Powder Room Reveal

We recently (i.e. months & months of procrastination) finished our powder room downstairs and I wanted to share with you guys! When we moved into this house, the walls in this room were painted metallic gold and had a pretty ugly tile situation on the walls. We hired a painter to fix it, which also went awry, so I knew I had to come up with a solution that would cover up the hot mess that existed. This bathroom is downstairs, off the main living space, so it's where all of our guests would use the restroom. It gets lots of traffic - the kids are using it to wash hands before dinner, go potty when we're downstairs and I use it as a sanity closet when I'm desperate, only because the coat closet isn't equipped with a lock. ;) I wanted it to pack a punch, but also fit in with the rest of our space. My other focus was that it was bright - it's placed at the end of a hall and it's dark. There's almost no natural light (which made taking photos super fun). 

SO, we settled with this amazing peel & stick wallpaper from Walls Need Love - which was actually super easy to apply. I started the project by obsessively matching the lines and then by the end of it, I decided the buildings not lining up would be just fine for the 3 minutes you're in there doing your business (or 28798 if you're a man). I started each piece at the top of the wall, and smoothed it until it hit the chair railing. We had to cut at that point and then repeat below the railing. The hardest parts were around the toilet and the sink, but it's pretty flexible and I ended up peeling, cutting, re-peeling, ect. until it fit well enough to pass the test. It's not perfect, but who has time for perfection, yes? 

 Let me say though - this wall paper is so durable. It's gotten wet, the kids have colored on it, and it has really stood it's ground. It's a really beautiful texture and has not disappointed in the slightest. 

 

 We switched out the mirror for something a bit more unconventional and it really added a fun flair to the space. The lights were just a basic pick from Home Depot, but fit great for what we need.

WALLPAPER (C/O) // MIRROR (Home Goods - similar here) // LIGHTS // MONKEY PRINT // WHITE & TASSEL BANNER // BLACK & WHITE TOWEL // GOLD HOOK (sold out - similar)

 

I'm super happy with how the space turned out and enjoy peeing so much more now ;) 

Hope you love it, too! 

WHY I LOVE

This post is sponsored by 1-800-Flowers but all opinions are my own! Thanks for loving the brands we love!

It's easy to make Valentine's Day all about the kids, the festivities and the treats, but ultimately, I want Collin to know how much he means to me on Valentine's Day.

 

14 Things I Love about Collin ... one for each day of Valentine's :)

1. He loves to dance and brings music into our house in the best way possible. 

2. He works harder than anyone I know. 

3. He's mildly OCD about most things, just enough to be endearing. 

4. His vacuum lines are a force to be reckoned with (see above). 

5. He's Justin Timberlake's biggest fan. 

6. He passed along those baby blues to 2/3 of our kids - PTL.

7. He listens. And adapts accordingly, whether it's parenting, marriage or just where the dishes go ;)

8. He wants to be better every day, and works towards that. He wants to do the same for others.

9. He requests the same three things for dinner every week: pizza, spaghetti, and grilled cheese. 

10. He no longer complains about how gross my car is or how messy my side of the closet is. 

11. He loves me for me (see above) and has never once tried to change me. 

12. He supports my ice cream habit and will gladly drive to the store for me at 9:00 pm if I'm out. 

13. He will sit on the couch sometimes and just browse through our family chatbooks... he oohs & awwws and really adores each photo. It's pretty sweet. 

14. He has dreams & goals for himself, but also for his children, which are well thought out and incredibly abundant. Dreams about them being good people and goals for them to make an impact in whatever way they choose. He really pours his heart into his family and we are better for it. 

Our friends at 1-800-Flowers are encouraging us to share #WHYILOVE this February ... and sharing the love with you! Use the link above & you will get 20% off a bouquet to send to someone you love ... all the way through February! Such an easy way to show someone you love them. 

The kids love to go online & pick out flowers for grandparents, best friends and anyone else who might need a little love - it's a fun surprise and such an easy way to make someone's day!

XO - Go show the love! 

Gift Giving with Thymes

It's no secret that I have an obsession with candles - if you come over to our house, there's always at least two burning. I love mixing the scents (Volcano from Anthropologie makes a great base and then we add in seasonal) and I never hesitate lighting a few, even if it's just me at home. They create a really cozy ambiance, make the house smell amazing and just make this mama happy. 

Thymes kindly sent us some candles from their Frasier Fir collection and I can honestly say these are my NEW favorite. This scent has that classic christmas tree scent, but is a little more woodsy,  not so sweet like some of the other pine scented candles you'll find. It's the perfect balance of pine & cedar and our house smells like we just chopped our christmas tree down. (#itsfake) The wood wick candle sounds just like a crackling fire ... obsessed. 

We packaged a diffuser and candle up with some festive chocolate, and a thank you note... it made the perfect Holiday treat for some of our dear friends who just moved into a new house!

These candles make the perfect gift ... think teachers, hostess gifts, neighbors or even your closest friends. I stock up at the beginning of the season and then am ready to gift at a moment's notice! The packaging is so beautiful too, ready to gift without any work.

PS... when you buy a Thymes candle, you're also buying a real tree with their Buy One. Plant One. campaign. For every product sold in the Northwoods and Limited Edition collections, a tree will be planted – giving back to the very thing that inspired the Frasier Fir fragrance. My favorite part? Coordinates to where YOUR tree is planted is listed on the insert provided with your product...how cool is that?!!

This post is sponsored by Thymes but I only share products that I truly love. Thanks for supporting the brands that support me! 

PARASOL CO.

You guys ... I have a new favorite. 

No, not favorite kid. Although there are days where I like one more than the others ;) 

Usually it's Winnie because she can't talk. 

Here's the deal: I do my best to give my kids whatever's natural, organic, responsible, ect.. but sometimes it's just not that simple. There might be organic sunscreen, but it doesn't work, or natural fruit snacks - that taste like tar. So... we find a healthy balance where we can, and indulge in white cheddar cheez-its and the classic Johnson's baby wash when we can't. This article sums it up perfectly. 

All this to say, Parasol is one of those companies that make this whole parenting thing very easy. I've always been a loyal Pampers diapers & Costco wipes kind-of-gal (this is starting to sound like a match.com profile) and could never fully buy in to the organic diapers (you know, that one brand...), because I just didn't love the product. They made going natural very inconvenient. Crunchy diapers, wipes are dry and they just didn't do their job. Also, the soap that smells like creamscicles... it just bugs me. When I found Parasol, I was instantly in love. The patterns on their diapers & their packaging was SPOT ON. They so kindly offered to send us a box of diapers & wipes and I have to say, I'm a customer for life (because it feels like I'll have a kid in diapers for the rest of my life). I kid you not, these are the BEST diapers I've ever used. They're practically like soft baby underwear. Thin, ultra-soft, and extremely effective. Not to mention, they're hypoallergenic, chlorine-free, fragrance-free, lotion-free & latex-free. #winning And the wipes smell like that cucumber water at the spa (that I never go to because of aformentioned "kids in diapers"). So basically you're at the spa instead of changing a poopy diaper. I mean....

Our friends at Parasol have kindly offered all of my readers $20 off their first subscription purchase using the code: HENCO 

Now go get your baby's bummy some super cute undies! 

This post is in partnership with Parasol but all opinions & content (and baby bums!) are my own!

Mother's Day with THYMES

Mother's Day is one of those holidays - the kind that is special growing up, but you never really realize the importance until you, yourself, are a mother. I feel pretty rich in the Mother department, as my mama is one of a kind. She gives the best advice, hands down. She's beautiful & fun. She is gracious and generous. She's an amazing Nana to my babies. And also, she loves me for me - a gift in itself. #amazingmoms 

I knew when Thymes reached out to us about their Mother's Day gifting, it was a match made in Heaven. My mom is amongst the busiest out there, and doesn't have a whole lot of time for pampering. SO... with the help of Thymes, we're hooking her up with a little pampering box. 

Thymes is known for creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind fragrances. They take pride in thoughtfully curating every product and infusing touches of charm to make them truly special and uniquely Thymes.

What's in the box?

1. Lavender bubble bath & Body Lotion - Ok here's the truth - my Mom loves lavender, but I'm not usually a fan. You guys..Thymes nailed with this one. This lavender smells amazing. It's fresh, not musty and smells so clean. Definitely one I would use for myself. 

2. Kimono Rose Candle - Perfect for a little bath time ambience. Thymes describes this scent as sensuous peony & voluptuous black currant ... need I say more?! #DIVINE

2. Mirabelle Plum Cologne Rollerball - This is the right amount of scent without the drama of spraying perfume. There's something sweet about getting in to bed (after a relaxing soak) smelling fresh, and this does the trick. I'm certain my mom is going to use this day & night. 

4. THEO Chocolate Bar - These are such great additions to gift boxes because there are so many flavors. You can really customize to your recipient... and who doesn't love chocolate in the tub? 

While I desperately wish I could keep this all for myself,  :) I know my mom is going to love all of her  goodies. Lucky for you guys, Thymes will be offering a free Fragrance Studio Sample Kit (a sample set of 15 fragrances) with any purchase of $25 or more. (We got this with our order, and it's SO much product! I actually couldn't believe it. Click HERE to shop and use code: 'MOMSDAY15' when you checkout!