Collected & Cozy

Tag: cozy home

  • Our Halloween Movie Marathon Picks

    Our Halloween Movie Marathon Picks

    Halloween is one of my favorite cozy nights of the year. The candy’s ready, the lights are low, and the only thing left to do is grab a blanket, pop some popcorn, and pick the perfect lineup of spooky movies.

    Whether you’re watching with your little one or staying up late after bedtime for something scarier, here’s our list of Halloween must-watches from sweetly spooky to seriously scary.

    Kid-Friendly Favorites (Approved by My Little One!)

    Not too spooky, just the right amount of Halloween fun.

    1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
      The Sanderson sisters never fail. Witches, magic, and that perfect dose of nostalgia.
    2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
      A movie that magically bridges Halloween and Christmas. The songs, the stop-motion, the pumpkin king. This one is my 2 year olds favorite!
    3. Haunted Mansion (2003)
      A little spooky, a lot of laughs, and full of ghostly charm.
    4. Halloweentown (1998)
      The ultimate Disney Channel classic. Full of magic, cozy small-town Halloween vibes, and nostalgia galore.
    5. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
      Monsters, mayhem, and a big heart. It’s a go-to for a light, funny Halloween movie night.

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    Grown-Up Picks (After the Kids Go to Bed)

    When the candy bowl’s empty and the house gets quiet, it’s time for something a little darker.

    1. Halloween (1978)
      It’s not Halloween night until Michael Myers shows up. Classic, creepy, and the perfect background noise while you’re stealing candy from your kid’s bucket.
    2. Practical Magic (1998)
      Cozy witchy energy, strong women, and a little romance.
    3. Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
      A true Halloween night movie. It’s creepy, fun, and full of that small-town October feeling.
    4. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
      Fog, fall leaves, and a headless horseman. What more could you need?
    5. Beetlejuice (1988)
      Creepy and chaotic in the best way. It’s weird, it’s funny, and it’s pure Halloween fun.
    Oliver staying cozy by the fire (and eyeing my popcorn)

    For the Horror Fans (Scary Scary — You’ve Been Warned!)

    If you love the thrill of a real scare, these are the ones to turn off the lights for.

    1. Halloween (1978)
      Yes, again. Because it’s that essential.
    2. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
      Classic 80s horror. Freddy Krueger will make you think twice before falling asleep.
    3. Friday the 13th (1980)
      The ultimate camp-slasher. Eerie woods, jump scares, and the start of an iconic horror franchise.
    4. The Conjuring (2013)
      Based on a true story (which somehow makes it even scarier). A haunted farmhouse, mysterious knocks, and just the right amount of dread.
    5. Insidious (2010)
      The kind of horror that creeps up on you. Dark corners, eerie whispers, and plenty of jump scares.
    6. *bonus* Sinister (2012)
      Found footage meets true terror. The tone, the music, and those grainy home videos make this one unforgettable. I’ve still never watched this all the way through without covering my eyes!

    How We Make It Cozy

    No matter which list you pull from, we love to make it an experience:

    • Light the pumpkin candle
    • Warm up some cinnamon rolls
    • Dim the lights
    • Snuggle under a big blanket

    Then hit play and let the Halloween magic do the rest.

    However you celebrate Halloween, whether it’s a sweet family movie night or a scary movie marathon, I hope your night feels cozy, fun, and full of treats (no tricks!).

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  • A Cozy Mudroom Built with Love (and Patience!)

    A Cozy Mudroom Built with Love (and Patience!)

    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    When we moved into our home, there was this little niche by the door that just looked like it was meant to be a mudroom bench. You know those spaces that practically beg to be turned into something useful and cozy? This was one of those.

    Empty niche in our entryway
    The little niche that started it all – just begging for a bench.

    It only took us… about a year and a half to finally start the project. But once we did, my husband and I spent three weekends bringing it to life. It could be a weekend project if you’ve got uninterrupted time but with a toddler running around, we worked in short bursts during naps and whenever the grandparents could come over to play.

    Fitting the wood into the space
    Fitting the wood into the space
    Woman painting wall
    Me flexing my painting skills
    woman assembling the base of a bench
    Me helping assemble the bench base
    2 men placing bench in niche
    My dad and husband placing the bench!!

    The Not-So-Straight Walls

    One of our biggest challenges? The walls. They were not straight, and the corners were definitely not 90°. Sliding the wood bench pieces in was such a struggle. We had to shave off little bits at a time to make them fit. At one point I got so tired of the micro cuts that I just jammed it into the wall and called it good.

    Learning As We Went

    I also stained the bench the wrong color at first. It turned out way lighter than I pictured, so I ended up re-staining it darker and honestly, it made all the difference.

    For the board and batten, we tried to save money by going with cheaper wood. I’ll be honest: it worked, but it took a lot of sanding to get it smooth and presentable. If I could give one piece of advice: save yourself the extra work and go with the nicer wood.

    Bench assembled in garage
    Look at that stain. Absolutely not.

    The Fun Part: Finishing Touches

    Once the hard parts were done, adding the hooks, baskets for shoes, and cozy pillows made it all come together. I love styling the space. It’s the perfect mix of practical and pretty.

    Finished mudroom
    The completed mudroom
    completed mudroom niche
    See? It was begging to be a mudroom
    black hooks
    The simple black hooks contrast so nicely with the white board and batten
    close up of board and batten
    shoe baskets
    These seagrass baskets look pretty and smell nice

    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

    What we used:

    • Seagrass Baskets – Exact baskets we used from IKEA
    • Throw Pillow Inserts – Exact pillow inserts we used
    • Throw Pillow Cover – Floral – I love our pillow covers! They work so well with the wall color
    • Abstract Art Print – I saw this in someone’s video on youtube that was like a “Shop with me” at Hobby Lobby. I literally went out and bought it the next weekend! It’s the perfect moody color scheme
    • Our floral pillow cover isn’t available at IKEA anymore, but it’s a waffle knit texture. I think it helps for it to just have a different texture to add more interest to the solid color

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    Now, I use the mudroom every single day. It’s right by the door we use to come and go, and every time I see it, it makes me smile. The green on the walls might just be my favorite color in the house (and it’s one of the few spaces we’ve actually painted so far!).

    We’re not professionals by any means. Just two parents making our home feel like us, one project at a time. This little mudroom corner has become such a warm, happy part of our everyday life, and I love that we built it together.

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    Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous