How To Downsize Your Christmas... A Tiny Living Guide
How To Downsize Your Christmas... A Tiny Living Guide
The Mayes Team • Dec 07, 2017
It's that time of year again...the one parents simultaneously love and hate. You are SO excited about the decorations, celebrating the true meaning of the season, spending time with family and giving gifts to the ones you love. Unfortunately, with all the planning, shopping and wrapping comes a whole lot of stress, a whole lot of figuring out how to make the best of the holidays and a whole lot of STUFF.
So how do we do it?
How do we celebrate a holiday where our culture tells us we should bring TONS of new items into our home?
We struggled with Christmas for yeeeeears. We'd spend money on toys that would break within a week, magically disappear or get surpassed by the box they came in. We knew we needed to figure out a different way to do Christmas.
So.... we did!!
Here's how it breaks down for The Mayes Team:
EACH KID RECEIVES:
1. Something they want.
2. Something they need.
3. Something to give.
4. Something to read.
Four gifts.
That's it.
We have celebrated Christmas this way for the past 3 years and it WORKS! Now, we know this may not work for everyone and we're just sharing with you what works for us! Because our kids know that this is how we do Christmas, we avoid the inevitable whining and complaining when they don't receive what they want or not enough.
SOMETHING THEY WANT:
They let us know what they want
the most, the number one gift that will blow their mind! Now that we are living in a tiny house we really lean towards giving experiences over gifts. We've all experienced dropping a bunch of cash on a plastic toy that ended up in the trash weeks later so we decided to invest in higher quality gifts or experiences.
Here are a few ideas for a gift a kid these days may WANT:
You can click the names below to check out the details on each of these gift ideas:
1. Lego Star Wars Set
2. Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set
3. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera
4. Lewo Wooden Tool Toys Pretend Play Toolbox
5. Plan Toys Tea Set
6. Mantis Folding Bicycle
SOMETHING THEY NEED:
This could be any host of things. One year our son needed storage for his Lego collection, another was hair clips and bows for our girl. We try to keep it fun (avoiding socks and underwear) but it HAS to be something they genuinely need.
A few cool ideas that a Kid may NEED
are:
You can click the names below to check out the details on each of these gift ideas:
7. Herschel Heritage Youth Backpack
8. Play&Go Drawstring Play Mat
9. LANGUGU Waterproof Cosmetic Bag
10. Lego Storage Brick
11. Fill-in Journal for Kids
SOMETHING TO GIVE:
We talk as a family about someone that they want to give
a gift to for Christmas. They get to choose who it is and what they want to give. It is SO important to teach our kids that the holidays are not just about receiving. We try to have them give away the gift on Christmas Day so they fully experience both giving and receiving.
Here are a few gifts that our kids are wanting to GIVE
:
You can click the names below to check out the details on each of these gift ideas:
12. Easy Cross Stitch Patterns
13. Magnum Pocket Knife
14. Speak Out Game
15. Art Lab for Kids
16. Letters to My Grandchild
17. The Puffin in Bloom Collection
SOMETHING TO READ
This one is easy.... We get them whatever the newest book is that they are into. We LOVE to get hardcover books (which last longer) or sets of books so they can collect them all throughout the course of the year. One year our oldest wanted a "real" Bible so he got hooked up! We love, love, love it when our kids beg us for a book! It feels like a good parent move to have them anticipate the gift of a book! =)
Here are a few books that we're considering for them READ
:
You can click the names below to check out the details on each of these gift ideas:
18. The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set
19. Rosie Revere
20. How to Code in 10 Easy Lessons
21. God is Really Good
22. Storybook Bible
23. The Little Mermaid
A side note about family members...
The holidays are also a difficult time to navigate receiving gifts from family members. We've been lucky to have parents who fully support this journey but we know that most aren't so lucky. We most definitely ask family members to focus on experience when it comes to buying our kids gifts. One of our kids all time favorite gift has been the storybooks that family members can record reading to you. We also encourage them to be creative with gift cards!
Movie passes, Jump Zones, Manicures, Fancy Dinners...there's so many fun things that can be given as a gift card!
For example:
You can click the names below to check out the details on each of these gift ideas:
24. Movie Ticket Gift Card
25. Recordable Storybook
26. Makeup Gift Card
27. Manicure Gift Card
28. Gift Cards
When it comes to celebrating Christmas as a family the most important this to us is the reason for the season. We talk a lot about the birth of Jesus and how God sent His son to earth on our behalf. We hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas this year and it's filled with tons of laughter, good times and true peace.
Blessings to you all and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Gabriel & Debbie
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peaceful morning routine…Button -
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The bestest mother EVER! 👆🏼 Our kids are truly blessed to have you as their mom. All of your “behind the scenes” actions do not go unnoticed. Thanks for creating a safe space for our kids and loving them so well!! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY DEBBIE! -@gabrielmayesButton -
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Believe it or not, the ceilings in this place are even higher! Can you believe I finally have a laundry room?!Button -
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It’s time for the big reveal!! Welcome to our new home… can you believe those ceilings?!?!Button -
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Do you relate?! 🤣Button -
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caption this 🤣⬆️ I’ll leave mine in the comments…Button -
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Who wore it best…the White House living room or the Tiny House bedroom?! ➡️ we had so much fun designing these spaces for our Airbnb and want to know, which room makes our @boutiquerugs really shine?! ✨Button -
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2 years of hard work, countless hours of renovations & 3.2 billion target runs turned this 1950s home into an Airbnb dream! Couldn’t be more proud! #diyhomedecor #simpleliving #littleaccountlove #homerenovation #homereels #smmakelifebeautiful #fixerupper #fixerupperstyleButton -
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a sneak peek of our new homeButton -
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Happy Birthday to the man who always keeps me on my toes, works harder than anyone I know & makes me laugh like no one else. I’m SO excited that you’re starting to see the fruit of all your hard work these past few years and I know it’s just the beginning for us…this is going to be the best year of your life ❤️ 📸 @maxduganphotoButton -
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the truth is…I’ve been having a really hard time recently. but when I look back on where we came from, I realize how blessed I really am! what do you do when you’re feeling stuck?Button -
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this year had lots of highs and lots of lows but, with the help of Jesus, friends and lots of grace…we made it through!Button -
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Merry Christmas from The Mayes Team!Button -
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ITS DEBBIES BIRTHDAY! 🥳 There isn’t another human on this planet that I am more thankful for. I am so glad you were born!! Everyone, please join me in showering Debbie with love!! #happybirthday #bestwifeeverButton -
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another year, another remix of our favorite reel! the kids are all back in school today and it’s Jovey’s first day of kindergarten!!Button -
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IT’S OUR 16TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY! 🎉 From telling Gabriel “you and I will never date” to 4 kids and lots of highs and lows in between. It’s not always been perfect but it’s been worth it...we’re more in love now than ever before ❤️Button -
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returning to one of our favorite places...Maui!! let me know if you guessed right?! We have already decided to take 3 full days away from our phones while we’re here but would love to hear ways that you make vacations with kids special...when we get home they’ll be headed right back to school! . . . . . #travellingfamily #familieswhotravel #theglobewanderer #travelfar #travellust #shetravels #travelfamily #familytravel #familytravelblogButton -
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5 years of Jovey in 30 seconds...this girl has been bringing joy into our lives everyday! Happy Birthday Jovey Gwyn...our rainbow baby & wave of joy all wrapped in one. We love you so much!Button -
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to the one who always keeps us laughing... to the one who has made big mistakes but never given up... to the one who always keeps us on our toes... to the one who isn’t defined by his darkest moments... to the one who always believes things can be better... to the one who is blazing a trail that no man ever showed him... we love you so much Gabriel and are so blessed to watch the total transformation of God in your life, thanks for never giving up ❤️Button -
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we wanted to celebrate our porch reveal by recreating one of our favorite photos for Father’s Day coming up! because we’re minimalists we’re always trying to think of creative gifts to give that are practical & long lasting...high quality sunglasses from @sunglasshut are the best splurge for a day like Father’s Day because they’re a gift that can be remembered and used for years to come. Gabriel’s been wearing his Ray-Bans for years so we thought it was a good time for an upgrade 😉 #ad #theyearlonggift . . . . #instagramhusband #instadad #thedadlab #dadsofinstagram #flashesofdelight #fulltimefamily #vscodad #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #familyovereverything #becausecommunityButton -
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It’s Gabriel’s birthday today! Can you believe he’s 38 years old?! God has truly blessed us with this guy in our lives...he’s tenacious, fun, bold and always leaves things better than he found them. Gabriel, watching you transform these past 4 years has been amazing...you work harder than anyone I know both externally & internally and I like you more today than I ever have! send some love and birthday blessings to Gabriel in the comments below ❤️ . . . . . #dadsofinstagram #instagramhusband #instadad #liveauthentic #flashesofdelight #pursuitofhappiness #fulltimefamily #vscodad #goodgoodfather #familyfunday #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #familyovereverything #becausecommunityButton -
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I didn’t realize how much had changed in the living room until I compared it to the before 🤯 👉🏻 mounting our curtains all the way to the ceiling completely changed the look of our living room 🙌🏻 It’s crazy how much you feel like you aren’t making any progress until you look at how far you’ve come 🙌🏻 . . . . . #minimalisthome #smallspaceliving #neutralhome #tanaesthetic #howwedwell #showmeyourboho #doingneutralright #myhyggehome #myhomevibe #showmeyourstyled #interiør #interiorlovers #uohome #neutralaesthetic #shelfie #interiordeco #inspiremeinterior #cljsquad #nordicminimalism #scandihome #thedelightofdecorButton -
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swipe to check out some more real life behind the scenes 🤪 being private this past month has been SO refreshing...social media has felt like a pretty dark place this past year but we are determined to keep showing up to encourage all of you...what’s your favorite thing we’ve shared? . . . . . #cozyminimalist #thisminimalhome #homewithrue #cozycollectives #mynaturalabode #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #familyovereverything #jungalow #becausecommunity #alwayshopeButton -
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this is the first time in 5 years that we’ve had Christmas in our own house...swipe to see our Christmas on wheels just a few years ago! thank you so much for all the love and support...it’s such a blessing to be able to share our lives with you. Sending love and hugs from our house to yours ❤️Button -
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walking out of 2020 like... what are you most excited to leave behind?! . . . . . #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #familyovereverything #jungalow #girlmom #becausecommunity #alwayshopeButton -
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do you want to play a fun game with us?! spot the difference and tell us what changes we’ve made to the living room in the comments below! HINT: there are SEVEN things we changed! we didn’t just put up our tree...we transformed our living room while we were at it!Button -
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#ad Ever since we moved in this door has been driving me crazy! I just wasn’t sure what color I wanted to paint it and don’t feel like I had time to accomplish the project! When @ppgpaints reached out about their Timeless one coat coverage, I knew exactly what I was going to do... it only took me 15 minutes to complete this project and now I’m wondering why I didn’t do it sooner! The coverage was amazing and it was only one coat, just like they told me it would be! swipe right to check out our before and after 👉🏻 #ppgtimelesspaint #ppgpartnerButton -
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we officially have a teenager...Gracen is 13 today! ❤️ we spent the last 24 hours together, just the three of us and this kid is absolutely amazing...we are actually EXCITED about his teenage years and the amazing man that he is becoming! check out some crazy throwbacks on the swipe...Gabriel’s shoes and my eyebrows have also transformed these last 13 years 🤣Button -
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Alaska with my girl...this one on one time created memories that will last a lifetime! From watching her face light up over and over again to all the special blessings God gave us along the way...it was so beautiful! Check out some of my favorite moments and make sure you see the Northern Lights on the last slide! . . . . #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #familyovereverything #girlmom #becausecommunity #alwayshope #buylesschoosewell #fewerbetter #livingsimply #thingsiwanttoremember #experiencesoverthings #creatememories #wheretogonext #traveleverywhere #globewanderer #iflyalaska #alaskaadventure #travelalaskaButton -
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we have a birthday today!! How is she T E N?!?! 🤯 I know lots of you have arms full of young babies and sleepless nights so let me tell you from the double digits...REST when you can, you’re doing your hardest physical work and it WILL get better and then you’ll cry when they make it to double digits because HOW THE HECK do they grow up this quickly?! 😭 Darby Lowe you are my sunshine girl and one of the most powerful girls I know...you don’t back down and you’re not afraid to stand up for what you believe in and I LOVE that about you! You are going to change the world with your voice and your leadership...we love you so much, break all the boxes sweet girl! . . . . . #familyisforever #familyfirst #lifegivingsquares #fambam #becausecommunity #alwayshope #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #dailyhomeshare #thesimplenaturalhomeButton -
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have you ever wondered why staying in a hotel is so relaxing? a few months ago I was in a hotel room, feeling SO calm when I realized something...there was no clutter! there were no cups on the bedside table, piles of clothes on the floor or shoes all over the place...unlike my room at home 😬 when we lived on the bus it was the same way...but that was because our bed was the only thing that FIT in our room...swipe to see our bus bed 🤣 ever since the bus we’ve lived a minimalist lifestyle but I never thought about all the little things I leave around my bed and how they affect me...these last few weeks I’ve been working on keeping around my bed free of clutter and it brought me so much peace! I think that we all have those places in our homes that just seem to collect things...where is that place in your home? . #minimalisthome #smallspaceliving #anthrohome #neutralhome #tanaesthetic #skoolieButton -
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it’s almost a year since we bought our 1950s fixer upper...you’re never going to believe what we started with on slide 3! back then we would’ve NEVER believed you if you told me our renovation still wouldn’t be done in a year but we’re still slowest inching to the finish line! #myhyggehome #makehomematter #beckiowensfeature #renovationlife #fixerupperstyle #myhgtvButton -
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I’ve loved answering lots of questions about our family life and it really got me thinking about how much of an accomplishment raising 4 kids and being married for 15 years really is...I hope we can give you hope that you really can build healthy, happy and strong kids in this world and that mostly starts with being a healthy human. We’ve faced divorce, miscarriage, moving 15 times and living on a bus...and we’re stronger than ever! You’re lowest point really can lead to your biggest victories. . . . . #mynaturalabode #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #alwayshopeButton -
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can I be honest with you for a second? this week has been a struggle for me...maybe last week was just a honeymoon period and this week reality hit. I‘m struggling to keep up with it all. DMs are going unanswered and I don’t have time to complete home projects since I started school and I began to wonder...if I’m not doing home projects, will people still engage with me?! Will people lose interest? I’m working on un-believing the lie that I have to be “producing” in order to be valuable and in a world of likes and comments it’s not so easy to do...but so important! . . . . . #ambularinteriorsaintgotnothingonme #countrylivingmag #dailyhomeshare #shareyourhomestyle #mycrumbshomeButton -
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putting my capsule wardrobe to the test with a weeks worth of outfits...which one is your favorite?!Button -
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how do we keep our house clean all week long?! we got into a great cleaning routine on the bus...but moving into a house added an extra 1000 sf to clean! Here’s what has helped us the most: • we do a “deep clean” every Sunday, each kid has an assigned room • waking up every morning with lots of time before school and we unload the dishwasher after breakfast • everyday when they get home from school we do a quick pick up of their assigned room...no screen time until your assigned room is clean • after dinner we all work together to clean the kitchen and load the dishwasher 🤯 ask any questions you have in the comments...I’ll be sticking around for an hour to answer them! . . . #whitedoneright #beautifulspaces #hygger #nordicminimalism #cleandesign #scandihome #fulltimefamily #mykonmari #mycuratedvibe #konmari #mariekondoButton -
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autumn is officially here and my feed is full of pumpkins and a change in decor...although I’m extremely tempted to go out and thrift 20 new vases and paint them with baking soda to fill up this side board I know that I don’t need more vases. our minimalist lifestyle often goes against the grain and sometimes I still feel the pull to purchase a bunch of stuff just to fill up space. But then I get really clear on what I really want from life. Experiences over stuff. Things I LOVE over things I like. And the peace that comes with not having to dust off 20 vases every few days 🤪 . . . . #ambularinteriorsaintgotnothingonme #apartmenttherapy #hyggehome #designinspo #shareyourhomestyle #nordicliving #ourweeklydesigncrush #homewithrue #mycuratedvibe #sodomino #myhyggehome #makehomematter #beckiowensfeature #mynesthome #fixerupperstyle #myhgtv #neutralhome #buylesschoosewell #fewerbetter #sparkjoy #mykonmari #girlstopapologizingButton -
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now that school is added to the mix of our life, I’ve had to be much more intentional about my time and not letting social media take too much of it...here are my top 2 tips on how to keep your social media time in check: 👆🏻have one day a week to be completely off social media...that way I’m not tempted to keep checking in ✌🏻set up post notifications to my favorite accounts so I’m not tempted to keep checking back to see if I’ve missed anything . . . . . #bathroomremodel #minimalisthome #appreciatewhatyouhave #inspiredliving #springclean #smallchanges #minimalizm #nordicminimalism #cleandesign #Mykonmari #konmari #sparkjoy #californiablogger #tanaesthetic #howwedwell #doingneutralright #bathroomremodel #renovationlife #homereno #littlehouses #onsenButton -
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this is where I plan my DIY...I know I need to tile the front of the fireplace but I’m SO nervous to do it myself 😬 check out how completely different my view was 2 years ago!! 👉🏻 . . . . #theauraliving #omysa #hofdecocrush #cabinfolk #camperlifestyle #prefapedia #vanlifediaries #tinyhomeonwheels #nomadstays #chasingemotions #notonlymama #thisishome #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #prettylittleinteriors #boughtahouse #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #prettylittleinteriors #boughtahouse #homerenovations #homeremodeling #scandibohoButton -
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I can’t believe this is happening today... it’s my first day of school...wish me luck! 😱😬🤯 . . . . . #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #minimaliststyle #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #prettylittleinteriors #mynaturalabode #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #familyovereverything #jungalow #girlmom #becausecommunity #alwayshopeButton -
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this is the most “finished” area of our remodel right now...tearing down the wall between the kitchen and dining room was one of the best decisions we made on this journey! . . . . . #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #prettylittleinteriors #boughtahouse #homerenovations #homeremodeling #scandiboho #decorgoals #myhgtv #homesohard #hunkerhome #myinspiredhouse #houseandhome #habitandhome #greathomestaketime #thedelightofdecor #newhomeowner #newhomeownersButton -
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If we really want to empower our young women...we don’t do it by showing them that their worth and value is in their body and their sexuality. We do it by showing them role models...powerful women who have done amazing, strong things. We show them that their gender shouldn’t hold them back and that they don’t need to reveal their bodies in order to get ahead. They’re worth so much more than that. I’m not sure what I’ve been more outraged about the last few days with the release of cuties...the fact that many people are defending this movie under the guise of “art”, that the producers auditioned 650 young girl’s and had them “perform” for them or the fact that there are many news articles being released to actually defend this movie. I’ve done the research, watched the clips and have been heartbroken by what I’ve seen. This is not just young girl’s dancing provocatively, don’t let the media fool you. It’s young girl’s exposing themselves to each other and social media and being glorified for it. My heart hurts and I wish there was more I could do. At the very least I can take part in the exposure of this. I love my daughters... and they’re worth fighting for. . . . . #mymodernlook #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #prettylittleinteriors #mynaturalabode #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #familyovereverything #jungalow #girlmom #becausecommunity #alwayshopeButton -
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it’s time to replace the rug and coffee table combo...this was actually never supposed to be the coffee table, it’s more of a foot rest 🤣 but we’ve been making it work the last few months. I really need your help! Give me your answers in the comments...do you think we should go with a round rug/square (or rectangle) table OR rectangle rug with round table?! . . . . . #ambularinteriorsaintgotnothingonme #countrylivingmag #beforeandafter #hyggehome #homerenovation #designinspo #shareyourhomestyle #mycrumbshome #nordicliving #ourweeklydesigncrush #homewithrue #mycuratedvibe #sodomino #myhyggehome #makehomematter #beckiowensfeature #mynesthome #fixerupperstyle #myhgtv #neutralhomeButton -
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everyone’s decorating for fall and it’s still 100° in NorCal! our back yard is so close to being done (check out that before!!) so I’m still soaking in summer for as long as I can...do you prefer summer or fall?! . . . . . #backporch #patiostyle #mymodernlook #hunkerhome #minimalizm #whiteinteriors #backyarddesign #beautifulspaces #hygger #nordicminimalism #decormattersapp #diyhome #neutralhome #nordicstyle #dailyhomeshare #ambularinteriorsaintgotnothingonme #countrylivingmag #beforeandafter #homerenovation #designinspo #shareyourhomestyle #mycrumbshomeButton -
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This has been such an exciting week so far and we’re just getting started! I was chosen as the featured account over at mymodernlook this week ❤️ If you would like to be featured, all you have to do is tag your home decor posts with the hashtag mymodernlook and follow these hosts: @the.hoss.homestead⠀ @simplymodernliving ⠀ @thisissimplicite @houseof.lais Guest host @themayesteam . . . . #mymodernlook #prettylittleinteriors #jungalowstyle #diyrightnow #neutraldecor #livingroomdecor #myhgtv #designingideas #whitedoneright #diydecor #littlehouse #smallhouse #homerenovations #fireplacedecor #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #mynaturalabodeButton -
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It’s my 36th Birthday! 🎉 There have been so many uncertainties this past year for all of us but through it all I have found so much clarity. I know the type of woman that I want to be and what I’m called to do and I’m speaking up for myself and others like I never have. I pray that all of you can do the same! I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank YOU. For those of you who have been following for years, even when the kids were little. Those of you who started following us because we lived on a schoolbus but stuck around because you saw something special. For those who find inspiration because we held onto our marriage when all hope was lost and those who are new around here and still getting to know us... Just know that I appreciate every like, every comment and every DM and getting to know all of you more and (hopefully) inspiring you to go out and do amazing (sometimes crazy!) things is one of my greatest joys in life and I’m so blessed to share with every single one of you...I am sending you all a big hug today! . . . . . #minimalisthome #smallspaceliving #anthrohome #neutralhome #tanaesthetic #howwedwell #anthropologiehome #showmeyourboho #doingneutralright #myhyggehome #myhomevibe #anthropolgiehome #showmeyourstyled #interiorlovers #uohome #neutralaesthetic #shelfie #interiordeco #inspiremeinterior #cljsquad #nordicminimalism #scandihomeButton -
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While Debbie is away I get to stay home and watch these 4 kiddos... ... and I LOVE IT! Being a dad of 4 is an amazing responsibility! They’re worth EVERYTHING!! #husbandandwifeteam #husbandsofinstagramButton -
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this is where the magic happened today...not that kind of magic 😉 I’ve been wanting the “sconce” look next to our beds but didn’t want to drill into the walls (again)...this floor lamp solution was the easiest DIY I’ve ever done! . . #diyhome #habitandhome #inmydomaine #designingideas #thisminimalhome #diyideas #diydecor #littlehouse #smallhouse #homerenovations #homeremodeling #mymodernlook #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshare #mynaturalabodeButton -
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it’s so hard to believe that this is even the same house! can you believe the difference?! . . . . #Californiacasual #simplywhiteandbright #habitandhome #sodomino #myhyggehome #beckiowensfeature #mynesthome #realhomesofinstagram #myhgtv #anthrohome #hunkerhome #minimalizm #whitedoneright #hygger #nordicminimalism #neutralhome #mymodernlook #dailyhomeshare #ambularinteriorsaintgotnothingonme #countrylivingmag #beforeandafter #hyggehome #homerenovation #designinspoButton -
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it’s our kids first day back at school!! they have been home for FIVE MONTHS...so this day has been a long time coming! we are celebrating just a little bit...but we still love the heck out of them!Button -
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we’re finally wrapping up the concrete bathroom...and you’ll never believe what it looked like before 🙊👉🏻 and while you’re here...if you’re in the mood to win $250 cash you should head over to our stories today and enter! . . . . #mymodernlook #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #prettylittleinteriors #minimalisthome #smallspaceliving #anthrohome #neutralhome #tanaesthetic #howwedwell #doingneutralright #myhyggehome #myhomevibe #anthropolgiehome #showmeyourstyled #interiør #uohome #interiordeco #inspiremeinterior #cljsquad #nordicminimalismButton -
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It’s our 15th anniversary! 🎉 Just 4 years ago we were on the brink of divorce and wondering what our future looked like...but with a whole lot of Jesus, determination and counseling we are better than ever and living a life we never even dreamed was possible! There is no impossible situation! . . . . #familyisforever #familyfirst #meandmine #lifegivingsquares #fambam #familyovereverything #becausecommunity #alwayshope #napavalley #buylesschoosewell #fewerbetter #livingsimply #thingsiwanttoremember #lifegivingsquares #experiencesoverthings #creatememories #wheretogonext #traveleverywhere #globewanderer #husbandandwifeteam #mystorywithmichelinButton -
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here is our fireplace reveal!! I absolutely love how it turned out and that I just dove in and didn’t worry about planning out the whole project! Now I just need to decided if I’m going to paint the fireplace surround, the gold and what the heck to do about the unfinished tile edges! 🤪 #dwellmagazine #apartmenttherapy #interiordesigninspiration #diydecor #littlehouse #homerenovations #homeremodeling #mymodernlook #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #diyhome #inmydomaine #designingideas #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #prettylittleinteriors #diyrightnow #neutraldecor #livingroomdecor #myhgtvButton -
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we are thinking about making a massive change to our living room and I REALLY need your help! first, take a good look at our fireplace and then slide over to take a look at my inspiration and then give me your advice in the comments...should we do it?! If you need some more help deciding...head over to our stories and I’ll share some more! . . . #mymodernlook #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #thesimplenaturalhome #cozycollectives #cljsquad #prettylittleinteriors #diyrightnow #neutraldecor #livingroomdecor #myhgtv #designingideas #myanthropologie #whitedoneright #diydecor #tinyhomes #smallhouse #fireplacedecor #habitandhome #fireplacemakeoverButton -
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this is what happened when I tried to take a picture for today’s post!Button -
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kitchen renovation is almost complete...and I can’t believe how far we’ve come! and although I had always swore I was a fake plant person, I’ve actually kept a live plant alive for a few weeks!! Can you spot the little sprout that isn’t fake?! . . . . . #Nordicminimalism #minimalisthome #livewithintention #appreciatewhatyouhave #inspiredliving #springclean #smallchanges #minimalizm #Mykonmari #konmari #shelfie #californiablogger #Kitchenremodel #homerenovations #homeremodel #kitchenrenovation #myhgtv #ikeakitchen #kitchensofinsta #concretecountertopsButton -
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when we bought this house there were 3 different colors of concrete in the back yard...grey, beige and pink 🤢 but then we found out we could paint the concrete 🙌🏻 and I’d say this paint job made a massive difference...what do you think?? head over to our stories to hear all about what we used to paint our concrete and to have your mind blown by the listing picture! . . . . #anthrohome #hunkerhome #minimalizm #whitedoneright #beautifulspaces #hygger #nordicminimalism #decormattersapp #diyhome #homerenovations #homeremodeling #myhgtv #neutralhome #nordicstyle #backporch #patiostyle #mymodernlook #dailyhomeshareButton -
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before & after... make sure you scroll all the way to see how far we’ve come...you’re never going to believe how I got these numbers to stay up since we couldn’t drill into the brick... Glue! I’m not even kidding you, I totally just stuck my house numbers to the wall 🤪 will it last forever? No! does it need to? Nope! sometimes with DIY’s you just have to make it happen! #mymodernlook #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshare #homewithrue #thesimplenaturalhome #entryway #frontdoor #myhousethismonth #beforeandafter #housereno #houserenovation #frontporch #paintedbrick #designingideas #frontdoormakeover #littlehouse #smallhouse #homerenovations #homeremodelingButton -
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my DIY pergola roof is done! 🙌🏻 I learned SO much from jumping in and doing this DIY and I have to be honest here, there are definitely some things I would change! I was pretty impatient about getting this projects done and instead of waiting for 8ft bamboo, I opted for overlapping two 4ft...I probably should’ve waited! Also, I should’ve used a staple gun...using a hammer and u-nails definitely slowed me down! Done is better than perfect and even though it isn’t perfect, it won’t discourage me because this house has come SO FAR...check out today’s stories for what our back yard looked like before!Button -
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OK friends...it’s time for a game of 2 truths and a lie 😬 1: I was bitten on the face by a dog when I was a kid 2: We were pastors of a church for 3 years 3: I’m expecting our 6th baby ...tell me in the comments, which one do you think is a lie?! . . . #diyhome #backporch #patiostyle #patioliving #inmydomaine #designingideas #thisminimalhome #diyideas #diydecor #littlehouse #smallhouse #homerenovations #homeremodeling #mymodernlook #cozyminimalist #makingmyhaven #thisminimalhome #dailyhomeshareButton -
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it’s not perfect...but neither are we! 🤣 this renovation journey has taught us so much about working with what you have and not sweating the small stuff (or timeline delays...sooooo many delays!) and I hope, most of all, that you are encouraged to show up on your feed, exactly as you are...because none of us are perfect ❤️Button -
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we made a choice that no one thought we would make...white walls AND white trim! sometimes the right choice is not the popular one and once I found inspiration for this home, I couldn’t choose anything else!Button -
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let’s talk whites! We used Nano White by Behr on the interior because we wanted it to match our Ikea cabinets. For the exterior I knew I wanted to go for a white that had a tiny bit of cream in it so it wasn’t too stark. ❤️ I finally landed on the white that so many of you recommended...Alabaster White by Sherwin-Williams and I’m absolutely in love! What’s your favorite white?Button -
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We’re back!! Not back on the bus but back in the salt flats 🤣 It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 years since we were here, making our way across the country in our converted schoolbus! I have to know...how many of you were following us when we lived on the schoolbus? Give me a yes or no in the comments below!Button
