{sectional/wool jute rug/rattan-wrapped stool/coffee table/faux fig tree/large dough bowl}

I hope you’re all having a good week!  We’re enjoying some lovely 80 degree weather on the coast at the moment but have no fear!  It feels like 60 degrees in my family room.  You just have to smell the pumpkin spice candle, crank the air, close your eyes and .. pretend. Fall in southern Cal!  I am well trained. :)

{chunky woven throw/woven stripe pillow/hand knit pillow covers here & here/counter stools}

I found so many cute and cozy pillows and throws for a great price this year and couldn’t resist picking up a few new additions! I especially love the texture of this throw. It looks so cute hanging off the back of my couch!  I always feel drawn to neutrals this time of year and especially shades of brown.

{linen frayed edge pillow/windowpane pillow/pumpkin lumbar pillow}

We have been lounging on these pillows every night for a couple of weeks now and they definitely pass the comfort test.  Perfect for a Sunday afternoon football nap!  I’m normally not much of a napper, but something about the soothing sounds of football crowds..

{texture woven lumbar pillow/hand knit pillow covers here & here/woven stripe pillow/hand knit throw here & here}

{thatcher chair/x base stool/woven throw blanket/cable knit throw pillow/gold lamp (set with floor lamp)/similar plaid throw/cross hatch object/pacifico pot}

{brass lanterns/flameless candles/arched mantel mirror/seagrass basket}

I kept my mantel simple. The brass lanterns and candles have been up all year!  I bought them last year thinking I would just use them during the holidays, but the candlelight every night from my flameless candles (they are set on a timer!) is so cozy that I just kept them up during the summer months too.

{pampas grass/white Santorini urn/oval metal tray/tourmaline framed canvas/gold lamp (set with floor lamp)/similar console table/similar console baskets}

I shared this littles set up in a previous post.  Happy to say that the pampas grass shedding has stopped!  The stems really do make a beautiful statement in person.

Kind of funny.. I never really planned for this room to turn out so.. carmel!  Clearly I am drawn to this shade of brown. :)

{coffee table/white lined pot/olive branches here & here/made for living/homebody/Patina Farm/Simplicity/brass round gold tray  (similar option)/wood chain link/anthro candle}

My new coffee table feels very at home here.  I had fun styling it!  Even though Kenny and the kids move and stack everything around in the evening because we use this table so much.  I’m not always the best at making my bed each morning but I do always straighten the couch pillows and now.. I straighten my coffee table decor too.  It makes me happy.

{chunky wool jute rug}

Especially the bowl full of acorns Kole and his cousins gathered for me in my mom’s yard last year. :)

{newgate wall clock/kitchen details & sources}

I love you Fall!  Even when you’re just a dream in my head that I manifest in my home. Ha.

:)

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{kitchen rugs/similar pendants}

It might not officially be Fall until Wednesday the 22nd (mid November for San Diego), but Fall has arrived in my home and I’m not one bit mad about it! I love adding a few Fall touches to my kitchen every September. Fall decor is so just warm and inviting isn’t it!? I always keep it simple in this space because (like in most homes) our kitchen gets trashed and then cleaned multiple times a day and too much decor combined with every day family clutter is just.. too much! But it doesn’t take a lot to welcome this beloved season. I started by adding some new inexpensive neutral rugs. I’m always drawn to neutrals for Fall!

{woven tray/similar tray/similar crock/anthro candle/oil & vinegar set}

I love to add items with lots of texture to up the cozy factor and rattan is a favorite go-to of mine! I just set some of my often used kitchen items and a pretty candle on a rattan tray and my kitchen instantly felt warmer.

{similar rectangle board/round board/gold mirror/similar wreath here & here & here/brass candle holders/ivory candles/pumpkins are real.. similar faux mini white pumpkins here & here}

I was a little torn on what to put on the shelf over my cooktop this year (I added garland and pumpkins last year!) and ended up just adding a simple wheat wreath over my mirror with my beloved candle holders on each side. Mini white pumpkins had to make an appearance too of course. It’s just not Fall in my kitchen without them. :)

{similar art here/here/here/here}

Adding vintage (or vintage looking) art to a more modern space has been trending for a while now. Something about that mix of old with new is so fun isn’t it? I’ve wanted to add some art to my kitchen for a while but just couldn’t find anything that really spoke to me until I came across this rooftop painting at a boutique in my hometown last time we were visiting. It was love at first sight because the rooftops reminded me so much of a favorite trip Kenny and I took years ago to Italy.  Also… GREEN! So many shades of my favorite color. I knew we were meant to be together the second I saw it. :) I don’t have a link for this exact canvas but I linked a few fun similar looking options. Flea markets, antique stores and etsy are fun places to find art like this too! You really don’t have to spend a lot.

{hicks pendant}

{olive branches here & here/navy rugs}

This is a picture from my kitchen decor last year.. sharing it because I didn’t get a pic snapped of this whole window and I kept it close to the same! Favorite faux olive branches in a crock next to candles on the left and then pampas grass in a vase on the right. The pampas grass I used last year was real.

{dish towel/similar round rattan tray/artisian vase/faux pampas grass/similar pampas grass option}

This year I used faux pampas grass and I LOVE it! Unlike the pampas grass I shared in my last post this grass doesn’t shed one bit! It’s so realistic looking and I love how tall it is (easy to bend the branches to adjust the height for your vase!). The color is so beautiful too.. instant Fall!

{antiqued metal decorative tray/smoked glass vase/vintage wooden tray – several options here}

I’m still playing around with my cabinet shelves but love my long metal tray below it. One of my favorite accessories for holiday decorating! Right now I just placed a pretty vase (works great with my green painting!) and a wooden tray on it. I might add some Fall flowers to the vase at some point.

{round wood serving tray/white terracotta jar/brass candle holders/similar gourd}

My white terracotta jars are back in stock! They are perfect to hold faux eucalyptus branches (or any branches/flowers really!). I picked up this wood serving tray at the Nordstrom sale and couldn’t love it more. It’s hard to tell in this pic but it’s huge! Fun for a little Fall moment on my island. :)

My fun fall dish towels are from Anthro a few years back.. they always have so many cute options! I’ll link a few favorites out new this year at the bottom of this post with sources!

{platters & boards book/similar gold book stand here, here, & here/round marble & wood serving tray here, here & here}

I brought out a favorite cook book on a gold stand in my kitchen. Platters & Boards is actually more of a “how to style your food and make it look pretty” vs. how to cook it.. totally why it’s a favorite at my house. Ha.

{similar trivet/round wicker tray/white terracotta jar/similar faux pomegranate branches here, here & here/similar velvet pumpkins}

Then I added some faux pomegranate branches to my other white terracotta jar. A few velvet pumpkins never hurt anyone either. :)

{flour/sugar canisters/marble & wood cutting boards/white ceramic pot/similar pumpkin here & here}

Simple Fall kitchen decor! I’ll take it. :)

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Happy Friday!  I hope you had a good week!  We ended up traveling over the long weekend and then it felt like everything hit at once when we got back!  I’ve hardly had time to catch my breath.  But next week isn’t quite so crazy and I’m beyond excited to get into a somewhat normal schedule with kids back at school.  When I dropped Kole off on his first day I said “I’ll miss you today!” He answered “I’ll miss you too mom but don’t be sad.. I probably won’t think about that much because I’ll be having so much fun with my friends.”  Ha ha.. best answer.  He did just that and his last year in Elementary school is off to a great start. :)

{brass lanterns/arched mantel mirror/seagrass basket/pampas grass/white Santorini urn/oval metal tray/tourmaline framed canvas/gold lamp (set with floor lamp)/similar console table/similar console baskets/chunky woven throw/roll arm sectional}

So is my Fall decorating! I’ve had so much fun bringing warm, cozy neutrals into my home.  I’m sharing my family room console table decor today because I’m slightly obsessed with this pampas grass I ordered!

{pampas grass/white Santorini urn}

Isn’t it stunning!?  It instantly brought so much warmth and texture into this space.  The stems are tall and I ended up ordering more after the first six arrived. (I have around ten stems in this vase.)  I also learned the hard way (trial and error!) what to do with these stems to avoid a mess.  I didn’t read the instructions with the first set I ordered.  I opened the box, brought them in my house and fluffed them up instantly with my hands.  Some shedding is normal with pampas grass, but I caused A LOT of shedding.  Ha!  So much that I was worried everything would end up in my vacuum by the end of the night.  They stopped shedding after a while and then I read the instructions and realized I could have avoided the mess.  Note to self: read instructions more often.

I ordered another set because I needed more for my vase and this time instead of opening them inside I opened the box outside.  The initial shedding didn’t seem so bad when it was on the grass!

Then I set the branches in a vase in the sun and left them outside for a few hours.  They expanded so beautifully!  When I was ready to bring them in I fluffed them out a little more outside and then sprayed some hairspray on them (another tip in the instructions.. so smart.  Did I mention it’s good to read instructions?)

I brought them in and they’ve hardly shed since!  So if you order them follow my lead.. the second time around. :)  Leave them outside for a few hours before you bring them in.  Your vacuum will thank you!  Other console table decor includes my cute little oval metal tray full of sticks, pinecones and acorns, this beautiful framed canvas, and my gold lamp that’s back in stock!  It comes in a set with my gold floor lamp. LOVE them.

{hicks pendant/navy rugs/marble and gold tray/faux pumpkins/olive branches/candlesticks/dishcloth/artisan vase/mirror tray/anthro fall candles}

Last year I put real pampas grass in my kitchen window and loved the way it instantly brought Fall into my home!  My kitchen window looks similar this year but I ordered this pampas grass because I wanted something a little taller.  It’s also beautiful and doesn’t shed at all.  I’ll share a pic of it soon!  I also pulled out these go-to olive branches and ordered more this year.  They are so realistic and another beautiful option for Fall decorating.

1- dried pampas grass   2- white  pampas grass  3- faux taupe stem 

4- beige blush pampas grass   5- large pampas branches 

6- sunshine marigolds tall stems

I looked at A LOT of faux pampas grass before I ordered mine and these are my top picks!  The two I ordered were both from Amazon and I’m sharing my other Amazon buys from August below (better late than never!).

One of my favorite Amazon buys last month were these clear chair covers for my barstools!  I’ve struggled to find something to protect my floor from my kids sliding around on our barstools that doesn’t leave a sticky mess.  These have been perfect!  They work so well.  No scratching and they stay put.  They come in different sizes (square too!) and in a variety of colors if you want to match them to your barstools.  I just went with translucent.

I also ordered a new tape measure because the 5 we have seem to disappear!  This one is mine all mine and I keep it in my office.  I got some beautiful gold file holders (also for my office), another travel case charger for times I’m just taking my computer and phone chargers, a drip pad for all of the cooking I plan to do this Fall (always hopeful! ;)) and some OXO scoops to try in the pantry.  I only ordered 10 items this month and usually hit twelve so I included two favorites we use over and over!  My steamer and our power washer.  We love you Amazon. :)

1- bat die cuts & bat stickers  2- measuring tape   3- 3-piece scoop set 

4- file holder  5- clear chair covers   6- olive branches

7- large pampas grass  8- faux pampas grass   9- carrying case charger

10- drip pad  11- high pressure washer  12- steamer

Signing off with two other Fall console table looks from the past two years!  I love this Fall by the Lake art.. so beautiful!  I have it on my entry table this year.

{similar faux branches/white vase/dough bowl/mini velvet pumpkins/linen citris print/brass candlesticks/candles/similar console table/similar baskets}

This is how I styled my mantel last year and I still love this look too!  You just can’t go wrong with Fall colors/decor.  It’s all so WARM and inviting.  Such a fun season!  We don’t get to celebrate Fall outside in San Diego so I make sure to bring lots of it inside. :)

Enjoy your weekend!  More decor is coming soon!  I’ve been decorating up a storm.

Just me, my messy pampas grass, and the air conditioner cranked to the max.

Feels like Fall.

:)

*This post is sponsored by Walmart.  All product selections and opinions are my own!  

It’s the official last weekend of summer at our house!  Kole starts school on Wednesday and we’re feeling ready and excited.  6th grade and last year of Elementary school for my youngest!  I can’t believe it.  We took some time this morning to get his room straightened.  After a long summer with lots of friends over it was due!  The final touch after some clean-up and organizing was adding this beautiful new blue bedding!

{organic cotton blend quilt & shams/textured stripe sheets/asymmetrical stripe square pillow/washed denim throw pillow}

It’s part of Walmart’s new Gap Home collection and I couldn’t love it more!  Kole’s nursery was all done in Gap bedding.. a long time favorite at our house. :)  Aren’t the striped sheets fun!?  Lots of cute throw pillows too.  I love this set for a boys room!  You can see more fun Gap bedding here.  They have so many beautiful options – great quality for such a good price if you are ready for a little bedroom re-fresh!

We had some fun space themed bedding on his bed, but he’s getting older {sigh} and this feels a little more grown up and age appropriate for him.

I love the throw pillows in this collection so much I added a few more on his window seat.

{lab equipment charts}

{frayed denim pillow/cross-hatch frayed edge pillow}

They come in multiple colors and are the softest!

{mandalorian baby yoda}

A soft spot for a 6th grader (and some “friends”) to land. :)

{astro boy galaxy print/wired laundry hamper/moon phases framed canvas/phases of the moon print/multi-bin storage cubby}

Kole still loves all things space/moon so we are keeping his art work up until that changes!

I couldn’t resist picking up this beautiful moon phases canvas to add to his collection. :)

1-stoneware mug set   2- square throw pillow  3- blue and white dinnerware set 

4- oblong striped pillow   5- natural throw pillow   6- soft cotton blend comforter

7-shower curtain  8- white bath towel set  9 – 3- piece ombre bath set 

10- bath rug  11- white/blue bath towel set

Here are a few other items from the new Gap Home collection I’m loving.  So many cute things for bathrooms and kitchens too!

Her are a few pics of how I’ve organized his bedroom..

Honestly his books are the hardest thing for me to keep under control.  They multiply so quickly and end up everywhere!

More organization details and all sources are in this post if you’re interested!  (Also sidenote.. if something you want from Walmart is out of stock always put your e-mail in the “get in stock notification” box.  Most of the time they bring items back and will notify you when it’s in!  

Bedroom clean.. check!  Closet clean.. check!  Mudroom locker clean.. check!  School supplies ready .. check!  Haircut.. check!  I think we’re ready for 6th grade. :)

{rock painting kit/creepy monster craft kit/make your own comic book kit}

In the meantime to get us through the last few days of summer while his sisters are in school I picked up a few arts and crafts I knew he would like.  I’m desperate to keep this child off the iPad all day and this far into summer we are hanging on by a very thin thread!  Ha.  I love having things like this on hand for rainy days, down time and birthday gifts  They always come in handy.  Walmart has so many fun craft options for kids!  My girls especially loved stuff like this.  They would make crafts and jewelry for hours when they were younger!

Kole doesn’t engage with things like this quite as long as my girls did.  This should keep him entertained for maybe an hour if I’m lucky.. then only 11 hours to go.

Have I mentioned that I haven’t had all 3 of my kids back in school since March 2020?

VERY excited for next Wednesday.

;)

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 (We were laughing that El’s hair totally covered her black tank in this pic!
I passed on some crazy thick hair to these two.)

Hello hello!  I’ve missed you all!  The chirping crickets on my blog were’t intentional. :)  Our last week of summer and beginning of a new school year turned out to be a little busier than I expected and this is the first minute I’ve had to sit down at my computer to catch up!  My girls started school yesterday – 10th and 12th grade. I can’t believe it.  I teared up as soon as I saw them in the morning.  They both came down the stairs looking so beautiful and grown up.  I always cry on the first day of school but this year I didn’t even make it to drop off.  Don’t blink moms!  Everyone tells you how quickly it goes by.

{El’s first day of pre-school}

{first day of 1st and 3rd grade}

{first day of 2nd and 4th}

Everyone was right.

I came home to my boys (Kenny is still working from home and Kole doesn’t start until September) and being with the two of them cheered me up.  :)

{similar pink cherry blossom branches/Quin white vase/similar round tray/Abbott table/similar chairs/Arabesque rug}

I also decided to cheer myself up a little by putting away some of my summer decor and pulling out a few things for Fall.  So much fun!  I love Fall decor.  I’ve had this arabesque rug in our dining nook for a while (it used to be in our guest room) but I’m going to try it in Addison’s room.  It has become a rotating rug that might just make a debut in every room in our house.. ha.

I replaced it with this beautiful Pine Brook rug from Target!  I wanted to bring more browns in for Fall but also keep some of my blues so this will be perfect.  I snapped these quick with my phone so the lighting isn’t great but I love the rug!  As far as quality I’ll share how it’s holding up after I’ve had it for a while.  It’s definitely thinner than my previous rug and not plush but it looks and feels great considering the price I paid for a rug this size. (This is the 7×10)

A quick and easy change that warmed this space up for Fall!

1-lantern pendant  2- cookbook stand  3-color block pillow 

4- floral print pillow  5- oversized woven pillow  6- diamond persian rug 

7- ficus tree   8- artificial branch plant   9 – oval metal tray  10-throw blanket

I shared it in this collage with a few other Mcgee Fall favorites.

1- seagrass pendant table lamp   2- framed canvas  3- magnolia wreath

4- chunky woven basket  5-serving utensils  6-bowls 

7-ceramic vase   8-vase  9- carved vase  10- gold metal ladder

Love these items too!

{woven cotton throw (I also ordered this throw!)/oval metal gold tray/round gold tray (I used this last year for Fall/Christmas)

ceramic gray vase/woven serve tray/fall leaves}

I ordered a few Fall Target items on-line and then a few more items came home with me when I went shopping for school supplies with the kids.  They just sort of hopped in my cart.  Crazy how that happens. :)  Here are a few other favorites popping up..

1- wall clock  2- fall plaid throw  3- serve bowl  4- olive leaf garland  5- stripes knotted fringe blanket

6- faux wheat plant  7- faux pomegrenate plant stem  8- watercolor wall art  9- euculuptus wreath

10- dark rattan tray   11-  stripe door mat  12- harvest spice candle  13- faux rusted plant stem

14- wheat grass potted plant  15- distressed ceramic vase  16- euculuptus plant stem

I feel like Target is killing it with Fall decor this year.  YES to every one of these items!

{carry-on luggage/straw circle tote/travel make-up bag/duffel bag}

Two of my close friends share a birthday in August so last week we spent several days celebrating.  I packed my bags and we drove an hour away to Dana Point – one of our favorite spots for a quick and easy getaway!  And yes.. we were gone two days and I packed enough for a week.  I’m a big fan of having options.  Just ask Kenny.  My overpacking is one of the many things he loves about me. Ha. ;)

We stayed at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa and it’s absolutely beautiful.  I’ve stayed there before and love it so I wanted to share in case you ever want to plan a trip to Dana Point!

I love Dana Point because aside from being so close to home the beaches are beautiful and it’s full of so many great restaurants/shopping.  It’s a perfect spot for a girls trip!

We spent lots of time lounging and laughing at the pool and some of our group went to the spa.

{linen beach pants/straw circle tote/bikini (green sold out)/similar flip flops here & here}

Southern Cal is usually sunny but can also be breezy and cool so this has been one of my go-to beach/pool looks this year.  I found this cute top on-line at Pink Lily but it sold out so I linked similar tops/cover-ups below!  I always love tops/coverups with sleeves that breathe.  That way if it’s chilly or I just want a break from the sun on my skin it gives me coverage without being too hot.

Dinner out!  This trip was for my friend Ann’s 50th (pink dress).  We had so much fun celebrating her!

Funny sidenote.. Ann and I have been friends for years and this picture is the two of us at the same resort in Dana Point in 2010!  Clearly it’s a favorite spot.  11 years later she still looks fabulous and I’m still the one taking all the pictures. :)

Other than spending time at the pool and spa and eating out we also spent some time walking and biking.

This was my favorite picture from the trip.  Five of us went on a bike ride and stopped and asked a guy walking by to snap a pic of us on our bikes “with the palm trees in it.”  We laughed so hard when we saw this picture!  So sweet of him but not quite what we had in mind.  Totally something my husband would do.  I was like ok.. we need to find a teenage girl or a mom.

A sweet mom with two little kids walked by and we got exactly we wanted. Ha. :)

We came back from the trip and got ready for party #2 to celebrate Ann and my other close friend Katy.  It was a 20’s themed murder mystery party!

My friend Brittany was the host and she had her home decorated so cute.  I loved the tables!

And the feathers on the light fixture!  So creative.  I didn’t snap a picture of her kitchen with all of the food and wish I would have!  She has a beautiful home (all renovated recently!) so I’ll try to get pics of it sometime.

{vintage flapper fringe dress}

The 3 of us showed up in the same dress and were cracking up.  Totally NOT planned!  But not a huge surprise either since there are only a few good 20’s outfit options on Amazon. :)  I put mine on for the first time 20 minutes before the party and was so happy it fit.  Then I realized I didn’t have close toed black heels!  Why didn’t I order those Louboutin pumps I saw on-line and loved!?  Oh yeah.. because they were 745 dollars.  Ha.  But they would have been perfect with this dress! ;)

We were all given names and identities and had to dress and act the part and try to figure out who committed the murder with clues along the way.  Have you even been to a party like this?  It was a first for me and so funny.  I had a hard time staying in character!  (Kenny and I were Charleston contest winners obsessed with dance and winning.. ha)

The whole crew!

Such a fun night!  The whole week I felt full of gratitude for good friends.  They make life FUN don’t they!?  By the end of the evening we were all kicking off our shoes and wanting to take off our tights.  I told everyone the next party will be at my house.. Erin style.

PAJAMAS ONLY baby.  Bring it on.

:)

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Hello friends!  Happy August!  I love August.  Summer is so fun but after two months of late nights and kids all over the place and no schedule I start to crave a little routine.  Plus shopping for school supplies is my favorite. :)  Bring on the end of one season and the start of another!

I know I owe you all an update on Ad’s bedroom (it will come at some point!) but today I’m sharing a few pics of El’s bedroom transformation.  I’ve shared parts of her room before but thought I’d put a full post together with before and afters.  When we moved into our house 8 years ago she begged me for a bedroom with purple walls.  Then she became a teen and begged me for a bedroom without purple walls. Ha. Here are a few pics of her little girl room when she loved all things purple and panda bears.  :)

My little dancer. :)

We ended up painting her room our main house grey color at 50%.  You can find details about this grey paint (and all of my paint colors) on a printable when you sign up for my e-mail list here.  This pic was taken with my phone in the evening with bad lighting – the greys look darker than they really are in person!

{playroom sources}

Once we got the new paint color figured out we moved all of her stuff into the playroom for a few days.  That’s always a good time. :)

Good-bye purple!  I’ll be honest.  I was a little teary the day we did this.  I never loved the purple, but it was like saying a final good-bye to all things little girl with my little girl.  The end of an era is never an easy transition for me!  Luckily this story ends well and I have loved having teen daughters.  I feel like every stage with my kids is the best stage with my kids.  Minus a few “teen” moments. ;)

{brass & acrylic fan/whimsical waves comforter/faux fur pillows/bed skirt}

This is how El’s room is looking today!  She wanted a “non-cluttered room with white, cream, soft pink and gold accents.”  So that’s what we did.  El is a neat freak and likes her room to be pretty clean and organized.. don’t ask me where she gets that from. ;)  We kept the ballet shoe print and her bed and nightstands.  Then we switched out her ceiling fan to this updated gold/brass fan, and added these cute bubble lamps and this white waves comforter.  I have this same comforter on Ad’s bed too and love it because the kids can lay on it to do homework or hang out and it always looks good!  The wrinkled look never looks messy and wrinkled. :)

{ivory faux fur chair/faux fur pillows/jewelry box/bubble lamp}

I got this faux fur chair for my girls during quarantine.  Just so they would have a place to mix it up and sit to read or study while they were doing on-line school.  They have both loved it (it’s seriously so comfortable!).  They both use it and Ad often pulls it into her room too.  (PB teen has a lot of fun comfy chair options for teen rooms!)

{jewelry box/bubble lamp}

We kept the bookcase too.  I’ve had this Elsie bookcase in both of my girls’ bedrooms since we moved into our house 8 years ago and I still love them.  It’s so nice when you can find furniture that transitions with kids as they grow!

{beach summer of love art/palm tree art/beach umbrella wall art}

She wanted her bookcase really simple with beach prints and I bought these 3 framed prints during the N sale last year.  I had two of them on other shelves in my house and somehow they all ended up in El’s room. :)  We all enjoy living by the beach but El is my child who truly LOVES the beach.  It’s part of her!  She would spend time there every day if she could.

Nordstrom always has cute framed prints marked down for their anniversary sale and two of El’s prints above are included.  I added some other favorites from this year below (on sale through this Sunday!).

I had lots of fun ideas for the wall between her bedroom and bathroom door (was thinking of something cool with gold framed mirrors) but El kindly requested more beach prints.  It’s her room!  More beach prints coming up. :)

{etsy beach prints/similar gallery wall frames}

We found this cute set of digital prints on etsy and had them developed in the full size of her rose gold frames.  You can also buy them already printed here.  It looks like these exact frames sold out.. I linked similar options above!  You can also find other fun beach print options here.  There are so many cute combos available!

I had the little white desk made when we moved in this house because this corner is so small.  I never imagined it would get used the way it did last year!  She spent her Junior year of high school in this corner.

{similar white desk/metal frame oversized round rose gold mirror/trifold make-up mirror}

We’re hoping that this year she can just use it for make-up. ;)  I bought El this trifold make-up mirror for Christmas last year and she loves it and uses it every day.  A fun gift idea!

{faux fur throw}

Two other beloved items in Els’ room are this pretty faux fur throw and her lights!  You can’t see her multicolor LED lights in this pic – they sit right below her crown molding over her bed.  She wanted them so badly for Christmas a few years ago (ALL the friends were getting them) and we caved and she’s obsessed… turns them on every night.  I’m personally not a fan – they make her room look like a disco party.  Ha.  But I am a fan of making my sweet girl happy so multicolor LED lights it is.

And Addison has a lizard.  Which by the way is HUGE now.

The things we do for our kids!

That’s where we’re at with El’s bedroom update!  I’m happy to say this space is now fit for a teen. ;)  She keeps all of her personal items and dance memorabilia displayed on shelves in her closet.  I’d love to create a fun picture wall with photos of her and her friends above the chair (personalize the room a little more).  I’d also love to add a rug and a bench at the end of her bed but El doesn’t want them!  She likes things simple so I have to resist the urge to keep adding details.

Which is why I moved on to her sister’s room. ;)

Pics with El through the years..

They grow up so fast!  Embrace the purple paint.  Then embrace painting over the purple paint.  Love them hard and be grateful for every minute.

(Proud of you El.  Love, mom)

:)

{BEDROOM SOURCES}

{stripe towels/white coat rack}

Happy Friday!  So excited about today’s post!  Talking July Amazon Buys, the best chicken and fun home items that were just added to the N sale!  Random I know but when it’s fun random we don’t care. :)  I’m kicking off my July Amazon Buys with my go-to striped towels for my coat rack turned towel holder.  It has been so hot and humid this month and we have been living in our pool.  Different friends rotate through and my kids are in and out multiple times a day.  I’m so grateful for our pool towel solution!  Now if I can just come up with a way for the pool towels to magically wash themselves.  Does Amazon have a solution for that? :)

When I was in Utah I spent some time at Koni’s house like I always do.  Koni and I have been life long friends – besties through school and on forever.  (If you want to see some fun throw backs check out this blog post from 2008 when only my family and close friends (like Koni) were reading my blog.  Worth it just to see our hairstyles. Ha.)  Anyway.. I walked out to her backyard and saw this work of art!  Then promptly asked her where she got such a fabulous idea. ;)  So smart to put two of the coat racks side by side!  And baskets below holding sunscreen and pool toys.

This coat rack is honestly one of my all time favorite Amazon buys and I’ve loved getting e-mails from so many of you who use it this way too!  (on sale right now!)

I ordered a few more towels this month (was so happy they are back in stock!)  These towels have been great.  They are big enough, but not too big making laundry hard and they are very absorbent.

Speaking of pool time.. we ordered a couple more fun Amazon items after spending time at my moms.  She had this watermelon ball for the grandkids and it was such a hit!  I’m still trying to figure out why it’s so fun.  It just fills with water and sinks and then rises.  Nothing too special, but the boys absolutely loved it and played with it for hours.  So when we left my moms and the watermelon ball behind.. into the on-line cart it went. :)

My mom also had a full face snorkel mask that Kole was obsessed with. I never would have thought to order something like this for our pool but it entertains him so long!

It’s so kid friendly and just fit his face so well.  He swam with it for hours every day when we were at my moms.  When I got home I ordered this kids full face snorkel mask.  It works great, but is a tiny bit tight on his face (a perfect size for kids 10 and under) so I just ordered this snorkel mask to try and see if it fits him a little better.

Who needs Maui when you can snorkel in your own pool? ;)

Sorry.. more pool items.  Not hard to figure out what we’ve been up to all July. :)  Last summer I discovered and ordered this electric portable pump to blow up pool floaties and we have used it over and over and over.  It has 3 nozzles and so you can easily use it for any pool floatie, air mattress or whatever you want to inflate.  I included it in my collage this month because we’ve been using it so much and it’s such a beloved Amazon purchase!

It works so well and blows things up so quickly.. I don’t know how we lived without it for so long!  This blue lounger made its way to our house this month.  Loving the side drink holders.  Ultimate relaxation!

Bonus.. it matches our pool and pillows so nicely!  Not intentional but we’ll take it. :)  Below are a few other fun Amazon buys for July!  I’m reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens with Kole.  An assignment for his whole future 6th grade class.  I’m making my girls read it too (or listen to it on audible) so that we can have some family discussions.  They are absolutely thrilled about it as you can imagine. :)  I’ll let you know what I think when we finish.  Trapped in a Video Game (the first book) is one of Kole’s long time favorites.  It’s an easy read for him now, but when I saw him re-reading the first book I decided to order the series for him for some fun summer reading.  If you have a child/grandchild who loves video games these books will be a hit!  I pick up a water slide for the yard every summer that Kole uses with friends and by the end of summer it’s usually hanging on by a thin thread so I get a new slide for the next year.  I gave Addison the dead sea mask for Christmas and she has loved it so I picked up one for me to try. :)  I also ordered this pretty gold plated necklace (along with this necklace from the N sale) to see which one I like better, a few more of Addison’s pink velvet hangers for her closet, some waterproof bags for a rafting trip she went on (they worked great and kept everything inside dry!), and Aquaphor chapstick.  Cherry ice is my all time favorite but when my kids’ lips get really chapped.. it’s time for Aquaphor.

1- the 7 habits of highly effective teens / trapped in a video game  2- kids snorkel mask/bigger option

3- triple racer water slide   4- mud mask   5- gold plated necklace  6- beach towels

7- waterproof bags 8- velvet hangers   9- pool lounger  10- watermelon ball

11- electric air pump  12- aquaphor lip repair stick

I’m so excited about this cast iron double grill!  One of my favorite N sale purchases.  I’ve had one for years but I use it all the time and it had seen better days (an understatement!) so I tossed it out and am so happy to have this replacement.  I use grills like this to cook chicken and thought I’d share this little trick because it’s so easy and will make your chicken delicious!

(I shared this on my blog a couple of years ago and I’m sharing it again for anyone who is new or missed it!) 

All you need is chicken tenders, extra virgin olive oil and this Santa Maria seasoning.

Put your chicken tenders in a bowl, add olive oil and sprinkle a very generous amount of the seasoning on the chicken (you can’t use too much!).  Stir it together in the bowl.

Then cook your chicken on medium heat!  If I look stressed in this picture it’s because I was.  I always have an apprehensive, unsure look on my face when I cook.  Ha.

Just keep flipping the chicken back and forth until both sides are cooked!  You can also sprinkle a little more seasoning on each side while the chicken is cooking too.

Ta-da!  Honestly it tastes so good!  My kids love this chicken and it’s so simple to make.  Plus I love just cleaning off the grill and not having to wipe down my entire cooktop.  This cast iron grill is flat on the other side so perfect for pancakes and french toast too. :)

{extra large wood cheese board/large wood cheese board}

Ok.  I wasn’t planning on talking the N sale in this post but ahhh!  They just dropped new items in the HOME category!  Good stuff!  Like my beloved Treasure & Bond cheese board!  Large and Extra Large.  You know I have a lot of cheese/serving boards in my home.  I can honestly say these are the boards I use the most.  I have both sizes and they are perfect for afternoon snacks..

or for shelf decor.  I always have two displayed on my entertainment center shelves.  I love the shade of the wood stain.. so beautiful!

They are also perfect for fancy treats during the holidays.  This is as fancy as we get. :)

That made me excited for Christmas!  So here’s my shelf with all new holiday decor.  And the treasure and bond board. :)

{wild poppy art/tower 23 art}

They also brought back two of my favorite art prints!  I have them both displayed in my upstairs laundry room at the moment.

Below are other fun homes items I love that are just popping up and on sale for such a great price.  I ordered the wooden bowls (large wood serving bowl/medium wood serving bowl – they look gorgeous!), the beautiful round wood serving tray and the stripe comforter & sham set .

1 – extra large wood cheese board/large wood cheese board  2 – stripe hand towel

3 – stripe comforter & sham set  4 – tower 23 art  5 – trisilk pillowcase  6 – iman accent pillow

7 – large acacia wood tray  8 – clipped floral shower curtain

9 –  large wood serving bowl/medium wood serving bowl

10 – fringe throw blanket  11 – round wood serving tray  12 – wild poppy art

That wraps up this random post!  Swim in a pool, cook some easy chicken and enjoy your weekend everyone!

:)