fresh and natural. It's hard to pick just one so this trio of roll-ons is great! 
  3. Real leather/shearling slippers. Not the "sueded" polyester fabric kind with poly fur inside, no, real leather moccasins or scuffs. Real leather/fur ones last so much longer but also don't get the stinky feet smell the way fake ones do! If you (or your recipient) has never owned real ones, it's time for a treat. And they don't have to be a designer brand to be nice! These from Macy's are a great price on sale this season.
  4. The Ultimate Watch. To me, the Kate Spade Gramercy Watch is the perfect versatile everyday watch!! It comes in gold and silver-tone stainless, but also two-tone if (like me) you can't decide and want it to go with literally everything. It's available everywhere, some places with discounts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday - Amazon, Macy's, Nordstrom... (But, if you don't feel like spending $135 on a watch... there are some more affordable similar options, like this, this, and this.)
  5. Duck boots (real deal, usually backordered/affordable option 1/affordable option 2/affordable option 3). I've wanted nice ones of these forever and now they're trendy so there are a lot more options! Great cozy, super practical gift! I just got some and have already worn them for picking out our Christmas tree!

Hope these ideas are helpful! Happy gifting!!

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11.30.2015

Cyber Monday 2015 deals! Here and there plus sewing/DIY deals

Happy holiday season =). I got some of my holiday shopping done over the weekend but still have some things to buy. I put together this list of the best deals at places I shop (maybe you, too) on today, Cyber Monday! You'll see some fave clothing stores like J.Crew Factory but also some amazing deals on crafty things like Silhouette machines (that one has a special extra deal with code ENJOY for my readers!).

25% OFF Sale + Free Shipping, No Minimum
DATE: 11.30
CODE: XTRAGOOD

50-70% off everything restrictions apply
DATE: 11.23 – 11.30

J.Crew
50% off in-store and online + Free Shipping + an additional discount applied at checkout
DATE: 11.30
CODE: TODAYONLY

J.Crew Factory
50% off everything + Free Shipping + extra 15% off
DATE: 11.30

Lands' End
50% off outerwear + 40% off everything else + Free Shipping
DATE: 11.30
CODE: CYBER30
PIN: 3101

LOFT
50% off everything + Free Shipping
DATE: 11.30
CODE: CYBER50

Lucky Brand
60% off all sale + 50% off newest jeans, shoes, leather, & more
DATE: 11.30

Macy's
60% off Women’s Clothing, Womens Plus Size Clothing and Juniors Clothing
DATE: 11.29 – 11.30

Madewell
25% off entire purchase
DATE: 11.30
CODE: SHOPATWORK

ModCloth
25% off everything
DATE: 11.30

Nordstrom
Up to 50% off select top brands + Free shipping and returns
DATE: 11.30

Old Navy
40% off everything
DATE: 11.30
CODE: BESTCYBER

The Honest Company
40% off your first bundle
DATE: 11.30
CODE: MONDAYFUN40

west elm
40% off duvets + extra up to 25% off your order + Free Shipping
DATE: 11.30

Organic Cotton Plus
Huge sales every 2 hours
DATE: 11.30

Silhouette
DATE: Now – 12.4
40% off almost everything in the Silhouette America store
20% off Silhouette Design Store Subscriptions
Machine bundles as low as $99.00 including:
  • Silhouette Mint $99.99
  • Portrait & Mint $189.99
  • Cameo $199.99
  • Cameo & Portrait $289.99
CODE: Use code ENJOY to unlock extra deals!

Best wishes for Cyber Monday shopping and stress-free holiday shopping!

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