In digging through my cluttered appliance cabinet the other morning to reach the crumb-covered blender to make Dash a smoothie, I gave a little “hey there” nod to the pile of other crumb-covered appliances I thought were absolute kitchen necessities back when I was establishing myself as a homemaker, in the great homemaker-establishing ritual of creating a wedding registry. At the time, I considered toast, crackers & cheese and Ramen noodles perfectly good meals, but put a wedding registration barcode scanning gun in my hand, and suddenly I’m Martha Stewart. I need a panini maker and a fruit spiralizer and a really good bread maker because I’m going to bake bread every day. In fact, I’m going to grind my own wheat. I’m going to make my own ravioli noodles and definitely serve soup in those little mini cocottes because I’m going to be married and then I’m going to be a mom, and married moms serve soup in cocottes (no they don’t). My entire wedding registration is a perfect representation of the domestic idealism that has tripped me up sometimes, but I’m not necessarily mad about it. Domestic dreaming triggers a euphoric little burst of dopamine for me, as perusing through a Williams Sonoma catalogue will demonstrate–even if I never actually get to making that cinnamon-dusted, 3-tiered cake in the shape of a sand castle. I find comfort in the idea of my domestic possibilities.

Perhaps there’s no greater representation of my homemaker dream ridiculousness though than The Embosser. I came across it in the glossy catalogue pages for a fancy stationery company shortly after our wedding, and when I saw it I knew–screw the bread machine, The Embosser was the thing that was going to take me to a new level of Homemaker. The Embosser was a heavy silver handheld press that was custom designed with your last name initial and whatever phrase you chose to set you apart as a family; and with a simple squeeze of its handles, you could turn paper, foil labels–anything into a personalized seal. I couldn’t order it fast enough, and in my true impulsive no-time-to-think-this-through urgency, I typed the first thing I could think of for the phrase that was going to encircle our initial and represent us a family. You ready for this? LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. What can I say, it was the year of the framed plaque, and my truths came from the aisles of Homegoods, But here’s the best part. I couldn’t even get the phrase right. I ordered it to say LAUGH, LOVE, LIVE.

So I patiently waited two weeks for The Embosser to arrive, ordering gold foil labels and making plans for all that I would emboss in the meantime. And that’s when the idea came…an epiphany I was sure was my greatest one yet.

I was going to emboss…our toilet paper. That’s right, toilet paper. I was going to learn how to fold the end of our toilet paper roll into one of those fancy little origami triangles like the Ritz Carlton, and then I was going to take it up a notch by embossing the triangle with the Hampton Homemaker seal.

Our parties would never be the same. Our guests were going to feel so pampered when they stepped into our bathroom, sat down on our toilet and reached to wipe only to pause with recognition at our hospitable detail and the oh so important reminder to LAUGH! LOVE! LIVE!

Do I really need to tell you about the result of this purchase? The sustainability of this great idea? The Embosser dream lasted all of one party when I realized that after someone used the restroom, I had to run in to refold and emboss the toilet paper again for the next guest. And that was the end of The Embosser.

I found it recently–tucked in a drawer with a stack of thank you notes I never sent and the attachment tool likely to some kitchen appliance I thought I needed but never use. There will always be a little Martha Stewart inside of me, and I’ll never stop tearing out pages of intricately braided pie crusts in her magazine for inspiration. But I know where I comfortably stand when it comes to making my house a home, and it doesn’t involve embossed toilet paper.

Do you know what my most used kitchen tools are? Two small things I never thought I’d need but use almost every day…this counter scraper and these herb scissors. There you go, wedding registry women. You’re welcome. And three things I never purchased but are still on my list…a huge dutch oven (are the LeCreuset really worth it?), a KitchenAid mixer and a cordless Dyson Animal because so many people have told me it’s life changing when it comes to keeping your car clean.

Have any household tools you thought you couldn’t live without that are now covered in dust? An unexpected household item that became your favorite thing? Do tell.

The Trickle Effect has now moved into two bedrooms in our home, threatening a full takeover which we will not fight to withhold because you do not fight with Christmas cheer. Christmas cheer will win (as if I’d fight). This weekend’s trickle happened to line up with an entire room revamp which makes it even more fun. I know I am just the kind of person who would completely upturn a room and redo it simply for holiday decor–and I’m not saying that might not be the case someday–but that’s a Red Belt level Elf, and I am still at green. So this room revamp was already planned but coincidentally timed with The Trickle Effect; and that, my friends, is holiday serendipity.

And we now take this moment to pause and acknowledge Thanksgiving–the middle child I, of course, love and adore but sometimes forget to publicly share affection. I see you, Thanksgiving. I’m here for you. Just embrace the twinkle of your attention-stealing holiday sister and know we all love you too.

Where were we? For a while now, I’ve been wanting two twin beds in Nella’s room. We’ve done the big bunkbed thing for a few years, and it’s just so large–a bit of a wall-hogger that served us well for a few years, but it was time to move on. Thing is, I couldn’t justify buying new beds because we had a perfectly good one. So I stalked Craigslist for a set of simple twin beds–every. single. day. for two months which yielded nothing but Florida old people furniture (enough of the wicker, Doris) priced, like, six times for what you’d find it brand new–except you’d never find it brand new because Doris bought it twenty-six years ago. Then Heidi and I found ourselves in Fort Myers a couple weeks ago at this thrift shop megastore that I shall not name or else it will get discovered and people will steal all the cashmere sweaters and vintage books and furniture with good lines. Okay, fine, I’ll tell you–it was Family Thrift Store. As we were walking out with our little handful of treasures, Heidi looked in this hidden corner and said, “Hey, don’t you need two twin beds?” There, leaning against the wall, were two twin beds–disassembled with some boards–but definitely two matching headboards and footboards that just needed some love. And the price? All my little thrifters gonna love this…$1.99 for the set. You heard me, TWO DOLLARS FOR TWO BEDS. What?! 

I’m making a short story long now, so I’ll get on with it. Fast forward two weeks later. I gave the beds some love–painted them white, had Home Depot cut me some more support boards–and if you give a mouse a cookie, what will he ask for? A gallon of paint. Sherwin Williams Tradewind Blue, to be exact. And some new bedding and some Christmas decorations, and I’m so in love with how this sweet little room turned out.

That dresser in the middle? That was a $25 Craigslist find from a few years ago. Yeah, we splurged hard to furnish this room.

The snowy tree print I found going through some old photos. I took it on a walk in Vail last year, so I turned it black and white, dialed up the opacity to wash it out a bit and printed it 20 x 30. .

Nella enjoyed a sleepover at my dad’s while I put the room together, so it was so much fun revealing it to her yesterday. She keeps saying, “I love my room so much, Mom.”

The big question…where are her Barbies? All the toys are stored in baskets that slide underneath the bed…

…and the bigger dolls and plushies fit in one big basket.

Bedding details:
Gingham Duvet Covers – I’m so happy with these. Amazing price, 100% soft washed cotton, zipper closure and ties that hold the comforter in place.
Down Comforters – perfect weight for Florida.
Organic Dutch Floral Sheets – I’ve had my eye on these sheets for a girls’ room for quite some time. I’ve been buying Land of Nod (sadly now Crate & Kids) sheets since crib day. The quality is perfection, not the mention the sweetest collection of patterns.

And the wall book ledges (set of 2) are perfect for the end of the bed.

Christmas Decor Details:
Wreaths above beds
Trees on dresser (large & small)
Deer – Homegoods

Santa plush on the beds.

And the North Pole that threw up on this dresser is all Hobby Lobby.

I wanted to make sure we kept the mirror in this room because both girls love getting dressed and having a full-length mirror to admire their outfits and play with their hair.

Reachable accessories, important for a girl.

The real question here though is…will she stay in her bed all night now? We are pulling for a Christmas miracle.

This morning’s 3:30 shuffle says no, but we will keep trying.

I think my favorite thing about this room is that the precious little beds were only $2. Trash turned treasures.

Happy Monday, everyone!