I love this time of year and all the cozy, movie watching sessions with a cup of hot chocolate by the twinkle lights of the tree. These are my top 10 and honestly I could switch a couple of them out for the honorable mentions listed below. So many good ones make it hard to narrow down!

CANDIED PECANS, MY GO-TO HOMEMADE GIFT
Recipes December 15, 2020One of my go-to gifts are these candied pecans. They are always a hit with family and Jeremy’s coworkers. (I’m not sure how many people outside of our family we will give these to this year since people are extra freaked out...🤷🏼♀️ But this is definitely something you should keep in your back pocket!😉)

WHOLE HOUSE LIGHTING PLAN FOR $1,800
Our House on Oakridge November 30, 2020I was really excited to pick out lighting for our new house but I quickly realized it was going to take a little research. Our builder allowance for lighting was $1800 and this was one area I did not want to go over budget since lighting is something we can easily switch out/upgrade down the line if we decide to but I honestly am happy with everything I selected even if it's my second, third, or ninth choice.😅
I surprisingly came in under budget (thanks to the discount our builder gets at Lowes) at $1,166.25 but even without the discount I still came in around $1,800 which I'm pretty proud about. All of the selections below are from Lowes and Amazon.

THE BOYS SHARED BEDROOM PLANS
Our House on Oakridge November 5, 2020Things are starting to feel very real over at our house on Oakridge (I finally decided on a name/hashtag). Once the drywall went up it totally transformed the place. The first time I saw it I teared up. I'm just so thankful for this beautiful house and the memories we will make there. I am so anxious to move in! In the meantime, I'm having fun coming up with plans for the rooms. First up, the boys shared room. It's one of the first spaces I want to have completed. We will have moved three times by the time the boys are in this room. I want to get it set up and feeling like home as soon as possible.

WINNIE JEAN HOLIDAY POP UP SHOP
Winnie Jean October 30, 2020I am so excited to share this today. Ever since closing the virtual doors to Winnie Jean back in December of 2018 I have dreamed of reopening. What better time than 2020?😜 While I am not in a place where I can or want to come back full-time I am so pumped to be able to launch this small pop up. I have worked hard the last month trying to provide a small collection that contains best sellers from the past as well as some new designs I hope y'all will love. This year has been anything but normal and we've been spending even more time at home. I wanted to create a collection that is festive and embraces the coziness of the season.
The collection will launch at midnight on November 1st and will be available for this month only. While I wish it could be longer I already have realized since working on this small project that it's just not time for me to be back fully. I love this work and when I'm working on a collection it consumes all my thoughts. I found myself frustrated during the day when I had to tend to my normal tasks - dishes, making meals, etc. because all I wanted to do was work on this project.

TOP 10 FAVORITE FALL MOVIES
October 26, 2020
MOVING UPDATES & BUILDING PROCESS
Our New Build October 25, 2020I can't believe its already been four months since I shared the news that we're building a house! (Above is a rough mockup I did on the 2D rendering of our house.) It has been a crazy few months and while things feel like they're starting to settle down, it will be time to move again before we know it! We met with our builder a couple weeks ago and he said that as long as things keep moving along smoothly with no hiccups we could be in by the end of the year! I'm trying not to get my hopes up incase this doesn't happen but that's nearly impossible! That would be a dream come true!🙏
I've been sharing the progress on Instagram stories but I also wanted to document the process here for my own memory keeping. I did get a few questions on Instagram that I'll answer here first!

BACKYARD REVEAL | BEFORE & AFTER
Home Decor Our 1870 Colonial August 7, 2020THE BEFORE

ENTRY REVEAL | BEFORE & AFTER
Home Decor Our 1870 Colonial July 29, 2020THE BEFORE

SAWYER'S NURSERY REVEAL | BEFORE & AFTER
Home Decor Our 1870 Colonial July 13, 2020THE BEFORE

SUMMER BBQ PLAYLIST
Playlists July 3, 2020
THE BACK TO SCHOOL BUNDLE
Essential Oils July 1, 2020STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

LIVING ROOM REVEAL | BEFORE & AFTER
Home Decor Our 1870 Colonial June 30, 2020THE BEFORE
These aren't the greatest pictures but I snapped these in October 2017 during our inspection. The room had good bones. It was basically a blank slate with large windows providing lots of natural light and nearly 10' ceilings.THE AFTER
We also had plans to carry the wood floors we put in the dining room and kitchen throughout the rest of the house. It was pretty expensive since we also had to have the floors leveled (y'know, since the old girl is 150 - things are sagging a bit.🤣) so we won't be doing that before we leave either. And besides adding an area rug I would have loved to plank the ceilings. They're so tall and I think the added texture would have been so beautiful and cozy.
Now that I've photographed the living room how we have it (I wanted to make sure I always remember this special place) I will start to declutter and pack away some of our family photos. I think it's ok to leave a few out when listing a house but I definitely want to simplify. Makes me sad to think about but I am also SO excited for our next adventure. I'll be sharing more spaces as I clean them up before packing them away so stay tuned for that!

WE ARE BUILDING A HOUSE!
Our New Build June 26, 2020
AMERICANA DECOR + INSPIRATION
Patriotic Decor May 20, 2020SOURCES
American Flag* | (Made in the USA) The one thing I think every house should put out is an American Flag. It doesn't have to be huge but I think it's the best place to start.
Boxwood Wreath With Flag | This is something I saw from House 1924. In 2018 she hung a boxwood wreath with a flag hanging down in the middle. Last year I only hung my eucalyptus wreath from Hearth & Hand but I'm excited to have the addition of the little flag this year.
Festive Cloth Napkins* | Step up your entertaining game this summer with cloth napkins. They're reusable, beautiful and easy to wash. I love these blue gingham ones and they're perfect for all the patriotic holidays and all the other get togethers in between.
Festive Letter Board | We have a few letter boards throughout our house and while I don't change them out as often as I thought I would, I love switching them up for special occasions. Our's currently says "Coronation 2020" so I'm definitely ready to switch to something else and I really like "This land was made for you and me" as pictured above. Some other fun and festive phrases you could use are: Liberty & Sparklers For All, Party Like It's 1776, and Baby You're a Firework.
Americana Bunting Scarf* | (Made in the USA) This is another idea from House 1924. (You can see the inspiration over on my Pinterest board.) The bunting scarf she used was found at antique store. I have the one linked here coming my way in the next week. I'm thinking it won't be as flow-y as her's (it's a different material) but I'm hoping I can recreate a similar look.
Star Cookie Cutters* | Another way to take your entertaining up a notch is with the food and beverages. There are so many things you can cut out in the shape of stars for a more festive look - cheese slices for a charcuterie board, apples for a fruit plate, pineapples in the sangria, and of course cookies. There are so many possibilities!
American Flags | You can pick these up in store at Walmart or your local hardware store for much cheaper but I love to place these all over the place. I put some in our planters out front and I love to stick them in vases all over the house. It's a simple touch that leaves a festive punch.
Ferns | This big plant just screams summer to me. They don't do all that great in direct sunlight and we get both for big chunks of time in the front and the back. I'd love to have some in planters out front and I love when people have them hanging from covered porches.

BACKYARD PLANS & PROGRESS
Home Decor Our 1870 Colonial May 18, 2020THE BEFORE
SOURCES
Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk.I am so excited (have I said that already?😉) and just really thankful for this beautiful space. I feel like such an adult being excited about a new patio and landscaping, but here we are. Hopefully I'll be back soon to share the after photos with y'all!

HOMEMAKING | HOW I WASH & PREP OUR PRODUCE FOR THE WEEK
Clean Living Homemaking May 13, 2020DIRTY DOZEN
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Potatoes
Strawberries seem to top the EWG's list year after year and they found that one third of all conventional (non-organic) strawberry samples contained 10 or more pesticides. That is crazy to me and I definitely don't want my family to consume those toxins.
BENEFITS OF YL'S FRUIT & VEGGIES SOAK
- Made from plant based ingredients
- Cleanses produce back to the way nature intended them to be
- Naturally removes residue safely
- Does not effect the taste of produce after soaking
I typically wash my produce all at one time in our large sink. You can also use a bowl or whatever else you have on hand. It's recommended to use 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) for every gallon of water. (I just fill one to two capfuls when I'm filling up my sink.) Completely cover produce and soak for 1–2 minutes. Rinse with clean water.
You do not have to become a member with Young Living to purchase this fruit and veggie soak but you will get a better price if you're a member. You do not have to sell Young Living if you choose to become a member. If you have any interest at all in becoming a member please reach out to me and I can help you. You can also sign yourself up here if you're ready.

ESSENTIAL OIL TOOL KIT
Essential Oils May 5, 2020Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk.
Roller Bottle Case // How adorable is this? I love that Rifle Paper Co. fabric. I would love to have this carrier for travel as well as for every day. It'd be perfect to throw in the diaper bag. Adding this to my wish list for sure!

HOMEBODY DIFFUSER BLEND
Diffuser Blends Essential Oils Hand Lettering April 4, 2020HOMEBODY DIFFUSER BLEND
+ 💪🏼 5 drops valor+ 🍊 4 drops grapefruit
+ 🍊 2 drops orange
+ 🧔🏻 2 drops frankincense
VALOR 💪🏼
Comes in your starter kit and this woodsy scent is perfect to unwind at the end of the day because it's powerful yet calming.
GRAPEFRUIT 🍊
(Why isn't there a grapefruit emoji?) It's an uplifting scent and will promote a sense of focus.
ORANGE 🍊
It's calming and can help with anxiety and stress.
FRANKINCENSE🧔🏻
Comes with your starter kit and the aroma is very powerful and has been used to promote relaxation for ages. It combats negative emotions and lifts the spirits while balancing mood.

PLAYROOM PLANS & PROGRESS
Home Decor Our 1870 Colonial March 10, 2020THE BEFORE
THE PROGRESS
SOURCES
Loft Bed/Slide* | I'm still deciding on which loft bed/slide I'm going to go with. The one pictured is my first pick but it's also the most expensive. The next in line* is about $100 cheaper but the space under the loft isn't as tall and overall it looks cheaper.
Alphabet Wrapping Sheet* | We've had this hanging in the playroom for awhile now and I love it so much. I have it framed in this Ikea Ribba Frame and it looks so cute!
Yarn Wall Hanging | This was a craft project I did last week and I'm so happy with how it turned out. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep this one for the boys playroom or make one in a different color scheme. If I make another one I'll give this one to a friend who has two little girls.
Geometric Shag Rug | This is a rug I have had in my Amazon cart for almost a year. And then, one day back in October, some IG influencer revealed a "cozy nook" in her house and the rug sold out and the price went UP. Like three times what it was. By January her rug was gone (or sooner but that's just when she shared the space again). I'm all for sharing your space and using affiliate links but once people start decorating with something just for a photo and to get the swipe ups, I'm out. Anyway, enough of my rant but I was pretty frustrated and really regretting not purchasing this rug last July when I first decided I wanted it.
Polka Dot Storage Tub | I saw these at Target and thought they were so cute. I bought a couple to store toy overflow and toys that require supervision in the playroom closet. I love that I can see what's inside and easily find what we're looking for. I also bought some pink ones for one of my storage closets to hold my crafting supplies, etc.
Armchair | I would love this armchair for the playroom but realistically I will probably thrift one or move the chair we have in our living room upstairs. If I sell some things from the house I may splurge and get a new one since I spend a lot of time sitting up there with the boys.
I'll be back in the next couple of weeks to share the playroom reveal with y'all. I can't wait to have this space DONE and hope it helps these boys use up some of that energy they have!

ENTRY BATHROOM REVEAL
Home Decor Homemaking Our 1870 Colonial February 29, 2020BEFORE
AFTER
PUNCH LIST
- Caulk all cracks/seams and touch up paint
- Turn outlet right side up (why someone ever put it in upside down is beyond me)
- Apply a matte polycrylic* to vanity
- Get step stool from Ikea (if it ever comes back in stock!)
- Install bead board on door wall
- Install black wall mount shower rod/rings
- Upgrade trash can and toilet brush holder
- Possibly add vanity lighting using puck light trick
- Stencil or wallpaper above bead board
- Sand and clean up door a bit more
- New floor vent cover
- New black or white (I haven't decided which) hexagon tile

HOMEMAKINGISH
Homemakingish is my new space to share all things homemaking, motherhood, ditching toxins, home renovations - basically whatever I feel like talking about. I want our home to be a place of peace and rest for our family and while I know how to make our home beautiful, I struggle with keeping it tidy and organized. I'm not what you would call a Suzy Homemaker. I want to find JOY in homemaking and change my attitude about things that need done around the house everyday. I hope to share my journey through it all and connect with others just trying to make every day magic happen for their families.

PHOTO STORAGE SYSTEMS AND FAMILY YEARBOOKS
Family Yearbooks Featured Photo Storage February 3, 2020![]() |
I like to display our wedding album (printed at Artifact Uprising - amazing quality but much more expensive) and the previous yearbook on a shelf in our living room where we can easily look at it. |
I decided just to start with the year we were in even though I had thousands of photos from years prior. It was too overwhelming for me to try and organize all the photos I had from year's past and start organizing photos from the current year. Every now and then I sit down and work on an older photo book but my main goal is to stay on top of the current year's photos.
I feel like this next paragraph goes without saying but it seems we always need a disclaimer when writing for the internet. I am not an expert. I don't do this perfectly. But having a system set up makes it more likely I will succeed than not. It may seem elaborate to some, but photos are important to me and it's also important that they're somewhat organized. Our photos aren't in perfect order but I do print them in the books from January to December. This is what works for me and I hope it can help someone else.
DAILY/WEEKLY
This is probably the hardest step for me but if I can stay on top of doing these things it makes the whole process simpler. I don't know about you but I take a lot of photos of the same thing each day. Because my boys are on the move I snap multiple (live) photos of the same scene so I can hopefully capture one gem. At the end of the day I try and go through the photos and delete any that are blurry or duplicates. Sometimes I'm able to snap 4 or 5 (or even more) where I love how I've captured my boys and it's really hard for me to delete them even if the shot may not be good enough to make the photo book. I do my best to narrow them down and then choose 1 or 2 that I will edit for the photo book. Every year I end up having way too many photos (2018's book contained 650 photos) so I'm trying to get better about narrowing down and only picking the best of the best. Do I really need 20 pictures of bath time from the year? (The answer is yes but I said I'm working on it.😂)- Delete any duplicates or blurry photos
- Narrow down similar scenes to 1-3 photos each
- Select and edit one photo for the yearly photo book
MONTHLY
On the 1st of each following month (February 1st for January photos) I schedule out in my planner to work on the photo book. I upload my photos to my computer (we also use Amazon photos as a second back up and to sync our photos) and this helps keep things less cluttered on my iPhone as well. The idea is that since I've already narrowed down and edited the best photos from the month it will be super easy to layout the pages for January. And it does make it super easy and quick to do but truthfully for 2019 I only stuck to this entire process for two months.🙈 It made everything so much harder and I ended up missing the extra pages sale. I'm going to have to wait around for them to run another and I'm kicking myself for not staying on top of it.YEARLY
If I have kept up with everything, at the end of the year my photo book is ready to go. Shutterfly always has a "free extra pages" sale at the end of January. I always wait for this sale to order our year book because it cuts down costs like crazy. My 2018 book originally cost $162.10 and after the extra pages coupon paired with the sale they were (and almost always are) having on the book itself, I only paid $48.35 (that's with tax and shipping included). While I'm always anxious and excited to get my book this sale is worth holding out for!There are all kinds of photo book styles to choose from but I always select the "modern white". I pack my pages full of pictures and don't have room for any embellishments. This also helps me get our books done quicker. I'd be too picky and would take too long trying to set up the perfect page so for me, the simpler the better.
There are all different sizes but I'll share the selections and upgrades I choose for our books.
- 10 x 10, hard photo book, matte finish
- Modern White, standard, layflat pages
- Memorabilia Pocket (I have never added this upgrade before and I always think I'm going to glue an envelope in the back for random printed photos - like Santa photos - but I never do so I think for 2019 I'm going to pay the extra $1.79 to get the pocket included.)
I hope this motivates you to start working on your 2020 photo book today! January is over so go ahead and take care of those photos in the next couple of days. If you have any questions about how I store our photos or print our books just let me know! I'm happy to help any way I can.