I hope you’re having a good weekend so far! Kenny and I spent the day running errands and catching up on things around the house. Kind of a work day but definitely productive. We were able to spend a little time alone together which is always a good thing. When you have 3 kids a Costco run alone together becomes major bonding time. ;) I’m looking forward to some down time Sunday!
Not long ago I shared my girls’ organized bathroom drawers. I think we’ve finally found a solution they can maintain because they have stayed organized. Woot woot!
I thought I’d share what their bathroom is looking like at the moment. When it’s clean. (We’ve tackled drawers but keeping the counter clean is still a work in progress.. ha.) Above is a picture of how their bathroom looked for years when they were younger. The little white stools! We brought those over from our previous home.
They bring back so many memories. :)
This is how their bathroom looks today with a recent re-fresh! Still simple with just bath mats, soap and a decorative tray on the counter, but a little more grown up. :) My girls will turn 16 & 18 during this next school year but they will always be those little girls in soft, pink pjs and curlers to me!
I ordered these fun bath mats from Anthropologie a while ago for my bathroom but they just didn’t feel right in that space so I tried them out in my girls’ bathroom. Perfection! I love them here and so do my girls. It looks like they sold out in navy but are still available in lilac. These are some other bath mats I love! Especially for teen spaces.
These are all items I shopped from my home that you’ve most likely seen before. :) Round wicker trays are so versatile and look good everywhere. They are definitely one of my most used decor items! I linked a few options I love below.
One small detail that adds a lot to this space is the Capri Blue Volcano hand soap and lotion set. I love this navy and gold soap bottle. One of my sweet friends gave it to me for my birthday last March and I put it in my main floor laundry room. (I still need to share that space organized!) It made such a fun statement that I bought another set for my girls’ bathroom. I just refill them with basic hand soap from amazon!
You can see both soap bottles in this picture. We have double sinks in this bathroom but it’s hard to photograph them both!
Here is a better look from an older post. With the stools. Did I mention I love those little white stools? Sigh..
My girls’ favorite white towels are marked down for the N sale! They actually come in lots of colors but I’ve switched my girls over to mostly white towels. It’s just easier for laundry and they always look good.
That wraps up my girls’ bathroom re-fresh. Always nice to have kids’ spaces organized isn’t it!? Since we’re talking kids I’ll add my kids’ favorites from the N sale below. My girls have grown out of little girl clothes just like they grew out of their little white stools, but I still love looking at little girl’s clothes in stores. Old habits die hard. :) I rounded up all of the cute things I would have bought them a few years ago! I also found some fun things for Kole. He has grown so much this past year and needed some new tops and definitely shoes! The boys collage below is everything I bought him including his favorite socks. We’ve tried lots and they are his #1. :)
Happy Friday! I’m back with my N sale try on round 2. Sale is open to another group! If you can’t shop until it opens to everyone on July 28th just save items to your wish list so you are ready! It’s a longer lag time this year until everyone can shop so I’m hoping they re-stock certain items. If something you love is sold out keep checking back! Aside from re-stocking items I’ve also seen certain sizes of items pop back up on-line when returns are made.
It’s always fun to take my girls to the sale to get a few things for back to school. Long gone are the days when I could just pick out cute matching outfits I love for them and call it good! They do however occasionally fall for something I love too so once in a while we still get our matching fix. :) Addison and I are both crazy about this weathered graphic tee! It’s a baggy, relaxed fit. True to size. I’m wearing an xs and Ad actually got it in a small because she wanted it oversized. I’m always so happy when I pick something out my girls love and want too. It’s a good sign I’m still slightly tuned in to what’s hip.
Ever so slightly. I did just use the word “hip.” Ha.
LOVE this rib t-shirt dress! So cute dressed up with a belt and boots like I’m wearing it, but it would also be cute casual.. w/o the belt and with sneakers. Madewell of course. :) If you look at in on-line it looks pretty short so I’m guessing the models are slightly taller than me. Ha. For height reference I’m 5’3 and a half (don’t forget the half) and it hits just above my knees. It also comes in 3 other colors. I love the golden pecan for Fall! These boots are a tighter fit so they are perfect for over leggings or with a dress/skirt. My calves are thicker so they definitely wouldn’t work over jeans for me. Just an FYI on fit!
This faux suede jacket is a 10/10! Soft as butter and it’s also an amazing fit. I love jackets like this when I need to dress things up but still want to be comfortable. Which is always when I need to dress things up. :)
Speaking of comfort.. this has been one of my go-to outfits for years! I know you’ve seen it lots before. :) I can’t speak highly enough about these live-in joggers. They are definitely an item on repeat around here. I bought this breathable long sleeve tee (also Zella) at the N sale last year and have loved it too. I wear it both when I exercise (walks/hikes when it’s cool outside) and just as a lounge top. Very soft and comfortable and it comes in lots of colors!
This fun dot blouse is another favorite. I’m always so happy when I find something at the N sale I can start wearing immediately! Looks like it sold out in this color but it also comes in black and a pretty corral. It’s lightweight, slightly shorter in the front and has a really cute slouchy fit.
There are a lot of days that I never make it out of workout clothes. I always have good intentions of getting dressed but I’d say at least 40% of the time it doesn’t happen! I exercise quick in the morning, get kids ready and off to school (or ready and off to zoom in their bedrooms.. ha) and then I hit the ground running with my to-do list. I have come to absolutely love crop sweatshirts! They are so perfect to toss on over my workout clothes and call it done for the day. This v-neck crop top is so soft! On sale for just $25 and I know I’ll live in it!
So I bought it in black too. :) Did I mention I love crop sweatshirts!? Wearing it here with my vuori black camo leggings.
And sidenote since we’re talking about cute crop sweatshirts.. I bought this a few weeks ago and love it. Not part of the N sale but it’s from Nordstrom and it’s on sale so I think it can hold its own in this post. :) It’s a steal right now for just $17! We love Palm Desert and go often for quick weekend trips since it’s just 2 hours away so I couldn’t pass this up!
Ok. I think I’m going to return this one. Still debating! But I wanted to share it because I love it! On taller girls. :) This henley tee was one of the most popular items in the N sale last year. I didn’t buy it and then thought it was so cute every time I saw someone wearing it so I bought it this year. It’s an oversized top and it says on-line to go down a size. I’m a shortie and usually wear xs in tops and they don’t sell it in xxs. I feel like I’m swimming in it! I’m all about oversized tops, but this one just feels TOO oversized for me. So while I don’t recommend it for short girls.. if you’re 5’5 and up it’s so cute with leggings! It comes in 3 other colors that are fun for Fall too!
I mentioned these cute round v-neck tees I love in my last post. So good for just $12! And a closer look at these Ugg slippers that are on sale. Crazy soft! I bought an extra pair to give as a Christmas gift.
The barefoot dream throws are back and on sale! They are pricey for sure but wow. Never was there a more coveted throw in our house! Another will definitely be popping up under our Christmas tree this year because I want to claim my blanket back as mine all mine! It’s a perfect Hallmark Christmas movie throw. :)
The barefoot dream socks are also heaven on earth and I love stocking up on them when they are on sale and giving them as Christmas gifts! I just love giving gifts period. It makes me so happy. :) So I’m giving 4 of these beloved socks with a $50 Nordstrom gift card to 4 of you! Just a little way to say thank you for being here. It means a lot to me that you hang out with me here on the blog and on IG and your kind words and support do not go unnoticed! I wish I could send one of these to each of you! All you need to do to enter this little giveaway is to be an e-mail subscriber and like/comment on my IG posts going up this week. (Starting with Friday’s post of me and Ad that will go up soon.) That’s it! If you’re already an e-mail subscriber you’re good to go! If not you can sign up HERE.
Happy Friday everyone! I’ll be back soon with some home updates! Working hard around here to get a few projects finished before kids go back to school. Summer is flying by isn’t it!? I so hope you’re enjoying yours. :)
Happy Wednesday! Popping in quick with a few N sale fashion selfies! It feels appropriate to kick things off with something green. :) This ruffle top is adorable – I love sleeves! The best part is that it’s light weight so it’s a perfect “transition into Fall” top when temps are still warm. It comes in a pretty rust orange, cream and black. But who could pass up that green!? If you’re looking for good jeans on sale to try my favorites are AG jeans (my #1), Paige jeans, and Good American jeans.
Because my closet is already pretty stocked with AG jeans from previous N sales I only bought one new pair of jeans this year (so far) and I totally branched out. These frayed hem ankle skinny jeans are so fun. I love the wash! A trendy grey that will work great with graphic tees. I even like black with them which is great because I have a lot of black tops. These mules were from the N sale last year and I have lived in them. SO comfy and easy to slip on. I love the thicker gold chain on the mules in the sale this year! I also stocked up on a few new Caslon tees while they are marked down for just $12. These tees are great for layering under vests or cardigans when it gets cold. I also wear them a lot with lounge pants or joggers and I sleep in them too! A multipurpose top. :)
Madewell colorblock cardigans are so much fun and they sell out every year! Easy to see why. Could they BE any more Fall!? (K.. that just reminded me of the Friends reunion. If you know.. you know.) :) Aren’t the new mules cute!? And I love this initial pendant necklace. I’ve almost bought it 10 times and the sale made it a no brainer.
I mentioned in yesterday’s round-up post that I love this stripe sweater. So cute right!? It’s a great length/fit. And these are the over the knee boots I fell hard for! Hands down my favorite boot in the sale this year. I have thicker calves so some tall boots are tight on me. These aren’t too tight at all and they slide right over my jeans. So comfy and I love that they can be dressed up or down.
Annnnd my favorite stripe sweater comes in green too! How could I pass that up!? Clearly I need to start shopping with friends. My closet starts to resemble all things leprechaun when I shop alone. Ha. If you don’t want to be a leprechaun like me you’ll be happy to know that it also comes in a navy, light grey and a beautiful gold for Fall.
My long time favorite tanner bar necklace is part of the sale this year! And Rails! I love that brand but it’s so pricey. I have a few Rails items in my closet and they have all been from N sales. My Rails flannels are tops I wear over and over every year and they never date! They have a slim, flattering fit, are cute tucked in or left out and they are a little longer in the back. You can’t try one on without wanting to buy it so if you don’t want to splurge on a Rails top.. don’t try one on.
I’m just full of good advice I don’t follow myself aren’t I!? Ha.
Last outfit for today. This turtleneck vest could not be better! Talk about a top that’s made for San Diego Fall. This baby will work for me clear through December. We usually graduate to long sleeves about the time most people have graduated to snow boots. Finally I can wear something cute and Fallish to the pumpkin patch and not sweat to death! Here. for. it!
These lace-up boots are so cute! They aren’t practical for San Diego but if there was anywhere at all I could possibly wear them they would be mine! If you buy them send me a picture in them so that I can vicariously live through you in these stylish beauties. LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
I didn’t buy booties this year because I have a few pairs from past N sales that are still in great shape, but if you are looking for a new pair you can’t go wrong with Vince Camuto! They are always my favorite booties hands down. So comfortable and this tortilla suede color goes with everything!
So fun seeing all of the fun serving boards popping up! Always my favorite from HOME during this sale. I linked them all below!
Not much progress on unpacking and laundry today, but I did hit the Nordstrom sale and we have groceries! Life is all about priorities. ;) I’m going to post outfit pics soon but wanted to share my top picks in each category first. These are the items I either already have and love OR items on my wish list I wanted to try on this year. One thing worth mentioning about the N sale this year – the stores don’t have certain brands/items in stock and there is A LOT more on-line. I noticed this in my store and have heard that’s the case everywhere else too. Usually I can find most of my wish list in the store but not this year. Clearly I still did some damage (ha) but I ended up getting a few cute things and then items for my family/gifts in the store and then I came home and ordered the rest of the items I wanted on-line. Just a heads up if you are used to getting most items at your store! You might have better luck shopping from home. In your sweats. Eating popcorn.
I didn’t say it was necessarily bad news. :)
I always hit shoes first with this sale and I did find some cute shoes in my store! Below are favorites and what I came home with.
I pretty much had these shoes picked out before I went but two pairs surprised me. The pink running shoes (honestly the most comfortable shoes EVER.. I feel like I’m walking on a cloud in them!) and the heidi over the knee boots. Hands down my favorite boots this year! They are so comfortable and stylish and can be dressed up or down. I couldn’t decided between the brown or black so I came home with both thinking I’ll try things on and figure out which color I’ll wear more. They are SO cute.
I always splurge on a pair of Ugg slippers to live in all winter and these are both so comfortable. The cozette slippers I bought last year and I have lived in them this spring/summer. Both of these have thick soles which I love for slippers!
It took great restraint to just come home with two! Tory Burch is always my favorite and I know this large tote and small crossbody will become long time staples. The black crossbody I bought last year at the N sale and it has been one of my most used purses! Both of these smaller purses are perfect for dinner with friends/date night.
There are also some really cute back packs this year too! My girls and I have been using backpack purses more and more. They are especially great for travel.
Activewear! Probably my favorite category after loungewear. :) I have most of the items above and would totally recommend them all! Some of the cute matching sets on the bottom row are heading my way so I’ll let you know what I think of them. The Zella live in joggers (#11) are so good and will definitely sell out quickly at such a low price! Long time favorites. :)
Loungewear. It will always have my heart! Kenny’s last words when I’m shopping the N sale are always “just don’t buy more pajamas..” Right. Sure thing babe! How about you stop watching baseball. The day that happens I’ll stop buying pajamas.
Favorites for hair but no surprises! You all know how I feel about T3 hair tools. I bought mine years ago at this sale and they are still in great shape! So cute in pink. :)
This year I was thrilled to see the Olaplex set in the sale! I’m so excited to try the shampoo/conditioner. I have a feeling this set will sell out quick because it’s so popular. I also came home with this mascara set and I always pick up new Bobbi Brown eyeshadow (it’s my favorite). Other makeup/beauty favorites are below!
So many fun things this year! I hope this post helps narrow things down. I know it’s overwhelming with so many items on sale. Everyone has different favorites and a lot of the above items are my tried and trues! I’ll be back with some fun outfit pics and then we’ll chat decor and organization. I have a few fun things I’m working on this summer and I need to wrap them up before it’s time for back to school and all things Fall. Summer goes by so quickly doesn’t it!? I hope you’re enjoying yours. :)
I hope you all had a happy and safe 4th! We’ve been road tripping the past two weeks and just pulled in to San Diego a few hours ago. Feels so good to be home! We had a great 4th in SLC with family and then spent some time in Park City. I got back in town just in time for the N sale. YEA! The Nordstrom Anniversary sale is here! You can find details all about this year’s sale HERE including when you can shop. The sale kicks off today for Icons and I’m heading into my store to round up all of my favorites to share this week! I hope it helps to see the items I’m loving and how things fit. If you can’t shop yet you can still preview the sale and put items on your wish list. I rounded up my favorites in the HOME category below and will be posting other favorites throughout the week. If you aren’t into Fall fashion and the Nordstrom sale it’s ok! We can still be friends! Just not besties.
KIDDING!
Kind of. ;) I have lots of organizing and decorating coming your way too. So much to share! As soon as I get groceries and catch up on laundry I’ll be blogging up a storm.
First a few pics of our 4th! Nothing like cousin time. You wouldn’t want to run into this crew in a dark alley. Ha.
My sister and her husband once again made a feast of all feasts and we ate for two days straight. SO good. I kind of let all things healthy eating go the past two weeks while we were traveling. Felt so good I don’t even regret it! Although I’m sure I’ll feel differently when I’m trying on jeans at the N sale.
My bother-in-law and the master chef! I hand picked him for my sister (have I ever shared that story?) and now I know why. Everything he grills turns out AMAZING.
LOVE them. :) The only one of us not pictured above is my brother who took this group shot.
I wish I had a good picture of him to share but every shot that involves my brother looks something like this. Siblings! Funny how when the three of us are together we’re instantly kids again and everything is hilarious. Car and I get laughing so hard we can’t come up for air and our kids look at us like we’re crazy and wonder what happened to their moms.
Love the 4th! Love July. Love my people. :)
Ok.. N sale HOME favorites! All of the items below I have and love! Other than #10 and #11 that I’m buying because I need a new grill and the hand towels are so cute for Fall. :) I love that the serving boards come in black too this year! Most of these items will sell out quickly because they are such a good deal. My best advice with all things N sale is to be decisive. If you think you want it, don’t wait. You can always return items you change your mind about but if you pause.. it won’t last. Items fly and this sale is not for the weak. Be bold! Be decisive! Hit purchase or move on! Can you hear the Rocky music playing in the background!? We’ve got this. ;)
Here are a few of my favorites on sale in my home! This shower curtain in our guest room comes in navy too.. so cute and just $20! (More bathroom details in this post.)
My round marble serving board and marble lazy susan sold out so fast last year. I’m happy they brought them back again! Two favorites that are always displayed somewhere in my home.
We love these bath towels! I always stock up on white but they come in other colors too and are a steal during this sale.
There are SO many beautiful throws this year! I did a separate collage of favorites. Anything Barefoot Dreams is sure to be a hit and will sell fast. I splurged on this in the wild throw and it is hands down my favorite blanket I reach for each night on the couch. So much so that I hide it from the rest of my family! They all try to steal it. I gave a few away last year and am excited to pick up a few things for some of you again this year! A way to say thank you for all of the support you give me. It means so much. Plus it makes my day when I can send something special your way! Hang with me on IG this week for more details. :)
They work so perfectly with my little throw styling tip. Remember this!? When I’m laying a throw over the back of a chair (or in the corner of the couch) I always twist it in the middle. Then I tuck it into the chair/couch corner. It makes a perfect little spot for your pillow and helps create the look you want! Like it’s casually draped over the chair and looking flawless with no effort on your part whatsoever. ;)
Happy July everyone! I’m a little late with my June Amazon buys. We have been enjoying friends and family and kids and summer and sun. All good things. I so hope you are doing the same and I hope you have fun plans for the weekend!
Remember my in-progress teen hang out room? This space used to be a playroom for my kids when they were little, but it wasn’t getting used much so I starting transforming it into a teen hang out. I was off to such a good start with a cute rug, couch, additional storage and my kids’ favorite – our beloved hanging rattan chair.
Then my husband made an executive decision that he and Kole needed a ping pong table. Ummmm.. not part of the plan. He spent some time researching different tables and finally decided this was the one. The good news? This room is getting used more than ever and it has become a true teen (and family) hangout because everyone loves ping pong. The bad news? This table takes up our whole room! No need for a rug.. no room for the couch. I had this space decorated so cute in my head! But to be honest I’m glad I never finished decorating it the way I originally had planned. This set up doesn’t look as cute, but it’s much more practical. This room is a mess right now (I snapped these pics quick with my phone after we set up the table) so I’ll share it when I get things put together. I’m going to add some things to the walls and get it semi decorated. Debating new paint. On to plan B!
Another bonus with this ping pong table is that you can easily set it up so that just one person can play. It has been keeping Kole entertained for hours! Which in my book is priceless. :)
This is another Amazon purchase that helps me keep Kole entertained. He has always loved hidden pictures and this 4 book set is great. I love things like this for when we travel or after we have been out in the sun all day and just need some inside quiet time.
I picked up another bottle of my favorite tanner this month. I’ve tried several self tanners and this is my favorite because you can so easily see exactly where you’re applying it and how dark it’s going to look. It looks natural and is so easy to blend if you have the mitt! A summer staple for me.
Also my jewelry organizer came! I love this because I wear a necklace almost every day and this is such an easy way to keep them from getting tangled when I travel. There are also more pockets for bracelets or a watch and places for your rings and earrings. I have a thing for letter necklaces (I’m sure you’ve noticed by now!) so most of my necklaces are a little mini “e.” Below are favorites! I have them all but one and it’s on my wish list. Necklaces like this are one of my all time favorite gifts to give and I love seeing my friends wearing their letter necklaces too. :)
I shared other travel favorites (including my favorite make-up bag above) in this post but I forgot to share my favorite travel duffel bag. (Not Amazon but it matches my Amazon travel accessories perfectly!) I bought a pink and black Luca duffel for me and Kenny for Christmas last year and we have been loving them! So many pockets for all the things and they are just soft and comfortable and easy to carry and attach to larger luggage. I have this backpack on my wishlist for next Christmas. (I like the duffel for car travel but want the backpack for when we’re flying.. nice to have your hands free in the airport with kids!)
My faux cherry blossom branches arrived and I have to say.. I’m impressed! I thought there would be a major difference between these and my more expensive faux branches but they look VERY similar. The main difference is that these branches are a little smaller and if you look up close at the brown branch it doesn’t look quite as real.. but SO close and the blossoms are very realistic! They come in a set of 3 and I ordered 2 sets so this is 6 branches total. Perfect for most vases.
Here is a closer look. Impressive right!? Amazon SCORE.
Below is everything we bought and loved from Amazon in June! I’ve been on such a travel accessory kick I ordered two new sets of packing cubes to try. I’ve had some for years but don’t love them. I ordered this set and this set and will report back with my favorite. We also picked up a fun swim tube for the pool, another small backpack (Addison loves her so much I got one for me and El to share), jumbo hair rollers El wants to try, and this kitchen sink/counter squeegee that is amazing for cleaning up food/spills. I’ve been using it mostly in my farmhouse sinks to help guide food into the drain.
That’s a wrap on my Amazon favs. Enjoy the holiday weekend! Party like it’s 2021. ;)
Happy Friday! We’re feeling festive over here after I gave our outdoor area a good cleaning. It was due! We’re having a few get togethers before the 4th so I added some red, white and blue! A lot of the flag pillows and banners I usually put in this space I used inside this year and I didn’t want to spend a lot so I found some inexpensive options and I’m so happy with how it turned out!
I popped up this simple banner with painter’s tape in 2 minutes! Then I added these cute $12 red plaid pillows. They are 20×20 and so comfortable! I’ve had them in navy for years and love the red for July.
These red dishes will be fun for summer and then I’ll use them again in December (the mugs are perfect for hot chocolate!). I’ve also been loving this glass pitcher for lemon water (comes in a set of 2) and I didn’t photograph it but I picked up this cute utensil holder. Perfect for outdoor dining!
Festive and fun and ready for guests! And food. Whose bringing the food? I just like to be in charge of the cute pillows and dishes. :)
I also finally got around to hanging our 4th of July pics on my shiplap display wall.
I was looking on-line last night for something cute to wear for the 4th (for me and the kids) and found so many fun options. I went to my happy place putting outfits together. :) You could mix and match all of the items below! I stuck with mostly solid pieces because they can be worn after the 4th too. Fun summer fashion! I have a lot of these items already (I own and love all of the sandals). I love #4 for a dressy look but outfit 1 & 2 & 3 are more what I would actually wear for the 4th to the parade/pool/fireworks. I want the cute white dress in outfit 5! And all of the fun earrings. Tell me which outfit is your favorite! I’m also dying over all of the cute options I found for kids! I so miss the days of buying sweet little matching dresses for my girls. I have a feeling that wouldn’t go over so well now. Ha.
Nothing like July festivities. I had a good laugh at some of our past 4th of July pics while I was going through them today. Kole! I swear he’s screaming in every holiday picture I have of him when he was this age! That boy did NOT like to hold still. Look close at my arms in this pic and you can see the death grip I have on him.. ha! Also if you remember pics like this of Kole in a death grip and my girls with braided hair and matching dresses you’ve been with me a while and I’m sending you a huge hug for sticking around so long! :)
Out of all of the pictures on the 4th we’ve taken through the years this is my favorite. A pic I snapped quick as an afterthought getting into the car of El playing with Kole. Oh my heart. This one takes me right back!
I love July because it’s a month I get to spend with my whole family. It’s complete madness when we’re all together. The very best kind of crazy!
The boys act like idiots in their patriotic hats.
And admittedly.. so do the girls.
Bring on the fireworks! I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Kenny and I hiked this mountain trail last week. I’m telling you that because it’s a miracle we’re still alive to tell about it! We took a quick trip to Arizona (traveling to lots of states this summer to look at colleges for El.. I still can’t believe she’s about to be a high school senior!) and we were just there for a couple of days but wow. That heat isn’t messing around! 114 degrees! We woke up early to hike both mornings, but it was still 100 degrees when we finished. Kenny and I grew up in a small town in southern Utah that gets hot in the summer so we handled the heat a little better than our kids. I thought they were going to DIE. Half way up that mountain I thought I was going to DIE!
Nobody died. :)
We did however cheer and weep tears of joy when we pulled back into San Diego and our year round average temp of 73. I might be able to keep Ellie from moving out after all. ;)
To all of my Arizona friends (and anyone else dealing with crazy heat this summer) I applaud your strength! Stay as cool as you can (don’t hike desert mountains) and come and visit me when you get the chance. Then I’ll come and visit you in the Fall when it’s hot here on the coast and the leaves don’t drop from the palm trees. We’ll light pumpkin spice candles and wear tall boots and sweaters and drink cider and decorate with REAL Fall leaves. Actually we’ll probably still decorate with faux Fall leaves because they are low maintenance and we’re busy but REAL Fall leaves will be right outside our window.
Deal? Since this is a one way conversation that I get to decide the ending of..
Deal. :)
I was unpacking from our trip and thought I’d share a few travel bags I’ve been loving! I ordered several to try this Spring because I knew we would be on the go so much this summer. I found a few I love and one I REALLY love. This double layer make-up travel bag is my latest obsession! I’ve used so many different travel bags through the years and this is my new #1 because it holds EVERYTHING. I love that I can lay larger products in the middle and keep smaller bottles upright on the side. I put a lot of my make-up on the left and still had room in the top and side pockets for odds and ends like Q-tips, elastics, extra contacts and floss.
As if that wasn’t good enough there is another zipper compartment on top for make-up brushes and other items! I love the transparent cover to keep make-up brushes clean too. Plus it has a strap and is easy to carry. WINNER!
This electronic organizer is another favorite! Perfect to hold all of your charging cords, camera items, pens, a mouse, your phone.. whatever you need! I love having items like this all together and easy to find instead of loose inside my purse or bag.
If you prefer hanging bags this toiletry bag on the left is a great option. It also holds a lot and has elastics that help keep products upright. I also really like this travel make-up organizer. Similar to my favorite bag with a separate spot for brushes on top. It also has dividers that you can move and customize. (It’s doesn’t fit quite as much as the bag I used on this trip so I’m keeping it for airplane travel when I pack smaller bottles.)
Everything open..
And closed.
These favorite travel bags are all linked below along with this jewelry organizer I also ordered to try. Such a steal because it’s on sale for Prime Day!
Aside from my travel bags I have another latest obsession – the Elements Sonic Toothbrush from Vanity Planet. I’ve been using it for a while now because the last time I went to the dentist I was told that I have receding gums. The lady cleaning my teeth asked me if I was a perfectionist (seriously!? Is it THAT obvious!? Ha.) because I’m clearly brushing my teeth too long and too hard. She suggested I use an electronic toothbrush that controls the power and length of brush time and now that I’ve been using this toothbrush for a while I’m wondering how I went so long without it! This has a chamber that holds your brush heads and keeps them sanitized. The toothbrush has a variety of settings and is so easy to use! I love it and kind of look forward to brushing my teeth now. Weird? Maybe. :)
This picture is horrible because I snapped with quick with my phone after it was dark tonight but I didn’t want to wait to share this with you because Vanity Planet has given me a code for you to use (LOVE them!) to get 78% off for a limited time. Just use THIS LINK to purchase yours and the discount will be automatically applied.
I’m leaving you with some fun Amazon Prime Day deals I rounded up! Last day to save big! My go-to hand held vac is on sale and so are the hangers we love. My favorite sheets and storage bags for pillows are also on sale! (Back in stock.. they sell out often.) Also we have the beloved nugget ice maker and love it! It was a Christmas gift from my parents. It’s $100 off through today! I’ll try to share it tomorrow in IG stories. The ice is amazing! The only downside is that it’s big and does take some room to store. I have mine in our main floor laundry room.
Aside from favorite home items from Amazon I also added our favorite fashion/beauty products and electronics.
Happy last day of Prime shopping! And happy summer. I so hope you are enjoying yours so far. :)
Happy Monday! I hope you all had a nice Father’s Day weekend! I’m kicking the week off with two fun topics.. Amazon prime day and my girls’ organized bathroom drawers. They don’t have much in common other than they are both topics of interest to me at the moment.. ha. Do you wait to buy things during Prime Day? I have a few outdoor rug options picked out on Amazon (our current rug is so faded from the sun!) so I’m watching close to see if they get marked down. Let me know if you want me to share them! Devices are all marked down (woot woot!) so we are picking up a new family iPad too. Of course I always tend to naturally gravitate towards home decor during sales like this. I just ordered these faux cherry blossom branches – they look beautiful and are such a good deal! I rounded up some Amazon favorites you’ve probably seen in my house a time or ten along with a few items I have my eye on below!
Ok.. remember our fun Spring Get Organized Challenge? I was organizing like a mad woman and knocking spaces out faster than I could share them! I organized my girls’ bathroom drawers during bathroom week and never had time to post the pics. My girls have surprisingly kept their drawers clean so I think we have found a few systems that work!
First up is Ellie’s side. I used a few different organizers including this 16 piece drawer organizer set. They are very similar to the organizers I used in my bathroom drawers. They are less expensive and the main difference I’ve noticed is that they are a little thinner and slip around the drawer a little more. Nothing that a little putty can’t fix! (I use this museum putty a lot to hold plates on shelves, organizers in drawers, etc.)
I also used these expandable drawer organizers to hold her make-up and small things like rings. I love these organizers because you can easily make them fit whatever size of drawer you have since they expand top to bottom. They are shallow so perfect for thin/small items.
This is a shared drawer so it holds a few random items like brushes and nail polish that my girls share.
It also holds our favorite hair brush cleaning tool! The best for cleaning hair out of brushes. Trust me on this one.. we have lots of thick hair at our house. :)
Nothing like clean and organized bathroom drawers. Such a nice sight to see every day when you get ready!
More of Ad’s side..
and a few more random middle shared drawers.
We’ve had these mesh stackable bins for years. They are perfect to hold scrunchies, headbands and other large random bathroom items. They are also great to stack under a sink if you are short on space.
Addison is my skin care girl so she has lots of random masks and bottles. I used my go-to drawer dividers to hold them. Always a win! They are perfect for deep drawers if you want to be able to stand bottles and other items up instead of laying them flat.
Curling irons and other hair tools are all together in a bottom shared drawer.
The best part is that these organizers have made it so simple for my girls to easily put items back where they go which is why these drawers have stayed looking so nice. Every once in a while we use our go-to bathroom hand held vac to clean debris/hair out of the drawers and that’s it! Done and done. Angels are singing and we can call this makeover a win. :)
Hello hello! Catching up today with a little life/home/fashion update. Apologies in advance for the length of this post.. it’s a random dump of ALL the things. You might want to grab a snack. I’ve got a bowl of popcorn and some sour skittles so I’m feeling ready to write.
It’s officially SUMMER at our house and we couldn’t be more excited. Talk about a crazy school year. One we will never forget! Kole turned in his state float (Hawaii if you couldn’t tell) ;) and that was our last project of the year. He did an amazing job both creating his float and creating a huge mess in our office. Mission accomplished.
I’m especially fond of the volcano and grass skirt. Well done buddy.
He insisted on including a pineapple somewhere on his box (it’s small.. can you find it?) because he loved visiting the Dole Plantation. He also loves sharing interesting facts he has learned with me all day long so I now know more about Hawaii’s pineapple industry than I ever cared to know. Kole earned his A.
I switched it up! Just a little because my new dinner plates came in and they are gorgeous! I added the beautiful napkins and found some gold napkin rings that go with my gold flatware. I love it all on the jute charger. So fun for summer! I shared this on IG stories and got a lot of questions about whether or not I leave my table decor up and the answer is yes! I’ve created a little routine of dressing up this formal dining room table for Fall, Christmas, Spring and/or Summer and then I leave the dishes out for the season. (I put the glasses away, but keep everything else set and just clean the top plate each time before we use them. Dust hasn’t been a big issue but I do that just in case!) That way I can invite friends over to eat on a whim and the table is ready to go. It also just looks pretty in the dining room when we aren’t using it. Once in a while for special occasions we eat in this room as a family, but for most meals our family eats at the table in our dining nook. Or outside or huddled around the kitchen island.. we are pretty chill when it comes to dining most days. I set my decorative tables mostly for girl friends or couple friends I invite over to eat. I usually serve take-out, but when you put it on a pretty plate nobody seems to care where the food is from. Ha. :)
The serving board that I ordered with the petal plates came in too. A really nice option for summer entertaining! I plan on covering it with lots of fruit, crackers and cheese over the next few months. :)
It doubles as pretty decor too when we aren’t using it. I love the light wash finish and the loop handle!
In other kitchen news I ordered this runner months ago to try in our upstairs laundry room. I didn’t love it there but put it in my kitchen and it has been a nice change!
A very inexpensive way to mix it up and get a new look.
I snapped this pic right after it was delivered so it wasn’t styled and I hadn’t moved my old table! I LOVE the new table and can’t believe how much it changed the feeling in this room. It works so well with my barstools which you can’t see in this pic but I’ll share more pictures at some point. Never underestimate the impact big items like your couch, coffee table and rug make in a space. HUGE! *Side note – I still love our old coffee table but aside from being ready for a change (we’ve had it for almost 8 years ) the rustic top has given us all splinters a time or ten! OUCH. I was tired of that and tired of the cluttered feeling of the baskets. It’s going to my mom’s house and she is excited so a win for all!
We’ve been celebrating so many friends birthdays lately and we usually just meet for lunch or dinner but one of my close friends wanted to meet for a walk/hike instead. We walk all the time and I wanted it to feel a little more special than our every day routine so I opened the back of my van and decorated it with some leftover party supplies and filled it with some breakfast foods/treats. After our hike we pulled out balloons and sang to her and ate and chatted about why we love her so much. I thought I’d share the idea here in case any of you want to do it for a friend/family. It was so easy and helped her feel special on her birthday. Mission accomplished. :)
I’ve probably tried out and tested hundreds of mascaras through the years and this is my tried and true favorite combo EVER. I just ordered new primer so I thought I’d share. (This bottle of primer has lasted so long and it looks like the tube has a new look!) The trick I’ve found with primer is that it works best when you put your mascara on immediately after applying it. I use an eyelash curler (I’ve had mine for years.. this looks like another good option) and then I put on the Lancome primer and then I put on my all time favorite Maybeline mascara. That’s my daily routine. If I’m going out and want my lashes even bigger/thicker I add this mascara on top of my Maybeline mascara. Trust me.. it’s a winning combo!
Addison needed a black dress for a student council school event so I had her try it on and it was perfect! It’s so fun now that my girls are old enough to share clothes with me. Isn’t it cute on her? She definitely wins the “who wore it best.” ;) I’m sharing this for those of you who have asked for teen girl clothes suggestions!
We needed some dressy shoes for both of my girls and have loved these Steve Madden sandals. They are comfortable and work well with everything so I just bought both of my girls a black pair and a tan pair! Nice that they have a little heel for height, but not a super high heel that has them tripping all over the place. They get the tripping from me. Ha.
Below are some clothes my girls have been loving and wearing often. El lives in jeans and oversized hoodies. Ad lives in jeans, graphic oversized tees and dresses.
I don’t know why but in the summer I wear more bracelets. Maybe because my tops are all short sleeved and you can see bracelets better than in the cold months when I’m living in sweaters? Maybe because I have more time for jewelry when I’m not rushing kids all around? Or maybe I just feel more fancy in the summer? One of life’s mysteries we may never solve but regardless.. I linked a few favorites. :)
Well! It’s probably time to wrap up this everything and yet nothing post and call it done. I know this because there’s nothing but popcorn kernels left in my bowl and my sour skittles? They too have vanished. I could grab more snacks and carry on (I certainly have an abundance of things to share) but since you all have lives you need to get back to (and since I need to fit into my jeans for the next fashion round-up) I’ll save a little for later. For now.. mission accomplished.
I have so much to share with you all! But I’m really short on time with all of the last week of school activities so I’m popping in with a quick post full of my favorite gift ideas for Father’s Day. Quick but important because we love spoiling our dads. :) I asked Kenny what his #1 favorite thing/gift idea/recommendation is and he spat out Vuori without even taking a breath! After my obsession with Vuori joggers and workout clothes I started buying him a top here and some shorts there for different holidays and occasions and now he is so hooked he hardly wears anything else. Honestly the SOFTEST most comfortable clothes! I snapped this yesterday quick when he came in the kitchen for a snack. He is still working from home and this is his every day look. Not hard to see why he prefers working from home now.. ha. He loves all of the tops and shorts (really you can’t go wrong with this brand) but his absolute favorites are the Strato Tech tees and the Banks shorts. He also loves his Vuori jackets.
Below are some other favorites and ideas I rounded up! Kenny loves movies so I ordered the top 100 movie poster for him for a fun gift. We’ll have to see if we can make our way through all of them although I’m sure we’ve seen most! He has been loving the Jack Black products I got him for Christmas ever since I cleaned out his bathroom drawers and he remembered he had them. Ha. He loves the Jack Black shampoo and has used it for a few years now. It’s a little pricey but that big bottle lasts him FOREVER. Vans are my husband’s casual shoe of choice and I’m slightly embarrassed about how many different colors he has because I usually pair them with a Vuori item for a gift every time a holiday rolls around! Always a hit. :) Swimsuits and flip flops make great gifts this time of year. I also included other things Kenny loves like good running shoes and socks, a Yeti cooler (we’ve loved ours.. a gift from my dad!), spike ball (so popular), and a sentimental book you fill in about why he is loved.
Father’s Day is quickly approaching so I hope this post gives you a few ideas! If you want even more ideas here is my Father’s Day Gift Guide from last year too! I’ll be back soon with my low key/low stress summer attitude and lots to share. SO ready.
*This post is sponsored by Walmart and affiliate links are used. All product selections and opinions are my own!
Half way through the week and we are counting down over here! My kids have this week and next before summer break and this is the week that all the projects are due, tests/finals are being taken, and the Open Houses, events and performances are happening. We’re on the go! Next week is the chill “clean your desk, take home your stuff and party” week so things will definitely slow down once we make it to Friday. Bring it on.. we are so ready for summer. I can’t wait to have my kids give their lockers a good clean out and call it a school year!
May is so busy for moms and honestly Walmart’s on-line pick up and delivery has been a life saver for me this month. We have always ordered some groceries on-line through Walmart to save money (groceries in San Diego are pricey!), but now with their easy pick up and delivery service I’m starting to get so many other items there too.. cleaning products, craft supplies for school projects, yard essentials, arm weights to step up my morning treadmill routine, Ellie’s favorite shampoo/conditioner (she’s obsessed with coconut everything at the moment), summer pool/beach toys for the kids.. they have it all!
I used to be nervous about having someone else pick out my fruit.. ha. I’m picky and like to choose my own produce but they have a guarantee to pick the freshest items or you can contact customer care for a refund so I’ve been going for it and so far the fruit has been great! I love that my favorite items (things I order again and again) are saved so that when I go to shop on-line it’s quick and easy. I just click what I need and done! (Pick up is always free! A $35 order minimum and small delivery fee apply for delivery. Pickup and Delivery are available in select markets.)
We had a lot going on last weekend with Addison’s birthday so I ordered some food for the weekend and just swung by Walmart to pick it up. Then Addison and I made the most delicious dessert for Memorial Day! My sister made it last year when we all got together for the 4th of July and it was such a hit. I thought I’d share the recipe because it’s perfect for summer get togethers and of course for the 4th of July!
Isn’t my sister cute!? She always spoils us on the 4th and makes the most delicious food!
Golden Oreo Layered Pudding Dessert
Ingredients
1 family size package of Golden Oreos
2 (3.4 oz) boxes of instant french vanilla pudding mix (you could also use cheesecake!)
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound strawberries (hulled and quartered)
1 pint blueberries
Add about two rows of Golden Oreos to a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
Layer the crushed Oreos on the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. Then make the vanilla layer. (3 different mixtures!) Beat 8 oz cream cheese in a large bowl until it’s smooth and creamy. In another large bowl combine 2 packages of instant pudding with 4 cups of milk and whisk for 2 minutes until it’s thick. Add the pudding and the cream cheese together and mix. Then in a different bowl (or quickly clean one of the bowls you just used!) add 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 3/4 cup powered sugar and 1 teaspoon Vanilla. Beat with electric beaters for a couple of minutes until the cream forms soft peaks. Then fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture and stir it all together.
Spread the pudding mixture on top of the crust you made with Oreos. Then cover this and refrigerate for at least 2 hours! You can make this up to 12 hours in advance.
After some time in the fridge, add the top layer of Oreos. (I just used a knife to chop them into quarters and I ended up using more oreos than one row.. just add as many as you want!)
Then top with sliced strawberries and blueberries! (*Tip – have the Oreos cut in a bag and the fruit cut and washed and ready to go ahead of time so that when you are ready to serve it you can pull it out of the fridge and just sprinkle everything on quickly.) It’s so easy and delicious! Feeds a large crowd and is sure to be a hit. The only downside with this dessert is that the Oreos get soggy after a while so I don’t love it as much for leftovers. It’s best to serve at a summer BBQ or get together with friends when it will be devoured in one night.. it never lasts long!
Have you ever made it before? Or something similar? It’s so delicious. If you try it and love it let me know!
I’m off to Kole’s 5th grade Open House. :) Enjoy your day!
xoxo, Erin
Share
Join the Sunny Side Up
Community!
The best way for us to stay in touch! Sign up for my newsletter so you’ll never miss a post! You’ll also gain access to all of my home and organization printables.
