Thursday, September 26

Top 10 Things I Buy at Thrift Stores

Have you ever decorated your home with only a small budget? If so, then you’re probably already familiar with your local thrift stores. But whether you’re a seasoned pro or you’re new to the arena, it helps to know what you should be looking for! So today I wanted to share a short list of my very favorite things to hunt for when I’m thrifting, along with what I typically pay for those items. I’ll tell you now, there are some deals to be had out there if you’re willing to search a bit!

That’s why I love thrifting. Sometimes a little too much. It's easy to see those prices and just snatch up everything in sight that you might ever possibly use. I know. I used to do that myself. But trust me - from this side of things, I can tell you that it is so worth it to wait for the thing you really need and will really use. Right now. Don't clutter up your home just because it's a good deal. So, with that in mind, here are my top 10 favorite things to thrift!


Thursday, September 19

Breakfast Fried Rice

Okay guys. Get ready for one of my favorite breakfasts ever. It's time for breakfast fried rice. I'll start with the super simple recipe, then give you a few tips I use to make it extra-easy to put together in the morning. Be warned, I have no amounts listed because I just add whatever looks like enough for all of us.

Breakfast Fried Rice

Ingredients:
  • bacon
  • cooked rice (leftover is perfect)
  • spinach
  • frozen peas 
  • salt + pepper
  • eggs (and oil if you want to fry them)
1. Cook the bacon. Then crumble it and set it aside. Reserve some of the bacon grease in the pan for cooking (I pour the extra in a bowl in case I need to add more later. You know, since I don't measure and don't know exactly how much I need.)

2. In the pan with the reserved bacon grease (you can use oil instead), dump in cooked rice. Stir fry it for several minutes until it's warm and toasty.

3. Add spinach, frozen peas, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until peas are thawed. Add crumbled bacon.

4. In a separate pan, cook the eggs. (I go ahead and start them while the rice is cooking so it all gets done around the same time) Most of my family loves fried eggs, but I always make a couple scrambled for the ones who prefer that.

5. Serve a scoop of fried rice with an egg on top! Season with salt + pepper to taste.



There are a few things you can do to make it all come together easy peasy in the morning:
  • Make a meal with rice earlier in the week. Cook extra while you're at it to save in the fridge for fried rice day!
  • Same with bacon - cook it earlier in the week for BLT's or something. Save several pieces of bacon and the bacon grease in the fridge. 
Then on the best day (fried rice day) the hard work is already done and it all comes together quickly.

Check out the rest of my recipes here!

The lesser-seen side of our dining room. I love how it's coming together!

What's your favorite breakfast recipe?

Thursday, September 12

Simple Mini Bookcase

"The best building plans in life are simple. Like, super simple."

Okay, that may not be a famous quote (yet), but I do think there's something extra sweet about plans that are quick and easy to build with basic tools. But did you know...

Simple doesn't have to be boring.

So today I'm sharing plans to build mini bookcase that's super simple to build and totally cute!
Check out our complete list of free plans here.


This bookcase is the perfect little size to squeeze in just about anywhere! Try it by your favorite reading chair, try it in a kids room, tuck it into a corner or hallway, even use it as a nightstand (perfect for all you bedtime readers!). But what really makes this guy special is the sweet trim detail on the sides. That trim really makes the whole thing look so high-end, and you won't believe how easy it is!


Thursday, September 5

How to Style a Mantle in 4 Easy Steps

It started after Christmas.


The lights came down, the tree came down, and then all the regular decor came down. I had just finished reading the Cozy Minimalist book and I was so ready to simplify. The room, the decor, the toys, and all the stuff. And the first step was to calm the room. Remove all the extra.

Take a breath.

Then carefully decide what deserves to come back in. 

We wrapped the mantle ourselves and added the faux shiplap!
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