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My Trip to Cape Coral, FL

Hi friends, I am not sure about you, but I can not believe we are already through half of our first month of 2021! I hope the new year is treating you well and there are days of hope and happiness in your year ahead. I just got home to Michigan on Monday from our two-week vacation to Cape Coral, Florida so this last week has been busy catching up on life. Before I got too far into the new year though, I wanted to share with you about our trip to Cape Coral to celebrate the new year… It proved to be the perfect time for our family to escape to warmer weather for some rest and relaxation as we wrapped up 2020 and welcomed in 2021!

If you have never been to Cape Coral Florida, it is a beautiful area in southwest Florida near Fort Myers with over 400 miles of canals that lead to the big water, allowing for countless beautiful homes to be ‘water-front’ properties. We rented a gorgeous home via VRBO, and stayed for two full weeks, from the end of December thru the first week and a half of January. Our home was a 4 bedroom, 3 bath in a quiet neighborhood with the gorgeous canal to the back of the house, nestled among other beautiful homes in the area. Key features were the screened-in pool, outdoor living and kitchen patio area, game room, office, living, kitchen, dining, and laundry room, and came equipped with every amenity we could possibly need for our stay.

We rented two vehicles (we have quite the crew to cart around) and also a boat so we were able to enjoy traveling the endless canals, do some fishing, and take in some day trips by water to Captiva and Sanibel Island where we watched dolphins, walked the beaches, and collected sea shells.

Our home was actually located very close to the Cape Harbour Marina, Restaurants and Shops so this proved ideal to be in short walking distance to enjoy nice dinners, boutique shopping, and the festive feel of the active marina as boats came in and went. I’d definitely recommend Rumrunners there, Fathoms Restaurant, and The French Press. Cape Harbour also has two towers of condos, so if you are not looking to rent an entire home for your stay, this would be a very nice alternative to enjoy this beautiful area of Cape Coral.

Another condo rental area I would highly recommend is the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village… this resort is gorgeous and equipped with restaurants and a spa. We enjoyed Pinchers, a lively and festive seafood dinner spot there at the Westin one evening, known for it’s fresh crab dishes… we devoured this appetizer (a whole meal literally!) to start our meal there.. everything was so delicious!

Other Restaurants besides Rumrunners, The French Press, Fathoms, and Pinchers we also dined at (or ordered in) were Duffy’s Sports Grill, Ford’s Garage, and Moretti’s Italian Grill.

I loved the location of Cape Coral, as it was far enough south that we could really embrace the warmest weather of the Florida climate, while nestled in a place that was a bit more low-key in terms of tourism, yet close enough to places like Sanibel and Captiva Islands to enjoy their beautiful waters and beaches, and also near Fort Myers’ busier, more touristy ocean-front appeal during our stay as well. Cape Coral was the perfect place for us to settle in and enjoy ‘life away from life’ for a couple of weeks, trading in our Michigan snow days for Florida’s palm trees, ocean views, and gorgeous sunsets.

Here’s a few more pictures from the home we stayed in and my family’s trip…

If you are thinking of visiting Cape Coral, or have questions on the particular home we rented…message me.. I’d be happy to give you more info, details, and insight!

I hope to share more of my 2021 travels with you on my blog this year…I already have a few more trips planned and I can’t wait! If you haven’t yet followed me on my social medias, or signed up for my newsletter…I’d love for you to do so today (links & sign-up here on my site) so we can stay in touch!

Happy Travels… & New Year, friends!

Xoxo, Jaime Lyn

Valentine’s Day Ready from Amazon

Hi friends, I hope you have had an amazing start to your New Year! I have been enjoying the first couple of weeks in sunny Florida to ring in and begin 2021 and it has been… heaven… more on that trip in a future post. Today, I wanted to share with you some Valentine’s inspiration… because now that Christmas is over, it’s time to get Valentine’s ready! Shop these sweet pieces below I selected, and more on my Amazon Store under “Valentine’s Day.”

#1 Love Pillow Covers // If you follow me, you know my love for pillow covers… such a quick, versatile and affordable way to change up decor each season or holiday using the same pillow inserts and just changing up the decorative covers… they fold up and store away so easy too!

#2 Two Hearts One Love Sign // This cutie sign is a fun way to add a touch of Valentine’s to your home.. think bathroom vanity sink, table top, or a nice little add-in for a Valentine’s gift for the love in your life.

#3 Heart Banners // So many possibilities with these cute heart banners.. 4 total in each order. Perfect for party, to doll up your coffee bar or fireplace mantle, surprise your kiddos on Valentine’s morning with a hanging in their doorway, or to add a little heartfelt spirit to a candlelit dinner night at home on the special holiday.

#4 Prelit Heart Wreath // Take down those winter holiday wreaths and jazz up your front door or an interior door with this adorable red-berry heart wreath, pre-lit and ready to go…this is a ‘top seller!’

#5 Women’s Vday Tshirt // I am ordering this adorable top for the sweet day.. compfy, cute with a leopard print old car, roses & hearts?… Sold!

#6 Valentine Gnomes // Because… why not?! Gnomes are all the rage right now and these adorable little cuties will be a welcoming site in your home.. place them on a foyer table, dessert bar, or even on a Valentine’s Day table scape.

#7 Rose Gold Tableware Set // This set is classy, does not scream Valentine’s Day and can be used for other occasions too which is why I love it… and because rose gold is my spirit color right now. This will make a pretty in pink placed table scape for Valentine’s celebrations.

#8 Heart Waffle Maker // I saved the best for last with this one… because nothing tells your loved ones you really love them, than homemade waffles on Valentine’s morning. I actually always cook up a festive breakfast every Valentine’s complete with heart shaped pancakes (& now waffles), strawberries, whipped cream, heart sprinkles, strawberry milk, and it makes for a fun tradition each year for my family.

These are just a few ideas to prepare you for sweetening up your Valentine’s Day.. you can shop more of my Amazon Valentine picks on my Shop… visit it here!

Happy New Year friends!

Jaime Lyn

Our Family Small Businesses

Happy Small Business Saturday! A day to really celebrate all of our small businesses and remind us to support these small businesses through the holiday season and into the coming year… if there was ever a year to really get behind all of these small businesses, this is the time!

Today I thought it would be fun to share a few small businesses that are near and dear to my heart… my own family’s small businesses!

First is Heirloom Grove, my ‘seed to skin’ CBD business derived from my family’s own organic farm. I create and carry a full line of Hemp CBD products from CBD bath and body, to CBD pain relief and tinctures.  You can learn more about our 3000 acre Michigan organic farm and shop my CBD products at Heirloom Grove!

Second is Kai Kai Brai, a business I own with my 3 young daughters, creating our “Tell Me Anything Shared Journals for Mom & Daughter” and full line of gift and stationary products for women and girls.  Learn more about our special business and shop our creative products at Kai Kai Brai!

And last is Country Crops Farmers Market, my 16 year old son’s farmers market business he started when he was just 12 years old and runs in our local hometown.  He was just featured on the TV show “Destination Michigan,” you can watch that HERE, he is on about the 13:40 mark.  You can also follow him on Facebook here.

If you’d like to support our small businesses, visit our websites and follow our social media accounts. If you own a small business anywhere in the US, I’d love for you to share about your business in the comments below so I and others can follow and support you!  If you are a Michigan Small business, please Email Me about what you make or sell… I am planning to feature more Michigan small businesses this coming year!

Shop Small friends today on Small Business Saturday, thru the holidays, and all new year long!

Blessings, Jaime Lyn

Teen Girls She Shed

Hi friends, it’s been a bit since I blogged here last but thought it would be fitting today on the first day of deer hunting season in Michigan, to share a fun project my daughters did on an old hunting fort to create their very own girls’ she shed! The fort was originally built by my son for his hunting shack, but after he decided to move his hunting spot to a different location, he gifted over his fort to his sisters… that’s all the girls needed to go to work remaking the interior to become their very own backyard girls’ oasis to escape to!

My oldest daughter Kaitlyn decorated the interior with a boho chic, bohemian style. She painted the interior paneled walls white, re-carpeted the floor and upper loft area, added in a fold-down futon sofa, writer’s desk, leather desk chair, and casual, natural accents to the walls and flat surfaces. Big brother left the girls his TV, mini fridge, space heater, and microwave so their she shed could be comfortable all year long.

The fort is situated behind our home, nestled in an open field with views of our woods. It is a quiet, serene place for the girls to do homework, read, hang out with each other and their friends, swing in the hammocks, even pop popcorn and watch movies, and make lasting memories together.

The girls love coming out to this space to relax… and I really enjoy coming out with them too, it’s such a fun place to escape to and hang out. They spent a lot of days out there this spring during their virtual school days at home during the Covid shut down… helping bring a little change of scenery to those sometimes mundane days.

The space is really cozy and has everything they need to hang out for a few hours during the day, and because it is wired with electricity, they also are able to enjoy cozy evenings too.. snuggled in together with snacks, cold drinks, and games, or movies… so much fun!

I hope you enjoyed a little peek inside the girls she shed! It’s amazing what can be done with a small space and budget, to create a special place to enjoy the simpler things in life, and to make lasting childhood memories together!

Happy Week, friends! Jaime Lyn

Deck Fire Pit Gathering Area

Hi all, it’s been awhile since I’ve visited with you all here on my design blog. I have been a busy bee working on some other ventures the past few months, but am excited to reconnect with you here this Memorial weekend. I hope you are all doing well, enjoying yourselves wherever you are, and staying healthy. We are all definitely living through unprecedented times, and as scary as the world can feel sometimes, I pray your home has served you well as a place of solitude and safety, providing comfort and peace during these unpredictable times.

As I’ve spent more time in my home, I realize I am seeing my home a little differently… instead of mainly serving as a pit stop in our comings and goings, it truly has become a place for my family to be together again, to make memories, and enjoy our lives in a simpler, more peaceful way. I am looking at our spaces with fresh eyes, and minimizing all the “stuff” that clutters not only our rooms, but our minds. I am repurposing the uses of my ‘old’ things, instead of running to the stores to buy more ‘new’ things, and I am recreating spaces that serves the purposes of our family being together. Being home more has become the ‘blessing in disguise’ through all of this for my family. It has slowed our lives down a bit, brought us back more so to the basics of what is important, and allowed us the time and reflection to enjoy what it is that truly matters here in our home… the people inside, the memories made here, and the peace and safety that it provides…truly what home should be about.

One area I just finished recreating in our home that has helped serve our slowed-down, family-focused time is a small area of our deck that used to house our drop-in hot tub. We never used the hot tub much with having our pool, so we opted to pull that out and board up the opening…. but then, we had to decide, what to do with the space now?

Above is how the space looked after we boarded up the hot tub opening, restained the deck boards, and I laid my Amazon Rug down, and added some outdoor accent pillows I had on hand, to the built-in bench… but I felt it just needed more. I didn’t want to go out and buy more furniture… I am avoiding being in the stores as much as I can right now, and the thought of putting together new furniture just felt like a daunting task I didn’t want to deal with, so instead I looked around at what I already had. I had recently purchased all new patio cushions for the furniture that is around my pool area, and was about to sell all my ‘old’ cushions on a garage sale site, but instead I decided to reuse them here in this space. I also had quite a few stackable patio chairs that serve us well when we have extra company over, that I could use here too. And… we found this Propane Fire Pit stored in our pole barn that we had received some time ago (and totally forgot we had!)…. So I pulled that out, and put this all together, and within an hour, the space was done! We now have a nice ‘new’ fire pit oasis on our deck overlooking our pool area, that was all created with things I already had on hand… I just had to pause a moment, and look at my things and my space in a new light, with a fresh perspective of possibilty.

You can take more of a look at this space below…

There you have it… done and ready to enjoy! Happy Memorial Day everyone! If you need me… I will be relaxing by the pool the rest of the weekend!

Shop: Propane Fire Pit | Outdoor Rug

Blessings, Jaime Lyn

Winter Home Inspiration

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone! If you are like me, your celebrations are winding down, and you’re beginning to feel a quiet peace come back to your life. The hustle and bustle of the holidays are coming to a close, gifts and Christmas decorations are being stored away, and the time to prepare our homes and lives for a fresh, clean start for the new year are upon us. I really enjoy this time of year with the peace, calm, and hope it brings. My kiddos are off from school and activities, which allows my time to slow down a bit to enjoy a serene opportunity to reflect on the past year, while looking forward with hope and the wonder at the possibilities of new beginnings. The new year gives a unique opportunity to look at our lives, family, home, work, faith, and relationships through fresh lenses. My surroundings, I realize affect a lot how I feel… if my family is healthy and happy, my home is pleasing and orderly, my work is positive and inspiring, My soul feels happy, content, and peaceful.

Today I thought as we close out the Christmas season, as we pack away our festive decor, I would give you some inspiration on how to decorate your space for this new season of Winter. I know over the course of the next few months, we will surely be getting our fair share of snow, and cold, frigid temperatures. I want my home to feel like a refuge, a place for my family to come, curl up, and enjoy the warmth, safety, and cozy solitude of being home. I thought I’d share a few ways you can create a cozy Winter spirit in your home. Even though the Christmas lights are stored away, we can still very much continue the cozy, warm, ambiance in our homes through the Winter season…

Winter Decorating Inspiration:

Cozy Throws and Winter Pillows

Nothing says curl up on the sofa with a good book, than having casual, cozy throw blankets and snuggly pillows in your space. Place these on your sofa or chairs, in a decorative basket, on the lower shelf of an accent table, or load up your bed… Invite your family to feel comfortable snugging in with these items, close at their fingertips, while creating a cozy look to your space.

Ambiance of Candlelight, Lanterns & Lamps

Even though the twinkle of Christmas lights are packed away, we can still create a warm ambiance in our homes with candles, and low lit lamps. I love decorating with lanterns too… placing a battery operated candle inside and placing them on the floor, adorning my fireplace, or decorating an accent table… dim the lights at night, and light these cozy pieces to create a warm, snuggle-in feel to your home.

Winter Greens & Natural Elements

Bring out the winter greens and natural elements with green garlands, wreaths, picks, and candle accents… add in pine cones, fresh cut wood, and other earthy pieces to bring a bit of the outside season inside to your cozy home.

White and natural colors and textures

Winter is white to many, so layer in these natural colors and textures with varying elements… white candles, white bark wood, natural table linens with a bit of sparkle, white dishes…. and then add that pop of color with wood tones, tin, or winter green accents for a pretty, natural, winter look.

Winter inspired signs, rugs, wreaths, and decorative accents

Take down the Santa sign, and place artwork with a winter scene, have a “Let it Snow” rug welcome guests at your doorstep, cozy up your coffee bar with a black and white plaid and snowflake accents… so many ways to add subtle winter inspired pieces to your decor, making your home feel festive for the season.

** All Images & photo credits can be found on my Pinterest Page **

I hope these ideas have helped to give you a little inspiration to how you can transform your space for Winter, making your home a cozy, warm place of peace during the cold, blustery season.

You can view even more of my Winter home inspiration on my Pinterest page and on my Amazon Shop… check them out & follow me for more inspiration this year.

And make sure you are following me on Instagram, where I will be sharing a lot more of my own home this winter, and you are signed up for my Email list (on my home page), where I send out more home and lifestyle inspiration in my monthly newsletter!…don’t miss it!

Happy New Year Friends… wishing you all the joy, peace, health, and happiness of a brand New Year & season!

Happy Thanksgiving & My Dinner Tablescape

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I hope you have a wonderful holiday planned with your family and friends. I am hosting Thanksgiving this year, and am enjoying the smells of turkey filling my home this morning. I snapped a few pictures of my dining room table all set for our afternoon Thanksgiving dinner, and thought I’d share with you!

I love setting a nice table, and changed up my Thanksgiving tablescape from last year’s table (see that tablescape here)… This year, I created my tablescape from a beautiful table runner I found at the Farmgirl Flea Market this Fall, then added in these beautiful blue, green, & creamy plates, with white chargers that coordinated perfectly with my runner, then added in festive fall stems, blue pumpkin picks, and coordinating pumpkins for my centerpiece, and finished off with crystal glassware to fancy up my look a bit. I really like this neutral, cooler color scheme with little touches of warmth, for a change to the traditional Thanksgiving table looks I have done in the past… and of course I always finish off with candlelight to make our space feel warm and inviting for my family to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together. Take a closer look at more of my Thanksgiving table below…

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at my Thanksgiving table today! I am so thankful for all of you who follow my Blog and support my passion here at Jaime Lyn Life by Design! Happy Holidays, friends!!

My Fall Home

Hi friends, I’ve missed connecting with you on the blog these last few weeks… my work, family, and life in general have been a little extra busy lately, but today I’m so glad to finally have the chance to share with you again… and today I’m sharing all about my Fall home!

I know some of you have already jumped into your Christmas decorating, but I’ve always been a bit old fashioned in that I keep my Fall decor up thru Thanksgiving, and then begin my Christmas decorating that holiday weekend. I have been tossing around the idea of decorating for Christmas a little earlier, because it seems a bit unfair that Fall decor is displayed from September thru November, while Christmas decor only lights up our home for a little over a month… so we shall see, maybe next year I will decorate for Christmas a little earlier. Until then.. here is my Home still decorated for Fall! I hope you gain some inspiration for ways to add this cozy season into your home…

| Front Entrance |

| Foyer |

| Living Room |

| Back Hallway |

| Kitchen |

| Nook & Gathering Room |

| Dining Room |

| Side Entrance |

And there you have it… my Fall home! I hope you enjoyed a little sneak peek. I truly love this time of year… crisp nights, cozy lamps, Fall scented candles, crock pot dinners, snuggly blankets, pumpkin spice coffees, and for my family… it is also harvest time… so a time for work and thanksgiving.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I love sharing here with all of you. If you follow me on Instagram, you will see more daily inspiration… follow me here!

I will also be sharing Christmas decor inspiration on my Amazon shop soon!… follow me there so you don’t miss all of my favorite Christmas pieces this holiday season!

Wishing you all Fall Blessings! Thank you for visiting my Blog today!

Fall is in the Air

Hey friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! Fall is in the air for sure, and if you haven’t already started your Fall decorating, the change in weather should definitely be putting you in the mood now. If you’re in a decorating rut, try changing up your traditional fall decor with some light blues, pale oranges, and white accents… so pretty and creates a festive, yet unique feel to your seasonal decor! Shop these pieces and more Fall Decor on my Jaime Lyn Life by Design Amazon Shop here!

SHOP these Items:

Pumpkins Smores Sign | Fall is in the Air Sign | Pillows | Pumpkins

Have you Followed me on Instagram??

Wishing you all a great week!.. but before you go – have you followed me on Instagram? If not, I would love for you to! I share much more of my own home on my Instagram feed, and more about my life and behind the scenes in my IG stories! Follow me on Instagram HERE!

Thanks for stopping in to check out my Blog today, friends! Appreciate you following! Have a great week!

Farmgirl Flea Market

Hey friends, I hope you had a great weekend! This weekend was a busy one for me as it was my hubby and I’s 18th wedding Anniversary, and we had a few social events with friends going on as well. We were headed home from one of those events on Saturday morning when I realized we were really close to the Farmgirl Flea Market happening in Hudsonville, MI… a farm and flea market that’s been on my go-to list of markets to attend, but I’d never had the opportunity to visit yet… so needless to say, the timing was perfect, and my husband…well, he was thrilled! (note my sarcasm.) ;)… but seriously what a trooper, and we made a fun afternoon of it, visiting the market, enjoying yummy food truck food, iced tea and fresh squeezed lemonade, and listening to live folk music as we shopped the countless vendors…

The show is held two times a year in the Spring and Fall, at the Hudsonville fairgrounds, beginning with their VIP night on Friday from 4-8pm ($15 entry fee) and continuing the next day on Saturday from 8am-4pm (with a $5 entry fee. ) This market is rated one of the top 100 markets to attend by Flea Market Style Magazine, and has over 200 booths inside the fairground barns and around the grassy fields. The show draws hundreds of people shopping for new and vintage home decor, farmhouse finds, handmade items, boutique clothing, repurposed furniture, and more.

I took some photos to give you a peek inside their Fall market, if you weren’t able to make it this weekend, and so you can also get a little feel for what you to may expect to see at their Spring market coming up (usually in May.)

So many pretty booths and items for sale by the most creative makers and pickers!

I’m a sucker for these little campers all dolled up with boutique clothing and unique home decor… I love shopping them!

There’s was a ton of beautiful and creative Fall harvest decor for sale, and even some hints of Christmas on display too…

I think I could shop these markets every weekend. They are so relaxing and fun to stroll through as you find really unique things you won’t find in many stores.

My hubby even enjoyed himself and I think was surprised to see all the treasures (junk) he seen for sale that we have on our own farm… one person’s junk is another person’s treasure!

The next market Farmgirl Flea is sponsoring is the Christmas Countryside market held on Friday November 29 (12pm-8pm) and Saturday November 30 (9am-5pm) at Countryside Greenhouse in Allendale. There will be a $5 entry fee, with kids 12 and under FREE.

Make sure you keep an eye out for their Spring market, by following them here on their Facebook.

I hope enjoyed this post and have a chance to visit the Farmgirl Flea Market this coming Spring. Their Fall market was great and I will definitely be making the trip to visit again!

Thank you for checking out my blog today! Make sure you are following me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, AND signed up for my email list so you never miss my posts! Have a great week!

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