5 Quick Ways to Simplify the Holidays

2018 blew me away with all the travel it involved! From starting the year in Palm Springs to ending it with our last trip of the year coming up in Nashville, I'm so thankful to be grounded with my kids at home for their December recess.  This is our 3rd Christmas as homeowners, but will only be our 2nd Christmas actually at home. To make it extra special, I've partnered with Wayfair to reflect on 5 quick ways I'm simplifying this holiday season. 

Easy Deconstructed July 4th Flag Cake

One of the hardest parts of celebrating July 4th with kids in the in-between stages of babyhood and pre-teens is the tricky timing of fireworks and bedtime.  Add rain on top of that and it's sanity saving quite tempting to completely skip over the holiday with a young family. Our first July 4th as a family of four was super easy: we lived in Jersey City at the time and had an amazing 360 degree rooftop view that allowed us to see about 5 sets of fireworks from Manhattan to deep into New Jersey. 

Here's a throwback pic...

Nia's Magazine Debut (& a MASSIVE Spring Update!)

We are hurtling towards the end of the school year (Grayson's done in 2 weeks and Nia has another 4 weeks), but in the interim I wanted to share some of the exciting things going on around here...

How to Decrease Screen Time with a Reading Nook

The month of January flew by and one of the things we've been committed to as a family now more than ever is reading more books. With the recent data about kids and screen time plus as someone who works in a world of screens, it's important for me to have time that we all pull away from our devices. 

My kids have a strict screen time rule: we are screen free on school nights. Their schools have some screen time, which is fine, but otherwise from TVs to tablets, the children don't use them during the week. It's been a struggle at times and my 7 year old being older is good at reinforcing it with her 3 year old brother, but this holiday when we took down our Christmas tree and were left with a gaping space I decided it would be perfect for a cozy reading nook as an alternative to screen time.

My Thanksgiving Wayfair Blogger's Picks

This month I'm excited to share my Blogger's Picks are featured over on Wayfair.com! Here are my selections inspired by my recent dining room reveal - you can click through each one to be taken to the item:

Trufant 16 Piece Dinnerware Set The hand-decorated, raised floral design adds a romantic element and texture to a dining room table. While it's easy to go with stark white dishware, I appreciate the warmth of cream and how it plays off of other fall tones.	íWarmth IVí Print on Canvas Drawing up on so many colors, this piece isn't overwhelming, but adds a beautiful focal point that can play off of other design elements in the dining room. From the blues, oranges and creams it lends itself to being able to switch up the decor seasonally as well.	Mercury Glass Candlestick Holder I have a thing for silver and how it reflects light. These candlesticks bring texture to the table and I'd add a few of them in various heights to create a rich ambiance.
Phoebe Burnt Orange Rug A colorful rug is so lush and this one pulls out the colors of the art print I selected especially with the touch of blue. I enjoy adding bits of blue to a room as I find it calming.	String of Pearls Large Deep Platter As with the candlesticks, the silver will reflect the warm colors of fall foods beautifully. The pearl trims also connects to the nail heads on the arm chairs I selected.	Rustic Thankful Sign This simple script sign is a beautiful reminder for the reason to gather around the table this holiday season. I imagine it propped up on the buffet table amongst the holiday dishes and floral arrangements.
Carterton Solid Blackout Grommet Single Curtain Panel Red curtains are so lush in a dining room and compliments the colors of the rug and art. I selected a plush textured fabric to bring warmth and richness to the dining room and appreciate the blackout lining for privacy.	Argana Arm Chair These sturdy chairs make elegant accents to the table as the header and footer chairs pulling in the nailhead design that's so popular without being overwhelming. The rich wood detail and thatched fabric add another dimension of luxury to the dining room.	Odell Server The decorative details on the glass doors of this buffet server stand out not only providing functional storage, but also serving as a display case. The dark wood adds a stately aspect to a dining room and will contrast with the bold colors of additional accents.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? What inspires your holiday decor?

 

Thanksgiving Countdown: Decorating Our First Dining Room with Wayfair

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Wayfair; all opinions expressed are my own. 

In 17 short days my family will come together for our first Thanksgiving in our new home and in the wake of recent news while we always acknowledge the importance of family, this year's gathering feels especially sacred. 

Mudroom Magic: 3 Tips for a Beautiful and Functional Space

It's hard to believe that last month we celebrated the one year mark of home ownership, and when I think back to what made my heart sing when we first toured the house it was a small, but mighty space: the mudroom.

Here are my 3 tips for making your mudroom beautiful yet, functional...

Green Up Your Linen Closet with Coyuchi for Life

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Coyuchi; all opinions expressed are my own. 

What if I told you there was a Netlfix but for linens? Yes, it now exists thanks to Coyuchi. I was first introduced to Coyuchi at my first W.E.L.L. Summit where I attended a session led by CEO Eileen Mockus on creating an ethical and sustainable home. Now more than ever with climate change being a worldwide topic, this is critical so I was thrilled to learn about Coyuchi's efforts to continue this initiative. 

An (Early) Night Around the Campfire with Wayfair

When I shared this exciting news three weeks ago today one of the first things that came to mind was making memories with my kids especially in our new backyard. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio I have fond memories of my large backyard and hours spent playing there with my family. I'm looking forward to my children now having a similar experience! There's an existing fire pit section of our patio and I've been thinking about a fun way to (safely!) introduce my children to it. When Wayfair challenged me to come up with an idea board for my family's night around the campfire it was easy to find ideas perfect for young kids on their website. 

Here's what I came up with for my 2 and 6 year old to have a playful and safe first time campfire experience in our new home:

A Nautically Inspired Spring by Wayfair

As we've just celebrated my family's second spring in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I'm still feeling as though we're on some type of coastal vacation living here. It's a gorgeous town that I can't help Instagramming, and this spring while our trees have yet to fully blossom, I'm feeling inspired by the warm sun that fills our fishbowl windows and the brightly painted buildings in downtown Portsmouth.

Create Your Best Home with Robin Wilson Clean

Disclosure: I am a compensated brand ambassador for Robin Wilson Clean; all opinions expressed are my own.

As Women's History Month comes to a close I'm sharing exciting news about Robin Wilson, an entrepreneur making her own history in the design and wellness space. I've featured Robin Wilson Home for nearly 3 years here on my blog, and I'm thrilled to announce the introduction of Robin Wilson Clean. The stunning redesign of her brand will help you create your best, healthy home from the foundation all the way to the decor.

Robin Wilson Home Quilts Now At Kohl's

Disclosure: I am a compensated brand ambassador for Robin Wilson Home; all opinions expressed are my own.

Happy August friends! As I look around my social media feeds I see images of back to school in my timeline. While we have exactly 5 weeks from today until Nia's first day, we're already starting preparations and one of those things is getting our home in order. While some get excited for spring cleaning, I look forward to a fall refresh and I'm not just talking shopping for back to school clothes!

Robin Wilson Home just launched her line of quilts at Kohl's! In addition to the gorgeous prints I've shared before available at Bed Bath & Beyond with the expansion to Kohl's comes additional prints including my favorite: Hyannis.

Both practical and stylish, I like the bold rectangle print of the cotton quilt, available in sizes Twin through King along with matching shams. The cream, brown and gray combination are strong enough for masculine tastes while the floral, striped and scroll print brings a feminine touch. Also with limited time especially during back to school season, I especially appreciate that the quilts are machine washable.

Here's the good news: originally $209-$299, Kohl's is currently having a special sale online on Robin Wilson Home quilts for only $125 to $179!

Beyond the new line at Kohl's the Robin Wilson Home brand continues to grow with the publishing of her new book Clean Design, which offers tips on how to make your home a safe haven while maintaining style. 

Also, as a fellow entrepreneur I'm very excited for the Robin Wilson Home brand and Robin being named to Atlanta Black Star's list of 10 African-American Women Who Are Entrepreneurial Powerhouses.   


Be sure to follow Robin Wilson Home on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest product news and giveaways!

 

My New England Patio Dreams with Wayfair

Disclosure: I am a Wayfair.com Homemaker Blogger and received store credit to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

As I set sail this holiday weekend on my cruise and it continues to slowly warm up here in New England, I've been inspired to create an inviting outdoor space when I return. Our home here in Portsmouth is the first place we've lived which has a significant amount of outdoor space. There is a dedicated patio and, get this: grass! It sounds so simple, but coming from concrete-filled NYC-metro I'm so excited for my kids to grow up playing in a yard and surrounded by green as I did in Ohio. 

To start my plans, I've picked out a few nautical-inspired items from Wayfair sophisticated enough for my husband and I, but playful (and colorful!) enough for our children.   

My sister-in law's created a beautiful home, and she inspired me to select a cozy outdoor rug as a soft texture underfoot is welcoming. Since our home is shoe-free having an outdoor rug also makes an easy transition stepping in from the outdoors especially as my kids like to be barefoot when playing outside. 

nuLOOM Layne Blue Marine Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug (click image for more information)

When I think of outdoors in New England Adirondack chairs come to mind and immediately bring thoughts of childhood summer camp. I was thrilled to come across this cheery yellow version and the best part? It's foldable! I could see Mr. Lovebird and me enjoying evenings outdoors together in these chairs after the kids go to college the kids are in bed.

Hyannis Folding Adirondack Chair (click image for more information)

For the times when we're all outdoors together, a few oversized, outdoor pillows the kids can tumble on would especially make our patio family-friendly. They'd also double as low seating and support for impromptu picnics and playdates:

Dion Striped Outdoor Pillow (click image for more information)

Want to see more? I've created a New England patio dreams Wayfair inspiration board with a few more of my favorites (including a heat lamp which I'm learning is a must). Just click here to check it out!

What's your favorite, must-have item for your outdoor space this summer?

My Top 5 #EngagedEssentials with Robin Wilson Home

Disclosure: I am a compensated brand ambassador for Robin Wilson Home; all opinions expressed are my own.

This summer Mr. Lovebird and I will celebrate 6 years of marriage, and this past Valentine's Day weekend an astounding 220,000 Americans proposed according to this article in the New York Post. I remember my own engagement ushering in a flurry of preparation and besides everyone wanting to know when the big date would be, the next question everyone asked was where I was registered.

Hindsight is definitely 20/20, and today I'm sharing a few basic items from Robin Wilson Home's line of registry bedroom basics at Bed Bath & Beyond that should be on your bridal registry: 

1) Waterproof Mattress Pad - for both comfort and function, this item is essential; not only does it protect your mattress, and often its warranty, by covering it but it also gives you and your spouse extra comfort. If kids are in the plan down the line it also makes sense to go ahead and invest in this early

2) Sheets Set - investing in quality sheets will help you and your partner feel luxurious when slipping into bed! Robin Wilson Home's 500 Thread Count Deep Pocket Sheets are offered in a variety of colors and having known the struggle of getting sheets to fit properly, the deep pocket is a must

3) Pillows - thankfully Robin Wilson Home has 300-thread count, chemical-free options for both side sleepers (me!) and back sleepers (Mr. Lovebird!); what's critical is making sure you wash your pillows on schedule - something Robin share more about here

4) Quilt - I recently showcased Robin Wilson Home's gorgeous line of quilts featuring 4 patterns to choose from, and it's critical to find one both you and your partner agree upon; additionally, it's good to have a few options on hand for seasonal changes

5) Down Alternative Comforter - each couple has their own potential allergies and sensitivities so play it safe with a down alternative comforter; Robin Wilson Home's comforter offers luxurious warmth year-round and is definitely an investment piece for your bedroom - for a happy marriage, just don't try to steal the covers during the night (I know from experience!)

Click here to explore the full Robin Wilson Home line available at Bed Bath & Beyond and be sure to follow Robin Wilson Home on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest product news and inspiration. 

Which products from your registry do you still use? What do you wish you had registered for? 

Giveaway: Valentine's Day Bedroom Refresh with Robin Wilson Home Quilts

Disclosure: I am a compensated brand ambassador for Robin Wilson Home; all opinions expressed are my own.

As those of us here in the Northeast dig ourselves out of a massive snowfall, I'm thinking ahead to a cozy Valentine's Day, and I'm thrilled to be partnering again this year with Robin Wilson Home for her newly launched line of quilts at Bed Bath & Beyond. It's the perfect way to add a romantic refresh to your bedroom this Valentine's Day! 

Ideally, I'd be one of those "sophisticated adults" swapping out my bedding seasonally, but with kids I find I'm constantly washing our bedding anyway (they somehow end up in our bed every night), and I don't have long to admire it.  However, with our recent bedroom update, I'm determined to change that and am looking forward to refreshing our bedding in time for Valentine's Day. 

Robin Wilson Home is dedicated to eco-friendly, hypoallergenic design - a feature I highlighted when I first featured her Bed Bath and Beyond product launch. With her new line of quilts, Robin Wilson Home's four patterns are hypoallergenic, yet beautiful options that will make a romantic bedroom refresh so easy this Valentine's Day. The hardest part is deciding which pattern to select! 

Take a look: 

Austin 

This classic quilt is handcrafted with a combination of traditional and modern design. Sophisticated hues of blues, mixed with charming floral patterns create a soothing palette. Inspired by the style of the hometown of the designer.  

Lorraine

This refined quilt is inspired by map and architecture design. Handcrafted on textured off-white cotton, with a stylish palette that evokes simplicity and details familiar to global travelers.  Pastel palette of lilac and sage, with a floral detail, and fabrics in grid and diamond patterns. 

Sophia

Inspiration for the Sophia quilt is travel to Italy – with rich color and a dynamic patched circular design. Handcrafted with thousands of quilted stitches on an off-white cotton, and embellished with a floral and layered detail. Rich reds, polished pinks with gold, greens and florals showcase a dynamic design with a modern touch. Solid double stitching with a scalloped border.  

Caroline

Inspiration for the Caroline quilt by Robin Wilson Home comes from the sunny days of a holiday vacation. The Caroline collection is handcrafted and features an oversize kaleidoscope pattern and pops of sea blue, fresh yellow and mint green on an off-white textured fabric. Elegant, with a modern touch and a tailored border to frame detailed patterns.

All Robin Wilson Home quilts feature:

• 100% cotton
• Solid double stitching 
• Available in Twin (66" W x 86" L), Full /Queen (90" W x 90" L) and King (104" W x 90" L) 
• Have matching pillow shams available (purchased separately)  
• Imported

The matching shams feature:

• 10% cotton
• Measures 20" W x 26" L
• Solid Double Stitching
• Imported

While I'm trying to make up my mind between Sophia and Caroline, Robin Wilson Home has generously offered Harlem Lovebirds' readers a chance to win a grand prize of a queen size quilt in the print of your choice ($129.99 value) and a runner-up prize of 4 Robin Wilson Home standard pillows.

The giveaway begins today, January 28 and ends on Wednesday, February 11 with the winner announced on Thursday, February 12, 2015. Enter via Rafflecopter below:


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!

To see the full line of Robin Wilson Home offerings be sure to visit Bed Bath and Beyond's website and follow Robin Wilson Home on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for the latest product news.

A Tale of 4 Headboards

The holiday season is a festive time often filled with story telling. It is in this same vein that I'm sharing quite a story with you today. Grab a cup of tea and settle in, it's long, twisted and confusing, but I promise it has a good outcome!

Some of you may recall Mr. Lovebird helping me with a DIY headboard project a year ago. It was a challenge and costing nearly $200 since upgrading to a king size bed in our new place here in New Hampshire we decided to forgo the DIY route and purchase one instead. 

I was initially thinking "headboard" only and when I had a Target gift card burning a hole in my pocket I decided to apply it towards purchasing this beauty which I shared on Instagram:

Thoughts of myself lounging on my sophisticated headboard floated through my head until two days later an email from Wayfair popped into my inbox with this:

I clicked the link on the Madison Square Bed and saw it in a gorgeous Olive shade annnnnd it was about $100 less than the original headboard that was en route plus it included a footboard. We had already ordered our king bed (from Amazon, I might add - Mr. Lovebird's idea!) and we also had a box spring coming. I realized the original headboard from Target could require a frame, but I remembered I still had our queen frame which I hoped to sell after we got rid of our bed before leaving NJ. I saw on Amazon that some frames are adjustable and while we checked ours to see if it was, it turns out it wasn't so an additional purchase would be in order if we stuck with the Target headboard. 

I called Mr. Lovebird and shared with him the new development. We decided the Wayfair bed was indeed a better purchase since we could just drop in the box spring, mattress and be done so I ordered it. 

A few days later I got this notification:

I was so confused but jumped into action checking other sites for the Olive headboard but only came across other colors and they were substantially more and/or didn't have free shipping like Wayfair. 

At this point Mr. Lovebird proclaimed that he was fine sleeping on the boxspring and mattress on the floor as we had been, but me being like any other human Type A Quiana insisted we have a proper bed so I continued the search. 

Lo and behold I came across this one at Walmart:

{Image Credit: Walmart}

It wasn't quite what I wanted but it was in budget (only $299 at the time - since then it's now $289), but the issue was that it didn't require a box spring which meant we'd I'd have to sell our new one - yet another hassle. With the outstanding purchases already waiting to be refunded Mr. Lovebird was losing patience, but I assured him that I'd keep track of everything until it was resolved. 

So I ordered the Walmart headboard and canceled the Target order that was already in transit. This involved not only alerting Target but their 3rd party carrier who would be delivering it - they were very friendly and appreciative that I gave them a heads up which helped avoid extra fees and wasted time. Sidenote: I had to stay on top of Target for the refund. They didn't immediately process it when I canceled the order. 

For those of you who lost track we're up to headboard #3. My credit card company even became concerned and sent this:

Now for the fun part . . .

While awaiting the Walmart headboard and stressing about having to sell the box spring, I got this email from Wayfair:

What?! Usually when I order from Wayfair (disclosure: I'm one of their featured bloggers) if something is out of stock there's a notice right there on the item page with an estimate of if/when it will be back in stock. When my Olive headboard order was canceled there wasn't an inventory notice; it was just GONE. This time around it was indeed the same model of headboard in stock, but it was a different color: Taupe. While it appeared cream colored in the picture, the user reviews confirmed that it was more of a khaki color which is what we actually wanted. 

So what did I do? Like any good shopper I ORDERED IT! YAAAAAS, I did. Did I tell Mr. Lovebird? I think so, but I knew one thing for sure: after what happened the first go around, I was NOT going to cancel the Walmart headboard until the Wayfair headboard was certain. 

I forgot to mention the Walmart headboard was a "ship to store" purchase which saved me shipping costs (woo hoo!), but it was arriving in two boxes. Mr. Lovebird was adamant that he would have no part in my pick-up shenanigans and as the delivery date neared I was nervous about how I'd load up the car with two kids once the boxes arrived, but I figured, "Hey, I have a Wellesley degree! I can do it!"

I cautiously placed my order for headboard #4 (still waiting for the refund of the initial Target headboard) and waited for the purchase to go through. I checked two days later and saw the transaction had posted to my account. "Great!" I thought, "This might actually happen."

Then.

I got a notification from Walmart that the first box had arrived and was ready to pick up. Then a day went by and no notice on the 2nd box. I then decided it was time to cancel the order but then a strange email arrived that the 2nd box was delayed. I decided to call and cancel the entire order (ultimately, it turned out it was damaged in shipping). Boy, were they confused! They thought I had the bed in my home and I had to explain multiple times that it was ship to store and one box is at the store while the 2nd box is delayed. It took nearly an hour to sort it out, but alas they did and I received email confirmation on my refund (and I've since received it). 

At last! Delivery day of my Wayfair headboard arrived:

Mr. Lovebird was out of town and agreed that upon returning he would put it together (here's proof). The reviews said it would take about 30 minutes to assemble (it took Mr. Lovebird about 2 hours, but don't tell him I told you!), but I was the patient assistant/kid wrangler and in the end it was beautiful - thank you to our Aunt K. for the lovely bedding!:

It's been quite sturdy so far, regularly holding all 4 of us in it very well (Mr. Lovebird and I start the evening in it alone then by 7a.m. we end up pushed out to the ends and the kids stretched out comfortably in the middle O_o). The only issue is a 2" gap at the footboard making me nervous for child limbs potentially getting stuck, but we are very vigilant about it. Nia likes to climb on the footboard part so far so I'm thinking of putting a bench there. I was concerned about covering the upholstered decor of the footboard, but saw this on Instagram and am planning on using it for inspiration (not the pine swag light fixture though!):

{Image Credit: Alice Lane Home}

So. There you have it: my tale of 4 headboards. 

Overall I lost the $40 handling fee from my initial Target headboard and the $60 cost increase of the Wayfair headboard (it's now $298, $24 less than what we paid), but Mr. Lovebird agrees: it's a pretty awesome bed. 

We love the design and the comfort. Oh and we sleep REALLY well on our Amazon mattress!

Have you ever had a crazy switcharoo purchase story like mine? Would you have given up at say, headboard #3?

A Little Dose of Pillows and Throws

Disclosure: I am a Wayfair.com Homemaker Blogger and received store credit to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Having moved 6 times in 7 years, our current condo is our largest home yet. At 2,200 square feet we're poised to host a grand Thanksgiving just shy of 20 guests from 6 states. It's going to be epic! While we still have quite a bit of boxes to throw in the unfinished basement unpack, I've been working on warming up our space for our guests with a few soft touches from Wayfair. 

We're within walking distance to the water and although we were also near water in NYC, the Hudson just wasn't as idyllic as our nearby beaches, and I knew I wanted to bring the ocean theme into our home in time for our first holiday guests arrival. Using our existing rug and monogrammed chenille throw as a guide as well as the color scheme of the pillows our new (from a box!) couch came with I easily found these beach-themed pillows:

1: Coastal Sea Turtle Pillow//2: Loom and Mill Decorative Pillow // 3: Key West Rayon Pillow

My final selection however was this one:

Rata Cotton Pillow in Cloud

Not only did it fit well with the beach theme, but it picked up the lighter color within the palette of the existing pillows which was key since I wanted to have more than 2 pillows on the couch. I really appreciate the subtlety of the motif and that they are textured without being too rough. Thanks to our acrobatic 4 year old daughter, we've had issues with our pillows getting really flat very quickly but our Wayfair pillows fluff up nicely and so far have taken Nia's roughness pretty well.

Now that the living room is in a better state (I still need to figure out a window treatment), moving downstairs to the finished portion of our basement, I selected this throw to base the eventual theater/playroom on: 

Esprit Spice Cotton Throw

I find the colors bright and playful without being overbearing and the weight of the throw is perfect for snuggling up. I have a simple yet efficient plan for this space centered around the throw and look forward to revisiting the space in the new year and sharing how it comes together.  

Here are a few more fun prints from Wayfair perfect for a multifunctional space like our finished basement (soon-to-be playroom/theater):

1: Nirvana Cotton Throw //2: Clearwater Throw //3: Jewel Cotton Throw

Which space in your home needs a bit of decorative warmth this season? With Wayfair's current promotion you can save 15% off any Pillow, Pouf or Throw now through November 24, 2014 by using code WFPTP15 when you check out.