These printables also work for the kids if you are to fill little treat bags with Halloween themed goodies.
You will find everything you need, including printables for the homeowner to tape on their door so others know they have already been booed.
Download from the above link for the best quality.
I hope these printables make it easy and fun to spread a little Halloween cheer in your own neighborhood! It’s such a simple way to bring smiles, make connections, and remind others that community can be full of surprises—in the best way.
This super simple gift idea is bubbling with love. See what I did there? I created a free printable to make this gift idea quick and easy to assemble for teachers, friends, neighbors, or loved ones.
When I saw these seasonal soaps at Trader Joes a couple weeks ago, I knew immediately what I could do with them as a teacher gift for our son’s teachers. Not only is it practical, these soaps smell delightful.
I paired them with Belgian chocolates, also at Trader Joes, and filled these cellophane bags with shredded red filler and adorned each with pretty red felt ribbon.
You can see from the design and color way of the tag, you have the flexibility to use pink or red ribbon.
Wishing you a Valentine’s Day that’s hands-down the best! Whether you’re spreading kindness to teachers, friends, or family, a little love goes a long way—no ifs, ands, orhands about it!
There is something nostalgic about creating a cozy haven during the holiday season. From the moment I pull out the storage boxes brimming with decorations, the magic begins. It starts with putting my favorite childhood Christmas vinyl, Once Upon a Christmas by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, on our son’s record player—a tradition carried over from my parents, who always played it as we decorated our childhood home together. That familiar music instantly transports me back to those warm, joy-filled moments of stringing lights, hanging ornaments, and marveling at the twinkling glow of the tree.
Now, as a mom myself, I feel the same excitement when transforming our home for the holidays. Each piece of decor tells a story, and each tradition we honor—or create anew—brings its own special kind of joy. This year, I’m reflecting on the little moments that make Christmas magical for our family: the sweet smells of baking with my mom, the laughter of my boys as they exchange gifts, and the quiet evenings Adam and I share once the house falls silent.
These are the traditions that make our home feel like a haven during the most wonderful time of the year.
Our Family Christmas Traditions
Hungarian Pastry-Making with Mom One of my most cherished traditions is baking Hungarian pastries with my mom, using a recipe passed down from my grandmother. This heirloom recipe is a delightful treat filled with a pecan center, surrounded by a dough that is made a day in advance. The following day, we hand-roll the dough, cut each individual pastry, stuff them with the pecan filling, roll them up, bake them, and finally sprinkle them with powdered sugar when they are fresh out of the oven. It’s a process that requires time and care, but it’s one that I always look forward to. Perfecting this recipe has been important to me, but more than anything, I have treasured the time spent with my mom.
Thanks to today’s technology, we can even ask Alexa to play the same Christmas record while we bake, no matter where we are. Over the years, this tradition has evolved; some years have included babies in tow and adjustments to our usual routine. Yet one thing has remained constant: the joy of spending time together while creating a family favorite.
Driving to see Christmas Lights
Another family tradition is driving through neighborhoods to see Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music. The awe and excitement that our kids exude when they see the bright lights is so much fun to witness. Our youngest, in particular, is a BIG-TIME Grinch fan. This year, we’ve made a special point to take him to see as many Grinch decorations as possible because his over-the-top excitement every time he spots one is absolutely contagious. These outings have become a highlight of our holiday season and a tradition we look forward to year after year. We’ve also added in ice skating at Fenton in Cary and seeing the lights at the downtown Cary Park as a newer tradition if our schedule allows each year.
Christmas Eve Church Service This tradition brings a sense of peace and spiritual focus to the holiday season. The service culminates in a breathtaking moment: with the lights dimmed, the congregation lights candles and sings “Silent Night” together. The glow of the candles and the harmony of voices create an overwhelming sense of serenity and connection, reminding us of the deeper meaning of Christmas.
The Boys’ Gift Exchange (New Tradition!) This was the first year I had the boys select a Christmas gift for each other. Bonus, they didn’t have to spend their own money but I did have them wrap the gifts. After returning from Christmas Eve service, they ran to the tree begging to open 1 present. I knew that was the perfect time for them to open their gifts to each other. It was such a sweet moment watching them connect after opening the gifts and one new tradition that we will keep going for years to come.
Reading Favorite Christmas Books The excitement of Christmas morning is always at an all time high but the kids have never been more motivated to go to sleep. We settle down by reading a couple of their favorite Christmas books before lights out.
Couple Gift Exchange: Our Christmas Eve Nighttime Tradition: This tradition began long before we had kids. We used to live two hours away from family and would travel to spend Christmas with everyone. But that left us wondering—when would we exchange gifts with each other? It felt impractical to pack up gifts for one another, only to bring them back home unopened. And so, a new tradition was born.
Now, even with children, this has become a cherished part of our Christmas Eve. Some years we don’t exchange gifts at all, but instead, we simply enjoy the quiet time together. Often, we’ll make a festive holiday cocktail, sit in the glow of the Christmas tree, and just talk. This uninterrupted time allows us to savor the moment and open gifts slowly, without the usual chaos of the next morning. With three boys, Christmas morning is nothing short of lively, so having this peaceful tradition ensures that our focus is entirely on them when the big day arrives. It’s a sweet, meaningful way for us to reconnect and celebrate the season as a couple.
I hope you will consider starting this tradition with your significant other.
Gingerbread White Russian was something new we tried this year.
1:1:1 Ratio of Vodka, Vanilla Kahlua and Trader Joe’s Gingerbread oat milk creamer. We actually measured out 1.5 of each, less of the Kahlua for less sweetness. Having the TJ’s seasonal oat milk creamer on hand proved to be a delightful twist and made it a seasonally crafted cocktail that had just the right amount of spice.
Crafting a Christmas Card Flipbook Don’t throw out the Christmas cards you receive just yet. Several years ago, I found it difficult to let go of the beautiful cards we had received and brainstormed ways to hold onto them a little longer. I dug through my craft kit, found a box of binder ring closures, and got out a hole punch. Now, I have a few years’ worth of cards packed away with our Christmas decor that I set out each year in a decorative bowl.
If keeping every card isn’t your thing, I encourage you to at least save one of your own cards each year to create a flipbook. Your kids will love flipping through them and seeing how they’ve changed over the years.
Order your supplies today! I’ve linked everything you need to create your own Christmas card keepsake here. (Link supplies), here.
Annual Cookie Bake with Kids
A few years ago, my childhood friends and all of our children began one of my favorite traditions we share. We all gather and make a variety of cookies. It’s such a sweet morning together.
2024 Decor showcase
The Mantel Moment
This year’s mantel is, without a doubt, my favorite. It came together during a craft day with a friend when I made a dried orange garland. Paired with delicate gold leaves tucked into the garland, twinkling fairy lights, oversized bells, a Peace garland (a clearance find from last year), and layered ribbon in my go-to color scheme, it feels absolutely perfect to me. The combination of textures, lights, and personal touches creates a centerpiece for our holiday decor that I’ll definitely recreate next year.
If you want to incorporate dried oranges in your decor next year, I’ve shared the how-to here.
Foraged greenery for porch pots, vases and table decor.
Encouragement & Reflection
As I look back on our holidays, I’m reminded that the true beauty of the season is found in the simplest moments. The true magic lies in the connections we build, the memories we make, and the love we share.
Creating a cozy haven for the holidays is more than just decorating—it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and joy for everyone who enters our home. Each garland hung, each card kept, and each ritual observed weaves together a story of love, gratitude, and togetherness.
My hope is that this post inspires you to embrace the traditions that bring you joy and to find new ways to make this season special for your own family. From my family to yours, may your holiday season be filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished memories.
I’m embracing the sweetness of the season, where nature’s simple beauty meets festive cheer. This year’s Christmas decor was all about organic elegance—dried oranges turned into garlands, ornaments, and little gifts for teachers.
On this Solstice day, December 21st, as we welcome the return of light, let’s celebrate the warmth, love, and hope this season brings. Wishing you all a season filled with light, joy, and moments of stillness.
If you’d like to fill your home with scents of the holidays, give a holiday party host a small gift, or freshen your home after the holiday cleanup, here are the steps to dry out oranges and apple slices:
Preheat oven to 200°.
Slice oranges 1/4 of an inch thick
Lay on paper towels and blot excess citrus juice
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange citrus and apple slices (not overlapping)
Bake to dehydrate for 2-3 hours flipping fruit every 45 minutes.
Citrus is done when the center is no longer sticky to the touch.
These dried citruses will keep for months if stored properly. They would also make for a great garnish on cocktails/mocktails.
For the simmer pot:
Include 3 orange slices, 2-3 dried apple slices, 1 tbsp of cloves, 3 cinnamon sticks, and 1/2 cup of cranberries. Rosemary or sage is optional.
Add to a pot with 2 cups of water and simmer on low adding water as needed.
If you’re gifting this simmer pot, add ingredients to a cute jar and attach the tag with instructions.
For a downloadable printable of the tags I made, click here.
Fun fact, my birthday is just 2 days after Valentine’s Day so I’ve always looked forward to the holiday and have always felt extra love surrounding February 14th and 16th.
With 3 young boys of our own and little Valentines being passed out by each to their classmates, I tend to think back on a personal memory of Valentine’s Day.
This year’s Valentines for the boy’s classmates are done and of course they include an allergy friendly option. Made Good granola bars are my go to. See below.
Do you remember the days of exchanging Valentines with your classmates in elementary school? One year in particular stands out for me and it’s because I was embarrassed and uncertain how to respond to a personalized Valentine in my bag.
The setting: 3rd grade, Mrs. Houston’s class. Oh how I loved her.
I remember the white paper bags that we decorated individually that were lined up under the chalkboard. A chalkboard. I just aged myself didn’t I? We had a week to fill all of our classmate’s Valentine bags with personalized goodies and notes.
I was in a unique situation at the school because my mother was a teacher there. I was at the school before and after “normal school hours” so I often assisted in the classrooms when help was needed by teachers.
I was a busy bee as a kid and almost always needed something to do. I loved helping others and still do. I helped Mrs. Houston in the classroom one day during Valentine week and it was on this occasion that I noticed a unique envelope sticking out of my Valentine bag. I peaked at the white legal sized envelope and read what was written on the outside:
To: Amanda
Love: Andy
When Friday came, it was time to take home our Valentine bags.
My mom recently reminded me that I was too nervous to open this letter and made her read it to me when we got home.
Inside was a hand written note, “Will you be my Valentine?” and check boxes, Yes or No. Of course there were check boxes.
Also included with the note was a small 1 inch picture of him. Do you remember those tiny pictures that came as a 8×10 sheet that we used to get with our school picture orders and we’d pass them out to our friends? If not, I have definitely aged myself.
I still recall my cheeks flushing when mom read the note.
Such an innocent request but one that made me nervous and uncertain what to do or how to respond. He was a classmate. What would my response mean?
I checked NO and returned the letter to him. <gasp>
When I told mom what I had done, I remember her saying, “AMANDA!” But it was said in a way of “Poor Andy”, knowing that I likely hurt his feelings. I can laugh about it now.
Looking back on this small life event, I now recognize 3rd grade was a time when I was beginning to worry about what others thought of me.
Fast forward to today, I LOVE Valentine’s Day & I no longer care what others think. Life is too short my friends.
I love the colors associated with Valentine’s Day. The bright pinks and reds tend to lift my spirits and evoke feelings of joy and anticipation for the upcoming season. Here in North Carolina, signs of Spring tend to show up shortly after Valentines which means longer days, vibrant blooms, and warmer days are near.
This Valentine’s Day, I hope you can celebrate love and connection. Use the day as an opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude for loved ones, friends and family.
Write the note. Send the text. Mail a card. Make the phone call.
Brighten someones day.
Do something for yourself.
Celebrate beautiful new beginnings.
Make that special treat. (If you need an idea for this, check out this post for two little Valentine treats.)
Below you will find a few printables which I created that you can use for writing a note or to include with a small gift for that special someone, friend, neighbor or family member.
Let’s spread love like confetti this Valentines and everyday—for Haven’s sake.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by creating a memorable mess in the kitchen with your little ones, by baking delicious themed treats that are sweeter because they helped.
These two kid-friendly treats are both interactive, delicious, and semi-healthy? Can a cookie be healthy? One of these cookies is topped with fresh fruit of your choice so let’s call it, healthy-ish.
First up we have mini fruit pizzas.
My memories of fruit pizzas go WAY back. I vividly remember my aunt and uncle bringing ingredients and the activity for fruit pizzas to one of our family gatherings at my grandparents home.
All you have to do is make a classic sugar cookie, following any recipe of your choosing, and use heart shaped cookie cutters to make them Valentine themed.
Wash and prep fresh fruit for toppings and make this simple cream cheese frosting that you will use as the glue that holds the fruit on the cookie.
After the cookies have cooled, fill a jar with icing and provide a small spatula or butter knife for the kids to spread the icing on their cookies. You may have to assist with this part.
On a platter, arrange the fruit options that will serve as the toppings for their individual cookie pizzas and let them create.
The next Valentine themed cookie is a play on a classic thumbprint cookie. This recipe is vegan and gluten free too.
Instead of pressing a thumb into the center of the dough balls as you normally would for the classic version, you will help your little one use the side of thumb to press into the dough ball twice to form a heart.
No two hearts are equal but that is the beauty of these personalized heart prints.
You can fill the hearts with a jam flavor of your choice. We usually have the organic strawberry preserves from Costco on hand. It has basic ingredients and is free from high fructose corn syrup.
Baking with kids can be an opportunity to bond and laugh with your little one. It isn’t just about the final product; it’s about the shared moments, the laughter, and the love that goes into making the special treats.
So, gather your ingredients, embrace the joyous mess, and enjoy creating sweet memories that will last far beyond the heart shaped bites.
Over the years, we have always collected treasures from the beach whether it be unique shells, beach pebbles, sea glass, sharks teeth, or drift wood but more recently, I started finding myself drawn to oyster shells. Each one is so unique and almost like it’s own piece of art with the various colors and shapes.
Like most things, these oyster shell collections were stored away and forgotten about. That is until I came across the recycled strawberry bucket on a shelf of our laundry room FULL of them.
Last year I was asked to collaborate with King of Christmas Trees and was delighted at the opportunity. Christmas is a favorite in this household, my husband included. He was all in for adding another tree to our dining room.
I needed to come up with a theme.
Insert me finding the collection of shells and my brain started to run with an idea. I’d seen oyster shell ornaments, Christmas trees made from shells and other various ideas but never had I seen a Christmas tree adorned with a beaded and shell garland.
I took to the challenge, collected items I needed and got to work.
While I waited on my shipment of wooden beads, I prepped the shells for paint.
Thoroughly cleaned all shells with a solution of dawn, bleach and water
Allowed them to dry completely
Laid out my favorite shells on a protected surface
Painted edges of the shells with this perfect gold paint
Allowed to dry
Drilled tiny holes in each end of every shell to allow for fishing line
The beads arrived and I began to layout the pattern of beads:shells that I felt looked best. Using a heavy duty fishing line that I borrowed from our boys’ fishing gear, I began stringing beads and shells. The two holes I drilled in each shell allowed for one continuous strand. My initial strand was 5 yards in length. I ended up adding 3 additional yards to the strand which was perfect for our 6.5 foot tree.
You could easily make a short strand and add it as decor on a coffee table with books, and other items.
My favorite accent color in the home has always been copper and coral tones. When I saw some of the oyster shells had this coloring in them, I immediately knew which color theme I was going with. I dug out the matte copper ornaments that are usually on our main living room tree and only purchased one package of glass ornaments that had a hint of copper coloring to them and these mini mercury glass ornaments. All other ornaments were some I’d collected over the years and had on our main tree year over year.
For me, this tree represents our time living in Wilmington, NC and is a reminder of memories we have made at many beaches both as a couple and with our boys.
2022 Dining Room Christmas Tree2023 Christmas Tree and Tablescape
My hope is that each space in our home is a reflection of what brings us joy and fills our thoughts with moments of nostalgia.
I hope you find inspiration from this fun DIY. Don’t be afraid to create something outside of what is trending in popularity.
Make your home a HAVEN filled with meaningful spaces.
Let’s be honest, buying for your significant other can sometimes be the hardest thing. At least in my case, my husband is one who rarely shops or needs anything but when he does want something, he goes out and buys it. It is usually right before a special occasion too.
Does this sound familiar to you also?
When we celebrated our 9 year anniversary last October, I wanted to find a date night experience that went along with a traditional gift for a 9 year anniversary. Traditional gifts include either pottery/willow and modern gifts of leather.
I’ve always wanted to have a hands on experience making pottery pieces. After doing some research of local potters and studios, I found one who was able to accomodate my workshop request. Not only did she accommodate, she went above and beyond to make our date night a fun and memorable experience.
I met Caitlin of Porch Dog Pots at a local market that I was also attending as a vendor.
Aren’t these pieces beautiful?
Caitlin had us each choose a piece of pottery that we wanted to customize. That was hard to do because we loved all of the options. Ultimately, I went with a platter and my husband choose a thumbprint tumbler.
I also knew I wanted my platter to be stamped with our wedding date in Roman Numerals. Caitlin created custom stamps to accommodate this request. My husband wanted to stamp his mug with a Lab, representative of our beautiful chocolate lab, London.
We had the opportunity to throw clay, form a new mold, carve into clay, stamp sample pieces, ink on the bottom of our pieces, ect. Caitlin was so very patient with us as we practiced & messed up molds. She was prepared and brought multiple pieces in the event we did mess up but also, she taught us the beauty in working with clay is that you can sometimes work it to hide the mistakes and fix the problem.
Walking away from our date night, my husband grabbed my hand and said he had the best time and thanked me for everything. That my friends is success when the man your buying for needs nothing! It was an evening we won’t forget and we will always be reminded of it each time we use our customized pieces.
This date night could be a great option for Valentine’s that is coming up. A potter may not be able to accomodate on such short notice but you may be able to give a giftcard for the experience for a future date!
I hope this idea helps you in planning fun and memorable date nights with your significant other!
Valentines is my second favorite holiday. Perhaps it’s because my birthday falls 2 days after the day of love or the fact that I now realize I love the color pink, but I find so much joy in what the day brings.
Making the day special for your significant other, your children and your children’s classmates can be fun. It can also be a little stressful if you have an allergy kid like we do. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little anxiety over the treats our peanut allergy boy may receive and fear he may come in contact.
This allergy friendly Valentine treat made to look like a piece of candy will sure make for some happy kids. The Made Good granola bars are also free from the top 8 allergens and are in fact, delicious!
I created a simple printable available in two color schemes, neutral & traditional Valentine, that you can download for FREE by clicking, VALENTINE PRINTABLE.
Also included is a printable made to fit an 8×10 frame for a simple Valentine decor addition to your home.
If you want to create this same Valentine treat, below you’ll find a list of materials needed.
1 box of Made Good granola bars – found in the Valentine section of Target (It’s a 30 count for $6.99.)
1 bundle of tissue paper that you will cut down to size – slightly larger than the mini granola bars to allow for extra space for tying off the ends
String, yarn or ribbon that you may have at home
Printed Valentine tags, cut and hole punched to easily attach to the treats
I’d love to see how you make these tags work for your Valentine giftables. Be sure to tag @4havenssake on Instagram & Facebook where I will reshare all ideas for others to see as well.
As a small business owner, I fully understand the impact of shopping small and having the support of your local community and the community that can be built online.
My favorite holiday guide is below along with sales/promos these businesses may be offering during Small Business Saturday.
If you have not already attended a local maker/vendor market in your community, I encourage you to look up a schedule of events happening this Holiday Season. Attending as a vendor is always the highlight of owning a small business. It is a way to connect with customers face to face & discover other amazing artisans in the community.
The Homestead Haven – Offering 30% off on Small Business Saturday. Specializing in curated & meaningful home decor items. A portion of all proceeds is donated to a charitable cause each quarter. The gift that keeps on giving. Shop the Together is our favorite place to be, as pictured, and other favorited items.
Elle Woods Co. – Beautiful reclaimed home decor which can also be customized. Each piece is unique and skillfully curated with so much passion and an eye for design. Shop her shirts & sweatshirt sale going on now.
Pierce & Hide – Leather earrings & statement jewelry. Small Biz Saturday – Buy 2 get 1 Free. This mom boss is a total inspiration! Not only does she strive to offer affordable & beautiful jewels, she has used her shop to help others in need by offering special sales and then donates to charitable causes. This B2G1 sale is a great way to shop for others & treat yourself at the same time!
Greenhouse Picker Sisters – Specialty events and styling. One visit to their warehouse for a Galentine’s event with Restored for Moms, I knew they were my kind of people. Their selection of decor that you can choose from your event is un-believable! Prepare to be in awe of their stunning creations. If you’re in need of an event planner, they are your gals.
Honor & Grace – Beautiful special collection handcrafted bows for girls (mamas too). Two mom bosses who are spreading so much goodness with their curated goods & positive messages found in their posts.
Porch Dog Pots – Locally made (NC) ceramics. They are SO beautiful! Having recently spent time with Caitlin for a special anniversary date night with my husband, I can attest to the craft involved in curating these beautiful pieces. She went above and beyond to make our workshop special. Find her at local holiday markets here in NC.
-I’ll be sharing a blog post on how you can give the gift of experience with your spouse to celebrate an anniversary involving the traditional gift of pottery.
Herban Roots – Crafted organic skincare that bridges the gap between luxury and natural efficacy. Did I mention she’s a total mom boss?! Upon opening my Everything Salve, I was transported to memories at the spa. The fresh scent and quality product has become part of my daily regime. They have everything you need to start/end your day with a pure skincare regime.
Confetti Scout Gifts – So many sales and free shipping available in her shop! Owner, Jill, and mom boss, is ALL about spreading HAPPINESS & LOVE through our unique, handmade Confetti Art, and decor! One visit to her shop and you will have all. the. feels of happiness & love.
Freshly Pressed– Custom SANTA LETTERS for your littles?! Need I say more? Oh but her shop offers so much more. See her post (Santa letter as pictured above) for a chance to win a letter from Santa, a coupon for 20% off custom stationary and qualify for a giveaway of a half-dozen box of Christmas cookies by @ohsugarcookiecompany! Custom stationery – letterpress, design, and calligraphy. One visit to her Instagram and you’ll want to redo your wedding all over again just to have her customized invitations.
Linden Handcrafted– 20% off with code Thankful20. Hand-casted concrete products that are repurposeful. Their all natural soy scented candles are divine! I’m currently burning the Blue Spruce which smells like Christmas. Once burned completely, the mold can be used as a planter! How cool is that?! They also offer unique home decor goods. If you love a good candle & also love adding new plants to your home, you will want to shop these small batch products.
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