• pot hanging ideas in the kitchen
    Blog,  Decorating,  DIY

    How to DIY A Stunning European Cottage Pot Rack

    One of my favorite DIY’s in our home is our cottage pot rack. It’s the most beautiful way to display our copper collection. Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below, but these are products I recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used. How to Style a European Style Pot Rack Why DIY a Pot Rack? A Pot Rack Can Become the Focal Point In my first post about this DIY pot rack, I told you that it accidentally became the focal point of the space. It was a happy accident. I had no idea that it would become more than a nice…

  • Boho Hot Cocoa Picnic
    Blog,  Decorating,  Lifestyle

    The Best Hot Cocoa Picnic| In the Snow

    I know it’s cold outside. It’s winter! But that is no reason to stay cooped up in the house! There are adventures to embark on, and some are waiting for you in your backyard. This winter has been the winter of hot cocoa! I knew the girls were going to enjoy it, but I truly had no idea to the extent that they were going to love it. A few weeks ago, I was playing with a little picnic set up in the basement when my oldest came walking down. After she saw me she squealed, “We should have a HOT COCOA PICNIC!!” Conveniently, it was snowing. After I checked…

  • Blog,  Decorating,  Lifestyle

    Simple Winter Decor to Create Peace in Your Home

    January is one of the few months during the year that seems calm. The weather feels peaceful and even our schedules slow down. I love it so much that I decided to decorate our dining room with peace as the main goal. Thank you Cecilia for putting this winter decor blog hop together! I know how much work it is and truly appreciate you! If you stopping over from Amber with Follow the Yellow Brick Home, thanks so much for continuing the journey! For those who may not know, my name is Aliya. I’m a nurse turned mostly stay-at-home mom who loves DIY projects, decorating, and gardening. I believe that…

  • Chicken Feeder with Flowers
    Blog,  Decorating,  DIY,  Lifestyle

    The Best of 2020|Open Doors Open Hearts

    2020 has been full of so many trials. But I think if we take a closer look we can find beauty and successes that were birthed from 2020. Today I wanted to say thank you for the success we’ve experienced. You, yes YOU, are a huge part of our successes at Open Doors Open Hearts. I’m so excited to share this post with you all. It feels surreal to think that I’ve been blogging for nearly 1 year! Just a little over 1 month until I reach the 1-year anniversary! So, I thought it would be fun to wrap the year up with a best of 2020 post. This was…

  • Blog,  Christmas

    How to Decorate a Stunning Family Christmas Tree

    Of all the Christmas decorations in our home, the family Christmas tree is the one that means the most to me. Ornaments from life before we were a family all the way to today. I’m washed over by nostalgia every year I decorate this tree. It’s a Christmas tree full of stories. Every Christmas we have had multiple Christmas trees in our home. These trees have always looked a little different each year. But there is one tree that remains at its core the same every year. Our family Christmas tree. I used to struggle with the family Christmas tree. It always felt like a mismatch of ornaments. It felt…

  • Blog,  Christmas

    Beautiful DIY Christmas Wreath on a Budget

    I’ve been seeing some gorgeous Christmas wreaths this year. But as I was looking at them, I decided a DIYed Christmas wreath was more budget-friendly and beautiful with real evergreen stems. I’ve told you before, but we are a debt-free family, which means the budget lets us know what we can and cannot buy. This is why we often decide to exert a little extra time and energy and do projects ourselves. This is exactly what happened when I decided to DIY a Christmas wreath for over the piano. I could easily go buy the most gorgeous wreath. Or I could go on a wagon ride with my daughters, husband,…

  • Christmas Decor
    Blog,  Christmas

    Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Christmas Decor

    Kitchen Christmas decor is so much fun for me! I love adding little touches here and there to create a magical space to do all the things! I’m honored you stopped by to see our kitchen Christmas decor. Of all the rooms in our home, the kitchen is the workhorse. I’m sure is true of your home too. That being the case, each year I want the kitchen Christmas décor to create a magical ambiance that invites me to enjoy my time spent there. As opposed to dreading the dishes that have piled up since breakfast. (When there is snow outside, the dishes have to take a back seat so memories can…

  • Blog,  Christmas

    Simple & Natural Christmas Decor: Bloggers Best Holiday Home Tour 2020

    I’m so excited for you to see our entryway, living room, and dining room all dressed up for Christmas! This year I decided to go for a natural Christmas with pops of red, and I love how it turned out. Before we walk through my home all dressed in red and natural Christmas elements I want to take a moment to honor a couple of wonderful ladies. Kelly with The Tattered Pew and Mansa with This is Simplicite. They have worked so hard to create this blog hop. I’m so grateful for both of them. If you are hopping over from Stacey’s beautiful Rustic Farmhouse Christmas Inspired Home Tour thanks…

  • Blog,  Christmas

    A Simple Cozy & Classic Christmas

    Our finished basement all dressed for Christmas is my favorite way to see it. This year I decided to do a cozy & classic Christmas in this space, and so far I’m loving it more than any other way I’ve decorated it. It’s not necessary to decorate the basement, but it’s one of my favorite places to decorate for Christmas. I feel like I can experiment and I’m never rushed to finish the décor down there. I can take my time and try new things. Can I do this upstairs? I certainly can, and I do. But there is just something so forgiving and peaceful about this living space in…

  • Blog,  Christmas

    Cozy Up to the Fire: Family-Friendly Coffee/Hot Cocoa Bar

    The holiday season is upon us, and that means so is the hustle and bustle. To help my family slow down I decided to create a family-friendly coffee/hot cocoa bar. Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below, but these are products I recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used. I’m so excited to share our coffee/hot cocoa bar with you today! If you’re here from KariAnne with Thistlewood Farms I’m glad you decided to drop by and drink a cup of coffee or hot cocoa with me. If this is your first time visiting I want you to know I’m honored you’re…