We wrapped up week 1 of 3 (haha...sure) of online We wrapped up week 1 of 3 (haha...sure) of online learning and we’re all losing it a little. Things that are helping: pretending that we’re in the Mystery Machine, headed for a campground with a mystery to solve! Jude says the camp counsellor is pretending to be a ghost while Luca was busy getting “Honey” into her sleeping bag for the night. And then a pirate showed up, so this story is really getting good 😂

@playmobil is honestly a life changer because the kids get to build AND use their imagination. It’s a win-win, and let’s face it, we could all use a little win these days.

How are you all coping with kids at home?
Why yes, this is exactly what my dining room table Why yes, this is exactly what my dining room table looks like right now. No, there aren’t markers, papers, toys, food, crumbs and tears on it. Nope. Nope. Nope. None of the above. Everything’s cool and calm over here, folks.

(If it’s not abundantly clear, I am joking.)
What does your Monday morning look like today? We’re over here prepping for online learning (note computer on dining room table) and I’m using our @playosmo to get our kids engaged in some math and language activities before we really get going. Every time I post about our Osmo, I’m asked: “do you really like it?” And my answer is always “YES!” I mean, just look at these kiddos. Jude is obsessed with the tangram and Luca loves sounding our words - he was trying to figure out whether to use ‘k’ or ‘c’ for ‘cat’ here. To them, they’re “playing”...but we all know what’s REALLY going on! #unboxingosmo #osmosocialclub
Well it would seem that I just CANNOT figure out r Well it would seem that I just CANNOT figure out reels, but I’m not letting that stop me. I made one showing you the materials and steps to make this super easy ornament storage so would you go watch it, pretty please?

I’ve been using this method of ornament storage for 7 years and it all started with a cardboard box, some red cups and a single layer. A few years later I upgraded the system to multiple layers, used foam board and white cups and voila! Scroll over to see what I mean.

Would you try this? It’s super easy and you can probably still go ahead and just use old cardboard and whatever cups you have on hand. It’s the best thing I ever did for my holiday decor!! Just make sure you use double sided tape or hot glue to attach the cups - loose cups are no bueno!

If you do this, show me, ok? I wanna see everyone put away their ornaments with no breakage! 🙌
Ready for lots of THIS over the next couple of wee Ready for lots of THIS over the next couple of weeks...but with a puppy in the middle of it all. We’re picking up Taco on Friday so prepare yourself for puppy pictures ALL over the place.

Also: I’ve been feeling uninspired lately and have taken a little break from both posting and consuming when it comes to social media. I’m trying to soak up the holiday magic, read things other than captions (as I write this that seems weird), and even writing more things down.

This time of year always makes me reflective - less because it’s the end of a calendar year and more because it’s my birthday in 9 days. Yes. It’s on the 25th. Yep. Christmas Day. No, seriously. Yeah, Christmas baby! I don’t mind it now, but I didn’t like it as a kid. Oh you know someone who also has a birthday on (or very close to) Christmas! Cool! <— that was just me reacting to like every single conversation ever about having a birthday on December 25th. 😂
I’m still thinking about these adorable little @ I’m still thinking about these adorable little @tubicenlighting lamps that you just touch to turn on and off. And this cutie little door all decked out with a smart doorbell and lock. And the beautiful blue kitchen by @remodelcanada.ca. And all of the vanities from @canaromatoronto. And this gorgeous hardwood flooring from @coswickcanada.ca.

Can you believe this was all under one roof? @improvecanada has 350 showrooms and it was so much fun seeing how many we could get to yesterday.

I’ll be sharing lots more about @improvecanada in the coming months, but if you’re curious and want to go see it for yourself, they’re open! You can call and book an appointment or even have a customer service rep help you make an appointment at showrooms suited to what you’re looking for. Pretty great, right?
#improvecanada # ad #makeitright
So I made a thing and I’m totally in love!! Now So I made a thing and I’m totally in love!! Now I just need to gather all of the boys for an adorable family photo. Christmas miracle, maybe?

I made these sweaters for all of us last weekend using my @officialcricut Joy and now I may need to start personalizing a LOT more shirts around here! It was my first time using infusible ink and I love how the sweaters stays super soft! I may just be wearing this for the rest of the year!

O.S. If it wasn’t clear, our last name is Murray 😆

Have you made matching Christmas sweaters? What would be on yours if you did? # ad #cricutmade
Are you crafty? Do you know someone who is? Or may Are you crafty? Do you know someone who is? Or maybe you’re like me and you like to think you’re crafty but lack the patience to take out a whole bunch of things to make one tiny craft? Well then I have the thing for you. Meet the @officialcricut Joy! It’s tiny but mighty, and you can just have it casually sitting on a shelf waiting to be used when inspiration strikes because it takes up basically no room at all! I made these labels using mine, and you can swipe to see another easy project you can make with a Cricut Joy. It’s the perfect little gift! I even wrote a blog post about why I think so. I’ll share another Cricut project with you later this week!! # ad #cricutmade
Can you believe this room was completed two years Can you believe this room was completed two years ago? And I still love it as much today as I did then. And I still believe that my kids can have a fun, comforting space even if they don’t get to decorate it themselves with superhero bedding and Lego everywhere! But ALSO, I would never judge you if you’re that parent who does let your kids decorate with all the primary colours because you do you, boo and if it makes you and your kids happy, I say do the dang thing!!!

Ok that is all. Have a wonderful judgement-free day!
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Decor, One Room Challenge · May 7, 2015

One Room Challenge™ Spring 2015, Week 6

Alright, this is it. No take backs, no do-overs. The office is finished and I’m about to show you what 6 weeks of work looks like (for me, anyway!).

But first…

A look back at where we started:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Yes, there were yellow walls and pink-ish dirty carpet, but not anymore!

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

Now that you got a feel for what the whole room looks like, I’ll give you some details.

As you might remember from week 1, my original layouts included an L-shaped desk. That never happened because the table we had was old and too well-built to take apart the way I had envisioned, so I ended up with 2 desk areas instead – one for laptop/writing and the other strictly for creative things and crafts. I’m so not complaining!

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

The other things that changed is that there is no large console table in the room. It would have been way too much furniture in there since the bookcase also ended up being moved. I opted to just have a small side table and a little space between the sitting area and the desk.

Styling the bookshelf was SUCH a struggle for me, and I’m sure it’ll change quite a bit in the coming weeks.

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

I’m not sure I’m happy with it all, but there are definitely areas that I love, like…

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

I’m also loving the black door. This is just a detail of it, but I honestly love the extra bit of drama we get with the dark door and the brass handles. There is also lots of drama to be had when your door handles are installed backwards. It’s ok, you can laugh – I did!

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

In the craft area, all I really focused on was having the pegboard as immediate storage for things that are used a lot. I love that the desk on this side will be (hopefully) empty most of the time. You can see a reflection of our still ugly closet doors here. Don’t worry, there’s a plan in place…

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

The other side has a bit more going on with the shelving and artwork. Eventually there will be an inspiration board where the garland is sitting.

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

The desks both got some grey chalk paint, new hardware and marble contact paper on top. I love love love them!

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

I’m also loving the mix of neutrals in here, with wood tones (floors, chair, table), greys (desks & bookshelf), and metallics – not to mention the black and white, duh! And the soft blush colour on the walls definitely acts as a soft neutral in the room also. Blush is a neutral you guys. Did you even know!?!?!

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

Now the gallery wall… well that has to be one of the best things about this room. And I intend on letting it grow, so it’ll reach the ceiling and probably closer towards the desk as well.

I love the life it gives the room and that I handpicked every piece in there because it holds some sort of significance – even of that significance is just that I like pink flamingoes and would love my own champagne button in real life! (Champagne print is from The Aestate, by the way.) 

The view from the hallway is SO much prettier now! (And I guess the door has to stay open since the BACKWARDS HANDLES should keep me from ever being able to close the door! I swear, I’ll fix them, but I will never replace these photos because this is seriously just too funny to me.)

Also, the light above the pink chair is so great. It’s perfect for reading at night in here now! This room has amazing natural light, but no ceiling light fixture, so I wanted something that could light up the room and be useful. 

The light, the old wooden chair, the black door… these are the things I wanted to use int he room to make it a little less girly and a bit more grounded. I also think the wood floors and black door help with that. It’s not JUST a pink room. 

But I do love all of the pink!

The Learner Observer One Room Challenge Office Makeover

Alright, so that’s the end. You can expect to see many small changes made to this room, which I will happily bombard you with on Instagram! Did you participate in the One Room Challenge? I’d love to see your room, if I haven’t stalked you already!

Also, huuuuuuuuge thanks to Linda from Calling it Home for so graciously hosting the One Room Challenge twice a year. She’s just the bees knees!

If you want to see what the 20 participants ended up with (and believe me, it’s all magical), go check them out. And if you want to see what the 150 or so of us linking participants have done (also some magic happening here), definitely clear up like a week or two look through it all!

Annnnnnd if you want to see the previous five weeks of work that went into this office, check my One Room Challenge page. Yep. There’s a page dedicated to these makeovers over here!

Ok now I gotta go clean up the mess that making this room so pretty has made. Seriously… just outside this door lay vacuum cleaners and power tools that have yet to be put away…Just keeping it real!

Thanks so much for being the best cheerleaders ever through this process!

xo

Written by Thalita - Visit Website

In: Decor, One Room Challenge

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Comments

  1. Kristi says

    May 7, 2015 at 12:18 am

    Oh Thalita! It’s SO perfect! I absolutely love the pink girly vibe with the fun pops of black with that rug and fab light! I think the bookshelf looks amazing – loving the books all grouped by colour! And that gallery wall totally steals the show! It all looks fabulous girl! You’re going to knock out a ton of creative projects in this awesome new space!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:09 pm

      Thanks so much, Kristi!
      I figured the best way to make the books look more organized was to order them by colour. I’m so happy with it! Loving being able to use this space and being away from the kitchen table!

      Reply
  2. IrisNacole says

    May 7, 2015 at 12:50 am

    I love your office transformation! It’s beautiful and functional! Congrats on all your hard work paying off!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:09 pm

      Thank you SO much! It’s been such a fun few weeks and it’s amazing how a challenge like this can give just the right amount of push to finish a room!

      Reply
  3. Lish says

    May 7, 2015 at 2:46 am

    T, you have created such a beautiful and amazing space!!!!! I love so much about this room! I think my fave might have to be the amazing blush chair!!! Also feeling super special to see a special antique key hanging on the gallery wall!!!!!! You have such a knack for putting things together, to make spaces feel posh, yet cozy, and stunningly beautiful all at the same time! While I didn’t venture on a 6-week makeover, I did do an upgrade to our bathroom and bedroom using some of the trends, themes and styling ideas I’ve learned from your blog!!!! You should feel SO incredibly proud! Thanks for sharing all of your amazing style with us!!!! Please keep blogging :-) Love you HUGE girl!!!!! Xoxoxoxo

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:11 pm

      Thanks so much, Lish! That chair… oh that chair. I drove an hour to get it and drove back home with the trunk tied down with a rope because the chair doesn’t fir in my tiny car. haha! Thanks so much for the amazing compliment! Whoa!
      I need to see these changes you’ve made! Love you LOTS!!!

      Reply
  4. Casey @waffling says

    May 7, 2015 at 7:15 am

    I love it! There is a very Parisian feel in here…I wouldnt mind working in this space :)

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      Oh a Parisian feel… that sounds lovely! Thanks so much, Casey!

      Reply
  5. Kristin says

    May 7, 2015 at 9:14 am

    love it! Also – ahem – did you say marble contact paper?!!! WHAT IS THIS THING? It looks like you had a piece of marble cut for the desktop. Am I wrong?! Enlighten me.

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:13 pm

      Ohhhhh yes. Marble contact paper is AMAZING! I got it at DeSerres. It’s literally sticky plastic that looks just like marble. The best. Ever.

      Reply
  6. Sabrina (@pinklilnotebook) says

    May 7, 2015 at 9:40 am

    Can I just tell you. . .you freaking rock at creating gallery walls! I love this space. It’s so feminine yet sophisticated. You’ve got a great eye for details and it really shows! Way to go girl!!!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:14 pm

      Ummm wow – thank you!!!! Seriously, thanks for commenting and following along over the last 6 weeks!

      Reply
  7. Jennifer Flores (@ramblingreno) says

    May 7, 2015 at 10:59 am

    It’s so lovely Thalita! I love the different zones. That chair nook is fabulous – I would never leave. The room is bursting with creativity. Congratulations!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:42 pm

      Thanks so much, Jen!!! I love to sit in that chair in the mornings. And at night. And, like, any time during the day, really! Thanks again for your lovely words!!! xo

      Reply
  8. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    May 7, 2015 at 11:10 am

    Awesome!!! How fun and glamorous is this. I love it all. You have created such an inviting and beautiful space. Love every detail.

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:41 pm

      Thanks so much, Marty!!!! It’s just so nice not to look at yellow walls anymore! ha!

      Reply
  9. Elena aka. Midsommarflicka says

    May 7, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    Gosh, it looks so beautiful and calm… A great space!
    The colors definitely speak “Tahlita” to me, so this room really reflects your style. Which is, in my opinion, a great thing. I know you will love working there :)
    And I love that you have two desks – it’s one of the things that I am looking so forward to when I’m moving at the end of the year, that I have enpugh space for two desks. It’s one of my criterias actually in the hunt. If the office is too small for two desks I won’t be moving into that home!

    Hugs, Elena

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:40 pm

      Oh my dear friend, thank you so much for your sweet words! I’ll be crossing my fingers for you that you find that perfect space for your own 2 desks very soon! xo

      Reply
  10. Traci Hutton says

    May 7, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    So fresh and chic…well done!!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:39 pm

      Thanks so much, Traci!!! Nothing like having a girly space all of your own!

      Reply
  11. Veronica says

    May 7, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    It’s so perfect

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:38 pm

      Aw shucks, thank you! What more can I say?!?! xo

      Reply
  12. Deli Silva says

    May 7, 2015 at 1:58 pm

    OMG how , the messy room turned into a breathtaking beautiful office . I am soooo proud of you, You deserve that space to keep creating more beautiful things. I wish I had , just a little bit of your talent. Again and always I am very proud of you

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:38 pm

      Thanks, mama!!!! You do have a LOT of talent. Where do you think I get any of mine from? :)

      Reply
  13. Tash @ The Dreamhouse Project says

    May 7, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    Girl you knocked this one out of the park! Seriously. So much to love in this room. I love how personal that gallery wall is, and the pops of black with the soft pick are total perfection. That light fixture…COME ON! And I can’t even with your desks…

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:32 pm

      h my gosh your comment made me laugh! The light was $6 at Target like a year ago and I kept it specifically for this. Insane, much!?!?! Thank you SO much, Tash. I have loved being able to comment back and forth every week for 6 weeks. How awesome to be able to cheer one another on! xoxo

      Reply
  14. Erin @ the-organized-life says

    May 7, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    Great job in the office. I can’t believe that is marble contact paper on the desk. Crazy! Love the light too.

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:30 pm

      Yes! The marble contact paper is easily my favourite thing. Or maybe the pink chair. Or the gallery wall. But seriously, that contact paper… ha! Thanks, Erin!

      Reply
  15. Anna says

    May 8, 2015 at 8:25 am

    Great transformation! Such a cozy place to work in. I love your wall gallery!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:23 pm

      Thank you, Anna!! It sure beats the kitchen table :)

      Reply
  16. lauraingallsgunn says

    May 8, 2015 at 9:20 am

    What an amazing transformation! A true job well done. I adore the color palette you selected. It feels fresh and fun. The six weeks went by so fast. I completed our entry, living and dining areas in a new to us 30 year old house. So, cheers to us! Have a wonderful weekend.

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:23 pm

      Thank you, Laura!!! You’re so right – 6 weeks flew by! I need to see your rooms. It sounds like quite the undertaking! I can’t find you in the link party, so send me a link! :)

      Reply
  17. Julia at Home on 129 Acres says

    May 8, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    What a great space. It feels really calm through the pictures. You made it completely personal for you. I love the contrast of the traditional chair with the rustic light. There is a lot of pink, but it definitely doesn’t read as a “pink” room. Well done!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:20 pm

      Thank you, Julia! I was worried it would be too much pink with the chair, but the walls are just ever so slightly blush and I ended up loving it. Thank goodness! :)

      Reply
  18. Kevin | Thou Swell says

    May 8, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    What a fun office space, I love how you transformed it! That gallery wall is great!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:20 pm

      Thanks so much, Kevin! I already can’t wait to add to the gallery wall :)

      Reply
  19. cassie says

    May 9, 2015 at 7:08 am

    love it! so feminine and modern! it’s perfectly inspiring!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:19 pm

      Thanks so much! So nice to have a space just for me :)

      Reply
  20. Lesley Metcalfe (@lesleymetcalfe_) says

    May 9, 2015 at 9:30 am

    Everything looks amazing, I don’t even know where to start commenting! I’ll start with your “marble” tables – I thought that was real marble! What brand of contact paper is that? I like the soft grey veining. I like the roll of marble contact paper that I bought but it’s a little too dark. Yours is perfect. Great bookshelf styling, love the gallery wall, love all the little details you put into this room. Well done!

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:19 pm

      Oh man I am obsessed with the marble contact paper. I got it at DeSerres, and it’s so unbelievably good! I have no clue what the brand was (sorry) but they have it on their website, too! Thanks so much for your sweet words, Lesley! It’s so nice to have a finished workspace!

      Reply
  21. Linda @ Calling it Home says

    May 10, 2015 at 4:12 pm

    Oh my gosh, you are so adorable. I can read how happy you are…and should be. This office space rocks!! You are the bees knees. Love the mix, love the function, love the pretty. Faboooo.

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:16 pm

      Haha thanks so much, Linda! Thank you, times a million, for hosting this challenge. I’m already looking forward to the next one, and even have a room in mind already. Crazy, right?!?!

      Reply
  22. Vanessa@Decor Happy says

    May 11, 2015 at 12:28 am

    What a fabulous transformation! Adding the hardwood and changing the paint colour were great design choices and makes everything else look that much more fab! The art wall is perfect as is the book shelf styling. I had read your marble contact paper post but completely forgot about it when I saw the desks – it looks just like the real thing. Kudos on a great job! And I also have a room picked out for the next challenge and can’t wait to get started on it!

    Reply
  23. sherry hart says

    May 11, 2015 at 7:14 am

    Boy you whipped this place into shape! It looks great….the combination of “blush” and the black and white is perfect! Great job!

    Reply
  24. Christina says

    May 11, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    So pretty! Yes, the black doors are awesome. I was looking at the photo before I read the description of it and was just staring at the door knob thinking it was an optical illusion…then I read and giggled. We’ve done similar things all over our house.

    Reply
  25. Vel says

    May 12, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Your room is fabulous but the gallery wall you did is just AMAZING Thalita!

    Reply
  26. Brynne@The Gathered Home says

    May 13, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    So pretty! I’m so loving blush pink + black right now and it looks fantastic in your office! The chair and that gold-striped side table are a gorgeous combination as well!

    Reply
  27. dimplesandtangles says

    May 13, 2015 at 11:38 pm

    Ca-ute! What a fabulous work space!

    Reply
  28. twopurplecouches says

    May 14, 2015 at 10:43 am

    I have one word – INCREDIBLE!!!! You have a serious talent for transforming rooms. And I still cannot believe that you achieved those gorgeous marble tops with contact paper!! I love your sprawling gallery wall, and I can’t wait to see how it continues to grow. Amazing work, Thalita!! Just amazing!

    Reply
  29. Debbie J says

    September 4, 2015 at 4:49 am

    what are all the pretty printables on the gallery wall? I can’t zoom in far enough.

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      September 4, 2015 at 5:14 am

      Hi Debbie! I’m actually posting on all of the details on the gallery wall next week including sources for all of the prints! I hope that helps… :)

      Reply
  30. Roberta says

    April 22, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    What a great room redo! I am sharing this on Pinterest

    Reply
    • Thalita says

      May 9, 2016 at 6:53 am

      Thanks so much, Roberta!

      Reply

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One Room Challenge™ Spring 2015, Week 5

Hey, I'm Thalita! Daydreamer, serial decorator, mama of twin boys, lover of thrift stores, fuelled by coffee! This is the space where I share my DIY triumphs and failures, as well as interior design inspiration and regular life stuff.

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We wrapped up week 1 of 3 (haha...sure) of online We wrapped up week 1 of 3 (haha...sure) of online learning and we’re all losing it a little. Things that are helping: pretending that we’re in the Mystery Machine, headed for a campground with a mystery to solve! Jude says the camp counsellor is pretending to be a ghost while Luca was busy getting “Honey” into her sleeping bag for the night. And then a pirate showed up, so this story is really getting good 😂

@playmobil is honestly a life changer because the kids get to build AND use their imagination. It’s a win-win, and let’s face it, we could all use a little win these days.

How are you all coping with kids at home?
Why yes, this is exactly what my dining room table Why yes, this is exactly what my dining room table looks like right now. No, there aren’t markers, papers, toys, food, crumbs and tears on it. Nope. Nope. Nope. None of the above. Everything’s cool and calm over here, folks.

(If it’s not abundantly clear, I am joking.)
What does your Monday morning look like today? We’re over here prepping for online learning (note computer on dining room table) and I’m using our @playosmo to get our kids engaged in some math and language activities before we really get going. Every time I post about our Osmo, I’m asked: “do you really like it?” And my answer is always “YES!” I mean, just look at these kiddos. Jude is obsessed with the tangram and Luca loves sounding our words - he was trying to figure out whether to use ‘k’ or ‘c’ for ‘cat’ here. To them, they’re “playing”...but we all know what’s REALLY going on! #unboxingosmo #osmosocialclub
Well it would seem that I just CANNOT figure out r Well it would seem that I just CANNOT figure out reels, but I’m not letting that stop me. I made one showing you the materials and steps to make this super easy ornament storage so would you go watch it, pretty please?

I’ve been using this method of ornament storage for 7 years and it all started with a cardboard box, some red cups and a single layer. A few years later I upgraded the system to multiple layers, used foam board and white cups and voila! Scroll over to see what I mean.

Would you try this? It’s super easy and you can probably still go ahead and just use old cardboard and whatever cups you have on hand. It’s the best thing I ever did for my holiday decor!! Just make sure you use double sided tape or hot glue to attach the cups - loose cups are no bueno!

If you do this, show me, ok? I wanna see everyone put away their ornaments with no breakage! 🙌
Ready for lots of THIS over the next couple of wee Ready for lots of THIS over the next couple of weeks...but with a puppy in the middle of it all. We’re picking up Taco on Friday so prepare yourself for puppy pictures ALL over the place.

Also: I’ve been feeling uninspired lately and have taken a little break from both posting and consuming when it comes to social media. I’m trying to soak up the holiday magic, read things other than captions (as I write this that seems weird), and even writing more things down.

This time of year always makes me reflective - less because it’s the end of a calendar year and more because it’s my birthday in 9 days. Yes. It’s on the 25th. Yep. Christmas Day. No, seriously. Yeah, Christmas baby! I don’t mind it now, but I didn’t like it as a kid. Oh you know someone who also has a birthday on (or very close to) Christmas! Cool! <— that was just me reacting to like every single conversation ever about having a birthday on December 25th. 😂
I’m still thinking about these adorable little @ I’m still thinking about these adorable little @tubicenlighting lamps that you just touch to turn on and off. And this cutie little door all decked out with a smart doorbell and lock. And the beautiful blue kitchen by @remodelcanada.ca. And all of the vanities from @canaromatoronto. And this gorgeous hardwood flooring from @coswickcanada.ca.

Can you believe this was all under one roof? @improvecanada has 350 showrooms and it was so much fun seeing how many we could get to yesterday.

I’ll be sharing lots more about @improvecanada in the coming months, but if you’re curious and want to go see it for yourself, they’re open! You can call and book an appointment or even have a customer service rep help you make an appointment at showrooms suited to what you’re looking for. Pretty great, right?
#improvecanada # ad #makeitright
So I made a thing and I’m totally in love!! Now So I made a thing and I’m totally in love!! Now I just need to gather all of the boys for an adorable family photo. Christmas miracle, maybe?

I made these sweaters for all of us last weekend using my @officialcricut Joy and now I may need to start personalizing a LOT more shirts around here! It was my first time using infusible ink and I love how the sweaters stays super soft! I may just be wearing this for the rest of the year!

O.S. If it wasn’t clear, our last name is Murray 😆

Have you made matching Christmas sweaters? What would be on yours if you did? # ad #cricutmade
Are you crafty? Do you know someone who is? Or may Are you crafty? Do you know someone who is? Or maybe you’re like me and you like to think you’re crafty but lack the patience to take out a whole bunch of things to make one tiny craft? Well then I have the thing for you. Meet the @officialcricut Joy! It’s tiny but mighty, and you can just have it casually sitting on a shelf waiting to be used when inspiration strikes because it takes up basically no room at all! I made these labels using mine, and you can swipe to see another easy project you can make with a Cricut Joy. It’s the perfect little gift! I even wrote a blog post about why I think so. I’ll share another Cricut project with you later this week!! # ad #cricutmade
Can you believe this room was completed two years Can you believe this room was completed two years ago? And I still love it as much today as I did then. And I still believe that my kids can have a fun, comforting space even if they don’t get to decorate it themselves with superhero bedding and Lego everywhere! But ALSO, I would never judge you if you’re that parent who does let your kids decorate with all the primary colours because you do you, boo and if it makes you and your kids happy, I say do the dang thing!!!

Ok that is all. Have a wonderful judgement-free day!
Put the finishing touches on our front porch this Put the finishing touches on our front porch this past weekend and I gotta say, this might be my favourite one yet.

Truth: I actually really dislike the exterior of our house. With exception of the front door, it’s pretty darn ugly. The 1970’s red brick mixed with buttercream yellow and burgundy siding are like the WORST combo ever. Add in little bits of the foundation which is painted blue and the concrete isn’t pretty either.

BUT those things don’t stop me from prettying up this little space anyway. Because for like 99% of us, making a home takes time. Renovating takes time. Even if TV shows and social media lead us to believe otherwise.

Now if you want to see some front porches full of personality and holiday cheer, all by Canadian ladies who get that nothing happens overnight, do I have a great lineup for you! Go check them out! #acanadianchristmasporch
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