A ROOM FIT FOR CHRISTMAS

Photo by Michelle at Unsplash

When I began plotting & planning my Christmas decor this season, two words kept jumping into my head: cozy and magical.

So, of course I set off to bring those words to life! What better way to ring in the holiday season? The first order of business was to find a rug that would set the stage for the rest of the decor in the room. When I found the Jenna Natural rug from Orian Rugs, I knew it would be the perfect foundation for the rest of the room. This rug is made in the USA (check!), is indoor/outdoor (for those "accidental" muddy footprints) and is fade & shed resistance. For those of you with kids, or even just a messy significant other, that's a whole lot of "YES" in one package!

The next must on my list was to find the perfect bedding. I turned to Piper Classics because they have such a wide selection of holiday bedding. The farmhouse ticking red bedding (shop it HERE!) added the merriest little touch to the master bedroom. Its softness and coziness just shout "Merrrry Christmmmas!" I also added some throw pillows to go with the bedding. The Hello Christmas pillow is from @bridgewaydesigns. You guys have seen me use them before – they always have the cutest designs for each season.

For the focal wall I added vintage shutters I found at a barn sale, paired with a sign from Hampton Repurposed Wood that brings a festive touch to the room.

This season I encourage you to think outside the box and make your décor, yours. Make sure you love the spaces that you’re creating during this time of year. It will help make the season merry and bright.

In case you're curious, I've listed links below for the other items in the room.

Also, two other blog treats for you! My sweet friend Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage was generous enough to share a slice of the Maple Creek story and a little tour of our home with her followers! Head that way to see the article, and check out her beautiful blog while you're at it...

PLUS, Kelly Elko, of KellyElko.com, shared a quick virtual look at life on the farm. If pumpkins & sheep are your thing, see that here. Visit Kelly's blog to see home tours from eclectic homes all over AND DIY goodies! It's always a party with friends!

What is your Christmas decor plan this year? I’d love to hear in the comments below! Do you prefer the classic red and white color palette, or are you bringing a fun or unexpected color to your holiday décor? Be sure to tag me on IG, @maplecreekmarket, if you use any of these tips. I'll be reposting my favorites over the next week!

Until next time,

Ginny

LINKS:

Rug from Orian Rugs

Bedding from Piper Classics

Sign from Etsy

#Christmas #holidaydecor #diy #masterbedroom #update #fixerupper #farmhouse #vintagefarmhouse #farmlife #interiordesign #winterdesign #rugs #bedding #etsy #maplecreekchristmas

COLLEGE MOVE-IN DAY

Well, here we are folks! Welcome to the start of August! It’s that time of year again: parents starting prepping their college students for “The Big Move” back to dorms or apartments. Over at Maple Creek, we’re getting ready to push the last two chicks out of the nest (LOL!) as they embark on their next adventure at Baylor.

This is round three for us, and I’d like to think that I’ve learned a few things from my first two experiences. It wasn’t always pretty – or peaceful! – but we got everyone settled in and set up for their first semester away. For my fellow college-student mommas, I thought I’d share some tips and tricks that helped make move-in day a huge success. The goal is to keep the process as stress-free as possible from start to finish!

My NUMBER ONE recommendation is….

When you get that first college essentials list, it’s tempting to rattle through the whole thing in an attempt to be AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE, which tends to mean more bags, more packing, and more mess.

I’ve found that you can wait on buying many on these “essentials” until you arrive at the dorms and start to get settled. Make a list of things that you think you may need (or know your kids can’t live without, like favorite shoes, or a blanket or comforter from home) and compare lists when you get there.

It’s definitely a different generation from when us mommas went to college, and with the touch of a button most major retailers can have what you need in a day or two. When my oldest moved in I made the mistake of purchasing everything but the kitchen sink. Lots of the stuff, he never even used! So be cautious when packing up the car. If you, like us, have a one- or two-day car trip ahead of you, a lighter packed car can be helpful!

Photo by Erol Ahemd on Unsplash

Unless you’re flying, there’s no real need to buy a ton of suitcases for clothes…because, as we found out the hard way, where do you store them once they’re empty?!

Large heavy-duty garbage bags work great to put clothes in. For nicer garments, you can keep the hangers on and pull white garbage bags up from the bottom to tie at the top. Voila! Cheap, inexpensive garment bags that can be recycled and reused.

Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash

Yup, that’s right…make sure your student has their very own first aid kit! Not the coolest accessory on the block, but definitely one that will come in handy.

Fill with band-aids and the usual supplies, PLUS extra goodies like Emergen-C, cold medicine, multivitamins, scissors, a tiny sewing kit (for those at-the-worst-moment loose buttons) and even different kinds of tape. The essentials are up to you!

Just make sure you have a well-rounded kit that’s ready to face down any emergency.

Photo by Jesse Ramirez on Unsplash

This is a big one! Make sure you check the college’s website for all move-in day policies & procedures.

At Baylor, where my children attend, they have teams of students waiting curbside to help unpack cars and direct students to check-in.

The website will also have schedules for parents, things that might be banned from dorms (such as blenders, coffee makers, etc.), parking information and directions to your child’s dorm.

Putting my crew to work!

It sounds simple, but we forgot it in a big way the first time around. Moving in is a lot of work!

It tends to be hot in August, no matter what part of the country you’re in, so bring a small cooler with ice, drinks and snacks to help provide a little pick-me-up during the long day.

If at all possible, bring a small tool kit for hanging things and putting containers and shelving units together.

Figuring out efficient storage can be a little chaotic, so it helps to have at least a hammer and screwdriver.

You can even leave it with your college students so they have it for future use (or if any of that DIY furniture falls apart!).

Photo by Liana Mikah on Unsplash

…and make the bed last. Use the bed as a docking station to put bags and cases.

Once everything is organized and put away, then make the bed. It’s an easy final touch to the dorm room and helps to pull everything together.

Congratulations! You’re almost there! This time next year, you’ll be offering up your own tips & tricks like a pro. If I can gently remind you of one thing – that I constantly, constantly remind myself – it would be to be PATIENT.

This is a huge transition for you and your student, and it isn’t easy on anyone. While this time of growth can be challenging, it’s incredibly rewarding to help set your student up for success as they step into this next chapter of their lives.

Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash

Friends, do you feel MORE PREPARED for this year? Let me know in the comments if any of these tips helped! Be sure to tag me on Instagram if you try them! @maplecreekmarket ! What’s your college move-in essential? Your favorite moving day memory?

Don't forget to stay tuned for some fun blog news...

Have a blessed week, and thanks for reading!

-Ginny

#vintage #vintagefarmhouse #college #movein #dorm #backtoschool #sheep #farm #farmhouse #betterhomesandgardens #tipsandtrick #diy #life #love

SWEET, SWEET SUMMERTIME ON THE FARM!

Welcome back, friends! I hope your summer nights have been bug-free and sunset-beautiful! Fun fact about our family…we LOVE ice cream…almost as much as being together. 😉 Kidding! But seriously, Sunday nights are tradition around here. It’s the perfect night for a good board game, a bonfire and homemade ice cream.

I blame my love of ice cream on my childhood. My grandfather worked for the Penn State Creamy, which, if you’ve never been, is the largest university creamy in the United States! He used to bring used five-gallon drums of ice cream as a treat when I was a kid. If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience PSU ice cream…you’ve missed a little piece of paradise. I found out recently that the creamery uses about 4.5 million pounds of milk annually, around half of which comes from a cow herd at the University’s Dairy Production Research Center. The rest of the milk comes from independent milk producers right in the area. Delicious AND local!

Photo by Something Original at English Wikipedia

Here’s another fun fact for ya: they sell 750,00 hand dipped ice cream cones per year and have over 100 flavors…can we say yum? It’s beyond amazing and YES, I’m a little Penn State proud. It’s my alma mater and part of my heritage! Don’t tell anyone, but my sister and I were once known to eat ice cream for breakfast when we were growing up…

Image by Susanne Jutzeler, suju fotografie from Pixabay

Summer on the farm is so beautiful. One of the reasons my husband and I bought a farm is because we wanted to teach our kids the value of hard work and lending a helping hand. There’s something magical that happens when you begin to work with your children on a project. Oh, sure, there might be a little (!) complaining at first, because the jobs aren’t always their favorite, but working together forces you to work on communicating. Sometimes the only way to successfully finish a job with another person is to communicate about the best way to get the job done.

Image by Free-Photos, from Pixabay

As a family we’ve tried really hard to turn off the devices and interact with each other! These days screens seem to take up so much of our lives, and I fear so many kids and even adults are losing the art of interaction and the sheer simplicity of finding enjoyment in life, living. Summer is the perfect time to set limits for your children and even yourselves. We as a family have set some screen time boundaries this summer, and it feels so good. We all should listen more, talk to each other, and share what we’re learning on a regular basis. The art of face-to-face communication is so important in this virtual world. 😊

Okay, stepping off my soap box…thanks for listening folks! LOL. Back to the ICE CREAM…

So many of you asked for my recipe for the ice cream and homemade peanut butter fudge topping, so here it is:

Background photo by Brenda Godinez on Unsplash

We have a White Mountain freezer and absolutely love it!

After you’ve put the ice cream down in the bucket, put ice all around the sides of the freezer and then add rock salt to the top. After that then you plug it in and check periodically according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Background photo by Brenda Godinez on Unsplash

For the fudge, depending on how strong of a peanut butter taste you want you can add more or less of the creamy goodness. It can also be reheated for another night of indulgence...

Thanks for reading! What are YOUR summer night traditions? Or summer resolutions? Anyone else trying to limit screen time, and get outside & move a little more? If you tried this recipe, let me know in the comments or on Instagram, @MapleCreekMarket. Have a blessed day!

#recipes #summerdecor #summer #summerrecipes #country #countryliving #vintage #vintagefarmhouse #farmhouse #creamery #icecream #whitemountain #summerfun