5 Ways to Cozy Up Your Living Room for the Holidays

This post is brought to you by the Carpet and Rug Institute. All opinions are 100% my own. I am no home decorator. Not even close, but I don't think most of us are. I see images on Pinterest on Instagram or in magazines and I'm drawn to them, but sometimes I'm not sure why. My husband tells me often, especially when I'm being precious about how things look in our home, that we live here in this space. And I think that's what is most important about our homes. We aren't designing them to be sold, we aren't putting them out there to be perfect for a magazine, we are living in them and creating memories. So how can you cozy up your home for the holidays? I've got a few toasty, cozy updates you can easily do in your own home.

Thinking Outside the Box: Gifts for Tweens and Teens That They Will Love!

This blog post is sponsored by LEGO. All opinions are my own.
I'm not sure I ever outgrew my love of toys. I had dolls on my Christmas list well into my teen years and then transitioned to working at a toy store through high school. In college, I got a bachelor's degree in child development and that really just allowed me to spend time playing with and observing kids until I had my own children. So if you're following me, I never quit playing with toys. Nope.  With the advance in technology, the time spent in childhood seems to be shrinking but thankfully, there are brands like LEGO that encourage kids to be kids. It's a brand that most of us grew up with and now we get the chance to share that with our children. 
Finding fun, engaging and unique toys for tweens and teens can be a bit challenging. There are plenty of toys that cater to younger children, but the market just seems to drop off. So how can you think outside of the box and come up with toys and gifts that will engage those tweens and teens? I've got a few ideas for you!

DIY Leopard Print Shoes with Vinyl

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

I've been having a lot of fun creating with my new Cricut Explore Air 2. I've made adulting stickers {I didn't hit snooze!}, luggage tags, and paper succulents. I've made custom state trucker hats with the EasyPress and I've shared which machine I like better {the Silhouette or the Cricut}. The answer might surprise you because I've been a loyal Silhouette owner for nearly 10 years and now I'm sharing with you my latest DIY, these custom leopard print ballet flats.

I'm all about neutrals and basics when it comes to my wardrobe and I rarely buy anything on-trend that won't last multiple seasons. I've never been a big fan of the animal print, though this season, the leopard print is growing on me, I'm not sure how long it's going to stick around. It's why I made these leopard print flats. I took a plain ballet flat and added metallic adhesive foil vinyl so that once the trend has run its course, I can remove the vinyl and have my plain shoes back again. Genius? Maybe. Easy? You bet!

15 Awesome Gifts Every Coffee Lover Needs

Do you have a coffee lover on your holiday shopping list? I absolutely love shopping for gifts for coffee lovers because there are so many amazing gifts out there for them! I decided to do a little look around Amazon and see what kind of awesome gifts every coffee lover needs and, I was not disappointed! Check out what I found:

5 Tips for Navigating the Holidays with your Tween or Teen

Parents are acutely aware of how time passes during the holidays; hormonal, moody teens being themselves while parents are intensely aware that the kids are growing older and will eventually leave the nest, maybe only to visit on the holidays. Knowing that our kids are gaining their independence can make it difficult to fully enjoy and navigate the holidays with tweens and teens. So how can we really appreciate the time we have left with our kids at home? How can we create a space that's special for the holidays? I've got 5 tips for navigating the holidays with your tween or teen.