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Just Be You | An Open Heart Message
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to change you is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson The Story of Our Pot Rack Recently I came full circle on something, and it was so profound for me that I felt like I had to share it with you. This past winter I was talking to my husband a little bit about one of my favorite design decisions in our home. Our pot and pan rack. It wasn’t something that I saw and simply replicated. It was more of an epiphany. I love the idea of hanging pots and pans over the oven. The look is beautiful and…
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We’re Having Another Girl| An Open Heart Message
This is something that I’ve been so excited to share with you! We have been working on growing our family through adoption for a couple years and we’re getting closer! I’ve mentioned a few times that we’re adopting, but I haven’t shared very much more than that. In the early stages, there really wasn’t much more to say. The Boring Paperwork The beginning of the story is boring and full of ink and paper, social worker visits, psychological evaluations, and waiting. Lots of waiting. But recently we got some exciting news! Receiving Our Match We received our “match”!!! Which, if you’re unfamiliar with adoption lingo, simply means we finally know…
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Mother’s Day Picnic Ideas | Beautiful & Inexpensive
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and I’m so excited to share these fun backyard Mother’s Day picnic ideas with you! Before we begin, I want to take a moment and Thank Cecilia with My Thrift Store Addiction for hosting this mini blog hop! I’m so honored to call her a friend and absolutely love her beautiful heart! If you’re new here I want to take a moment to tell you welcome! I’m so glad you’re here!! Did you come over from Shelley’s Mother’s Day table setting? I absolutely loved it! Well, lets get started with these backyard Mother’s Day picnic ideas. Mother’s Day Picnic Ideas in May In…
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Thrift Store Finds | Why Thrifting Is the Best
I can’t wait to share my most recent thrift store finds with you! It’s been a while since I’ve gone vintage shopping, and I’ve missed it so much. It’s so fun hunting for treasures. Sometimes you come home with some of the best vintage finds, which is exactly what happened with my latest thrift haul. Remember last week when I shared the new location of the vintage pie safe? Well my latest thrift haul contained a replacement for the pie safe in the dining room! It’s been a few weeks that the pie safe has been in the girls’ room. So we’ve had a chance to decide if we need…
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An Open Heart Message: Beautiful Grace for Mothers
Recently God showed me grace in such an amazing way, I just couldn’t keep it to myself. So I’m going to share a story with you that happened to me last week as we traveled for vacation. It’s a story about God’s grace for mothers. Grace for Mothers: A Little Background We haven’t been on a vacation since my oldest, who is turning 5 this Spring, was 10 months old! We’ve had a lot of staycations and one weekend trip to the lake. But not a full week vacation. So I was more than excited about going to the beach with my family. We decided to drive instead of fly.…
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How to Organize a Shared Kids Closet
The best part of the shared girls’ room so far is the shared kids closet. It’s not the flashy or beautiful part, but it’s so organized. Of the entire shared room transformation, my favorite part so far has been the shared kids closet. For a mom folding and putting away more laundry than seems humanly possible, having 1 place to put all the clothes is like heaven! This is part 3 of the shared kids room transformation. You can find our plan here, the wallpaper installation here, the room design and layout here, and the built-in bookcase here. Okay guys let’s get real here. Our two little girls produce more…
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An Open Heart Message: Writing the Girls a Note
Recently, I was struck with this crazy thought. Why don’t I listen and believe the words and messages I want my girls to believe about themselves? I’m always giving them encouragement that they can do and be anything. However, for some reason, I don’t always believe it’s true for myself. Until a couple of weeks ago, this had never occurred to me. Where I Learned to Write Notes I am big on quotes and little notes. I’m the one who packs your lunch and adds a note for you to find while you are eating. I learned this from my Mom. She is the queen at leaving notes everywhere. She…
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Simple Preschool Shared Girls Room Plans
Today I’m so excited to share all about our shared girls room plans with you, from wallpapering to a closet system and a built-in bookcase. It’s official! Our baby is growing up! We’ve been doing all the transition stuff and she is finally ready to make the leap. She will be moving in with her big sister! If you’ve been following along for very long, you know we love DIY projects over here. We’ve done a wall rack, milk paint faux fireplace, pallet table, and so much more. But our shared girls room will be the biggest DIY we’ve done that I’ve shared with you all. I’m excited, but you’ll…
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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…
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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…
