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. 

My Wayfair Wedding Registry Picks

Disclosure: I am a Wayfair Homemakers blogger; all opinions expressed are my own. 

My husband and I just celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary, and as I look ahead to my sister's upcoming wedding in Charleston, SC this fall I've relished in the nostalgia of planning my own wedding. Of course as the big sister, I've shared intermittent wisdom with her (mostly unsolicited solicited!), but today I'm going all out when it comes to creating a wedding registry thanks to Wayfair.

I've chosen a few of my favorite items to share with you...

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...

My Spring Break Sweet & Sour Mocktail

Exactly two weeks from today Mr. Lovebird and I are surprising the kids with an epic spring break cruise so when Wayfair invited me to create a drink that's beach worthy I thought it would be fun to make a kid-friendly mocktail. I was inspired by my favorite fancy drink growing up as a kid: a Shirley Temple and because my kids are quite the Sour Patch kids I thought it would be fun to incorporate sour gummy bears. 

Here's how simple it is to make...

My Portable 80s Palm Springs Dinner Party

As a proud 80s baby, any chance I can relive the awesomeness of that decade is welcome so when I knew my blog would be taking me to speak at Altitude Summit this week I was excited to shift my original at-home Destination Dinner party from my formal dining room to the brightly colored conference venue of the Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs. 

It was the perfect back-drop for my Wayfair 80s-inspired dinner party tablescape!

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...

5 Perfect Lawn Games for an Urban Yard

While we await consistent, warm sunny days here in Boston, one of the main topics of household discussion is our backyard. This is the first time after years of apartment living that we finally have our own private yard and the kids are thrilled! With Grayson turning 3 next month I'm considering a backyard birthday party and reminiscing over my own epic backyard party my parents threw when I turned 6 - it was a pretty big deal. 

My Tasty Tropical (Toddler-Approved) Green Smoothie

Growing up in Ohio my parents always made sure my siblings and I ate a warm hearty breakfast (I think I was the only kid in my class who ate Cream of Wheat!). Breakfast is still my most important meal, but now as a parent I stand in awe of my parents who were able to get all four of their kids on board with breakfast since my two kids are definitely not breakfast fans. 

Just chillin' with his smoothie

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:

My Fantasy Tropical Tiki Party

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as part of the Wayfair Homemaker program. All opinions expressed are my own. 

While talk of back-to-school is buzzing, we're still in summer mode here in Portsmouth, NH and with temperatures reaching the 80s and 90s I have tropical thoughts on the brain! While I've never been to Hawaii, I've always been fascinated by Polynesian culture especially because Mr. Lovebird shared that out of all the places his basketball career took him worldwide, Hawaii was by far the most beautiful. Although I haven't been, I thought it would be fun to take on Wayfair's challenge of what type of Tiki Party I'd throw here in New Hampshire. Thankfully, there are so many fun options available on their website. 

Check out this idea board I put together:

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.

Boston Grand Opening: My Sweetgreen Dream Comes True (and a Giveaway!)

Disclosure: I was invited to a preview blogger brunch; all opinions expressed are my own. 

Have you heard of Sweetgreen? I hadn't until back in 2013 when NYC-blogger Taza mentioned it on her blog, and I was intrigued by the salad joint. I missed being able to visit it before we left NYC-metro last year, but when I met them at W.E.L.L Summit and learned they were opening a Boston location I was excited to finally give it a try. They had samples at W.E.L.L. Summit, and the Apple Cheddar salad I tried was so good that I put Sweetgreen on my must-visit list for the next time I was in Boston. 

It didn't take long!

I was invited to their blogger brunch grand opening preview the same day as an already scheduled hair appointment in Boston and I was so glad when it aligned to be able to attend! This past Saturday I headed to the Prudential Center where their Boston location was preparing for the December 7 grand opening. I used to work in the same complex which was also the location of Wayfair's Heart Home Conference so it was cool being back at my old stomping grounds. I used to frequent the food court for lunch and would've loved to have an option like Sweetgreen!

So what is Sweetgreen? It's a made-to-order salad bar with a commitment to sustainable, local, in-season ingredients. Launched in 2007 in Washington, D. C. by students, they've now spread along the east coast and have locations in L.A. and are looking to expand further. They also have a in-school program called Sweetgreen in Schools teaching good eating habits to students in their communities. 

The space is bright and sleek, with the current season lit up referencing their dedication to serving in-season ingredients. I took a scan of the menu and my eyes honed in on the Rad Thai salad:

It has all the things I like, especially shrimp - something I rarely order because I usually have the kids with me and they eat off my plate and don't like shrimp. This salad was all about mama! I made a quick video of how my salad was made:

 

In addition to a salad of our choice, bloggers were also treated to a selection of Sweetgreen's signature frescas and teas as well as seasonal mini-donuts from Blackbird - I tried the cranberry one and it was delicious!

The Cucumber Ginger Lime Fresca was my favorite!

To celebrate the grand opening I'm giving one lucky Harlem Lovebirds' reader Sweetgreen's signature tote (it was such a hit at W.E.L.L. Summit!): 

{Image credit}

Enter via Rafflecopter below; the giveaway starts today, Thursday, December 10 and ends Sunday, November 13 with the winner announced on Monday, November 14:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and be sure to follow Sweetgreen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay on top of their seasonal menus and more grand opening news!

 

No-Bake Deep Dish Triple Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

A few years ago when visiting my parents in Baltimore we tried a triple layer pumpkin pie that we just couldn't get out of our heads and it prompted Mr. Lovebird to recreate it at home. After a couple tries he did successfully, but it was a bit of work. When I got invited to participate in Wayfair's Battle of the Pies I decided to tweak his recipe a bit. 

The first decision was that it would definitely be no-bake and the next was that I wanted as many of the ingredients prepped as possible which meant, pumpkin pie filling and pre-made crust. The way my life has been lately I'm all about shortcuts in the kitchen!

Want to give this a try for your next fall fete (or practice for Thanksgiving)? 

Here's how:

Ingredients:

• Refrigerated, pre-made pie crusts dough (2)
• Cheesecake layer: 
• Use your favorite no-bake cheesecake recipe (I used a variation of Martha Stewart's) adjusted to the following:
• 1/2 can of 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1 - 8 oz block of cream cheese (room temperature)
• dash of lemon juice
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 1 cup of pumpkin pie filling
• 1 - 8 oz block of cream cheese (room temperature)
• 12 oz tub of whipped topping

Directions:

• Follow the instructions for the baked shell pie crust but roll both pie-crusts together between waxed paper so you can fit your deep dish  

Stagger and roll! 

• While the pie crust cools, start making your pie layers - I started with the cheesecake layer first as it's heaviest: using the paddle attachment of your mixer (the wire just doesn't cut it!), mix 1 block of room temperature cream cheese until softened, slowly add in the sweetened condensed milk and lastly the lemon juice and vanilla; pour batter into the crust cover and put in the refrigerator while making the 2nd layer

• Next, make your pumpkin layer: clean out your mixing bowl and again, mix your 2nd block of room temperature cream cheese until softened then 1 cup of pumpkin pie mix and lastly 1 cup of whipped topping (you can add more to your liking/fluffiness); let it get smooth and airy, then spread on top of your your cream cheese layer

• Cover your pie with plastic wrap and let chill at least 3 hours; top with whipped topping as the last layer

I love how this pie is light and airy with just the right amount of pumpkin pie flavor (still love Mr. Lovebird's version too!); I'm a sweet potato fanatic so I wouldn't mind switching out the pumpkin pie layer for sweet potato and if you prefer you can do a graham cracker crust too. It was a tough decision for me, but all the more reason to keep making pie!

Also, if you're looking for cute pie dishes to add to your holiday table this season Wayfair has an awesome selection here. 

What's your favorite holiday pie recipe? Are you a pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie fan?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Wayfair for the #WayfairPieBakeOff; all opinions expressed are my own. 

 

Is Thursday Too Late for a Weekend Recap? (and a Winner!)

I'm still on a high from Wayfair's Heart Home conference and had a flash giveaway running on Facebook that was a lot of fun! It was great meeting Maxwell Ryan from Apartment Therapy and I appreciate his generosity to sign not only one copy of Complete + Happy Home for me but one for one of my readers. Head over to my Facebook wall to see who won!

Being a part of Wayfair's Homemaker blogger program has been a fantastic opportunity; not only do they give us the access to their awesomeness, but they also help us grow our platforms as bloggers. From SEO to sewing to pitching your brand, they dropped serious knowledge during the conference and there was a wealth of amazing tips and strategies that were shared (I have to say I'm most proudest of my pillow slipcover, though!).

Beyond the awesomeness of Wayfair last week here's what else we've been up to:

1st lost tooth with one ready to fill in the spot!

Wish I could've stayed longer, but so glad to see these stories being shared here in NH

We don't know where the dimple came from, but I like it!

Nia's fairy garden she and her classmates made (8K+ people showed up to this year's Fairy House Tour)

And just like that I'm already looking ahead to the weekend! Nia's off from school tomorrow and Monday (Lord, help me and we just might end up back at Chuck E. Cheese for the 3rd time in under a week O_o) and I'm excited for a major hair overhaul thanks to wonky weaning hormones that have left my mane in awful shape as well as hitting up the Topsfield Fair and getting our car detailed in time for my BFF Julie who's flying in from Ohio next weekend (nothing like having company for making you get your act together!).

I'll leave you with a few things I've been paying attention to online lately:

• Do you cringe when non-parents tell you how to parent? If so, you'll relate to this
• This forever home is making me swoon 
• Luvvie speaks the truth on the gentle way the media covered the cocaine overdose death of the mom of three kids recently in the news 
• For those of you in NYC-metro check out Circle of Sisters happening next weekend 
• Mr. Lovebird and I always debate over which questions are and aren't OK to ask in casual conversation (his list of OKed questions is much longer than mine!), but this post kinda settles the argument
• This American Life is one of my favorite radio programs and this episode proves why
• I read this and it made me post this
• Have you met the latest Disney princess? 

Are your kids off tomorrow too in addition to Monday? I never had it like that as a kid; we only got Columbus Day off!
 
 

I'm at Wayfair's Inaugural Heart Home Conference!

Popping in with a quick "Hi!" from the inaugural Wayfair Heart Home conference in Boston - follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for all the goodness (as well as #HeartHome)!

 Happy Friday (and don't let Joaquin get you down!)