Tag: cozy

More than just a Chalkboard

I get a lot of questions regarding our chalkboard. People are often curious where we purchased it, and I never tire of telling people we made it and letting them know they can easily make one for their homes as well! With the beginning of the school year being here, I thought it would be a good idea to refresh our little tutorial on our DIY chalkboard.

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When we bought this home, we were in our early days of home education and figuring out if we were really going to go for it or not. Full disclosure, I didn’t know I was going to be a home educating mother until I was one. We decided our dining room made the most sense to be a school room, but it was missing something… A huge chalkboard! 

This 1930’s beauty of a home has a lot of charm, but also plaster and lath walls. And I don’t know if you are familiar with these types of walls, but they aren’t the best to nail into. And when I started to look for chalkboards in antique stores, they weren’t really in our budget. So, Chris has the genius idea to make one that wouldn’t destroy our walls, was in our budget, and has held up wonderfully for a decade!  All we needed was some chalkboard paint and pine 1×2’s! 

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We got both from our local hardware store for less than $20!!! Chris measured and taped off the wall and rolled on about 3 coats of the chalkboard paint. The prices have gone up a bit since then, but these are the paints we used. Black Chalkboard Paint & Green. We had an idea of how big we wanted it so we knew what length of 1×2’s to get before we purchased them.  Then he just cut the sides to fit. Once the paint dried, he simply nailed the 1×2’s to the wall!  Our chalkboard is roughly 65”tall x 45” long. We’ve had friends stain their wood dark, use pallet wood or larger planks, add chalk holders to the bottom, use green chalkboard paint, paint the entire wall without framing it, make smaller chalkboards, etc.  

This proved to be a simple and affordable project that can easily be altered to fit your space and personal aesthetic. I’ve actually painted her green for several years and then went back to black, and maybe I will go back to green again some day. 

We have used this chalkboard as a centerpiece for our home education lessons, every birthday since we moved into the home in 2015, our home births, special anniversaries, baby announcements, going away and welcome home parties for friends, holidays, and even to celebrate an intimate backyard wedding we hosted for past friends…Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

So many meals, special events, laughter, heartaches, and valuable conversations have been shared with friends in this space. So many lessons and core memories have been celebrated in this space & even our oldest’s first portrait of me and our family was a chalkboard piece!

She nailed my, “I haven’t had any coffee yet” face 😀
Chris’ beard: Nailed it!

I feel like I can’t call this ‘just a chalkboard’  because it has been incorporated into creating so many special memories and holds so many dear moments for us in our home. When I imagine leaving this home, I get most emotional about saying goodbye to this space.

I hope this was helpful and that you’re inspired to create a special chalkboard in your home to be used for all kinds of memory-making moments and events!

Promises

Earlier this summer, we had quite an experience when family photos turned into something wildly unexpected. We absolutely love our pals Mattea and Katherine. Not only are they wildly talented and gifted humans in so many ways, but our girls truly admire these ladies. They are kind and fun and loving and insightful and wise and are the kind of gals I am so grateful to have in our lives and that the girls have to look up to. While we don’t get to see them often, we just love them so very much. Some of my favorite compliments include the girls telling me something I’m wearing looks like something Mattea or Katherine would wear. That is high fashion praise!!

Mattea and I were visiting and decided we should do some family photos, but a month or so before we planned to do them, our youngest gave herself the haircut of all haircuts. We’re talking like a to-the-scalp-mullet. It kind of looked like if Lydia from Beetlejuice was going to a monster truck rally-sans bangs, if that helps explain the vibe. While we weren’t cross with her at all, and actually I grieve at the thought that this was likely the last toddler to celebrate her independence via a precious diy haircut under our roof, we decided to put off photos a bit and allow some of those locks to grow back…at least maybe a couple strands of bangs:D

We found another day that worked where the weather looked as if it would be perfect, actually got days mixed up, missed that day, and landed on a day where our sweet friend Katherine got to join as well! As we pulled up to the location, rain began to fall. Mattea asked what we wanted to do, we asked the girls, and they were super stoked to play in the rain. They jumped out of the van so fast and took off running and dancing in the field under the rain. It was GORGEOUS! It was that kind of misty rain that made everything feel magical. By the time I was out if the van, I started to hear joyful yelling. “MOM! Look! A rainbow! Wait, TWO RAINBOWS! It was incredible. We began to quote the double rainbow video, as Chris and I have been catching our daughter up on our internet favorites this summer, and were enjoying this moment together so much. It felt like such a gift. The rain, the rainbows, but we really had no idea what a gift this session was going to be.

For starters, doing photos in a field was a huge deal for me, and something I’ve been wanting to do for a while as a way to celebrate overcoming a fear that held me hostage for many years. While the story is a bit winded for this post, those who know me well, know this fear I battled and the heaviness I carried in my thoughts and heart for years because of it. I had never felt so haunted or crippled by anything quite like this fear before, and it took me years to work through. I think I will always be working through it in some aspects, but not in a way that robs us of joy or truth anymore. All that to say, doing photos together with my family in a location like this was a really big deal for me, and if you could scratch and sniff these photos, they would smell like the most amazing fresh rain and several cans of deet.


In that moment when I first saw the rainbows, it felt like they were for me. Like God saying, I see you and know you and the fears you’ve walked through and are learning to let go of, and I am with you, and my promises are so real and it’s not always going to feel like it does right now… I had no way of knowing just how much God was really going to speak to me through this session and how these photos and the conversations they have made room for are still healing my heart.

This photo above was one of the first sneaks Mattea sent me and I thought it was so beautiful. I did what I usually do and shared it with my internet friends on the instagram. One of my dearest friends, who knows my heart and parts of my story many do not, messaged me and, “Amanda, I see Shepherd”. We miscarried our son Shepherd in 2020. A loss that continues to impact our lives a great deal. And standing right in between his sisters, after Frankie and before Noble, I too could see him. When we found out we were carrying a boy, I dreamt of dressing him in all things vintage, but especially little overalls. And as I sat there looking at this photo, trying to make sense of what I was seeing, I struggled to even find my breath, as I too could see this little boy in a cream shirt, overalls, maybe even a cute little hat reaching for his sister’s hand.

I love the Lord, and I no longer pretend to understand how He works or attempt to put the creator of the universe in a box intended to make me feel more comfortable or in control. I do believe heavenly things are here now and all around us if we will accept the invitation to take part in these magical moments. When I look at these photos, I can clearly see that we were partaking in something that is beyond what my small mind can comprehend. And what a gift it is that we do not have to fully understand the goodness of God to experience it.

As we’ve explored the photos more and discussed what we see in them with friends and loved ones, much more healing has come from it. People from various walks of my life have prayed with me and over me and our family and allowed me to share parts of my story that are much more difficult and isolating than others. I thought this photoshoot was celebrating the experience of feeling set free of intense fear, but it was so, so much more. The last few years have been filled with experiences that made our hearts feel like they’ve gone through the blender and these experiences have led to the unraveling of dreams and hopes, to make way for new ones. These photos feel like a hand written letter from the Lord letting me know He knows my heart and cares for us so much.

Thank you, Mattea and Katherine for the incredible gift that these photos and videos you took are. They continue to minister to me deeply.

Outfit Details- Most of our pieces are thrifted & gifted. A continued thanks to all of the kind and generous companies we get to work with!

Slow Sunday Junie Nightie,

Christy Dawn Scarlett Dress ( CDAMANDA10 is our discount code)

Emme Mama Eliza Dress

The Simple Folk Muslin Dress and Pinafore

Amanda’s Western Boots

Shop our home & closet here

Traditions for the Win!

Tradition is such a special thing. I don’t think I understood the  importance of creating and celebrating positive traditions until we started having children ourselves. I remember being pregnant with our first daughter and dreaming about the holidays and imagining what we traditions we might create for our growing family! 

As our family grew, we decided to mesh some of our beloved childhood traditions with new ones we wanted for our girls. Special traditions truly have a way of comforting us and give us a sense of belonging. I’ve read a lot about the importance of creating and celebrating traditions and, along with creating special positive memories, they help create healthy family connections, provide security, and give children a stronger sense of belonging. 

We all crave comfort and warmth and celebrating positive traditions has a way of creating both. Along with that comfort and warmth, traditions can make life-long and generational impacts. As a mother, I want to create life long impacts where the smell of maple syrup reminds our children of our homemade pancakes we ate together gathered around our table, and where the smell of a beeswax candles reminds them of when we would dip our own. I want the feeling of slipping into cozy slippers to remind them of the fun slippers they were gifted every year as children.

I want our daughters to see snow and remember the hours we spent together crafting and decorating our home with our own special snowflakes each winter. It’s in these simple traditions, that our shaping our children and the traditions they will carry on for their families.

So with that being said, we are so grateful to have teamed up with our friends Garnet Hill to continue a few special traditions in our family. 

When my husband was a boy, their mother would make them a new pair of pajamas and they would get to open them on Christmas Eve. While I do love to sew, I decided it would be best to gift our girls already made pajamas☺️☺️ 

This will be our 3rd year we have gifted our daughters “matchy matchy” pajamas from Garnet Hill and we’re so impressed with how these have held up. They’re made of Organic Green Cotton and always have prints I know our daughters will love! This year we went with the Holiday Fair Isle and I know the girls are going to enjoy them so much! 

We will gather around the tree on Christmas Eve and they will squeal and jump around with excitement as they get to open their new jammies and be ready to cuddle up and celebrate the next day! 

One of our favorite traditions  is that everyone gets whatever they want for Christmas breakfast☺️ We plan in advance to make sure we have everything we need on hand and we go all out! My husband makes my breakfast, I make his, and we spend time in the kitchen making the girls’ very special meal! If they want cookies, cupcakes, Nutella crepes covered in berries…. they get it! We spend the morning serving one another and enjoying our special  meals together, in our jammies of course, and then it’s on to the presents ☺️

Another thing we have enjoyed gifting the girls each year is slippers! Fun and cozy slippers! In my opinion, Garnet Hill has the most fun slippers I’ve found! They’re boiled wool, made by hand, and the colors and designs are so fun! Last year the girls got little raccoons, sharks, unicorns, and ponies!

This year we’re doing little moose, dragons, mice, and reindeer ! Another little element of fun is putting little snacks and treasures into their slippers for them to find! I think this year, we will fill them with love notes and special chocolates and place them by their beds for them to discover in the morning! We might also do a big Christmas Eve family sleepover and, in that case, we’ll put them under the tree, unwrapped, for them to discover first thing! 

This year we have wanted to gift the girls some fun things they’ve been asking for, but also some practical pieces! The girls crawl into our bed every morning and have been telling us how much they love our Garnet Hill Cotton and Silk blanket. It’s SO warm and cozy, and our old home gets extra chilly in the evenings. 

They always reach for this blanket in our bed, so we got each of the girls their very own Ivory and White Cotton and Silk blankets to enjoy! Maybe this will mean we will get to sleep in longer☺️ These will pair beautifully with their pretty Agnes quilts, striped linen duvet covers, linen sheets, and antique quilts!

We hope you guys have a lovely holiday season and enjoy all of the special traditions that make this time of year special! A big thanks to Garnet Hill for cozying up our home and helping us create and celebrate special traditions!!

Disclaimer: This post was made possible by Garnet Hill but all opinions expressed are my own. 

Layers are the secret!!

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Hi friends!! I get asked all the time, what we do to get our beds looking so fluffy and cozy?! So, I want to tell you a little trick I’ve learned in my years as a homemaker. There are lots of different secrets and tips to make you home look the way you want, but I am going to tell you my all-time favorite recipe for COZY!!

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Above: Oatmeal Stripe Relaxed Linen Bedding

When the weather cools down, I dream of a big warm bed and extra cuddles, warm coffee, and even more cuddles! I like to add darker creamy colors and thicker pieces to create more warmth. Whatever the season is, I will try and show you how you can cozy up your spaces with the simplicity of layering your favorite bedding. 

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Ok, so here is my simple recipe for cozy, cozy bed!

STEP 1. Mattress Topper! We have the Garnet Hill Organic Mattress Pad and are really enjoying it! It’s an easy way to add some extra comfort and protect your mattress. And let’s me real… a lot of stuff just gets peed on these days:)  Honestly, I wish we would have invested in a topper the moment any of us got a new mattress.. Still…better late than never:D

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STEP 2. LINEN SHEETS!!! Guys, I need you to understand that Linen is a game changer! I get asked all the time if we really like them, and linen is like this magic material that just keeps getting softer and softer and softer. I never feel too hot in linen bedding and always feel warm enough. Magic!

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STEP 3. Down Comforter. Theres something magical about a good down comforter to me! They just add so much coziness to a bed and bedroom. Their fluffiness makes me want to jump right in! I also love that they can be all-weather blankets. When I’m cold they keep me warm and when it’s hot, I don’t feel bothered by them. For the lighter months, I prefer lighter quilts. The Agnes Quilt and Relaxed Quilted Quilt are my favorites! I also like to keep one of these at the end of my bed so in cooler weather I can pull them up and add more weight and warmth!

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Step 4.Linen Duvet Cover and Pillow Covers– Before we talk duvets, let’s warm up by talking about Linen again! Garnet Hill carries some of my most favorite linens! I feel like that was the mental stretch I needed before talking about changing a duvet cover😂 I love that linen bedding only seems to get cozier and cozier with each wash! Linen covers protect our comforters and are easier to wash than essentially a giant sack of feathers, making the challenge of putting a that sassy duvet cover on totally worth it!

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I like to add vintage pillowcases to our bed and Garnet Hill currently has some that I plan on adding to our room soon! This is a fun way to change up the bedding for the seasons or if you just want a simple refresh. Simple changes can make a huge difference!

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STEP 5. Pillows– Maybe pillows should have been step 1. I really like pillows, guys! Like, a lot A LOT! Pillows might be my love language 😀 They’re a simple way to add depth, create those layers, and they can easily be changed out and moved around all over the home to create change throughout the seasons. Shopping from my own home by rearranging items we already own is one of my favorite ways to decorate, and pillows are just perfect for this! Don’t be afraid to mix and match textures! In fact, you should do this! Layering different textures and colors doesn’t have to be anything crazy. I like bright whites mixed with warm creams and deeper beiges. When it comes to textures, the more the better for me:D I enjoy layering cottons and silks, linens,  quilts,  waffles and different ribs and knits together,  and feel like mixing all of these beautiful textiles together makes for such an inviting space!

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STEP 6. The power of the throw blanket! It’s something so simple, but such an easy way to add warmth and layers all over your home! You can simply add a throw to the end of a bed for that lived-in cozy feel! Or easily stuff your messes in baskets and then cover that mess with a beautiful knit throw 🙂Even throw one over a chair or chairs to create cozy little nooks around the house.

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Layering doesn’t just have to be for the beds though! We store throw blankets in baskets and crocks and on the chairs and couches and try to create an environment that’s, not only pretty, but invites us to rest. It’s so nice to be able to have blankets close by to snuggle up in as we read our favorite books and watch our favorite movies together.

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Garnet Hill has such a lovely collection of linens, quilts, florals, waffle knits and we truly enjoy adding their cozy touches to our home!

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See?! layers and textures and patterns together can look SO pretty when it comes to bedding!

 

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A mix of layered make wardrobes look like this!

 

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And linen closets look like this!

 

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Another example of how we have paired a Garnet Hill down comforter and Striped duvet cover with vintage and handmade pieces.


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I think that even messy beds and laundry look pretty with the right textures and layers!

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Disclaimer: This post was made possible by Garnet Hill but all opinions expressed are our own. Thank you Garnet Hill for helping us cozy up our home by gifting us some of our most favorite pieces!

More than just a Chalkboard

I get a lot of questions regarding our chalkboard. People are often curious where we purchased it, and I never tire of telling people we made it and letting them know they can easily make one for their homes as well! With the beginning of the school year being here, I thought it would be a good idea to refresh our little tutorial on our DIY chalkboard.

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When we bought this home, we were in our early days of home education and figuring out if we were really going to go for it or not. Full disclosure, I didn’t know I was going to be a home educating mother until I was one. We decided our dining room made the most sense to be a school room, but it was missing something… A huge chalkboard! 

This 1930’s beauty of a home has a lot of charm, but also plaster and lath walls. And I don’t know if you are familiar with these types of walls, but they aren’t the best to nail into. And when I started to look for chalkboards in antique stores, they weren’t really in our budget. So, Chris has the genius idea to make one that wouldn’t destroy our walls, was in our budget, and has held up wonderfully for a decade!  All we needed was some chalkboard paint and pine 1×2’s!  

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We got both from our local hardware store for less than $20!!! Chris measured and taped off the wall and rolled on about 3 coats of the chalkboard paint. The prices have gone up a bit since then, but these are the paints we used. Black Chalkboard Paint & Green. We had an idea of how big we wanted it so we knew what length of 1×2’s to get before we purchased them.  Then he just cut the sides to fit. Once the paint dried, he simply nailed the 1×2’s to the wall!  We’ve had friends stain their wood dark, use pallet wood or larger planks, use green chalkboard paint, paint the entire wall without framing it, make smaller chalkboards, etc.  

This proved to be a simple and affordable project that can easily be altered to fit your space and personal aesthetic. I’ve actually painted her green for several years and then went back to black, and maybe I will go back to green again some day. 

We have used this chalkboard as a centerpiece for our home education lessons, every birthday since we moved into the home in 2015, our home births, special anniversaries, baby announcements, going away and welcome home parties for friends, holidays, and even to celebrate an intimate backyard wedding we hosted for friends…Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

I feel like I can’t call this ‘just a chalkboard’  because it has been incorporated into creating so many special memories and holds so many dear moments for us in our home. When I imagine leaving this home, I get most emotional about saying goodbye to this space.

So many meals, special events, laughter, and valuable conversations shared with friends, so many teachable moments we shared with our children, things we learned ourselves as parents, even our oldest’s first portrait of me and our family was a chalkboard piece!

She nailed my, “I haven’t had any coffee yet” face 😀
Chris’ beard: Nailed it!

I hope this was helpful and that you’re inspired to create a special chalkboard in your home to be used for all kinds of memory-making moments and events!