Welcome to Happiness is Homemade! I’m Susan, the writer and creative behind From the Bay to the Beach, where I share all things modern California coastal living — from décor and DIY to style and seasonal inspiration. I’m so excited to be hosting this month’s party and can’t wait to celebrate the cozy charm of February with all of you!

Each week here at Happiness is Homemade, we feature a roundup of favorite ideas and projects shared at the previous party — everything from delicious recipes to clever crafts and beautiful home décor. It’s always inspiring to see what everyone’s been creating!

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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links.

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The Best Carrot Cake Recipe

Isn’t this cake beautiful? Carrot cake is a favorite around our house, and Ann’s Entitled Life shares her recipe for the best one ever. I’m no baker but I’m tempted to try this one.

DIY Easter Display: Repurpose a Shoebox

I can’t get over how cute this Easter display is! Plus it’s so easy to make. To find out how to make one for yourself, head over to Petticoat Junktion for step-by-step directions. Adorable!

Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Celebrating Fairy Tales With Littles

The teacher in me geeked out over this one! Our Grand Lives shares a whole thematic unit on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Head over to their blog to find out how you can bring this story to life for your own littles.

Easy to Make Seed Starter Pots

Even though it may feel like winter will never end, spring is just around the corner. Scratch Made Food for Hungry People shares a clever way to reuse TP tubes as seed starters. Makes me wish we still had a garden!

Wood Candleholder Decoration

Speaking of spring, here’s a pretty way to bring a little green indoors. Steph Creates Things shares how you can make this pretty little wood candleholder. This project is certain to brighten up your day!

On to the Party!

Thank you for joining us this week, whether you are a blogger sharing your latest posts OR a reader enjoying all the inspirational shares!  Don’t forget to drop by and say hello to all our hostesses, they always appreciate your visit! Here are all of our hostesses at Happiness Is Homemade!

This party is published on 6 different blogs, so bloggers, the posts you share get lots of exposure! Many thanks to our hosting blogs for giving us all this opportunity every week!

Linda @ A Labour of Life

Sinea @ Ducks ‘n a Row

Beverly @ Eclectic Red Barn

Katie @ Love My Messy Messy Mess

Susan @ From The Bay To The Beach

Esme @ Esme Salon

Would you like to be a part of Happiness Is Homemade? We are looking for hostesses to join our team. If you are interested, please email any one of the Happiness Is Homemade hostesses and let them know. We would love for you to join our party.

Philips EXPRESSO Coffee Machine

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This is my PET HAIR VACUUM!

Excellent for cleaning up pet hair and more!    Lightweight.    $149.00!  Easy to use.  #Ad

Welcome to the final Happiness is Homemade party of 2025!

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Come and join in the fun here at Happiness is Homemade # 617, our last party for 2025

As we come to the close of the year, we, your hosts, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of HIH throughout the year. Your participation, encouragement, shared ideas, and ongoing support have helped shape this community into something truly special, and it has been a privilege to connect with you.

Looking ahead to the New Year, we wish all of you a wonderful and prosperous 2026, filled with good health, new opportunities, continued growth, and success in all that you pursue. Thank you for being part of our HIH journey. We look forward to another fantastic year.

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It’s Esmé, from EsmeSalon. Around here, it’s all about good food and good balance, the kind where nourishing, feel-good recipes live happily alongside the “just one more slice” treats. Because honestly, life’s better when both get a seat at the table. You’ll find flavors inspired by kitchens from all over the world, and I hope that a few of them don’t just get tried once, but become go-to favorites you keep coming back to.

Last week, our hosts each shared a favorite post, and this week I’d love to shine the spotlight on them and say a heartfelt “Thank You”. We truly appreciate all the time, care, and dedication they’ve put into bringing this linkup together week after week throughout the year.

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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ❤️

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Linda’s post: Skor Bar Squares
Sweet, salty, and totally irresistible, these SKOR Bar Squares take crunchy toffee and chocolatey goodness to a whole new level in every bite. Perfect for dessert tables or an afternoon pick-me-up, they’re the kind of treat everyone will be asking for again and again.

Sinea’s post: Marble Brownies aka Cheesecake Brownies
These marble brownies swirl rich chocolate and creamy vanilla together for a dessert that’s as pretty as it is delicious. Gooey, fudgy, and full of contrast in every bite, they’re the perfect bake for sharing, or sneaking a few straight from the pan.

Beverly’s post: Brownie Ornament Cookies
These brownie ornament cookies turn fudgy brownies into festive, bite-sized holiday treats that look like little edible ornaments. With chocolatey goodness and a playful seasonal twist, they’re perfect for cookie exchanges or topping your dessert platter with extra charm.

Susan’s post: 12 Ways of Christmas Decor Storage
Wrangling all your holiday décor doesn’t have to be a post-Christmas headache. This guide shares 12 clever ways to store and organize your festive pieces, so they’re easy to find and ready to sparkle next season. From labelled bins to space-saving tricks, you’ll finish feeling more organized and less overwhelmed.

Esme’s post: Christmas Crack Toffee Bark
Christmas Crack Toffee Bark is a quick and irresistible holiday treat made with a crisp base of saltines or pretzels topped with buttery toffee and melted chocolate, customizable with festive toppings like candy, nuts, or sea salt (the options are endless).

I now hand over to Linda to share the HIH linkup for January 2026 with you.

Every week at Happiness is Homemade, we round up our favorite ideas and projects from the previous party, featuring everything from mouthwatering recipes to clever crafts and gorgeous home decor, and much more. It’s always such a joy to see the creativity this community brings to the table!

As December winds down, we’re wrapping up all the Christmas cheer and festive fun while looking ahead to a fresh New Year. Thank you for sharing so much creativity and holiday magic with us; we can’t wait to see the inspiring ideas, new beginnings, and exciting posts you’ll be bringing to HIH in the year ahead!

On to the Party!

Thank you for joining us this week, whether you are a blogger sharing your latest posts OR a reader enjoying all the inspirational shares!  Don’t forget to drop by and say hello to all our hostesses, they always appreciate your visit! Here are all of our hostesses at Happiness Is Homemade!

This party is published on 6 different blogs, so bloggers, the posts you share get lots of exposure! Many thanks to our hosting blogs for giving us all this opportunity every week!

Linda @ A Labour of Life

Sinea @ Ducks ‘n a Row

Beverly @ Eclectic Red Barn

Katie @ Love My Messy Messy Mess

Susan @ From The Bay To The Beach

Esme @ Esme Salon

Would you like to be a part of Happiness Is Homemade? We are looking for hostesses to join our team. If you are interested, please email any one of the Happiness Is Homemade hostesses and let them know. We would love for you to join our party.

Cleaning up for 2026!

Happy July, and how great does that sound, and welcome to Happiness is Homemade 595.

It is hard to believe another week has flown by, meaning we are well into Summer. There has been so many great features shared with us every week and I truly hope Y’all continue sharing everything you are working on. If you are a blogger who loves link up parties and would like to join the fun, send one of us a message please. We aware always looking to expand our group. The Month of July was mine and it is coming to a close , hey its Linda from A Labour of Life, , my last week before I hand the reins over to Katie. Now lets get to the party shall we .

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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links.

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Happiness is Homemade 595 Features

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Fruit Charcuterie Cups

A fun and creative way to serve fresh produce at parties, Fruit Charcuterie Cups are perfect for showers, birthdays, or summer gatherings. These easy appetizers from Walking on Sunshine are served in individual portions, making them simple to assemble, easy to customize, and sure to impress your guests.

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Copycat Chick-Fil-A Lemonade Recipe

Craving the sweet, tangy taste of Chick-fil-A lemonade? This easy recipe from Rose Bakes captures the perfect balance of fresh lemon flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. It’s a refreshing treat you can enjoy at home in just minutes, whether you’re relaxing on a sunny afternoon or pairing it with your favorite meal.

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Quick & Easy Cheeseburger Meatballs

Making delicious gluten free appetizers is a great way to ensure you have something for everyone to eat at your party. And you can’t go wrong with these easy cheeseburger meatballs from Hunny I’m Home! Grab some frozen meatballs, add your toppings, and you’re ready to enjoy a delicious bite-sized snack. Perfect for game day in the fall or a backyard BBQ this summer.

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Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet (newest model) ages 6-12 | Bright 10.1″ HD screen | Slim case for older kids, ad-free content, parental controls, 13-hr battery, 32 GB, Mint

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Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits – The Ultimate Summer Treat!

These Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits from The Lou Lou Girls are layers of creamy cheesecake filling, juicy berries, a buttery Cinnamon Toast Crunch crust, and a glossy strawberry glaze—all piled into a parfait glass so your guests can see the magic at every turn. Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ, bringing something to potluck, or simply craving a sweet treat that feels special, these parfaits deliver on every level.

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Cucumbers, from the garden. growing cycles and recipes

Summer is here and the temperatures are soaring, and gardening is on my mind. Having just started growing veggies, this post from Scratch Made Food for Hungry People just called out. A fun post about gardening and including a few recipes.

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Did you know we have a Pinterest Board where all features are saved to?  Save our pins to your own board for your future reference, easy peasy!

Thank you for joining us this week whether you are a blogger sharing your latest posts OR a reader enjoying all of the inspirational shares!  

Don’t forget to drop by and say hello to all our hostesses, they always appreciate your visit!

Here are all of our hostesses at Happiness Is Homemade!

This party is published on 6 different blogs so, bloggers, the posts you share get lots of exposure! Many thanks to our hosting blogs for giving us all this opportunity every week!

Linda @ A Labour of Life

Sinea @ Ducks ‘n a Row

Beverly @ Eclectic Red Barn

Katie @ Love My Messy Messy Mess

Susan @ From The Bay to The Beach

Esme @ Esme Salon

Would you like to be a part of Happiness Is Homemade? We are looking for hostesses to join our team. If you are interested, please email any one of the Happiness Is Homemade hostesses and let them know. We would love to have you join our party!

Got a pet hair problem?

This vacuum is such an easy solution. ❤️