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How to German Shmear

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Large basket // Floor Pouf // Two-toned basket // Shag rug // Gold Mirror // Similar Cactus // Faux fiddle leaf fig

German Shmear

Our basement room has a beautiful view of the mountains, but the space needed some love.  First up, our plans were to refresh the dark and drab stone fireplace.  Reid was hesitant covering up the natural stone at first but after cleaning the surface we noticed the previous owners must have altered the stone somehow.  

So with that, we took the German Shmear plunge.  I’ll admit You Tube and Pinterest helped A LOT in convincing us to take the dive. Yes, everyone is doing this right now and I still worry 20 years from now we will look back and say, ”why did we do this”? 

Without risk, you will have no reward and frankly, design is a risk.  So take the risk, my friends.

Here is a quick shopping list and step by step German Shmear process.

Shopping List

o   Mortar (Tile Grout) – We used white.  (White is typical for German Shmear)

o   Mixing Bucket

o   Mixing Stick or Drill Bit

o   Big Sponges

o   Cheap Paint Brushes (They will get destroyed)

o   Rubber Gloves (This is very messy)

o   Painters Tape

o   Trowel and or Spackle

o Putty knife

o   Ziploc Bags

Process

1.      Wash surface with water, bristle brush and sponge.

2.      Protect surrounding area with painter’s tape.  We used flatten cardboard boxes to lay around the hearth for protect.

3.      Mix mortar per package direction.  Mix to a consistency of thick frosting.

4.      Use brush to spread mortar onto surface.  Brushes work well for smooth surfaces.  But honestly your hands work the best.  So don’t be afraid to just dig in and shmear.  We put Ziploc bags on our hands and literally grabbed the mortar and slapped it onto surface.  Fill grout marks so that the mortar is flush with the stone/brick surface.  A trowel and spackle tool can also be used.  Beware, this is messy.  But we are washable.  (The mortar also is water soluble and does clean up with a wet rag pretty easily, just in case)

5.      Let mortar dry per package directions

6.      Just before mortar is complete dry.  Take wet sponge and brush entire surface till smooth, to your liking.  This is where the artist comes out.  Some like it rough and some like it smoother.  Go ahead and express yourself.  Exactly like styling an outfit.

7.      Remove the protective barriers and Viola!  A masterpiece.

Great job!  You are now a pro!

Tag me in your DIY photos.  I would love to see how your spaces turn out.

Recipes

Weekend Mornings and the Best Syrup Recipe

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 /

10 / 11 / 12 / 13

Every morning we make pancakes! I use coconut oil to grease the pan and love all my kitchen gear especially my All Clad pots and pans – on sale!

Below is my recipe for maple flavored syrup for the kids, and cheaper than maple syrup.


1 cup water

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon maple flavored extract

Bring the water, white sugar, and brown sugar to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and stir in the maple extract; simmer 3 minutes longer. I love this recipe, let me know if you try it! My shop page is open 24/7! Happy Weekend!

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LTK Home Tour and our favorite home pieces

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Master Bedroom:

Amazon linen duvet // Sheets // Bed // Small Lamp // Art 40 x 54 // Large throw pillow // Plants // Vase // Down Alternative Duvet // Lacoste Chevron Coverlet // Chloe dupes

I get a lot of questions about our carpet through out our home. Here’s the official swatch. We like it and it’s super versatile.

Patio Table and Benches:

Benches in dark gray // Wicker Chair // Square planters

Teak Chairs, Planters and Firepit

Firepit // Teak Chairs // Sphere planters

Great Room:

Similar Sofa Sectional // Light // Similar Dresser // Lamps // Circular Vase // Pampass Grass // Dreamcatcher

Acrylic Table and Artwork

Acrylic table // Artwork (I had framed) // Basket underneath // Wood Sculture

On Thursday, we have the privilege of sharing our home with you! Since we bought it at the end of December, it has been a whirlwind.

One of our first purchases was a SECTIONAL. So many friends and decorators alike suggested we purchase the “RH Cloud Couch.” Seemed like a cult favorite so I did some research, which included going to the Restoration Hardware Outlet in Ontario and seeing the couch in person. Yikes, it looked like a sunken-in mess. I told Reid we’d better go back to the drawing board and do more research. I opened it to my readers on stories one day asking for any sectional advice. One reader who happened to be a realtor, suggested Cantoni Design. After more online research on Cantoni, which we were already liking the look of, we found something we think we liked. Since they had two locations in SoCal, one in LA, and one in Irvine, we planned a trip! Honestly, the best advice I can give you regarding couch shopping is to see it in person! Sit on it, stare at it, touch it … it’s too big of an investment to simply see online. It turned out that Irvine had the sectional we liked, so all seven of us drove down to Irvine. As it turns out, we ended up liking another sectional 3x as expensive as the one I originally liked. Isn’t that how it always happens? It took a day or two to convince Reid it was The One, but he finally agreed with me and the rest is history. A commonly asked question I get a lot is how to keep it clean. Honestly, it’s hard. There really isn’t any easy way to keep a couch clean when you have kids, short of never letting them use it.  However, I have a strict no food or drinks in the great room rule. Zero. With five kids it’s nearly impossible not to have a constant mess. But at least that rule keeps the mess confined to dry, non-sticky items that don’t leave stains on the couch. Small mercies, right? 

I’m still working on my office chairs for our family’s new work from home set up. So stay tuned what chairs I actually end up choosing.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Let me know what you think, which room is your favorite?

All the best,

xx Shalice

FoodFoodie Friday

Healthy Pad Thai

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

I’m obsessed with the salty sweet flavors of Pad Thai. Since we aren’t going out to eat, I found a recipe to make at home. It is a healthier version to try without losing the amazing flavor. The recipe is good for 4 people and only takes 30 minutes. Let me know what you think!

Keto Pad Thai

Sauce

3 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp chili paste
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp coconut aminos
2 tbsp lime juice
5 drops stevia

Ingredients

1 16 oz package shirataki noodles
1 lb chicken breast, butterflied and cut into bit sized pieces
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tbsp ginger, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 large scallions, thinly sliced, keep whites and greens separate
1 1/2 cups bean sprouts

Toppings
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
1/3 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
  • Wash and dry fresh produce. Thinly slice scallions, keeping whites and greens separated. Peel and mince ginger and garlic. Roughly chop cilantro leaves.
  • Butterfly the chicken breast then cut into small bite sized pieces.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together all sauce ingredients until well combined and smooth.
  • Heat a drizzle of oil (I used sesame oil) in a wok or large pan over medium high heat. Add ginger and garlic and stir fry until fragrant (about 30 seconds), stirring frequently. Add scallion whites and  1 tbsp sambal oelek to wok with ginger and garlic and continue stir frying until scallions have softened about 2-3 minutes.
  • Once scallion whites have softened, add chicken to wok with the ginger, garlic, scallions, and chili paste. Stir fry chicken for 5 minutes or until lightly browned and cooked through.
  • While chicken cooks, beat 2 eggs until well combined. Drain and rinse shirataki noodles thoroughly under hot water for about 2 minutes.
  • Once chicken has finished, remove the chicken stir fry the wok or pan and set aside. Add shiratki noodles to the wok and stir fry noodles until firm, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Once noodles have cooked, add the beaten eggs to the wok with the noodles and stir fry for 2-3 minutes until the eggs have cooked. Stir frequently to break up/scramble the eggs.
  • Once eggs have cooked, add the chicken stir fry, pad thai sauce, and bean sprouts to the wok. Continue stir frying for about 2 minutes until all ingredients are well combined.
  • Top with scallion greens, crushed peanuts, and cilantro to serve. Enjoy!

Photography by Felicia Lasala // Adapted from Joy Filled Eats // Optional: Shiratki noodles can be used OR “Healthy Noodle” made with Konjac.

See what I’m shopping below on my Shop page open 24/7:

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5 Ways to Sleep Better

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Just recently Reid and I upgraded to an ALLSWELL memory foam California King mattress. All previous eleven years of our marriage, we’ve slept on a full, so this was a bit of an upgrade, and by a bit, I mean a huge upgrade.  Reid still isn’t super happy about the large size (I give it another couple of days) but he can’t deny the great sleeps we have been enjoying. We sleep so well, even with Levi’s 1am wakeup calls and the random sleepy child. And honestly? A good night’s sleep can change. your. world. So, if you’re like me, and have slept in the same mattress for over a decade, go mattress shopping! 

Here are a few tips for a better nights sleep!

1. Invest in a good mattress! (Repetition for those who haven’t had a good night’s sleep.) 

2. CBD does wonders for my sleep. I take 1 gel tablet before bed and I sleep like a baby which is huge for me, a light sleeper since birth. Use code: shalicenoel

3. Magnesium – I take CALM. I sleep better and it aids in regularity. I find taking this while traveling is so helpful. Now I don’t leave home without it; it has become part of my routine.

4. Take a bath. Baths are relaxing, especially with a bath bomb! Or a shower … but showers wake me up? So, you know, you do you. 

5. Exercise during the day (this is scientifically proven!). Even 15-20 min of light walking or jogging makes a difference. Just get out and move!

6. Use blackout shades. Light wakes you up (science! again!), and darkness sends messages to your body that it’s time to slow down, retire and rest. If you don’t have shades, use an eye mask.

But always looking for more ideas! What gets you a good night’s sleep?

I’m doing a lot of online shopping this weekend! Here’s a link to my Amazon page, and my shop page is open 24/7. Stay healthy! A happy heart is good for the immune system.

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New Home additions and what we learned in the process

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

This room gets so much use! Between the office and tv space, we are in here A LOT.

Family Room:

Master Bedroom:

Amazon linen duvet // Sheets // Bed // Small Lamp // Art 40 x 54 // Large throw pillow // Plants // Vase // Down Alternative Duvet // Lacoste Chevron Coverlet // Chloe boot dupes

Patio Table and Benches:

Benches in dark gray // Wicker Chair // Square planters


We love our outdoor area

Firepit // Teak Chairs // Sphere planters

Great Room:

Similar Sofa Sectional // Light // Similar Dresser // Lamps

Acrylic Table and Planters

Great room

Similar sectional and larger one here // Dream catcher // Wood Bench // Pampas Grass

I’m writing this the day we sprang forward an hour and the only thing that makes me happy about paying back the hour of sleep we gained last fall is the fact that we now have longer days ahead.  Welcome Spring!  With the coming of later sunsets, we are excited to enjoy time out on the patio of our new home.  This is a first for us.  None of our previous homes had any desirable outdoor space, so we cut new design teeth this season.

               We learned five things while planning our outdoor living space.

1)     Measure your area from deck / concrete edge.  Sketch the area to scale and identify your traffic flow.  Where is the door into your house?

2)     Think design in terms of enjoying from outside as well as inside.  We discovered how much is helps to by similar looking outdoor planters and placing a couple inside our glass sliding door and a pair just outside the sliding door.  We were amazed at how much this brought the outdoors in.

3)     Scale of furniture is everything.  With so many outdoor furniture pieces on the market we were tempted to pick a big wicker looking sectional with coffee table and side chairs.  You can easily buy these as a package deal and it’s definitely a good deal – if you have the area large enough to fill it.  Thankfully, we scaled back a discovered it better to just buy four teak chairs with cushions and arranged them in a circle around a firepit as the coffee table.  (I also might turn the firepit into a planter…just thinking about it.)  Individual seating gives us a lot of flexibility.  We sometimes bring the chairs inside to switch things up.  If we had gone with large furniture pieces, our smaller than anticipated patio would have become crowded.

4)     We steered away from matchy – matchy.  Amazing how fashion parallels interior design.  I found our dining table at CB2, on sale so quickly jumped on it.  It’s durable and heavy which are two things I really liked about it.  However, it didn’t come with chairs.  Buying 8 chairs gets expensive quickly, so we landed on very cool benches that seat six and are stained ebony to coordinate with the grey tones in the table perfectly.  The major win was finding the head of the table chairs.  After researching chair options, I was drawn to bamboo or wicker style to contrast the contemporary design of our table.  We found these grey, high back chairs with white cushions that paired with the table looked dramatic.  Exactly what I wanted.  The high-back chairs gives the large table an intimate dinning experience while the white cushions coordinate with the white cushions on the teak chairs.  (I do bring the cushions in at night to keep them from getting dirty or I suggest covering them)

5)     Lastly, we used small potted plants to finish off the look.  These are reasonably priced to buy a higher quantity and add some additional greenery to your table scape.   Our miniature sedums also add a personal touch at each dinner placing.  Have your guest take one home.

When planning your outdoor space, think scale.  Don’t be afraid to break away from the matchy-matchy pre-assembled furniture sets.  Have fun.  Relax.  Take in the fresh air.  Cheers! 

Keep me posted on your patio life and comment on this post or on my Instagram profile.  I’m still looking for outdoor lighting ideas and thinking about adding a buffet under our kitchen window.  Oh and most importantly, we need a grill so Reid takes on more of the cooking!

Check out my takeover on the Liketoknow.it Home account!

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5 Things to Consider When Picking out a Couch

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Our sectional: Cantoni Versa Grand Sectional // A cute one that is smaller scale HERE

Not sure if you got the news, but we bought a house!! We didn’t go too far from our rental but loving the new space! We’ve been here for 2 weeks and the sectional we saw in a show room in Irvine is now in our living room. Hooray! While this room is still coming together, it is finally looking like more of our interior design preferences. Reid and I discussed below what are some tips to scoring your next couch. I made a mistake once, buying a sectional online. Once it arrived, I didn’t like the scale of it and it was final sale. I was bummed. Don’t make my mistake. If the brand of couch you like has a local showroom, go ahead and visit it. We had a sectional in mind when we visited the Irvine Cantoni showroom but quickly upon seeing it, we changed our minds. Word of advice: see it in person first. It’s a big purchase, so be picky!

  1. Scale – the couch should fit the scale of the room.  Small spaces are great for mid-century modern looks.  Large spaces are great for big, extra sized sectionals.
  2. Firmness – do you want to sink into the couch and take a nap or have a conversation with some one?  A firm couch is much more formal while a slouchy coach is more restful and casual.
  3. Color – Pick a color that will survive the trends.  I suggest a solid and neutral.  A couch is a big investment and should last you years.
  4. Texture –  For large spaces, don’t be afraid of texture.  Thick woven, suede, ribbed or slouchy velvet.  For smaller spaces, pick smaller scale textures with tighter weave.  Velvet is always a good choice if you can stand the dull vs. shiny marks.
  5. Legs –  For smaller spaces it’s good to have long slender legs .  You want to see the floor running below the couch.  For larger spaces you can pick a couch that has a platform or one that meets the floor.  This gives the couch weight in the large space.

Enjoy shopping around!  Here are my go to couch websites at the moment.

Cantoni, Burke Decor, Rove Concepts, Article

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Why We Sold Arrowhead

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Our pj’s are on sale!

12.16.19 We closed on our beloved arrowhead home.

When we moved from Chicago to LA, we anticipated giving up the opportunity for homeownership. We knew it would be crazy out here, so we decided to rent until we really knew the area. While renting, we were longing to sink our teeth into a house. We looked for houses all over, made offers, waited and prayed. The doors kept closing. 

Out of frustration, we decided to rethink homeownership. There are many benefits to renting, but wow, we really wanted to sink our teeth into a house. That’s when we made a unique decision. We decided to buy a cabin in the mountains with the potential to rent it out. Reid was once told, “rent where you live and rent what you own.” As Reid obsessively searched the real estate listings in Lake Arrowhead, he finally came across some doable options. Our A-Frame was a diamond in the rough and we knew it had SO much potential. We leaped on it and didn’t turn back. After 6 months of design and countless trips up and down the mountain, the place looked pretty special and we loved it. 

How did we find the A-Frame?

Reid kept his eye on the real estate listings for Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead. I think he looked at every house listed for a month straight. We knew how much we were willing to spend and we did our research and looked at Airbnb listings to find daily rates and how often they booked. That way we knew if we rented the A-Frame for a minimum of 10 nights a month we would cover our cost. It’s all about timing and seeing potential in what seems unlikely – don’t be afraid to jump on something you don’t exactly want. 

What did you learn from renting it out?

Renting the A-Frame on Airbnb was a great experience and helped offset our remodel expenses. Our guests were super polite and we received great comments. Although, of course, there was one funny thing that happened in our year of short-term renting. Our oven knob kept braking. We have no idea why, but we went through four knobs in two months! Reid finally made a video of how to turn the oven on and would text it to the guest when they arrived. That seemed to do the trick.

The grand finale of our rental was the 24” snowstorm over Thanksgiving of 2019. Our guests lost power for the entire day, ran out of firewood and their phones died. Needless to say, they loved their snowed-in experience and their kids thought we “staged” the snow. A great ending to a year of hosting guests.

What does it take to be an Airbnb Superhost?

Communicate clearly

Touch base with the renters, but don’t act like you are babysitting them.

Make your guests feel welcome

Clean

Comfy beds (thanks Lull Mattress! We got so many compliments on our comfy mattresses)

Respond quickly

Why did you sell?

The decision to sell was easy for me but hard for Reid. While I loved going up to the mountains as an escape from the LA grind, I still found the trip exhausting. Packing the family up for a couple nights was a lot of work. The kids also started soccer and our free weekends became not so free. We found it more difficult to spend time up there. I decided I would rather invest in our primary home. I wanted a house we could live in, design and make a home. Reid, on the other hand, was a little more emotionally attached. This was his vision and a great experience for him to see his drawings come to life. He loved the quiet of the mountains and the architecture of the A-Frame. But in the end, we both agreed that we would rather have a permanent home of our own. Thus, we decided to list the A-Frame on the MLS with Christine Williams who was referred to me by a friend. 

With the sale of Arrowhead, we were able to have a down payment for our new house and super thankful. While we are sad to see it go, we are overjoyed for the lasting memories we made there.

See more about the renovation, inspiration, and links to products we use, HERE.

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We’re Moving! (Plus sneak peek of the new home!)

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

After 4 years of renting, numerous offers, and bidding wars, WE BOUGHT A HOUSE. Even crazier, we’re moving 5 days before Christmas! Never a dull moment around here. We laugh because every Christmas we do something crazy like travel or move and we have a less than normal Christmas. I’m super excited to show you more of the house, our plans for it and interior design. Yesterday, we took a video tour of the house with Tim & co, and I can’t wait to show you more! I’ll admit, it was a little daunting talking into the camera so long, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the home tour.

We plan to clean carpets and the house before we move in, as well as pack up 7 people after settling 4 years in this rental house.

If you think we are crazy, you are probably right but I can’t think of another Christmas and birthday gift I would rather have. I’ve been dreaming about home content for ages and so happy to finally have a home to renovate and decorate. Unlike a rental, I can actually pick all the light fixtures, YAY! Are you ready for some home content?

In the meantime, here is a major SNEAK PEEK to get an idea of what the new house looks like:

Here are some home items that I am loving!

HomeMotherhood

Friday Faves: 5 Favorite Rugs

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Runner Rug from Etsy shown above // Here’s one similar // Pjs // I have another runner by the front door by New England Loom

I’m headed to Calabases to shoot a fun brand, but in the meantime, this is what is on my shop page, and 5 runners I’m loving. I had so many questions where I buy rugs, so here they are! I buy from from Etsy and New England Loom and usually look for a pop of pastel and a great pattern. See some favorites below! I’m craving another slow weekend at Lake Arrowhead. Although it’s hardly slow with 5 kids, the absence of traffic, and need to go anywhere is as slow as it gets. What are your weekend plans?

This is totally random, but I just saw Nuface was having a 40% off their Mini and Gold Gel Primer (I just purchased, shoot!) While I missed the sale, I’m still going to stock up on gel. Hello hydration during a long flight! If you don’t have the mini, it’s a perfect workout for a tired face for traveling or busy mom life. Take my advice. I use it evening and mornings (while I nurse). I figure since I don’t have time for a facial most weeks, I don’t want my skin to feel the brunt of my busy life.

I’m also trying a new no clump mascara, just in time for Anniversary dinner Sunday.

Happy Friday!

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