February 15, 2022

Small Flush Mount Lighting that are 8″ or Less in Diameter

We have a small 6” flush mount lighting installed in the arched ceiling of our bedroom, right before you enter the ensuite bathroom. When we were looking at options to replace it (we’re also replacing the main lighting with this), I realized that many of the flush mount options that I had pinned were way too large.

My hunt for a flush mount lighting that was less than 8” in diameter took more time than I thought. I even considered getting a semi flush mount if the height worked. We almost bought this beautiful alabaster LED lighting designed by Kelly Wearstler. But decided against having an LED built-in option because if it breaks and is past the warranty, we’d have to replace the entire fixture! It may not be an issue for others if you truly love the design. And this one is quite stunning!

In our search for the perfect flush mount lighting, we ended up finding a vintage one on FB marketplace! If you’ve been searching for a smaller size flush mount lighting and have no luck finding one second hand, I’ve rounded up my favorites for you!

1.Otto LED Flush Mount in Alabaster 8”. Designed by Kelly Wearstler $452

2. Cully Flush Mount 8”. Rejuvenation $313, on clearance!

3. Bell White Flush Mount 8”, 6” canopy. CB2 $59

4. Nodes Flush Mount 8”. Designed by Kelly Wearstler$167 on sale

5. Ceramic Semi Flush Mount 7.8”, 4.72” Canopy. Etsy $119

6. Celeste Semi Flush Mount 8”, 5.13” Canopy. Joss and Main $118 on sale

Sweetest Regards, Patti

design

February 8, 2022

January Favorites

January sure flew by and now we’re getting ready for Valentine’s Day festivities. Last month wasn’t ideal with Brian getting sick and school returning to distance learning but we got through it! We’re all healthy and I’m determined to make this a good year. Here’s what we covered this month if you missed it:

Best Planners for 2022
Warmest Winter Boots for Cold & Snowy Climates. The BEST round-up with top recs from my IG followers!
Our Ensuite Bathroom Design Direction Using Vintage Inspired Green Tile
Practical Mudroom Solutions for Snowy Winters. I ordered this one which I just got in!
Inspiration for Cafe Curtains in the Bathroom. Yes, we’re moving forward with this!
Fun Valentine’s Day Idea: Making Donuts With This Simple Recipe. Great idea for the family!

January Favorites

I love sharing products that I’m excited about, bring me joy or were just plain ol’ helpful like Jack’s potty watch :)! Here’s a round up of my favorite products that you also loved, too!

1. Guava Scented Candle. Comes in other scents but this one is my favorite from that collection.

2. Ceramic Pitcher Vase. It’s a darling 8.5” smaller size vase that I can float around from room to room. Love the handle!

3. Milton Road Flush Mount. It’s designed by Thomas O’Brien and we ordered in the antique brass It will be the perfect swap for our bedroom light.

4. Comfy Loungewear/Sleepwear. When Brian was sick and I was solo parenting + doing distance learning, I treated myself to some cute loungewear/sleepwear sets since I only owned mismatched old shirts and sweats. Love this set from Abercrombie and Fitch and ordered this cute one, too. Makes a big difference in my attitude to wear things that make me feel good!

5. Cambridge Handwoven Wool Rug. Got this for under our bed and it’s so soft and plush. It’s a nice neutral serene color. Sound can really travel in older homes so having rug pads and thick rugs for the upstairs is key. Most wool rugs will shed initially when you get them but this one surprisingly hasn’t shed much at all.

6. Metal Vintage Style Brass Mirror. I got this pretty mirror to hang in our foyer and it makes that tiny space look bigger! Mirrors can give that illusion. It’s a great quality, has great reviews and compared to other mirrors in this style – it’s a true value at $129.99!

7. Sherpa Mule Slippers. We don’t wear shoes inside our home so these are nice house slippers. I was afraid with only two sizing available that these would be big but they’re not at all! And they stay on comfortably.

8. Milk Glass Schoolhouse Style Flush Mount. This was one of the flush mounts we considered for our bedroom. The maker is a small shop called Olde Brick Lighting and they have stellar reviews with very reasonable prices. Give them a browse if you’re looking for some beautiful lighting.

9. Potty Training Watch. Jack has been ready to start potty training for months. His teachers are good with keeping him on schedule but we were dropping the ball at home. They recommended a potty watch and after researching, Brian landed on this one. Jack’s been feeling proud wearing it and it’s been a good reminder for us at home. A total win!

10. Sherpa Hightop Sneaker. I got these from Evereve and they look so good for running errands! They’re super comfortable and warm enough for the cold but don’t make my feet sweat. They’re currently 68% off ($49!) right now so run!!!

11. Linen Duvet Cover Set. I compared the price and reviews from 4 difference sources and this one came out on top so I bought it! And it did not disappoint. The quality is nice and this olive color was one of the big reasons I got it. It comes in 7 color options and about 60% less than other brands. It’s only been through one wash but so far I give it a thumbs up!

12. Good American Good Curve Jeans. A few months ago, I donated a lot of my jeans – most were low rise. After that, I was left with jeggings and a couple of my Zara and Levi’s that I like but gets saggy after wearing a few hours in. This Good Curve jeans hug so well! Mine is size 00. My newest pair that I’d recommend is this high rise super skinny jeans that I got a week ago.

13. Faux Olive Tree. This one is 48” tall and would look good in any room. The quality and reviews are really good, too!

Scroll Through January Favorites

Sweetest Regards, Patti

community

January 31, 2022

5 Fun Winter Activities & Experiences Around the Twin Cities

by Joan Albrecht

The winters are long in Minnesota so you have to come up with ways to stay entertained. Luckily, there are so many different fun things to do in the Twin Cities! There are your typical winter activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, and skiing. There are also some fun unique experiences to have. Here is a list of 5 unique experiences that you probably haven’t thought of doing. A lot of these are unique to MN but I bet you could find other states that do similar activities!

The Wagner Family having fun at the Ice Castles a couple years ago!

1) Ice Castles

Checking out the Ice Castles is a must! It’s such a fun family-friendly winter activity – located about 25 minutes outside of the city in New Brighton. They also have locations in New York, New Hampshire, Utah, and Wisconsin. They usually pop up in January and are around until March.

You can explore the caverns, slide down ice slides, or crawl around in ice caves. You are gonna wanna gear up to make sure you stay warm and dry (check out our warm winter jackets and best snow boots round-ups). I def recommend going at night so you can see all the gorgeous lights.

2) Go Maple Syruping

You can find maple syruping programs at a lot of Minnesota State Parks. You can sign up with your family to learn all things maple syrup. They will show you how to tap a maple tree and harvest maple. This does depend on the time of year but usually starts between January and February and lasts until the spring. It’s a great activity for kiddos to learn where the maple syrup for their pancakes comes from.

3) Dog Sledding

A bucket list must! Dog sledding can be a fun and eventful family-friendly activity. Most places to dog sled are near the North Shore. However, there is Hastings Huskies & Horse Ranch right in the Twin Cities Metro. It is perfect for families who want to experience dog sledding without having to make a weekend trip up North!

4) Ice Palace Maze

This is the perfect winter family fun experience! It’s located in Stillwater, MN which has so many fun winter activities and is right in the Twin Cities Metro. The Ice Palace Maze is made up of thousands of ice blocks that are stacked 10’ high. If you make it through the maze you get a victory slide down the huge ice slide. They also have a chocolate and smores bar for the kiddos and an actual bar for adults.

5) Igloo Dining

Although creatively used for outdoor dining during the pandemic, Igloo’s are still a fun dining experience for the wintertime. Ninetwentyfive in Wayzata brought back Igloo dining by popular demand. The Igloo’s fit 6 people comfortably and would be great for a couples dinner out or a get-together with friends. Each of the Igloos is customized to a certain drink: whiskey, vodka, champagne. There is also a prix fixe menu that matches each of the individual Igloos.

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image via ninetwentyfive

Winter time in the Twin Cities can be so much fun! Let us know which activities you wanna give a try or have already tried out!

Are you local or plan to visit the Twin Cities? See more of our city guides here:

Patti’s Guide: Things to Do In and Around the Twin Cities

Patti’s Fall Guide: Things to do Around the Twin Cities

Sweetest Regards, Patti

Lifestyle

January 25, 2022

Fun Valentine’s Day Idea: Making Donuts With This Simple Recipe

by: Joan Albrecht

Valentine’s Day is deff my favorite holiday. I love LOVE. So having a whole day to express and celebrate love is my kind of day. The other holidays are great for gathering around family and friends but Valentine’s Day is truly a day to share your love with your loved ones.

One of my favorite ways of showing love is baking. I am not a star baker but I have watched my fair share of the Food Network. Looking up different Valentine’s Day recipes I came across this simple homemade donut recipe from Butternut & Sage and thought it was a fun and unique Valentine’s Day idea. I ended up doing a batch of the classic cinnamon sugar donuts and then decorated the second batch.

This easy recipe would be so fun to try out with your kiddos, partner, or friends! Sharing how I made them following Butternut & Sage’s recipe and my tips after making them.

Ingredients

2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast *Note: I used instant yeast and it turned out fine
1 tablespoon honey
1 ¼ cups whole milk (warmed between 95-110 degrees F)
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
6 tablespoons melted butter
4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
canola oil, for frying

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Optional Decorating:

frosting – I used meltables
sprinkles

Kitchen Tools:

Heart-shaped cookie cutter. I used the medium size
Stand mixer . Use it if you have it because I did not use one and got my hands very sticky!
Mixing bowls. I have these and love them! Great for storing or proofing.
Frying spatula. Would be handy but not completely necessary as long as you have a stainless steel spoon with holes.

Directions:

Step 1: Making the dough. Note: I used instant yeast vs. the recommended dry yeast and I didn’t use a stand mixer. The recipe states to mix all the ingredients in together but I suggest to mix all of the wet ingredients together first (salt, eggs, vanilla and melted butter) before the flour. Knead the dough until it comes together, about 5 minutes. Per the recipe, if the dough is too sticky, add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until it comes together.

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot to rise, about 1 hour.

Step 2: Making them heart shaped. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out so that it is about ½ inch thick. Make sure you do not roll out your dough too thin! I did this for the first couple and the donuts did not fry well. They became super airy inside.

Use the heart shape cookie cutters to cut out the dough into hearts. Then roll the remaining dough back into a ball, roll out with the rolling pin into the same ½ inch thickness, and repeat until all the dough has been used.

Per the instruction on the website, I mixed the flour in first without stirring in the vanilla and it did not incorporate well. You can see in the picture, there are brown spots where the vanilla did not mix in.

Place the heart donuts onto parchment lined cookie sheets and cover with plastic wrap until all the dough has been cut out and ready to fry.

Step 3: Fry donuts. Make sure you have a cooking thermometer to check that the oil is hot enough but not too hot. Apparently, if the oil is too hot, the dough will brown too fast and the dough will be uncooked and doughy in the middle.

In a large pot add 3 inches of canola oil. Heat the oil over medium heat until it reached 350 degrees F and you’ll want to maintain it at this temp. Keep your eye out and turn down the heat if needed.

Slowly place the donuts in the hot oil. Try to work in batches of about 4 donuts at a time. Fry the donuts about 2 minutes per side.

Using a slotted metal spoon, transfer them to a wire rack to cool while you fry the rest of the donuts. My first donut frying attempts did not turn out well but they got better so don’t worry about them being a fail!

Step 4: Donut Coatings and Decorating. Use 1 cup granulated white sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. I simply rolled the donuts in the cinnamon sugar. I also decorated with icing and sprinkles. Kids would love this part!

Tips – What I Learned After Trying Butternut and Sage’s Homemade Donut Recipe:

I was a little intimidated because I have never made donuts before but it was so much fun! I was surprised by how simple the ingredients and directions were. I do have a few tips if you want to give donut-making a try.

Gather all the tools ahead of time. *I mistook the meat thermometer as a cooking thermometer and had to run out to get the right one
A lot of the ingredients you most likely have but make sure you have enough cooking oil

The recipe calls for active or instant dry yeast. I tried the instant yeast and they turned out perfect! I suggest buying little packets of active and instant yeast from the grocery store. They are super handy to have on hand. I used almond milk instead of whole milk and it totally worked as an alternative!
Mix all of the wet ingredients together before the flour. This is standard in baking but the recipe states to mix it all in together. I mixed the flour in first without stirring in the vanilla and it did not incorporate well.

Do not roll out your dough too thin! I did this for the first couple and they did not fry well. They became super airy inside.
The first fry is the hardest. It is like cooking pancakes. The first one never turns out well. I was so worried that this was a donut fail but I kept frying and they ended up amazing!!

Have fun decorating them! The cinnamon sugar is delicious and it’s fun to roll the donuts around it in. Decorating with icing would be fun to do with your kiddos. I also think filling them with jelly or adding fun toppings would be so yummy!

If you are making these with your kiddos I suggest having them help with the ingredients assembly and decorating. Frying the donuts is definitely an adult job.

A big thank you to Butternut and Sage for sharing this simple donut (doughnut) recipe that’s perfect for a Valentine’s Day activity. I was happy with how they turned out and totally recommend it. I can’t get over how cute and delicious these donuts are!

If frying isn’t your thing, you can try the easy baking donuts method. I found this yummy strawberries and cream donut baking recipe from 30 Days of Recipes.

Let us know if you’ve ever tried making donuts and if you have any tips. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sweetest Regards, Patti

Fashion

January 23, 2022

Warmest Winter Boots for Cold & Snowy Climates

by Joan Albrecht

The key to enjoying the winter climate is by keeping your feet warm and dry. That’s why it’s so important to invest in good winter boots. Having a reliable pair ensures that you’ll be able to have fun in the snow and not dread the cold. We rounded up some great winter boots for women and kids! Patti also reached out to her insta followers for their favorite recommendations. There were so many great responses and we picked the top 9 most popular recommendations!

Warmest Women’s Winter Boots

Kids winter boots

Top Insta Reccomendations:

There were hundreds of responses on insta recommending personal favorites. Here are the top brands and some of the boot options!

1. Sorel

Sorel was by far the most recommended brand! I have noticed a lot of people in Minnesota wearing these so they must live up to the hype!

2. L.L Bean

L.L Bean is a go-to for good winter gear. A lot of people recommended the lined duck boots!

3. Columbia

Another great go-to for winter and outdoor wear. Columbia has such great quality gear. All of their winter boots have great grip for traction in the snow.

4. Teva

I was surprised to see this answer! I did not realize that Teva made boots. They seem like great options for walking around a chilly city.

5. Merell

These look like perf shoes for cold weather climates. I love their sneaker boots! They look super comfortable and have a great grip on the bottom.

6. Uggs

The classic Uggs have been making a huge comeback. These all-weather options are perf for snow and cold weather. They are such great quality and really cute.

7. Sperry

These winter duck boots look so cozy! Duck boots are great for keeping your feet dry and these winter ones have a microfleece for warmth. My fav thing about duck boots is how easily they come on and off.

8. The North Face

These snow boots are light and comfortable. They are great quality and can last you years!

9. Kamiks

A Wagner Fam Fav! They have amazing shoes for all of the family. Tried and true since 1898!

Other Great Recommendations:

BOGS

Bogs look like great shoes you can easily throw on when it is snowy outside. They are currently having a sale 60% off sale items with the code SNOWMAN

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whiteout tonal camo, crandall 2 mid zip, classic casual zip

Mukluks

Mukluks are very traditional snow boots made in Ely, MN. They’re made of very warm material and have a temp rating of -20F. You can choose to get them water-resistant too.

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wildcat, klondike, mesa

Kodiak

Another traditional winter boot that dates back to 1910 Ontario, Canada! These boots are high quality and Kodiak is “Canada’s bootmaker”.

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claresholm, glacial arctic grip, chadsey arctic grip

Tips for Winter Boots:

*wool socks are a must! So many recommended these Bombas Socks for the entire family. They come in a variety of lengths and fun patterns, too!

*heeled boots help to keep your feet out of the snow

Do you have a pair of favorite warm winter boots that you would 100% recommend for everyday wear? Feel free to share in the comments!

Sweetest Regards, Patti

design

January 18, 2022

Inspiration for Cafe Curtains in the Bathroom

Looking for cafe curtain inspiration for your bathroom? See some of the most beautiful bathrooms with them here!

People often think of cafe curtains for the kitchen. However, when I was searching for a solution for our ensuite bathroom window treatments, they rose to the top! Although Roman shades or the up/down shades, were my initial choices, you can’t beat the charm of cafe curtains, especially with French pleats!

Read the latest on our ensuite bathroom here, with some before and after photos.

They truly are the perfect window treatment solution for our bathroom. They give privacy but still allow plenty of sunlight to stream inside without completely blocking our nice view to the outside. Let me show you some great examples!

Beautiful Bathrooms with Cafe Curtains

via Heidi Caillier Design (one of my favorite interior designers to follow)

cafe curtains in bathroom with freestanding double vanity — via Ashley Gilbreath Interior design

cafe curtains in bathroom — via Jake Arnold

cafe curtains in bathroom with freestanding tub — via Phoebe Howard

cafe curtains in bathroom with tub — via Better Homes &amp;amp; Gardens; credit Emily Followill

cafe curtains with freestanding tub — via Marvin; home of Amber Interiors

Where to Order Cafe Curtains

Custom linen French pleats can be quite expensive. Which is why I ordered these cafe curtains from Amazon to test out since they were only $12.99 for a pair. So much less compared to my dream ones at $300 a panel! If you’re willing to DIY the pleats, these are great options!

However, with the kids doing distance learning, I just don’t think I’m going to have time to add another project to my plate. I found some great shops on Etsy that sell cafe curtains with custom pleats. Prices range from $26 – $165 a panel.

Don’t Forget about the Cafe Rods

We installed these inside mount cafe rod set. They’e great because you can custom order to fit the exact length of your windows.

Here are more affordable options for cafe rods and curtain rings.

What is My Solution?

After thinking through all the options, I’ll probably go the custom route long term and work with someone local to get the beautiful tailored look. My dilemma right now is choosing between a taupe, cream or ivory/off-white. Sound off. What color would you go with?

See the most updated progress of our ensuite bathroom here

Sweetest Regards, Patti

Our Ensuite Bathroom Design Direction Using Vintage Inspired Green Tile

I know a lot of you like seeing my thought process so this bathroom design post is for you and it’s also a little dedication to our Mercury Mosaics vintage inspired green tile. Make sure to read the timeline of our ensuite bathroom renovation here to help you understand why we are so anxious to get to the finish line! Hint: we’ve waited a loooong time for this bathroom!

Below is the floor plan of our ensuite bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom used to be an unused sleeping porch. We worked with the original footprint to not alter our home’s exterior and bonus that it was the most cost effective to not knock down walls or relocate/remove the windows.

A lot of people were puzzled as to why we’d put the vanity and mirrors in front of our windows but as you can see, this truly is the best layout given the existing floor plan for our bathroom design. Check out the reels to see what that looks like. The natural light in here is unreal and with it streaming through behind the mirrors, it’s the best situation for applying makeup! More to come on the vanity, hardware and fixtures including the ceiling mounted mirrors in a future post.

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A post shared by Patti Wagner (@patticakewagner)

Bathroom Design Plan

By no means is this a “band-aid” project because we’ve been saving up for this renovation since we moved in. Still, we tried to do as much of the pre-work as we could to save on cost. This is our dream bathroom and we acted as the general contractors. It was important that not only did it look amazing but the quality was superior. I do want to note that by us acting as the GC, the timeline took a lot longer than someone who does this for a living but the upside is that it helped us save on cost.

Here’s our original bathroom design plan. It evolved as we made updates. I like to update our design board as we go to guide us in making the infinite decisions that comes with a renovation project.

Initial design board. Room images are purely to show how the materials + finishes could pair together. Sources top room photo | bottom room photo | sconce | arch mirror | bridge faucet

We wanted the bathroom design to feel warm, old world, classic, timeless but unique and also luxurious. So from a material standpoint, we wanted walnut wood, pattern tile and a mix of bronze and brass hardware and finishes.

The design plan shifted to have this ensuite bathroom tie back to our little vintage green bathroom after more brainstorming. We didn’t want this space to feel disconnected from the design of our house. As we begin our collaboration with Mercury Mosaics, we knew the color green would be an important element in the tiles for the bathroom design.

Revised design board with tile designed in collaboration with Mercury Mosaics

Mercury Mosaics Direction

Mercury Mosaics studied our Tudor home and tile designs around the time our home was built in 1927. We felt very understood as their awesome founder, Mercedes Austin, grew up in a historic property herself! You can read more about our collaboration process on their page here.

Our Tudor Home Exterior and Rooms Collage

You can see in this collage from Mercury Mosaics the style of our home and interiors to help guide the tile direction.

We wanted to design something for Patti that would feel like it could have been a part of the home when it was originally built. Imagining being in the mindset of a tile maker in the 1920’s, we wanted to celebrate the artistry of Tudor style. This is something that comes natural to us as artisan tile makers! – Mercury Mosaics Team

They were able to take my vision for the bathroom design to curate some amazing options during the early stages. I loved our creative process together that spanned over a year to finalize the pattern layout and colors.

ensuite bathroom tile iterations from Mercury Mosiacs

tile design with mercury mosaics measurement layout

tile design with mercury mosaics edge placements

The tile really set the tone for our design direction and personality. Often times, we think of color in a space through paint, wall paper and decor. But tile can bring in color in a very timeless way. We did quite a few iterations of the green color until we landed on the perfect one for our ensuite bathroom design. Here’s the final design board to reflect upon.

The tile layout rendering illustrates its quilt effect. It’s a work of art and our tile installer Chad, at Ingersoll Tile LLC, did an exceptional job with the install! Therefore it came out even more beautiful than I could’ve imaged!

A lot of you have been asking how you can achieve this same or similar tile design and you can read all about it here! Mercury Mosaics will happily assist you to create this custom look and you’re not limited to the green color. You can customize it to fit your space and taste!

Tile details:

Floor: Victorian Pattern paired with a Deco Border and Deco Corner in 123W Patina
Walls: 3×6 Subway tile with architectural details of Chair Rails and Grounding Cove Base in 11 Deco White
Grout: Laticrete in 44 Bright White

Here are more photos of the tiles after they were grouted. I have not shared these images before, yet they take my breath away! Enjoy!

mercury mosaics wall tile — shower niche

green tile pattern in bathroom design — Final Reveal

Floor: Victorian Pattern paired with a Deco Border + Deco Corner in 123W Patina. Walls: 3×6 Subway tile with architectural details of Chair Rails and Grounding Cove Base in 11 Deco White.

Sweetest Regards, Patti

organization

December 28, 2021

Best Planners for 2022

by Joan Albrecht

One of the most important decisions you make at the start of the year is what planner to get (see last year’s round up here). It will stick with you for the next 12-18 months so choose wisely! Not only should your planner be something you can look at for the next year. It should be one that works best for your planning needs.

I rounded up some really great planners that range from monthly to daily planning. Depending on how you want to plan your life, from an hour-by-hour schedule to a monthly glance. A lot of these planners also have useful features like meal prepping and goal setting.

Rifle Co. 12 Month Planner 2022

Rifle Co. has so many beautifully designed planners and notebooks. This one is great for weekly planning and it includes a weekly to-do list! Great for those who like to check off a to-do list.

Daily Goal-Setter

This planner is great for goal setting. It has blank daily pages that include sections to write what you are grateful for, daily affirmations, tasks for the day, and a place to reflect on something great that happened that day. Perfect for checking off all of your daily tasks but also remembering to find goodness in each day.

Etsy 2022 Daily Planner

Patti’s choice! It is a daily planner that is perf for planning your day by the hour. It has a task section to help keep you on track and it also has adorable inspirational quotes throughout.

Anecdote Daily Planner 2022

“Not like any other planner”. This planner is great for daily tasks with a to-do list on each page. It also has a section for weekly plans and yearly goals. Great for keeping you on track from day to day as well as reaching your long-term goals.

Verishop Day Planner

Joan’s choice! A chic daily planner that includes an area for keeping track of your meals, groceries, self-care, movement, and even hydration. Perfect for making sure you are maintaining a healthy life-style.

Musings Weekly Planner

A classic weekly planner with a little twist! It includes a section to keep track of your meals, self care, movement, and hydration. Great for making sure you take care of yourself.

Simplified 2022 Daily Planner

One of the most recommended planners! It has a daily spread for getting all your to-do’s organized. There is a weekend spread with a Sunday checklist to get you prepared for the week ahead!

Erin Condren Focused Planner

Another very popular recommendation! This is a great weekly planner to keep you organized. It also includes a section for goals and intentions! Such a great way to keep you on track and motivated.

Sugar Paper Linen Journal

This is such a lovely linen planner. It is a weekly journal with a lot of pages for notes and an area to write down “don’t forget” notes.

Sweetest Regards, Patti

design

December 20, 2021

Follower Favorites for 2021

What a year 2021 has been. There were challenging moments but overall, I’m filled with gratitude. From filming my own HGTV digital show, Rentfluencer (so fun bringing you along with me on that journey!), to purchasing our latest rental property, to being able to travel again as a family to almost wrapping up with one of our biggest projects yet – and of course so many wonderful things in between!

It’s now time to slow down and relax. The kiddos are home for winter break and I will be signing off of social media until the new year. I just want to be mom and turn off the distraction of work and my phone. I hope you can do the same.

Before signing off, I’m counting down your favorites of 2021 of products that I love and shared with you.

1. Q by Quincy Mae outfits for Jack. I buy the original Quincy Mae line from our local shops but sometimes size are limited so it’s nice to know that I can order their Q line from Target, too! I was surprised that this was #1 on the list but it tells me that you love inspo for kids clothing.

2. Bamboo Utensil Organizers. Organizing our kitchen drawers has made me feel like a true adult. You too?

3. Bissell Upholstery Cleaner. This has saved our family so many times, from poop stains to wine spills!

4. Coiled robe baskets. They no longer sell the ones we have but these here are similar.

5. Marble Top Table in our living room. It’s a nice quality for the price!

6. Casaluna Chunky Knit Blanket. This is a follower favorite and I love the clay color for the cold seasons!

7. Toddler Boys Bryson Sandals. These are no longer available but this one here is just as cute!

8. The Girl’s Metal Twin Bed Frames. You can also compare prices here. It’s a timeless style.

9. Women’s Anya Ankle Boots. These are sold out but this one here is similar. See our full round up of boots here.

10. Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller. We love this stroller for Jack to ride in and for Ava and Livy to hop on and off during our walks. We even take it with us when traveling!

11. Nep Yarn Knit Throw Blanket. These are sold out but these here are similar.

12. Natural Wood Footed Décor/Serve Stand – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia. This tray is the same idea as the one on our dining table but longer.

13. Rectangle Wood Framed Mirror Natural – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia. This is the mirror in our powder room that looks a lot more expensive than it really is!

14. Minsmere Caned Accent Table with Drawer – Opalhouse™. We have this in the natural color for Jack’s old nursery and our guest bedroom.

15. Round Pom Pom Pillows. My olive color is no longer available but I love the cream color, too.

16. We Are the Gardeners (Hardcover) – by Joanna Gaines. We got for Livy’s birthday and it’s such a great kids book!

A couple of favorites that barely missed the list:

The Hero pimple patches that have helped my acne heal so much faster! I highly recommend them and these ones for cystic acne!
Our wood frames in the living room. The quality is great and I’m thinking of getting the 25” x 25” black frames for above our console, behind our two chairs in the living room.

I loved seeing what your favorites were for this year! I hope you found some great ideas and inspiration. Thank you for a wonderful year – you all feel like a part of my extended family. Looking forward to the new year. Wishing you the happiest of holidays!

Warmest Regards,

-Patti

Sweetest Regards, Patti

family

December 15, 2021

Holiday Mugs and Hot Chocolate Night Ideas

Every year we have our annual hot chocolate night! It’s something our family looks forward to, especially the kids. It’s a great way for our family to connect and feel warm + cozy during the cold MN winters.

Hot chocolate night is always more fun with festive mugs so I rounded up some of my favorites for the entire family. And if you’re looking for a new spin on your hot chocolate nights, I included four amazing recipes that you should try out!

Adult Holiday Mugs:

I used to design seasonal mugs and kids mugs (holds about 13 oz or less) tend to be harder to find because they have to go through strict testing protocols to be labeled as “kids mugs” from retailers but you can search under “mini mugs” for kid-size mugs as well.

Kids Holiday Mugs:

Yummy Hot Chocolate Recipes

All of these recipes are great for family hot chocolate nights like ours! If you want to make hot chocolate for a large crowd, the crockpot is the way to go! it is great for keeping it warm and you can make enough for everyone at the holiday party!

Gingerbread Hot Chocolate:

This recipe from Natalie’s Health is such a fun take on hot chocolate. Gingerbread and hot chocolate is such a great combo for the holidays!

Vegan Mint Hot Chocolate:

Mint and chocolate are a match made in heaven! this recipe is from Create Mindfully, it uses almond milk but you could totally use regular milk too.

Candy Cane Hot Chocolate:

Another fun holiday combo: candy cane and chocolate. Recipe from Joy Food Sunshine

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate:

Perfect for all the white chocolate lovers! the peppermint is such a fun flavor to mix with hot chocolate. The recipe is from Gimme Some Oven

Sweetest Regards, Patti

design

December 8, 2021

Upholstered Ottoman and Coffee Table Ideas

My leather ottoman/coffee table in the living room is one of the most requested links I get asked to share. It’s 100% top grain leather with button tufting and steel base in an antique brass finish. We love it because it’s both stylish and practical.

When we updated our living room, Brian had one request. He wanted a table he could kick his feet up on and be comfortable. So any hard surface was out and an upholstered option seemed like our best choice. After searching for some time, we landed on this one that we both love! Ours is constantly out of stock so I wanted to round up some similar styles in various price points.

P.S. Great news if you’re set on our exact ottoman, I found an identical one in stock!

Wynonna Wide Genuine Leather Tufted Square Cocktail Ottoman from Wayfair-$1560.99

this is the ottoman we have. it goes frequently in and out of stock.
Maeve Square Leather Ottoman from West Elm– currently on sale $1,086.09 – $2,899

Customizable! comes in a bunch of different colors!
Mercury Row Wide Faux Leather Tufted Square Cocktail Ottoman from Wayfair-$247.99
Jake Leather Sectional Ottoman from Pottery Barn-$1,199-$1,299

Customizable!
Butler Leather Tufted Ottoman from Arhaus– currently on sale for $2,199.00

comes in different colors and sizes!
Nash Leather Square Ottoman from Crate and Barrel-$1,349.00

custom made, arrival date August 2022
Kiah Square Standard Ottoman from Wayfair-$174.99
Camber Carmel Leather and Bronze Steel Ottoman from Lamps Plus-$399.91
Kamela Leather Storage Ottoman from Rejuvenation-$2,299.00

comes in a bunch of different colors! lead time is 22-24 weeks
Endall Ottoman from France and Son-$1,398.00

this one is identical to the one I have! it is in stock + free shipping!

I also wanted to round up some fabric options as an alternative that provides both style & function.

Jake Upholstered Ottoman from Pottery Barn-$629-$929

Customizable!
Sloan Ottoman from Interior Define-$545 but is currently $463.25 (15% off!)

Customizable!
Berlin Square Ottoman from Pottery Barn– $799-$1,049

Customizable!
Wells Ottoman with Dark Brown Leg Finish from Crate and Barrel-$599.00

Comes in three colors *it is made to order so it takes 10-12 weeks to ship
Nash Square Tufted Ottoman with Tray from Crate and Barrel-$1,199.00

Customizable!
Vyola Ottoman from Lulu and Georgia -$698

Customizable, ships in 8-10 weeks
Karley Ottoman from Lulu and Georgia-$999

Currently out of stock but will update when it is back in!
Vernon Modular Ottoman from McGee & Co-$1,400

Customizable, comes in a bunch of different fabrics: velvet, linen, leather
Kamela Storage Ottoman from Rejuvenation -$1,399.00

Customizable, lead time 22-24 weeks
Newport Ottoman from West Elm-$799 – $1,199

Customizable so many different fabric colors! ships in 12+weeks

Sweetest Regards, Patti

design

November 30, 2021

Comparing Quartzite and Porcelain as a Marble Alternative

If you have been following along on our ensuite bathroom renovation, you saw our journey of picking out countertops. We looked at a lot of countertop choices. Ultimately we went with marble but were open to quartzite and porcelain as other options.

I have heard that quartzite and porcelain are great alternatives to marble so I’m sharing some pros and cons of both. I also included some real-life experiences my instagram followers had with quartzite and porcelain countertops but first let’s take a look at marble.

Marble

Marble is a beautiful natural stone that has been used throughout history. I love their variation in movement and veining. I also love that no two are alike so you truly have a one of a kind piece in your home.

Pros of Marble:

It’s durability
It is long-lasting
Every slab is unique

Cons of Marble:

It can be very expensive
It stains easily
It is prone to scratches

close-up of our marble countertop in the ensuite bathroom

My Experience with Marble:

We have honed marble that has been sealed in our kitchen island and polished marble in our guest bathroom tile and floor, both installed about eight years ago. Our installer made us sign a waiver for the kitchen countertop and tried to steer us to other choices. I believe that if you decide to go with marble, you have to accept its imperfections over time and view it as “character” which is kind of our mindset living in an old home.

Our Kitchen Island

I love the movement and knowing that it’s one of a kind
We don’t baby it but do wipe up every night
This is common sense but we wipe up right away after wine spills or contact with acidic liquid
There are etchings and scratches but we don’t really notice them unless we’re searching for it
We’ve accidentally hit our pots, pans and dishes on the surface after hand washing and you can see white marks in the trauma areas. However, there is no chipping.
We don’t have any staining yet

Our Bathroom Floor and Wall Tile (Brian installed himself)

It looks very high end
There are etchings and scratches but just adds to the character
One of our guests dropped a glass soap pump on the floor tile and it chipped off a small piece.
There is one small area on the floor tile that has a yellowish stain which we can’t figure out how it got there but you prob won’t notice unless we point it out.

Quartzite

Quartzite (not to be confused with quartz) is also a natural stone. It’s becoming a very popular choice for countertops because of its durability and design. Although white is the most popular color, quartzite comes in a variety of colors from grey and brown to pink and purple.

Similarity and Differences Between Quarzite and Marble

Quartzite and marble have a very similar texture. However, Quarzite can be grainy unless polished smooth. Both have beautiful veiny patterns and they are both natural stones.

Pros of Quartzite:

It’s durable
It’s versatile
Easy maintenance

Cons of Quartzite:

It is prone to scratches
It’s porous and you may have to reseal
It is difficult to install
It can be expensive (cost)
It doesn’t handle heat well

Followers Experience with Quartzite Countertops:

Most people could not rave about it more. There were a few negative experiences but for the most part, people love their quartzite countertops! Here are some of their experiences:

It gets cold in winter
It is super durable
Every slab is different
Looks brand new, even after years.
Love the natural and random movement
Some etching around faucets
It can get water or grease spots unless sealed well
TIP: use silicone heat pads with hair styling tools since it does not handle heat well.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a hard ceramic material. It can be manufactured and designed to resemble a lot of natural stones. The most popular is marble.

Similarity and Difference Between Porcelain and Marble

The main similarity is that porcelain can be made to look like marble. A lot of people use porcelain as an affordable alternative to achieve the look of marble. Searching for the perfect marble slab can be quite exhausting and you can expect some sticker shock because cost will vary which makes porcelain appealing.

Pros of Porcelain:

It is stain-resistant
It is durable
It is easy to clean
It is water-resistant
It’s more affordable

Cons of Porcelain:

It is thin material
It can crack with a lot of force
It can be hard to find fabricators

Followers Experience with Porcelain Countertops:

People seem to love their porcelain countertops but there were also a lot of negative experiences. Here are some experiences:

It is hard to get an installer or very $$
It is printed so you won’t have that authenticity of beautiful natural stone
It can look fake
It is not porous
It can yellow over time
It is hard to repair if it scratches or chips
White porcelain can stain

Based on our experience with marble, once we found THE one, we knew it was the right choice for us. But it was nice to know about these other two beautiful options .

We were looking for a warmer tone marble with soft movement and little veining to balance the pattern tile and not look too busy. Something that looked purely timeless. Many we saw were too cool in tone and once we found this slab, we had to pull the trigger!

I hope you find this informative and helpful in your search and understanding of these three popular countertop materials!

Sweetest Regards, Patti

January Favorites

Scroll Through January Favorites

1) Ice Castles

2) Go Maple Syruping

3) Dog Sledding

4) Ice Palace Maze

5) Igloo Dining

Ingredients

Kitchen Tools:

Directions:

Tips – What I Learned After Trying Butternut and Sage’s Homemade Donut Recipe:

Warmest Women’s Winter Boots

Kids winter boots

Top Insta Reccomendations:

Other Great Recommendations:

Tips for Winter Boots:

Beautiful Bathrooms with Cafe Curtains

Where to Order Cafe Curtains

Don’t Forget about the Cafe Rods

What is My Solution?

Bathroom Design Plan

Mercury Mosaics Direction

Tile details:

Final Reveal

Yummy Hot Chocolate Recipes

Marble

Quartzite

Porcelain

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