Well this project has been FUN! It’s been a while since I did a home project, and it felt really fun to take on this small project with a big impact. 

Come on in and see our “new” hallway with a whole new personality:

How this hallway got more character through the years:

Now to truly appreciate this hallway, you need to see what it looked like 5 years ago:

Then it had a few years with the green board and batten:

Then we added the cabinet at the end of the hallway, and I loved how that used the space in a much better way. At that time, I also painted the board + batten the taup-y pink color:

I still wanted to add a little more personality to this space, and I’ve been searching for the perfect wallpaper for a few months now. I finally found it…and got it up. It’s just so pretty!

I love that it’s whimsical, dainty, but also feels like it’s got a nod to a vintage print. 

Also just had to share what is right outside of the frame here…this is one of the dogs we dog sit in our home a few days a week. She’s always on her “back of the couch perch”!

I personally love this view the most- I love the character we added (as a last minute decision) with the wood planking on the header:

Source links for this hallway:

Here’s the link for the wallpaper (I actually bought it from another site but it took TWO MONTHS to come in, and it was a little more expensive. Learn from my mistakes haha). Also … ALL THE PRAISE for this rug. It’s amazing. Beautiful print, plush and SO SOFT. I just wish I had a larger budget for a longer runner!

The pink/taupe wall paint color is Sherwin Williams Hushed Auburn

The green paint color is Jogging Path by Sherwin Williams

If you enjoyed this makeover, you’d love to follow me on Instagram here!

The post Small hallway with loads of character appeared first on Christina Maria Blog.

It hasn’t felt like it here in PA, but this week it *finally* feels like fall. Usually, I’m overloaded with mums and pumpkins by this time of year, but I’m only getting them this upcoming weekend. It’s funny how different seasons in our life bring about different speeds with things like fall decorating. The kids are excited to get some seasonal decorations out though, so I’m getting excited with them!

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Friday Favorites post, but it feels like it’s been a while since I’ve share too much online anyways, so I figured this might be a good way to do it.

I ordered wallpaper for our hallway

I am so excited to do a little house project – it’s been a while! I was trying to choose something neutral and whimsical, but was having a really hard time deciding. I found some really pretty ones, but none of them felt “just right”. Then I found this wallpaper, and I fell in love!

The pink ties in the color of the board + batten on the bottom half of the hallway, the green ties in with our kitchen colors, and the blue with our family room. I am so excited! However, I ordered it a few weeks ago and then got an e-mail that it’s backordered until November. Whomp whomp. Guess I’ll have to be patient (not my forte). I’ll share on Instagram as soon as I get it!

I’ve been working on my health

I think part of why I haven’t been sharing as much online is because I’ve been working on learning and trying some new things regarding my health lately. If you ever do this, you know it can be slightly overwhelming to do in addition to all of the other responsibilities of life. 

Good Energy proposes that issues I deal with, such as high cholesterol (+ triglycerides) and thyroid disease, are all linked. There’s significant links to cancers as well as Type II Diabetes + Pre Diabetes as well (since I had gestational diabetes with all 3 pregnancies, this is something I always have in the back of my mind). Her argument is that these are all a result of underlying inflammation. The book proposes ways to target the inflammation through diet and lifestyle changes, which then in turn targets the root cause of disease.

Click here to see the book on Amazon

I have made it through this book, and let me tell you. It’s been overhauling my life. I listened to the audiobook and then bought the hardcover book to have as a reference (and read with my husband). There’s quite a few disclaimers to put out there with this book however, which is why I hesitate to share it. I, of course, am not a medical professional.

• She’s pretty critical of the medical system, but also offers a hopeful view of where it could go in the future.
• It’s a LOT. In order to get to a better place with my health, I have been overhauling my eating as well as my lifestyle.
  • She does have a good plan for it towards the end of the book so it’s not a ton of changes all at once, which is helpful. It’s still just a lot to change, but it’s all manageable.
• It gets a little spiritual in parts and I don’t agree with her view on the world, but that doesn’t stop me from gaining wisdom from her medical knowledge.

Currently I’m on week 3 of no refined sugar, very little grains, and no seed oils (found in most processed foods). After 1 week, I had (routine) blood work done and some numbers were in range for the first time in my adult life. This has encouraged me to keep with it and see what happens over time. Again, not giving medical advice, but this is what’s been taking over a lot of my brain space (outside of normal parenting + homeschooling) lately!

Speaking of books

I *finally* got on GoodReads. If you’re interested in seeing books I’m reading/have read make sure you follow me here! I have a real different mix of things I like to read, but mainly historical fiction and mystery are my top 2 categories I keep coming back to. Also, I listen to almost all of these in audiobook format. I feel like it helps my probably ADHD brain as I’m doing tasks that don’t require my full brainpower  

Follow on GoodReads here

And if you haven’t seen our favorite kid books from the past year, make sure you look at this post here! There’s so many good reads in there (my kids are 6-11 currently).

Favorite books of the 2023-2024 school year (ages 5-10)

A few favorite finds I’ve bought lately

We recently took away some of the spring/summer colors in our bedroom, and I just love how it looks:

These are the sheets we got (love that they actually stay on well- deep pockets, wash great, and are soft!)

This is the accent pillowcase I got and love – it’s so well priced too!

And the comforter has been great– super comfy as well.

I got the leaf version of this pillow last week, and I’m a big fan! The leaf one isn’t available anymore but this one is the same pillow just in a pumpkin design – love it too!

Interiors I’m inspired by lately

Let me tell you – it’s getting harder and harder to find interiors that aren’t AI on Pinterest. I’m trying to accept this and work on seeing it as an inspirational tool, but it’s not easy! I’m 90% sure this next image is AI but it’s an inspiring image nonetheless:

This one looks real, I just can’t find a source. But sense a theme? Dark blue, rich wood tones, and copper:

Loving this look and how it looks like fall, but not overtly FALL:

On a personal note…

We’re a few weeks into year FIVE of homeschool this year, and I can hardly believe it! We are continuing with a hybrid model, where our kids are homeschooled 3 days a week, and are in a hybrid school the other 2 days. I am so thankful we have this option where we live.

I’ve been working on a project that will be a bigger deal for me if it all works out in the next few months. Since I do still rely on this website to pay bills, the surge of AI created content trumping human created content is especially scary. I am aware I can’t rely on this website forever, so I’m working to find ways to serve my community with my next venture. While I love getting to know others from all over the world through my website, and I will continue to do so, I find myself wanting to get into deeper relationships into my actual physical community the last few years.

I’m off to buy mums and pumpkins this weekend, and of course go apple picking. Also very thankful to have an abundance of local farms to choose from when we go apple picking (or peach, blueberry, blackberry, etc.!). I hope you have a wonderful fall season, and I’m so thankful you’re here.

The post Friday Favorites 9.26.2024 (wallpaper, books, interiors, and more!) appeared first on Christina Maria Blog.

I’m always looking for ways to get my family to eat more vegetables, and especially more greens! We love “sneaking” greens into most recipes with ground meat, and definitely smoothies!

This is a fun savory way to add more greens into your family’s meals.

Why you should make this kale pesto:

I’m not sure about you, but I LOVE a good pesto dish. The warm and savory flavors just make my mouth so happy!

This pesto is packed with greens, healthy fats AND protein. Win win win!

Also – it’s Paleo, vegan and Whole 30 approved!

It’s an incredibly easy way to add some micronutrients to your diet, or your kids. I don’t know about you, but my kids don’t tend to love kale or spinach. I wish they did! But they DO love this pesto, so I make it when we’ve got fresh basil and greens!

How to make kale pesto:

Print

Kale Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 cups packed kale can sub spinach too
• 1/2 cup packed basil leaves
• 1/3 cup olive or avocado oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 lemon juiced
• 1/2 cup walnuts can sub cashews or almonds
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional, but delicious!)

Instructions

• Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until desired consistency.
• Keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Freeze extras!

If you’re looking for a food processor, here’s a budget friendly one with good reviews!

How to enjoy your kale pesto:

Now here’s some ideas of how to enjoy your kale pesto:

• Spread it on a sandwich
• Dip veggies in it (I love cherry tomatoes!)
• Put over a pasta dish to add veggies
• Dip pieces of rotisserie chicken in it for a protein packed snack
• Put it on avocado toast
• Put it over eggs

If you like this recipe, please share with others and save for later by pinning here!

If you like this recipe, you’re in luck! You’ll also probably enjoy these easy and healthy recipes too:

Easy healthy salad dressing (3 ingredients, plant based, oil free)

The post Kale Pesto – 5 minute recipe appeared first on Christina Maria Blog.

It’s hard to believe we’re about to begin year FIVE of homeschooling. I’ve shared on Instagram and in a few other blog posts about what curriculum we use, how we built the unit we have in our living room, and more. But today I just wanted to show you how we use the space we have with 3 kids in a smaller homeschooling space.

We don’t have an extra room, we just had a big blank wall in our living room.  I’m so glad I didn’t let space stop us. I’m also glad we didn’t try to make it in the basement. By having our school in our living room, it’s central to the rest of the house. It’s cozy, comfortable, and works really well for us.

See how we built this from a blank wall to built ins here

Click below to see the video tour of how the space looks (I even go inside drawers and cabinets…this is after a LOT of purging and cleaning out this summer!):

Pictures of how we homeschool in a small space  :

Let me preface: these pictures were snapped quickly with my phone camera. I didn’t have the battery charged for my “real camera” …and I’m just at a point where I’m saying that “done is better than perfect”. So these images are imperfect for sure, but I hope it helps to show our homeschool space and the organization we use!

Just imagine how cozy this space is when we use our wood burning fireplace in the winter!

And as a reminder: it just started with a blank wall:

Other homeschool room ideas:

OK so I’m learning to embrace AI for some design ideas. Sometimes it’s got some great inspiration! However, I cannot say I was super impressed when I asked AI to make me some homeschool spaces. I share these in case it’s helpful to you, but I have to say, I like a lived in actual homeschool space better than any of these!

Bottom line:

I hope that this post and our space inspires you with rethinking spaces in your home. Whether it’s a home office, a homeschool space, or something else you’re looking to make room for – don’t let you lack of square footage deter you! Use your vertical space, get creative, and rethink a blank wall if you need to.

I’d love to know in the comments if you homeschool (whether you’re homeschooling in a small space or a large one!) or are in any way curious about it. 

The post Homeschooling in a small space (our room for year 5) appeared first on Christina Maria Blog.

When I asked on Instagram if this post was wanted, I got a much larger response than I originally anticipated! Usually, my book content doesn’t do as well as my home content, but I know that many of us are moms (or grandmas, or teachers!) that are looking for great book recommendations. 

We are a family of avid readers, and I am thrilled that my children are also falling in love with reading. This summer, our kids have been reading to each other for a good chunk of the day. It’s the sweetest! 

A few things to note:

• we homeschool, and do a lot of literature based learning. This list will be a mix of things we have read for fun, things we read because it was assigned in our curriculum, and things the kids found at the library that I wouldn’t necessarily have picked, but they love!
• My kids are in a big graphic novel phase at the moment. I know not everyone’s a fan, but in my eyes, they’re reading. I don’t really mind as long as the content is OK for me!
• I’m very aware that families have different sensitivities to content, and that’s why I hope you look into each book on your own before just taking my recommendation. We’re fairly conservative but there’s also plenty of wizardry, magic, and some serious subjects brought up in these books.

So, with those notes in mind, here are our favorite books we read this last year! 

Notes: I found a bunch of these books through our Language Arts program (Brave Writer by Julie Bogart – LOVE it and lover her!)

For previous book recommendations, click the highlight called “books” on my Instagram! So many to pour over there.

Favorite readalouds for families:

(not all books are pictured here – some are loaned out, some were borrowed from the library, and some are in our basement haha)

These books are in no particular order!

• Nim’s Island
  • Nim is a girl who lives on a secret island with her scientist dad – bravery is needed when his exploration gets derailed and Nim is on her own – but is able to e-mail the renowned “Alex Rover”. We all agree that you should make sure you read the book before you watch the movie because it’s very different!
• My Side of the Mountain 
  • Sam is sick of living in the city with his family, so he runs away to live in the Catskill Mountains. The story follows his efforts towards courage, independence, and survival in the wilderness. The only thing I kept thinking was “…where are his parents??”. Otherwise it’s a great story that we all really enjoyed!
• The Wild Robot
  • Roz is a robot who washes ashore on a remote, wild island. As Roz explores her new surroundings, she learns to adapt and survive by observing and imitating the wildlife. Over time, she forms friendships with the animals and becomes a part of the island. Read this before the movie comes out this year!
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
  • Siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy discover a magical wardrobe that leads to the enchanted land of Narnia. In Narnia, they find a world ruled by the evil White Witch, who has created an eternal winter in Narnia. With the help of Aslan, the children embark on a quest to defeat the Witch and restore peace and warmth to Narnia. Absolute favorite of our family. We try to read this book every year (if you read it around Christmas it’s particularly special!).
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
  • The Herdman siblings, a group of notoriously misbehaved children, take over the annual church Christmas pageant. Despite their rough and tumble nature, the Herdmans bring a fresh perspective to the nativity story, surprising the whole community. Another book we try to read every Christmas! A short read that brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.

Our favorite chapter books for older kids

• The Green Ember
  • Rabbit siblings Heather and Picket’s peaceful lives are shattered when their home is attacked. They are thrust into a world of danger, discovering a hidden community of rabbits fighting against a tyrannical enemy. As they navigate this new world, Heather and Picket uncover their own hidden strengths and the legacy of the Green Ember, a symbol of hope and resistance. You can read more about this book in this article by my husband here. Our son really enjoyed reading this whole series with my husband.
• It Ain’t So Awful Falafel
  • Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is an Iranian girl trying to fit in after moving to Newport Beach, California, in the 1970s. As she navigates the challenges of middle school and American culture, the Iranian Revolution and the hostage crisis back home create additional stress and prejudice. Through humor and resilience, Cindy learns to balance her Iranian heritage with her American identity, forging new friendships and finding her place in her new home. This book truly surprised me – I judged a book by it’s cover and was wrong for it! I learned a lot and laughed a lot too. 
• A Place to Hang the Moon
  • Set during World War II, this story follows three orphaned siblings—William, Edmund, and Anna —who are evacuated from London to the English countryside. In search of a new family and a place to call home, the siblings face various challenges and are placed with different foster families. Throughout their journey, they find solace in books and the kindness of a librarian named Nora. This book was one of my very favorites of the year. We did this one for book club and it was a crowd favorite!
• Anne of Green Gables
  • Anne Shirley is an imaginative and spirited orphan girl mistakenly sent to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert on their farm in Avonlea. Despite initial reservations, Anne’s personality and boundless creativity win over the Cuthberts and the entire community. The story follows Anne’s adventures and misadventures as she grows up, forming deep friendships and finding a true sense of belonging. One of my favorite books ever – I love that my kids can love it too!
• The Beatryce Prophecy
  • A medieval fantasy novel about a young girl named Beatryce who is discovered in a monastery by a monk named Brother Edik. Beatryce has lost her memory but carries a prophecy that she will “unseat a king”. As she goes on a journey to uncover her past, she is joined by a group of unlikely friends, including a goat named Answelica, a boy named Jack Dory, and a former king. Together, they face dangers and uncover truths about Beatryce’s destiny. This book took me by surprise – such a fun book that inspired us to have our own medieval feast! It was memorable for sure.
• Wildoak
  • Maggie is a girl with a stutter who struggles to find her voice. She is sent away to spend time with her grandfather in the English countryside, and discovers an injured snow leopard cub. As she nurses the cub back to health, she finds courage and confidence in herself. A great read – I also loved this one more than I thought I would.

Favorite chapter books for younger kids

• Zoey and Sassafras series
  • Adroable series about Zoey, her cat Sassafras, and her scientist mom. Zoey + her mom can see magical animals, and they come to them for help in each book. My girls really liked these books!
• Unicorn Academy series
  • My girls love these! A series about girls who spend a year at Unicorn Academy with the goal of bonding with their unicorn by the time the year is over. Dark magic arises and the students must use their unicorn’s power and their creativity to fight back. Read these books before they watch the show!
• Sophie Mouse series
  • Adorable books geared towards younger kids, with wholesome storylines and easy to read chapters.
• Heartwood Hotel series
  • Read these with my older 2 when it was COVID and we needed something lighthearted and not scary – and we fell in love! Re-read them this year before bed with my middle and my youngest – still just as sweet.
• Magical Animal Adoption Agency series
  • We read these because we enjoyed Kallie George’s writing so much, and this 3 book series was another hit!

Favorite graphic novels:

These are my kids favorites that they read on their own. There’s been so many hours pouring over these graphic novels this year! I don’t stray away from graphic novels because I’m just thankful my kids are excited to read. Warning: there’s definitely more violence and creepier storylines than the other books I mentioned above. My kids are generally more sensitive and have all enjoyed these, but you know your kids the best!

• Wings of Fire graphic novel series
• Amulet series
• Hi-Lo series (these are less intense than the first two series)
• Dog Man (not my favorite, but had to be included because my kids still love it. They helped my early readers gain confidence with “bigger books”)
• Animal Rescue Friends (my middle loved these)

Our favorite picture books:

OK there’s so many picture books and I wish I did a better job writing the best ones down, but these are the ones that stuck out after this year!

• Miss Rumphius
  • One of my all time favorites! And it’s the reason we have lupine in our front garden now.
• Mercy Watson series
  • Technically a chapter book but very picture heavy and putting it in this category instead. A little old fashioned, but my Kindergartener really enjoyed.
• The Story of Ferdinand
  • Just another classic that I’m happy to read many times!
• The Happy Lion
  • Cute story that my lion loving girl always enjoyed reading with me.
• Blueberries for Sal
  • A Kindergarten classic! Make sure you snack on some blueberries while reading  
• Make Way for Ducklings
  • Our older two enjoyed this book when they were little, and it’s fun to have our youngest enjoy it now!

Best books for Mom (or Dad)

I’m the one writing this, so I’m saying it’s for Mom. But of course these are for dads too! These are my books that help me be a better parent, and I love them. I also listen to a lot of fiction on Audible but I’m going to save that for another day!

• Praying through the Bible for your kids 
  • So quick and easy to do – one page a day.
• Awaking Wonder
  • Sally is a true hero of mine. I love everything she does. This book is one I re-read almost every year because it helps to put the “why” of home education back into my heart.
• Adventuring Together
  • Greta is a treasure, and this book truly helped me to step out of my comfort zone as a mom. So proud of what we’ve done because of this book!
• Raising Emotionally Strong Boys
  • I’ve never been a boy, and I need help raising one! This book was such a great read to help understand boy’s minds as you’re working to raise them.
• Unshakable Kids
  • I speak about Sally and Greta like I know them, but I ACTUALLY know and love Lauren! She’s someone I love and trust, and I know you’ll also love her book. 
• Modern Miss Mason
  • OK I’ll admit that I haven’t *fully* finished this book but this post is my reminder that I need to before the next school year because I really enjoy it!

Last but not least – a few devotionals for kids!

• Doodle Devotions for Kids
  • I bought this thinking my artistic middle would love it, but my oldest had me get a second one for him too! They both love it.
• Strong in Spirit
  • 5 minute devotionals for pre-teen boys
• Jesus Calling
  • 5 minute devotionals for girls

OK that was a LOT but I hope it was helpful to you! I’d love to hear if you’ve read and loved any of the books on this list – please comment down below if you have! 

Make sure you save this post on Pinterest so you can come back to it when you need book ideas, and also share it with others! 

If you want to go a step further, consider starting a kids book club. It’s been one of my favorite parts of homeschool, and I wrote all the details here in this post.

The post Favorite books of the 2023-2024 school year (ages 5-10) appeared first on Christina Maria Blog.

Not only does Oak Brook Farmhouse have a gorgeous interior, but it sits on a beautiful property with character filled gardens. As you will see in these pictures, there is so much to admire in this home. If you want to bring some of this feel into your home, I have some links throughout the post. But the character and charm in this house is unmatched!

New York Cottage Kitchen:

Starting off strong – would you look at this kitchen? I just cannot handle how beautiful it all is. If I could paint my cabinets any color, I believe I would choose a color just like this:

Love this peg rack – such an easy addition to any home! We have one in our kitchen too (check it out here) – and here’s a budget friendly one (affiliate link) you could add to your home and paint to match your cabinetry:

See the pegboard on top of the windowseat too? And I love the linen pillows – these also look beautiful for any home (click here for a very budget friendly linen pillow)!

The house was built in 1820 and is located in Wingdale, NY. Even though it’s over 200 years old, it has been upgraded and maintained while keeping the charm from the 1800’s. A rare find these days!

Cozy cottage bedrooms + second story:

Traveling to the second story, I just love the sloped ceilings and charm in these bedrooms. 

This spindle bed is probably vintage, but you can still purchase some beautiful beds inspired by the vintage design. Click each image below to get to the product links:

The house kept it’s charm and character even in the bathrooms! I just love the wood accents, sloped ceiling, and subway tile shower with black framed glass. Incredible!

The gorgeous wood ceilings in this living space is one of my favorite features of the home!  I am so glad they left them natural and didn’t paint them.

Not only is the home stunning, but they even have a small summer cottage (complete with a wood burning stove). I just love this space:

Those pendant lights are beautiful + can work in so many space. Here’s one that’s very similar and under $40!

And since you know I love the outdoor spaces *possibly* even more than I love interiors, you have to see this charming garden:

While this New York cottage was for sale this month (July 2024), it has been sold. I hope that the new owners make wonderful memories in this beautiful home, and honor all of that history that is represented in this space!

The post Tour this picturesque New York cottage from the 1820’s appeared first on Christina Maria Blog.