Erin, Author at The Sunny Side Up Blog

Christmas

12.01.18

Holiday Gift Guide for Kids!

Happy weekend friends! I’m so excited to be sharing my 2018 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids with you all today! The “kid” gift guides are always my easiest and favorite to put together. Between teaching Elementary School for 6 years and then parenting my 3 kids the past 15 years I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what a lot of kids love. Plus toys are just FUN! Nothing like surprising a little girl with a new doll house on Christmas morning. Or a little boy with a new punching ball set. Wait… what? Ha ha.. that’s one thing Kole wants this year! Sometimes my kids wish for off the wall things, but for the most part, the toys I’m sharing in this gift guide have been tried and true and tested around here and are hands down our favorites! I hope these ideas are helpful (for you or Santa) this year. :)

1 – Mongoose Expo Scooter 12″ Wheels – Since Kole doesn’t read this blog I think I’m ok mentioning that mom bought these fun scooters for him and his cousins this year! They have absolutely loved their Razor Scooters and ride them all the time so she thought this would make a fun upgrade. Sure to be a hit! I still remember the Christmas me and my sister and our neighborhood friends all got pink scooters. One of our favorite Christmas mornings we always talk about!

2 – Zingo – Kole’s all time favorite game when he was a couple of years younger. If only I had a dollar for all the times I’ve played it with him! I could afford a lot of Zingo games. ;)

3 – PB Kids Dolls (on sale!) – PB Kid dolls are too much fun. So life like and you can brush/style their hair. I miss buying dolls! If my niece was a few years older I would buy this Special Edition Equestrian Doll so fast! And the horse and stable. Maybe I want these for myself for Christmas. I’m not even kidding about that. Ha..

4 – The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs – This looks so cute for kids who are interested in learning to cook! I got it for Addison this year (she knows to stay away from this post!). The recipes look simple so maybe her mom can also learn a thing or two. ;)

5 – Let’s Play House (Dust Sweep Mop) Pretend Play Set – All three of my kids LOVED to pretend to clean with me when they were little! They always cleaned along side of me and I honestly think it helped teach them some basic housekeeping skills and how to pitch in and help at a young age. Our little pretend broom and mop were favorites and we still have them today!

6 – Let it Snow (snow powder for slime) – if you have a child who is still into slime (I’m so sorry.. I’m suffering from the same fate over here!) this snow powder is all the rage.

7 – Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall – This looks amazing! Perfect for the child who is into Legos or Harry Potter. And if you have a child who loves both.. this should make him/her very happy. And very occupied! The gift that gives back to parents too.. ;)

8 – Stencils and Drawing Art Set for Kids – Most kids love stencils! And I think they get overlooked a lot. We often get our kids art sets, but stencils are a great addition because they give kids some direction. Kole has never been into art and coloring, but if I place a set of stencils in front of him and he can trace a few things it spurs his imagination and creativity. I’ve always loved stencils!

9 – Personalized Woodwork Bench – Santa brought Kole this personalized Woodwork Bench for Christmas when he was younger and he loved it! I loved that it had his name on it. :) Kids have so much fun hammering and pounding with tools. Kole also had and loved a set just like this one he got for Christmas one year. Toys he played with again and again and again! He still gets out the drill from time to time and “fixes” our cupboards. :)

10 – Incredibles Action Figures – My kids played with small action figures like this ALL the time when they were younger and this set is adorable! Have you all seen the new Incredibles movie? We watched it as a family last week and loved it.

11 – Black Stripe Teepee (on sale!) – If you follow my blog closely you know we have and love this black stripe teepee! Aside from being fun to play inside, it also looks darling in a playroom or bedroom. Because.. stripes. :)

12 – JellyCat Stuffed Animals – My kids all love their stuffed animals. Still today they each have a few that they sleep with and drag around. JellyCat stuffed animals are the softest! Lots of fun, fuzzy options for a child of any age. :)

13 – Lifetime Youth Basketball Hoop – I’m not totally sure what Santa has up his sleeve this year but if I had to guess I’d bet on this lifetime youth basketball hoop for Kole. Or this one. Both look like great options for some easy basketball practice in the back yard. :)

14 – Kids UGG boots – I held off getting my girls Ugg boots for a long time because they are pricey and kids’ feet grow so quickly! But they wanted them so much so one Christmas a few years ago I finally caved. I’ve been pleasantly surprised how much they wear them! They live in them during the winter months even with our not so freezing climate. They have been so cute on them and worth the money! So many fun styles out this year. I especially love these Bailey Bow boots for girls and I know Kole would love these cozy Dakota Moccasins!

15 – Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk – I can’t share a gift guide for kids and not include princess dresses for little girls! Long time readers remember just how many we use to have at our house. :)

16 – Portable Soccer Goal – Perfect gift for any little soccer player! My mom bought one for Kole when he started playing soccer this year and it’s so easy to pop up in the yard for a little kicking practice or a game when friends are over. This one comes in multiple size options too!

17 – Boxing Ball Set with Punching Ball – Kole wants a punching ball for Christmas this year and this is the best I found! I’m actually really excited about this because he has SO MUCH ENERGY and is always walking around punching things like my throw pillows. Hoping he can burn off some energy with this thing and leave my beloved pillows alone. ;)

18 – Latch Board – all three of my kids LOVED this! Such a great little toy for toddlers! It really held their attention and was great for fine motor skills. We still have ours. I’m saving this beloved toy for grandkids! I absolutely love Melissa and Doug and would recommend any of their puzzles, games and toys for young kids.

19 – Barbie Dreamhouse – Probably my girls most favorite Christmas gift ever! Oh the hours they would spend playing together with their dolls and doll houses. Have I mentioned how much I miss that? :) We have lots of favorite doll houses. Aside from the Barbie Dreamhouse (hello elevator, pool and slide!) my girls also loved their Kidkraft dollhouse (this mansion is amazing!) and when they were really little this Fisher-Price My First Dollhouse was a favorite. We still have all 3 dollhouses. None of us can part with them!

20 – Pirate Ship Bath Toys – Kole’s all time favorite bath toys! These fun pirates stick to the side of the tub so kids can build ships on the side of the tub and and then float the rafts while they play. Kole played with these in the tub for years and never got tired of them! My kids also loved these foam letters and numbers in the tub when they were younger. Too much fun sticking things on the side of the bathtub. :)

21 – Princess Castle Play Tent – I think the only thing my girls loved as much as their dolls and dollhouses (and their princess dresses!) was their pink play tent. We had a pink play tent in our living room for years! This Castle Play Tent is such a dream for any little girl.

22 – Radio Flyer Ziggle – Ending on one of Kole’s long time favorite toys. He loved his Ziggle and rode it every afternoon for years!

I usually include 20 items for my gift guides but had these 22 and just couldn’t shave 2 off because I love all of these toys so much! Like I said.. I hope they are helpful! Happy toy shopping. :)

PREVIOUS GIFT GUIDES IF YOU MISSED THEM..

GIFT GUIDE FOR NEIGHBORS, TEACHERS AND FRIENDS

GIFT GUIDE FOR TEENS

FAVORITE CHRSITMAS DECOR

xoxo, Erin

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Christmas

12.01.18

Mudroom tree and 12 Days of Deals!

Happy weekend! I’m so excited to share my little mudroom Christmas tree with you all that almost didn’t happen this year! I mentioned in an earlier post that I moved my original mudroom tree into the dining room. I didn’t plan on putting a new tree in the mudroom because well.. our house is quickly becoming a Christmas tree farm. While I couldn’t love that more, my husband seems to think we have reached our “tree max” as he likes to call it.

But really.. what does he know. ;)

So there I was.. about to go treeless in our mudroom (my favorite spot to have a happy tree greeting us when we walk in the door off of our garage every day!) when Wayfair reached out to me and asked if I would like to help spread the word about their amazing 12 Days of Deals.. starting with day 1 – CHRISTMAS TREES.

Oh happy day. Fate!! It was fate I tell you. That’s what I told Kenny too. I mean how could I possibly help spread the word about Wayfair’s amazing deals on Christmas trees without getting one myself!? I really had no say in the matter.

And the best part.. neither did Kenny. :)

#victory

{Red Knitted Christmas Tree Skirt} *affiliate links used

Of course I couldn’t buy a new Christmas tree without getting a cute new tree skirt too!

And a back up for future use. :)

(This cute snowflake skirt sold out but this snowflake tree skirt is similar and I didn’t see this grey snowflake tree skirt.. LOVE it! I might need two back ups for future use.)

But my favorite Wayfair score (besides the new tree!) is this beautiful mercury garland that’s on sale. I can’t believe the quality of this garland.. beautiful mercury ornaments! The type you would pay $12 or $14 for just one. I put 5 garlands on this little tree..

and then hung one in front of the door. A coset door that we won’t be using much this month. Kinda like we don’t use our black dutch door much in December.. #priorities ;) The garland is heavy so be careful hanging it! I used two strong command hooks.

I put mine on the tree, but I can think of so many fun ways to use this mercury garland every December! Hanging across mantels, on stairs, laying across garland. It just adds such a beautiful sparkle.

{Christmas tree (similar option)/Tree Skirt/Mercury Ornaments/Similar Ski Lift Sign/Similar Star}

I decorated this tree yesterday and just used ornaments I’ve had for years for the rest of it.. all ball ornaments and I’ve linked to a few similar options below. I’m so happy to have a tree back in our mudroom! It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without it. :)

Like all Christmas trees, it especially steals the show at night.

If you don’t shop often at Wayfair you are in for a treat! They seriously have EVERYTHING you could imagine when it comes to home decor (and Christmas decor for that matter!). I order things from Wayfair all the time and am always happy with the product quality and service (my beautiful new dining room table is from Wayfair!). Truth be told I would be telling you all about their 12 Days of Deals even if they hadn’t reached out to me. I’m so excited about it! Each day for the next 12 days they are offering some amazing deals.

Here is the schedule below if you are looking for something specific..

Wayfair 12 Days of Deals Dates: 12/1/18-12/13/18

12/1-12/2: Christmas Trees
12/2-12/3: Top Kitchen Brands (Up to 70% Off)
12/3-12/4: Multifunctional Furniture (Up to 70% Off)
12/4-12/5: Sheet Sets
12/5-12/6: Discounted Design Services (25% Off)
12/6-12/7: 3 for $30 Storage & Organization (3 for $30)
12/7-12/8: 8×10 Rugs (for $99)
12/8-12/9: Top Vacuums (Up to 50% Off)
12/9-12/10: Ornament Shop (5 for $25)
12/10-12/11: Seasonal Finishing Touches (From $11.99)
12/11-12/12: Eddie Bauer Throw Deal (50% Off)
12/12-12/13: Gift Card Promo (Buy $100 gift card, get a $20 gift card)

If you have been waiting to get a Christmas tree for a certain room in your house, today is the day to pull the trigger! Wayfair has so many cute trees (I’ve linked to some favorites below) and they are on major markdown! Trust me.. it’s fun to have a tree farm inside your house. Christmas lights galore!

A tree max? Really Kenny? I don’t think it exists.

At least not in this house.

*Huge thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring this post and for giving me an opportunity to get my mudroom tree! My husband thanks you too.. even if he won’t admit it.

{POST SOURCES and GOOD DEALS}

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

11.29.18

How to Cook Perfect Chicken (and kitchen favorites!)

I’m so excited about today’s post! I have a few small kitchen appliances to share from eBay that are making my life in the kitchen so much easier and I am seriously obsessed. They have so many fun things to get your kitchen holiday ready! I’ve been shopping through eBay a lot more lately because most of their items are new (something a lot of people don’t know!) and 69% of their items ship for free. Love that.

*affiliate links used

First up.. this Copper Chef perfect egg maker. You might remember from last year’s “day in the life” post I mentioned that I boil an egg for breakfast every morning. Many of you reached out to me after that post and mentioned using an egg maker so I did a little research and have been using this Electric Egg cooker to boil perfect eggs. It’s SO easy to use, makes up to 6 different types of eggs and they come out perfect every time!

We took it to Utah because I knew my parents would love it too. This pic was the morning of Thanksgiving (my mom was dicing celery for the stuffing). :) Kenny used it to make hard boiled eggs for me and my mom for breakfast.

You can use it to make up to 14 eggs at a time (genius!) or less. We usually only make 4-6 at a time.

Then he used it to make poached eggs for him and my dad. He was so excited to show my parents how cool it is! Now they want one too so we added that to their Christmas gifts this year.

We get pretty fancy for breakfast.. ha! Nice plates were being used for Thanksgiving so paper plates for breakfast it it! Seriously though.. the eggs were delicious! It even makes omelettes. Any type of egg you want.

I’ll take mine Sunny Side Up please. ;)

Second favorite from eBay is this beautiful three-tier dessert stand. I’m so excited to have this for the holiday season! I made our favorite pretzel hugs for my pajama party and loved having a fun way to display them. This stand made it so easy for everyone to pick up a few to munch on! Perfect for any holiday entertaining – cookies, cupcakes.. so many cute little treats you can display with this.

Plus I love the way it looks on my kitchen counter. :)

Little back story on my next favorite – When I was growing up my mom worked full time. She taught Elementary school so most days we went home late with her or went home right after school with a sitter (I was the sitter as soon as I was old enough!). But her school was on a track system so she would work a certain amount of weeks and then have three weeks off. I LOVED it when she had those three weeks off. I have the best memories of coming home from school to a clean house and cookies baking in the oven. She was always in a good mood (time off will do that to you!) and she would ask me and my brother and sister about our day and we’d hang out in the kitchen chatting and eating cookies. Not that things weren’t great when she was teaching (I loved that she taught at our Elementary school), but the cookies didn’t happen. ;)

So every now and then after I clean the kitchen, I bake cookies (usually easy pre-made cookies because I work from home.. ha) and I light a candle. I pick up my kids from school and they are always so excited when they come home to a clean house and cookies.

It’s the little things. :)

These stainless steel baking and cooling racks are long time favorites! Perfect to hold cookies and other desserts while they cool off. I’m giving some as gifts this season. Tying a bow around them to give with our favorite homemade applesauce cookies. :)

I feel like these racks are something everyone can use.. especially friends who love to bake!

Ok.. I’m most excited to share this next favorite eBay find with you all. I mentioned a while ago that a friend of mine needed help with paint colors. I introduced her to my favorite grey paint colors and to pay me back.. she taught me how to cook chicken! I have NEVER been able to figure out how to cook chicken. I mean I can cook it, but it doesn’t usually taste that great. I always just want Kenny to make it on the grill because it tastes so much better.

That was until this Cast Iron Grill Griddle came into my life!

So here’s how to make perfect chicken! Either be an amazing cook (not in the cards for me) OR use the griddle and Santa Maria Style Seasoning. I’m telling you.. the secret is in the griddle and the seasoning! You can get this seasoning at most health food stores. Look in the meat section! It’s so good. The only other things you need are chicken breast tenders and olive oil.

Put your chicken tenders in a bowl and pour in some Extra Virgin Olive Oil and then sprinkle on the seasoning. Be generous with the seasoning making sure there is plenty on each piece of chicken. You really can’t mess this part up (which is what I love and why I can make it.. ha) so just put in enough to really cover the chicken.

Mix it all together with your hands. Wash you hand first. And after.

See.. some cooking rules actually stick with me. ;)

Then you set the griddle on your two front burners and turn them on medium heat. Lay the chicken tenders across the griddle.

Cook them for a few minutes and then flip them all on the other side. Keep cooking and flipping the chicken until you can tell it’s done! (I can never tell so I always cut inside and just make sure it isn’t still pink.)

This outtake made me laugh. It’s how I really look and feel when I’m cooking.. a mix of total stress and anxiety with an inner dialogue going on in my head saying “it’s ok.. you can do this. Sort of.”

But cooking the chicken on this griddle pretty much guarantees success! Look at that! perfectly grilled chicken by yours truly.

This picture shows how my burners were on medium heat the whole time. The best part is that the chicken tastes even better than it looks! My family is so impressed and proud. :) The only down side is that you have to clean the griddle, but I’d rather do that than scrub my stove (I make a massive mess cooking chicken in a pan) so I’ll take it!

Stress and anxiety gone. Inner dialogue saying “it’s ok.. you really CAN do this. Sort of.” :)

Overall I’m feeling pretty chef like with the help of these small but mighty kitchen appliances. If I keep finding helpful eBay finds like these you all better watch out! You’ll wake up one day and this blog will have morphed into all things cooking.

Crazier things have happened!

Or have they?

;)

*Huge thank you to eBay for sponsoring this post! And for offering so many affordable new products and appliances that make life in the kitchen less of a struggle.

{POST SOURCES and OTHER EBAY FAVORITES}

xoxo, Erin

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Christmas

11.26.18

Christmas Table, Utah Pics and Cyber Sales

Thank you for the love on my new Christmas dining room! So fun sharing it with you all! (You can find details and sources here if you missed it!) I had two tables set up for my pj party last week and thought I’d quickly share how I decorated my dining nook table too.

{Faux Fig Tree/Red Seagrass Rug/Similar Table/Red Stripe Table Runner}

*all other table sources are in this post (affiliate links used)

Everything was the same as my formal dining room except I used older Target placemats. (They always have the cutest Christmas placemats every year!)

Another look at my perfect look-a-like red rimmed plates because I didn’t have enough of my original set. I was so happy when I found these!

One other difference! I picked up these fun tealight candle holders and red tealight candles for this table. They look so pretty lit up at night.

But other than that everything was the same as my formal dining room set up. I laughed when I saw this pic.. looks like I snapped it when I was starting to set out silverware but hadn’t quite finished. I never do very well at taking pics for parties when I’m entertaining because I’m so scattered getting everything ready!

Sharing a few random pics from our trip to Utah for Thanksgiving that are currently on my phone. We threw a quick surprise family birthday party for my sister because she is turning 40 in December! My mom and I were cracking up. Getting this party ready was one of those things where everything that could possibly go wrong did! But we all made it there and pulled it off. She was surprised, my mom and I couldn’t stop laughing and the kids had fun “helping” with everything.

So happy she’s joining the 40 and up club.. I was feeling a little lonely there without these two. ;)

Shopping post party. Don’t even think we wouldn’t dare.. 40 just means more fun. And being old enough to wear a snowman dress if it makes you happy and not care about what anyone thinks.

Although if I sport this dress in my next Fashion Friday post I have a feeling I might lose a few of you.. ha! But maybe if I add some cute over the knee black boots? Not so bad? ;)

Lots of blanket forts for the kids. This one had a secret entry that only certain people had access too. I was lucky to be among the chosen few.

Ad’s recent favorite sweatshirt from grandma. So her! This girl needs to join a debate team. She is too much like her daddy and can ~~argue~~ explain her way out of any and everything.

I had the best time hanging with my sweet niece! The two of us are thick as thieves and it is seriously so hard for me to say good-bye to her. Especially when she runs up and gives me hugs and kisses when it’s time to go. I cry every time! I miss having a little one this age so badly.

I bought her this cute red bodysuit and striped sweater pants and matching striped beanie (I clearly have a thing for red stripes!). Too much fun! I had to make sure my baby girl was decked and ready for December. :)

{Jeans/Similar Uggs/Purse}

I know I’m ready for December! Fun afternoon shopping with my mom. I picked up a few things to finalize my Christmas decor. Not that it’s ever really final. And yes.. that’s a Santa hat keychain hanging from my purse.

Bring it on. :)

I found a few more favorites on sale wrapping up some shopping this weekend. Black Friday/Cyber Monday did not disappoint! Have you all been finding some good deals on gifts!? Below are a few more ideas. I also shared fun things that are on sale a few days ago here, a teen gift guide and gift ideas for neighbors, teachers and friends. I’m working on a few more gift guides for December. I’ve been so happy to hear from some of you that they have been helpful! I also have my Favorite Things parties coming up and those parties are always full of great gift ideas. So more good gift ideas are coming! Wishing you all the best of luck getting back into the routine this week. I’m not really ready to be done with turkey and pjs. But lots to look forward to.. so there’s that.

Hopefully it will be enough to pull me out of my turkey coma. ;)

{CYBER MONDAY DEALS}

xoxo, Erin

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Christmas

11.24.18

Christmas Dining Room (all grown up!)

All room sources are at the bottom of this post! *affiliate links used

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Holidays always go by too fast don’t they? We have had the best few days with family in Utah.. so good I kept forgetting to even pick up my phone. It has been nice! We’re heading back to San Diego and while I was sad to say good-bye to family I’m excited to go home because my house is decked and ready for the holidays! Best feeling ever walking into a Christmas wonderland. :) Speaking of.. I have lots of pics to share! I’m starting with my Christmas dining room. Ever since I planked the walls and painted them white this has been my favorite room in the house. It was so fun throwing a dinner party and using this space last week!

I feel like my new navy sideboard table and Hot Cocoa sign made this space feel all grown up! (Details on my sign in this post and how you can get one for 15% off!)

I started this little Hot Cocoa Station tradition the first Christmas in our new house and my kids look forward to it every year. Hard to believe that was 5 years ago!

The candy in these bowls never last long. I’d love to blame my kids but you know. I work from home.. so there’s that.

Warm and Delicious. Freshly Made. Served Daily. Don’t mind if I do. I’ll pay for it in January but let’s worry about that later. Because it’s Christmas! Worrying about things later is part of the joy. :)

A shot of the whole Christmas dining room the day of my pajama party. I will be so sad to take down the Christmas touches in this room!

We are entertaining a lot this month so I wanted to keep the table centerpiece simple and low so people could chat. This Eucalyptus Garland was perfect! I keep two of them on the table when there are no plates, but one was all I needed after I added all of the dinner dishes.

I had the tall candles and then added these cute little mug candles from Target. The candle light makes the table so cozy when it’s dark! I also found these fun matching placements (some of my wood chargers cover the design!). The red stripe napkins from PB are also a new addition this year (I’ve been wanting them for years!) and are so cute with my flatware stockings. These Kate Spade plates are long time favorites but I also found these red rim plates that are so nice and almost identical. I used them on my other table for my pj party!

Another fun new addition this year is the matching Eucalyptus wreaths on my built-in cabinets. (Similar wreaths here.)

Such a simple, easy way to dress up cabinets and windows! I just tied some festive ribbon around this wreath and tied it to my cabinet latch.

Speaking of my dining room looking all grown up.. my new wall mirrors make such a difference! The mirrors and the tall end chairs draw your eye up and make the whole room feel bigger. And as if that didn’t make me love the room enough already..

I decided to move my little Snowflake mudroom Christmas tree to this corner. I might have done a happy dance when I turned the lights on for the first time.. could not love it in this room more! Every room just looks better with a Christmas tree in it doesn’t it!? It does. (You all weren’t answering fast enough so I went ahead and answered for you.) ;) It’s the reason my house is turning into a faux Christmas tree farm.. ha! Kenny is thrilled.

Seriously though.. perfect for that little corner right!?

Christmas lights just might be my favorite thing ever.

I hope you like the new additions to my dining room! So excited to entertain more in this space. I honestly wish I could have you all over for dinner and get to know each one of you this holiday season. I’d let you do most of the talking since you already know me. And my family. And what the inside of my bathroom drawers look like. ;)

I have a feeling that we’d all get along famously.

I might have to buy a few more stripe napkins and red rimmed plates, but if you’ll bring the side dishes.. consider it done.

{POST SOURCES}

The tall chairs were from Wisteria, the farmhouse table is from Restoration Hardware and the dining bench was made custom. I’ve linked to a couple of similar less expensive options below!

Furniture..

Christmas/Table decor..

Snowflake tree..

xoxo, Erin

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Christmas

11.22.18

Cyber Week Sales (my favorites!)

{Ribbed Funnel Neck Sweater/Cozy Joggers/Ugg Fleece Lined Socks/Kole’s pjs – Gymboree last year}

*affiliate links used

Happy Thanksgiving friends! My mom just snapped this pic of me with my little buddy tonight. We made it over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house! Which means it’s officially time for cousin chaos, Hallmark Christmas movies, late nights talking and laughing with siblings and of course.. stretchy pants. :) My mom and I spent the evening getting food prepped and browsing early Cyber Week deals on-line. Well.. let me clarify. My mom spent the evening getting food prepped while I spent the evening browsing early Cyber week deals on-line. I know. She’s lucky to have me. Ha. :) In my defense, I did help dice some celery and I found an awesome gift for her so I think she’ll ultimately forgive me. She always does. (Love you mom.. and I’m all over that stuffing prep tomorrow morning.)

{Gratitude Glass Jar and Gratitude Cards}

Last week I was looking through some of the Gratitude cards I wrote on during this past year and it made me feel especially grateful for family, friends and for all of you. All of the little things that make me so happy on a daily basis usually involve someone I love or the kindness of others. Several of my cards included gratitude I was feeling for sweet comments/e-mails/DM’s from many of you! Your kind words of love and support for me and my family and this blog brighten my day more than you’ll ever know. I’m so grateful for this space on-line where we’ve been able to connect and grow close. So thank you! For reading, for commenting, for encouraging, for sharing my ideas with others. I’m so thankful for all of you this Thanksgiving!

Ok.. sap is over. I can just hear Kenny singing “A Whole New World” in the background. His favorite go-to song when I start waxing poetic. ;)

I remember past Thanksgivings after the meal and dishes were done and the boys were all watching football, my mom and sister and I would wish we could start our on-sale Christmas shopping early. But from the comfort of our own couch in our pjs. Now that’s exactly what we plan to do! Black Friday/Cyber Monday has kind of turned into a full week of great deals and shopping on-line has never been easier. To be honest I’m planning on avoiding stores all together this weekend! The crowds stress me out and I’d much rather spend time with my family and just do everything on-line. I actually knocked a lot of my Christmas gift shopping out on-line today and found so many cute things that are already marked down! These are a lot of my favorite sale items below. I hope this post is helpful if you are looking for gifts and plan on shopping from your couch in your pjs this week too! In-between the celery dicing of course. ;)

Happy Thanksgiving friends! I hope it’s a good one.

xoxo, Erin

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Christmas

11.20.18

Teen Gift Guide (and a fun new sign!)

Happy Thanksgiving week everyone! I threw a PJ dinner party for friends on Saturday night and we had so much fun. First holiday party of the season was a success! Good friends, good food, good conversation and Christmas pjs. In my book you really don’t need much else. :) I’ll share a few more pics and party details soon but I wanted to quickly get my Teen Gift Guide up! I’m trying to get a gift guide up every weekend to help you all with your holiday shopping and I was so busy with party prep that I’m a little late with this one!

But ahh! I have to share my new sign I got in the mail with you all first! I had this sign made custom for my Hot Cocoa Station this year and could not be more excited about it! It’s seriously HUGE you guys. Kenny had to lift it for me it was so heavy! It’s from Jen at Harper Grace. I have loved her signs for a while now so I reached out to her to make this Hot Cocoa sign for my dining room and another sign for my guest room that I’ll share soon. I could not love them more! I wanted black lettering with just a touch of red – perfection! If you want to order one of her signs use the code “sunnysideup” when you check out and she’ll give you 15% off! (Thanks again Jen!) :)

{Navy Console Table/Chunky Wool Jute Rug/Mini Pine Tree (similar)/Eucalyptus Wreath (sold out but the matching garland on my table is on sale!/wreath ribbon} *affiliate links used

I’ll have pics of my dining room up soon (going through them all tonight!) but here is a peek of the corner with my hot cocoa station. I needed something large on that wall with my new chairs and console table and this sign is perfect!

Ok.. let’s talk teens! Gone are the days that I could pick up all things doll and princess for my girls and call Christmas done. I miss those easy shopping trips. Teens can be so hard to buy for! Gift cards are always a safe bet, but it’s not too fun to wake up to just gift cards on Christmas morning. I’ve talked to all of my friends who also have teens and we came up with some fun ideas for our kids that seem to be “in” right now. These are the things our teens are wanting for Christmas! I hope this is helpful! Moms of teens need to stick together just like moms of toddlers do. #thestruggleisreal

1 – Harper Crossbody – I just shared this little purse on my gift guide for friend/teacher/neighbor gifts but I think it’s perfect for teen girls too! Just the right size for their phone and some cash and lipgloss. Comes in so many cute colors!

2 – Instax Mini 9 – Cutest little mini camera! Teens love instant film cameras like this and I have to admit that I love them too! This newest model has a built-in selfie camera and comes in so many cute colors. You can buy the full bundle here with the case, film, etc. I’m thinking this would be perfect to get my girls working on their first scrapbooks.

3 – Power-Up USB Leather Tassle Keychain – Teens can easily charge their phone with this cute keychain! Forget teens.. I want one!

4 – Echo Dot – Is there anything the Echo Dot can’t do!? Such a fun gift for teens or adults!

5 – Faux-Fur Bean Bag – This bean bag looks to comfy. Ever since I bought Ad this extra large pouf (another fun option!) my whole family wants bean bags. On it this year. :)

6 – Nike Air Force 1 Sneaker – Clearly these are big right now because they are selling out everywhere! Huge right now for teens. I seriously can’t keep up with the shoes! First it was Converse, then Adidas, then Vans and now these Nike Air Force 1 Sneakers. To be honest I don’t love these shoes, but they are all Ellie wants for Christmas so I’ll have to get over it and save the shoes I love for me. ;)

7 – Champion Hoodie – Champion hoodies are all the rage with our high schoolers this year (boys and girls) and there are so many fun options if you want one for your teen!

8 – Anthro Monogram Candle – Love that you can personalize with this candle! Would be especially fun to give to college aged kids who are away from home for the first time.

9 – Brandy Melville and Starbucks Gift Cards – If you are going to go the gift card route I know the two gift cards my girls would want! They are obsessed with all things Brandy Melville and with Starbucks lemonade drinks! I don’t let them get them often (hello $8 and gone in 5 seconds) so I know a Starbucks gift card would make them both happy campers.

10 – Hydro Flask – LONG time favorites. My girls love these and so does the rest of my family. I gave everyone one for Christmas two years ago (mom, dad, brother, sister, etc.) and they are all still using them!

11 – LED Make-Up Mirror – Such a fun gift for a teen girl who is starting to wear make-up! Now she can easily listen to her favorite tunes while she gets ready.

12 – Spikeball Game Set – I have friends with teens who love this game! Looks like so much fun and something the kids can play with friends or family. There is a video you can watch when you click on the link to the game that shows kids playing it.

13 – Drybar Detangler – Such a good brush! These might be popping up in stockings this year for the girls. Thank you Santa! :)

14 – The Ranger’s Apprentice Series – I knew I’d be heavy on girl ideas and clueless on ideas for teen boys, so I talked to friends with teen boys and they all said their boys are obsessed with these books! I’m taking notes for when Kole is older!

15 – Butter Slipper Socks – My girls and I live in these all winter long! The coziest! They have fun patterns for men/boys too!

16 – Apple AirPods – All the rage with everyone this year!

17 – Firefly String Lights – These string lights are so much fun for teens! Addison has some similar lights in her bedroom that were a gift from a friend.

18 – Clarisonic Mia – The best time to start teaching good skin care habits! I love my Clarisonic Mia and want my girls to have their own!

19 – Slippers – So many cute slipper options for teens.. I fell in love with this sparkly pair for girls (or women) and these ‘Casey’ Slippers for boys (or men).

20 – Umbra Hangit Photo Display – We hung two of these in Ad’s room (you can see them here) and she is seriously so in love! She has thanked me for her picture display wall so many times. Makes me happy! Ellie wants something similar now in her room too. This would be such a fun gift to give with the Instax Mini 9 camera so your teen can take pics with family and friends and instantly hang them up in their room!

I hope that was helpful for those of you who are shopping for teens this year! If you missed my first Gift Guide you can find it here and I’ll be sharing ideas for younger kids and other people on your list soon too. Plus I have my whole house to share with you.. it’s decked and ready for Christmas! I never want to take all of the lights down. They make me too happy. If you live in the states I hope you are enjoying Thanksgiving preparations and if you are traveling be safe! We’ll talk soon! I have lots to share. :)

xoxo, Erin

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Fashion

11.16.18

Fashion Friday (and our recent injury)

Fashion Friday *affiliate links used

Happy Friday! We made it. My kids all go to school just half day tomorrow and then they are out for all of next week! So happy to get them home and take a break from their activities. This week has been just short of insane! I’m hosting a party Saturday night so aside from the normal craziness I’ve been getting ready for that and finishing the Christmas decorating so I can take pics to share and getting other things ready for Thanksgiving at my moms. I’m sure this week before the holiday was busy for many of you too! So excited for some time to relax and be with family. I’m ready to veg out in front of a Hallmark Christmas movie and think of nothing except how the girl and guy are going to end up together in the end.

Even though I know exactly how they are going to end up together in the end.

I have so many fun Christmas posts coming up so I’m keeping this one short and sweet with a few recent favorites I’ve been wearing!

{Madewell Stripe Turtleneck Sweater/Jeans/Booties}

Could not love this Madewell sweater more! I mentioned in this post I love everything Madewell came out with this Fall and they just keep getting better! Seriously my favorite brand right now. This sweater is so soft and warm and perfect for cool temps.

{Sheridan Ribbed Sweater/Earrings/Jeans/Booties}

For the love of mint! This sweater was a splurge because I bought it thinking I was going to wear it for our family pictures. But then I ended up wearing something I already have for family pictures so this sweater was apparently a splurge for no reason at all.

Well.. except for the love of mint. :)

{Madewell Maybe Later Sweatshirt/Jeans/Sneakers}

Love this sweatshirt. Whenever I ask my husband to do something.. “hey babe can you…” he always answers “No. But I’m not mad you asked.” He thinks it’s hilarious. Really it’s just annoying at best, but now I have a comeback! When he asks me to do something I plan to promptly reply “maybe later.” Or I’ll just face him wearing this sweatshirt.

Game on Kenny. You don’t want to mess with me.

{B.P. Dolman Ribbed Top/Jeans/Booties}

This pullover is so cozy! Soft and a great fit without being tight. Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. With extra pie. :)

{V Neck Sport Shirt/Jeans/Wedge Sneakers}

This fun V Neck Sport Shirt is an Amazon find! I stumbled on it doing a little Christmas shopping and couldn’t resist! So cute and casual and a great price. Comes in lots of fun colors.

{Loose Tunic T-Shirt Blouse/Necklace/Jeans/Wedge Sneakers}

Another fun Amazon top that I’m loving! You can wear this long or let it gather more at your waist. So cute! Also perfect for pie.

Here’s one other reason this week has been busier than usual for us. Aside from all of the decorating and holiday/party prep, Addison broke her finger! She was in LA Monday celebrating her close friend’s birthday at a water park and slammed her finger in a huge, heavy door. (SO painful!) The trip came to a bit of a halt when Insta Care sent her straight to the ER. Aside from the break she sliced it pretty good so she had to get stitches too. It was awful not being there with her! Her friend’s mom took great care of her and we face timed through most of it. She was so brave. Wednesday we had a follow-up appointment at our hospital here which at this point feels like my second home.

Let’s see.. in the past year..

Kenny broke his ankle and had to have surgery.

We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary hiking Colorado and exploring New York with his lovely boot and scooter.

Then I had my massive knee surgery.

Spent months recovering, doing physical therapy..

and looking like the Terminator.

Then Kole had his strange cheek issue.

Three days in the hospital and surgery for him.

And now Ad. Seriously!? It’s almost comical! We keep telling Ellie to watch out because she’s next!

Finger’s crossed she’s not. (Sorry Ad.. no pun intended.) I would be just fine not visiting our hospital again in the near future. Although I have to admit that I’m getting really good at throwing together a quick hospital bag. Phone charger, water bottle, change of comfy clothes, sweatshirt because the hospital is always cold..

All joking aside I’m so grateful it wasn’t worse for Addison. For all of us really! We have been lucky that none of our injuries have been life threatening. We get knocked down and we heal and get back up. Ready to fight another fight!

Or just veg out from sheer exhaustion in front of mindless Hallmark movies.

I’ll fight another fight the week after Thanksgiving.

;)

{POST SOURCES}

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

11.15.18

Reindeer and Snowflake Tree Sources

Happy Thursday friends! I’ve been decorating up a storm and am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! I have to keep my eye on the prize (a clean and cozy decorated home ready for the holidays) because the last two weeks have been nothing but boxes and messes. I’d love to have a day to just knock it out and be done with it, but instead I’m working with 20 minutes here and 15 minutes there and 45 minutes after everyone else is asleep and I’ve caught up on e-mails and cleaned the kitchen for the 18th time in a day. I know many of you are doing the same kind of decorating (or will be soon!) at your house. Good times. :)

I am decorating four Christmas trees again this year and am so excited to have them up and almost done! Three of them I just slightly tweaked from how they were last year and one I kept the same.

Here is the final outcome of our family room tree! A bit reindeer themed and slightly different than last year’s tree.

Some of the ornaments are the same, but last year’s tree had large shiny red ball ornaments, white leaf picks and our candy and candy cane ornaments.

So you all know that this family room tree is the tree my kids help with (I recently shared pics of our tree decorating party.. a favorite tradition at our house!). Last year I made the mistake of moving a few of the ornaments around the day after we decorated together. The blogger/perfectionist side of my personality got the best of me (the struggle is real.. ha) and I sort of straightened things up a bit. Well. My kids came home from school the next day and noticed right away. I could tell it hurt their feelings and I felt AWFUL. #momfail So I vowed that I would never do that again. It was a good lesson for me to not lose sight of what matters most during the holidays.

This year I’m happy to say that our family room tree is 100% decorated by me and my kids and I haven’t touched one ornament since we finished! Although the style of this tree is very kid friendly and still looks put together. If your kids are helping but you’d still like your tree to look like it has some sort of plan (I know some of you moms are thinking yes please!) one tip is to choose 5 or 6 ornament styles and some garland and stick to just using those items on the tree. Repeat the same ornaments throughout and it will give your tree a cohesive look even if the kids clump things together. I also had most of the garland up before we started. My kids like that because they just want to hang all of the ornaments. :)

We also have this smaller tree we keep in our stair landing that my kids decorate with all of their special homemade/school ornaments. A few options for including your kids in the decorating this year!

It’s so funny.. without even planning it my whole house is reindeer themed this year. I’m subconsciously drawn to them! I knew I wanted to add some of these fun reindeer to my family room tree so when I found this large red pom pom garland at Michaels craft store I had to have it! Hello Rudolph. :) (This tree is 9 feet tall and I used 7 of the red pom garlands.) My white garland sold out but I’ll link to similar options below that will give you the same look. My long time favorite wooden chalkboard plaque ornaments are back in stock!

*affiliate links used

I also added these darling white ornaments from Etsy with reindeer names on them! So much fun. I have the red Rudolph ornaments displayed in this bowl in my kitchen. :)

More reindeer and favorite past Christmas pictures in these frames on my shelves. Tradition.

There’s nothing like a tree lit up at night is there? The best. For the tree skirt I layered this faux fur tree skirt with this pom pom knit throw on top of it. Another tip is to use chunky throws for trees skirts. I love the look!

I love buying large tree ornaments. I think they look great on a tree mixed in with the small ornaments. They cost a bit more, but on smaller trees you only need 3-4 large ornaments to make a statement (5- on larger trees). Another bonus is that you can also use larger ornaments for decor throughout your home.

When I want to display my larger reindeer in places other than the tree I just tape the ornament ribbon to the back side. :)

Speaking of reindeer and my over the top obsession with them this year.. are these not the CUTEST yet!? Sherpa Reindeer! So soft! And that fuzzy white with the red scarf and pine cone tail! I can’t even. Just like PB’s other reindeer they come in larger sizes or these small sizes for the tree.

I also wanted to share sources for these fun wool trees and this Church Birdhouse that are new this year. I shared a peek of how I was decorating with them in IG stories and got lots of questions. The little house has lights inside and looks so cute lit up when it’s dark!

I also got lots of questions about sources for my little mudroom tree that I decorate every year. This is the one tree I kept decorated the same (not ready to change this one up yet.. I love it!). But I did move it to a different room! I’m excited to show you where it is soon. :) I’ll be back with another post tomorrow.. so much to share! All of the sources (and lots of similar options) for these two trees are below!

{Family Room/Reindeer Tree Sources}

{Mudroom/Snowflake Tree Sources}

{Extra Post Sources}

xoxo, Erin

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Christmas1

11.11.18

Holiday Gift Guide! (Neighbors, Teachers and Friends)

So excited about today’s post! But before we get started talking gifts I wanted to let you all know that my 2018 Holiday Planner is on sale for just $8! It’s not too late to get organized for the holidays! If you are feeling scattered with everything that needs to be done next month and need some direction or just a place to write down ALL the things – this will help! Lots of organized pages to help you plan who you’re buying for, what your budget is, plans for December or just cute to-do pages and calendars for major brain dumps. I’ve had lots of those lately. :) You can see exactly what’s included in my Holiday Planner HERE, details on how I’m using mine (and how I plan in general) HERE, and you can purchase it at a discounted price HERE. I hope you love it!

Ok.. I’m seriously so excited you guys. Did I already mention that? Remember my friend Ann’s annual Favorite Things party? After a two year break she’s hosting it again this year! Also another close friend of mine is hosting a Favorite Things party! So I’m going to two Favorite Things parties that will be loaded with fun gift ideas. I promise I’ll take good notes! Also I’ve been doing my Christmas shopping (following the weekly guide in my Holiday Planner!) and I’ve found so many fun things. I’m going to try to get a gift guide up every weekend for the next month to help you all with your holiday shopping. There are just so many fun options this year! My problem hasn’t been figuring out what to get family and friends this year.. it has been having too many great options and not being able to narrow it down and make a decision. Not a bad problem to have. :) So without further rambling, here is my first gift guide of the season… Gifts for Neighbors, Teachers and Friends!

*affiliate links used

1 – The Original Peppermint Bark – A long time favorite gift. SO delicious and better than the peppermint stuff you find in the grocery store or anywhere else. I’ve given this to neighbors and teachers in years past and it’s always a hit! Addison and I were just talking about how we need to go pick up a tin for us this December!

2 – Initial Pendant Necklace – These Kate Spade lowercase letter necklaces are so dainty and beautiful! Giving away several of them this year and now I want one for me! (Kenny.. El.. Ad..mom.. who’s reading? Hint hint..)

3 – Brass Inlay Marble Cutting Board – Gah! Is this marble cutting board not the most gorgeous thing!? I LOVE that brass inlay! Perfect for the friend who loves to decorate or entertain! Wait.. that’s me. Who’s going to mail me one? ;)

4 – Popcornopolis – If you haven’t tried this popcorn that is your homework this season! So delicious! We gave this set out to friends and neighbors a few years ago and it was a hit! (Zebra is my all time favorite flavor!)

5 – Cable Knit Beanie – I was in Nordstrom last week (it’s their Fall sale right now btw and so many fun things are 40% off!) and I saw these Treasure and Bond beanies in person and they are darling! And so soft! If I lived somewhere cold I would be sporting one 6 out of 7 days a week. I could go even longer without washing my hair! If that’s even possible. Ha.

6 – White Wash Bowl – The picture of this bowl does not do it justice! I just bought it! So beautiful. You’ll see it in my Christmas decor posts! It’s holding shiny glass ornaments at the moment. Really pretty to display on a coffee table or end table, etc.

7 – Library of Flowers Bubble Bath – Ok.. I’m dying to try this! Have you all seen Oprah’s 2018 Favorite Things List yet!? She has so many great gift ideas and loves this bubble bath! I absolutely love taking a hot bath at the end of the week (it has become a ritual for me!) and I can’t wait to try this. (So Kenny you’re going to need to buy it for me. I make Christmas SO easy for you. You’re welcome.)

8 – Platters and Boards – I have two favorite coffee table books and this is one of them! Platters and Boards has a gorgeous cover/side binding to display on a table or shelf and gorgeous images on every page. It is full of so many fun ideas for creating platters of food/snacks for entertaining. My friend and I are using some of the pictures for inspiration for my Christmas party coming up! Perfect gift for someone who loves entertaining. My other favorite coffee table book is Cut Flower Garden and is perfect for the flower lover. Coffee table books can make fun gifts when you personalize them. Buy someone a book full of whatever they are interested in and they are sure to love it.

So don’t buy me a cook book.

In case you were thinking about it, let me save you some money.

;)

9 – Gratitude Glass Jar – You guys! My Gratitude Jar is back in stock! My mom gave these to me, my sister and brother and our families for Christmas last year and we have all absolutely loved them! This jar costs a bit more than a regular glass jar, but it’s so beautiful that it looks like decor so you want to leave it out displayed in your home. It comes with lots of pretty cards so that you and your family can each write down one thing you are grateful for each day. Or you can do it once a week or however it works best for you! We didn’t remember every single day this year, but we did all write on a lot of cards and are going to read them together as a family this year on New Years Eve. That’s how Kenny and I like to party ;) I also loved having this jar when a certain 8 year old would complain more than usual. Instead of being frustrated or upset with him I would just say “I know that’s rough and some days don’t always go our way.. but let’s think of one or two things we are grateful for today and write them down and focus on that.” I maybe got an eye roll or two, but he always did it and I could tell it shifted his focus. Sometimes we all need a reminder to focus on the positive and this gift is such an easy, special way to help us do just that. (Thanks mom! Best gift.) :)

10 – Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask – I’ve been using this for years and love it! I have dry skin and this makes my skin so feel/look so hydrated! I just put it on like lotion every few nights. A perfect friend gift!

11 – Faux Fur Throw – I LOVE this pom pom throw! I have it in a few colors and you can see it in this picture of my Fall living room. The cream looks even better on a darker couch. It’s not thick so I don’t recommend it for cuddling with on the couch.. it’s perfect for decor. Drapes beautifully over chairs and couches and the pom poms are perfection! SIDENOTE: If you are looking for an inexpensive cozy throw to wrap up in I recently ordered and LOVE this fleece blanket. TOO good and comes in so many colors! Not cute for decor (ha) but perfect for cozy movie nights on the couch. My girls keep taking it up to their rooms and I keep bringing it back downstairs. Clearly I’m going to have to get everyone their own!

12 – Weekly Spiral Desk Pad – So cute to set out on your desk! And the inside pages are perfect for people who just like to jot down a few daily to-do’s for the week.

13 – Faux Fur Slippers – These are so soft and a great price! I gave them to my mother-in-law a few years ago and she loved them!

14 – Harper Crossbody – Giving a few of these out this year (and I bought one for me!). They were also on Oprah’s gift list and are perfect for when you just want to take your phone and credit cards and a few small things with you! So great for travel too. I’m excited about them!

15 – Anthropologie Capri Blue Candle – So as you can see from the picture above.. I’m clearly a fan of this candle.. ha. :) They smell SO good and are so beautiful to display in your home as part of the decor. Perfect teacher, friend, neighbor gift! (And two styles are 20% off right now!)

16 – Harrison Serving Bowl – I just ordered this and can’t wait to get it! Such a beautiful bowl. I’ll share a pic when it comes in!

17 – Bindle Bottle – Ok.. where have these been all of my life!? You guys have to check these out! A water bottle that not only keeps things cold or hot but also holds your keys, cash, change. If you exercise at a gym this is perfection! I’m also thinking of how great it will be to take to the beach (or a pool) in the summer. It can hold your chapstick, mini sunscreen, earbuds.. so many odds and ends. GENIUS!

18 – BP Faux Leather Tote – My Madewell leather tote is one of my all time favorite staple bags but it’s a little pricey. If you don’t want to spend that much this PB faux leather tote is a beautiful option for less that gives you the same look!

19 – LittBag Organizer – Another genius idea! It’s a purse organizer that goes inside of your purse! That lights up so you can always find things even in the dark! Why don’t I think of things like this!? Because I’m too busy hunting for them on-line instead. ;) I want one of these because I switch up my purses so often. This would make changing handbags a breeze having all essentials organized inside and just popping the whole thing in and out of new bags.

{Similar Pajamas}

20 – Ugg Fleece Lined Socks – Last but not least.. the coziest slipper socks in all the land! These have sold out so fast the past two years! And for good reason. I LOVE them! The best to wear throughout the winter. I’m giving several for gifts this year.. AGAIN!

Alright you guys.. let me know. What is your favorite gift idea I shared!? Are these guides helpful? I know it can seem daunting each year to come up with creative and useful gifts for the people we love and appreciate so I hope these guides make that easier! I’m off to bed.. got a little excited about this post and stayed up way too late. I just love favorite things posts!

Favorites are my favorite. :)

Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo, Erin

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Christmas

11.08.18

Decorating our tree and fun Christmas pj’s!

So this happened! Our annual tree decorating party. One of our favorite traditions! We take this night pretty seriously. Clear schedules. Pull down ALL things Christmas from the attic. Crank up the Christmas tunes on the TV. And of course.. wear fun Christmas pjs! (Keep reading for more details on the pjs.. we are so in love!)

Of course this evening doesn’t always go picture perfect.

My kids are always SO hyper excited so for the first hour it’s usually me bringing down stuff from the attic and these three doing who knows what.

At one point my girls made up a hip hop dance to Up on the House Top. Which they taught me btw. We might have to film it.. it’s pretty lit if I do say so myself.

Ha. :)

At some point in the evening we actually got to work and started decorating!

Addison’s face when she realized the ornament she had dropped and started to hang was broken. For the record.. she broke one, El and Kole didn’t break any and I broke three.

Next year I think I’m turning the tree decorating completely over to the kids.

I’ll choreograph the hip hop dance.

My face when Kenny (~~who grudgingly agreed when I begged~~ so kindly offered) to take pics of us decorating asked if he could be done and go watch the football game. At this point my girls were laughing non stop and Kole was decorating the whole back side of the tree that no one sees. I said “you’re seriously going to leave me with these three and this mess?”

His response? “Seriously.”

Family! Good thing I love them all.

This year I’m partnering with The Company Store (love them!) to share their adorable collection of Christmas pj’s. Yes.. I might have squealed when that e-mail came through! I’m all about Christmas pj’s and their cozy matching flannel sets are just too much fun. I picked out the Santa set for us. You all know I’m a sucker for traditional Christmas colors. It just doesn’t feel like the season to me without all of the red and green! I’m actually wearing the teen set and El’s wearing the womens. Personal preference because she loves pj’s to be loose and baggy and I like more of a fitted top. Each set comes with a matching nightgown too that my girls would have loved when they were younger! So many cute options!

The Company Store is encouraging everyone to have a “national family pajama night” and they are donating a dollar from every pair of pj’s sold to the Ronald McDonald house in NY to help kids and their families. See why I love them so much?

Pajamas and family time. I can’t think of anything better.

My favorite part of the holiday season hands down.

Quickly followed by all of the fun decorating.

And music.

And food.

And parties with friends.

And gift giving.

I could keep going but you all have families of your own you need to tend to.

Best little tree helper.

Especially when he’s working on the front side of the tree.

Quick break in the photoshoot to read Santa Mouse – a long time favorite. As soon as I pull the Christmas books down from the attic they all three stop drop and read.

Huge thank you to The Company Store for sponsoring this post and for sending us pj’s that we love and are so excited to wear this season!

Also huge thank you to my husband. For supporting me through all of my crazy Christmas adventures. I know you put up with a lot! But you dish quite a bit out during the process so how about we call it even.

;)

p.s. Details on our tree coming soon!

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

11.07.18

Getting Ready for the Holidays

{Fa la la Bowl/Marble Serving Tray} *affiliate links used

We are in full holiday prep mode at our house! Well.. by “we” I mean “me” and the rest of my crew is happily along for the ride. :) Today I’m sharing a few fun things I picked up from eBay to help me get ready for the holidays this year. I was so excited when they reached out to partner on another post because I had so much fun decorating my laundry room with fun eBay finds. I still can’t believe that 81% of the items they sell are new! So many great deals. I love their selection of new kitchen/home items and was thrilled to find this gorgeous Kate Spade bowl for the holidays! Fa-la-la.. I think it was made for me. :) I’ve been looking for a small marble serving tray for a while now so I also picked up this one and plan to get one or two more. We are hosting a few different parties over the next two months so I’ve been on the hunt for fun holiday serving pieces! These are a few other options I’ve been considering..

My kids got to test out my new bowl with a fun movie treat the other night. We’re big popcorn people (you already knew that about us?) and adding some holiday candy and pretzels to our popcorn takes things up a notch to “special.”

We’re also easy to please people.

{Similar Pumpkin Serving Dish}

This family holiday tradition started years ago with a simple popcorn Halloween mix I threw together for my girls when they were little to accompany a Barbie movie. Has anyone been with me long enough to remember that? :)

Of course I couldn’t stop there. Grapes and strawberries and bananas are three fruits we always have on hand at our house so when I found a simple Christmas treat on Pinterest I thought I’d try making it for my kids to see if it would become another holiday favorite.

Can you tell what these are? Grinch Santas! Just fruit on a toothpick with a marshmallow on top. Something even I can do. ;) I knew what they were the second I saw a picture of them, but I was cracking up when Kenny got home and couldn’t tell! He was so confused and the look on his face when he was holding one upside down made me laugh.

Of course that didn’t stop him from eating half of them.

My kids rolled their eyes at my attempt to make a “Pinworthy” treat, but then they promptly gobbled up what was left so regardless of the reaction from my family, I’d say the treats were a success.

Did you want to start calling me Martha? It’s ok.. go ahead. Really. I don’t mind.

Rest assured that I have friends helping with the food for all of my holiday parties. But that won’t stop me from impressing everyone with a few of my Grinch Santas. I’m on a roll. Ha. :)

Ok.. now let’s chat about my for real favorite type of holiday prep. Getting the house ready! I always have the same routine for early November. I take down all of my Fall/Halloween decor and just live with my house empty for a couple of days. I love having this in-between time to get my house clean! I try to set aside two mornings to just quickly go through each room and organize. Not a major clean out, but a quick “organize as much as I can” clean out.

I ordered this Dyson Portable Handheld Vacuum from eBay to help me get the house ready for the holidays and I’m seriously so in love! I have so many friends who love and swear by Dyson vacuums and eBay has such a great selection of different styles. I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without one in my life! We have Central Vac in our house and I’ve been really happy with it, but the only downside of that system is that it’s a bit of a pain to pull out the long cord and vacuum for smaller, quick vacuum jobs. This Dyson is lightweight and easy to hold. So handy for quick clean outs! It also has a really strong suction and with no cord it’s easy to just carry room to room. It gets the job DONE. I’m such a fan. (Tempted to get another one to keep in my car!)

A few things I do to get my house ready for the holidays:

1) Wash all sheets in the bedrooms. I get these going in the washer first and then I start my room to room pick up!

2) Quick overall room pick up. Anything obvious we aren’t using or I’m not loving anymore goes in a black sack and off to Goodwill.

3) In the kitchen I wipe down my fridge/freezer and straighten my pantry (tossing things that are old/expired).

{You can get my favorite dream drawer dividers here- not pictured above but what I use to organize most of my drawers}

4) Organize and vacuum out drawers. Like I said, this isn’t the time for anything major, but I try to go through our most often used drawers and give them a quick clean out. Toss garbage, straighten things up and vacuum out any crumbs. (LOVE my new Dyson for cleaning crumbs/dust out of drawers!)

Why yes.. I’m back on my tiptoes on this counter again. My hang out every time the season changes.. ;)

5) Wipe off/dust or vacuum shelves. I especially love doing this with all of the decor put away. I’ve always struggled to clean off this shelf over my oven. Not anymore! New vacuum to the rescue. Did I mention I’m in love!? :)

Once I’ve gone through each room and quickly picked up I feel like I can start pulling out my Christmas decor. YEA! Bring it on. Then I’m surrounded by flocking and boxes and glitter and garland.

And once again my new vacuum to the rescue. ;)

*Huge thank you to eBay for sponsoring this post! And for introducing me to my new soulmate. I will be forever grateful. #justagirlandhervacuum.

There is a huge Dyson deal going on through eBay for the next few days!

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xoxo, Erin

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A few things I do to get my house ready for the holidays:

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