*This post is sponsored by Walmart. All product selections and opinions are my own!
Easter is right around the corner! After I set up my festive Easter dining room table I started thinking about some fun snacks I could make to help make the weekend feel special.
I ordered my groceries on-line from Walmart and got to work decorating cooking. Ha. We all know there was no cooking involved. I like making cute platters because it’s basically decorating with food. Now that I can do. :) This simple 4-piece serving set is a staple at my house I use over and over that I’ve shared before. I use it for candy, I use it for ice cream toppings, I use it when we’re roasting s’mores and I use it for after school snacks for my kids. It’s perfect to hold cheese and crackers and fruit!
Don’t you think Easter candy is the best candy? Chicks Ducks and Bunnies don’t last long at our house. Then there’s Cadbury Eggs. Cadbury eggs from the grocery store don’t even make it through the door. :)
This is a simple way to make a festive snack for Easter that kids love. Make fruit kabobs and add a peep in the middle! You can get really creative with colors and use a rainbow of peeps or just stick to one color like I did. These white porcelain serving platters I’ve shared before.. they are also staples I use over and over when I serve food/entertain. They come in a rectangle size too!
I saw this on Pinterest a few years ago and love making it for Easter because it literally takes two seconds! Isn’t it the cutest!? I made one for my friends a couple of weeks ago. We were meeting quick to chat and have Diet Cokes before we all took off for Spring Break and I came walking in with this carrot. They were cracking up. Paired perfectly with our Diet Cokes if you ask me. I’m all about balance! Ha ha. :)
This is another idea I saw on-line a few years ago and really enjoy creating. So fun right!? I love this too much and always have fun making different versions with the bunny face in the middle. You can use a bowl instead of bread and get creative with the face. This year I used blueberries for the eyes, celery for the whiskers and smile and a strawberry nose. Cutest little bunny face. One year I used all fruit and this pink fruit dip in the middle..
It’s seriously the BEST fruit dip if you haven’t tried it yet! I share it every summer. You just whip together 8 oz cream cheese (softened), a 7 oz jar of marshmallow creme and 2 teaspoons of Maraschino cherry juice. YUM.
Isn’t the floral food server fun for spring!? I ordered it along with my groceries, but then when it came it was so pretty I didn’t want to cover it with food! It would be a cute table centerpiece too or fun to set napkins, utensils and salt and pepper shakers on (smaller items so you can still see the pretty flowers!)
Candy, peep kabobs, carrots and cucumbers. Like I said.. balance in all things!
I know most people have Easter food traditions that include fancy hams and side dishes, but when you’re lacking in the cooking skills department (and your ham would 100% turn out less than desirable) you have to get creative.
Bunny face fruit & veggie platters for the win!
Plus pizza.
;)
If you’re doing last minute Easter shopping Walmart has everything you need! When I ordered this food I also ordered all of the candy for my kids’ baskets. So nice to do it all on-line. When I was on-line shopping I also noticed that a lot of the items I ordered for my summer guest room re-fresh last summer are back in stock!
My rattan lamps are also back! Love these lamps. I left them up all year but they are especially fun during the spring/summer. The ceramic basket pot is also a favorite.. I think I own over 5 of them! Last summer I had them all over my house. They sold out quickly last year so don’t wait if you want one.
Sharing a simple Easter table today! I can’t believe Easter is next weekend! I put this together quickly with things I had on hand around my house.
Soft pinks again for the win!
Favorite olive branches in my go-to white vase for the center. When it’s time to eat I’ll take the vase off and fill in the open spot with my delicious main dish. Maybe pizza? Kidding!
Happy April! I hope the month is off to a good start for you! I’m sharing our March Amazon buys today along with a few other favorite things I’ve been wearing. Then wrapping up the post with some personal pics I want documented so feel free to skim if you’re not interested. There is no time in my life during this stage for documenting family life so once in a while I go old school and toss a few things up here. :) If you’re new here and don’t know, this blog started as my family journal around 13 years ago when my girls were 3 and 5! Sometime (if any of you are interested!) I’ll have to write about my blog journey so that it’s documented too.
But that’s a story for another day. Today we’re talking about recent favorite green pants. Because that’s fun too. ;) Seriously though.. how cute are these high waist pencil pants!? Talk about an Amazon score. They are so flattering and comfortable! I’m wearing a small (they fit true to size) and I would 100% recommend them.
I’m wearing them with my paily slide sandals and thought I’d share a pic of these two sandals because they were my most worn shoes last spring/summer. They work with everything! Great neutrals and the square toe is so much fun. The flats are Marc Fisher slides and come in several colors. This is their new version out this year.. so cute. Below are other similar options I’m loving that are also out this spring!
These are my March Amazon purchases! Lots of fun things for Kole because he turned 12 on the 30th. :) He needed new ties for church and new swim wear.. I ordered lots to try, sent a few back and kept the ties/suits in my collage above.. they are all great! I ordered #3 and #12 for our spring break trip! A cute clutch and a huge mesh bag that’s easy to pack and perfect for the beach. The hair putty is Kenny’s favorite he has used for years and the the furniture repair markers we use on our wood floors for larger scratches. You have to find the color that matches your floor and it works so well! Underwear for the girls and a cute cover-up and knit outfit for me. The knit outfit is so cute and comes in lots of colors! I’ll share it on soon too. The EzyRoller (#9) was Koles main birthday gift. He loved his ziggle so much growing up we got him a more adult version to help with any summer boredom. ;)
I can’t believe my baby is starting middle school next year! Love this boy so much. :)
In other fun news I have a discount for you on my favorite speakers! I shared my Kove speakers around the holidays.. great sound and we use them all the time. They connect to your computer or phone but they don’t need to be right next to them. I love using them when I clean the house to listen to music or a podcast. We use them a lot outside too when we’re hanging out, exercising or when we’re lounging in/around the pool.
They just came out with a travel size I’m loving! So small but the sound is still great and you can attach them to your bike or backpack. If you use my link you can get 67% off! They would make a great Easter basket gift for a teen. My girls love using them too. :)
You know that I’m all about comfort when it comes to clothes.. I run around in joggers/leggings at least half of the week! These are 3 tops I’ve been absolutely loving! All so cute and comfortable. The first is this twist top pullover. It’s cropped so I love it with high waisted leggings like the pair I’m wearing. Perfect to throw on after a workout or wear on its own. The material is so soft!
Vuori is hands down one of my favorite brands (and my husbands #1 favorite!). This halo crewneck is also so cute and comfortable. I’ve been running around a lot with belt bags because they are so easy and convenient and this Madewell belt bag is perfect. Just right for your phone, keys, credit cards and chapstick. I think the black sold out but it comes in other fun colors and I linked both places you can find it above.
This is another belt bag I love. They are perfect for spring/summer family outings too! Especially if you’re traveling to a theme park, zoo, etc. So nice to not always have to haul around a purse when you’re doing a lot of walking. This Zella crewneck sweatshirt is what I reach for more than anything else in my closet! I love it so much I bought two of them! It’s the perfect length and such a great fit. Really soft and comfortable.. I can’t recommend this sweatshirt enough. Staple!
Alright.. a little blast from the past.. you know how I always pop my left knee in my mirror selfie outfit pics?
This pic was taken on my first day of Kindergarten.. can you find me? Apparently the knee pop has been my signature look my whole life.. ha ha. Always posing. ;) Behind me are a couple of other girls who became life long friends.
This was our class picture that year. I love old pictures like this! Can you spot me again? Just a slight head tilt this time. :) (Second row of girls.. red turtleneck and a pony tail.) If you find the tallest girl in our class you’ll spot my then future BFF Koni.
Koni and I were friends all through school but by high school we were inseparable. The tallest and the shortest in our class and we did everything together. Everyone said we shared a brain and we pretty much did. Who remembers how cool these striped shirts and braided belts were!? I miss the 90’s!
When I say we were always together I meant it.. this picture always cracks us up! Me kissing Kenny at a ski resort and Koni isn’t far.. ha ha. She didn’t approve of him at first but eventually he won her over. ;)
This was the rest of our crew. I was so lucky to grow up in a small town with these girls! I was close friends with all of them through Elementary, Middle School and in High School we got really close. (Bangs were all the rage at this stage. I remember the night of this dance I was experimenting with hot rollers.. maybe not my best move.. )
{homecoming royalty senior year – I’m with my buddy Tyler.. the two shorties of the group} ;)
A new High School was built in our area right before my senior year and everyone within the boundaries had to move schools, but as seniors we had the choice to stay at our previous high school and graduate there or to come over to the new school. It was a hard decision because we all had so many other friends we would have to say good-bye to! We decided to move to the new school together and to help get it up and running and we ended up having the best senior year. We got to pick out everything for the new school.. school colors, mascot, we set up new traditions, Koni and I got to be in charge of everything with the new dance team. It was an amazing experience and bonded us all so much.
We finished high school together (class of 95) and all went to our local community collage for two years (basically an extension of high school!) before all taking off in different directions for more school or work.
College graduation with my girls. :) We have all stayed in touch and every year when we visit our families in our hometown for the holidays we try to get together for lunch. It has become harder through the years to all meet and we have talked about making a girls trip happen for years! Last weekend we finally did it for the first time and I don’t think we’ll let a year pass going forward without doing it again!
Above was us then.
And this is us now. :) One of us couldn’t make it and we have one close friend (shoutout to Bonnie in the far left!) who wasn’t from our little town and stayed at our original high school senior year, but she was always part of the gang. :)
We went to Sundance and lucked out because even though there was still snow on the mountains the weather was warm and beautiful!
We rented a cabin for the weekend and had the best time together laughing and catching up!
We swam in a crater..
ate out, went shopping and bought Sundance hoodies. Because when in Sunance you should buy a Sundance hoodie. Unless you’re like me and live in a place you don’t wear hoodies much. Then you buy a Sundance long sleeved tee. :)
But most of the trip we did this. Stayed up hours every night in sweats eating all the food and just talking. We talked and talked and talked and then laughed until our sides hurt and then talked some more. So many funny memories we all have! It’s cool how everyone remembers different things. There were so many things about our past I had completely forgotten! But it all came back pretty quickly with this crew.
My friend Angie brought everyone bracelets with our home town zip code on them. That was the name of our group because in high school we were obsessed with Beverly Hills 90210.. ha! Our plan was to grow up and leave for school and then all move back to our hometown and live in a cul-de-sac together. We haven’t quite pulled that off, but we’re thinking there’s still hope for when we all finish raising kids and retire. ;)
There is something so special about childhood/highschool friends isn’t there? I could go years without talking to these girls and then see them and pick right back up like we were never apart. We’ve been through so much together. From constant play time and sleepovers and riding our bikes to the local Merc for candy, to braces and awkward middle school years, to first dates and kisses and high school drama, to college and “adulting” for the first time, to careers and marriage and having babies, to raising toddlers through teens. We’ve been there for each other though all of life’s joys and through a lot of heartache and hard times too. We will forever be close and I’m so grateful for the special bond we all share. This was the first of many girls trips to come and in 5 years when we all turn 50 (yikes!) we are going to plan something BIG. Maybe THREE nights of non stop talking and laughing instead of just TWO.
I think after all we’ve been through together we’ve earned it.
*This post is sponsored by Walmart. All product selections and opinions are my own!
Wow.. we are at the end of March! What a whirlwind of a month. I’m over here just trying to catch my breath. For some reason this month has been a little crazy for us. Anyone else feeling the same!? I’ll catch you all up on a few things going on around here soon (mostly good.. some not as good!) but today I’m excited to share another fun update to my backyard! I’ve been working so hard to get our yard ready for spring/summer! Remember these fun chairs I shared last month!?
I love them so much I ordered this cute matching set! A close friend of mine just moved and the little patio set I used to have in this spot was perfect for her outdoor space so I gave it to her. I’ve been looking for different options for this space and couldn’t pass up these cute chairs and table. I had a really hard time choosing because I love this chair and ottoman and this little couch too! I might still order the couch to add with the chairs. Still a work in progress but I love the way it’s looking so far!
You know how I feel about all things rattan so when I found these cute rattan plant stands I was thrilled! Such an easy way to spruce up the yard and elevate your plants. You could flip them around and use them as baskets too! Flowers make everything happy don’t they!? Crossing my fingers I can keep these alive through the season!
My lemon trees are having a good year and this glass pitcher has become a summer staple (comes in a set of 2!). I get excited to pull it out because it represents summer and sunshine and lemons and friends. :)
My tried and true coat rack turned towel rack isn’t going anywhere! Still the best solution for all of the pool towels! I highly recommend it if you end up with lots of kids and towels in your yard all summer. Of course you can also use it by the front/back door or in the garage to hold coats and shoes too. I’ve loved seeing pictures of how so many of you use your coat rack! This baby is a treasure for many of us. :)
I ordered another navy geometric rug for this space so I’ll put one out by the pool and keep this here. I really wish it came in a bigger size! I’m still hunting for a new rug for my space by our fireplace. If you like this chair and table set and it’s showing that it’s sold out this set is very similar! Also check back because they might get more in stock.
Our pool storage closet is overflowing (on the summer “to-organize” list once again!) so I ordered this cute outdoor console table.
So excited about this! I’m going to keep goggles and smaller pool toys in the baskets so they aren’t cluttering up our pool storage closet (I’ll just use the closet for large floaties.) This will also be perfect to use for entertaining. Look at the picture on-line.. perfect to hold food and drinks too!
I might move this.. I have a few spots in my backyard that it works, but for now I’ve got it tucked into this little corner.
Before I set this up I spent an hour cleaning our back deck.. it gets so dirty when we aren’t using it often! It feels good to have this space clean.
My roses are blooming and everything in the yard is starting to show off!
I love this time of year when everything is blooming.
I snapped these yard pics with my cell phone quick after I finished sweeping. It always feels so good to have the yard clean!
I had a spurt of motivation after working on the backyard so I cleaned off my front porch too and sprayed the dust off of our rocking chairs. Then I added these cute new pillows. Stripes for the win at my house!
Again! :)
They are really soft and I love the texture. Perfect outdoor pillows for a great price. They are actually more comfortable than some I have on my couch so you could definitely use them inside too! I started my front porch and will share that as soon as it’s done.
Have you started getting your outdoor spaces ready for spring? I grew up helping my dad in our yard every weekend and mowing the lawn was always my favorite! All those perfectly straight lines and that smell of freshly cut grass.. ha. :) There is something so gratifying to me about putting together spaces like this. It makes me happy to create gathering spots where friends can enjoy spending time together. Plus sunshine and flowers are good for the soul aren’t they!? I’m always in the best mood after working on our yard! I have help with some of our plant/lawn maintenance (it’s too much for me to keep up with now) but I will always love yard work and creating outdoor spaces we can enjoy all season. Bring on summer.. it’s time to plan a party!
I’ll bring the lemons.
:)
I’ve rounded up more cute Walmart outdoor furniture below.. I’m seriously loving their options this year! If you see something you love don’t wait because their outdoor furniture always sells out quickly!
Happy weekend! Sharing some current pics of my family room. Now that the time change is behind us it’s really starting to feel like Spring! I struggle losing that hour (I’ve felt tired all week!) but I love that it stays light enough that Kenny and I can walk/hike in the evenings again after work. So nice having a little more daylight in the evening isn’t it!?
I keep tweaking things in this space and it doesn’t feel “done” for the season yet but I took some pics to share anyway. Progress! :)
I love this faux ficus tree! Pretty leaves and it comes in this cute pot, but I’m still deciding if this is the best spot for it. I wish it was just a little bit taller for this space.
Simple shelf styling. I might add some black at some point (maybe black frames?) but this is where we are for now. I love the 3 decorative boxes! They are so pretty with those gold handles.
My mantel is simple at the moment. There is always so much going on with my shelves and the console table that it starts looking like too much when my mantel is busy. Plus I just can’t quit my brass lanterns! I love the candle light clicking on in the evenings. They are so cozy at night!
I’ve been decorating with mostly neutrals – blacks, browns, creams, etc. with some soft pink here and there for spring. I found some really cute, inexpensive pillows to pull things together.
I actually found 3 lumbar pillow options I love! Really nice quality for the price. (Sorry this is horrible lighting! They look better in person.) The stripe on the left is currently on my bed in my master bedroom. :)
I had this stripe pillow and throw already (I used them in the Fall) and I added a pink tassel pillow from my living room. Then I felt like I needed a floral pattern with all the stripes going on.
Sometimes I tend to over stripe.
It’s a problem and admitting it is the first step.
My nook is pretty simple at the moment. I just added these pretty white flowers.. they brighten any space for spring!
Nothing like March. Around here that means turning the fireplace on one day and heading to the beach the next. There’s only a 10 degree difference between the two activities, but that’s as exciting as it gets when it comes to weather in southern Cal. :)
Have you been adding spring touches to your home? Bring on the sunshine!
Hello hello! I hope your week is off to a good start! I’m kicking off this post with a quick pic of some birthday fun last Friday. Feeling pretty grateful for good friends! And for my favorite balsamic grilled chicken salad. And for good pizza. You just can’t go wrong when the three are combined. ;)
I’m also grateful for Cadbury eggs! I got them.. yea! Lots of them! Ha ha. When my friend Darci pulled these out I honestly laughed so hard. She hadn’t read my blog post from that morning! She knows I love them but my friends haven’t given them to me for my birthday the past few years.. usually my kids do. I just had a feeling I guess.. ha. #nailedit ;)
They were prizes for a little quiz she gave everyone to see “who knows Erin best.” (My friends are too funny.) Can you answer this question that was on the quiz..
What has Erin had for lunch almost every day for the past 25 years?
If you can answer that you are probably a long time reader and I’m very impressed. :)
Really it was a great birthday. Spoiled by family and so many great friends throughout the day. AND sweet e-mails and happy birthday wishes from so many of you. Thank you! 45 might not be so bad after all. ;)
Ok.. on to some Spring Fashion! If you come here solely for decor and/or organizing take a quick pause and I’ll be back with more of that in my next post. If you are one of my fashion loving friends this post is for you! I’ve been taking selfies of daily outfits forever and keep thinking I’ll share them and then I get behind on posts and just never do. So apologies in advance for so many mirror pics! These outfit selfies have been building up for a while. :)
First up this cute green top I wore to my birthday lunch. True Erin fashion and just as predictable as what I eat for lunch most days. ;) The necklace is a recent favorite I shared a few months ago. Love it!
This cream v-neck top is so soft! (Comes in other colors too.) I love the material and neckline (perfect to wear with a fun necklace). ;) Also how fun is this half moon bag!? Such a fun style and perfect for both spring and summer. It comes in a green too (that I of course love!) but I bought the cream because I already have my green madewell bag and cream will work with more of my spring/summer wardrobe.
Speaking of all things spring and summer these are 3 of my essentials! A cute purse, a good sun hat for the pool/beach (this hat is so cute on and is 25% off right now!) and some great sandals that go well with everything. Check check and check. :)
You might have noticed my cute new phone case too!
Walli cases – a recent obsession. They are great because aside from all of the cute patterns and colors they come in, they also have a finger loop and a slot for credit cards so they can double as a wallet. So handy! I loved mine so much I got one extra for me and one for each of my girls. I recently got so many questions about my phone case on IG stories that I thought I’d share the link here too for anyone who missed it. You can get 15% off when you use this link and type in the code SUNNY at checkout. :)
A simple, cute black tee is always a good thing and I love the sleeves on this top! These light jeans are also fun for spring. (Do you love that they are cropped on the model and long on me!? Ha. I’m 5’3 and 1/2 for size reference.) I need to break out of my skinny jean rut but just can’t quit my AG’s! When you find a jean you love that fits well it’s hard to stray. :)
Our weather is all over the place lately. Cold and cloudy one day and then 75 degrees and hot the next. This hooded pullover has been perfect for most days because it’s warm but lightweight. Really cozy and I love this pretty soft blue!
Half of the week I’m cleaned up and the other half of the week I’m in clothes like the outfit above – leggings, sneakers and some sort of sweatshirt or cropped hoodie. That’s why I love my madewell totes so much and have used them for years. You can dress them up, but they also look great with casual clothes for every day running around. Staples for me! (My green canvas tote sold out at Nordstrom but is still in stock at Madewell and on sale right now!)
I wore it to dinner on my birthday with some of our besties. :) *Sidenote if you’re local – this was my first time trying Larsen’s in La Jolla (UTC) and it was SO good! A really fun special occasion restaurant. We were originally going to go to the place I got food poisoning at a few weeks ago (had planned on that ahead of time) but of course after that night I alerted our friends that we needed to hit plan B! Ha. So happy we did because I loved this restaurant.
This is really cute too. A little long on me so I’ve been wearing it with leggings. I might give it to my girls because I prefer sweatshirts that aren’t quite this long/baggy. My girls are all about long and baggy. :)
They came out with the same pjs in spring colors! Blue and pink! It was a very happy day when I discovered this news. :) I love these pjs because first – they are so soft! They are also warm but lightweight so they are perfect to sleep in. I’ve worn them almost every night since I bought them! I also love that they come as separates because I’m always xs on top and small on bottom and when pjs come in a set I either have too tight bottoms or a too baggy top. Ha. (Anyone else different sizes on top/bottom? Then you know exactly what I’m talking about.) ;)
Ok.. we have definitely hit a limit for mirror selfies today! But I truly love everything I shared so I hope this post was helpful if you need a pretty spring top or a cute comfy sweatshirt or anything in-between! Let me know your favorite!
Happy March 11th! I’m 45 years old today! Wow. That age really hits home when you type it out.. ha ha. Getting up there! Really it’s all good. I’m just so grateful to still be here healthy and happy! Doing what I love – raising my kids, loving their dad and organizing my drawers and closets to death. Who could ask for anything more? I mean maybe a Cadbury Egg or two wouldn’t hurt. I’m pretty sure someone I know will give me one today. If not I know what I’m giving myself. Tis the season! For birthdays and ALL the Easter candy. Bring it on. I’m so ready. :)
I have some fun plans for the day/weekend with friends and family but I’m still hoping I can squeeze in some organizing too! I have to get major knee surgery mid April (boo!) so I’m using that date as my end goal. I want to have everything on my list checked off by then! A pretty big task because we have my kids’ Spring Break and lots of life happening in-between now and my goal date. I need to keep my motivation going so I took my original list..
and copied the to-do’s I still have left on a new list. Just the act of writing things down again helps me focus. I’m making progress and I hope you are too! If you’re feeling unmotivated try making yourself a new list. Then pick a day/time on your calendar to organize and when that day/time comes pick one thing on your list and knock it out! Honor that commitment you made with yourself. You’ll be so happy you did! Make it more enjoyable by listening to a good podcast or book on audible while you organize – that helps me look forward to it! (You can download this printable HERE.)
I scheduled a 2 hour block last Saturday in-between kids’ activities and was so productive! I tackled my playroom closet and drawers and said good-bye to things we aren’t using/loving!
Then I enlisted some help and tackled our mudroom. Kole makes his chores more fun by listening to music. He has learned a trick or two from his mom. :) You can see I still had my Christmas cards up! I usually leave them up to enjoy through February but by March we’re ready to take them down and move on to all things Spring. We donated old shoes and cleaned out our lockers. Feels so good to have this room organized again!
On to some simple coffee table styling! I mentioned that I’ve been a tad obsessed with home decor books lately. I have so much fun flipping though them in the evening! Zoning out with a good show on, a decor book in my hand and the fireplace going (chilly weather this week!) has been my favorite way to relax lately. Which is why my table is covered in books at the moment. :)
Hello. I’m Erin and I’m 45 years old and I like home decor books. These are my recent favorites. Not only are they FULL of beautiful inspiration but they also look amazing styled on a table or shelf.
I should know. I’m 45 years old. Did I mention that yet?
Hello hello! Sharing a few quick progress pictures of Ad’s bedroom today! Along with my Spring Entry. You’ll see what they have in common soon. I just snapped these pics of her room quick with my phone.. we’re moving slow in this space but we’re moving. :)
Around this time last year we added the detail to the wall behind her bed. LOVE the way the molding turned out! We just painted it white and then the rest of her walls a soft grey (the main grey color I used throughout my home and then we lightened a bit – you can download my paint colors here.) These lamps aren’t staying – they look a little too grown up to me for her room! They are just some I had on hand to use until we find what we want. The upholstered bed and white nightstands are new and we have been so happy with them both! The bedding is the whimsical waves comforter I also have in El’s bedroom.. we love white bedding at our house. :) I also recently bought this cute bench for the end of her bed and love it.. planning on bringing in a little more ratan to this space. The indigo barefoot dreams blanket was her Christmas wish this year and she has been wrapped up in it ever since! Looks like that color sold out at Nordstrom but you can also find it here.
I’m sure you recognize the rug.. it has been in my dining nook and guest bedroom and landed here for now. Addison loves blue! It has always been her favorite color so she wanted me to bring blue into her room and when we were looking at rug options she didn’t like any as much as this rug we already had. Definitely getting our money back out of this one. :)
I ordered these two beautiful art options to try in her space and didn’t love the clouds print. It’s beautiful! Jut not the right fit for this room with the rug.
This abstract mountain canvas print is a strong contender! I love the rectangle shape on her wall, the moody vibe, and it works well with the rug. If I use this print I’ll switch out the flower pillow for something else. I might try to add some black into her room too. We still need a large mirror for the sidewall and I need to style her nightstands and bookcase. Not sure if El’s faux fur chair is staying in this room.. Addison always steals it because it’s so comfy to read in. :) (You can see El’s bedroom here.)
Anyway.. I thought I’d give you an update of where we are with her bedroom. Progress needs to be celebrated! Even when it’s moving slow. :) I linked sources here including her desk/new fan not shown. Hopefully I can share the room finished soon! It’s the first project I want to tackle after I’ve organized everything on my challenge list. :)
BEDROOM SOURCES:
So what does her room have to do with my entry? I loved this abstract mountain canvas so much I decided to “borrow” it downstairs for a while to see how it looked. I love it on the table in my entry! I always decorate with blues in this space because of my navy bench and this print is just gorgeous here. Hmm.. I may have to re-think Ad’s art situation! Where do you like it best?
A couple of months ago I ordered 3 of these faux green bay leaf branches. I about died when they were delivered! They came in individual LONG boxes. I thought what in the world are those!? I had no idea how HUGE they were! These branches are BIG you guys. And absolutely gorgeous! They look so real.. crazy real! Like I cut down a tree and plopped it on my table. Ha. :) I struggled to find a vase big enough for them because the branches are too thick to bend. This large ceramic vase is the largest vase I have and I feel like it’s not quite tall enough! I ordered this mango wood vase to try – the small size which is actually huge. It’s the vase they show at PB with the branches and looks like it will be the perfect size. I’ll share it when it comes in but if you want some beautiful branches that make big statement look no more! :)
We made it though February! Heading into March is always a good thing. Spring is right around the corner and I’m feeling incredibly motivated to finish organizing everything on my challenge list. Once the weather is warm and evenings start staying lighter longer I just want to be outside! Now is the time to get things in order inside the house. If you’re working your way through the organizing challenge with me don’t give up! Commit to just working on a little bit each day.. even just 15 minutes makes a difference! On our way to an organized home. :)
*You can find challenge details and this free printable HERE. I finished a lot of my closet to-do’s last week (my closet is still a work in progress) and I’m moving into bedrooms. Goal is to finish my closet before April.. it has been a lot of work!)
I’m wrapping up the month with my February Amazon Buys! You can tell I’ve been doing lots of organizing and decorating by the Amazon purchases this month. :) You’ll be seeing a lot of these items popping up in future posts! I picked up some beautiful trays and decorative boxes I’ve had my eye on for quite a while to use for shelf styling. I needed more of my favorite to-do sticky notes..I love the little “to do” “to buy,” “to put off,” etc. They are so fun. I use the “to remember” notes a lot with my kids. I left something in El’s car for her at school that she needed a few months ago with a little “to remember: your mom loves you and is proud of you” note and she saved it. Made me smile when I saw it on her bedroom mirror. :) When I tackled my kitchen during the organizing challenge I tossed all of our old mismatched glasses/cups and ordered new clear every day drinking glasses on Amazon.. we’ve loved them! We were due. Some of our old cups were around when my girls were toddlers! The two coffee table books were from my husband for Valentine’s Day. I’ve wanted them for a while.. he knows me well! :) Lately my favorite way to relax is to watch a show while I’m flipping through one of my home decor coffee table books. They are always so inspiring to me! I picked up a few other kitchen organizers that you’ll see in more detail soon! And we were out of our electronic cleaning duster. :)
It was a fun Amazon delivery month! For my boys too because they ordered lots of cool things for their fish tank. I just didn’t think you’d care too much about those items. ;) Fish are doing well by the way. We lost two and Kole was heartbroken (RIP Sunshine and Edward). Thankfully my fish Gilmore is swimming strong. Kole is feeling better after a trip to the fish store this weekend to pick up a few new friends. I feel like we need an Edward 2 (team Edward from Twilight forever). I also suggested Paul Anka to be besties with Gil (if you’re a Gilmore Girls fan.. you know ;)) but Kole isn’t feeling it. I’ll keep working on him.
*This post is sponsored by Walmart. All product selections and opinions are my own!
Who is ready for warm weather!? In the Fall I’m always incredibly jealous of those of you who get to experience the changing leaves and Fall in all of her glory! I start dreaming about moving to the East Coast or to northern Utah by my sister where I can wear sweaters 24/7 and over the knee boots and sip apple cider by the fire. Then before I know it the holidays have come and gone and it’s mid February. San Diego starts showing off with warm, beautiful sunny days here and there and I remember that I’m actually quite content right where I am. ;)
Every year around this time I start getting excited for Spring and Summer and days spent by the pool! It’s also when I start planning anything I want to change/add to our yard and my front porch to welcome the new season. I’m planting a few more rose bushes and one more lemon tree! (You can never have too many lemons in my book.) I’m also adding some furniture in our backyard and the first items I ordered came a few days ago. I was so excited for fun mail! I opened the boxes, laid everything out, looked at the multi-step directions.. and then called Kenny. :) Really this wasn’t hard to put together at all, but he can do this type of thing so much faster than me that I’ve found my skills are better used elsewhere.
Like looking for the frogs that are hiding in our water fountain with Kole which is what I did while Kenny put everything together.
Each chair comes in a set with the matching ottoman and I LOVE the canopy! Our back yard bakes in the summer with non-stop sun and I’m so excited that these chairs are covered. I can keep my face out of the sun and my legs in the sun which is usually what I prefer when I’m sitting poolside. :) We love our lounge chairs, but when the pool is full of kids and friends it will be so nice to have this extra seating.
I’m going to put these in the front facing the pool (I just turned them this way because I couldn’t photograph them very well from the water!) so I decided to anchor them with a rug. I ordered two options to try.. this navy geometric outdoor rug.
and this cute multi-colored striped rug. So happy and fun for summer! I love them both – great price, great quality and I’m excited about the cute patterns for summer. Originally I was going to return one of them, but I decided to keep the navy rug by the pool since that works so well with our umbrellas and the outdoor pillows we already have and I’m going to use the striped rug on the back porch or on my girls’ balcony.
Ok.. back to these chairs. They are so comfortable! They are also wide so two kids could easily share one.
My favorite part is the detail on the side. Those wicker loops and circles! And the tassels on the canopy!? SOLD. Details like that get me every time. :)
The cushions are made with fade-resistant and stain-repellent fabric so they should hold up well. I will put them to the test and report back!
I was snapping these pictures and before I knew it two little heads were popping up in my photos. I couldn’t believe Kole and his buddy jumped in.. that water is ICE COLD right now. They only lasted a few seconds before hitting the hot tub. BRRRR. Our sun is making an appearance and flowers are starting to bloom, but we aren’t quite pool ready yet!
I took this picture a little later in the evening when the sun was starting to set so that you can see a better look at the rug. I’m so bummed it doesn’t come in a 9×12! This is exactly what I want for our outdoor seating area. Hunt is still on for that space.
Chairs are now turned the right way ;) and Addison and I have been testing them out. She and Ellie are trying to convince me that they need these chairs on their deck upstairs, but for now they are staying put! I’m very excited about planting right here this summer – just me and my Coke Zero and a good decorating book. A little slice of heaven on earth. BRING ON THE SUN! We are now officially ready.
Walmart has so many cute options for outdoor furniture this year! I rounded up a few more favorites below. I’m thinking about picking up a couple more items that match these chairs for the lower back deck.. this set is just speaking to me! My birthday is right around the corner and I think I just found what I’m asking my husband for.
Assembly required too babe. Don’t worry.. I’ll help Kole find ALL of the frogs.
Sharing some simple styling today! Things have been a little quiet around here today after a fun weekend that had a not so fun ending! We took the kids to Palm Springs for the long weekend. It’s just 2 hours away from us and a quick and easy escape. We had beautiful, warm desert weather and spent most of the trip relaxing at the pool and just enjoying low key family time.
One morning we took Kole to the zoo (girls passed and stayed at the pool) but he loved it. It’s a great zoo by the way if you have kids and are ever visiting the area. This guy just looks happy doesn’t he? Not a care in the world. :)
Overall it was a great trip. Our last night there we took the kids out to dinner, spent some time after in the hot tub, came back to our room and watched a movie together and then went to bed. At 1:00 am I woke up SO sick. Long story short I got food poisoning! It must have been something I ate at dinner. Oh my word.. honestly one of the worst nights of my life. I was violently ill and I’ll spare you the gory details but at 5 am Kenny finally called an ambulance because I kept passing out. I spent the rest of the day in the emergency room. I was fine once it was out of my system and I had fluids in me again but wow. What a horrible night! I’m so sad too because the bad food was from one of my favorite restaurants and I don’t think I can ever eat there again! That’s the worst isn’t it!?
Anyway.. I’m so grateful to be home and feeling good again! I hope you had a nice long weekend that didn’t involve the emergency room. Clearly I like to keep things interesting. Ha.
On to some fun styling because that’s WAY more fun to talk about right!? :) I’m loving my console table at the moment! I was a little torn on what to do with it because I’m ready for light and bright and Spring, but I’m also loving the dark, moody vibes that are trending and with the black pendant lights in my kitchen so close to this table I wanted to make sure everything was flowing and working together. I think I found a good combo!
I put some faux cherry blossoms in a favorite vase (I love faux cherry blossoms this time of year!) and then added my pretty scalloped bowl with my chain link.
Then I ordered this canvas that I could not love more! It’s so beautiful and looks a lot more expensive than it was. I love that it has darker tones/colors but also some soft pinks and lots of white. A perfect way to create a moody vibe that still feels like Spring!
This shelf just makes me smile when I walk by it now. I love that about decorating and organizing. So easy to create happy little moments throughout your home. I of course have some unhappy moments too (a few rooms in my house are a hot mess!) but we’ll just focus on this shelf and the console table for now.
Happy Saturday! Yea for the weekend. A long weekend for some! My kids are out of school Monday and Tuesday (Kole is out all next week!) so we’re excited to enjoy a little family time and break from the routine. When I shared my face steamer in my powder bathroom in my last blog post I got lots of questions about the faux flowers in this space and realized I never shared these pics on the blog. So for those of you asking, here is my pink bathroom in all of her February glory.. links included. :)
I’m sharing a few cute tops and some great weekend sales! This ruffled chambray buttondown is a bit of a splurge but CUTE. Fits true to size (a great fit!) and I personally love the ruffle top. Obviously the color spoke to me. :)
It’s the same color as the bag I’ve been using since November. Have I shared this yet? It deserves a post all of it’s own! That’s how much I adore this bag. I’ve owned this beloved Madewell transport tote for years (Nordstrom carries this similar option with a zipper.. I personally don’t like the zipper). It has been such a staple for me for so long that when I saw the same bag in this green canvas my heart skipped a beat. I was going to ask for it for Christmas but couldn’t wait! So it came early from Kenny. He just didn’t know about it. Ha. (I’m tricky like that.) I own some cute small bags that I love to take when I’m going out on a date or with friends (a little more dressy), but for every day running around Madewell totes are so convenient! They fit EVERYTHING and are so easy to just toss things into. This canvas bag also has a huge pocket in the front (perfect for phone and keys so I can always find them) and a zipper pocket inside with a smaller pocket in front of that (perfect for lip gloss or whatever.) Plus it’s just so cute.. army green! With those leather straps! As you all know most of the clothes I wear are pretty casual and this bag just works with my wardrobe. Green top with jeans? Good. Black top with jeans? Good.
Speaking of black tops.. one more favorite from Antho. Looks like the black sold out but it also comes in white and moss green! I’ve been going back and forth on getting the green too because it’s such a cute, flattering, comfortable top! But my sister always tells me I’m not allowed to buy anymore green tops so I’m pausing.. (Car be proud I’m at least waiting a while before I go ahead and buy another one.. progress.).
Speaking of green tops I’m not supposed to buy.. oops. One more. :) Cutest puff shoulder sweatshirt! It comes in a couple of other colors too. I was wearing it in IG stories one day and got so many questions about it so I snapped this pic in my car to post with the link while I was waiting for Kole to finish tennis. It was evening so the lighting isn’t great.. color is really a deep green like the Nordstrom pic shows it. Also this initial pendant necklace is one of our favorites (Addison wears hers every day to school) and it’s 60% off – just $15 right now! I’ve never seen it so low. Not all letters are still in stock. I just ordered a few that were in stock for friend gifts. SCORE on that one.
If you are looking at larger home purchases (furniture.. couch, bed, mirror, coffee table, barstools, etc.) President’s Day weekend sales are some of the best for items like that! I rounded up sale favorites below from a few stores I always check out! Things I already have and love that you’ll recognize along with a few things I wish I had! :) I also found some cute sale items from Loft. I don’t shop on-line there often, but maybe I need to start. They carry one of my favorite brands of lounge wear (LOU & GREY) so I went down the rabbit hole on their website the other night looking for sweat pants and found a few really cute items on sale.
I hope these picks are helpful! Enjoy the start of your weekend! First up on my Saturday morning agenda is to finish de-cluttering a closet or two (still chipping away at my organizing challenge to-do list!). Then it’s time to relax and play. I hope you can do the same.
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