Reader Survey 2017 + Visa Gift Cards Giveaway!

February 2, 2017

It’s that time! We are evaluating the content we are creating here on IHOD, and also looking for your feedback on how to better enhance your experience when visiting! I would so greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes (promise it’s a quick one!) to fill out the survey below (it’s anonymous so say what you want!). As a thank you, we will be giving away a few $100 Visa Gift Cards and Fresh Flower Bundles to readers who fill out the survey! Just comment below to let us know you completed the survey and you will be entered to win!

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Out with the old, in with the new.

February 1, 2017

I am more than eager to say goodbye to January and welcome a new month. It seemed to be quite a long one this year, eh? In Atlanta, we even have a few blooms starting to shoot up in our front yard. Visual hope of the end to the bleak weather! And not only am I welcoming the month swap, I’m anxious to continue the simplify my life process. I’ve got a self imposed rule going on: with every new item added to my closet, I must donate or pass along another item. This has been a great solution for our small closet space as well as a good remedy for impulse buying.

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Him + Her Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

January 30, 2017

We aren’t big on gifts for valentine’s day, but these are ideas that Gabe and I are on board with should we so choose to go that route. (wink wink)

Him + Her Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

I’ve raved about Sarah Happ products before, so the Lip Slip and One Luxe gloss are a simple and sweet duo for perfecting the pucker.
. Up for the splurge? This combo includes barrel aged maple syrup, a bourbon brown sugar candle, and a big joe coffee mug. A handsome set for the handsome gent.
To wash, To wear laundry travel bags for the gal who loves practical and needs a little organization motivation. (Hand raised.)
Handcrafted leather wallet with red stitching that fits perfectly in your guy’s back pocket.
Just add coffee. Something I never tire of. The Hot Stuff mug that adds a little nudge and nod to let your lady know how you really feel;)
Had to include this Olivia Burton watch for a good blush pink splurge. Maybe add a handwritten note with: “You are my favorite person to spend TIME with.”
For the outdoorsman, frequent traveler, or business man on the go, these Just Porter backpacks are spacious and waterproof! They also donate a backpack full of school supplies with every backpack purchased.
This pair of bluetooth headphones can be a clever and thoughtful option to be used for travel, work, or at home. Note to add: “Along with these headphones, here’s a playlist to tune out the busy world around you, and enjoy some time to yourself.”
Both the Well Known book and the makers behind it are fantastic. It’s easy to stick in your bag to bring on a date or group gatherings and is loaded with questions for meaningful and thought provoking conversations based on the five levels of knowing someone.
I don’t think any girl could refuse an excuse to take some time to unwind and relax with these Detox + Calm Bath salts. Just add a few sweets and you have yourself a winning combination.

Happy Monday and hooray for just about making it through January!

*Our site experienced some issues and this original post was affected, so if you left comments or questions they are no longer visible. Apologies!

Holy grounds.

January 26, 2017

Sometime this past year, my motherhood bank account dropped below zero. My reserve credit card on extra love and patience was maxed out. There was no penny left to spare. In the wake of my physical, mental, and spiritual bankruptcy, I was left with a brutally honest image of myself. I was becoming as juvenile as my three year old who screams and whines when things don’t go his way. I felt angry and short on patience. Happiness in motherhood can often be synonymous with defeat, guilt, and loneliness. I was so deeply thankful and happy to be a mother, but never had I felt stretched so thin. Never had I felt so insufficient and unworthy. I could no longer find the easy button on my life. It was time for an attitude check, a re-set on mindset, and a fuel up.

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Travel Diary: Asheville, NC

January 24, 2017

I am not the best at spontaneous travel. It’s easy to talk myself out of going anywhere with 5 children, let alone a long car ride and a weekend trip to an unfamiliar city. However, Gabe and I both want to take advantage of any opportunities to spend time as a family, show our kids parts of this country, and encourage adventure and curiosity. So I am learning how to keep things on the simple side with packing, and say yes before thinking too much (hello melancholic). So to be ahead of the eight ball and forgo January squirrely-ness, we headed to Asheville, NC…
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Mini + me: Best shops for knitwear.

January 19, 2017

I tend to stuff my babies in sweaters and knitwear for my own viewing pleasure. I myself have been living in the same stack of sweaters all season, and I thought I would share with you all some of the best shops for knitwear for ladies + little ones.

(Wearing: Sweater, sneakers, denim from AE)

I wait till January to pick up sweaters since that is when they all go on sale. I will just get an item or two that I know I will wear to death, and that will last over the years. Here are the places I always look first…
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Master Bedroom Makeover

January 18, 2017

The master bedroom…..a place we spend little time, but the time we do spend there is valued. It is the place we unwind from the day, and re-charge for the next. In recent months it has been filled with boxes from our move back in May due to our downsize in closet space. It was actually a welcome change considering it forced us to get rid of anything we didn’t use or need. Our bedroom wasn’t a priority when we first moved in, but we soon realized the disheveled clutter that was consuming it was not contributing to a peaceful day’s end. It was doing quite the opposite. Every time we walked into our room our anxiety levels rose from the clutter. So we decided to bite the bullet and make it a focus.

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