BLACK FRIDAY SALES YOU CAN SHOP IF YOU WANT TO!

Anyone feel overwhelmed by the number of sales this year? Me too! I keep a list of favourite shops to check in on for this sale and thought I would share the list with you. It’s a curated list of places I look to all year round, but this weekend is a nice chance to tick off items you know you can buy ahead (i.e. christmas gifts, bigger sizes for the kids) or a big ticket item you’ve had your eye on (playhouse anyone?).

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CANADIAN FAVES
(#shopsmallsaturday & everyday!)

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THE CROSS
20% off

URBAN WALLS
25% off with code TREATYOSELF

PETITS VILAINS
20% off with code GIVEBACK

CORAL + CLOUD
20% off with code JOYOUS

SAJE WELLNESS
20% off everything (one day only)

PEHR DESIGNS
30% off with code YESPLEASE

MAUDE KIDS
15% off with code MKBLACKFRIDAY15

ETSY
So many amazing makers on sale here, see my holiday gift guide from last year for a few ideas

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HOLIDAY FAVES

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MINTED - for holiday cards
20% off (one day only)

ANTHROPOLOGIE - for ornaments + holiday earrings
30% off everything

MCGEE + CO - for home decor; too many cute things including this adorable doormat
20% off with code THANK YOU

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WINTER GEAR

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SIMPLY MERINO
(our favourite base layer ski wear)
up to 25% off

ALTITUDE SPORTS
(kids winter boots)
up to 50% off

WHEAT CLOTHING
(our favourite outerwear but this year it’s not on sale!)
40% off many items

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KIDS FURNITURE + DECOR + TOYS

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POTTERY BARN KIDS
25% off everything with code GIFT25, code UNWRAP for 20% in Canada

CRATE + KIDS
20-40% off

SERENA & LILY
20% off with code GATHER

WAYFAIR
Up to 80% off some items!

NOBLE CARRIAGE
10% off with code CHEERS10

ETSY
So many amazing makers here on sale here

LITTLE PASSPORTS
Use code BESTDEAL for $20off a 6 month subsciption

Stay tuned next week for a fun giveaway coming up in support of #givingtuesday (Tuesday November 27th).

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR ENTRY FOR CHRISTMAS

If your kids are anything like mine, they have been begging to hang up the wreath and decorate the house for Christmas since the day after Halloween! While we’ve fought this a little bit over the last few years, their excitement won us over this year and we are decorating extra early. I love the holiday season, mainly more catch ups with friends and seeing the magic of it all on the faces of the kids. To create space to enjoy this special time with them, I try to get as many things done before December, such as decorating the front entry and ordering Christmas cards so they can be written and sent in the first week of December. Last year’s cards were so cute and I can’t wait for this year’s to arrive! Even though we are the first family on our street to have a wreath up, it feels great to be ready when guests arrive. It really is just three simple steps to make your entry extra special.

STEP 1: HANG A WREATH

WHY NOT ADD SOME BELLS TO MAKE YOUR WREATH FEEL EXTRA FESTIVE?!

I chose a fresh wreath this year but if your climate doesn’t allow for that, this fresh wreath is by far the prettiest I’ve found online. Use a sturdy door hanger to hang it. I like to match the colour of the hanger to the door so that it is as inconspicuous as possible.

STEP 2: ADD A FESTIVE DOORMAT

Buy a fun and festive doormat wherever you can find one. Hardware stores often stock seasonal mats and this doormat is on its’ second year at our house. If you are ready to splurge on a gorgeous mat, this Merry + Bright doormat is modern and pretty much perfect. Where size permits, I love to add an extra rug as a base layer to an outdoor entry. Use a 3’ x 5’ rug suitable for the outdoors as a pretty underlay for the doormat and why not take this chance to add a pretty pattern or some colour. This indoor outdoor rug is THE BEST and we have owned it for over a year with three kids tromping over it daily and IT STILL LOOKS NEW!

STEP 3: ADD ACCESSORIES

Use this moment to have fun adding decorative features! Get the kids to help (cute buckets are a perfect place for them to add sticks or pinecones that they collect on walks). Display a small tree like this 3’ one in a wicker basket if your entry is under a covered area and add festive bins for added fun.

CHOOSE A LIGHT THAT ALLOWS THE LIGHTBULB TO BE CHANGED EASILY - I LIKE OPEN BOTTOM PENDANT LIGHTS OUTDOORS FOR THIS REASON

USE A BASKET FOR A SMALL TREE, FIREWOOD OR EVEN PINECONES! THE TEXTURE ADDS A LAYER OF WARMTH + INTEREST

PIN the image below to save the full look of a jolly, festive and bright entry for the holiday season below.

01. // Outdoor pendant; 02. // Outdoor base rug; 03. // Fresh wreath; 04. // Gold bells; 05. // Merry Christmas doormat; 06. // Galvanized bins; 07. // Tree basket; 08. // 3’ Faux tree.

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YOU MAY LIKE THESE HOLIDAY POSTS TOO…

CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOR KIDS

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE (ETSY)

KIDS HOLIDAY PLAYHOUSE

HELLO...I'M STILL HERE!

If it’s seemed like I’ve been on hiatus, nothing could be further from reality! In the midst of a VERY busy month, yes, I’ve blogged less. But, I’m still here.

Amidst everyday life of running a business and being a present Mom, we’re currently in the middle of packing up our house of 8 years, doing a refresh on the little rental house that we’re moving into and slowly getting move-in ready! At the moment, there isn’t one ‘finished’ room so it feels a little hectic! The exciting thing is that there will be a few ‘before and afters’ to share here on the blog and hopefully the afters will provide our family a home that we’ll be settled into in only a few more weeks.

As always, thank you for your continued support during this extra busy time.

OH MONDAY!

Just another manic Monday…

1. There’s no where I’d rather be than cozied up in a corner just like this with a good book and a little one to snuggle…it IS Monday after all! The best thing is that the chaise that’s used for a reading nook converts to a queen bed. Genius!

via 100 Layer Cakelet

2. I spent the entire day on Sunday in home decor shops and I feel like I could give you a run down of every item available in Vancouver, ha!

3. Speaking of shopping, I’ve been looking for alarm clocks for the kids and these ones are my favourite contenders so far. I should say, I am looking an analog alarm clock for each kids’ room so that we can learn to read a clock together. I’m having a hard time finding anything amazing and FUN for the girls but this robot is hands down the winner for Xavier.

4. Today the Baker playroom is being photographed! I’m excited to share a little behind the scenes over on IG stories if you follow me there. If you don’t, come join the fun and follow me on Instagram!

5. Leaving you with the prettiest nursery; if you have the chance, head over and see the whole space. The wallpaper is so lovely!

Design by Whitney Blake

OUR FAMILY FRIENDLY LIVING ROOM

They say that home is where your heart is and I believe this is completely true. For me, that means comfort, playfulness, support, love and moments of happiness when you need them most. Home is mainly the people you love, but creating a house that aligns with these feelings and qualities is something I have always loved doing. Last week, I shared Xavier’s big boy room and today, I’m so excited to share a glimpse into our family friendly living room!

This is a space that gets used by everyone. Forts are built, games are played and at the end of the day it’s a quick and easy room to clean up and look presentable.

The sectional is perfect for family movie nights and pillow fights too. It took a few years before we decided to buy a coffee table again and when we did, we chose a round one so that there weren’t any sharp corners for the kids (or us!) to run into.

The gallery wall is a random selection of both frames and art. Most are paintings that either I or the kids have done and there are also random materials from past travels. I always thought it would be a temporary display, but reality is that art doesn’t get changed in our house too often so it’s been up there for years!

While we don’t have fresh blooms on the table all the time, it sure is lovely when we do!

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