Etsy Finds | For My Toddler

Since the holidays, we have been cleaning, purging and organizing in our house! It feels GREAT! I truly cannot blame the wild toddler in the house for the extra clutter… it’s all me! We have (thankfully) lived in this house for about 6 years, and man, have we accumulated some stuff. It feels good to get rid of unnecessary things and deep clean for Spring. My friend Jane with Southern Calligraphy and I have made a little pact to hold each other accountable with our minimalist goals this year. It’s not a “one day fix” but we are mapping out the whole year so we can stay on top of this goal and start the transition to minimizing our belongings and decluttering our spaces and lives!
With all that to be said, Thomas’s toys seem to silently SCREAM at me in every room. If you know me, you know I was hell bent on not letting kids toy’s take over the home we’ve worked so hard for. So as we donated great toys and kept some classics that we adore, I noticed how many are from Etsy and wanted to share them with y’all. Thomas isn’t in Montessori school (or any school yet) but I do lean toward that style of play/learn when given the choice (so you may notice a theme). Otherwise, some are just cute and fun and I hope to keep forever!

Okay, that last one is strictly for me and not a toy. So cute though, right? I just ordered T one for his room!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see some of the toys in action! I try to post great finds there as well. Have any favorites I should add to my list? Let me know! xoxo

Playhouse Project, Part Two

I am so happy to share the finished playhouse! You probably saw my recent blog post about the construction of it by Ryan Hamilton (a local woodworker). He finished super fast for us so we can have it ready in time for Christmas Day! Thomas LOVES it. My only regret was not checking the weather before surprising him with it! HA. A few cold and rainy days had our poor boy whining at the back door to go play, haha!
My husband did the painting (with one easy peasy trip to Lowe’s we got everything we needed, including the cute exterior light). Thomas has already mastered the Dutch doors and window locks and takes SO much pride in his whole house! My favorite thing he does is sits on the edge of the porch and dangles his legs, haha! Too cute seeing little man as “man of the house”! Cannot thank Ryan Hamilton enough for all his work and knowledge on this - he has such a knack for creative projects and made hiring out for the job not only way easier but way more enjoyable and probably saved us more than one headache!


Ryan even did the “Thomas” sign above his door by hand! Such a sweet surprise. We plan to add a swing in the coming months on the right side, too! I love that we can build on it and customize it exactly how we want over the years! You know I am already thinking of some potted plants and a window box for the Spring.
Thomas (and I) can’t wait to have some of his buddies over! If you have any questions about the design or production - feel free to ask!
xo, Tori