Hey all! Valentine’s day is around the corner and I don’t know about you, but it’s a family day around here. The kids and I generally put on as much red as we can muster up and spend the day cutting out red construction paper hearts to string for garland. We finish off the evening with some yummy food on our fanciest dishes, toast to our family with sparkling cider, and eat yummy Valentine’s Day cake! On top of all that we surprise each other with small gifts  – some are homemade and others not so much. So I’ve rounded up some of my family’s favorite Valentine goodies for yall from the one and only Walmart! Some of the items are fun and very affordable and others like my oh so favorite scent – Coco Chanel Mademoiselle are a bit on the pricey side. But this has to be my all-time favorite scent and when I wear it I get so many compliments. On the other hand, Donna Karan cashmere mist comes in a close second and is much more affordable! So whether your shopping for your family or yourself – I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy some of our favorites! 

Just click on an image on the slide to shop!

Castle soap has saved me quite a bit of money over the years. I use it for just about everything in my home. I started using it because I wanted to find easy and simple ways to start using more natural products in my home. It’s very affordable running under $5 a bottle – and get this… It’s concentrated too! A couple of teaspoons will get you far! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in a pinch and needed to do laundry but had run out of detergent. castle soap to the rescue!

So If you’re looking for a way to introduce more natural products in your home without spending much money, this product is for you! I’ve written down my top 10 favorite ways to use castle soap in your home!

1. All-purpose cleaning spray

Mix 2 teaspoons of castile soap with water and some drops of your favorite essential oil mixed in a spray bottle makes for a fantastic all-purpose cleaner.  You can use it on your counters in your bathroom and kitchen, your sinks, stovetops, even your toilets. It’s the wonder spray!

2. Shower scrubber

Mix 2-3 tablespoons of castile soap with 1/4 cup baking soda for a non-toxic shower scrub. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then scrub away. It works wonders!

3. Handwashing your dishes

A few drops of castle soap in your dishwater will do wonders on your sink of dishes!  A little dab goes a long way!

4. Toothpaste

 I wouldn’t go around eating it – but a few drops on your wet toothbrush will clean your teeth without all the chemical ingredients.

5. Body wash and shampoo

If you’re a low-maintenance person, you’ll be happy to know that you can use castile soap as an all-in-one in the shower, both for your hair and your body.

6. Veggie wash

Vegetable washes can be quite expensive! Did you know you can use Castle Soap to help rinse fruit and vegetables from their dirt and pesticide residue? Just add 1 tablespoon of castile soap to 2 cups of water, and store the mixture in a squirt bottle right beside your kitchen sink.

7. Pup shampoo

Make a mixture with one part castile soap and three parts water to shampoo your dog. This mix comes in handy with our farm pup – boy does she get stinky!

8. Hand soap refill

I love the smell of my Castle Soap, I put in 3 Tablespoons castile soap mixed with water into my hand soap bottle as a replacement.

9. Laundry detergent

Run out of Laundry Detergent? No problem! Just squirt about 1 tablespoon of Castle Soap and a splash of vinegar as a rinse to give your clothes a gentler clean!

10. Floor wash

Mix 1/4 cup castile soap in a bucket with warm water and get to mopping!

Well – I hope you’ve enjoyed this post! My favorite place to get Castle Soap is at Grove! Check it out here to receive your free caddy and three-piece Mrs. Meyers set!

Or you can pick it up at Amazon here!

With Love,

Korilyn

After my first blog post on my bathroom refresh series where I go over my design plan – I got a lot of requests asking how to choose bathroom fixtures – and where to get them. So I’ve decided to write a blog post hoping to answer your questions!

Mixing metals?

People ask me all the time if it’s ok to mix metals when planning your bathroom fixtures – and my answer is… YES! I love mixing metals! There are some rules though… For instance, you always want to tie in that metal somewhere. You don’t want to have one metal by itself feeling all alone and out of place. What I mean by that is pair up your metals or have three of one and 2 of the other. Like in my bathroom design, I’ll have a black framed mirror and a black light fixture AND a gold faucet with gold hardware. So remember – It’s ok to mix metals as long as you tie it in somewhere in the bathroom.

Does size matter?

Well….when it comes to choosing bathroom fixtures… size really does matter! Size your bathroom fixtures like your mirror and your light fixture off of your vanity size. You really want your mirror to be pretty close to the vanity size. Or, if you plan to have a light fixture on either side of your mirror the overall size should be the size of your vanity. That would mean the span from light fixture to light fixture.  If you have two sinks you can have two mirrors – but you don’t have to.

How much is too much?

Only you know how much is too much… This will depend entirely on your budget. BUT if your anything like me you want to find a good deal. There are so many places to buy bathroom fixtures (and at a decent price) – but I have to say, one of my favorite places to shop would definitely be Wayfair! They have such variety – not only in products but prices too!  I’ve rounded up some of my favorite mirrors, light fixtures, and faucets below!

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Did you miss my post on bathroom cleaning hacks without bleach? 

To start my bathroom refresh I started with a vision board. I went with farmhouse meets boho…If you know me – surprise surprise! Those are my two favorite styles. My bathroom currently is very brown. So to start things off I needed a paint job.

Time-saving painting hack

I’ll be perfectly honest – I do not enjoy painting. I’m not a prep work person and painting is all about that prep work – am I right?! It takes too much time! I just like to get in – do my project – and get out. Ever wonder how to paint a room quickly without all the painstakingly annoying steps? Well – I’ve discovered a time-saving painting hack where you can paint a room so much faster! Are you ready for it? Glad Press and Seal wrap!! Seriously, just a quick pull, rip, press down and your good to go. Instead of using painter’s tape, just press the wrap to the surfaces you don’t want paint on. Since using this hack – I’ve not only been able to cut down on the prep work… but I make less of a mess! Seriously – at one point my husband had made a no painting rule for me because I always made a mess – trick’s on him because I hate painting lol! You know, all the prep work right? (Like lying down a drop cloth and taping) Seriously, I hate taping!! But using Press and Seal wrap It’s quick and easy to paint without the mess.

Just Press and go

Did you also know that you can wrap it around your brush when your done painting (without soaking) to use the next day? That is if you’re working on the same project with the same colors. It keeps the brush moist overnight. I know I used the word moist… anybody hate that word? My sister does – literally cringes when I use it. That one for you sis!  Anyway –  I finished up the first coat today and I’ll back at it tomorrow with another coat.

Be sure to check out number 2 in this bathroom refresh series here. Each post will show the progress of my refresh and have a DIY or two along the way!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love, Korilyn at the farmhouse life

I’m so excited to finally bring you my gift guide – which I’ve been working on for months! I tried to come up with gift ideas that were unique and thoughtful, but at the same time I wanted to bring you guys some awesome deals too! Some of my favorite brands have sent over some fantastic discount codes and links that will save you tons of money this holiday season. Thanks to all the brands, and happy shopping!

Blanquil

Weighted blankets are all the rage right now! I totally jumped on the bandwagon and got a few for my kiddos’ rooms. They say it feels as though you’re getting a giant hug all night long. I gave it a whirl and I have to say –  I really did sleep better. There’s something so comforting about the extra weight that helped me rest easier and sleep longer. My kids really are sleeping longer and harder… which is a huge win for me.

These weighted blankets would make an excellent gift this Holiday season for really anyone in your life. And Blanquil happens to be having their biggest sale ever with 40% off site wide starting Now! -Use code BF19

Hart and Hess

Hart and Hess is a home decor subscription box company delivering amazing home decor goods to your front door. I receive a box every month and it feels like Christmas year round. Home decor boxes would make amazing Christmas gifts for the loved ones in your life who love all things home. They are currently running huge Black Friday deals that make signing up more affordable then ever. If you use code HomeBoxHoliday you can get 20% off your first month’s subscription! And there’s so many more sales going on. If you’ve had your eye on a few of their products that were only available through home box subscriptions, you can now order them individually and with a discount! Their products are ranging from 25%-50% off, check them out here!

Beddys

You guys know I love my Beddys! My kids absolutely adore them! I know they would make an amazing Holiday gift for the little ones in your life. Starting Thursday morning at 12:01am Beddys is running an amazing sale! 25% off everything on their site using the code BLACKFRIDAY19. Plus, for every $200 spent… they’re giving away $25 gift cards!!

Mixbooks

Mixbooks is a great gift to give the grams and gramps on your list! With mixbook you can create the most beautiful photo books and keepsakes of your family. Use code BFDEALS to get 55% off your order!

Scentbox

A Scentbox subscription would make an amazing gift for someone who loves perfume! I currently have a subscription and love that I get designer fragrances shipped to my door every month! It’s as easy as adding fragrances into your que and having them shipped to your door. Each spray bottle has a month’s worth of fragrance – I love it because I get to try out so many fragrances that I wouldn’t get a chance to try so frequently. It takes me a good year to go through a normal size bottle  – so I was stuck with the same scent for a long time. With Scentbox you an use this link and get 35% off your first month’s subscription making it just under $10.

27teas

27Teas is a small woman-owned New Hampshire based company with the most delicious blends of tea. What I love about this tea company is that they give back – and big time! A percentage of their profits goes to the Water Project which supports clean water and sanitation initiatives for a special school in Kenya. Giving an adorable tea set and loose leaf tea would be such a sweet gift this holiday season. And for Black Friday, 27Teas is offering 20% off and free shipping on all orders over $40! Coupon code blackfriday2019 (ps – Doesn’t apply to monthly subscriptions) 

These other sales do not need special Codes, Just click an image below!

Happy shopping buddies,

Love,

Kori

If you’re like me and you’ve seen Christmas tree flocking DIYs floating around the social media world – and you’ve been curious if it really works… I’m here to tell you it does!! – AND it IS that easy! But I definitely learned a thing or two about tree flocking that I wish I knew – to save me from saying “flock you” to my DIY 😉 … So here’s what’s up if you’re thinking about giving it a try.

To Start – I used these simple supplies…

Next – I laid down cardboard and got to spraying…

Ok – So here’s what I learned

Initially, I just went to town spraying… But in actuality I laid it on too thick and it took way too long to dry. It also kind of clumped together instead of drying evenly. What I should have done is several very light coats with plenty of dry time in between. I would say at least an hour or two between coats.

 Clean up

Clean up is very easy if you do it right away… and not wait until morning. The snow in a can sort of smells like shaving cream and seems to have the same texture. So it’s very wet and sticky, but it does make clean up a breeze. Unless of course you wait until morning. There were some parts of my floor I missed and it left a film that I had to scrub off with all purpose cleaner and a scrub brush.

Indoor use only

So… Apparently snow in a can isn’t how the professionals would flock a tree! Although, it will look pretty –  it will not hold up outside in the weather. There is another long process of adhesive spray and powdered snow to create real flocking that you can put outside. So If you’re looking for a quick and easy DIY – Go with snow in a can… Other wise you’ll have to find another DIY 😉

Well buddies – That’s about all I learned from tree flocking – I hope you give it a shot!! If you do – tag me on Instagram… I’d love to see.

Love,

Korilyn

This year for my Thanksgiving tablescape I wanted to go really neutral. I found these great burlap table runners on Amazon and decided that was going to be my inspiration! I ended up buying 4. One that ran the length of my table and 2 that I could cut in half and run the width of my table to use as placemats.

Cutting burlap

I have a really useful tip to use when cutting burlap. Measure your burlap to size and snip the edge of the runner exactly where you want to cut your burlap. Then, find a loose thread and pull all the way until the tread comes out. It will bunch together until the tread comes loose. This will leave you a perfect line to cut and your edges won’t fray.

Add layers to your tablescape

First I added my burlap runner down the middle. Then, I added my cut burlap to the width of the table creating placemats for each chair. Next, I added my pinstripe table runner to add some color and texture to my tablescape. And lastly, I added greenery! I love to use real or faux garland to my tablescapes.

Centerpiece

Add your centerpiece to the center of the garland. If you missed my post about making a Thanksgiving centerpiece you can read on here. I also added varying size pumpkins from our garden and taper candles and candle holders to add height to my tablescape.

Table setting

I like a more eclectic vibe for my table setting. I used mismatched white dishes that were thrifted and drinking glasses that were also thrifted. To help the table feel more cohesive with my eclectic vibe I used matching black chargers and buffalo check napkins. These napkin rings were from Target long ago –  But you can find similar ones here.

The key to tablescapes

The key to any tablescape is to add many layers and varying heights. This adds depth and dimension and is visually appealing. Basically, you want one thing that your eye is going to be drawn too (here – my floral arrangement) and then other things that aren’t going to compete with it, but complement it.

Watch me build it here

I hope you’ve enjoyed friends.. checkout my Pumpkin bar recipe for the perfect Thanksgiving day treat!

Love, Korilyn

Thanksgiving is literally around the corner… are you ready? If your list is anything like mine – you’ve got a million and one things to do to plan for the big day. Well – If one of those things was  – come up with a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece that will literally make all of your guests oohh and aahhh – I’ve got you covered!

Use what you have first

I always try to use what I have first before I head to the store… If I can use the majority of what I have and then only have to buy one or two things to keep things looking fresh and new I’d call that a win. So for this arrangement, I used a jar that I already had, brick foam, faux stems, floral shears, and real flowers from my local grocery store.

1. First, cut your brick foam to fit neatly inside your jar.
2. Add in your fresh stems to your jar sticking them in all different directions.
3. Lastly – add in your faux stems to fill in any gaps

Voila -Done

Sometimes the simplest centerpieces can be the most impactful! Pair with some taper candlesticks and layer pumpkins on either side and you’ve got yourself a beautiful centerpiece!

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So it snowed today… are you guys ready?! It may not officially be winter on the calendar but as soon as it snows it’s winter in my books. I got all my kiddos winter gear out including coats, hats, gloves, and of course all of our down comforters and gave them all a good wash. Whatever we have to do to stay warm – am I right?! I don’t know what it is about colder weather that makes me obsessed with making everything cozy – but seriously bring on everything soft, plush, and fuffy!

This year in keeping with my cozy winter theme – It was time to swap out my bedding for something more fitting for winter. Out went the linen sheet and in came the flannel sheets! My friends from Garnet Hill sent me over a set including sheets, pillows cases, and a duvet cover from their signature line in white! All flannel! I’ll be honest – I’m a flannel bedding virgin… But I’m happy to report that since I’ve experienced them… I’ll be a flannel sheet kinda girl for life. Only in the chillier months that it. Who else here has never experienced flannel sheets before??

OK- here’s where I’m going to tell you all that you’re missing out –

One

They are Legitemetly warm

I seem to always have the coldest feet ever… I mean my poor husband will tell ya because I often put my toes on the back of his legs. Sorry, not sorry! I can’t be alone – Am I right?! But listen, guys, with Garnet Hill’s flannel bedding… there’s no need to torture our husbands anymore! My feet stay perfectly warm! My husband even commented on how amazing this flannel bedding is! He never notices anything. Seriously, I could have changed our bedding set from white to maroon and he wouldn’t notice a thing. He’s a practical kind of guy – so when he noticed that he felt warmer in bed he realized something must be new!

Two

Science says they’re softer

So apparently flannel is a napped cotton fabric, which means its loose fibers are teased loose from the weave. These loose ends make flannel super soft and fluffy to the touch, plus the fibers trap air to keep in the heat… so there that!

Three

Who needs a three?

Flannel is the perfect bedding this winter and I for one am thrilled to be sleeping on the warmest – coziest – softest bedding ever!

Check out Garnet Hill’s selection here!

Entryway styling made easy!

Do you have an entryway that you just aren’t sure what to do with or how to style it? Well, I feel ya! I was in the same spot. This area had a huge heater and without removing the cover and building a custom table it was just going to stay an awkward area that we all avoided.

My husband built this table around the heating unit hidden on the bottom shelf. After we had the heating dilemma fixed… it was time to style… which is the most fun part!!

 5 steps to a perfectly styled entryway

1. 1. Layer your larger items. Start with one large mirror or artwork. Then add two other pieces in varying heights. The reason you have one tall item is that your eye is going to catch the tallest part of your display. You don’t want anything competing with that.
   2. Add a light fixture. A lamp or a hanging light fixture will add some warm light to your styled table.
   3. Add some Greenery! Plants always look great on an entryway table. My plants are the lowest point of my decor.
   4. Add in smaller items to help add to the layers. If you look at my picture… I’ve tried to mimic the lines of the stairs. Keep in mind the size of your table and the wall it sits on.
   5. I put baskets on the bottom shelf. This is a great way to add some storage to make this space not only beautiful but practical!

Want to shop this post? Click on an image below!!