October Home Maintenance Tips

1. Clean Gutters

The leaves are falling, which means it will be time to clean out your gutters again. This is a maintenance task most home owners will add to their to-do list at the changing of the seasons. Typically it is done at the end of spring and at the end of fall.

2. Shut off exterior water supply

Summer’s over, make sure you’ve turned off your exterior faucets and hoses. This will hopefully help prevent any damage that could happen to water lines during the cold weather months.

3. Change direction of ceiling fans

Yes, you read that correctly. This was an interesting tip that I had to read further about to truly understand the benefit (side note, recommend reading this article too. It had a great list of amazing home maintenance tips). When you change the direction of your ceiling fan to turn clockwise in the fall or winter months, it will draw the cold air up toward the fan and help disburse the hot air out throughout your home.

During the spring and summer months, it’s best to have your ceiling fans moving counterclockwise to create the opposite effect – bringing the cold air down and the hot air upward. This way you stay nice and warm during the fall and winter months and cool during the warmer months!

4. Change furnace filters

As a home owner, you’ll want to change out your furnace filters a few times a year. It might be the first time you’ve used your heat in awhile, think about all of the dust that probably has collected on the old one (gross!).

5. Change damper direction

Depending on where you spend most of your time inside, you may want to change your damper direction. For example, perhaps your porch doesn’t get a ton of use in the winter, therefore it might not be a room that needs the most heat flowing into it.

As always, I hope these tips were helpful! For more specific or detailed information and/or recommendations on home maintenance, I recommend reaching out to your local service providers regarding their respective areas.

Please pin or share the image below to save this list for later! Or, follow along on Instagram for more monthly home maintenance tips and lists.

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Pick Your Own Flowers at Parlee Farms

My oldest daughter and I had an absolute blast picking our own flowers at Parlee Farms this summer! We started out our morning at the farm by visiting the adorable farm animals that live there. We fed baby goats, sheep and bunnies.

After feeding the animals, we took a walk down to the back of the farm to pick our own flowers. The variety of flowers is large and the size of the garden is huge! We enjoyed running through the rows of flowers and picking out the most vibrant colors. Parlee provides you with a bucket and scissors to pick your own flowers or you can bring your own.

When we were all done with picking flowers, we walked back up to the flower stand to weigh our pickings and pay. Last stop on our visit to the farm was at the country shop for some delicious baked goods. We grabbed a few chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins to take home with us. It was the perfect morning activity to do with young children!

For more information, visit their website here.

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When buyers are searching for a new home, they will more than likely come across your listing online. This is your opportunity to peak their interest with an amazing first impression of your home’s best features. Preparing your house for listing photos may feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! Here’s a list of simple tips to setting your house up for success before the photographer arrives.

3 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Outstanding Listing Photos

1. Turn on all lights, lamps and overheads

Ever come across a listing featuring dim or poorly lit rooms? I’ll bet they didn’t exactly have you jumping for joy to see that home. Before the photographer comes, make sure all lights are working properly and turned on in your house. If a bulb is out, be sure to swap it out for a new one before the day of your photos.

Natural light is one of your best friends when it comes to listing photos! Open those blinds and let the light pour in.

2. Declutter all counter spaces in kitchen and bathrooms

Clear counter tops in kitchen and bathrooms as well as other tables and surfaces throughout your home. Homes that are a bit more dated or older benefit tremendously from a good, deep clean. Less clutter will allow buyers to focus on a home and its potential versus all of the personal items inside it.

3. Depersonalize the entire house and remove furry friends from areas being photographed

Lastly, take the time to depersonalize every room in the house. This means replacing family photos with neutral pictures or artwork, putting away collectibles and cleaning up pet toys and beds. Speaking of furry friends, you’ll want to take them out of the house with you on the day of photos. While some people may find an image of a cat or dog on the bed endearing, others may see it as a turn off.

A big part of listing photos, open houses and showings is to create an opportunity for buyer’s to view a home and see if they can envision themselves living in it. Lighting, decluttering and depersonalizing your home will help create a beautiful neutral environment for buyers and hopefully get your home one step closer to sold!

Looking to list soon? Get in touch and find out what your home’s worth!

The post 3 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Outstanding Listing Photos appeared first on Kristen Fitzpatrick Realtor.

Surprisingly, there are so many things that can be done to update an old house without the breaking the bank! Here are 13 quick and easy budget-friendly updates to help modernize your home:

1. Update switch plates on outlets and vents
2. Paint the walls (and furniture too!)
3. Replace or update old doors
4. Change out door knobs and hinges
5. Update light fixtures
6. Remove carpet and replace with hardwood or laminate flooring
7. Paint varnished wood trim and doors white
8. Paint stair railings
9. Replace old blinds in living room, kitchen and bedroom
10. Paint kitchen cabinets and replace hardware (knobs, handles and hinges!)
11. Replace older appliances (when ready)
12. Don’t keep previous owner’s items (old chandeliers, paint colors and other trinkets must go with them)
13. Choose decor wisely!

13 Budget-Friendly Updates to Modernize Your Home

This post contains affiliate links for if you make a purchase from one, I may receive a small commission. Any commissions received go back into this blog. Thank you for your support!

1. Update switch plates on outlets and vents

Those old, ivory switch plates and electrical outlets have got to go! This is something that can be done immediately upon moving in or overtime as you tackle updating each room. We’ve been updating our switch plates overtime as we modify each of the rooms in our townhouse.

2. Paint the walls (and furniture too!)

Painting the walls is one of the easiest and fastest ways you can modernize the look of your home. Say good-bye to the pink and blue pastels of the 80s and hello to neutral grays and beige. Along with walls, you can also paint furniture such as old bathroom vanities or fireplace mantles.

Below is a before and after of our bathroom. We repainted the medicine cabinet mirror, walls and vanity and just recently had the countertop replaced. We went with Benjamin Moore paint colors White Dove for the trim and vanity and Healing Aloe for the wall color.

3. Replace or update old doors

Doors can get pretty worn down over the years, so why not spruce these up with a fresh coat of paint too? If you have louver bifold doors in your bathroom, you might consider replacing them altogether to avoid the hassle of cleaning and painting them. You can purchase newer ones, like these ones from Lowes, that come in a white pine finish (so if you’re feeling lazy, you can get away without painting them right away).

Total cost for the set of new doors is just under $200 and in my opinion, worth it. Here is a few of the original doors in our bathroom followed by a view of the updated doors.

4. Change out door knobs and hinges

Gold door knobs and hinges are simply a look of the past. Try switching these out for matte black, chrome or bronze. There are so many options nowadays you can’t go wrong! Depending on the knobs you choose, this update could get a little pricey but consider it one of those updates you do as you move from room to room. You’ll appreciate it in the long run.

The key is to do these updates over time, so you’re never dropping a ton of money all at once.

Our Little Home Style

5. Update lighting fixtures to modernize home

One of the very first things we did was update the lighting fixtures in the kitchen, bathrooms and hallway. We did this for two reasons:

1. The new lights were more aesthetically pleasing
2. The old lights were too dim and provided little to no light

In total, over the past four years we have added a farmhouse style lantern in the stairwell, changed out both lighting fixtures in the bathrooms, updated two lights in the kitchen and added a dining room light.

6. Remove old carpet

If you’re 1980’s house looks anything the way ours did, then you already know the moss green carpet needs to go. Replacing carpet with newer carpet is by far the most cost-effective option, however hardwood will add the most value to your home. We replaced the dining room and living room carpet with hardwood flooring and replaced the stairs and bedrooms with newer neutral colored carpet (you can see how we’ve decorated the dining room here).

For an in-between option, you may want to also look into laminate flooring. This type of flooring is generally less expensive than hardwood and looks just as nice. This is also a durable option for those who have pets too!

7. Paint varnished trim white

In the 80s, varnished wood trim was very popular. In the millennium, varnished trim make the home feel darker and smaller. Painting the trim in your home white will instantly brighten up the space and help give your home a more modern look. Below is a before of what my daughter’s room looked like with the varnished wood trim and original wall color followed by the after.

8. Paint stair railings

This is similar to the last update mentioned here. Painting the stair railings white can also help improve the appearance of your older home. This is some-what time consuming but would be well worth your time (it is on my list for sure – however may take some convincing of my husband to tackle it with me!).

9. Replace old blinds and shades in living room, bedrooms and kitchen

Overtime, blinds and shades get dirty, dull and outdated. Try replacing the blinds or shades to something more modern that won’t sacrifice the practicality of them either. You also may not even need to replace them depending on where they were and the function they served.

We removed blinds from the sliding doors that were left by the previous owner. They were old, dirty and unnecessary. We added some simple curtains from Home Goods and use those to provide privacy in the evening.

10. Paint kitchen cabinets and replace hardware (knobs, handles and hinges)

Depending on your budget, this is an update you can absolutely tackle yourself or hire out. Painting oak cabinets white or gray will help bring your home into the current ages.

Some exciting news for us – we are having our cabinets painted in September and I CANNOT WAIT! I’ll be sharing updates on the blog and social media. If you’re debating having your cabinets painted, then make sure to subscribe to my blog to learn more about the process and to see how they turn out!

11. Replace older appliances (when you need to)

Not everyone has the luxury of replacing outdated appliances when you first move into a home – and that’s okay! There are so many other small yet impactful updates you can make to your home that you won’t need to worry about those old appliances just yet. Once you’re able to financially afford new appliances (or once the stove kicks the bucket), make the change and invest.

12. Don’t keep the previous owner’s old items

If you don’t want your home to look like its from the 1980s, then absolutely do not keep items that were made in the 1980s in your home. If the seller offers to give you their older furniture for free, it’s most likely because it will cost them more money and hassle to have it moved than it’s worth. So, unless you plan on refurbishing the furniture or spray painting light fixtures, then I would kindly decline the offer and save up for the things you really want.

13. Modernize your home by choosing decor wisely

The final tip for modernizing your home and making it beautiful, is to simply choose your decor wisely. Don’t make hasty decisions when you’re at the store, this is how clutter and junk gets accumulated. Take your time, do some research and maybe even consult Pinterest to help determine the style you want to achieve.

By doing so, you will be able to make wiser decor choices, saving you time and money and allowing you to maintain a cohesive look throughout your home.

At the end of the day, you want to make smart updates to your home that will help increase the value of your property overtime. Take your time and I promise you won’t be disappointed. We’ve really taken our time with many of these updates and are incredibly happy with the results. Happy decorating!

Don’t forget to pin the image below so you can easily reference this list for later.

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At the beginning of quarantine, the allure of wearing pajamas everyday was all the rage. But, after awhile I honestly missed getting dressed and feeling like I had a sense of purpose for the day. Did you feel the same? It was clear staying home and social distancing was becoming the new normal, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still get dressed up every now and then!

During quarantine, I started shopping online a bit more and discovered how awesome Abercrombie & Fitch has become over the years! I literally hadn’t bought anything from there in YEARS until a few friends of mine started telling me how great their clothing had become. So, I gave Abercrombie a try and I absolutely loved what I picked up!

Today I’m sharing three comfy outfits I’m loving right now that incorporate clothing from Abercrombie & Fitch (other clothing details also linked in the shop widgets below). Each of these outfits are perfect for working from home, casual date night or family game night.

This post contains affiliate links for if you make a purchase from one, I may receive a small commission. Any commissions received go back into this blog. Thank you for your support!

3 Comfy Outfits from Abercrombie & Fitch

1 | Belted Linen Blend Shorts & White Bodysuit

SHOP THIS LOOK

This look is one of my all time favorites. It’s sweet and comfortable, perfect for social distancing with friends or casual date night at home. The white bodysuit is out of this world comfortable and fit me perfectly! For reference, I am 5’4″ and wearing a size medium in both the bodysuit and shorts.

Adding the long cardigan helps transition this outfit from summer to fall seamlessly. I like to get as much use as possible out of my clothes so I love any way to make pieces last year-round.

3 | Knotted Leopard Print Tee from Abercrombie & Fitch

SHOP THIS LOOK

LOVE this t-shirt! I typically wear it with white jean shorts or my black leggings. I am wearing it here with a new pair of ankle jeans (not Abercrombie) I found at the outlets. It’s true to size and looks good knotted or with the knot untied.

2 | Cute Yellow Wrap-front Romper

SHOP THIS LOOK

This wrap-front romper was one of the first items I bought from Abercrombie this summer. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worn it, but it’s very flattering and so fun! I would buy this romper in other patterns too (a friend of mine has the black version and it’s really pretty). The size I am wearing is a medium and for full disclosure, the front wrap is slightly baggy so I have clipped it for extra security with a small safety pin (now that I told you, you may be able to see it!).

Overall, most items I’ve tried on from Abercrombie have fit great! I’m so pleasantly surprised with how their clothing and brand has changed.

Are you a fan of Abercrombie & Fitch? Which look is your favorite?

The post 3 Comfy Outfits from Abercrombie & Fitch for Everyday Wear appeared first on Kristen Fitzpatrick Realtor.

New Instagram Page

I started @ourlittlehomestyle on Instagram in mid-March when the pandemic hit. Home decorating and blogging are two of my favorite things so I decided to just go for it! It’s been so much fun building a community and reigniting this blog in the process.

If you’re new around here, I’ve actually been blogging since 2013! This blog even went through a bit of an identity crisis (it’s changed names three times now!). I’ve come back to my blog over and over again and I’m happy to be back (sticking around for good this time!).

Some of the things you’ll find on my new page include home decor, style and honest motherhood moments (because being a mom is a huge part of my life!). I love connecting with others on this platform and hope that you’ll follow along if you are not already! Okay, now let’s get to the roundup.

July’s Top Instagram Posts

1 | Progress of Bathroom Remodel

This was a fun post sharing our bathroom vanity refresh! Our vanity is an awkward size and to remove it entirely would probably cost a lot and be a pain to do. So we decided to keep it, refinish the base and have a nice counter top installed. This photo shows the in between stages after we painted it and before the new countertop was installed.

2 | Thrift Store Gold Mirror

I am a HUGE fan of wandering consignment stores! I’ve always loved looking at antiques and dreaming about where, how and who they were once used by.

I had been searching for a gold mirror to put over my daughter’s bureau for awhile now since gold would match the knobs on the dresser perfectly. You may recall how we refinished my husband’s old one for her before she was born a few years ago (you can see how it turned out here). This mirror was a great find and a total steal at less than $30!

3 | Thrifty Seashell Wreath

Another one of my consignment store finds. I believe this seashell wreath can also be used to go around a candle but I like to use it as an accent piece for my coastal collage wall.

4 | Coastal Style Centerpiece (Instagram favorite!)

This centerpiece was one of the most popular ones I’ve shared to date! Almost everything you see on the table is from Target (sharing the affiliate links to these items in the carousel below).

5 |Cozy Living Room

Lastly we have our cozy little living room. I was playing around a bit with the gold mirror above the fire place and honestly, I didn’t mind it! Excited to share what’s on the mantel now as we make our way into fall.

Happy decorating!

The post Instagram Monthly Roundup: July Favorites appeared first on Kristen Fitzpatrick Realtor.

Hi friends! Do you tend to decorate for fall ahead of the masses or late in the game? Usually I wait until it’s deemed “acceptable” to break out the pumpkins (around the first week of September). However, 2020 is turning out to be the year of “no rules” so I’ve gone ahead and decorated our dining room with some pretty neutral fall decor.

When it comes to fall decorations, I lean toward neutral whites and woods with a few pops of color here and there. You’ll learn quickly that I am a sucker for blue and white pumpkins (I’ve acquired quite the collection over the past few years!). These neutral tones work well with our every day decor making decorating our home for fall fun and seamless!

This post contains affiliate links for if you make a purchase from one, I may receive a small commission. Any commissions received go back into this blog. Thank you for your support!

Our Farmhouse Style Fall Decor

You may remember from my spring dining room decor post that I am a big fan of shopping my own home for decorations before running out and buying new ones. There are certain pieces that stay on these shelves year round such as my Rae Dunn mugs, dishes, wine glasses and wooden crate of cutting boards.

As a design tip, try to incorporate your every day decor in with your seasonal pieces, this way you’re not starting from scratch and having to find new homes for these items.

Before decorating, I went through my fall decorations and took inventory. I wanted to see what I owned first and determine what to keep, sell or donate prior to buying anything new. I listed a few of my fall items for on my Poshmark page (you can check them out here!).

After taking inventory, I went to my local Hobby Lobby and found some really great deals! I scored some bundles of white pumpkins, this beautiful wooden bowl and these little light up houses. I’m excited for all of these items and know I will be able to reuse them come Christmas time!

Less is More

A design mantra I’ve really taken into practice since buying our home is “less is more”. Pretty simple, right? You’ve heard it before, over and over again, but I’m telling you – it’s true! When we were renting, I didn’t think twice about what I would buy to decorate with. I’d be in such a rush to get the place looking pretty that I’d often end up with a bunch of mismatched items that I later regretted.

Once we bought our town home, a place we actually OWNED, I started to become more intentional with my decorating. We also started DIY’ing more when we didn’t find anything we liked in the store. It’s amazing how liberating doing it yourself can be! You’re no longer limited to what’s in stores. This gives you the creative freedom to make it your own (like these open shelves that my husband made for us).

Thanks for stopping in and taking a peek at our neutral fall farmhouse style decorations.

Happy decorating!

The post Neutral Fall Decor | Dining Room Reveal appeared first on Kristen Fitzpatrick Realtor.

To make shopping for this Father’s Day easier for you, I’ve put together four themed gift guides containing fun ideas of gifts for dad. A bunch of these ideas are either items I’ve given my husband as gifts in the past, things I’ve seen him use or just cool ideas I have found! First gift guide up is gifts for the New Dad.

This post contains affiliate links for if you make a purchase from one, I may receive a small commission. Any commissions received go back into this blog. Thank you for your support!

Gifts for the New Dad

1. Picture frame of him and baby. Print out a sweet photo of dad and baby together that he can keep at his desk at work or at home in his man cave.

2. #1 Dad mug. Because he’s the number one guy in your lives! A “dad” mug is always one of the best gifts for dad.

3. My Dad Loves Me! personalized children’s book. I found this online and thought it looked so cute. A story customized special for dad and your child that they can read together. If heart felt is up your alley, then this next gift idea is sure to win you over.

4. Willow Tree New Dad Figure. If you’re looking for more sentimental gifts for dad, this is the gift for you. I have been given a few of these hand-sculpted figures and they really hit home when you open them. This will serve as a proud reminder of his new role as dad.

5. Versa 2 FitBit. Ever wonder how many steps you take when chasing a toddler? Well, wonder no more with this awesome gift! Dad can keep track of his steps, monitor his sleep patterns and receive text notifications so he will always be on top of things. For Mother’s Day, Mike got me the rose colored version and I absolutely love it!

6. Dad joke books. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory and probably should have been number one. A dad is only as good as his dad jokes, am I right?

Bonus Idea: An engraved watch with his new title

Is Dad in the market for a new watch? Try finding a brand he’ll love that will personalize it for him!

JORD is a company that has some beautiful wooden watches! I collaborated with them on a blog post right before my daughter was born (you can read the sponsored post here). I actually went into labor the week it was due! For my husband, I went with a darker wood watch (shown above) and had “DAD” engraved on the back in all capital letters. I remember when I gave the watch to my husband while we were away on our baby moon and he loved it!

Gifts for the Cooking Enthusiast

1. Knife Sharpener. If he’s already got a decent set of knives, there’s no need to spend the money on an expensive new knife block. My husband recently got a new knife sharpener and it helped bring the old kitchen knives back to life. We have a very similar one to the one shown here and ours is the same brand (which is also the brand of the knives we own).

2. The Science of Good Cooking cook book. Perfect for learning all of the “why’s” behind cooking. My husband was given this book as a gift and he loved it! It’s an interesting read and really dives into the science aspects that go into cooking various types of food.

3. 6-quart Dutch Oven. A Dutch Oven is a staple item in our household. If your hubby enjoys making his own meatballs and homemade sauce, the dutch oven is perfect for simmering and keeping it all warm!

4. Granite Molcajete (and avocado slicer). Taco Tuesday just got a little more fun with this molcajete (or mortar and pestle) commonly used to mash and mix up some homemade guacamole!

5. Oak Chopping Block. You can never have too many cutting boards! After awhile, they can get pretty worn out. This one’s a decent size, serves it’s purpose and looks nice on the counter top too.

6. Non-stick Pizza Pan (and a new pizza cutter). We cook our own pizza’s all the time and this pan works SO much better than the stone ones. We’ve been swearing by this non-stick dish for years. Practical? Yes. Essential? Double yes!

Gifts for the Coffee Addict

1. Ninja® Stainless Steel Specialty Coffee Maker. Prepare to revolutionize his coffee making experience! We have this coffee maker and it is hands-down amazing! The coffee tastes great and you can even brew over ice to make your own iced coffee. This would be more of a splurge but totally worth the investment in my opinion!

2. French Press. A fun alternative method to brewing your own strong cup of coffee. Any and all coffee addicts must try the french press at some point in their lives.

3. The CoffeeSock. Okay, this is a cool one. Before we bought our coffee maker, my husband went through a cold-brew phase. A friend recommended that he try the CoffeeSock DIY ColdBrew filter and it actually worked! The coffee tasted great and the filter was reusable (a nice alternative to paper filters).

4. Rae Dunn “Fuel” ceramic coffee mug. I swear this one’s for him, but it doesn’t hurt that it’s by Rae Dunn and matches your house’s farmhouse decor right? I bought this mug for my husband and he agreed it was “clever”.

Tips for Shopping Rae Dunn:

Before we continue, here’s an important tip when it comes to finding/buying Rae Dunn. Most of you probably know this already, but in case you didn’t – here it is: you can find Rae Dunn mugs for WAY less when you shop in store at Home Goods.

I did link them in case you can’t get out to the store or if your store isn’t open yet, but they are more expensive online. If your local store is open then I’d try popping by there first!

5. CouchCoaster coffee mug holder. OK, next up is this one because it just looks like a ton of fun. I found it online and am tempted to buy it for my husband. It’s a coffee mug holder that rests of the arm of your couch keeping his coffee upright. Could be fun to try out but could probably also be hazardous to your living room furniture! But hey, it’s a funny gift idea right?

6. Variety 3-pack of Starbucks ground coffee. Last but not least for the coffee addict, is a variety of already ground coffee.

Fun Gifts for Dad Under $40

1. The Good Hurt Fuego hot sauce set (dynamite!). This was a really cool gift set for the man who LOVES hot sauce. I gave this to Mike a year or two ago and he had a ton of fun trying out the different sauces. They also lasted us for awhile too.

2. Pizza Socks. For the pizza lover. I bought these for my husband one year because as I mentioned earlier in this post, the man’s obsessed with pizza. We both had a good laugh when he opened them!

3. Dock Shorts. My husband owns these shorts in 3 different colors (including the new striped pair they just came out with!). They’re incredibly comfortable, loose fit and perfect for summer time.

4. YETI Tumbler. These tumblers are great and will keep his drink cool all summer long. Available in a variety of colors too.

5. Dad beer glass. He can never have too many beer glasses. I love shopping on Etsy, this one looks so cute! Thinking about snagging it for my husband.

6. Ladder Ball Toss Game. Spending more time at home? Have him covered with some brand new yard games like this Ladder Ball set that the whole family will enjoy!

At the end of the day, Father’s Day isn’t about the gifts you give, it is about spending time together as a family. There are so many ways to let father figures know that we appreciate them for all that they do. Happy Father’s Day!

The post Father’s Day Gift Guide 2020 appeared first on Kristen Fitzpatrick Realtor.

Let’s start this off with the obvious: Mom’s have one of the toughest jobs on the planet. Period.

If that wasn’t obvious to you, then I’m sorry but you need to go watch your sister’s kids for like 3 hours and a day and then come back to read this post. But candidly, before becoming a mom myself, I knew motherhood would be challenging but I just didn’t quite understand how or what about it would be so hard.

The truth is, everyone’s journey through motherhood is different. After 2 years of riding this mama wave, I have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly (and I know, it’s only getting started!). My daughter’s birth was traumatic and I’m only now ready to start entertaining the idea of baby number 2. But being a mom is TOUGH. It’s tough on your body, on your mind and on your soul. When you enter motherhood, your whole life changes as does your perception of the world.

Looking back on my postpartum days, I remember how scared I was at times and I now understand that it’s OK to be afraid of the unknown, have feelings of uncertainty and of plain vulnerability. I’ve been reflecting back on the early days of motherhood and have put together a list of 5 things all new moms need to hear. Hopefully these words will offer some comfort and encouragement to other new moms as they start their journey through parenthood.

5 Things All New Moms Need to Hear

You are doing a great job

Plain and simple and above all, true. Yes, mama, you are doing a great job and don’t let yourself think otherwise even if for a minute. Some days you’ll be filled with self-doubt questioning your every decision and this is okay. It’s normal. You are learning and growing with every new day and experience just like your baby. It’s normal to question yourself, but remember to remind yourself of the great job you are doing too.

You are strong and beautiful

You’re more beautiful and stronger than you’ve ever been. Your body may feel or look different, but just know it is the most beautiful version of yourself you’ve ever seen. This body did WORK and gave birth to a tiny human being and that’s an amazing accomplishment to be proud of.

Your health and well-being is important too (new moms, accepting help is not a sign of failure!)

Grandma and Grandpa reaching out to help? Take them up on it! Lean on your support system when you need to. Self-care is critical during the weeks of postpartum. If a helping hand comes knocking, accept it and use the free time to catch up on taking care of you.

Take a nap, run an errand, enjoy a hot shower or get a pedicure. Accepting or asking for help is not a sign of failure any mom. Everyone needs a break for sanity’s sake, especially new, sleep deprived and hormonal moms.

Do what works for you and your family

Babies come in all different shapes and sizes. What may work for one parent might not work for another. New moms tend to hear it from everyone: the best products to buy, the best way to get your baby to sleep at night, how to feed your baby, ways to wear your baby, what stroller to use, why co-sleeping is bad, why co-sleeping is okay, etc. The list of advice (solicited or not) just goes on and on and on. These are really just “words of wisdom” if you will of some ways to care for your baby. They are not the WAY it has to be done.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love advice and hearing about other parents experiences. These stories helped me through some tough times. I also love to offer my experience in hopes it may help another mom out. Having a community of mothers to lean on is crucial and SO important. The point I am really trying to make though is that this advice is not the end all be all. Listen and absorb the words of wisdom that come your way as you see fit and at the end of the day, remember to do whatever works best for you and your family.

This baby is already so lucky to have you for a mommy

This may be the most important thing for all new moms to hear. I hope this goes without saying but in case it doesn’t, know that your baby is already so lucky to have you for a mom! There is no mother more perfect than you for this sweet little baby.

What words of encouragement or advice would you give to new moms?

New to the blog? Welcome! Here’s a few posts you might like:

10 Random Facts About Me

8 Lessons Pregnancy Taught Me

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Happy Saturday friends! We’re finally starting to experience warmer weather in Massachusetts and I could not be more excited. It feels great to wake up to sunshine instead of rain. I’m already getting ready for sunny days with transitional spring to summer dining room decor. Pretty greenery, beautiful woven trays and sea blue vases are so versatile and offer the best spring and summer vibes. Sharing my current transitional style below!

*This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. This post does contain affiliate links for if you make a purchase from one, I may receive a small commission. Any commissions received go back into this blog. Thank you for your support!

Dining Room Decor for Spring to Summer

Rustic Wall Clock

Vintage milk jug vase | Wooden bead garland

More great reads:

How to Decorate For Spring by Shopping Your Home

The post Dining Room Decor: From Spring to Summer appeared first on Kristen Fitzpatrick Realtor.