chanelmovingforward

Halloween Home Tour!

October 24, 2018

It’s no secret that Halloween is my favorite holiday! I mean, I had my dining room painted dark purple because of my deep love for this holiday! If you have been following me on Instagram (@chanelvanreenen), then you have seen some behind the scenes decorating that’s been happening over the past few weeks. Within only one week until Halloween, I’m so excited to share our home tour! Decorating for the holidays is hands down my favorite thing to get everyone in the holiday spirit and really makes the month leading up so much fun. Let’s get onto the tour!

Living Room

Sunroom

Dining Room

Foyer

Kitchen

Basically my house looks like an asylum right now and I’m definitely okay with that. My favorite places to shop for Halloween decor are Target, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Party City, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot and Lowe’s. I’ve actually never, ever purchased Halloween decor online because I love getting it in person and I need instant gratification. Do you decorate for Halloween? What is your favorite part of this holiday? I’d love to hear in the comments below! Happy Haunting!

Oh Sugar, Sugar

October 14, 2018

Halloween is so close I can practically taste it! The house is decorated to the max, candy is stockpiled, the kids have their costumes and now they finally have their trick-or-treating bags! These super cute Kelly Green tote bags are made by the Father/Daughter duo Gunner & Lux. You may have seen Evelyn wearing their adorable shirts or necklaces over on my Instagram feed because I am seriously obsessed with everything they make. I am so excited to share that they are giving away TWO bags to my readers! These are the perfect totes for Halloween night and any other Halloween activities you have. Entering is super simple, just head to this Instagram post! Good luck, Friends and happy almost Halloween!

A Healthy Halloween

October 11, 2018

Since we tend to go overboard on the sweets for Halloween, I’ve been trying to keep healthier treats around this month. Starting on October 1 every year, the kids and I do a “countdown to Halloween” each day after school. This includes anything from painting pumpkins, making a spooky ghost gingerbread house, baking something yummy, or going on a scavenger hunt to find a new holiday toy. I find most of the months surprises in the Target Dollar Spot, at Michaels or Joann’s craft stores, or even Party City. Ultimately, I want to create memories of togetherness and have the kids always cherish special holiday times that they will remember forever and hopefully pass down to their children.

Holidays with kids really are the most amazing thing. I love getting them excited and giving them something to look forward to. We love celebrating for the entire month of a major holiday and since Halloween is my favorite holiday, my excitement has rubbed off on them. Last week I surprised them after school with a real life skeleton and some yummy snacks, including a Bootastic Bouquet with Orange Swizzle Berries & Swizzle Bananas from Edible Arrangements! It’s a great alternative to the typical Halloween candy and snacks and comes with fun chocolate covered pineapple cats, bats, and ghosts!

I’ve shared my love of Edible Arrangements in the past and they really are my go-to special treat for any occasion. Just last month we threw a mini party for my husband and the fruit arrangement from Edible was gone that evening, haha! This time I picked up some orange drinks to go with the Halloween theme, a few homemade cookies that I made using applesauce and almond flour instead of sugar and white flour, and of course a Bootastic Arrangement from Edible.

Do you have any special traditions that you do with your children? I’d love to hear them in the comments! Whatever the occasion you may be celebrating, be sure to including an Edible Arrangement which is perfect for everyone in your family!

Transitioning from a Crib to a Bed

October 9, 2018

Now that Evelyn is settled in her big girl room, establishing a nighttime routine has been tricky. Prior to her sleeping in a twin bed, she slept in her crib with a tent over it. I would have kept her in that crib for as long as possible because she couldn’t climb out, so she had no other option but to fall asleep, and stay asleep, at night. Unfortunately, her being able to run free in her bedroom has definitely posed a challenge for us at bedtime. From playing dress up for the 100th time to feeding her baby dolls their 12th meal, Evelyn was so preoccupied with playtime that she wasn’t sleeping. That lack of sleep really affected her personality throughout the day but luckily we’ve integrated a few tricks that seem to have gotten her back on track.

Prior to moving her out of a crib, we never had a nighttime routine because she knew that crib equals to bed time. If you also have babies in your cribs, it pays dividends if you invest in blankets, such as those personalised baby blankets, so they can be extra comfortable which will result in them sleeping faster. She had no toys to play with and most importantly, couldn’t get out of bed. In her new room she has this sense of freedom so she takes longer to fall asleep. Transitioning her to a bed wasn’t the hard part because once she was asleep, she would stay asleep all night (and not fall out of bed, thank God!) What we discovered is that we needed to eliminate and change a few things that were prohibiting her from getting to sleep.

1. Nightlight & sound machine – In the past we always had white noise playing in her room at night but this go round I let her pick out a sound machine from the store. I know they are usually meant for babies but Evelyn said she wanted music and since The Greatest Showman soundtrack wasn’t an option, we went with lullabies. This machine has several sounds that Evelyn can choose from as well as a projector for the ceiling. I found the most beautiful, handmade porcelain nightlight from Little Belle Nightlight’s. Each one is intricately carved and hand painted with non-toxic glaze over a 30 day process. The pink and white fairy house goes perfectly with Evelyn’s room!

2. Covers for the light switch – Evelyn never really cared about messing with light switches until she wasn’t in a crib anymore. For nearly a week she was sleeping with her ceiling light on which wasn’t good at all for her little eyes. My husband discovered these magnetic switch outlet covers for her light switch and it has worked wonders!

3. New pajamas – Raise your hand if you love matching your little in the clothing department? It’s no secret that I love twinning with Evelyn any chance I get, so when I discovered Leveret pajamas, I knew I had to get matching sets for us. Aside from having adorable patterns and prints, Leveret also offers Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Organic Cotton pajamas for the whole family as well. The majority of their pajamas sets are under $40 and the quality is superb. The fabric is soft and stretchy and I feel better knowing Evelyn is sleeping in pajamas that aren’t irritating her skin. From seasonal to holiday themed sets, Leveret is a one-stop pajama shop. Evelyn loved getting new pajamas as a celebration for transitioning into a big girl bed and it definitely helped boost her moral and made her want to stay in bed!

Have you moved your child to a big kid bed yet? How did the transition go? I’d love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments! Thank you to Leveret for sponsoring this post!

Evelyn’s Pajamas – Bird // Stripe / My Pajamas – Bird // Stripe

Evelyn’s Big Girl Room Makeover with Minted!

September 28, 2018

When I starting planning to makeover Evelyn’s nursery, I knew I wanted a room that could grow with her. Having come from an art background, I have a huge appreciation for artists and artwork. For me, choosing art for your home should be a reflection of your personality while also enhancing the look of a room. The beautiful statement art above Evelyn’s bed is from Minted, and if you didn’t know about the incredible artwork they sell, now you do. I’ve been a huge fan of their home line for years and before that I used their cards and invitations for nearly every special occasion in my life. Minted curates beautiful pieces from independent artists and they’re constantly refreshing their selection. I knew the artwork I chose, Atmospheric, would be beautiful against the wallpaper and tufted bed. The abstract colors are soothing and calm. As the artist who painted this explains “The colors in this piece evoke a calm yet cheerful and lighthearted mood.” and I felt this best represented Evelyn’s fun, unique and sweet personality. The size I chose is 40″ x 30″ framed in a herringbone frame. I was blown away with the frame options and loved so many, but ultimately the herringbone won out. Not only does Minted sell affordable, high quality art, but they are customizable to practically any space in your home.

Since Evelyn is used to sleeping in beds (from our vacations and weekend sleepovers), a toddler transition bed wasn’t necessary and I actually think they aren’t practical. Just like we did in Henry’s room, we chose a twin daybed with a trundle that can be used for when she’s older. When I saw this pale pink tufted daybed, I knew it was the one. In fact, this bed was the inspiration around the entire room. I created a mood board and carefully chose pieces that would mesh well together. Her mattress is from Avocado, a green company that makes non-toxic and eco-friendly mattresses. Sleeping on that is like sleeping on a cloud. It’s so comfortable!

I’ll admit that the bedding was a tad pricier than what I have spent on any other bedding in the past, but I wanted to invest in a set that could grow with her. Unlike character bedding that she will grow out of every 3 months, this tufted black and white makers quilt has a girly touch without being too over the top. I love the little black pom poms and since it’s neutral, adding bright colored pillows won’t throw off the look of the room. Speaking of pillows, they are one of my favorite ways to add pops of color to a room without spending a ton of money. They can be switched out seasonally or as styles change and they’re an inexpensive way to change the look of the room. This adorable Fringe Piñata Pillow is by far my favorite. Most of the others, like this Rainbow one, are from Target.

The wallpaper is peel & stick from Livettes Wallpapers and if you watched my Instagram stories, then you know how much I couldn’t help but rave about it. I will be writing a full post next week going into more detail on how to install, so stay tuned! Just like with the bedding, I chose to go with a neutral pallet for the wallpaper. I wanted a design that would match the existing paint color in her room (Gentle Rain by Behr) but still stand out on it’s on. The Dalmatian print is fun, youthful and the perfect addition for the statement wall. My go-to for rugs has always been Rugs USA. They are literally in every room in our house. I love their vast selection of colors and patterns. This one is the perfect combo of bohemian and modern and has a low profile so Evelyn doesn’t trip on it.

I love using pieces that have a story behind them so, let me tell you about the dresser and vanity. When I was single, before I met my husband (over 10 years ago!) I came across this antique furniture. The dresser was purchased at an antique market and the vanity was literally pulled out of a dumpster by me and a friend. I knew that if I ever had a daughter I would want this furniture in her room. So, they’ve been with us for over 11 years, moved to 3 different homes and have been in the basement for the past 7 years. When the time finally came for me to refinish these beauties I was ecstatic! As was my husband but for different reasons (he married a semi-hoarder). We spray painted both with a white chalk paint and then sprayed all the drawer pulls in a shiny metallic gold. I love mixing old and new together and they fit perfectly in her room.

All of my sources for this room makeover are listed at the bottom of this post. Most importantly for Evelyn’s room, I wanted to create a space where she could dance, sing, play and feel comfortable to be herself. Thank you to Minted for sponsoring this post and making this room makeover happen! As always, all opinions expressed are my own. Do you have a favorite art piece in your home? I’d love it if you shared it with me!

Minted Art – The name of the piece in Evelyn’s room is titled ‘Atmospheric’ // Rug // DayBed // Wallpaper // Bedding // Fringe Piñata Pillow // Rainbow Pillow // Mattress // Curtains //

Baddest Witch in the West Halloween Costume

September 27, 2018

Looking for a perfect witch costume for your little one? This low-key witch costume is hands down one of my favorite looks for little girls. Creating a costume that isn’t store bought doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, having non-traditional costumes have always been my favorite. Inspiration is everywhere and creating your own that is unique and different is so much fun. Earlier this year I stockpiled several of the I Love Plum tutu’s and Evelyn has been wearing them all year {you may remember the red one from our Valentines Day shoot!} They come in an assortment of colors and are perfect for Holidays. For this witch costume I used the black Plum tutu and chose a velvet witch hat so the textures of the costume were different. I paired my favorite striped June & January socks with lace up ballet flats she already had in her closet. The hat was the only item I had to purchase to make this costume come to life. Evelyn is at the perfect age to play dress up and loves all things Disney and fantasy so getting her to be a witch wasn’t hard at all. If you have little girls that love to dress up, this costume is for them! Who is your favorite fictional witch? Let me know in the comments below!

Black Tutu // Velvet Witch Hat // Striped Socks // Shoes {similar}

3 Tips for a Throwing a Last Minute Birthday Celebration!

September 26, 2018

Let’s face it, at the stage of life I’m in right now most special occasions or important events fall into the “last minute” category. Between work, family, kids, pets, homework and a million other day to day tasks, it can be hard to plan in advance. However, one thing I’ve always been good at is ~~shopping~~ finding good deals and throwing a party. If you’ve been reading for a while, then you know how much I love to entertain. I love to celebrate and don’t need an excuse to do so!

If there’s one thing my kids love more than anything, it’s their Dad. He is the fun parent. He’s the one always down for an adventure, always down for a wrestle match or staying up late on a weekday. The kids adore him! He works so hard and we love celebrating him any chance we get. With his birthday coming up, we thought we’d have an early celebration and surprise him after work one day. I turned to www.groenerekenkamer.com/ for ideas on what to give him this year. Luckily I only had to make ONE stop to get something for this low-key party. Yes, only one. I’ve had plenty of experience hosting dinners, girls nights and throwing parties so there are a few tricks I’ve learned over the years. These are 3 of my fool proof tips that I always use!

1. Pick an easy color theme and plan ahead! I’m so guilty of doing this, but whenever I’m out and see fun paper plates, party hats, balloons or festive napkins on sale, I immediately toss them in my cart. I then store them all in a plastic party bin in our basement so I always have party goods on hand. I will not tell you how many times this has saved me. I love sticking with neutral colors because then you aren’t so limited. Another plus of buying ahead of time? It’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of a party or gathering! Knowing I always have decor on hand keeps my stress level low for sure!

2. A fruit arrangement from Edible Arrangements! My husband has never been much of a cake fan, but he loves himself chocolate and will eat just about anything covered in chocolate. Luckily, the Salted Caramel Birthday Delight from Edible® is filled with an irresistible assortment of salted caramel apple wedges, pineapple leaves, orange slices, semisweet chocolate dipped strawberries and topped with a Belgian Chocolate Pop! Edible Arrangements are made to order fresh daily and hand-crafted at one of their 1,200+ stores. They only use high quality fresh, never frozen fruit and 100% real chocolate. Oh and did I mention they deliver? For as little as $75, you can get this decadent gift from Edible® delivered fresh to your door. They make entertaining simple and stress-free and with plenty of year-round and Holiday selections, there is a fruit arrangement for every occasion. I’m a huge fan of getting food for a party catered or picking up pre-made items!

3. Fresh Flowers! Adding floral arrangements to a table scape is one of the most inexpensive ways to spruce up your party without spending a ton of money. Most grocery stores have bouquets starting at $7 so I usually buy a few of them! If you have a larger area to decorate, break them up and put in mason jars or cute glasses and vases. I also have a mixture of vintage glassware that I keep on hand for this very reason.

Do you have any last-minute tips or tricks that you use when getting ready for a party?

*Thank you to Edible Arrangements for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own*

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