One Lovely Thing

Is it just me, or is this the prettiest play kitchen you've ever seen? The farmhouse sink! The brass hardware! I think I want one for myself. Well played, Pottery Barn Kids, well played.

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Play Kitchen

My girls absolutely love to play chef, so I always buy a few new things for their little play kitchen every Christmas. Here are my favorite picks this year:

Apron: Fawn Shoppe
Wooden Petits Fours: Le Toy Van
Wooden Cake Set: Plan Toys
Wooden Shopping Cart: Pottery Barn Kids
Pie Slice: Bug Bites Play Food on Etsy
Wooden Pots & Pans: Hape
Wooden Orange: HABA
Wool Apple and Pear: Darling Clementine
Coffee Maker: Pottery Barn Kids
Wooden Toaster: Plan Toys
Wooden Play Kitchen: Sprout
Felt Baguettes: Mummy Made It Me on Etsy

P.S. You can find my play kitchen picks from last year right here!

Le Toy Van on Zulily!

I'm so excited - one of my absolute favorite toy companies, Le Toy Van, is on Zulily at the moment! That London bus just kills me! You can check out all of the goodies here. xo, Lauren

Wooden Ice Lollies
London Bus
Wooden Ice Cream Sundae
Petite Cake Set

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Play Kitchen

Violet's really been getting into her play kitchen since she turned three, and I only wish it was bigger so that I could add all of this to it! Maybe someday we an buy a bigger house so that I can expand her play kitchen? (Because that's why you buy a bigger house, right?) So here are all of the things I would buy for her (and me) if I had the space (and money!):

Moulin Routy Friday's Groceries ($) | 10-Piece Gourmet Wooden Play Food Set ($) | Honeybee Market ($131) | Wooden Sushi Set ($22.46) | Plan Toys Wooden Toaster ($39.95) | Wooden Sundae ($13.98) | Wooden Petits Fours ($11.99) | Crochet Donut Rattle Set ($32) | Knit Tea Set ($68) | Wooden Popsicles ($18) | Haba Petit Fours ($10.07)

Hape Tabletop Cook & Grill ($39.95) | Wooden Rolling Pin | Wooden Grocery Cart ($79) | Wooden Donut Set ($27.95) | Felt Avocado Play Food | Pots and Pans ($9.99) | DUKTIG Play Kitchen ($79.99) | Vegetable Play Food ($7.99) | Farmhouse Play Kitchen ($219) | Wooden Popsicles ($10) | Kids' Apron ($45) | Wooden Hamburger Set of 2 ($18)

Don't forget to enter the baby and decor giveaways, and if you still haven't seen enough play kitchen loot, here are my play kitchen picks from last year.  xo, Lauren

2013 Holiday Gift Guide:

For Your Little Artist

For the Babes

Make Believe

Musical Toys

Featured:

Shak-Shuka

Shak-Shuka is a stylish eco boutique for kids 0-10 years and their equally stylish mamas. Over 150 global brands of clothing, decor, and toys all made from organic, eco and natural materials. Based in the Netherlands and shipping worldwide for $8.95 with free shipping for orders of $175+. 

Kathryn Davey

We believe in the importance of using consciously sourced sustainable and non toxic materials which are far less damaging to the environment and our children. In making our products we select and use only the highest quality, natural, sustainable and antique fibers. Our product line is handmade in California with a carefully curated selection of products available on our online store. 

Play Kitchen Before & After

A long-time reader, Andrea, recently emailed me these stunning photos of her daughter's play kitchen, and I just had to share it with you all. Here it is before:

 And after:

Crazy good, am I right? She used my knob DIY too - love it! Thanks so much for sharing with us Andrea! You can see more photos over on her blog, Andrea Jennison Interiors.

Happy Friday! xo, Lauren

More Handmade Love

Speaking of play kitchens, how about these handmade beauties from NoaCakes:

Thinking of painting the inside of Violet's play kitchen mint green now...

Handmade Love

I came across the loveliest felt food the other day on Etsy. It's made by Nina of Mummy Made It Me, and I wanted to buy all of the food in the shop! You can check it out here.

Something To: Meg of Oh Bother

Our last Something to post is from my friend Meg, who I've known since high school! She just started blogging and I love what she's done so far. Her blog is called Oh bother and she writes about her sweet daughter Holden, life as a working (sort of single) mom (her husband works out of state five days of the week), and my favorite part - her hilarious Pinterest fails :) Without further ado, here are Meg's picks for today:

make: DIY stuffed dino
wear: upcycled little girl's dress (made from a men's dress shirt!)
live: Every Little Thing sign by Susie Harris
read: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
play: garden veggies

Favorite Projects of 2012

Looking back at 2012, we got a lot of DIY projects (big and small) accomplished here at the H-Haus. Here are a few of my favorites from the past year:

1. DIY 'Confetti System' Ornaments

2. 10 Easy Steps to Create a Silhouette

3. DIY Play Kitchen Knobs

4. DIY Colorful Yarn Pom Pom

5. Fringed Banner DIY

6. Glitter Geometry Garland

7. Violet's Big Girl Room

8. Living Room Update

9. Dining Room Update

Looking ahead to 2013, I plan to tie up a lot of loose ends around the house before diving into anything new, but on my list would be:

1. DIY Upholstered Headboard

2. Wood floors in the master bedroom

3. Updating the nursery for the new baby

4. Painting the kitchen cabinets

5. Wood floors in the kitchen

6. Painting the entryway

And probably a few other little odds and ends along the way. Our house may be tiny, but we are hoping to spread a little DIY love to every single square inch of it - after all, it's where we spend most of our time. Here's to a happy, lovely home! xo, Lauren

Holiday Gift Guide 2012: Play Kitchen

1. Moulin Roty Friday's Market Set

2. Pinolino Play Kitchen

3. Janod Greengrocer Set

4. Moulin Roty Monday Market Set

5. DUKTIG Plates & Bowls

6. My First Kitchen

7. Plan Toys Food & Beverage Set

8. Bahia Kids Apron

9. DUKTIG Cookware Set

10. Plan Toys Toaster

11. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Kitchen Set
12. Kids Apron Eep in Blueberry

P.S. You can enter the holiday giveaway extravaganza here. Over $750 in prizes to one lucky reader!

Magpie Lovely:

Magpie Lovely is an online boutique focused on offering high-quality handmade designs for women, kids, and the home. They are a great gifting destination if you're looking for truly unique (often custom made!) gifts. One of my favorite things about Magpie Lovely is that all of their beautiful offerings include handmade items from independent artists and designers. Here are a few of my favorite products from the shop:

Kirie Four Clock, Baby Modern Hedgehog Clock, Labyrinth Canvas Tote Bag, Chevron Knit Pillow, Jack Frost Wool Slippers, Organic Little Wolf Baby Bodysuit, Baby Yellow Pom Pom Harem Pants, Mysteries Print Set

You can win a $75 gift certificate toward anything in the shop at Magpie Lovely here and receive 10% off everything in the shop with the code 'lovelylark10' through the end of December!

PSA: Up to 50% Off Plan Toys!

Up to 50% off Plan Toys today on Zulily! I totally bought the toaster for Violet. Check it out here.