Chugging right along on the gift guides for this year. Following up on yesterdays Baby boy guide here is this years gift guide for baby girls!
I can’t help but think the guides for the little girls are just so much fun, and I love finding little things that are great for now as well as great items they will use in the near future!
Make sure you are signed up for emails after you look at this, and when all guides are done this week I will send out a link to a post linking them all. Then you will have no problem finding gifts for the whole family!
This post contains affiliate links.
Gift Guide for Baby Girls
This post has been updated in 2023 for the latest links and products. Only current products will be linked. Please refer to the 2023 Gift Guide below.
It is that time of year, where I round up gifts for gift guides for the whole family. I always stop at the age of my oldest….and I officially have a 9 year old, so this year I am rounding up the best gifts for 9 year old girls! Check them all out in this post for some fun, unique gift ideas.
This post may contain affiliate links – updated in 2023
Gifts for 9 year Old Girls
9 year olds are so much fun! I offically have a 9 year old boy, which means we are going to the 9 year old girl birthday parties, and I get to spend time with his friends, who are so spunky and funny. This age has been fun to see them come into their own, and really grow past some of the little girl toys and pass times for bigger girl things.
There are the standard items that so many young girls like that I don’t touch on as much in this post but instead tried to hit more unique options.
When I do my gift guides I work really hard on making sure there are items at all price points and for kids that love many different things. My kids all enjoy a wide variety of things so I try to think of items that all of them would love at age 9.
I also really like to find items they can use indoors and outdoors. Encouraging my kids to play outside is huge for me, so when we can I try to include items for outdoor use. In addition I added some useful items as well.
Other Gift Guides
If you are shopping for a 9 year old girl you may have other adults or kids to shop for. I have a whole gift guide page on my blog with 30+ gift guides separated by age and gender.
Hopefully you will be able to find great items that everyone in your life will love for birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions.
Now that my oldest daughter is 9 years old, I can confidently say that each of the items below are Avé approved.
Keep in mind that much of this comes in several different colors. My oldest daughter and I love pink so I tend to lean pink for the image.
*This post has been updated in 2023 for the latest links and products. Only current products will be linked. Please refer to the 2023 Gift Guide below.*
My sweet Walker will be 3 next week – so in true birthday fashion I have gift guides coming at you! I am always on a mission to find unique items for my kids – and with 2 boys and 2 girls that seems to be getting trickier and trickier, but I think I managed to find the best gifts for 3 year old boy.
This post may contain affiliate links
Best gifts for 3 year old Boy
Walker plays with a bit of everything, and with 2 older siblings it has been a bit tricky to find him things that he doesn’t already have. I was on a quest for both unique, but also useful in terms of some of the items!
My Rule of Thumb on The Best Gifts
When I am creating these gift guides I always try to incorporate a bit of the same items. Always a book or two, some inside toys, some outside toys, sometimes a bath toy, and some shoes or clothes.
I tend to think if you get your child a few items for different areas and places your home will feel less cluttered and they will be able to have fun at so many different spaces.
In this gift guide you will see everything from shoes to pool items so plenty to keep them busy!
Other Gift Guides
Creating these gift guides is something I LOVE to do and I am really passionate about. If you enjoy the items in this post be sure to check out the ret of my gift guides below.
So with all of that out of the way – below is a round up of the best gifts for 3 year old boys. Shop the items below.
*This post has been updated in 2023 for the latest links and products. Only current products will be linked. Please refer to the 2023 Gift Guide below.*
Soup and chili season is upon us, and I can’t wait to finally share my FAVORITE cold weather recipe. I have been making this crockpot white chicken chili for the past few years and have yet to find someone who doesn’t love it and ask for the recipe.
This post may contain affiliate links. This post was updated September 2023.
White Chicken Chili In The Crockpot
What is white chicken chili? I think everyone has a bit of a different definition for it, but it is essentially a chicken soup recipe with beans. The broth is comprised of chicken stock and cream cheese.
As with traditional chili I think everyone has their own special recipe and it is something that can be tweaked and never done ‘wrong’.
I started making this a few years ago when I needed an easy recipe for a bible study. My husband isn’t a huge fan of traditional chili so I thought I would try it and we were hooked.
Over the years I have taken that original recipe and tweaked and changed it to be ‘perfect’. I feel like it is finally time I write it out instead of trying to explain it each time.
Why I Love This Recipe
I am all about easy. Honestly, I tend to be an either ‘easy meals’ kind of cook or a baker. I don’t love to spend hours in the kitchen, and even more I don’t love making a million dishes.
This recipe takes ZERO dishes aside from the crockpot. I even use the crockpot the night before to bake the corn bread so it makes for the most mess free meal!
I also love that over time I have found a way to make this crockpot chili recipe please most of my family, and by using rotisserie chicken it is a crockpot recipe that can be added to the crockpot in the afternoon if you want.
Recommended Equipment
This recipe is super simple and straight forward. There is NO reason to go out and buy a new crockpot, but if you are looking for a new one, I am linking mine below.
I personally will be sharing several recipes you can make in that crockpot over the next few months, so if you own one be on the lookout for those.
I will be honest, I am not super technical when it comes to cooking. I will say that I think you can easily feed 4 adults and 2 kids with this single recipe.
If you had more people than that or wanted leftovers, you can easily double the recipe.
On that note, it does freeze very well. If you are looking for a good freezer meal for a friend or family member this would be a WONDERFUL option.
Enjoy this creamy white chicken chili that comes together in just 10 minutes and set to cook on low in your crockpot.
Author:Arin Solange At Home
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:4 hours
Total Time:4 hours and 10 minutes
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Crockpot Meals
Ingredients
Scale
3 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken or 1 lb. shredded cooked chicken breast
15 oz can of white Northern beans, drain and rinsed
15 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed
10 oz can of Rotel
15 oz can of corn
16 oz jar of salsa
3 ¼ cups of chicken broth
8 oz block of cream cheese
1 packet ranch powder (2 tablespoons)
1 tsp of cumin
1 tbsp of chili powder
1 tsp of onion powder
1 tsp of garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional garnishes: jalapeños, cilantro, sour cream, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, Fritos, or tortilla chips
Instructions
Cook your chicken breast and shred. If you buy a rotisserie chicken, shred 3 cups of chicken.
Drain and rinse your beans and add them in the crockpot.
Add your can of corn with liquid to the crockpot.
Pour a can of Rotel in the crockpot with liquid.
Add half a jar of salsa, about 1 cup. You can add more for your preference.
Add chicken broth to the crockpot.
Add chicken to the crockpot.
Add spices.
Stir it all together.
Add a block of cream cheese, cubed, on top of the mixture.
Put on the lid, set to low and cook for 8 hours. Alternatively, you can set it to high and cook for 3-4 hours
Stir before serving and add your garnishes to the bowls.
Notes
* You can increase the spiciness level by adding in a touch of cayenne pepper. Go slow and be mindful that it will add heat. We opt to omit this for our kids, but if you like spicy foods, you can add 1/4 tsp of Cayenne pepper.
* You can make this dairy free by substituting vegan cream cheese.
*You can easily cook chicken breast in an Instapot. Add your chicken with 1 cup of water to Instapot. Set to high pressure for 16 minutes. Allow a 5 minute natural pressure release. Shred chicken with a stand mixer.
* Be sure to check out my cornbread recipe. You can make it the night before and it pairs perfectly with this soup.
If this white chicken chili in the crockpot was a hit for you and your family be sure to pin the photo below to find it again later, and share it with your friends. Follow along on Instagram for more recipes, DIY’s, and home decor, and leave any comments you have below!
It is safe to say I just finished my favorite room in the house. The best part is it was REALLY simple. Our blue Grand Millennial playroom reveal this month is a result of a need to pivot on a room. It is pretty, perfectly moody, and simple perfection.
This post may contain affiliate links. The sofa in the room was graciously gifted to me as a part of the room makeover. Thank you for supporting the brands and companies that support my blog.
Grand Millennial Playroom Reveal
I am a mama to 4 kids with ages 10, 8, 6, and 3. Over the years I have had so many different playrooms and set ups. As my kids have grown our needs have changed. My youngest baby just started preschool which means there are less kids playing in our house on a daily basis.
Truthfully, Goldie is the only one who really plays with toys. So although, it is a play room we are in the in- between- stages of a playroom and a ‘hang out’ room.
Since it is a playroom I kept the home decor and furniture simple. I always aim for as much floor space as possible in a playroom. Someday I’ll probably have some horrible recliner for the kids, but for now I am keeping things simple. To tie my interior design vision together is a gorgeous sofa from Jonathan Louis.
Turning Things Blue
This room came together due to a need to pivot on wallpaper and design. The previous wallpaper we had hung didn’t work with our fireplace heat. So we took down the old wallpaper to start fresh.
I am a pink girl through and through. Picking blue wallpaper is not my normal. Adding blue paint with it is definitely NOT my normal. However, I am so glad I took a risk with this blue color palette because it is so pretty.
For the wallpaper we went with this one from Amazon. It’s very affordable in the world of wallpaper and the paper roll is peel and stick. In other words, it is really easy to manage on your own. The pattern is also really forgiving. So if you are looking for a place to start with wallpaper this would be a great spot.
I decided to paint the built ins (DIY tutorial here) blue. Once I started all bets were off. The blue was so pretty that I decided to paint the trim and moldings all blue. Once that was done, we added blue to the ceiling too.
I have never gone this over the top with paint, bright colors, and wallpaper before. I am so glad I did it because it is such a good design decision and really tied together my grandmillennial style with the rest of our home.
I went with Behr Spring Storm for the paint color. All of the finishes are in a high gloss for a more elevated, grand millennial look.
Jonathan Louis Sofa
I had three major requirements for our sofa: comfort, easy to clean, and pretty.
Playroom couches are tricky. While I want the space to be comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, I also need something that can stand up to kids being kids since it is their space.
It was a pretty quick decision for me when it came to the sofa. We had owned the Pia Sofa in Bella coffee in a love seat version before. Sam and I have stated for years that is the most comfortable sofa on the planet. I still stand behind that statement.
This time we went with the full sofa. Let me tell you that being able to fully lay on it is just heaven! The Bella coffee fabric is a performance fabric. It truly is the easiest color and material to keep clean, but it still has this elevated velvet look.
The throw pillows on the couch are also Jonathan Louis in both royal blush and gypsy blush. I loved the play on pink. I have the same two colors for pillows in another room. So, I knew it would tie the spaces together nicely.
With Jonathan Louis I can find both the right couch, as well as the right fabric for the space. It creates a totally custom feel to your bonus room.
The Finishing Details
I kept decor simple because this is a playroom. The last thing I need are extra items that will eventually be broken with a ball or flying Barbie.
We did two identical leaner mirrors over the built ins. The mirrors are much more affordable than you might think. If you have been looking consider checking them out, or you can see some other options here. I love how they add a mix of vintage as wall hangings.
The wallpaper helps make the space feel grand and open while also adding elegance. The wallpaper takes up all the wall space with texture and dimension. As a result, you don’t need to go overboard with wall decor.
I added this Rifle Paper Co rug on the floor. It has been in the room for over a year. It has held up great which is noteworthy with my kids. So my rug source gets my seal of approval.
The table and chairs are from Home Goods. Here is a similar set that we have also owned. I love the simple rattan look that adds natural texture to the home design.
We went with a Frame TV over the fireplace which I LOVE. We have 3 of them in our house. We also added a simple light pink planter (from Home Goods) and a faux boxwood for the added bit of natural.
For window treatments I went with Select Blinds roman shades in cloud white. This was my first time ordering from them. We have been really impressed. I wanted something affordable but high enough quality to keep a decent amount of light out because this doubles as our guest room.
Whether you are designing a grand playroom, living room or another space in your house, I hope this gave you inspiration.
Our sweet Bernedoodle, Penny is quickly becoming the queen of my Instagram. She is has become my sweetest little photo drop in, and with all the questions I receive, I decided it was time to give Penny the spotlight she deserves. I’ll dive in on all the details on our Bernedoodle and what it’s like to own one.
I will talk about the good – and the bad – of owning a Berniedoodle, and will help you know exactly what you need to do to prepare adding a fur ball to your family.
This post may contain affiliate links – shopping those links is at no cost to you, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support it gives me family. This post has been updated as of September 2023.
Our Bernedoodle & What It Is Like To Own One?
I know what you are thinking. What the heck is a Berniedoodle exactly? Bernedoodles are a Bernes Mountain Dog Poodle mix. Bernedoodles are not a purebred dog breed, but rather a mix breed of 2 purebred dogs.
The parent breeds are Bernese Mountain Dog and Standard Poodle. Bernedoodles have many perks of both breeds which make them enticing to so many (including us) to own.
Berniedoodles boast non shedding hair, a loving temperament and the distinct coloring of a Bernese Mountain Dog all mixed into one!
Bernedoodle Temperament
I think most people know they are looking at a doodle for some of the perks that poodles offer. Shedding, for example is one such perk. But one thing you are probably curious about is the temperament of a Bernedoodle. Bernedoodles typically get much of the good from both breeds when it comes to their temperament.
They tend to be affectionate and playful, yet highly intelligent and hard working, if trained correctly. All in all, Bernedoodles are wonderful family dogs who are great with children, and love to be around their owners. They are an incredibly loyal breed as well. We tend to say that Penny thinks she is a lapdog, although is not the size of one!
How Big Do Bernedoodle Puppies Get?
Another thing we are asked frequently when it comes to owning a Bernedoodle is, ‘How big will she get?’
Penny is 9 months old and full grown. She is roughly 45 lbs, which is very average for a full grown female Bernedoodle. Below is a good gauge of size for a Berniedoodle based on the size you get and the gender. Keep in mind that you can ask a breeder more about the anticipated size based on past litters or the size of the parents.
Bernedoodles come in 4 different sizes: Tiny, Miniature, Medium and Standard. This is based on the size of the poodle that is the parent. For all size ranges the males tend to be larger.
Standard Bernedoodle size (70 to 90 pounds)
Medium Bernedoodle size (50 to 70 pounds)
Miniature Bernedoodle size (25 to 49 pounds)
Tiny Bernedoodle size (10 to 24 pounds) – mixed with a toy poodle
One thing you will find when looking for Bernedoodles is discrepancies in the medium and standard sizes. Penny is standard, however she is only about 50 lbs.
Bernedoodle Appearance
When you are talking about a mix breed dog in general, you will typically get a bit of a range in terms of the appearance of the dog. Your breeder should have pictures of past litters from the parent dogs which will give you a good idea of the dogs coat. Some Bernedoodles have a more curly coat, while others are a bit more straight or wavy.
The wavier hair is coming from the Bernese Mountain Dog parent and the curly hair comes from the Poodle parent. A Bernedoodle coat can also come in a variety of colors. A tri-color Bernedoodle has 3 different colors in their coat. However it should be advised that many times as the Bernedoodle grows that brown coloring will fade and go away.
What It Is Really Like To Own A Bernedoodle
You are likely reading this post because you want to hear from a real dog owner about what it is like to own a Bernedoodle, instead of reading all the stats. Maybe you are already getting your Bernedoodle, or trying to decide if it is the right breed for you. Either way, I hope this post is helpful for you!
Penny is our 9 month old F1 Bernedoodle. Her mom was a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog and her dad was a purebred Standard Poodle. Penny is/was a tri-color Bernedoodle. This means that as a puppy she had three color markings that are seen on a Bernese Mountain Dog.
She is fluffy, with a wavy coat. She has the biggest paws I have ever seen, and has quickly learned to rule our house!
Penny is our first doodle. We knew we wanted a non shedding dog, and we will never go back after how much we love her! She is such a good dog even for her puppy age, and even with her down sides. Yes, they do exist! She has been a wonderful addition to our family.
FAQ On Bernedoodles
I get asked a lot of questions when people see Penny. Of course everyone wants to know what type of dog is Penny? Once they find out she is a Bernedoodle, it generally leads to even more questions regarding her breed. Some of those questions are the same questions I personally wondered about when we were looking at getting a Bernedoodle puppy.
What Makes A Bernedoodle Special?
Bernedoodles are a designer breed. With several designer breeds becoming increasingly popular over the past decades, Poodle mixes are hight on that list.
Poodle mixes are loved for their size, temperament, non-shedding abilities. Of course each mixed breed and dog is different, Penny boasts all of these qualities.
How Much Is A Bernedoodle Puppy?
People are willing to pay top dollar for doodles in general, and Bernedoodle puppies are no different. Bernedoodle puppies typically cost between $2500 and $6000 for a puppy depending on the breeder and the color markings. Most breeders charge a higher amount per color marking. In other words, a single color Bernedoodle puppy is less expensive than a tri-color Bernedoodle.
Bernedoodle puppies are one of the most expensive of the doodle breeds due to the highly coveted color markings. Tri-color coated Bernedoodles are the most coveted and typically the most expensive.
What To Look For In A Bernedoodle Breeder?
You need to be cautious and do your homework before you pick out a breeder. You’ll want to make sure that the breeder is reputable and has transparency in the health of their dogs.
The high cost of a Bernedoodle puppy can lead people open to schemes, which is why it is crucial you find a reputable breeder. Be cautious that you are not supporting a ‘puppy mill’ where they are mistreating the mother dogs, and keeping them pregnant too often.
I know that finding an experienced breeder isn’t always a super easy thing to figure out, but if you trust your gut you will be able to tell.
Tip #1 : Check Your Breeder’s Social Media
Check the breeder’s social media to be sure they aren’t sharing a litter from the same momma dog too often.
Tip 2: Check For Past Litters
Look at past litters on their site. If the breeder has a list of references, this is even better. You should be able to talk to other families who have bought from the breeder before to ask questions.
Tip 3: Meet The Parents
If possible always try to meet the parents and visit the breeder in person. This way you can see the conditions of where the pets are living and how they are being treated. This will also give you time to ask plenty of questions.
Tip 4: Ask For A Health Screening
You may also want to ask if the parents or past litters have had any genetic testing to check for health issues that you don’t want bred into your puppy. A common health problem known as hip dysplasia is a condition that is typically seen in Bernedoodles. While getting an F1 Bernedoodle lessens the risk of health problems, this is not a guarantee and you’ll want to ensure other diseases aren’t bred into the line.
I searched both online and Instagram. The wait times tend to be long, so you may have to get on a waitlist well before you are ready to bring a puppy home. We personally drove across several states to get our sweet Penny, and have friends that have traveled far as well. If you are interested in our breeder you can check them out here!
We decided that the long wait was more painful than the long drive and we wanted a breeder we felt good with, so we knew we would get a healthy puppy.
Training Bernedoodle Puppies
Can I be honest? I don’t know if training any breed of puppy was going to be easy for us with 4 kids at home, but Penny has done pretty well. Bernedoodles are intelligent dogs. However, I want to walk through the good and bad of her training so you can gauge your family’s needs.
When we brought home Penny at 8 weeks old my two biggest worries were: crate training/ sleeping well and potty training. Bringing her home actually reminded me of bringing home a baby. Super sleepy and well behaved for a minute, then they turn into the needy baby.
Crate Training A Bernedoodle
We opted to crate train Penny from the first night. That meant teaching her to sleep in her kennel at night, and go in her kennel when we are gone. I was convinced we would be up all night from the start, but she slept through the night well from day one!
When we first began, we opted to keep her crate farther away from the bedrooms so everyone would sleep well. She let us know when she was awake and did bark when she was first put to bed. We also opted to keep a sound machine in the room for white noise. This helped her not hear us in the even we had to get up with any kids.
Picking The Right Crate
Penny uses this crate, and has since being a puppy. As a new puppy we were able to put the divider in to make it feel smaller and more cozy. Now, she sleeps in it without the divider.
When she was small we put towels down for her to sleep on so they were easy to clean. She LOVES anything we keep in her kennel. She treats towels like a baby blanket and drags it out to lay on, so we ended up giving her a blanket at about 7 months old.
Now, she sleeps in our bed or her dog bed. Her dog bed is washable and is the perfect blend of cozy and stylish.
Buy her dog bed here – I love how this looks, but it also washes well in the machine.
Potty Training Bernedoodle Puppies
Because puppies typically do a great job at not having accidents in their crate, that is a good step in getting them house broken. After 2 or 3 weeks, Penny was 90% house broken. Then after another week or so, she became completely house broken.
We were VERY careful not to allow her to be in any room unattended. When puppies are unattended, you can expect accidents.
Following her cues was very helpful in establishing a schedule. Just like potty training a toddler, puppies too give off body signals to alert you that they need to go. Once we realized those cues and timing, potty training was set. Lastly, in the event of an accident, Penny is placed in her kennel instead of taking her outside once we knew she knew it was wrong.
Behavioral Training A Bernedoodle Puppy
In honestly, we haven’t done much behavioral training with Penny. We attempted a 2 week, all day, training session. This worked well, but it isn’t a great fit for all families. In all, you need to find classes or a program that works for your family’s needs and schedule.
No Dogs On The Furniture?
Penny is very well behaved, but she sure isn’t perfect. One thing I SWORE she wouldn’t do is lay on our furniture. However, I lost that fight, fast. She loves to be on furniture and sometimes even tries to be on my lap.
A Teething Bernedoodle Puppy
A teething puppy can be rough. Puppies tend to nip and chew on anything they can sink their teeth into- even if that means a finger or two. The kids quickly learned not to play near her mouth.
We keep these bully sticks on hand. Honestly, it is an investment because she goes through them really fast. It has been the best thing for keeping her from chewing on anything in our home or from nipping, which will lessen with time.
How To Curb Jumping?
Jumping has been our hardest behavior to curb for Penny. She is a big dog and is very strong. Coupled with the fact that my youngest child just turned 2 has been rough from time to time because Penny doesn’t understand her size.
Jumping has been our biggest hurdle to work through and it is a continual work in progress. I think for most bigger dogs, this is a difficult behavior to address. Bernedoodles are especially prone to jumping due to their affectionate nature. They want to jump for love just to be in your space.
These photos were at roughly 6 months old and in dire need of a grooming
Barking Problems
I am often asked if Penny barks a lot. People are surprised to find out that Penny is not a barker
If she barks I know she REALLY needs to go outside or she is really mad to be in her kennel. From time to time, she will bark in her kennel for 10 seconds to remind us she wants out, but by no means is barking in excess.
We have heard that Bernedoodles do tend to bark more than Penny does – so I am not 100% sure that our experience with the minimal barking from Penny is accurate.
BernedoodleGrooming
Bernedoodles are considered a hypoallergenic breed of dog that does not shed. That said, they do shed SOME just like you do as a human. Penny by no means sheds on our clothes or our furniture. We from time to time do find a little fluff of hair against the baseboards, but for the most part have noticed no major shedding.
Our oldest son is also allergic to dogs, and has done very well with Penny. Shedding dogs give him hives and Penny has not done that for Jack.
Even with minimal shedding, Bernedoodles do have to be groomed.
We take Penny to be groomed where we have them do the whole nine yards, including cutting her hair. Between the grooming sessions we also do a few things to take care of her at home.
I don’t consider Penny high maintenance in terms of care. However, she still requires regular grooming appointments and brushing at home.
Favorite Grooming & Care Products For Bernedoodles
Brush – My friend Chrissy shared about this brush and I ended up ordering it and LOVING it. It is important that you brush their hair so they don’t get matted between groomings. The more often you brush your Bernedoodle, the more used to it they will get so they handle it better.
Toy for cleaning teeth – We try to brush Pennys teeth, but also have opted to use this toy with toothpaste.
Greenies Bones – We also give Penny Greenies bones every few days which helps keep her breath fresh and her teeth clean.
Paw Cleaner – This has been one of my favorite purchases with Penny. You fill it with water and clean their paws when they come in when it is muddy. We keep it by the back door for stormy days and it has been so helpful!
Bernedoodle Play and Socialization
So how much attention does a Bernedoodle really need? Puppies will always need socialization and attention. Penny, however, is easy to please.
Throwing a ball for her outside is a great way to entertain her. As with most big dog breeds one of the best ways to handle energy levels is to take them on a daily walk. Long walks take time for them to be ready for in terms of obedience, but overall we have found that slowly walking more has been the best way for her.
She is much more well behaved when slightly worn out. Of course, if you need assistance in getting energy out, a puppy daycare is a great option for socialization and to fill those exercise needs.
Penny loves other dogs and enjoys playing. She isn’t often near other puppies, but when friends have introduced their pets, Penny has been accepting and welcoming of meeting new friends.
Bernedoodles & Kids
This was the NUMBER ONE THING for us. We have 4 little ones at home and their safety is our biggest concern. That said we also have taught them to respect Penny in return. We allow Penny to eat on her own and although sometimes the kids do interrupt, we try to encourage them to leave her be.
She is incredibly loving with the kids. While she can be somewhat rambunctious, overall, she is very sweet and gentle with our crew.
Bernedoodles lean to the side of wild and goofy with their highly affectionate personality. You can expect that they will be very playful with the kids and a great addition to your family.
Bernedoodle Pros & Cons
Pros
Easily trained in aspects we found most important (IE crate training and potty training)
Hypoallergenic and non-shedding. Bernedoodles are a great choice for allergy sufferers
Affectionate in nature
Longer lifespan with most Bernedoodles living from 12 -18 years old
Cons
At times overly affectionate and hyper
Tendency to jump
Chewing as a puppy that needs to be occupied with Bully sticks and toys
Can have some separation anxiety
High exercise needs – Bernedoodles are very active dogs that will be happier pets if you give them adequate excerise.
Overall Bernedoodles are a healthy breed that makes a great family pet. They are beautiful dogs with big personalities and are an excellent choice if you are looking for a loyal dog for your family.
We LOVE Penny and feel incredibly lucky that we chose a breed that has turned out to be such a great blessing for us. So if you are looking for a good choice of dog to be the perfect family dog then I think you will be beyond thrilled with a Bernedoodle.
Hopefully you found this post about Bernedoodles and what it is like to own our Bernedoodle Penny helpful. If you have any questions leave them in the comments below, and be sure to follow both myself (@arinsolange) and Penny (@pennysolangeathome) on Instagram to keep up with our lives.
After no less than 5 renditions in 3 years our hearth room is finally done and I LOVE it. Living in a historic home means making it function for current lifestyles can be tricky. We are constantly trying to find ways to tweak and perfect the spaces so they both look good and function well, and finally the hearth room has arrived there.
This post may contain affiliate links. The Jonathan Louis sofa was gifted in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are my own and I appreciate you supporting the brands that support my blog.
Bright and Airy Hearth Room
What is a hearth room? Honestly I had no idea before we moved to this house. By definition a hearth room is basic living room featuring a fireplace. However in current day terms most people consider it a smaller living room off your kitchen with fireplace.
When we moved in this room had no fireplace – but did have a brick stack. (old houses are weird ha) We added a fireplace for heat which has been amazing. That piece will likely be redone at some point but that is not a today problem.
Because the room is small, the fireplace is off center, and it is open with support walls it has been hard to decorate at best.
Adding Furniture
Like I said – we have tried a few things in this room. Plan one was picked before we even renovated the house, and function and comfort wise It was my favorite (and also our first time adding Jonathan Louis furniture to the house), but because of the opening to the entry way it never looked quite right.
We then moved to 4 chairs and a table. This looked pretty good but I did feel like we wasted a lot of space, and comfort and function wise it was not my favorite. We have 4 kids and thus we couldn’t all enjoy the space, and the kids were constantly moving the chairs all over the place.
Enter todays rendition. We kept 2 chairs in the design but added a Jonathan Louis Cleo Sofa in Contessa Ivory. It is the most gorgeous rounded, firm sofa. It fits PERFECTLY in our bay window and has the perfect elegance that the room deserves while allowing for lounging that our family loves to do.
The Contessa Ivory fabric is easy to clean, soft to the touch, and is genuinely just beautiful in person. I love that it isn’t a stark white, the light colors retains the elegance.
Window treatments were a NEED not a want in this room but I had gone back and forth on what to do, and ultimately had to wait until the sofa was in to get them.
I decided to go with the raved about “viral” Amazon curtains. They are pricey but my goodness are they gorgeous. We hung them on these curtain rods with these clips and I love them! If you have curtains for bay windows I have found that these elbows are the best way to do it and they are super affordable.
Styling the Hearth Room
Once we got the gorgeous furniture in place things fell into place. I added the antelope rug that I am in love with. It is a perfect neutral yet adds something fun with the animal print. If you have wanted to add animal print I 10/10 recommend it.
We have wonderful DIY built ins In the room that also got a bit of a makeover. I added several items in the round up below that would make for gorgeous room additions if you are also decorating a similar space to this.
I leaned Grand Millennial with the pieces with just enough color and green to really pop against all the white.
That is really it – it is such a simple space that is truly just so gorgeous in person. If you have ever considered a rounded sofa – this is your sign to do it! A bright and airy hearth room is a space I never thought I would have, yet I love it. Be sure to follow me on social below and pin the photo below for inspiration later.
DIY Kitchen Island: How To Build & Transform A Space
After 2.5 years in our historic home, I can finally say that our kitchen space is complete. If you are scratching your head and thinking, “Didn’t you already have a kitchen remodel?” you wouldn’t be wrong. There is a whole saga as to why it took this long. In full transparency, it has to do with being on a TV show. So if you like a good tutorial served with a side of tea this post is for you. I will share how we took our current kitchen island and transformed it using stock cabinets to create an entirely new island. The good news is that the whole thing is a beginner level project that can be customized to your own kitchen. I’ll share with you my easy DIY kitchen island tutorial to create your own perfect kitchen island.
This post may contain affiliate links
DIY Kitchen Island: How To Build & Transform A Space
Before we get to the actual tutorial you know I have to give you the background on why we didn’t have a fully finished island for 2.5 years, and why we needed to finish the kitchen when it was “done”.
In late 2020 while we were all locked in our houses Sam and I bought this old house and decided we should renovate this bad boy with four little ones at home and no experience…It’s possible we had lost our minds in quarantine.
I think back to that time frequently wondering how we thought that was in our abilities, but we did and I am grateful we took the leap. Only a short time after starting the contract for this house we applied to be on the pilot of a TV show for a popular home network. To keep a long story short, we got the show and moved forward with a massive renovation.
Time To Spill That Tea
One of the major areas needing renovated was our small kitchen. Okay, who am I kidding, the whole entire house needed major renovating. There was not a DIY project that would make the space work, so an entirely new kitchen and new kitchen island was desperately needed.
If you look back at before and after pictures of our home, you won’t even recognize the space. Not only did we completely move the kitchen, but we also added storage space, a custom kitchen island, and beautiful cabinetry. While I got to make design choices such as the color of cabinets, a large island, and quartz countertop, I still had to trust that the actual choices being put in would be of good quality. I assumed it would work well and I would love our custom island and entire kitchen space.
One of the strategic design choices I made was to put our microwave in the island. Here’s the problem, it looked horrid and it quickly began to show signs of wear and tear. With four kids that microwave got a lot of use, which means I had to constantly stare at this eyesore as it brought down the rest of the kitchen.
A Giant Black Hole
We ended up removing the microwave from our island and placed it in our newly finished butler’s pantry. The good news is that moving the microwave into our pantry works great. It doesn’t take up valuable counter top space, and isn’t too far out of the way so we still get good use out of it. The bad news? Well, when we moved the microwave from the island, it left a giant hole. Yes, that’s right a black hole of doom. There wasn’t an easy way to cover it up and no amount of wood filler could fix it. I really didn’t love the idea of buying an entirely new built-in kitchen island, but I also couldn’t stare at this giant hole much longer.
So after living with this black hole for months, I finally got the idea to have Sam build something new using what we have and adding a few extra materials and supplies. We love the result and I hope that this easy tutorial shows you that you can think outside the box to create your own kitchen island.
Using Stock Cabinets
There are a few options and ways to create this same DIY kitchen island project. Although in this post I am working with cabinets that were already in my kitchen, you can also start over from scratch. A cost-effective solution would be to buy all new stock cabinets to start. We did in fact have to add one new cabinet to make the island the size we wanted. So, we used both our current kitchen base cabinets and a stock cabinet.
Stock cabinets are a great way to create a space with a lot less work because building actual cabinet boxes and doors takes a much higher skill-set. Plus, it allows you to have the look of custom cabinetry without the price tag. Big box store cabinets are much more affordable than custom kitchen cabinetry.
Other Options For Base Cabinets
If you don’t feel comfortable working with standard base kitchen cabinets from your local hardware store, you can get creative. When it comes to creating a kitchen island there are so many options for the structural base.
One of the reasons I love IKEA so much is that you can use their products in unconventional ways. I’ve done several IKEA hacks over the years and I think using IKEA Billy bookcases as a structural base would be a great way to achieve a modern kitchen island within an affordable price range. Check out my previous post on how you can transform your IKEA Billy Bookcase here.
If you want to use something you already have on hand, you can also use old desks, an old bookshelf, an old cabinet, or anything else that would have the storage you need!
Overall Island Plans
For us, our plan was to work with our existing island cabinets and add one additional base cabinet from the manufacturer in order to create the perfect size for extra seating. We planned to add decorative trim pieces on both sides of the island. We also added trim pieces along the back of the island to give it a more custom and finished look.
I wanted to create an L overhang for our island. This meant I needed to add island legs for support. To make the island feel complete, an apron on the front side was also added. Lastly, a fresh coat of paint finalized the look.
Supply List for DIY Kitchen Island
I will break up this supply list with the legs and apron separately because that part is very optional. I will not give you a cut list or measurements on wood for this tutorial because that will be based on your current island.
For The Island
Stock lower kitchen cabinets – You only need to account for about 1/2 inch on each side with trim work as far as your space allows. If you want to learn more about what you need in terms of space around a kitchen island I have this post.
Cabinet paint in the color of your choice. If you are using stock cabinets that are already painted take one door in to have it color matched for the rest of the project. Or, you can add an entirely new paint color.
2x4s for framing the back side of the island – This is not a MUST but does help add depth to make things look more high end, and also needs to be done if you have any electrical you want added. They will add the electoral boxes to the 2x4s.
1/4 inch MDF board – You will need enough to cover all 3 sides of the island.
1/4 inch thick trim work – We used 1/4 inch x 3 inch pieces from Menards for all of our trim. If you can not find that you could do 1/2 inch x 3 inch trim as well.
Small piece of 1×2 (if adding legs and an apron you will have leftovers from that)
Wood glue
Caulk
Wood filler
Power Tools Needed:
If you have your MDF cut at the store you won’t need as much in terms of power tools. For us we needed:
The first thing you need to do is place your cabinets where you want them. This step will take some time as you need make sure things are level and just where you want them. If you are using stock cabinets, your current cabinets, or a Billy bookcase, make sure you place the bases in the exact position of where you want your island.
If you are framing out the back with 2×4’s that is what you will use to adhere the cabinets in place. If you don’t plan on using 2x4s, you must attach the cabinet box itself to the floor so it will not move.
Step 2 Frame Your Cabinets Using 2x4s
Once your cabinets are in place, you’ll need to frame out the back of the island using 2×4’s. This is a fairly simple step and you can see how it was done in the photos below. Keep in mind that if you are adding outlets you will need to have vertical 2x4s in place where you would want to add the outlet, but also were you won’t want trim. So for us we had to make sure our vertical pieces were far enough in to place our 1×3 trim along the edges of the back side of the cabinets.
Screw the 2×4 framing into the floor, then attach your cabinets to the 2×4 frame using cabinet screws to make them secure. At this point you should have a structurally sound island.
Step 3 Cover Your Island Using MDF
Now is when you start to make it pretty. Cover all three sides of the island using the 1/4 inch MDF board. Be sure to do the 2 sides first. Then make the back side long enough to overlap the extra width of the MDF board. (Ie add the extra 1/2 inch)
We personally chose to have our MDF cut for us at Lowes. Most hardware stores (Home Depot/Lowes/Menards) will do simple cuts for you in house. We ended up needing two pieces for the back side of the island. This wasn’t a big deal because the line where the two pieces met are covered with trim work in the end.
Attach the pieces of MDF with nails and wood glue.
Step 4 Add Your Decorative Trim
Now, you can add your decorative trim. We chose to add 3 inch decorative trim. We went around the sides of the island in a simple box. Then on the back of the island created 4 sections with vertical boards. We attached each of these again with wood glue and our nail gun.
You also need to use that small amount of 1/2 to make your wrapped MDF look ‘thicker’ from the front. Cut a small piece and attach with nails and wood glue. This goes where the toe kick is seen in the lower image.
Optional Step 5 Add Apron & Table Legs
For our kitchen island, I really wanted to have an L overhang complete with table legs and a counter top apron. For those who don’t know, an apron refers to the piece of wood under and surrounding the countertop overhang of your island. It adds a decorative touch and creates that custom appearance.
This is purely optional and a personal design decisions. You are welcome to skip this step.
To begin, you’ll need to have your stock legs and 1x2s measured and cut to your own sizing. Next, position each stock leg in the corner of your countertop. You’ll be attaching your legs with construction adhesive (Liquid Nails) to your countertop.
On the end of your 1x2s, use your Kreg Jig to make pocket holes. You’ll be attaching your aprons to the legs via these pocket holes. Before you attach your 1x2s, add more construction adhesive to the ends for some extra hold. Now you can attach the 1x2s to your legs via your pocket holes.
Step 6 Wood Fill & Caulk
Next, we filled all the seams with wood filler. Once the wood filler is dry, do a light sanding. Now, you are ready to caulk!
Caulk all the seams once everything in place. This is very important to prevent your paint leaving behind a dark empty line. Allow your caulk to dry completely.
Step 7 Paint
Your final step is to paint your kitchen island. You can match your cabinet paint and paint your island all one color. Or, you can pick out an accent color and have your island stand out apart from your upper cabinets.
If you need help on how to paint cabinets, here is a tutorial to give you a general idea.
I hope this post gave you the courage to create your own DIY kitchen island. Whether you plan to use your existing cabinetry, stock base cabinets, or an IKEA bookshelf, you can create a new DIY kitchen island using just a few materials at a beginner level.
To some it may seem odd that I tore out a recently renovated kitchen island and I understand that it isn’t for everyone. However, I pride myself on having a home that functions well and looks good doing it. The microwave was falling out of the island and something needed to be done to prevent any further damage. Fortunately, we were able to find a great solution that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Using the tools you have on hand and thinking outside the box can be so rewarding. I hope you’ll be inspired to try your own DIY kitchen island project.
Spring is here and boy am I ready! If I could I would keep spring weather year-round, and after that bitter cold that St. Louis gave us in February this year, spring feels even better. I think as the sun starts to shine and the days get longer we all get a pep in our step to get stuff done around our house, so I wanted to talk to you about 10 steps to prepping your home for spring so you can enjoy this summer.
This post was sponsored by Hoffmann Brothers. Thank you for supporting the brands that support me and my page!
10 Ways to Prep your Home for Spring
Every year spring hits, and we all think of ‘spring cleaning’, but it really is an important time of year to do much more than that to keep our homes ready for the warmer months. I wanted to give you a checklist of 10 things to do this spring to better enjoy your home this summer!
1 – Get your AC Checked
This one is sort of a ‘no brainer’, but honestly it goes undone – even by me. The last thing you want is to find out in the middle of a hot summer that your AC has gone out – trust me it happened to us a few years ago on the 4thof July and I still have PTSD from it.
Hoffmann Brothers in St. Louis and Nashville has Home Protection plans where they will come out and check your air conditioning units, change tour filters and make sure everything is working well for the summer months. (They will also do this in the fall for your heating unit).
We have been on Hoffmann Brothers Home Protection Plan for 2 years now and NEVER once have been pressured to buy or fix things that aren’t needed (most of the time it is a quick in and out).
Finding a company where you feel comfortable with knowledgeable reps where you know they just truly want your home to serve you well for the season is important and they truly are that.
2– Get Sprayed for Bugs
Whether you have a method you use on your own, or you use a company I suggest as thing warm up to get your home sprayed for bugs. It is so worth the comfort it gives you as year goes on.
3- Clean Out your Gutters
Spring showers are a real thing. Make sure you get your gutters cleared from the leaves that dropped last fall. Full gutters can cause the rain to run down your foundation causing erosion and leaks. Most people don’t know how serious that little chore is, and how important it can be!
4 – Trim your Trees
This is REALLY important for safety if your trees are really big. Our last two homes had very large trees and having them professionally trimmed and checked on can save homes and lives as those big rains start to fall.
When the rain gets the ground really wet the roots loosen, so unsafe trees are more apt to fall in a spring storm. We had professionals out to trim our trees a month ago and they let us know that this big trimming would keep the home safe for about 3 years.
4 – Prep your Basement for Storm Shelter
This may not be the same everywhere you live – but in the Midwest this is big. We personally put together a small basket like the one pictured below for storms.
Keep it in the basement or where you can grab it quickly to go down in case of a storm. Include things like water, breakfast bars, CHARGED external chargers, medicine, and anything else that would be super important for 24+ hours downstairs.
That sounds dramatic but as a mom I find it to be really important. For us we are just leaving the baby age, but we in past years always had diapers, wipes (still will this year) and formula because the only thing that could make being trapped in a space worse would be a really mad hungry baby!
5 – Pressure Wash
If you live where you had snow that could mean cleaning your street, clean your sidewalks and driveway from salt and the gunk snow leaves (if you get snow you know what I mean). It is also a great time of the year to power wash that siding so when you are outside you can enjoy your house more fully.
It tends to be easier to do this before all the leaves come back to the trees and bushes if you have any that block your home.
6 – Get Your Ducts Cleaned
After a season stuck indoors (and in this case a full year) spring is great time to get your air ducts cleaned. You can leave your windows open during the process during the nice spring weather and it will make your home air quality so much higher.
I know I am not alone in that fact that in the winter when I get out of my car I am as quick as can be getting in the house. That means more trash and mess gets left in my car. I always like to take my car and get it cleaned both inside and out in the spring to start the season off better.
If you live in an area where salt is used on the roads in the winter this is especially important so that your car gets all that salt cleaned off and it doesn’t sit on their longer than needed.
8 – Spring Clean your house
Okay so like I said this wasn’t JUST a spring-cleaning list but that is something on the list. There is nothing better than taking a weekend to REALLY clean after the long winter. I have a spring-cleaning checklist here on this post that might be helpful if you ready to take hat chore on.
Clean your blankets and such that you were using more during the winter, and power wash the rugs that can be cleaned. Get your house feeling spick and span!
9 – Re-stain Wood Decks or Fences
If you have a wood deck or fence this is the time of year to re-stain and get them cleaned up for spring. The cold winter months are hard on wood so assess where yours is and be ready to tackle the project to protect your wood from the hot sun!
10 – Get Organized
This is a good time of year to declutter and organize. Get rid of excess paperwork (great to do after taxes) and such. If you have kids, they are likely playing outside more so you can get some peace and quiet and get rid of all of that Clutter.
Hopefully you found these tips on prepping your home for spring to be helpful and are ready to tackle those home projects to keep your home and family safe this coming season. If you have any questions, as always, reach out to me on Instagram (@arinsolange) and be sure to pin the photo below so you can find this post later!
Spring break is just around the corner, and we will be flying to Florida, as per usual with our crew. I have done a few travel related blog posts on here before, but thought I would share all hacks for traveling with toddlers (or kid travel hacks) in one place.
This post contains affiliate links and was updated March 2024.
Many of these hacks will be amazing for flying or driving, and I can’t claim I’m the 100% originator on some of them – I am sure I have picked up tips and tricks along the way, but I will give you all my best tricks for making travel with toddlers and kids so much less stressful!
As an added bonus – I added a huge round up of favorite travel items from Amazon to this post at the bottom, so grab them on Prime and get to traveling!
Hack 1 – Suitcases for Kids
This isn’t as much of a hack as it is a huge tip- get suitcases on wheels! I have gone through quite a few rounds of suitcases on wheels in our years of travel, and I feel like each of these suitcases have their own unique benefits.
For older kids, I love scooter suitcases. When the kids were younger, I loved these character scooter suitcases. If you’ve got younger big kids (6-7 years old), these are a good option. The downside here is that the scooter does eat into the storage space the bag offers. If you’ve got a kid that travels light, this will be great.
If you’re looking for more space, these scooter suitcases are the solution. The scooter does not take up any of the suitcase space so there is ample room to pack! Another benefit of these particular bags is that the scooter completely disconnects from the bag so you can use them at your destination – I love it!
Also, a quick tip if you choose to buy scooter suitcases, make sure you put rules in place. My kids know that the scooter does not come out until we are past security.
If you’re looking for luggage ideas for toddlers, buy them the rolling backpacks from Pottery Barn Kids. You can get them for a steal if you watch for sales, and they will make your life so much easier.
The backpacks fit under the seat in front of you, so you don’t have to stress about overhead space if you don’t want to, and due to the shape they also fit under our stroller if needed.
The backpack straps are a LIFE SAVER because if you have a tight layover, or are in a rush/have tired kids an adult can throw on the backpack if needed. And the reason I also recommend the PBK version is the outside straps.
My kids are always allowed to bring a stuffed animal and it can be strapped to the outside – like in the picture!
Hack 2 – Snack Bins for Car Travel
I purchased several of these a few years ago and they are amazing when we are taking road trips with the kids for all of their snacks.
We have a 3 row SUV, so the older kids are in the very back, and it is hard for me to pass back snacks or open things for them.
Basically I fill each little container with one snack for their car ride. I remind them when we leave that THAT IS IT. They are looking at their snacks for the whole car ride, so eat them all in 10 min or let them last 5 hours, you pick!
They do really well with it, and it is easily closed up and set to the side or on the floor when they are done for the time being.
Again, that hack works great for older kids in the way back of the car. If you’re dealing with younger kids, I’ve got an alternative. This snack spinner is the solution!
This is the same concept as the other container, but you can only open one section at a time. So if you go over a big bump, your kids aren’t going to toss ALL their snacks on the floor. All you do is push the button in the center to rotate to a new snack.
Hack 3 – Bag of Essentials
This hack is a huge game changer, especially when flying, but works great for car rides too. We honestly don’t have the kids take too much when we travel. They love to watch their iPads, so if its 4 hours and under we don’t take too many small things for entertainment.
I purchased these travel toiletry bags on Amazon and they go in their backpack with all of their essentials for the trip. I load them up with some crayons and paper, some snacks and suckers, and their iPads and headphones.
Those are always the items they are digging for in their bags, and they fall to the bottom, so this keeps them in one spot. Essentially once they are in their seat and buckled in grab the toiletry bag out and they will hopefully need nothing more from their backpacks the entire flight.
** this easily holds my kids iPad minis with this case on them, as well as these headphones. Check the measurements for other tablets!
This is another hack when it comes to flying more so than driving. We always bring our kids an empty water bottle with a personalized name sticker for the flight and fill it in the airport for water. (Be aware – with any cup, leave the spout up. We have sprayed full planes with camelbacks before because of the pressure building in them!!!)
For snacks, I love these snack stacks because they fit perfectly in the water bottle pouch of a backpack. Sometime the snack stackers are full of snacks, but they are also great to have for small bowls incase the kids need them for snacks handed out on the plane or purchased in the airport.
When my kids are younger and need more snacks to keep them quiet I do the snack stackers stacked 3 high filled with snacks in addition to what is in the toiletry bag from hack #3.
I know that sounds excessive, but I am a firm believer that you’re not trying to win any mom of the year awards when you’re flying…you’re just surviving and doing your best to keep your kids happy and quiet!
For the bigger kids who might want to order a drink on the plane, I also always have these silicone lids that fit over any cup and reusable, retractable straws. I am speaking from experience – we spilled an entire drink on a seatmate once. I never travel without them now.
Hack 5 – Sleeping Arrangements
With a family of 6 and kids getting older, it can be hard to find the exact right number of beds or pullouts in our hotels or AirBnB. This year, we discovered this compact inflatable toddler bed for our youngest.
It has a built in air pump that you can use to inflate the bed in 3 minutes with your feet – genius! The outside is also super soft so you don’t have to think about packing or requesting extra sheets. Where was this ten years ago!?
Okay not a Hack but a few tips
This one isn’t a hack, but it is tips on tips on tips.
BUY THESE. Keep them in your glove box, and if you have a three row vehicle keep some in the third row. Nothing is worse than hearing a kid say they are going to throw up. This has saved our car and sanity way too many times. They aren’t a glamorous buy, but I have had so many people tell me how thankful they are they got them! I also throw one in my diaper bag when we travel by plane!
If you are traveling with a car seat, spend the extra few dollars for this bag to hold your carseat. It has backpack straps and will change your life. I was a little sad we went a good 6 years of travel with kids before we knew about that!
And if you’re traveling by car with a potty training or recently trained toddler, don’t forget the travel potty, wipes, and trash bags. You could also put them in my favorite training underwear for toddlers for the car ride to be extra safe.
Moms – pair your stuff down to a tiny travel wallet so you don’t have as much to carry, and if you have a baby or lap child, using hack #3 for your own stuff/stuff you will need to get out mid flight for baby is super helpful in your own bag too!
Last – have an external charger with you!! This one is great! You don’t want an iPad dying midflight.
Favorite Hack 6 – Buy on Prime
Below is a bunch of my favorite items from Amazon prime that I use for travel.
Who struggles with living room toy storage. Trucking ahead on 6 Bags for 6 Weeks – we are headed into our living spaces! I can’t be the only mom is also now in the position to start talking toys. For this weeks 6 Bags for 6 weeks I will link to several other blog posts on organizing spaces, but I want to talk about some toy storage for your living room.
This toy storage for living room post contains affiliate links
Living Room Toy Storage
This week is week 4 of 6 bags for 6 weeks, and so far we have tackled our kitchens, all our clothing, and bathrooms and linen closets. If you are anything like me you are likely starting to really see the changes.
The whole idea behind 6 Bags for 6 Weeks is to help you all declutter your home in 6 weeks, ridding it of roughly 6 bags per week. Hopefully by the end you have a minimum of 36 bags to donate, and are feeling so much less cluttered and stressed!
This week we are focusing on living spaces as well as your garage and storage room. These are some bigger ticket areas, so I am assuming it will be a daunting week for some of you! I have several blog posts already written to help with some of the areas, and will link to those, but I am going to focus this post on toy storage for the living room.
I am VERY passionate about helping your kids to love the house they are growing up in, and embracing them and their “stuff”, while still keeping your home beautiful. When you stop fighting all the clutter that comes with the little people in your home and learn to embrace it, life gets so much easier.
Before I talk to you about toy storage for your living room, lets talk about what toys and items are present in the area. First off, I am well aware that not everyone has a playroom, so there is only so much that can be done if you don’t have one.
If you have a playroom – keep 99% of your toys there. Encourage your kids to play in the playroom, and don’t feel the need to have nearly as many in your living area. For us once our kids are roughly 3 we move most of their toys to the playroom.
Before that some do remain upstairs because they aren’t ready for as much alone time.
Also on that note – try to keep the bigger toys in the playroom. If you don’t have a playroom, a toy rotation, or just having fewer toys is also likely a great choice, BUT I am also going to give you lots of tips and tricks on ways to conceal the items you have without forfeiting a beautifully designed space.
Toy Storage for Living Room
When it comes to toy storage for the living room, the biggest thing is to realize you are mostly looking for functional furniture and adult pieces, NOT pieces made for toys. I am going to round up some items in a graphic below that I think would look amazing in your living room while also functioning well for toys, but also want to give some tips!
Use Your Coat Closet
If you have a coat closet, keep a few bins on the shelves and any larger toys in the coat closet. It’s an easy way to conceal things when they aren’t in use.
Purchase purposefully
Only you fully know your space, but think hard before you purchase any piece of furniture. For us, our living room is set up where we have to have a media cabinet of some sort. Instead of a typical media cabinet I went with an antique mid century dresser for tons of storage.
Another place to really consider storage when purchasing is your ottoman or coffee table. There are great coffee table options where you can put a couple of pretty baskets under the table (on the bottom piece) to store concealed toys while still adding texture to the space.
This side table in Jack’s room doubles as storage and could definitely work in a living room too!
If an ottoman is more your thing you might consider one that opens to store either toys or blankets in. Sometimes it isn’t about finding something to store toys in as much as finding a piece to store other items in to make room for the toys.
For instance – if you buy an ottoman to store blankets in, but previously stored those in a basket in your living room, you now can fill a basket with toys without adding any clutter!
Decorative Areas
We have built in shelving in our living room that I love, and have truly loved finding ways to use the shelving as places for storage of toys. I will link my favorite baskets in the graphic, but also remember that unlikely pieces, like the cane troth in the image below can also hold toys with no one knowing.
We also used to store the books we kept on the main floor on our built ins with a nice set of book ends. We now have a book nook in our front entry way that I love, but in both cases I loved finding books that were pretty for display as well as great reads for my kids.
Storage end table – we have an end table that opens and although we don’t open it often, we store an extra blanket in there for when guests are over!
White rope baskets – I have had these baskets for years on my built ins and I love them. I love a good wicker basket, but on some surfaces you want something that blends better and won’t tear up paint!
Hyacinth baskets – perfect if you have a cube organizer. I used the mesh bags in #15 to put small toys in mine.
Gold hooks – if you have to hang something on the wall, use beautiful hooks to match other fixtures in adjacent rooms
Tilt out storage – this is technically a trash can (although I use mine as a hamper), but it could also double as storage for kids blankets or stuffed animals.
Mesh Zipper bags – you didn’t think I could go an entire post about kids organization without menitioning this VIP, did you?
Stylish Board Games – Candyland + Scrabble – seriously, how fun are these?!
Over all – my biggest advice to parents is to EMBRACE TOYS and kid items. If you are fighting them fully they will constantly be a sore spot. IF you can find ways to incorporate your kids items into your decor you will all be so much happier!
Hopefully now you know exactly how to organize toys in your living room. If you have any questions be sure to let me know in the comments or on Instagram (@arinsolange) and I hope this helps you get that living room in tip-top shape! If you’re looking for more items, check out my Amazon Storefront and follow me on Tik Tok for my latest finds!
Here we are kicking off week 2 of 6 Bags for 6 Weeks. Somehow I am accomplished enough that I am DONE purging, but this week I’m on a mission to organize. I have been thinking how to organize a closet, and the best items to use!
This post was originally written in 2020 and updated in January 2024.
This post contains affiliate links
How to Organize a Closet
We have small, older closets in our home (aside from the master – that is good sized, so I have to get creative. I know there is no way I am alone in this, right? Not everyone has the dream closet, so hopefully some of these tips, and items will help you out. I will talk more about each item to explain how I use them.
Home Declutter Challenge
If you are new here – this is my week two post on a 6 week declutter challenge that my friend Jen and I are putting on. If you are just finding the post, we both have lots of content and would be happy to talk with you on Instagram (@arinsolange).
It is a great program to do WHENEVER, and at your own time. Just download the free printables and get to organizing.
The overall goal is to purge 6 bags of items from your home each week for 6 weeks. I can’t wait to see how much better I feel with nearly 40 bags less stuff in my house, and to see all your houses after!
Closet Organizing Ideas
The simplest, most impactful way to make a closet appear more organized is keeping all surfaces free of clutter. In my Ikea closet hack, you can see that I have plenty of items on my countertop, but every item has a place.
If you are working with a small space, make sure that you make proper use of all the vertical space. The inside of any cabinet is a great place to store makeup brushes, accessories, etc. I love these adhesive bins for this purpose.
In addition to keeping items off of surfaces, keeping the floor clear of unnecessary clutter is impactful. Consider using shoe organizers to give shoes a proper place instead of in a pile on the floor. The back of a closet is great for a hanging hamper or an over the door organizer.
Collapsible Basket – If you’re just using laundry baskets to transport laundry from a hamper to the laundry room, these are great! Since you can flatten them, they store easily!
Fluted Catchall– great to have on hand for anything that could clutter the countertop
Hanging Bar – I use this to hold my hair ties so I don’t lose them!
Over the Door Organizer– this one can hold so many different types of items and use that neglected back of door space
Shelf Dividers– SO helpful if storing shirts, sweater, jeans, etc. on open shelves
Jewelry organizer – jewelry is one of the hardest things to keep organized – these small pouches keep everything separate and visible hanging in the closet
Hanger Hooks – these let you hang an extra hanger on each hanger, doubling your space!
Shoe Drawers – easiest way to keep shoes out of a pile on the floor. Plus, great for under cabinets if you ever change up your closet!
Double Hang Bar – if your closet only has single hang, you can add this bar for another level of hanging storage
Off Season Organizer – if you’ve got sweaters or bathing suits to store in the off season, these organizers are great to load and put on the top shelf until they’re needed again
Hanging Baskets – perfect for small items; they can hang on the back of the door or on a small wall
Spice Organizer– this is great for surplus makeup storage or nail polish organization!
