I love a cheerful front door to welcome friends an I love a cheerful front door to welcome friends and family ❤️...

In this online space it's allllll about Christmas decor right now, but I've always been someone who likes to honor each holiday regardless.

I ran down to @shopluckyhome at Gilman Village last week and snatched up some of their last beautiful bits of fall decor to refresh my tired wreath (swipe for the before pic, which already had the faded pumpkins and hot glue globs torn off!).

Two of their talented designers helped me lay it out in store, then I brought it home and worked some magic with floral wire - and a bit of luck!

Didn't it turn out well? I've still got some gold ribbon to work into it but sometimes done is better than perfect 🤣! It's only got another week and a half to enjoy its view of our street before bells and green garland and cedar and pine take over!
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#falldecor #holidaydecor #fallwreath #fallwreaths #shopluckyhome #shoplocalshoplucky #frontdoor #frontdoordecor #frontdoordesign #frontporchdecor #thanksgivingwreath #homegirlbydesign #elevatetheeveryday #elevatedliving #homeismyhappyplace
'Tis the season... ...of celebration and family a 'Tis the season...

...of celebration and family and friends and merriment...and power outages, thanks to the perfect recipe of blustery winds, heavy rainfall, soggy ground and towering evergreens that fall on the power lines (hello, Seattle!).

Lucky for me, stormy weather means cozy days working from home with a lovely fire and all the candles lit. Be still my homebody heart.

Here's a new favorite this season - Fir and Firewood by @capribluecandles ...perfect for autumn all the way through your snowy, dreamy wintertime, and on sale now at @anthropologie .

What's your favorite scent? So many good ones!

Copy and paste this link to get yours: http://liketk.it/3rM77

Follow my shop @homegirlbydesign on the @shop.ltk app to shop this candle and more.

#ltkunder50 #ltkhome #ltkseasonal #ltkholiday #homegirlbydesign #capriblue #elevatetheeveryday #candlelight #poweroutage #cozyathome
Faux? Or Faux Pas? I fell in love with @nateberku Faux? Or Faux Pas?

I fell in love with @nateberkus eons ago, when he was first Oprah's "cutie pie" designer. (Still a cutie pie, btw.) He said that if you're going to decorate with plants and flowers, they need to be REAL. Something like, "if it's meant to be alive, let it be alive". Not his exact words, but you get the gist.

My preference is for real, but #reallife sometimes calls for longer lasting botanicals. I often mix real and faux for greatest impact.

What's your pick?
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P.S. If you haven't already, come join me @homegirlbydesign. See you there! xox
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#freshflowers #fauxflorals #floraldecor #botanicals #kitchendecor #coffeetabledecor #decoratinginspo #homegirl #homegirlbydesign #elevatedliving #elevatetheeveryday #freshisbest #happyathome #homeismyhappyplace #seattledecorating #pnwdecorating
It's WINSday, peeps! Feeling like I've brought my It's WINSday, peeps!

Feeling like I've brought my A-game today as last night I finally put to rest a silly tech challenge I've been putting off (avoiding) for far too long now.

I made it up to be this big impossible thing in my head, when in reality it just required an hour of my uninterrupted focus. 

I'm taking lots of baby steps in this entrepreneurial world, but I'm good with it! I'm learning how to digitally deliver the products so many of you have asked for, and it's got me excited for what's comig!

So what's YOUR win for the week? Fill my comments with good news, please, and I'll do the happy dance 💃🏻 with you.

P.S. If you haven't yet, come join me @homegirlbydesign - I appreciate your friendship and your follow ❤️!
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#homegirl
#homegirlbydesign
#elevatedliving
#elevatetheeveryday
#winsday
#winsdaywednesday
#happyathome
#homeismyhappyplace
#happydance
#happydancing
Monday, Monday... It's my favorite kind of Monday Monday, Monday...

It's my favorite kind of Monday today, with the start of a new week AND a new month - the perfect time to reset and get after it...so here's your friendly reminder that the sky's the limit!

I'm using that inspiration today to think about/dream about/strategize the month ahead. This means setting some goals in motion for myself, my business, my family and our home, all with a 30-day timeline.

What will YOU do this month with all your uncapped potential and endless possibilities? Anything goes! Read a book? Bake a pie? Start holiday shopping? Finish holiday shopping? Run 5 miles...or 50?

How are you going to elevate daily living in November? Tell me all about it in the comments 🙌🏼❤️.
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#homegirl
#homegirlbydesign
#elevatedliving
#goalsetting
#elevatetheeveryday 
#mondaymotivation
#mondayinspiration
#homeoffice
#planningtime
If the broom fits, fly it! I love Halloween with If the broom fits, fly it!

I love Halloween with all the festivities and kooky, spooky decorations. I remember dressing up as Peter Pan when I was a kid. I had a really bad pixie haircut in the 8th grade (don't ask), and my sister made me the coolest costume that made the awful coiffe seem okay for a day!

Today I'm carving jack-o-lanterns with my crew and heading to a friend's house with my daughter to help set up for her freaky fright night. I can't wait to see all the ghouls snd goblins!

How about you? Are you a lover or a hater?

Happy haunting this weekend! 👻🎃👹🤡🤖💀
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#halloweenhappiness
#frightnight
#whitepumpkins
#whitepumpkindecor
#homegirl
#homegirlbydesign
#elevatedliving
#elevatetheeveryday
#easyfalldecor
Wow, it's been a week! I'm grateful to be at my h Wow, it's been a week!

I'm grateful to be at my home desk today with the whirlwind of errands and appointments tucked nicely away in the past few days.

If you've followed me on Facebook for a while, you'll know that I am a homebody who aims to help you elevate every day living. But here's something my job description doesn't tell you:

Sometimes, elevating means slowing down. Lying low. Resting. Reading. Padding around in fuzzy socks and lighting a scented candle to create coziness. Taking in the details of your surroundings. Making the most of where you are by simply appreciating it rather than working to change it.

Just being.

I allow myself to rise above the busyness and see more clearly from a calmer, quieter point of view.

What about you? Comment below to tell me what grounds you. How do you elevate out of the flurry of life to find yourself again? I'd love to hear 💕.
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#homebody
#homegirl
#homegirlkaren
#homegirlbydesign
#elevatedliving
#elevateyourself
#elevatetheeveryday
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    • Unstressed Nest™ Smart Start

Lifestyle, Self Care · November 15, 2024

How to be Cozy this Holiday Season

Nothing says “holidays” to me quite like chestnuts roasting, Jack Frost, and yuletide carols, but nothing says “holidays at home” to me more than staying in and being cozy. Some of my favorite times during these festive months are those elusive nights at home when dinner is done, the kitchen is clean, and it’s time to let the busyness of the day melt away and simply lounge around with my favorite people. For me, this is when the magic happens, stealing quiet moments all snuggled up by the fire and the twinkling light of the tree.

In order to maximize the coziness of the season, here are a few essentials you’ll want to have on hand. If you’re a homebody like me, these will be among your most used items during the fall and winter months:

Cozy PJs – Yes, these really are super soft pajamas, but they’re cute enough to double as daytime loungewear, should you find yourself not wanting to get out of them. (Btw – if you have babes-in-arms at home, Target has the absolute softest baby jammies and playwear by Cloud Island that I have gifted my own baby nieces and nephews once I felt how luxe they are. Be sure to grab the sets made with modal fabric).

Woman in cozy pajamas holding a mug of cocoa.

Cozy Bathrobe – My faves right now are Cloud Nine robes from Pottery Barn. They’re thick and oh-so-soft just like the fancy hotel bathrobes, and they come in his-and-her colors. I love the nice big loops in the neckline that let you hang them up easily. These robes are as great right out of the shower as they are over your pajamas when padding around the house.

Cozy Socks – If you’re not on the Barefoot Dreams train yet, get your ticket fast! Anything by Barefoot Dreams is an absolute winner, but these super plush socks are the perfect touch of TLC for cold toes. My daughter wears hers to school with her Uggs; I wear mine to bed to spare my husband the joy of warming my ice-cold feet.

Cozy Slippers – speaking of Uggs – these are on my daughter’s Christmas wish list this year. If Santa’s nice, he may deliver them twice – once for me and once for her! The chunky sole makes them outdoor friendly, and they’re great to have on hand (even better on foot!) after sports and workouts, for running outside with the doggo, to the mailbox, etc. Here are the sweetest little slips for toddlers, and my husband gets asked about and recommends his favorite slippers by OluKai all the time.

Woman sitting with blanket near a lit candle writing in her notebook.

Cozy Blanket – If you can only choose one thing to cozy up with, make it the best blanket you can find. In fact, I’ve already found it for you! Yes, the Lola Blankets cost a bit more than your average fuzzy throw, but they are incredibly worth it for their generous sizing, machine washability, and luxurious feel. These are blankets you’ll want to have around for awhile. The large size is great for cuddling up with a cutie or two to watch your favorite holiday movies.

Great Big Mugs – Sipping your cocoa or hot toddy feels sweeter when you’ve got a generous pour of either in an oversized mug that’s all done up in a seasonal design. I love these from Crate & Barrel – they’re big enough to hold with two hands for an extra hit of warmth. Bonus points that they’re dishwasher and microwave safe.

Beguiling Books – Sitting fireside with a page-turner and releasing all other responsibilities for a quiet and calming cozy session can feel like the best reward amidst all the hustle and bustle. I was thrilled to see Liane Moriarty’s new book Here One Moment. She always entertains, and I have lent every one of her books out to friends or family. I’m also awaiting with much anticipation The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, my favorite, no-nonsense, tough-love, motivational guru, due out on Christmas Eve.

Cozy Candles – You can’t really achieve true coziness without the glow of candlelight. I love soft scents – nothing too overpowering, headache-inducing, or sweet. The scent of the season for me for several years running has been Thymes Frasier Fir – you know the holidays have officially begun once that candle is lit. I also love the cult favorite Volcano scent by Capri Blue (these are gorgeous in their mercury glass vessels), and when the Original Scent by Barr-Co. is flickering, my son says, “It smells like home in here,” which makes me flash all the heart eyes. Nothing is cozier than that!

What are your cozy must-haves for the season? Drop me a line below and let me know what I can add to my list!

Shop my Cozy Must-Haves

In: Lifestyle, Self Care

Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. There is no additional cost to you. Please note that I’ve linked to these products because I love them (and think you will, too!) and they are from companies I trust.

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Hi, I'm Karen, an intentional homebody. Home is my happy place. Let's make it yours, too!

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I love a cheerful front door to welcome friends an I love a cheerful front door to welcome friends and family ❤️...

In this online space it's allllll about Christmas decor right now, but I've always been someone who likes to honor each holiday regardless.

I ran down to @shopluckyhome at Gilman Village last week and snatched up some of their last beautiful bits of fall decor to refresh my tired wreath (swipe for the before pic, which already had the faded pumpkins and hot glue globs torn off!).

Two of their talented designers helped me lay it out in store, then I brought it home and worked some magic with floral wire - and a bit of luck!

Didn't it turn out well? I've still got some gold ribbon to work into it but sometimes done is better than perfect 🤣! It's only got another week and a half to enjoy its view of our street before bells and green garland and cedar and pine take over!
.
.
.
#falldecor #holidaydecor #fallwreath #fallwreaths #shopluckyhome #shoplocalshoplucky #frontdoor #frontdoordecor #frontdoordesign #frontporchdecor #thanksgivingwreath #homegirlbydesign #elevatetheeveryday #elevatedliving #homeismyhappyplace
'Tis the season... ...of celebration and family a 'Tis the season...

...of celebration and family and friends and merriment...and power outages, thanks to the perfect recipe of blustery winds, heavy rainfall, soggy ground and towering evergreens that fall on the power lines (hello, Seattle!).

Lucky for me, stormy weather means cozy days working from home with a lovely fire and all the candles lit. Be still my homebody heart.

Here's a new favorite this season - Fir and Firewood by @capribluecandles ...perfect for autumn all the way through your snowy, dreamy wintertime, and on sale now at @anthropologie .

What's your favorite scent? So many good ones!

Copy and paste this link to get yours: http://liketk.it/3rM77

Follow my shop @homegirlbydesign on the @shop.ltk app to shop this candle and more.

#ltkunder50 #ltkhome #ltkseasonal #ltkholiday #homegirlbydesign #capriblue #elevatetheeveryday #candlelight #poweroutage #cozyathome
Faux? Or Faux Pas? I fell in love with @nateberku Faux? Or Faux Pas?

I fell in love with @nateberkus eons ago, when he was first Oprah's "cutie pie" designer. (Still a cutie pie, btw.) He said that if you're going to decorate with plants and flowers, they need to be REAL. Something like, "if it's meant to be alive, let it be alive". Not his exact words, but you get the gist.

My preference is for real, but #reallife sometimes calls for longer lasting botanicals. I often mix real and faux for greatest impact.

What's your pick?
.
.
.
.
.
P.S. If you haven't already, come join me @homegirlbydesign. See you there! xox
.
.
#freshflowers #fauxflorals #floraldecor #botanicals #kitchendecor #coffeetabledecor #decoratinginspo #homegirl #homegirlbydesign #elevatedliving #elevatetheeveryday #freshisbest #happyathome #homeismyhappyplace #seattledecorating #pnwdecorating
It's WINSday, peeps! Feeling like I've brought my It's WINSday, peeps!

Feeling like I've brought my A-game today as last night I finally put to rest a silly tech challenge I've been putting off (avoiding) for far too long now.

I made it up to be this big impossible thing in my head, when in reality it just required an hour of my uninterrupted focus. 

I'm taking lots of baby steps in this entrepreneurial world, but I'm good with it! I'm learning how to digitally deliver the products so many of you have asked for, and it's got me excited for what's comig!

So what's YOUR win for the week? Fill my comments with good news, please, and I'll do the happy dance 💃🏻 with you.

P.S. If you haven't yet, come join me @homegirlbydesign - I appreciate your friendship and your follow ❤️!
.
.
.
.
.
#homegirl
#homegirlbydesign
#elevatedliving
#elevatetheeveryday
#winsday
#winsdaywednesday
#happyathome
#homeismyhappyplace
#happydance
#happydancing
Monday, Monday... It's my favorite kind of Monday Monday, Monday...

It's my favorite kind of Monday today, with the start of a new week AND a new month - the perfect time to reset and get after it...so here's your friendly reminder that the sky's the limit!

I'm using that inspiration today to think about/dream about/strategize the month ahead. This means setting some goals in motion for myself, my business, my family and our home, all with a 30-day timeline.

What will YOU do this month with all your uncapped potential and endless possibilities? Anything goes! Read a book? Bake a pie? Start holiday shopping? Finish holiday shopping? Run 5 miles...or 50?

How are you going to elevate daily living in November? Tell me all about it in the comments 🙌🏼❤️.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#homegirl
#homegirlbydesign
#elevatedliving
#goalsetting
#elevatetheeveryday 
#mondaymotivation
#mondayinspiration
#homeoffice
#planningtime
If the broom fits, fly it! I love Halloween with If the broom fits, fly it!

I love Halloween with all the festivities and kooky, spooky decorations. I remember dressing up as Peter Pan when I was a kid. I had a really bad pixie haircut in the 8th grade (don't ask), and my sister made me the coolest costume that made the awful coiffe seem okay for a day!

Today I'm carving jack-o-lanterns with my crew and heading to a friend's house with my daughter to help set up for her freaky fright night. I can't wait to see all the ghouls snd goblins!

How about you? Are you a lover or a hater?

Happy haunting this weekend! 👻🎃👹🤡🤖💀
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#halloweenhappiness
#frightnight
#whitepumpkins
#whitepumpkindecor
#homegirl
#homegirlbydesign
#elevatedliving
#elevatetheeveryday
#easyfalldecor
Wow, it's been a week! I'm grateful to be at my h Wow, it's been a week!

I'm grateful to be at my home desk today with the whirlwind of errands and appointments tucked nicely away in the past few days.

If you've followed me on Facebook for a while, you'll know that I am a homebody who aims to help you elevate every day living. But here's something my job description doesn't tell you:

Sometimes, elevating means slowing down. Lying low. Resting. Reading. Padding around in fuzzy socks and lighting a scented candle to create coziness. Taking in the details of your surroundings. Making the most of where you are by simply appreciating it rather than working to change it.

Just being.

I allow myself to rise above the busyness and see more clearly from a calmer, quieter point of view.

What about you? Comment below to tell me what grounds you. How do you elevate out of the flurry of life to find yourself again? I'd love to hear 💕.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#homebody
#homegirl
#homegirlkaren
#homegirlbydesign
#elevatedliving
#elevateyourself
#elevatetheeveryday

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