DIY Sangria Kit

Month in Advance, at a glance — Free Printable: An organized way to see what’s in store for you next month, so nothing will sneak up on you!

I’m not sure why, but for some reason, when a new month arrives, I feel like someone slapped me upside the head with a “surprise” of activities, events, and bills that are due. I know they’re coming, but it always seems like it’s so far off, because it’s “next month.”

I’ve found a way to help keep my sanity, and I couldn’t WAIT to share how with you. So if you’ve found yourself with the “slapped upside the head” feeling, then this free printable may be just for you too!

 Month in Advance, at a Glance: Free Printable

What about my planner? Or my phone?

I needed a one-page printable, where I could write down everything that I knew of that was coming up. Birthday parties, date nights, bills, meetings, etc. Sure, I keep a calendar on my phone to help stay organized, and my planner… but when I would want to see a whole month, I would struggle. It was either all condensed on my phone, or too spread out on my monthly planner page. (Which left me feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and the month hadn’t even started yet.) Now, this way, I can see it all clear as day, in advance, at a glance, organized in its own special little categories. Be still my heart. My organized-loving momma should be proud.

When to fill it out:

Fill out the sheet about a week before the next month arrives, (or whenever you find the time for it. Better late than never, right?) and stick it in your planner, put it on your desk, or hang it by the door you go in and out of, at home.

Download your FREE PRINTABLE HERE!

What Size to Print?

If you plan to put this in your planner like I do, you should have an option to print it out, the size that will work best for your planner. For instance: 5×7, or an 8×10 may fit perfect, depending on which planner it is that you have!

Happy monthly planning!

How to be a good wife: Lessons learned over the years from wives all around, with tips and tricks that make their marriage work!

Am I the perfect wife? No.

Do I know a perfect wife? No.

But I do believe I am a good wife, and that I know a lot of good wives out there.

How to Be a Good Wife

I also know that we can definitely screw up and have flaws (we all do) and still be a good wife. (You’ll also love reading “How to Improve Your Relationship in 30 Seconds Each Day!”)

A good wife can also be defined in many different ways, by different people.

For instance, my husband may say there are different characteristics that make up a good wife, then what Billy, John, and David who live down the street say. (I have no idea if a Billy, John or David live down the street… so don’t be offended if you think I’m talking about your husband.)

You may also love our other marriage posts like: “How to Respect Your Husband” and How to Make Your Husband Want to Come Home

I have also learned a LOT in my marriage, and I’ve polled those of you in the “Fab Society” group on what lessons you have learned while being a wife, so I’m hoping what we have to share with you today, will help in some way.

Now, even if you’re not visiting this post for help… and just happened across this post, I truly hope something still resonates with you.

I know there were some things that others suggested that made me more aware and intrigued with what would happen if I would incorporate them into my marriage.

What are the Tips to be a Good Wife?

So again, although you may not agree with all of them, these are lessons we’ve learned and things that we’ve noticed in our (the Fantabulosity community) marriages, so we hope that something will speak to you today and help!

Do you have to do all or any of these to be a good wife? Absolutely not. They’re just great lessons we’ve learned that work in our marriages and we’re hoping one or all will help you in some way.

Below, I’ve compiled real-life answers from other wives, so you’ll notice some will look just like Facebook comments… because they are!

Be sure to let us know below or in the Creating Your Happy group if this helps!

28 Tips to Be a Good Wife

1. God first. There’s a reason this is #1. It never fails. When God is put first in our marriage, everything else flows a lot easier. Even if only one of you is putting God first, it’s amazing what He (God) can do.

2. During a really difficult time in our marriage, I felt like I gave, gave and gave some more, even when I didn’t want to, because I wasn’t feeling loved in return. I didn’t walk away easily, and I’m thankful for that, because I believe our marriage is stronger now because of it.

But listen… I’ll be honest, there was a time when I couldn’t give anymore. I stopped trying and I was done. But more to come on that later.
Also, don’t get me wrong…My husband has never physically abused me. So I’m not saying that if you are being abused, that you should stay. If you are being abused, get help immediately.

3. We marry our dads. Not really, but we tend to carry over any behaviors we grew up with … and unintentionally live like our husbands have the same traits as our fathers, or live like they SHOULD have the same traits.

4. It’s hard. Can I just leave it at that? Because it is. It’s just hard. It takes work and no two people are the same, so when we come together as one, it may take some changing and reshaping to fit the pieces together.

5. When he’s upset and we can’t seem to get along, I’ve realized that sometimes it’s not about me or even something specific that happened with us. There could be something going on that I don’t understand or that I don’t even know about. I was so thankful when my husband helped me write “What to do when your husband doesn’t come home” because it helps explain a lot of things that I didn’t realize as his wife.

6. We all have a love language and learning what his is, is crucial and a game-changer. When we speak our spouse’s love language, he will feel more loved than when we show it in other ways. Plus, sometimes we tend to show love in our own love language, rather than his. So what’s a love language? I went in to more on this in The Secret Weapon in our Marriage.

7. Although I feel better when I “throw up” on him (vent, complain, and be negative about the unimportant things in life) he then feels it, and then I feel bad about that.

It’s like I have a temporary relief but regret minutes later. So unless it’s an important matter or I’m really struggling with something, I try to work through it instead of dumping it off on to him.

8. Pray about it before spouting about it. When something is bothering me, or in the heat of the moment, it is MUCH easier said than done, but taking a minute to pray about it does two things:
a. helps me think through things while giving me a breather
b. God will sometimes speak to me in those moments, and I’ll have a better way to approach a tough conversation with my husband.

9. “Don't have big conversations on midnight week” – Facebook reader
This can also be explained as “don’t have big conversations when one has had a stressful/long week/day. Timing can mean everything! Which leads to the next recommendation from a Facebook reader that made me chuckle…

10. “We have a rule-no important chats when hungry, horny, or tired.” – Facebook Reader
This made me laugh out loud. I love it! But I’m not sure if there are moments in the day that one of us isn’t feeling one of these. Haha!

11. “That I take him for granted way too often. If I were to slow down every once in a while I would see that he is always by my side.” – Facebook Reader

12. “We are a team. Our marriage comes first then the kids. I was doing so much that I felt like he was an intruder so to speak.” – Facebook Reader

13. “Small stuff doesn't matter. If something is bothering you (ie: dishes, laundry, etc.) just do them because it's not affecting your partner. In ten minutes after they're done, it's not going to matter anymore.” – Facebook Reader

14. “If you have expectations for how an event or procedure is going to go in regards to your husband – make them known beforehand. He then has the opportunity to live up to the expectations you have set rather than fail your unsaid threshold.” – Facebook Reader

15. “Just celebrated our 18th wedding Anniversary and I have learned many lessons over the years. I think the most important is not giving up during the bad/hard times and compromise!” – Facebook Reader

16. “People always say you will have good years and bad and we have experienced both but have never given up on each other or our marriage in the bad years! Statistics of interracial marriage is higher than the average divorce rate due to culture differences especially when raising children. We have to compromise often and meet in the middle with a solution!” – Facebook Reader

17. “A couple of things… When you are frustrated or upset with your spouse, sometimes you have to look deep down inside and realize that it might be your thought process or you could really be the cause of your own frustration, then communication is the key.
It is all a give and take, but you and your spouse have to put your marriage first before kids, jobs, etc… (well besides God) It is SO hard to do that, but the family starts with husband and wife….. AND realize that there is a difference between joy and happiness. You won’t always be happy every day but you can still be unhappy or face hard times, and have joy.” – Facebook Reader

18. “I've learned to not take everything personal. It's hard because when he is going thru stuff and lashes out at me then it's easy to think many negative thoughts. Sometimes you have to step back and redirect your thoughts to something positive on purpose.” – Facebook Reader

19. “LOVE this! We are constantly changing as people. We change jobs, locations, friends, family, new people enter your life, and some people exit out of your life–all of this changes you and your spouse. You have to be willing to change together.
We never go to bed angry, we always talk it out no matter what. Never say the word divorce, ever. We disagree on irrelevant things at times, which can get heated because we both want to be right and don’t back down from wanting to be right and have decided to agree to disagree and let the little stuff go. We are a team and we work toward our goals together.” – Facebook Reader

20. “Pick your battles! I remember a lady complaining that her husband put the roll of toilet paper on the wrong way for 25 years! The other person said to her-"so he is finally doing it right"? She answered and said "NO, but after 25 years I decided to stop complaining about it!” – Facebook Reader

21. “True forgiveness.” – Facebook Reader

22. “RESPECT. I believe is truly what has kept my husband & I together through good and bad times. We can agree to disagree by respecting each other's views and coming together to work as a team. That can mean taking a break to come back together and discuss further & let emotions settle so we can mutually agree (compromise).
Along with all the above great comments. TEAMWORK. that necessarily doesn't always mean 50/50.. I have my low days & he picks it up or vice versa. TIME. Making time to spend with each other. COMMUNICATION. Always talking & really listen to each other. Not making Assumptions… SELF CARE. this is so important in order to make my relationship healthy. We need to take care of ourselves spiritually, mind & body.” – Facebook Reader

23. “We’re still newlyweds I suppose so I have a lot to learn but I’ve learned a lot about truly being open with someone else, especially about the things that cause me anxiety – like sharing finances with someone has been great mostly but also it’s such a mindset change to be open about talking about money. That’s just one example but there are a ton of things I’ve learned to really share that I would have kept to myself before.” – Facebook Reader

24. “Oh Gosh where do I start! After 37 years I probably could write a book … It's ok to be wrong, it's not important to be right, he is my biggest supporter & best friend… Respect Respect Respect. 
Don't nag, he may or may not get projects or chores done but our relationship is more important than any silly ole project. 
Food really does make him happy! 
Don't go to bed mad, you won't be able to sleep anyway. 
I'm not his employee so I ask to not be treated like one and Life is great.” – Facebook Reader

25. “It gets easy to nag so try not to do that and show some interest in things that he loves.” – Instagram Reader

26. “Always be encouraging and give praise for the things he does. That is what keeps a guy going.” – Instagram Reader

27. “Treat your spouse the way you want to be treated.” – Instagram Reader

28. “Never EVER put down your spouse in front of other people!” – Instagram Reader

29. “Listen to husband instead of railroading him into thinking what you want him to think.” – Facebook Reader

I am BEYOND thankful for all of you who have shared your favorite tips for being a good wife. Thank you so much!

If you’ve loved reading this or if you’d love to add something to our list, be sure to let us know in the comments! Share the love and help a fellow wife!

You May Also Love:

• 5 Ways to Prepare for a Romantic Weekend Getaway
• When Your Husband’s Not Affectionate Anymore
• When Your Husband Cheats and How to Make it Through

I Took YouTube Away from my Kids for a Week, and This is What Happened. This isn’t another post on limiting screen time, or I’m a Better Than You Post…

In the event that this post gets shared on social media, I want to be completely up front with those of you who are visiting my blog for the first time. I write from passion, heart, and experience. I’m not a perfect mom. I’m not a perfect writer, and I’m sure as heck not a child psychologist. But I do speak from the heart, and adore sharing what I love and am passionate about. My children are by far one of those things that I’m passionate about, so here I go…

I Took YouTube Away from my Kids for a Week, and This is What Happened

Don’t worry, this isn’t a blog post about “spend more time with your children,” and how you should get on the “limit electronic time” train.

And I’m also not saying avoid electronics. It’s inevitable. It’s where the world is going. I’m an advocate for online presence and we use it daily in our home.

I’m not saying avoid YouTube. Heck, I have a YouTube channel and MY KID even has a YouTube channel. So don’t hear what I’m not saying…

We can’t avoid YouTube. We can’t avoid electronics. But when our children are just that-children-and they are unable to make rational decisions on their own while their tiny little brains are still forming and learning… it’s time we get in touch with what we want influencing our children.

The Free Babysitter

Truly, I put YouTube in front of my kids (ages 6 and 3) at times as a babysitter. It’s amazing. I’m able to clean the house, attend a quick meeting, make dinner, get some work done with little interruption. Yet, when I take it away, the iPad goes dead, or we forget it for a long car ride, the “gimmies” make an appearance. The whining amplifies. The ungratefulness soars.

So I began to notice where the gimmies started rising to the surface on a high level. I began to watch, observe, take notes and become aware of when the bratty attitude started showing more.

Friends, it was when my 6 year old had control of what he could pick and watch on YouTube (and yes, even YouTube Kids).

I took YouTube away from them for a week, and the difference in behavior was incredible. Respect started showing back up, the gimmies weren’t as plentiful, and the whining subsided. Not kidding. Coincidence? Maybe. But maybe not.

Kids on YouTube

SOME kids on YouTube are the stars of the show. They talk back to parents, get what they want by whining and complaining, and the parents let it happen. Why? Because (are you ready for this?) it sells.  (YES. If you did not know that YouTube makes money for some of these people on YouTube… you know now.)

They know exactly what they’re doing by giving kids what they want to watch. Kids at a young age are learning independence, seeing what they can get away with. So watching a young boy or girl on TV gain that independence by telling mommy “Meh, I don’t want that, I want this and I’m getting it,” is our child’s preferred behavior and they thrive on seeing someone like them get what they want.

• Endless amounts of toys

• “I want to go to McDonalds” OK!

• “I don’t want to Mommy!” - Ok sweetie. It’s your show. Whatever you want.

Impressionable Actions

You Can’t Avoid the Influence in Life

Our young children are so impressionable, and they learn by seeing. They learn by action. When they spend so much time watching a young kid on TV mouth back to his/her parents, whine, complain, get all of these fabulous toys… what do you think our children are soaking in and learning?

I could have 50 talks with my boys every single day about important roles in life, and about topics that I think will influence them in a good way. But when they see someone their age getting whatever they want by acting an absurd way on their favorite YouTube channel, over and over and over again (because let’s face it: our kids watch the same videos over and over again, yes!?), you might as well throw everything I said to them away.

“Alright Then, So What Should They Watch?”

“Okay then Jessica, what should they watch? Or should they not watch it at all?”

Well that’s up to you. The parent. The adult. The decision maker of the household.

If  you love the ease and convenience of YouTube, then maybe consider what show/channel you want influencing your child. Is it the Berenstein Bears? A kid who is amazing at science and does science experiments? Bible stories? Is it videos to prep him/her for the next school year?

It’s up to you. This isn’t a “I’m a better mom than you are blog post,” that tells you what you should do.

If you like the ease and convenience of YouTube and how it holds the attention span of your kiddo… fabulous. But maybe consider what they’re watching, and consider how whatever they’re watching is influencing and teaching our kids how to live and learn.

For me, I’ll continue to let them watch YouTube. I’ll just be more selective of what they watch. After our YouTube break last week, this week I reintroduced it and let them watch videos on kindergarten lessons. After a quick “Mom, this will be boring,” they were soon sharing their excitement for how they learned to add and subtract! Bonus!

Let the “Perfect” Parents Shine…

Now, some will argue this and say:

“Well it’s all in the parenting. We can’t avoid this stuff, and it’s up to us as parents to teach what’s right and wrong.”

Yep, I agree with you 100%. But why can’t we at least tackle some of what we know may be causing some of the non-preferred behavior upfront, instead of going back to try and erase it later? I’m a huge fan of using the term “baby steps.” We don’t have to conquer the world all at once, or find one major life changing tactic that will turn our children into perfect adults. But we can do baby steps, and small bits along the way to improve aspects in our lives. So why not start with something small, and with what we know causes behavior that we’d rather not see?

There may also be parents that comment below saying: 

“I knew this. I NEVER let my child choose what they want to watch on YouTube.”

…and yatta yatta yatta. Well that’s because some parents like to hear themselves say they’re doing a good job, and that they knew something before me. Well, if that’s true, yes… you realized something before me. And YES, you are doing a good job. How do I know? Because you saw a blog post about children and you came over to read it. You care for your children and want what’s best for them. That’s a good job as a parent, right?

I’m only sharing what I have experienced in my own home, and if we really want our children to grow in to something amazing (although we can’t control them, and we are certainly not perfect parents), I think it’s time we get in tune with our children and focus on who/what is teaching/influencing them how life works.

As part of the Martha Stewart "Make it Martha" program, I received complimentary products to make this DIY craft. Thank you Martha!

DIY Stenciled Anchor Pillow Cover for Guest Room using Martha Stewart Crafts® paint and stencil. This easy tutorial and craft made decorating a breeze!

DIY Stenciled Anchor Pillow Cover Tutorial

If you’ve been on my home tour, then you may have kicked your shoes off and stayed a while in part 14, the Guest Room.

Well in that room, the adorable new chair that I purchased specifically for this space looked incredibly lonely sitting there without a pop of color. So when I saw this anchor stencil, I knew it would be the PERFECT accent on the guest room chair!

If you saw my flamingo drink serving tray that I featured last month, then you know how I run to my momma’s house anytime I want to stencil something. The woman knows her STENCILS. For real. For years I thought you just dip your brush in the paint and fill in the stencil.

Friends, to have the best results with stenciling, there are certain techniques you can follow. With approval from my mom, I get to share with you her favorite stenciling techniques. While tackling this project with my momma, on a warm summer day on her back porch, I captured the process and her pro tips to share with you all today!

DIY Stencil Pillow Tutorial

First, I’ll briefly show you the process of how we made the actual pillow cover, but to get started on the right foot for cutting and measuring your pillow cover, you should really check out this post: Three Ways to Make a Pillow Cover on MarthaStewart.Com.

Supplies Needed to Stencil Pillow Cover

• For this painting project, we used the “Greek Tile” Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint that you can also find on Michaels.com. The variety of colors that you can choose from is incredible.

• Anchor Stencil

• Martha Stewart Crafts® Stencil Brush, Large

• Fabric Cut to Size for Pillow Cover

• Tape Measure

• Painter’s Tape

• Paper Plate

• Pencil

Measure the Center

When you have your pillow cover cut to size (front piece), grab a tape measure and mark where the center of the cover is, and place your stencil in the dead center.

Tape Down the Edges

Using painter’s tape, tape down the stencil so it does not move during the stenciling process.

Paint and Dab

Next, pour a small amount of paint on your paper plate. (You’d be surprised that you don’t need as much as you think. So pour a little and you can always add more if need be.)

Using your stencil brush, barely tap your brush in to the paint and move to a clean part of you plate and begin rotating and pushing the brush down to remove any excess paint from your brush. (Having too much paint on your brush can result in the stencil bleeding, so better safe to apply two coats of stencil paint, than sorry.)

When the paint has moved up inside the stencil brush, take it to your stencil and begin dotting the stencil.

Two Coats

For this craft, we did one coat of paint, and decided to make it darker. So a second coat was applied and then it was ready!

TIP: To check to see if you’re happy with the color darkness of your first coat, barely raise one corner of the stencil to take a peek. This way, if you decide to do another coat, you won’t have to reapply the entire stencil.

Time to Stuff and Sew

The stencil turned out perfect. Allow to dry (it dries really fast) and then you can move on with the pillow cover!

Remember, to get a FULL pillow cover tutorial, you can find that on MarthaStewart.Com.

Don’t be intimidated. If I can sew a pillow, you can sew a pillow cover. But if my crafty mom is around (like on this day) you better believe I’ll ask for her assistance. 

Final Pillow Cover Steps

Next, she measured and cut out the back of the pillow cover to sew to the front that we just stenciled.

(Make sure when cutting your fabric for the cover, you add an inch in measurement, to make the cover one inch larger than the insert. (This way you’ll leave space for sewing the edge and room to stuff.)

Flipping the stenciled cover over, we placed it on top of the other sheet of fabric. You do this so when you sew, the stitching is on the inside of the pillow cover. (You’ll flip the cover inside-out before stuffing with the insert.) 

Time to Sew

After pinning the edges together, it was time to head to the sewing machine.

I absolutely love her sewing machine. It has been around for AGES and it has so many stories and memories to go along with it. What a champ. I can’t even begin to tell you how many outfits and crafts this thing has made for our family.

Flip It!

Once three of the sides were sewed up (leaving the bottom of the cover open so you can insert the pillow) it was time to flip the cover right-side out and insert that pillow!

Sew the Gap

Once the pillow insert is in, it’s time to sew up the opening. My mom chooses to hand sew this edge so it has a cleaner look.

Decorate!

I mean for real. Look how adorable this little craft project turned out to be! Want to know the best part? It was the exact look that I wanted for the bedroom and haven’t been able to find online anywhere.

Another great tip?

My mom found the white fabric that we used at a yard sale. Anytime that she finds white curtains, a tablecloth, or anything in white fabric at a yard sale or flea market… she snags it up, because you never know when you’ll want a white pillow for something!

Perfect Pop of Color

This pillow turned out to the best perfect pop of color for the guest room! Now… I’m already thinking of what other pillows can be made with a stencil.

Love DIY Projects

If you love this project to create DIY projects for your home, I think you’re also going to love this Wine Bottle DIY Vase we made, which would look beautiful in your home with your favorite paint colors and flowers!

Affordable + Adorable Swim Suit Finds – Zaful Review: I took a chance on this online store, and so glad that I did! Cheap and cute swimsuits! 

We’ve all seen it. The ad that pops up in our Facebook newsfeed, showing us the super affordable swimsuits at Zaful. I even found myself saying

Ok this is way too good to be true. Seriously, $12-$13 for a swimsuit?

So when I couldn’t resist anymore, I asked you all on Facebook what you thought. Some of you said “RUN!” While others said, “Well, check out ‘so-in-so’s’ review on YouTube. She kind of liked them…”

So I was STILL torn. Then, I decided that $12-$13 for a swimsuit was totally worth the risk, so I took a chance. I put two suits in my shopping cart and crossed my fingers…

Affordable + Adorable Swim Suit Finds – Zaful Review

First, I never thought in a million years I’d get the nerve to do a photo AND video review of me wearing a swim suit in front of so many people. But let me tell you… when I find something good, cute, and affordable… I’m not about to keep that from you. So I’ll risk showing you my mom-bod. Just please be nice!

Zaful Good or Bad?

Friends, please don’t hear what I’m not saying. You may end up ordering something from Zaful and have a horrible experience. But this being my first time ordering from them, I am totally pleased. It took maybe a week and a half to get my two suits, and when they arrived… they fit.

Now, I did pay attention to the reviews of each one, to see if I should order “up.” I did order a large in both suits, and I’m thrilled that I did. They fit perfectly! (I’m 5’4, 140 lbs and a 34 DD or 32DDD – according to Victoria Secret.)

Photos and Links Below to Each Swimming Suit…

Off The Shoulder Flounced One-Piece Swimming Suit

I think I love this one the most. It has a bit of ruffle (we all know from my Trunk Club’s how much I love ruffles, yes?) and I swear… when I wore it this week swimming, it literally felt like it sucked some of my stomach in. Hello bonus!

This also comes in other SUPER cute colors, like an army green, white, bright yellow and a pastel pink! So so cute! I would like one in every color!

Buy this Off-the-Shoulder Suit HERE!

Buy my Favorite Sun Hat HERE!

The image shows straps that come with it, and I’ll be totally honest: I forgot that it came with straps and have no clue what I even did with them. The suit fit great without them and stayed up on me just fine while swimming!

Cut Out High Leg Scalloped Swimming Suit

I love this suit a ton for the price too! My belly and back (ahem, flab) does tend to stick out the front and back a bit when I don’t stay on top of adjusting it… but it’s totally wearable and doable.

I love the scalloped look to the bust, so so much! This one also comes in more colors, like an adorable baby blue that I’m DYING to get!

Buy this Scalloped Swimming Suit HERE!

Thank you SO much for coming by to see what I thought about Zaful. If you choose to buy from them, I hope you have a good experience like I did! I’d love to hear about your experience too, to help others out! Just comment below!

Craftsman Home Tour Part 19 – Breakfast Nook: It’s possibly the most used room of our home, and where we gather for meals no matter what time of day.

I’ll be honest. I can’t even believe we’ve lived in this house for almost 4 years now. We usually have a track record of moving once a year or so, but for some reason we’ve grounded ourself in this home longer than usual.

If this is your first time here, visiting a part of our home tour, you can see the other rooms on the craftsman home tour.

Home Tour Part 19 – Breakfast Nook

But can I be even more honest? We’re getting the “bug,” and I’ve noticed the talk of “moving” popping up in our conversations more and more lately.

I really really really want to live in a small home again. Four houses ago, we lived in a small craftsman style home, and I fell in love with it.

No matter what room we were in, I still felt connected to other family members because they were close by. The bigger the house, the more space family members have to run and hide. Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE our home now. But the idea of living in a small home again really tickles my fancy.

So we shall see. You never know what will happen around here. But no matter what, a goal I’ve had was to get this breakfast nook DONE. It took me so long to get it to a point of “done” because we were using a pub style table for so long here in this space, and it was on it’s last leg… literally.

It had seen better days, and I had always wanted a table like the one we have now. But getting rid of a dining table, just to get rid of it…seemed silly. So we waited and waited and then one day, decided it was time.

The Table

I absolutely love this table. When it arrived, we had to attached the legs to the table, but that was it! It’s sturdy and I great for the kids to sit/eat at, because it has a “worn” look to it, so it’s forgiving if something happens cosmetically, to it.

Metal Tub Chairs

I bought the metal tub chairs from Target, and they work perfectly with this table. A great height, and they slide in just enough to get out of the way, but still stick out to show side chairs.

Centerpiece

I couldn’t decide which centerpiece to have on the table when I took the photos of the breakfast nook, because I change this decor out at least once a month. I’m a sucker for seasonal flowers in a white pitcher, or incorporating holiday decor in this space. But I adore how white cotton stems really help pop the other white accents in the room, so I chose this one for now!

I’m often asked where I find white cotton stems like these, and I’ve found some here!

Side note: Did you see this DIY farmhouse apron rack? This would look adorable in the kitchen!

DIY Gather Sign

I stared at the space between the two windows for the four years that we’ve lived here. Then, after seeing all of the adorable signs floating around on Pinterest, I finally decided I wanted a sign that said “Gather” right here in this space. We gather in this room at least 3 times a day, every day… for eating, crafting, and visiting. So “GATHER,” just seemed appropriate. (We save the formal/fancier dinners and gatherings for the formal dining room.)

I made this DIY Farmhouse sign, and it was really easy to do, and it adds so much to the room!

Cake, for Breakfast

If you’ve taken a peek at any of our parties on the blog, then this space in the breakfast nook may look super familiar. We style a lot of parties right here because of the abundance of natural light in photographs, and this adorable little table is perfect for a buffet party spread.

When we’re not styling a party, I keep a few favorite items on display on this little table. I found this “Eat Cake for Breakfast” sign at Hobby Lobby.

Cake Stand

My Martha Stewart Cake stand is one of my FAVORITES. The scallop detail and the glass dome make me all giddy inside each time I look at it. So, instead of pushing this in the cabinet with the rest, I wanted this one on display ALL of the time.

Serveware

I love having this gold silverware on display to add a little pop of gold to any space. I’ve stacked my white dinner plates from Target, along with fabric napkins that match whatever season we’re in.

Thank you SO much for popping over to see part 18 of our home tour: the breakfast nook. If you’re on the hunt for more craftsman style home ideas, or even modern-craftsman decorating idea, take a peek at some of the other rooms in our home to see if any spark your interest!

Tour the Other Rooms in Our Home:

Part 1: The Exterior

Part 2: The Master Bedroom

Part 3:  The Master Bath

Part 4: The Kitchen

Part 5: The Playroom

Part 6: The Guest Bath

Part 7: The Pantry

Part 8: The Patio/Deck

Part 9: The Nursery

Part 10: *Old* The Office/Craft Room

Part 11: Big Boy Room

Part 12: The NEW Nursery

Part 13: The Dining Room/Foyer

Part 14: The Guest Bedroom

Part 15: The Living Room

Part 16: New Office Reveal

Part 17:  Garage 

Part 18: Patio Re-do Reveal

As a busy mom always looking for cute cheap summer clothes, dresses tend to lead the pack when it comes to an easy summer wardrobe.

From cute summer dresses to casual summer dresses for women, I’ve gathered a HOT list of online stores where I tend to always have success when shopping online for mom clothes!

Top 5 Online Websites for Dresses

H&M

When I need an affordable, casual t-shirt dress or even a dress that can double as a swimsuit cover-up, I head to H&M. The prices are usually affordable and they have a broad selection of dresses that can work for so many different occasions.

I actually bought the dress that you see above, at H&M for family photos! It was the casual, yet relaxed-classy look I was going for!

Chicwish

Oh how I love Chicwish for dresses! Some of the dresses aren’t really my style but they have such a large selection, that I can usually find a dress for a wedding or special event that we’re going to!

I actually found this fun flamingo dress at Chicwish a few years ago and I wore it to a business retreat and for a lifestyle brand photoshoot! It was one of those dresses that was a conversation piece everywhere I went! Something like this would also be super cute and fun for a “favorite things party” with your girlfriends… am I right?!

Modcloth

I have to say, Modcloth is the very first place that I look when I need a new dress. I don’t always find a dress there but when I do… it’s my absolutely FAVORITE! They’re super stylish and I never find anything like it anywhere else.

Don’t look at just the dresses though… they usually have adorable skirts too! I’m a sucker for an a-line dress and Modcloth usually has multiple to choose from and you can even filter for trending styles to make your search even easier! Being from Montana, I tend to find myself looking for cute dresses to wear with cowboy boots from Modcloth too!

I snagged this amazing green dress below from Modcloth a few years ago and it was one of my favorites for so many years. Sadly, after a LOT of wear and tear, the zipper broke and it was a sad, sad day. Still not sure why I didn’t fix the zipper and keep the dang thing.

Forever 21

I may be in my 30’s, almost 40 but this gal STILL shops at Forever 21 for an affordable summer dress.

They’re usually so cheap that it’s hard to pass them up and it’s also another store I shop at to find swimsuit cover-ups, even if they’re a “dress”.

This t-shirt dress that I found, in the photo below, was about $7.00 and is the perfect dress for a hot summer day, or to wear over my swimming suit if we go out on the lake!

Make sure to check out their rompers and jumpsuits too, that can sometimes pass for a dressier occasion.

Pink Lily

Pink Lily is a newer love, where I’ve become obsessed with their denim shorts! But they have super cute dresses too that I love. I’ve even found super cute jumpsuits on their website that can be dressed up or down!

Now, I do also love Target, Red Dress Boutique (where I got my favorite coral dress) and Amazon when shopping for women’s clothes but these featured today were specifically for dresses!

I so hope you found something that you love! Drop me a note and let me know!

This post has been sitting in my drafts since July of 2017 and I never published it because it didn’t feel right. I couldn’t explain why at the time, why I didn’t put it out for the world to see… but looking back now, in 2020, I totally get it. It kind of goes hand in hand with my “God, I’m exhausted and I’m done trying to fix it” post.

It wasn’t the right time because I wasn’t the same person back then as I am now and it would have been published for the wrong reasons.

It was written with a whole different mindset than I have now and I’m so incredibly thankful to be aware of this.

However, I felt it is appropriate to publish now because although it has the same words… it has a new meaning. I’ll explain more below.

So What Was the Wrong Reason for Writing This Letter in 2017?

I wrote this originally as an apology to my friends (or who I thought were my friends – but more to come on that later) in hopes that they’d forgive me for not being the Jessica that they were used to…a redeemed chronic people pleaser here.

I even had an editor look over the blog post back in 2017 to make sure it was written “ok” and that it wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings when I published it.

Now don’t get me wrong… I’m all about doing things for your friends and being there for them and being a kind person… and not being someone to hurt others.

But that’s not what this letter was about. This post that I wrote was about making sure I still looked “good” to them and so they (hopefully) wouldn’t talk bad about me behind my back anymore… since I had supposedly “changed”.

So with that said, let’s dive in to my 2017 post and then at the end, I’ll share more about what I’ve discovered since and I’d LOVE to hear from you how you can relate.

2017 – Post/Letter to my Friends

You could put my face on a milk carton.  When it comes to describing my current stage of life in regards to my friendships with even my closest of gal pals… you can say “I’ve gone missing.” I promise it’s not an act of being unkind. It’s a season.

This Season of Life is Full

I’m in my thirties, a mom of two littles, and my oldest is getting ready to start kindergarten.  The closer it gets to August. The pit in my stomach gets bigger and bigger, thinking about how our days are limited of when we can come and go as we please on any day of the week. I find myself spending countless hours each day, trying to diminish the pit by squeezing in as much play, and laid back activities as we can before the next stage of life hits.

For the last year or so, my husband and I have been so incredibly dedicated, focusing on reaching a level of connection that some marriages unfortunately never reach.  We attend marriage counseling once a week to set aside dedicated time to discuss important topics and to build a state of love and respect for one another that we never realized we could reach.

I’m a working momma, running my own business at home.  Emails, deadlines, hand-on creative projects for brands, and dreams of my own that I’m working towards fulfilling.

I’m a major advocate of spending time with friends.  The connections, closeness, and relatability that can come from girl time is so good for the soul.

But lately, I’ve been silent with texts and checking in. I’ve missed birthday parties. I’ve fallen short on planning that girls dinner that I’ve been saying I want to have for weeks now. I’ve slacked on planning the annual girls night party in my home. (And other ridiculous things we women tell ourselves that defines “being a good friend.” But more on that at a later date.)

Owning the Season

So if I feel so strongly about the importance of girl time, why do my friends probably think I’ve gone missing?

Because I’ve decided to take the reigns of my current season of life and control how I fill each and every day:

— I’m being intentional about spending time at home with my “babies” before sending them out the door with a backpack.

— I’m taking advantage of every moment to nurture my marriage.

— I’m wrapping my arms around every incredible opportunity coming my way, to grow and improve my business.

After being able to put my current state of mind in to words, I couldn’t help but journal my feelings about my absence, in a letter to my friends…

A Letter To My Friends:

Dear Friends,

I’m so sorry I’ve gone missing.  It’s not anything you’ve done.  It’s something I have done.  You’d be so proud of me, really. I’ve taken the reigns on items in my life that are priceless and that long for my attention.

Unscheduled days of fun with my kids before school starts; Intentional time to work on my marriage to reach a deep connection that I never knew could exist; and capturing a turning point in my business that could be something incredible for my family.

This doesn’t mean that you’re not important to me. You’re so very important to me. I cherish our friendship, deep heartfelt chats, and hilarious stories when we spend time together.  So please don’t take my absence as a hidden message of some horrible meaning or change of heart.  Please understand that this is good.  When I spend time focusing on the items that can benefit from my dedicated attention, you’ll see the love overflow in to the other areas of my life and flourish beyond measure. Know that I adore pollinating our friendship when I’m fueled on this end.

It’s a season, and I can’t wait to be there for you when you go through a season.

Signed,

Your friend that’s still here…”

Who’s There on the Flipside

So although my friends are incredibly important to me, it’s a season. It’s a season in life that I’ve chosen to be intentional about and focus on the items that are super important to me. This doesn’t mean that my friends aren’t important. This doesn’t mean that “I’m putting my friends on the back burner.”  But it does mean that it’s a time in my life that I’m going to be intentional about, that may leave my friends saying,

What in the world is going on with her?

During times like this, it’s so incredible to see who’s there after a season we have in life. Who’s there to say “Hey I’ve missed you. Tell me all about it.” And most importantly “I understand, and don’t judge you one bit.” Those are the little golden nuggets in life that can make a friendship something to cherish.

End of Letter – Now Present Day 2020

The words in the letter that I wrote are still true. I still believe them and feel like they have merit.

But you see, when I wrote that letter, those words were meant to be “excuses” in hopes that my friends would still like me, even though I chose my family over them in that moment. I’d even go so far to say that I felt “bad” that I was choosing my family over them. It’s like you could almost feel me saying,

“Please don’t forget about me and forgive me. Please still be my friend when I’m done putting my family first.”

Today, I’m ashamed I felt that way.

After going through such a difficult time these last 3 years (more to come on that later, as soon as I can figure out how to tell the long story) I’ve realized what’s important:

God, my husband, my kids, and my family.

Don’t hear what I’m not saying (my favorite quote by my favorite pastor, Bryan Mills) friends are important. In fact,

“God has created us to need people.”

Erwin Mcmanus

But real, true, genuine friends are important.

I encourage you today to really look at those you’re investing your time with… and what priorities you have set for yourself.

Now, today, I could write the same letter and send it out to my friends… but it would be to the friends that would read it and think:

“We get it. You’re going through a season and doing what’s important right now. We’ll be here on the flipside and during it if you need me.”

And you know what? I have those friends now. I’m so thankful for those friends and will NEVER ever let that go unappreciated.

It is my mission to also be that friend for them and to be understanding even when it doesn’t make sense.

At Home Date Night Ideas: Date night ideas at home that are easy, romantic, and budget-friendly. It’s the perfect list of ideas for when a date night is needed but you don’t want to leave the house.

My husband and I try to have a date night at least once a week.

But sometimes life gets in the way and we can’t squeeze a date night in. BUT… for the times that we can, and when we prefer to stay at home… creating a “theme,” to the night, can add a little spark to the evening. Plus, keeping things at home, can REALLY help with making date nights budget-friendly. (A major perk, if you ask me!)

(If we don’t, the default method of our date night at home is: “Take-Out, movie on Netflix, and I’m asleep on the couch in 30 minutes.)

So what themes do we have up our sleeve? Well let me share those with you, in case you’re looking for a few thought starters for a date night at home too.

But first, if you haven’t read Tips for a Romantic Weekend with your Husband,” you may want to. Although “date night,” may not be a “weekend,” you may find some helpful and “ahem,” personal tips in there that may help.

Make your Own Hotel Suite

One of my FAVORITE date night’s away from home involves staying at a hotel. There’s something about the fresh crisp linens, snacks/beverages nearby, and a relaxing atmosphere of lounging and tv binge watching.

When the budget is tight, or you don’t feel like going out, creating your own hotel suite may be something that you two would love.

Fluff up the pillows and blankets, place a tray of snacks and drinks nearby, and settle in for the night. Still hungry? Have a pizza delivered. One of our favorite things to do is to have a pizza delivered from a new pizza restaurant nearby.

Want to take it another step further? Know how the hotel rooms are pitch black and you wake up in the morning, not even sure what time it is? Throw thick blankets over your bedroom windows to block out any light in the morning. Sleep in and really get the feel of a hotel room!

Massage/Spa Night at Home

I really can’t think of anyone that wouldn’t love this date night idea at home. A massage/spa night? Count me in, and you can count my husband in. Even if “physical touch,” isn’t your love language, a nice romantic massage given to you by your other half, may just be what you need after a long week.

Now you can play it low-key and just say that you’re going to give each other massages on date night, or you can go all out…

Create a “massage station,” per say, and fill a tray/table with massage oils & lotions, eye mask, and warm towels. You can even play a little relaxing music to really set the scene.

Now this doesn’t have to be a one-sided affair. You can both switch, and give each other a massage. Ladies, there are two ways you can look at this type of date night at home. 1. You can offer to massage him first, so you can relax after your massage, instead of having to get up after yours and get to work, giving him one. OR 2. You get your massage first, and he’ll probably get so wrapped up in massaging you, that it may lead to something else, and he may forget all about how you’re supposed to give him a massage. 😉

Date Morning

Sometimes switching things up from the norm, can add excitement to an occasion in itself. Instead of the standard “date night,” try reversing date night, and have a date in the morning.

Perhaps a babysitter would be easier to find in the morning, than a Saturday night? Or maybe the kids stayed at a friends house so you could go to an event with friends the night before, and you don’t have to pick them up until the afternoon?

A relaxed morning together, making breakfast, drinking coffee, or good heavens… just staying in bed all morning, cuddled up watching movies or your favorite tv series on the DVR that you need to catch up on. Date “nights,” can easily be filled with the high-maintenance expectations, but a relaxed-easy going morning may be just what the “date” doctor ordered.

Pallet Party

It sounds like something you’d hear on a “kids activities,” blog post, but you read that right. It’s a date night at home theme, that’s sure to please! It won’t take much.

Place a blanket (fuzzy is my favorite) on the floor, and line it with a row of pillows (a LOT). Make it look cozy from the start. Turn the lights down low, light a few candles, and turn that tv OFF. You can start out by having a picnic on your pallet with dinner, or just have it cozy and ready for when you finish dinner.

Turning the tv off will force that conversation, and more than likely… will lead to a little something else. Because let’s face it, if you’ve been together a while, you may not have much to talk about, unless it involves the kids or work. So silence + no distractions + nothing to say = every man’s next move.

Make a Date Jar

This is such a fun, and exciting way to keep the “spark” in date night! See how to make your own Date Night Jar and what that means!

Q&A

I’m a sucker for listening/watching Q&A’s when it comes to people that I admire. So when trying to think of new date night ideas, I thought, “Well why wouldn’t a Q&A session between the two of us be interesting, informative, and fun?!”

Even though we’ve been together 18 years, would you believe there are still things that I don’t know about him? (Or, have forgotten perhaps?) This could very well be the case with you two, as well.

My favorite thing to do is to compile at least 10 questions that I want to ask him, a couple of days before the scheduled “date night.” He will do the same, and then on date night, we take turns asking each other those questions. It’s incredibly fun, hilarious, and you may just learn something new about one another.

Need question inspiration?

• What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?

• If you only had one more day to live, what would you do, and be specific!

• If you could hang out with someone for a day, (dead/alive/famous/etc.) who would it be, and what would you want to do?

Backyard Romantic Dinner for Two

I’m not sure what it is, about dining outside. Whether we are at a restaurant, or on the beach in Mexico, there’s something about that outdoor atmosphere that gets me going. So when we’re looking for a date night at home, an easy, out of the ordinary backyard dinner, is JUST what we need.

Feel free to make it super easy, grab some takeout, and mosey outside on the back porch or patio. Or, if you’re really wanting to “snazz,” it up a bit… grab a table, candles, glassware, and prepare an oven baked steak dinner for two, and enjoy it outside together. The sounds of nature/city life is sure to spark romance and dinner conversation, a lot more than eating pizza on the couch would.

Unplugged Wine & Cheese Tasting

Although you don’t have to make sure it’s a cheese board, with a side of wine to have an “unplugged,” date night, I thought it would be a nice (fancy-schmancy) snack to chat over. But feel free to have any snack/meal/appetizer you wish. Being in the line of work that my husband is in, he’s “on-call,” 24 hours a day.

He owns his own business, and although he’s intentional about work time/home time, his phone can still be a distraction. MY phone can even be a distraction with all sorts of beeps and notifications too. So having an “unplugged,” date night, can really help us be intentional with conversation, and experience fewer distractions. Turn those phones off, or stick them in the back room.

Cooking for Two

Talking with my friend the other day, she mentioned how she and her husband LOVE to cook together on date nights. They send the kids to Grandma’s for the night, and they get creative in the kitchen. But what I love so much about this, is that they don’t make just plain ole spaghetti. They experiment with a whole new recipe. This way, the romance carries on into the “dining,” portion of their date night, and creates more conversation. The good, the bad, what they’d change about the dish next time, and so on.

My favorite part? If they create a dish that they love, when they make it again in the future, it will bring back all of those date night memories. And who knows… it may be referred to as “The Date Night,” dish. 🙂

What is YOUR Favorite Date Night Activity at Home?

Of course there is nothing wrong with lounging on the couch, watching another episode of your favorite show on Netflix with your main squeeze. But in case you’re looking for a little something “extra,” those are our favorite “out of the box,” date night ideas. I hope they inspire you!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurexCrystalFresh #CollectiveBias

DIY Housewarming Gift Basket: A bright and cheery basket filled with goodies that anyone moving in to a new home will love!

DIY Housewarming Gift Basket

It’s Spring, and that means if I can cram as much pastel and bright, beautiful colors in to just about everything I wear, create, and cook… then I’m a happy girl.

Recently, we had friends move in to a new home, and I wanted to make them a gift basket of goodies to help celebrate the big move, and that could hopefully help them until they unpack everything.

When I went to Walmart to find the goodies to build the basket with, I found the prettiest bottles of Purex® Crystals, and KNEW they’d look adorable in the gift with their bright colors! Plus, it would be a perfect item to help our friends with laundry in case they hadn’t quite unpacked their laundry supplies yet!

Gift Basket Building Tips:

If you haven’t been around here very long, then you may not know my obsession with making DIY gift baskets, when it comes to gift-giving. They just seem so personal, and full of thought. So in most of my other DIY gift basket tutorials, I explain how my two main techniques for making a gift basket look great, is:

Say “NO” to Tissue Paper:

• Using something other than tissue paper, for the fluff. Of course it’s ok anytime to use it. I just prefer to use something else if it’s going to be visible. Now, I do shove it down inside a basket to give it some “umph,” if you can’t see it. But using something like dishtowels or baby blankets, work great! Plus, it adds to the gift!

Trash the Trash:

• Take items out of the “boxey,” boring, packaging that it comes in, and remove the tags. Removing the “store-bought,” look of items can really add a “cleaner,” touch to the gift basket. But when the packaging is as adorable and decorative like the Purex Crystals… leave it! I think these made the gift basket POP with color.

A Little Decor:

As part of the housewarming gift, it’s always really nice to add a small element of “home decor.” Being able to put something decorative out in their new home, right away, can be JUST what a corner or shelf needs to make it feel homey, until they get all unpacked. Items like a small floral accent, (something seasonal, or neutral, so odds are it will fit the decor theme they’re going with) are a great choice.

Incorporate Multiple Rooms

Well this little colander, spatula, candle and soap could be it’s own little housewarming gift if you ask me. But when making a gift basket full of all kinds of items, adding in a few items for different rooms of the home, like the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, living, etc. is always a good move.

Plus, who wouldn’t love a mini colander, and an adorable little spatula? 

Adding Flair…

Sure, items in a gift basket are cute anyway. But when you can add things like ribbon around some of the items to add a little flair… it can make it THAT much cuter. Here, we simply wrapped a ribbon around the candle to give it a little more pop of color.

In the back corner, we tucked a bottle of hand lotion that they can keep in their bathroom on the sink, for guests visiting to see the new home. Functional, AND pretty!

Basket Buying:

Then of course shopping for the basket that you put it all in, can be just as fun as finding the items to put in it. But here’s my basket-buying tip: Buy a basket or container that has open sides like this one. That way, the recipient can see right in to the basket, and not have to dig through to see what’s in there!

Making sure the items are visible right away, when you hand it to them, can add such a “wow,” factor to the overall gift!

If you love making gift baskets as much as I do, then you may want to see the other gifts I’ve created for friends and family recently:

Other Gift Ideas