*affiliate links used

I hope you all had a nice long weekend! We just got back from a quick trip to visit family for the 4th. We packed A LOT into a few days and just flew home today! I need a nap! And groceries. But there’s no time for that because the Nordstrom sale is here! If you’re not sure what the sale is and when you can shop, details are HERE. Most of you know that I’ve been shopping and blogging about this sale since the dark ages. :) Nothing like NEW items for Fall on sale! I also do most of my Christmas shopping early during this sale and I’m always so grateful I did when December rolls around! I’m heading into the store this morning and will scope things out for us! I’ll try to get a post up of a few favorites as soon as I can. You can save items you love to your wishlist if you can’t shop yet so that you’re ready to go once you can shop. Items sell out quickly and returns at Nordstrom are free and easy so don’t hesitate if you like something!

1- stripe shower curtain     2- accent pillow   3- cozychic throw

4- floral throw  5- chenille shower curtain   6-bliss throw

7- comforter set   8- in the wild throw   9- stripe bath mat

A Lot of my tried and true favorites are back again this year! Honestly the barefoot dream blankets are one of my favorite things from this sale. My family would agree.. they are all obsessed with them too! They are the coziest. I’m definitely picking up the matching pillow this year! The bliss throws are also long time favorites and perfect for holiday gifts. And how cute is the stripe bath mat!? Love that.

{stripe shower curtain}

This cute stripe shower curtain in our guest room is back and such a good deal! It comes in a navy stripe too.  (More bathroom details in this post.)

This beautiful comforter set is also back! I bought it last year for our master bedroom and have loved it. I recently moved it into our guest room because it has been so hot at night (we are just sleeping with our barefoot dream blankets at the moment!) I love it in this room too so I think I’ll pick up another one for our master bedroom on sale this year and have it on both beds. I love a crisp white comforter and this one is so comfortable! Then I can switch out blankets and pillows for a whole new look each season.

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.

1- round marble & wood serving board   2- large mango wood cheese board

3- wood serving bowl   4- marble serving board   5- marble lazy susan   6- cake stand

They have a few other favorite boards and I’m excited to pick up a black board this year! I’m loving a little dark and moody in my home with all of the white. Especially fun when Fall decorating rolls around!

These decorative cutting boards are a fun new addition this year – they feel like Anthro to me! They would be a cute pop of color displayed in the kitchen and would also make a fun gift.

1-garden cutting board    2- butterfly cutting board

3- strawberries cutting board   4- spring garden cutting board

More favorites coming very soon! :)

Back to our weekend.. we had so much fun rafting near Park City! Kenny and I were going to take our kids and convinced the whole crew to join us.

We were in the lead raft with our girls and my niece and nephew (who took this picture). The rest of our family was in two other rafts and they hatched a plan to gang up on us. They snuck up behind and just soaked us! We were laughing so hard. We tried to get back at them but Kenny was the only successful splasher. I think my girls and I just managed to soak ourselves even more. Ha. It was such a fun day. I love rafting! The rapids themselves are great but it’s also so fun just floating down a beautiful river enjoying the scenery and laughing with my crew. :)

{Me: free people tee/performance joggers    Kenny: banks shorts/Vuori henley/vans}

Parade date the morning of the 4th. :) Kenny and I rolled out of bed and both threw on our go-to favorites. Vuori for the win! Always. :)

My sister went all out again with the food! Fingers crossed I can zip up my pants tomorrow. Definitely questionable after all I ate this weekend!

So great getting to spend time with my siblings. I’m the oldest. And the wisest.

And the shortest. ;)

Rafting, trampoline park, parade, scooters, night games, fireworks, FOOD, movie marathons and a piñata. The kids have been living their best lives!

Of course no piñata is complete without a candy trade after. Listening to these kids negotiate for their favorites just made me smile and took me right back to my childhood!

Three Smarties and one Snickers for the Blow Pop.

SCORE.

:)

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

I hope you’re enjoying the weekend! I’m popping in quick to share some of our favorite backyard toys. Every summer I order a few new things from Walmart to entertain the kids (they have so many fun options!) and I’ve definitely figured out what works best for my 3 and their friends.

{watermelon float raft}

Festive pool rafts are a no brainer and this watermelon has been Kole’s favorite this summer. Perfect to spread out on and it looks cute in the pool when the kids aren’t using it. Bonus for mom. :)

{pineapple pool float mat/watermelon float raft}

Addison has claimed the pineapple and loves laying on it to tan. Which is why Kole loves to steal it when she’s not paying attention. Siblings! He has way too much fun annoying her.

{light up bean bag toss set}

Another hit this summer is this light up bean bag toss. Kole has always loved this simple game and after playing it at every hotel we stay in I finally bought him his own set. I didn’t take a night pic but this particular set is fun because it lights up when it’s dark! There are lots of other fun bean bag toss options here.

My girls’ friends are always so sweet to hang with Kole when they are over! Not that they have much of a choice. If there is a party going on Kole’s not missing out. Ha.

Victory! And Addison got her pineapple back. :)

{trac-ball}

This trac-ball set was seriously the smartest $7 I’ve spent this summer!

The kids all love this simple game and toss the ball back and forth in the pool, out of the pool and all over the yard. It’s a hit and they are getting really good at it!

{willow sage 3 piece set/navy outdoor rug/woven blue outdoor throw pillows}

This picture made me laugh.. can you spot the red ball? Perfection.. ha.

{super soaker/go pro-ball set/water blaster pool toy/diving pool toys}

A few other outdoor toys I always have on hand.. super soakers, water blasters, small sports balls and diving toys. When my girls were little I ordered toy mermaids and dolls that could get wet.

With boys you can’t go wrong with squirt guns!

Nothing like the carefree days of summer. :)

1- supersoaker   2- water blast pool toy   3- water balloons

4-  go pro-ball set   5- triple water slide   6- pineapple pool float

7- trac ball classic   8-razor scooter   9- ride on car   10- outdoor swing

If your kids have favorite outdoor toys they love that I didn’t mention please share them with me! I’m always looking for fun options. I shared a few other past favorites above. Rope swings and water slides on the grass are always a hit and my kids were obsessed with their razor scooters and ride on cars for years! Also here’s a fun idea if you have little kids.. try giving them a bucket full of water and a paint brush. Send them outside and tell them to “paint” the wall or fence or whatever you have in your yard. My girls loved “painting ” when they were little! A paint brush and bucket of water kept them entertained for hours. :)

Happy 4th everyone! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

{POST SOURCES}

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

Happy Friday! We made it to the holiday weekend. YEA for that! I’m sharing a fun summer update in Kole’s bedroom today! The new Gap Kids line is out at Walmart and it’s honestly adorable. (You can only get this line at Walmart!) It makes me wish my girls were still little and I could deck their rooms in some of the cute bedding available! For my little buddy who isn’t so little anymore :) I choose this new blue comforter. I always like a solid color in his room with his striped rug and this comforter is casual, soft and comfortable. Just what I like for Kole. It comes in other colors too!

Kole still loves all things space (thank goodness because his room is a galaxy at this point.. ha) so I couldn’t resist these cute outer space sheets! Perfect for this space. I added this cute striped ombre pillow and done! A simple and fun bed perfect for my 12 year old little but not so little boy. :)

{Astro Boy Galaxy Print/wire laundry hamper/moon phases print/phases of the moon print/multi-bin storage cubby}

He’s heading into middle school in the Fall so I know sometime in the next couple of years we’ll have to make this space a little more grown up. I am cherishing the time we have left with all of his stuffed animals and light sabers!

{moon phases print}

And all things sun, planets and moons.

And black holes.

Black holes are a big topic of discussion at our house. :)

I aways love a throw at the end of a bed so I picked up this striped ombre throw too! It drapes beautifully over a chair (I know this because I had it in my living room for a week!) so a good option for a bedroom or living room.

The space sheets are cool and perfect for summer but I wanted something a little warmer for when it starts to cool off so I also picked up these t-shirt soft jersey striped sheets. They are so incredibly cozy and soft! They come in lots of colors too.

{Lab Equipment Chart/An-Atom-y of an Atom}

I can’t say no to a good stripe so these cute hand and bath towels landed in his bathroom. They look just like our pool towels so perfect for summer. :) They also come in green, pink and yellow!

1-rainbow stripe quilt   2- dot reversible comforter   3- rugby stripe comforter

4-jersey cotton quilt   5- dino denim comforter   6- rainbow toss reversible comforter

7- ombre stripe quilt set   8- washed denim comforter set

Aren’t all of these bedding options for kids fun!? I love how colorful and cheerful it all is!

1- rainbow bath rug   2- ombre stripe pillow  3- dino bath rug

4- ombre bath rug   5- decorative pillow   6- dino sheet set

7- pink stripe sheet set   8- pink towel set   9- stripe window curtains

See why I want to style a girls bedroom too!? That rainbow bath mat! And how cute are the dino sheets if you have a little one into dinosaurs!? Adorable.

{frayed denim pillow/cross-hatch frayed edge pillow/Lab Equipment Chart/An-Atom-y of an Atom}

We’ve had Gap Kids bedding from Walmart on Kole’s bed for over a year and are still using the cute pillows from the last collection. A lot of them are on sale right now!

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

This was his previous bedding and we’ll definitely still use this navy quilt!

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

More fun items from last years’ collection – all still in stock!

A few more pics of Kole’s bedroom..

and how it’s organized. Because that’s as fun as new bedding. :)

{wood and plastic toy organizer}

We always go through kids’ closets in the summer! It’s the perfect time to organize them before we buy new school clothes. We donate clothes that are too small, clean out the drawers and shelves and then we are ready for a new school year!

Just not ready for my little but not so little boy to grow up. :)

{POST SOURCES}

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

I have a couple of fun new furniture additions in my home that I’m excited to share! Can you spot the first?

{Amarolo Narrow Console Table}

I think I hear the angels. Which is rare when I’m not organizing. ;) Isn’t this narrow console table beautiful! I can’t explain the joy I felt when I landed on this. It’s from OKA and they have so many beautiful furniture options.

I have been looking for a slim console table for years to put behind our family room couch. Our coffee table is always filled with a combo of decor (because it looks pretty and I love it) and laptops/papers (because Kenny and I often work from our couch in the evenings while we watch TV). I knew a table behind the couch would be ideal for setting drinks and snacks. I needed a place to set the popcorn! :)

But I’ve had a few obstacles in the way. This is a main walkway in our home so I knew the table needed to be skinny enough to allow plenty of room for people to walk though even when the barstools were pulled away from the island. Every option I landed on either wasn’t skinny enough or I just didn’t love it. Finally I found something that checked all the boxes!

This narrow console table is exactly what I wanted! It’s so skinny! Perfect to set behind a couch or in any narrow space.

I love the beautiful wood herringbone pattern! And the gold legs. It works so well with our existing furniture. You hear the angels too now right!?

I knew you did. :)

I might add a vase or something at some point (I have a hard time not decorating every surface in our home!) but for now I’m keeping this beautiful table clear. Popcorn and drinks only. I am one happy blogger with a place to set my snacks at night. :)

Ok.. second new addition in our home is this beautiful bench! Years ago I bought two stools for our guest room to sit at the end of this bed. Then I promptly moved one to my family room and Kenny promptly stole the other for an extra seat in his office. Every time my parents come to visit they ask for their stools back. Ha.

{Hester Bench}

I have a feeling they will like this even better. IF it stays in the guest room. Because I’m very tempted to move it into our master bedroom! Such a stunning bench!

Beautiful linen for the seat and it’s comfortable but also firm. Perfect for people or luggage.. for a bedroom or an entry or a dining room.

It was love at first sight for me with that diamond pattern on the bottom! I couldn’t love it more. Pieces like this are an investment so I take my time researching options. I couldn’t be happier with these two new additions to our home! OKA has so many beautiful pieces of furniture. Below are other items I’ve been eyeing on their website!

I have a place for you to set your luggage again mom and dad!

Maybe.

I’d come and visit quick though before this bench accidentally moves to my bedroom.

Like come tomorrow.

:)

*affiliate links used

June is winding down and wow.. it went by quickly didn’t it!? I was in Target last week and they were getting out the school supplies! What!? We are just getting into our summer grove around here. Definitely not ready for it to be over! Fingers crossed July feels a little longer (and slower!). :)

{faux eucalyptus trees (similar options linked below – this is a beautiful option!)/faux raspberry peonies (on sale!)/

faux hydrangea stems/ceramic planters/coiled baskets/jute rug/stripe sage rug}

I’m all about simplifying when it comes to my front porch these days and using faux flowers in the Spring has proven to be one of my better ideas. I love that I never have to worry about the plants on this porch! My plants aren’t wilting. My plants aren’t shedding. My plants aren’t dying a slow death because of too much shade or too much water or too much of me not watering enough. I do nothing and it looks beautiful day after day. SOLD.

I wanted to add a few festive touches for the 4th so I quickly transformed my Spring porch into a 4th of July Summer porch! In just 10 minutes I had a completely new look. Like I said.. I’m all about simplifying. :)

I tossed up my beloved burlap banner with painters tape. Command hooks work better if you have wind! Our weather isn’t too threatening this time  of year.

Or ever. Ha.

Then I switched out my faux pink peonies for these gorgeous faux red geraniums! I mentioned in my last post that I recently ordered them on-line and was impressed with them.

They look so incredibly real!

I snapped this quickly with my phone to show you what one stem looks like. They come in a cluster of multiple blooms so it doesn’t take much to fill a pot! (They also come in white and pink.)

I have 3 stems in each of my pots but 2 would have also worked and just looked a little less full.

I added one of my long time favorite burlap flags in each hydrangea basket (on sale- 4 for just $9!), hung my large flag and called it a day!

Like I said.. this took 10 minutes! The trick with easy porch swaps is giving yourself a neutral base. The trees, rugs, pots/baskets and white flowers would work with pretty much anything.

I’m going to leave this up and enjoy it through July and then it will be time to start thinking about a Fall porch again.

And school supplies!

Definitely not ready.

But it will come anyway. And I bet when it does, I’ll be excited.

:)

{POST SOURCES}

*affiliate links used

We are back from a fun family trip and I’m trying to re-group around here. Work, laundry, groceries.. time to catch up! I’m a little behind on life in general these days and can’t believe that July 4th is right around the corner. Some years I have patriotic decor up in early May and other years (like this one) I’ve barely done a thing by the end of June! I’m giving myself a pass with everything we have going on right now and decided to just focus on a couple of main spots I knew my kids would notice.

{liberty burlap party banner – on sale!/flag lumbar pillow – also on sale!}

So the hallway is decked with past 4th of July pics. :) I’m hoping to get a few pics from last year developed to add but haven’t had time yet! I also ordered these beautiful red faux geraniums and will show you how I’m using them soon. They are so realistic! They just arrived today and I’m impressed.

If like me you are JUST now starting to think about the 4th here is a fun recipe to try! This golden oreo layered pudding dessert is so festive and delicious! Always a crowd pleaser. You can find the recipe in this post.

Also my sister always makes my favorite feta and tomato dip! I know I’ve shared it lots before, but it’s so good it’s worth a reminder. :) Recipe is in this post.

See.. we can still pull this holiday off! Plenty of time!

Kind of. Sort of. :)

I was looking around at a few options of what to wear this year and found so many cute red tops! If red isn’t your thing they all come in other colors too. Cute for the 4th or just to wear for the rest of summer!

1- cece blouse   2- floral sleeve top   3- ruffle knit top

4- paisley print top   5- rib cap sleeve shirt   6- wrap top

7- cece floral blouse    8- sleeveless blouse

*me & my bro in law – the master chef :)

Another fun option is a summer dress like the denim dress I wore on the 4th last year. Tie a red bandana around your head or add some red earrings and you’re set! Here are some cute dresses I rounded up..

1- somerset mini dress   2- halter ruffle romper   3- denim shirtdress

4- tie-front mini dress   5- ruffle skater dress   6- striped dress

I love all of these fun options too! Ad has #5 and I have #4 – I would recommend them both!

{tie-front mini dress}

I wore #4 to El’s graduation. It’s called a mini dress but for shorties like me it hits just above the knee – nothing mini about it. Ha.

1-short sleeves shirts   2- all american girl t-shirt   3- short set

4- two-piece outfit set   5- denim sundress   6- tank

7- pocket t-shirt   8- peplum tank   9- stars wars vintage tee

10- board shorts   11- gingham short sleeve shirt

And last but certainly not least here are some fun options for kids!

They usually bring the party to the party.

And if they don’t, Uncle Austin will. ;)

Ahhh the 4th. Bring on the family! Bring on the food! And bring on the sunscreen!

Just want to make sure we don’t get burned like last year.

Can’t wait.

:)

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

Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads out there! I hope it was a good weekend for you! We gave Kenny one of his favorite things.. a family trip that was go go go with minimal prep/get ready time, minimal bathroom breaks and all kids happy and getting along. We know what this guy likes. :) I’ll share a few more pics soon!

Today we have other important things to discuss! I’ve been playing musical chairs (literally!) in my backyard moving outdoor furniture around the past two weeks. One of my goals this summer was to create more seating around our pool. We have our lounge chairs to lay on, but often I have a friend over and we just want to sit close to the pool to chat and watch the kids swim. I originally bought these fun outdoor canopy chairs (back in stock and on sale!) to set by the pool. I love them and was planning to set them under the tree in my yard..

{willow sage 3 piece set/navy outdoor rug/woven blue outdoor throw pillows}

And then I realized that wasn’t my brightest idea because those chairs have a canopy that isn’t needed in this spot because of the shade from our tree! Sooo I bought this cute 3 piece set that’s perfect for under my tree and I’m going to move the canopy chairs on the other side of the pool or up on my girls’ deck (a spot they use all the time that desperately needs more shade!). I really just can’t get enough of this line of wicker outdoor furniture from Walmart! I mentioned earlier that I wanted this larger 4-piece set that sold out. It’s back in stock and on sale! So I ordered it too and I’ll show you where that is going to go when it comes. Like I said.. musical outdoor furniture but I’m making progress and I’m excited to get everything here and set up! Walmart has so many fun items on rollback right now. It’s the best time to get larger items like outdoor furniture sets while they are marked down and before they sell out!

A closer look at this cute set.

I love the wicker design on the sides!

It’s the same fun look on the canopy chairs..

and on this cute 3-piece set on our back deck. Like I said.. I’m a big fan of this line of outdoor furniture. :)

{lilah outdoor wicker 3-piece set/navy outdoor rug/woven blue outdoor throw pillows/rattan woven plant stand/coat rack turned towel rack/outdoor console table}

This navy patio umbrella is also on rollback right now! Our Walmart umbrella on our sunny upstairs deck has held up great. This is the exact umbrella we have on this deck, but I had to buy a separate base for it and the umbrella on rollback (that looks identical) comes with one. Both great options!

{3-piece patio set}

I love walking out in our backyard and having this cute spot to sit and watch the kids swim! These chairs are so comfortable and I can visit with Kenny or a friend or read a good book. Exactly what we needed! Below are other fun outdoor/home items that are on rollback at Walmart right now. I rounded up items for a couple of collages of my top picks to share and then promptly ordered the wood lanterns! My job is downright dangerous sometimes. But in the best way possible. Just don’t ask my husband if he agrees when another furniture set shows up on our porch (that he always helps assemble.. ha). 

(Remember the fun Father’s Day trip babe? And how fast we moved all day for you? Hold on to that memory for a while..) 

;)

1- patio umbrella  2- grey planter   3- wood lantern

4- rocking chair   5- electric air fryer  6- canopy  chair and ottoman

7- wicker egg chair   8- patio heater   9- 3-piece bistro set   10- white bench

1-throw pillow   2- natural woven pendant   3- round wood wall mirror

4- standing floor mirror   5- wood photo frame set   6- desk   7- rattan table lamp

{POST SOURCES}

Thank you for your sweet comments/e-mails after my last post! I’m so grateful to each of you for spending time with me here. I feel such a strong connection with all of you (even if we’ve never “talked!”). I know that’s strange but I do. If you read this blog chances are we have a few things in common ;) and you know me well. If I haven’t scared you off yet I have a feeling we would be pretty tight if we knew each other in person. Thank you for your support and for always making me feel safe to share bits and pieces of my life with you. I’m incredibly grateful for this kind community!

Summer goals! I’m keeping it simple but I’m definitely excited to get a few things done around my house over the next couple of months! Because it’s always a little crazy with the kids home I’m going to focus on 15-20 minutes of organizing each day vs. attempting major overhauls. I’ve found that if I really commit to organizing just 15 minutes a day I can make a lot of progress. Join me! I’ll share my progress in IG stories and try to do some round ups here too. I have a cute printable I’m using to keep me on track! Of course I do. You can download it too! Of course you can. :)

I have this printable with double lines and one with single lines if you need more room to write. Whatever you prefer! You can download my 15 minute organizing printable HERE. *If you are already a Sunny Side Up subscriber just enter your info. again to get the printables.. it won’t add you twice!  Also, if you sign up and don’t get an e-mail soon after check your junk mail!  Once in a while it lands there first.

This is what my list looks like at the moment. Just a few spaces that need a little re-fresh! I’m also working on my husband’s side of our closet so I’m breaking that down into sections I can tackle in 15-20 minutes a day. His office needs some help too.. I started it in January and never finished!

*affilliate links used

{free people you rock t-shirt/AG skinny jeans/madewell transport tote/similar sandals here/here/here}

More on staying on track this summer at the end of this post! I’m excited to share my cute new phone case with you! Not long ago I shared the cute floral phone case above..

Walli cases released a few new patterns for summer and I couldn’t resist picking up this fun sun kissed pattern! Nothing like a little ombre in the summer time. :) I also picked up this cute yellow rose case for my mom. She has yellow roses all over her yard – they are her favorite so when I saw that case I had to get it! I love these cases because aside from the fun patterns they also have a finger loop and a slot for cards. They also have some cute matching card pouches and lanyards. Love them! Use this link and the code SUNNY when you check out for 15% off!

Father’s Day snuck up on me this year and I’m sorry I’m a horrible blogger for not sharing gift ideas two weeks ago! Ha. I’ll make it up to you buy sharing Kenny’s favorite gift EVER. A new pair of Vuori Banks shorts. Clearly he’s a fan! I get him a pair for every holiday/birthday/special occasion which is why we basically own them all now! But really it’s all he wears. Especially now that he’s working from home most days. He’ll throw on a dress shirt with a pair of these shorts for zoom meetings and then put on a Vuori tee after work with these shorts. Regardless of what is happening he’s always in these shorts! They are so soft and comfortable and look great. You can get them HERE or HERE.

My husband also lives in Van shoes. The kids and I all just get Vuori clothes, a pair of vans, chocolate chip cookies and a hand written note any time we need a gift for Kenny. We’ve learned what puts a smile on his face. :)

1- slip-on   2- stanley tumbler   3- vuori henley

4- crossbody backpack   5- vuori crewneck

6- vuori hybrid shorts   7- old skool  8- personalized photo map

9-  large toiletry bag   10- electric pressure washer

A few more of my husband’s favorites! The small backpack I just ordered for summer travel and the map I landed on and thought was such a cool gift. You put a picture from each state after you visit. A perfect gift for someone who loves to travel!

{faux fern potted plant}

I ran to Target last week and found so many cute things!

{rattan bedside table}

{distressed ceramic vase}

{cotton striped placemat}

{framed canvas black art}

{chunky knit bed blanket}

I love these quilts to lay at the end of a bed!

{Christmas bedroom sources}

Picture of my room at Christmas but I still have this knit blanket (natural) at the end of my bed. :)

{woven tray with handles/large fern/handheld vintage vase}

This woven tray with handles is so cute! LOTS of ways to use it.

{woven planter/cream vintage vase}

Thanks for joining me on a little Target run! Fun right? That store is downright dangerous. You think so too?

Told you we were tight. ;)

Sine we’re talking about getting organized this summer here is the one 15 minute organizing project I have checked off my list. A go-to drawer for Kole when he’s bored! I just cleaned out one of my office drawers and filled it with some activity books I know he likes to do.

I also added a few more things to this “fun things to do when you’re bored” list I started for him a few months ago. I’m keeping this list in the drawer too. Now if he’s board and needs a little direction this summer I can just point to the drawer! I’ve seen jars where you pull out items to do too – lots of fun ways to do this! I decided a list would be best for Kole so he can just scan it and pick something he’s willing to do. No excuses with two pages full of suggestions!

If you want other options to keep kids motivated and productive (in-between fun) this summer these Daily Expectations charts worked great for us for years. One version is for younger kids with fewer tasks, behavior and a reward. The other version is just a task list for older kids.

We also use and love our Zone cleaning charts. Well.. I love them. The kids not so much, but they get the job done. ;)

When you download these they are a PDF that you can type on and personalize. Add things you want your kids to get done daily..

and then fill in the Zone section. This is for the main living spaces that need to be cleaned every day. I wanted each space to have a detailed list so my kids wouldn’t forget anything. We rotate the zones each week or month so they have a chance to clean different spaces. Cleaning their Zone is one of their daily tasks.

I also have my HOME PROJECTS printable if you are working on specific projects you want to break down.

And my beloved CURRENT PROJECTS printable if you have a lot of individual tasks for certain projects!

Last but not least is this fun habit tracker. Just write the habits you’re working on in the empty boxes and check off each day of the month that you follow through!

You can download any of these printables in my library when you join my e-mail list HERE. Whether you want to keep your kids on track or keep yourself on track (both for us please!) I hope they are helpful this summer.

:)

*affiliate links used

{screen mom screen cleaner/weiman quartz & stone countertop cleaner}

It’s officially summer at our house (finally!) and we are so looking forward to a low key schedule after a crazy end to the school year! I’m so behind on things I want to share! There are a few personal pics/thoughts at the end of this post, but first I figured I better get my April and May Amazon Buys up before it’s June! Ha. Like I said.. we are a little behind. :) April was a fun Amazon month! I picked up some essentials we were low on like our screen mom cleaner for computers (my favorite!).

{spring arrangement}

I got these fun new olive branches. Never met a faux olive branch I didn’t like. :)

And Kenny ordered our bike mounts so we could finally get our bikes off the ground! A few other fun items include my favorite every day mascara, some beautiful marble chain links, elastics I discovered that are JUST like the elastics at Nordstrom my girls love (for less!) and a Gilmore Girls cookbook for Addison’s birthday. Ad and I are big fans of Gilmore Girls and have watched the entire series more times than I care to admit. All linked below. :)

1- Q tip holder   2- screen cleaner kit   3- olive branches

4- white marble chain link   5- razor hair trimmer   6- capri blue hand cream

7- maybelline mascara   8-bike mount   9- lounge float

10- hair ties   11- Gilmore girls cookbook   12- microfiber makeup remover cloth

This May was so packed with activities! I only ordered about 6 things on Amazon so I added a few Amazon favorites I’ve had for years to my collage like our First Aid kit! We just had to use this last night for one of El’s friends! He fell off a scooter (they were riding them in our front yard) and cut up his arm pretty bad. Our first aid kit to the rescue! It’s a good one. :)

I also noticed that my bedroom mirrors and lamps are back in stock! Both so beautiful and a great price. I need to take a current pic but I haven’t changed too much in this space. Missing my black reindeer. :)

{let’s go outside graphic tee/roxy linen beach pants here & here/flip flops/similar straw bag}

You also might remember I bought these same pants in green! They are just like the Roxy pants at Nordstrom and they come in so many fun colors! They do run a little longer so I’m going to wear the green pair with taller shoes. I haven’t taken a pic of them yet but will the next time I wear them.

A few other May favorites include two white dresses I ordered for Addison for end of the year events (they are both so cute!), my favorite self tanner, some fun potted plants, more of my favorite mesh zipper pouches I use to organize items, and an x stool that I have my eye on! All SO good.

1- mesh zipper pouch   2- 3-pack mini potted plants   3- dermaplaning tool

4- gray round pot   5- first aid kit   6- loving tan mousse

7- brushed metal wall mirror   8- mini dress  9- skater mimi dress

10- Roxy oceanside pant   11- table lamp   12- modern x stool

Below is a quick kid/motherhood catch up because we recently hit a few milestones at our house! This blog is 90% home decor/organization/fashion but 10% of it will always be a bit of a family journal for me. That 10% is the part I know I’ll cherish the most when I’m too old and grey to share cute throw pillows with you all anymore. ;)

At the end of May Addison turned 16! A milestone birthday and we had such a fun weekend celebrating. She had parties with different friends all week, went to Disneyland with her boyfriend and his family (yes.. we’ve entered boyfriend territory with both of my girls!) and then our family spent her birthday weekend in Palm Springs. For years she has dreamed about going to a spa. Ad loves everything to do with skin care and we usually do our own “spa nights” on the weekends. We steam our faces, paint our nails, watch a fun movie. I knew she was finally old enough for a real spa day and booked this trip a year in advance!

I booked half a day for us at Spa La Quinta and I would highly recommend this spot for a special occasion if you’re ever in Palm Springs! I had been one other time for an event with Kenny’s work and remembered how beautiful it was. They had a “teen massage”  option for younger girls so I booked that for her, a regular massage for me and then facials for both of us.

She was seriously giddy! We begged El to come with us too but she is the exact opposite of Addison (of course..ha). She hates stuff like this! Doesn’t like getting her hair/nails done. Doesn’t want anyone touching her face. Ad and I could get pampered for days. ;) Kenny, Kole and Ellie went to breakfast and hung out while Ad and I had our spa day.

The grounds at La Quinta are stunning and we had the best time!

The two of us can talk for hours and we had so much fun relaxing together. I’ll always remember spending her first REAL spa day with her. :)

{cloth & stone tie front dress}

The following weekend El graduated from high school! Moms who have been there know.. it’s just surreal. I was pretty emotional all week leading up to it but I made it through most of the ceremony without crying. How is she 18 and done with highschool!?

Wasn’t she just taking care of all of her “friends” in fuzzy pajamas?

And leaving me little notes like this after I tried doing her hair in a new side pony tail?

“I do not like the new hair style. I hate it. But I do love you mom.”

One of my favorites. :)

Didn’t she just lose her two front teeth? And wasn’t it just yesterday that she was carrying around her favorite panda stuffed animal and saying “are you so happy mommy!?” El used to always say that to me when she was little if she could tell I was getting stressed out or tired. It was her way of instantly making me happy again. I’d always smile and say “yes Ellie.. I’m so happy” and just like that – I really was. :)

El is my night owl bestie. We love to stay up late and we always watch Lord of the Rings together while I blog! It’s kind of our thing. We’ve seen that series so many times and just keep picking up where we left off. She does an amazing Gollum impression that makes me laugh until my sides hurt! El is a neat freak like me and we just shake our heads at Kenny and Addison who leave a trail behind them everywhere they go. We shake our heads and then we hurry and clean up their mess because everything has a place and we are happiest when things are put away where they belong! I really can’t think about waking up and not seeing her beautiful smile in the morning while we eat breakfast, laughing with her throughout the day when she’s home in-between activities and I especially can’t think about walking passed her empty bedroom when I’m upstairs. Tears are flowing again now so I’ll stop other than to say that I love this beautiful girl so much and this Fall will be hard for me.

I’m really going to miss all of her friends too! Especially these 3 who feel like family. The graduation ceremony was perfect and the only glitch we had was El losing the cords around her neck! They fell off at some point during the ceremony and we looked all over after but couldn’t find them. Luckily she was too happy to care. :)

We wrapped up graduation weekend with lots of parties and celebrating and then it was Kole’s turn this week!

My baby is done with Elementary school and heading to Junior High. (Cue the tears again!)

We just had his graduation ceremony yesterday and I was so nervous! Each of the 6th graders had to perform a talent for the entire school and all of the parents for graduation. Kole recently discovered Weird Al songs and has been singing them non-stop. (There’a peek into my world for you.. ha!) He really wanted to sing Weird Al’s Ebay Parody. I wasn’t sure because everyone else was doing a speech or a violin or piano solo or something serious like that. I knew Kole singing and dancing to Weird Al would either be hilarious or a disaster! Ha ha.. I told him he would have to really ham it up if he wanted to pull it off and he definitely did! We were all laughing so hard. It was a high energy number and added a little humor to the show!

It fit his personality so well. Kole keeps us all laughing! I’m cherishing this summer with him before he starts middle school and becomes too cool for mom.

Luckily we aren’t quite there yet. :)

Life is full of change and change can be hard (especially for people like me who just want things to stay the same!). But I know that change is beautiful too and every stage of life (and motherhood) has so much to offer. I’m setting a goal to embrace the changes coming up and enjoy life as much as possible! And carry tissues in my purse. And thank goodness for FaceTime.

Yes Ellie.. I am SO happy.

:)

*affiliate links used

Happy Sunday! We’ve had such a great weekend with my beautiful Ellie graduating! It has been a whirlwind of tears and excitement and I will share more soon! Today I’m chatting about some ideas for summer outdoor dining. I recently worked with Anthropologie and had so much fun putting a summer table together with some of their beautiful products!

You all know how much I love my minka pot. :) I used the medium size as a centerpiece and then just arranged some pretty flowers from my grocery store. The cute cheese board it’s sitting on is another favorite I’ve had for a while (I need to share how I use it in my kitchen as decor!). Perfect for a centerpiece or to hold cheese and crackers.

I like using a runner with this outdoor table and fell in love with the fun colors in this runner. It’s short for my long table but I love seeing the tassels on top! Still a fun look even if it isn’t hanging off the sides and I like having something to set decor and food on in the center. This exact runner sold out but this nectar striped table runner and this tesse table runner are very similar with the same fun peachy color for summer.

I placed two of these glass bud vases on the sides of the pot with a few roses for a little something extra. They are so beautiful and summery! Is summery a word?

For this table it is. :)

This stunning raffia glass jug is perfect for lemon water. Just like my recent rattan glasses this will be beautiful on a kitchen shelf as decor when I’m not using it to entertain.

Speaking of all things rattan.. how fun is this flatware!? A bit of a splurge but I know that I will use this over and over for years. Rattan is perfect for summer but also spring and fall too! I’ve never met a rattan item that wasn’t love at first sight.

I used my long time favorite jute chargers (perfect for outdoor dining!) and then a simple white plate with these pretty green side plates for salad. They come in a few colors and green won me over. So did these fruit napkin rings! Seriously are they not the most adorable summer table accessory ever!? I mean look at that lemon! We can pretty much just state that if it’s green or rattan or a lemon it’s going to win me over and I’ll be sharing it and we can end this blog right now.

No surprises coming from me. Ha. ;)

They come in a set of four and I have to show you every individual napkin ring because I couldn’t love them more. Here’s the strawberry.

And the pineapple.. are you in love yet!?

If not you are now after seeing the watermelon! SO good for a summer table right!? I love these napkin rings so much I am willing to COOK just so that I can entertain with them. I probably won’t. I’ll get take out again for my guests because I like my friends and want them to come back.. ha. But we can say that I cooked. That’s how much I love these napkin rings.

I used these moroccan glasses because the design on them adds a fun pattern and whimsical look to the table adding to the “summery” vibe.

I also picked up two sets of these hayes pasta bowls. Aside from pasta they will be fun for soup or dessert. They are nice and heavy (such good quality!). Of course they come in lots of colors. Of course I chose green. They match my salad plates and help pull my table together. I would call them a need. My husband would call them a want.

He isn’t invited to this dinner. ;)

All joking aside it was a dream to create this tablescape! I love Anthro home decor. They carry items that add the perfect amount of whimsy and fun to any space.

Of course they have fabulous clothes too. If we’re pulling out the green dishes we might as well add a matching summer dress!

{somerset linen maxi dress}

This linen maxi dress is beautiful! The style is so flattering for any body type and it’s very comfortable. It has pockets and comes in seven colors! It’s a popular item and is selling fast. I probably should have tried petite for the length but it was sold out in my size so I’m wearing a regular xs for size reference (I’m 5’3 and a half).

I have no doubt that this dress and this tablescape will be on repeat this summer!

There’s something so special about sitting around a table with friends and family outside in the summertime isn’t there? Talking and laughing and watching kids play. It’s one of the things I look forward to most about this time of year. What you serve to eat doesn’t matter and really the table decor doesn’t either. Spending quality time with loved ones is always the goal.

But cute fruit napkin rings never hurt.

;)

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