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Category: Lifestyle

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How to Overcome Overwhelm on Your Home Detox Journey

In the 10+ years of detoxing my home (and life!), I’ve certainly gone through my fair share of the highs and lows that come along with it. The peak moments of feeling so incredible, feeling so confident and healthy and proud, to the defeating moments of feeling like this journey is impossible given our current options in this world. I’ve been through the times where I thought I had found a tox-free option, and then just a few months later, had to go back to the drawing board after new research or studies showed questionable things about a particular ingredient. We can make ourselves crazy, or we can know that perfection is unlikely, and we can do the best we can with the information we have at the time.

Knowledge is power, but stress is probably our biggest toxin.

It’s important to know your why. And once you start learning the truth about toxins in our lives, it’s certainly hard to turn back. Guilt, shame, and stress can play a toll as we try to do better but struggle through the process. So while easier said than done, try to reduce the stress of going through this process. Today, we’re sharing a few tips to hopefully make it a bit smoother.

Aim for progress, not perfection

There are many ways to start and move through this journey. I can’t think of “the one” that is the most right. We all have unique lives – different preferences, creature comforts, and must-have items that you will be damned to give up. We all have different priorities and our “whys” are going to vary as well. So it only makes sense that we have to start in different places. And when there isn’t a clear direct path, it’s easy to get discouraged or lost. We can only do our best. And that looks and feels different for everyone.

Go with the 80/20 rule, a.k.a. pick your poisons

In a lot of groups where we talk about more organic lifestyles, this is an important concept. If you start at a point where you realize the majority of your lifestyle and home products have toxic ingredients, and you make just a 5-10% change, that’s a great start! And for people who are really passionate, if you can get to the point where 80% of your lifestyle and home is tox-free, then that’s a job very well done.

There are always going to be things we do or have that may not fall under a toxin-free lifestyle. But we aren’t here to be miserable either. If you occasionally go out to eat and that’s in your 20% to indulge, then go for it. Refuse to toss your microwave? Fine. If you can’t live without your morning coffee run, great! Pick your 20% and focus on what things you are ready to change. Who knows where you will be in one year’s time! Maybe one of your must-have items eventually feels like it’s ready to be given up.

Don’t go bankrupt

I’m not kidding. One of the biggest concerns I see is people feeling they have to throw everything out and start over, and it’s unaffordable. Some of the overwhelm of this process has to do with the financial aspect of buying new things to replace toxic things, or spending more to get higher quality and safer products. We can be responsible with finances and take things slow. Take the following examples –

You are sorting through cleaning supplies and realize that the majority of your products are unnecessary, duplicates, and have ingredients you no longer want to use. Your approach to this situation could go several ways: throw it all out, donate the items, or use it until it’s gone and then purchase the toxin-free items you’d like to switch to. There really isn’t a wrong answer, but the correct path will be a combination of your financial situation and personal values. “If I donate this, someone else will be exposed to these chemicals. But if I throw it out, it feels wasteful to just dump in a landfill. If I use it myself, I’m adding to my body’s toxin load.” Is there really a right choice? Probably not. None of these are truly ideal. You get to decide what feels right for you and what is financially feasible at that time.

The initial investment to make swaps can be done gradually over time to ease the burden. And in time, you will probably find yourself buying less and saving money, because quite frankly, we don’t need a lot of the junk we are buying. Toxin free swaps can actually be incredibly economical, and oftentimes are simple and reusable, eliminating the need to restock every month.

Create a plan

I’m a Virgo, so this is literally my favorite thing to do. But in this journey, I truly think it’s important for everyone to consider creating an outline. Diving into the rabbit hole of toxin free living can make you feel scatter brained and crazy. One minute you are searching for toothpaste alternatives and then you find yourself researching ingredients and then suddenly you realize that ingredient was also in your body wash so now you need to find a swap for that, then you think about the plastic containers and all the waste then suddenly your entire bathroom needs to be thrown in the trash and now you have nothing to clean your body so you go to the store and buy the old junk that you used to buy. Yes, it can ramble and escalate just like that. But no, it doesn’t have to.

Create a plan of your priority areas to target, and stick to it, no matter how tempting the rabbit hole can be. Exceptions – an ungodly toxic thing you find out about that is lurking in your home and needs to get taken care of NOW. Honestly though, that filter to identify gets really tough because everything can feel extra important to get taken care of right away. Stick to the plan.

Know your priorities

There is always room for improvement and growth. You can have all the best non toxic products in your home and then suddenly realize that the carbon footprint to ship them all the way from New Zealand is actually a really poor choice. Or that the perfect shampoo that finally worked amazing for your hair is in a single-use plastic bottle and you just learned about plastics and now you have to start your search over. Do you though?

Before you start – think through your priorities of what matters most to you. Again, these might change over time as you build confidence or increase awareness. Start where you can, with the budget you have. Below are some ideas about priorities. Pick just one or a few that matter to you:

  • Starting with a particular category such as food/supplements, body care, or just tackling cleaning supplies. Refer to your 80/20
  • USA made (or whatever country you are reading from), or possibly zoomed in further, such as locally made in your own region, state, city, or community
  • No plastics – finding zero waste options
  • Ensuring certain qualifications – organic, vegan, cruelty free (but do your research as many nice sounding phrases actually have no regulations, aka greenwashing)
  • Eliminating particular ingredients – palm free, “natural fragrance,” etc.
get help when you need it

Just like with our design clients, who often times need someone to take all the information overload and overwhelm and filter through it and create a plan for them. We see our home detox consulting the same way! Let us simplify things for you and guide you through the murky waters to clean, reverse-osmosis, drinkability. With nerdy jokes, non-judgement, and a heart ready to help support you!

If you’d like to book a consultation to detox your home and lifestyle, reach out! We are opening up our in-person and virtual consultations to address this important aspect of safe and healthy homes for you to live beautifully.

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Our Favorite Toxin-Free Swaps for Beginners

Making the shift to a toxin-free lifestyle can feel overwhelming, especially when you realize how many everyday products may contain harmful chemicals. But the good news? Taking small, intentional steps to replace toxic products with safer alternatives can have a big impact on your health, your home, and even the environment.

Whether you’re just starting out or simply curious about how to make your daily routine cleaner and greener, we’re here to help! In this post, we’re sharing our fast and favorite toxin-free swaps to help you begin your journey. From safer cookware to skin-loving beauty items, these beginner-friendly swaps will make detoxing your home easier than you ever imagined.

Let’s take the first step together toward a healthier, toxin-free lifestyle!

kitchen quick swaps

The kitchen is the heart of the home, but it can also be a hidden source of toxins in cookware, food storage, and cleaning products. If you’re looking to make your kitchen a safer and healthier space, starting with a few key swaps can make a big difference. From non-toxic cookware to safer storage solutions, these simple changes will help you create a toxin-free kitchen without sacrificing convenience or style.

  • Au revoir to aluminum foil –> silicone free parchment paper
  • No more nonstick pans –> cast iron or stainless steel
  • Peace out plastic –> glass tupperware, stainless steel utensils
  • Say goodbye to single use ziploc bags, etc. –> silicone, beeswax, or paper wraps
bathroom quick swaps

Your bathroom should be a place of refreshment and self-care, not a place of poisons. Ranging from skincare and personal hygiene products, there are plenty of opportunities to swap out harmful chemicals for safer, healthier alternatives. These simple changes will help you create a toxin-free oasis. Let’s refresh your routine with products you can feel good about!

  • Conventional deodorant –> aluminum free
  • Soaps, shampoo, etc. –> ditch the 1000 ingredients and harmful fragrances and go back to the good ol’ days of soap bars made of goats milk or similar
  • Feminine hygiene –> chemicals in our most sensitive spots? No thanks! Swap to organic or new menstrual products like cups, underwear, etc.
  • Picky about perfume –> long gone are the days of the vague “natural fragrance,” it’s time to switch over to plant power such as quality essential oils
Laundry & Cleaning Quick Swaps

Keeping your home clean shouldn’t come at the expense of your health. Many conventional laundry and cleaning products are packed with harsh chemicals that can linger in your air, on your clothes, and on your skin. The good news? Safer, eco-friendly alternatives are just as effective! From non-toxic detergents to natural all-purpose cleaners, these simple swaps will help you create a cleaner, healthier home for you and your family. Let’s tackle laundry and cleaning the toxin-free way!

  • Save money on the reoccurring dryer sheet expense –> wool dryer balls
  • Clear out the clutter of 100 different cleaning products –> distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and pure castile soap are ingredients that can be used dozens of ways. Add essential oils to create your own healthy fragrance!
  • Stay away from synthetics –> when buying new clothing, towels, etc. look for natural fibers such as cotton and linen (no more polyester, etc.)
  • Save a tree –> make the swap to reusable cloth instead of paper towels, napkins, etc. that you can wash instead of throw away after one use!
your journey awaits

Making the switch to a toxin-free lifestyle doesn’t have to be overwhelming. And it certainly won’t happen overnight. By starting with these beginner-friendly swaps, you’re already taking meaningful steps toward a healthier home and a more mindful routine. Each change—no matter how small—adds up to create a safer, cleaner environment for you, your loved ones, and the planet.

Remember, this journey is all about progress, not perfection. As you explore toxin-free living, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need tailored advice for your unique needs. We’re here to help guide you every step of the way. Let’s build a healthier, happier home together—one swap at a time!

If you’d like to book a consultation to detox your home and lifestyle, reach out! We are opening up our in-person and virtual consultations to address this important aspect of safe and healthy homes for you to live beautifully.

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Let’s Talk About Toxic Houses…

When we think about our homes being a safe haven and place of comfort, we probably don’t imagine respiratory issues, carcinogens, neurological problems, hormone and endocrine disrupters, allergies, cancer, reproductive development and health problems, air pollution, and more. We’re diving deep into detoxing, because quite frankly, we deserve more than having homes full of this.

We deserve more than the lies we’ve been told for years about the products we buy and their “safety.” We deserve more than being drug down by heavy metal toxicity, formaldehyde and VOC’s off gassing, and plenty other hidden poisons grossly deemed as “safe” in the majority of our products. From our clothing to our skin and beauty care, to our cookware, furniture, and more. We deserve more than having sick homes and a sick environment – sick air, sick oceans, sick soil. We deserve more.

My personal journey to eliminate toxic products in my home and my body started in 2014, almost 10 years ago! But the seeds actually started back in 2012 when I studied LEED for building design and became certified through their exams for designers! Being a curator of homes, I have realized it should be something I share more about. So, let’s start talking about the things in our homes that aren’t actually safe. There are so many hidden (or not so hidden) toxins lurking in our lives.

In all honesty, this journey can quickly become overwhelming. Even after 10 years I sometimes find myself feeling overwhelmed again, being surprised that there is STILL more to swap. Unfortunately, after 10 years, you’d think there would have been more bans of toxic ingredients to make this easier. But we aren’t there yet.

This topic is one of those that I could probably talk about for ages because I’m so passionate about it! I’ve helped many friends and family transition to more toxin-free lives. If having someone guide you through a home/body detox plan specifically for your lifestyle and situation, let’s chat! Our virtual or on-site consultations can focus on this topic exclusively if this is your goal. Just let us know when you book – “HOME DETOX PLEASE!”. While this process is flexible based on your specific goals, this could look like:

Initial Evaluation of Your Home (virtual or in-person!)

We will find your starting point as far as awareness and education on this topic. Wherever you are in your journey is okay! Then either as a full home overview or broken into parts, I’ll scan your rooms, closets, and drawers in search of offenses. Basically, I will get really snoopy, but no worry – no judgement! I’ll outline the major areas of concern based on categories needing a major overhaul or items that are most damaging and need to get addressed right away. We’ll discuss your goals and concerns and budget for making swaps. Then, we will start to lay out a plan that feels feasible and keeps the overwhelm to a minimum! Depending on the items, I can offer tried-and-true swaps from my own personal experience as well as resources for learning more.

*Important Note: obviously, I’m not a doctor. So, while products in our home absolutely cause medical and health issues, I cannot give medical advice. But I can direct you to resources and people who can address those concerns!

Want to go further after this?

Schedule follow up calls or additional consultations for more suggestions, ask questions, and have me as an accountability partner to keep you on track! Prices for follow up work will vary, but packages can also be created based on your unique goals!

In upcoming blog posts and content on our IG page, I’ll occasionally be offering easy swaps based on products I’ve already researched, have been using, and love. There are so many products out there and many are actually greenwashed (fake marketing to make a product seem less toxic than it actually is)! Or products that just don’t produce quality results when compared to a mainstream product. Stay tuned for more and reach out for your personal home detox today!

Schedule your virtual home detox here.
Or schedule your on-site consultation to get help with this topic in-person!

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Eco-Friendly Picks for the Bathroom

Today we are sharing a roundup of one of our favorite eco-friendly swaps for going to the bathroom! Over the years, I’ve slowly been transitioning to sustainable options with products we use the most. Toilet paper is one of them!

I checked out three brands of toilet paper and below I share more information about each of them, as well as what we ultimately picked for our new household staple.

Reel Paper – Best Budget Friendly Option

100% bamboo
Biodegradable and septic safe
Plastic-free, no inks, dyes, fragrances, or chlorine, BPA-free
Incredible partnerships with organizations that give back
FSC Certification
Made in China

12 pack/$18, Target

This is the first brand that I tried, and it took some getting used to! We used to use the Charmin ultra soft brand, so I knew overall it would be hard to find a sustainable toilet paper that was as soft as that. Of the three brands I compare in this blog, I felt like Reel was the least soft, probably due to the heavier texture/pattern on the paper. Over time, it was something I got used to, but I still wanted to continue our search!

The benefit to this brand is the price point! It’s the lowest price of the three we compare today. I did find that Target is one of the better price points for buying this toilet paper. We did have to order it though as our local store did not stock it. But it was about twice as much on Amazon at the time I was searching! On that note, it was also the smallest roll size of the three brands. I do think the cost-savings makes up for this though.

Pro: This brand is the most affordable option from the three I share today, yet they still give back to other organizations which I really like!
Con: It was our least favorite in terms of softness.

Better Way

100% bamboo
Biodegradable and septic safe
Plastic-free, no inks, dyes, fragrances, , BPA-free. No specification about use of chlorine.
FSC Certification
Made in USA

12 pack/$30, Amazon

I was pretty happy with the softness of this toilet paper! It was very comparable to the next brand I review, which was the softest of the three. The rolls are a bit on the smaller size, but still larger than the Reel Paper brand.

One thing I really like about this product and brand is the extra care they take about the manufacturing process and partnerships. There is a lot of information about it all on their website!

Pro: Made in the USA and a lot of care with the manufacturing partners and processes.
Con: Large price jump and most expensive when it comes to cost-saving factors, such as buying larger quantities which make the other brands more affordable than this one.

Cloud Paper – Softest Option!

100% bamboo
Biodegradable and septic safe
Plastic-free, no inks, dyes, fragrances, or chlorine, BPA-free
FSC Certification
Made in USA

12 pack/$32, Amazon

This is one of the last brands that we tried, and it ended up being our favorite! The rolls were a bit bigger than the other brands, but we mostly liked it because of its softness. Because of that, it felt like it would be the easiest to transition to from a regular or extra soft toilet paper.

I love that this toilet paper is made in the USA. Lately I’ve been trying to be more mindful about where our products come from and supporting local at both a local and national level.

Pro: This brand felt the softest to us and was our favorite because of that.
Con: Costs a little more unless you purchase at least a 24 pack to start getting cost-savings.

What are the alternatives?

These days, we have TONS of clients who ask for bidets! I’m not sure if it was the toilet paper shortage during Covid or just a coming-up on the times for what’s been used across the globe for ages. But I wanted to share just how common this is because occasionally we get a client who bashfully shares how they would like us to source a bidet instead of a regular toilet. You guys, we are sourcing bidets or bidet attachments on at least 75% of our projects. It’s SO common now! So if eco-friendly toilet paper isn’t in the budget, and reusable cloths don’t sound so great, then definitely consider a bidet or bidet attachment!

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2023 Trends

Every year, even every season, there’ll be new trends that start. Based on the Oxford Dictionary “Trends” mean a general direction in which something is developing or changing. Everything from colors, products, styles etc. can become trends. What we’re interested in hitting on in this blog post are trending interiors. We’ll share the ones we’re loving most, even though there are definitely more than what we’ll cover!

Many individuals shy away from using trends. Why? When a popular trend starts to surface, it is used by so many people. An example of this is the farmhouse style that blew up the internet and left every vendor selling truckloads of white subway tile, andddd not much else. and then comes out of trend. A trend can become overused, leaving what was once a unique detail as something that everyone on the block now has. As time passes, something new and exciting shows up in the world of interiors, and now your trendy kitchen is stamped with “2018.” You’re now left with something that is not likely easily changeable, so following that trend comes at a high cost.

So why would we release a blog on new trends? Because they may have been given a bad rep, but they can also be classic styles/products/colors/etc. Often times trends are inspired by architectural history but revived and used in a fresh way. While it may be new to you, it might have been around for years (or centuries) and when applied properly, it won’t go out of style!

Stone Fireplaces

Stone fireplaces have been around for a long time but not always designed in a timeless way. The lighter stones with light grout is a classic design that costs a pretty penny but won’t go out of style and they turn out stunning!

Limewash Paint

This multi-toned wall detail has been popular for a few years now and used to add depth to walls, kitchen hoods, fireplaces. It used to be a tedious process especially with a traditional plaster (and still kind of is, let’s be honest) but now companies are making products that make the process easier and a lot faster.

Soffits

Soffits save money on cabinetry. But in 99% of jobs, we tear them out because we need extra storage. However, with the rising popularity of homes with 10′ ceiling heights or taller, a soffit can be a beautiful way to finish off a space. Too tall of cabinets can make you feel very small in a room (which can be uncomfortable). And I’m never a fan of stopping the cabinets a foot or more from the ceiling because it looks unfinished and collects a lot of dust (and decor)!

Towel Warmers

The towel warmer was first invented in the 1920’s. It’s come a long way and is still a luxury but now also looks beautiful too.

French Doors

French doors have becoming more and more popular and for good reason! They may be a little “extra” when it’s an interior space, but they add a truly beautiful and classic detail to a home.

FLUSH TRIM AND NO TRIM DETAILS

Minimal and clean details in home interiors are becoming more and more popular. Flush Trim allows for easy cleaning but also a stunning modern design. The no-trim detail on doors and windows is also becoming more and more popular. Both details make a classic and stunning impact on a home interior!

ZELLIGE TILES

Zellige tile dates to the 10th century in Morocco. It is a handmade ceramic tile that makes a stunning impact. The uneven surface and dimpling catches the light in a way most machine made tiles don’t. It can be bought with a sealed finish or unsealed and used in tons of applications!

So what do you think? Did you spot any details or trends that you love and could actually see yourself incorporating into a project? I would be on cloud nine to incorporate every single one of these things into my home!

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Frame TV: Vintage Art Roundup

When people come to our home, we get asked about our TV all the time! Our Samsung Frame TV is one of the biggest conversational pieces in our family room. We didn’t originally plan to hang a TV in this space because let’s be real, they are not aesthetically pleasing. Who wants a big black box on their wall 90% of the day?

We may not have wanted a black hole over our fireplace, but we eventually realized we did want a TV. It was right around the holidays when we realized how nice it would be to have friends and extended family over to watch Christmas movies. The rest of the year, we’re pretty much fine with snuggling in our bed with the kiddos to watch a movie! Anyway, I’ve been admiring the Frame TVs for a few years now, so I knew that if we were to put up a TV, this would be it. And really, it was the best decision to get one! They’re aesthetic and functional — the two things when paired together that I can’t say no to!

The best part about them is how easy it is to change the art or photos when you get tired of it. There are so many good ones to choose from! Some people like to share family photos, but I prefer paintings and other art in my personal home. Below you will find a list of my favorite vintage landscape art. These are ones I use in my own home! I added links to take you straight to the store. While the TV is an investment, the digital art is very affordable. They are something you and your guests will enjoy for many years!

Summer Cottage

Wetlands

Highland

Coffee Creek

Brush

Marigold

Dutch River

This last one is the one currently displayed in our home. It’s very special as it reminds me of a painting my grandmother had in her home. I remember sitting on her lap while she rocked me and staring at the painting, dreaming about how peaceful it looked. I love the deep earth tones in this piece, and it brings together so many colors we have throughout our home as well!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. We hope by sourcing some of our favorite products, we provide value to you and your projects!

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Must-Have Baby Items for 6-9 Months

Must-Have Baby Items 6-9 Months
Must-Have Baby Items 6-9 Months

These days we are gearing up for more play, and playing with food, too! While Ashton is still primarily bottle fed, it’s been good to get some feeding essentials on hand for the occasional times when we experiment with fun flavors! If anything, it’s an opportunity to get him into his highchair so we can eat dinner without playing the baby version of “hot potato!”

I remember with Finley, we bought a set of plastic baby spoons and after just one wash, the colors faded and the spoons wore down so fast. Yikes! I wasn’t going to go this route again with Ashton, so I was super excited to find beautiful spoon sets on Amazon! The available colors change frequently, coming in and out of stock, so keep checking back if you love the color set we got, which is called natural and dried thyme!

I know these bowls are going to be a winner as snacks and meals become more common for Ashton! They are silicone which is basically my favorite material for everything (toys, dishes, bottles, etc.). It’s so easy to clean and doesn’t break! The bowls also have a suction bottom, so they won’t go anywhere when baby decides to try to clear off the table himself! They also stack easily for easy storage. And finally, of course I couldn’t resist picking a few different colors! We bought a few in the natural color and a few in the dried thyme to match the spoon set mentioned above! We plan to eventually expand our set with their silicone plates as well.

Another lesson learned the second time around – I hate cloth bibs! They get so stained, dirty, and I felt like I constantly had to keep on the wash to prevent leftover food remnants from growing mold! This round we invested in just one silicone bib and called it a day! While it’s a little bulkier around baby’s neck, it’s so much easier to clean! Ashton doesn’t seem to mind how it feels, either.

If you learn of any theme here, it’s that silicone is overly used in this household! We got rid of most of the baby toys as Finn outgrew them, so we had to pick up some new staples. What’s childhood without stacking rings?! These aren’t your traditional stackers that fit over a center post, which honestly threw me off at first. But after doing some playing, we found out you can stack the rings in all sorts of combinations, which is even more fun! Ashton mostly just loves to chew on them right now!

Ashton has outgrown most of his newborn blankets and swaddles! With the extra-long and rainy Spring, we needed something bigger and also something with some weight to it to keep him warm. This muslin swaddle is so soft, I definitely considered buying one for myself too! If only it came in an adult size…

If you snag any of these goodies, I hope they find just as much use in your home as they have had in ours! Can’t wait to see what the next few months bring with new phases and stages!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. We hope by sourcing some of our favorite products, we provide value to you and your home!

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Must-Have Baby Items for 3-6 Months

Must Have Baby Items 3-6 Months

Time flies with babies and it’s so crazy how quickly their needs and phases change! From introducing a bottle, to cutting their first teeth, and starting to engage in play. Here are some of my favorite products we started using with Ashton at 3-6 months old!

Some cute snap-on bandanas were a must during the early teething stages with Ashton! So much drool! Rather than changing clothes all day, these bandanas were so easy to switch out as they got wet! They are incredibly soft and I’m in love with all the colors! We picked some toned down neutrals like the caramel and olive colors.

Bath time became a bit more active in the recent months, and I wanted something easy to grab and soft to chew on! This silicone boat in the origami style was just too adorable to pass up!

With me going back to work, Ashton started taking a bottle, and these silicone bottles are a favorite! Easy to clean, and soft for holding. Of course…Ashton also loves to push them around a room and chew on them too!

We’re on the move a bit more often these days, and with Ashton still loving a pacifier, keeping one on a clip attached to the car seat has been a perfect way to prevent losing them! It’s funny how pacifiers have a way of disappearing! We picked up this wood one as well as a few silicone options!

Another on-the-go essential for us has been our Tula baby carrier! Ashton quickly outgrew his bamboo wrap, but this structured carrier has been our favorite for both babies. I used it with Finley until she was a few years old! Easy for front or back carries, and all set up with just a few buckle clips! I love the velcro pocket on the waistband for tucking my phone or credit cards away!

I am so obsessed with everything from this brand! From crib sheets to swaddles, toys to feeding supplies, they have the most beautiful colors and great quality products! These stacking cups have quickly become a favorite for both Ashton and Finley, who is now 6! The cups are great for coordination, but they are also such a versatile toy. They get used in all sorts of imaginative ways!

We’ve loved returning back to some of the staples we used when Finley was a baby — it’s so good to see things holding up to use and standing the test of time with what works best for our family! It’s also been fun shopping for new things because let’s face it – baby products are so irresistible and there are always new gorgeous things coming out! I hope you find some new favorites here for your family, too!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. We hope by sourcing some of our favorite products, we provide value to you and your home!

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Must-Have Baby Items for 0-3 Months

I’ve been wanting to add more types of content to the blog for some time and one thing I’d love to share more about is our home and lifestyle, favorite products, etc. Well Ashton recently hit three months old, so I did a little round up of our must-have and favorite baby items that helped us survive the 4th trimester! Enjoy!

Our first kiddo Finn never really took a pacifier, but Ashton does! I’m obsessed with all of the fun color combinations and perfect tones of these rubber pacifiers!

These muslin washcloths are perfect! They come in a large pack, so we only needed to purchase one. They are great for morning face washes and nighttime baths! Ultra-soft and a lovely texture. We also purchased the coordinating burp cloths and swaddle towels (which doubled as a blanket for a while, too!).

Knotted gowns are super functional for all of those constant newborn diaper changes. We had a handful of them in all different colors!

Newborn mittens can always be a bit of a pain, but we loved these ones! The Velcro made all the difference for getting a snug fit and not losing the mittens all the time.

Velcro to the rescue again! Along with mittens, slippers and booties always seem to fall off babies. Not these ones! The Velcro ankle strap holds them on nice and snug and it’s been a wardrobe staple for our Winter baby!

Ashton is starting to get more interested in toys and this silicone ball has been the perfect introductory toy. Lightweight and soft, it doesn’t hurt him when he accidently knocks himself with it because of that newborn lack of coordination. It’s easy for him to hold and will serve as a good teether too!

My babies always seem to have skin issues, so a natural-healing balm is a must-have for us. We love the Baby Bum brand and continue to use them for other products like sunscreen, too!

Hoping this round up is useful for those of you expecting or in the midst of the newborn days! I know some of these will continue to be staples in our household for the months to come!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. We hope by sourcing some of our favorite products, we provide value to you and your home!

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Finding Home: The Story of Our Journey to Here

All images in this post are by the talented Jade Averill Photography

Have you heard the news on Instagram? After waiting over five years for the “right” time, our family has finally purchased land as the first step in the journey of building our own home. It’s been a long ride and today I’m finally feeling ready to share more about this part of our lives. I know many people are always curious about the homes of interior designers. I’m often asked to share photos of our home, but quite frankly, I never share this because I’ve never really had a true home of my own. A designer’s nightmare, right?! So today I’m going to share way too many details about our history of “homes” and just why this project means so much for us moving forward.

MY FIRST APARTMENT

I lived with my parents through college. I attended a local community college for three years before transferring to the university. Before moving, my husband and I were married. So as newlyweds, we drove off to our first “home” and rented an apartment while I completed my final year of school. Our small, very brown (brown carpet, brown paneling, brown cabinets!) apartment was our first home together. After about six months, we found ourselves very sick from black mold toxicity and all of our personal belongings and new home gifts from our wedding destroyed. So we started from square one. We were transferred to another apartment for our remaining few months of our lease. After those couple of months were over and I was done with school, we packed up so fast and left town!

POINT YOUR FINGER SOMEWHERE ON A MAP…

We weren’t sure where we wanted to go next. We stayed with my parents for about a month and then I landed a few interviews over on the west coast. For a few days, we dreamed of living on that side of the state. Nothing came of it though, and we sat staring at each other in the hotel room wondering where we were going to live. At the time, going back home to Spokane seemed like the worst possible choice. We wanted change and adventure. We started throwing out names of cities to live in, and I offered up Denver, as one of my best friends and her family lived there and I had visited a few times. Connor agreed, so we went home, packed a suitcase, and off we drove.

MOVING THERE, THEN HERE AGAIN

We made arrangements to live with my friend’s family for a few months so we could explore the city to see if it was right for us, get jobs and find housing. After about four months of living out of a suitcase and a storage unit, we purchased a townhouse and moved in. It was very nice and we felt pretty proud of it. It was in a little suburban neighborhood with nice shopping, good schools, and yet our mortgage was cheaper than any apartment we could have rented there. We lived there for about six months and then it happened…the homesickness kicked in.

We missed our families, the lakes, and holidays together. Despite having incredible jobs and a few friends, we were so lonely. I think it was on Easter, another holiday alone, that we took a bike ride and one of us brought up the conversation neither of us wanted to confess. We started asking ourselves, “what was so bad about Spokane?” And within a ten minute conversation, it was decided upon. We were moving back home. We called our parents right then and it was like a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement to return to Spokane, but total disappointment of leaving our jobs and city life. We moved back home within a month.

NEW PLANS TO BE MADE

We literally had no plan from there. We moved in with Connor’s parents. After a few months, it was time to get jobs and find our own place again. We started renting from my grandma at her vacant house. We thought it would be just a while before we would buy a house and renovate. Shortly after, we found out my childhood home was literally listed for free if someone spent the money to move it off the lot (yes, you CAN move houses!).

We started dreaming! How amazing would it be to buy some land and set my childhood home on it? After moving every few months, it felt like the perfect symbolism of growing roots and finding home. We started planning. We talked to the banks, we drove for hours looking at land every weekend, and I started on the floor plans for phasing out renovations and even a plan for an addition we could add on some day. I spent months working on all of the logistics and then…things changed.

AN OUT-OF-REACH DREAM

The banks were nervous about funding a house move. Connor decided he wanted to go back to school for nursing. I found out I was pregnant with our first child. All at once, the doors closed and this journey had come to an end. We switched gears and started house hunting instead. Nothing seemed to stand out and nothing came close to the dream we had almost created. I didn’t want to put a dime towards a home we weren’t excited about. So we decided to stay at the rental and make it home for a while. We would settle in for a few years.

I started nesting and we painted the house and set up a garden. There was only so much we could do with a rental so instead we invested in some new furniture pieces, curtains, etc. We ended up living there for about two years, which was the longest we had lived anywhere for the last 4-5 years. We had planned on staying longer, at least until Connor was done with school, but then another wrench got thrown in the plan.

THE SWITCH-UP

My grandma needed to sell the house. At this point, we were knee deep in parenthood, school, and financially just looking to save every penny to prepare for buying a house. My parents decided to buy my grandma’s house in hopes that we could continue to rent from them, but the banks said that wasn’t an option. So then, it was decided that my parents would move to that house, and we would move to their house to rent. A little switcharoo! So in the middle of winter, we were literally swapping places.

We’ve been renting from my parents for the last year and a half and while we are once more close to reaching a two year mark of living in the same place, we also once more prepare for another move. At this point, things are looking up. We’ve been working hard and saving money to acquire that dream of living on acreage. However, with the real estate market being quite insane, it no longer makes sense for us to renovate. Our plans now point to a new construction home, which will hopefully begin after Connor completes school later this summer. My parents recently sold the other house and have moved back into the home we are renting from them, and Connor and I are back to determining our next temporary house while our true home gets built.

FINDING HOME

Nowhere in my adult life has ever felt like home. I’m turning 28 this year and at this point I’ve never felt the feeling of home since I was 18. We’ve managed to settle in to each place we’ve lived, but it’s never truly been “home.” When we were younger, the constant change felt adventurous. It felt like that was what we should be doing as young adults, newlyweds, etc.

But as we got older, and especially after having our daughter, each move was a heartbreak. It was pulling up her roots again and again, and that’s what made me ache. Although those houses were never my home, they were hers. It was all she knew as home in her life this far. The pain made me work harder and harder. I couldn’t stop and it made me sacrifice just about everything to get to the point of claiming a forever home for us. For her.

MAKING CHANGES

Last month, we took the first step toward that home I’ve dreamed of for our family. After a pretty short period of searching for land, we got our dream property. It checks all the boxes on our wish list and more! It feels so surreal that after so many years of waiting, the time has come. The timeline for our construction has yet to be determined, but one step has been taken. And that’s all that matters in this moment.

I can’t wait to share more about the property and our plans for design and construction. But tonight, I just felt the need to share this story. It’s probably way too in depth and most people will care only about the future posts of sharing plans for the home. But I know some of you have been listening to my story. You are curious about what has led up to this new chapter of our lives. And I wanted to share quite honestly that the process of getting to this point has not come easily.

LITTLE STEPS & BIG SACRIFICES

It has never been our ideal situation to live with our parents for periods of time, say “no” to occasions of going out with friends, and certainly not to keep using one of our cars that is literally destroyed from when it was stolen from us, totaled, and then returned. But we’ve happily, and sometimes not so happily, made these sacrifices because they never compared to what we were working toward for our family. I’m so thrilled to put this all behind us now. And I seriously can’t wait to share the process of this journey!

I’d also love to hear from you…

What would you like us to share on our journey? What would you like to learn about the planning, design, or construction process?

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