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Holiday
Holiday

fluffy full wreath hack | Christmas decorating

As I shared last week, Christmas decorating this year is about doing the best I can.  It’s about enjoying what I can do and letting go of what I can’t.  And, I have to say, it’s felt pretty good so far.  It’s been slow.  It’s been spurts and starts.  But, it’s been happening at a pace that works for me this season, making it manageable and joyful instead of stressful.  One of the things that inspired me last week was a couple of wreaths I found when I was picking up some lights from Walmart.  Both wreaths were a little on the thin side, but the texture was realistic.  I bought them because I had an idea to use them to make a full, fluffy Christmas wreath. This is the result… The best thing about this Christmas wreath “hack” is that it doesn’t require any tools or materials.  Just two

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December 5, 2022 16 Comments
Decorating

decorating for Christmas in a “new ” house

When I was in high school, we moved into a newly-built house the day after Christmas.  It was a little strange, but it felt like a part of Christmas.  My new room was the best gift of the year and a place to put my new clothes and CD player.  We moved into this house in mid-September, but it feels like we just moved in.  We’re still getting organized and settled.  There are still so many projects to do, a few boxes to unpack, and things to be organized.  The Christmas season, while welcome, feels like a bit of a disruption.  On top of stripping wallpaper and painting trim, I need to put up and decorate a tree, buy and wrap gifts, and do advent stockings (Calvin sent me a text this morning reminding me of that!) It’s exciting and my favorite time of year, but it feels a little

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December 1, 2022 35 Comments
crafts

my top 15 favorite Christmas crafts

Last year, I was particularly in the mood to get crafty for Christmas.  Some years, I just want to focus on big-picture decorating, but last year, it was the details that captured my attention and I really loved it.  I have already dried my oranges and bought the ingredients to make some new salt dough ornaments, so I am ready to start making things!  If you’re feeling that same pull, I hope this curated list of fifteen of my favorite Christmas crafts I’ve made over the years will get your wheels turning… favorite christmas crafts | one | salt dough ornaments I bought some cookie molds on a whim off of an Instagram ad and it felt like it might’ve been a purchase I would regret.  I ended up using those molds to make salt dough ornaments and cinnamon salt dough ornaments and I absolutely love how they turned out. 

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November 29, 2022 9 Comments
Decorating

christmas decorating sources 2022

I think 2021 was my favorite year so far when it comes to decorating for Christmas.  I started early because I felt like it and I genuinely enjoyed the process, the projects, and relishing the season.  This year, it’s a little harder because we’re still in the middle of projects, painting, and settling in.  I’m going to start decorating after Thanksgiving and I am looking forward to it, but I don’t think it will be quite as magical as last year.  Maybe it’ll surprise me… Since I enjoyed Christmas decorating last year so thoroughly, though, I thought I would share sources for things I used last year that are available again this year. faux stag antlers | faux cedar garland | chunky knit stockings | velvet ribbon The stockings weren’t available for a couple of seasons after I first bought them, but they are back again!  I personalized them with

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November 24, 2022 15 Comments
All Things Home

outdoor fall entertaining with Walmart

Disclosure; This post is sponsored by .  As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own.  I have partnered with many times over the years and I am excited to be working with them in our new home. An advantage to moving into a home in late September is that we are entering one of the most beautiful, outdoor-entertaining-friendly weather of the year.  It’s usually pleasant outside, not too buggy, not too muggy, and nature starts to put on a colorful display.  It’s a nice time to be outside, which is perfect when you want to escape from boxes that need to be unpacked and things that need to be put away. Since we sold all of our outdoor furniture when we moved here (including favorite BHG chairs from ), we decided to buy one really beautiful, well-made patio set to provide a place to sit, work,

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September 23, 2022 22 Comments
Holiday

salt dough ornament molds

Too soon?  Yes, of course, it’s too soon for Christmas posts, but I am starting to think about Christmas projects and decorations.  I really enjoyed making things for Christmas last year and I would like to do more of that this year.  I sold the salt dough ornaments I made last year because I was pretty sure they wouldn’t fair well stored in a hot container with our other household belongings, so I will definitely be making more of those things year.  I wanted to get some new molds and I decided to shop for them before the Christmas-shopping rush. Remember these?  You can find a recipe and tutorial for making these “gingerbread” salt dough ornaments HERE. You can purchase the windmill mold and the bird & flower mold HERE and HERE.  These sold out pretty quickly last year, which is why I am sharing them now. I also made

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July 28, 2022 14 Comments
a slice of life

mexican lasagna bake aka burrito cake recipe

I love recipes that are…quick to make, can be made in one pot, are easy to adjust to different food preferences, and are delicious!  Such is the case with this Mexican Lasagna Bake.  It’s a fusion of layered Italian lasagna with Mexican (well, Americanized Mexican) flavors. And it is so good.  When Marshall first saw it he said, “That looks like a burrito cake!”  So, of course, we have to call it “burrito cake.”  When he tried it, he pretty much claimed the leftovers for himself, although I did sneak a couple of slices for a quick lunch. I followed a recipe card that came with my Ninja Kitchen Possible Pan but adjusted it so it would suit our family’s flavor preferences. For the vegetables, I used three red peppers, one large sweet onion, several small tomatillos, and a bag of frozen sweet corn.  I also added a can of

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May 23, 2022 12 Comments
Recipes

the best strawberry rhubarb crisp

We have an absolutely wonderful next-door neighbor.  She has blown snow out of our driveway when Jeff was unable to, she has saved Calvin’s bike from sitting out on the sidewalk overnight, and she brings us rhubarb from her garden each summer.  When she first brought over a bag, I was a little skeptical about it.  I don’t remember ever eating rhubarb and I was unsure how to prepare it or if I’d even like it!  Well, she addressed that, too, and brought over a wonderful recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp from Ina Garten.  I’ve made it now for three years in a row and it is the best.  (Well, I don’t have much to compare it to, but it is good enough that I am not exploring other options!) If you haven’t had rhubarb before, it looks a bit like pink celery, but it is tart and flavorful.  It’s

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May 17, 2022 13 Comments

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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