Erin, Author at The Sunny Side Up Blog

Favorite Things

03.01.19

February Family Favorites

Happy March friends! It felt like January lasted a year and February flew by in a few days. Did anyone else feel like that!? I had two posts scheduled to go up before this one but we had a hard week at our house. My husband’s grandma passed away last weekend. Kenny’s mom was very young when she had him so his grandma helped raise him and the two of them have always been incredibly close. She was 93 years old and her health had been failing for a while so we knew it was coming, but it has still been hard. We all loved her so much and knowing she’s gone has just felt sad. So lots of talks about life and death and God and heaven have been going on at our house with the kids. It has been an emotional week! But we know she is in a good place and we are so grateful for the time we had with her.

We are re-grouping at our house and I have a fun organization post going up next week that I’m excited to share. Aside from this past week February has been a good month at our house with lots of favorites!

We’ve have had so much rain in Southern Cal this month and while I know that’s nothing special for many of you, it is special to us! It has been years since I’ve felt like we’ve actually had a “winter” and we’ve loved every minute of cooler temps and rain fall.

Although I think I’ll be getting a new outdoor rug this summer. I can live with that. :) I’m also getting Kole some fun rain gear for Easter. These sets of boots and umbrellas for kids are darling!

The yard and my lemon tree are thriving!

Plus we have enjoyed lots of family walks in-between the rain. Everything is so green and beautiful!

The girls and I are obsessed with our Magic Bullet blender! We got it for Christmas and just started really using it this month. It’s so quick and easy! Honestly the best blender when you want to just make something fast and be done with it. It was a favorite at my friend’s Favorite Things party (which I never got around to posting about and maybe still will!). I had also heard so many good things about the book Body Love and there are lots of smoothie recipes in it so the girls and I ventured into the really healthy stuff (unknown territory.. ha!) and have been experimenting. Almond milk and raw fiber powder and hemp seeds? Um.. ok. (You should have seen me in the store trying to locate all of this.) Some of it we’ve loved, some of it we’ve hated and spit right back out.. but still. I’m proud of us for trying. :)

Pure joy when this child realized Costco sells Skinny Pop in bulk.

{KITCHEN RUGS}

I’ve been getting lots of questions about my kitchen rugs so I thought I’d answer them quick in this post. They have been favorites since I bought them in the Fall and I can’t say enough good things about them! I bought the color Navy (although the Indigo looks very similar). Because they are indoor/outdoor rugs they really don’t show food and dirt. You can’t toss them in the washing machine and I was worried about that when I bought them, but they wipe clean so easy! I always just put a little dish soap on a wet cloth or paper towel and food wipes right off. Even stuff like spaghetti sauce comes off clean enough that you can’t see it anymore. Trust me.. we’ve had many spills! You can take them outside and spray them off too but I haven’t had to do that yet. Plus I love the pattern and texture. I’m always thrilled when I can find things that give me the look I want in my home but are still practical for life with kids!

Happy little Spring moment in the kitchen.

I’ve been pulling out Spring accessories and adding lots of plants and flowers to brighten up our home.

The sunshine feels good and I’m ready for more. I shared this pic on Instagram last week with a favorite conversation with Kole this month that made me smile. :)

I’ve also been pulling more navy into my family room lately and I love the contrast with coral. Two long time favorite colors throughout my home!

And isn’t this the cutest pot from Anthro? Love it so much!

Speaking of Anthro, have you seen their new Joanna Gaines collection!? Ahhh! I’m in love with everything but my absolute favorites are the Textured Eva Rug..

and this Tassled Olive Pillow. So cute.

You all know how much I love this Crepe Myrtle tree in our backyard.

It only blooms like this for one month in August and I look forward to it all year!

My close friend Vanessa took the picture of my tree from my blog and had this canvas print made for me for Christmas. Is that not the sweetest thing!? I have it in my office and now I can enjoy it all year long. :) I thought I’d share that because aside from being one of my recent favorite things it’s also such a fun personalized gift idea!

Knew I’d love this Varsity Stipe Knit top! AG jeans/Similar shoes here and here)

I also got this turtleneck and love it too. See how longer tops like this give me no shape?

Enter the front tuck. Huge difference right!? Like magic. ;) Try it if you haven’t already! Especially if you’re short like me and things tend to always look too long.

Tops like this are cute tucked in or with a vest. I’ve been wearing a lot of vests lately! This hooded puffer vest is similar to the one I’m wearing. It’s marked down and so cute! I love this vest too and have it sitting in my cart. :) Vests are definite favorites. They give you a waist, keep you warm, and make it appear as though you’ve put some real time and thought into your outfit when really you haven’t. #score

Another favorite is this layered flutter sleeve top! I’m a huge fan of this style of Vince Camuto shirt. You can easily dress them up or down, they are so comfortable and the flutter sleeve is such a pretty feminine touch. I buy a few of the newest style every Spring! They come in lots of colors and I love the square neck.

I saw this quote on the wall in a Jimmy John’s when we were traveling one weekend and loved it so much! It made me want to interrogate all of my kids’ friends to see what they say about me. ;)

Running errands. So much beauty around us.. even at local grocery stores if we take the time to stop and look for it. :)

One of our many Goodwill drop off trips this month. That yellow cart that’s being hauled away was full of our stuff. You can see my girls’ Barbie Dream house on the top I finally convinced them to part with! Feels so good to be de-cluttering and simplifying our home. I’ve been organizing at least 15 minutes a day and it makes such a difference!

Even Kenny’s bathroom drawers got a major clean out. That was his Valentine’s Day present this year.

Lucky guy. ;)

Speaking of my babe and Valentine’s Day I’ll end with a favorite past February post..

10 Ways to Keep Your Marriage Strong

I hope you enjoy this post if it’s new to you! We certainly don’t have it all figured out but after 20+ years together we have definitely learned some things that work for us.

Good-bye February! Grateful for your highs and lows filled with family time in-between.

*affiliate links used

{POST SOURCES AND FAVORITES}

xoxo, Erin

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Organization

02.19.19

Visual Planning Board (for goals and to-do’s!)

Come on into my office! I’m excited to show you my new Visual Planning board! Also known as my goal setting board. And my project to-do list board. And my let’s get motivated inspiration board.

Basically I call it anything other than its original name..

my chalkboard. :)

You might remember a post from a few years ago that I shared on my “Visual to-do list.”

I’ve always been a visual person/learner and love seeing the projects I’m working on all laid out in front of me. Big picture planning like this REALLY helps me. It’s basically my way of dumping my brain out onto my wall instead of keeping it all jumbled up inside my head.

If you had a pre-conceived notion that I was sophisticated in any way I’m sure my explanation of this little project just blew that theory out of the water. Ha. Better you know the real me. ;)

I used to have my Visual to-do list off to the side of my chalkboard so that I could use my chalkboard for other things, but I decided to mix it up this year and put my chalkboard to better use. It’s front and center in my office and I wanted to create something that would not only be a brain dump station, but also an inspiration board that will help inspire and motivate me to meet my goals.

I’m so excited about how it turned out!

I’m a huge fan of sticky notes (just can’t quit them!) so I use the left side of the board to keep track of spaces I’m organizing, spaces I’m decorating and ideas for blog posts. There are so many other things I always have going on each day that I keep in my planner, but I love having these 3 things (the things I really enjoy doing!) out in front of me as daily reminders. I also love the feeling of pulling off one of my sticky notes and tossing it when my project or post is finished! They never go away of course because I’ll always replace old sticky’s with new sticky’s, but still.. major satisfaction when I can throw away a sticky note. :) #itsthelittlethings

At the top right of my Visual Planning Board I put my Monthly Goals and Daily Habits printables. I’m loving these so much! (You can download your own monthly goals and daily habits page HERE and read more details about them in this post.) I took these pictures early in the month when I was just getting started on these goals/habits. Because they are right in front of me every day in my office I can’t help but be reminded of the things I’m working on.

Although that still doesn’t guarantee I’m in bed by midnight.. (sigh)

I had some empty space at the bottom of my board so I decided to create a little inspiration. I tore out a few pages of my kitchen organization from the magazines I was featured in last Spring and then added a favorite San Diego picture and my Do What You Love heart. That’s the secret to happiness right there.

Just do what you love and the rest will fall into place.

I also added my all time favorite quote at the bottom.

Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul – Alice Walker.

Amen to that. :)

So that’s it! My Visual Planning, goal setting, project to-do list, motivational inspiration board. It’s helping me stay on track! And I can use all the help I can get. :)

Do something you love today for me! And then come back to see more office organization.

So that I can share more of what I love with all of you.

{OFFICE SOURCES/FAVORITES}

*affiliate links used

xoxo, Erin

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Fashion

02.17.19

New Finds and Old Favorites

Happy weekend everyone! I hope you’re all having a good one so far! I’m popping in quickly to share some new finds and an old favorite post. I’m thinking I’ll share this older post with you all first.. it’s such a good one!

{MY MOM’S ORGANIZED LAUNDRY ROOM}

If you remember my mom’s organized laundry room makeover you’ve been with me a while! And I love you for it. ;) But even if you’ve seen it before it’s a fun post to re-visit. I just read it again myself and still can’t believe the before and afters of this space! (Clearly the above picture is one of the “befores”) If you haven’t read this post and enjoy a good organization makeover you are in for a treat! This is still one of my favorites to date. Organization galore! It made me want to instantly hop up and clean out a few of my own cupboards. But I didn’t because it’s late and I’m tired and Kenny turned The Office on Netflix and we are both cracking up remembering how much we loved that show and now I’m going to have to binge watch the entire series to see Jim and Pam get together again.

So organizing cupboards will obviously have to wait until tomorrow. :)

So many fun new finds this weekend! First here are a few recent favorite things I’ve been wearing and then I’ll share a round-up of some things I’m loving on sale for President’s Day!

(Stripe Dolman Top/AG jeans/Similar shoes here and here)

Cutest, casual stripe top. Never met a stripe I didn’t love!

I’ve hardly taken off my new North Face coat since I got it for Christmas! So warm and white seems to work with anything I’m wearing. I’ve dressed it up for dinner and also run around with it on over sweaty exercise clothes. It’s almost identical to this North Face Full Zip Jacket and I love it! This coat is also similar. There are so many cute North Face coats and jackets on sale this weekend!

I absolutely love this mint puff sleeve pullover sweater. So cozy soft and just a cute fit. Another favorite Christmas gift! From me to me. :) It was just marked down 40% off! (Similar peep toe booties that just came in for Spring!)

(PJ Salvage Camo Lounge Sweatshirt/PJ Salvage Camo Sweatpants/Ugg Fleece Lined Socks)

Seriously could not love these camo pjs more! Sizes are flying fast so don’t wait if you want them! These would be my favorite pjs to date if it weren’t for the fact that my husband loves to tease me so much whenever I wear camo. He’ll walk in the room and say “Whoa! I didn’t even see you there! You just blend right in with your surroundings..” Then he laughs at himself for a good 5-10 minutes.

Hilarious Kenny. Just hilarious.

This cute Varsity stripe hoodie I recently shared was also just marked down!

So was this beloved Madewell sweater (love it in black too!) and these cute pink lace up booties!

I always get excited about President’s Weekend sales. So many great prices on winter clothes and home decor! Here are some of the fun things I have and love, just bought or am debating buying at the moment. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I’ll be back soon with something fun I put together in my office!

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

02.11.19

Cozy Guest Bedroom Re-fresh

*This post is sponsored by Pottery Barn and affiliate links are used, but as always all product selections and opinions are my own! :)

Sharing a little guest bedroom re-fresh today! I so loved having this space decked for the holidays and was bummed to take off my new reindeer sheets! So I didn’t. I left them up through January. :) As soon as February hit I was ready to put away all things Christmas. I wasn’t quite ready to pull out Spring pillows and bright colors so I gave my guest room a small winter re-fresh! Here’s what this space is looking like today..

A little more muted than the bright red I had going on and I love the soft colors for this time of year. It feels so calming to me. Like this room is saying “hello.. so happy you’re here to visit. Come in and relax.”

That’s what I imagine it’s saying anyway. :)

It has been so cold lately that I wanted a really comfy throw somewhere in this room (I have one wrapped around me at all times when I’m on my couch or bed!). This faux fur knitted throw in blush pink is a dream! Crazy soft and I love the muted blush color this time of year. I got a pillow to match because, like the throw, it was on sale. I love it when all of the PB winter throws go on sale! They are my favorite as I’m sure most of you know by now and we use them year round. It’s funny because they seem to mysteriously disappear from my couch on a regular basis. I alway find them in my kids’ rooms! Clearly I’m not the only PB throw fan in the house. :)

Another new item I picked up for this room is this beautiful Belgian Flax Linen Floral Stitch Quilt in the color Midnight. My white duvet and the light fixture in this room have a bit of a boho feel so I wanted something that had that same look. I love the stitching on this quilt!

It adds so much texture to this space. I ordered the matching pillow shams too, but one of the three hadn’t arrived yet when I took these pictures so you might notice the middle Euro pillow has this Diamond sham on it temporarily. (Another fun quilt/pillow set I like from PB!)

These Pearl Organic Pillow Cases have been on my wishlist for years so I was excited to finally have a place in my home they would work!

I’ve always loved the Pearl bed/bath items from PB and still have the matching Pearl hand towels in my girls’ bathroom. :)

You can see more details on their bathroom in this post.

I’m so excited about the last new addition to this space! I’m in LOVE with these inhale exhale prints!

Such a perfect way to remind guests to relax and enjoy their time with us. :) The frames have antique silver accents which look gold and work well in this space with other similar accents on my lamps, bed, nightstands and table.

I haven’t really taken the time to style this table, but for now it’s holding a few simple items I shopped from around my house. I wanted it to look somewhat put together with my parents coming into town!

They came last week for Addison’s “grandparent day” at school. She also sang in church on Sunday so they were able to be here for that. We snapped this pic right before church and El wanted to be the photographer this time around because she has been so sick this week. Poor girl! At least she’s had lots of love at attention from grandma and grandpa while she’s home resting. Kole went to the park with grandpa today and is loving the extra attention too. Always a treat having family in town! Tomorrow is their last day here and my plan is to set work aside so that I can lounge and shop and visit and eat and lounge and eat and visit with my parents some more. :)

They have enjoyed staying in this cozy guest room and love the recent updates!

So happy they approve. I hope all of you do too. :)

{POST SOURCES}

{OTHER RECENT PB FAVORITES}

xoxo, Erin

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Favorite Things

02.10.19

New Finds & Old Favorites!

Happy Weekend everyone! I thought I’d start a new weekend post series called “New Finds and Old Favorites.” Kind of a bonus weekend post. :) I’ll share a couple of quick favorite “new finds” (things I’ve heard about, things I’m loving, or fun finds on sale) and then also share a couple of “old favorites” (past posts I think you might enjoy). My goal is to make these posts simple and helpful to you! And easy for me to post over a busy weekend. Win win! ;) So here are a few new finds/sales I’m excited about!

*affiliate links used

I just ordered this Hamilton Beach can opener and I’m so excited about it! My friend has it and worships it (we took this pic at her house). It cuts the lid off of cans so quick and easy and leaves a smooth edge! Kind of funny but I always get excited about things like this. I love finding ways to make every day life chores quicker and easier!

{Lou & Grey Sweater/AG jeans/Similar Wedge Sneakers here and here}

I found a new to me brand that I’m in love with! Lou & Grey.. so many cute, cozy things! This sweater has been on repeat lately! (It runs big – I’m wearing xxs so size down) Kind of also wanting this faux fur jacket and this pink fuzzy hoodie too!

And I found the cutest striped turtleneck half off for just $24.49! Comes in lots of colors too.. love it!

A few other fun things on sale at the moment!

This Clad 10 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set is 45% off!

My portable laptop desk is trashed I use it so much so I just ordered this one to try!

My favorite Celine Throw I just shared in this post was just marked 15% off. Am I crazy if I pick up #3? :) I kind of love the aqua too!

This Teddy Fleece Pullover Jacket comes in so many cute colors and is 40% off! We have had a cold winter (cold for southern Cal!) so I’m still on the hunt for all things WARM.

And speaking of all things WARM PB has 30% off of all of their Faux Fur this weekend!

Ok.. some past posts you might enjoy reading again or reading for the first time if you missed them! (Click the link below each picture.)

{5 REASONS YOU CAN’T STAY ORGANIZED (AND HOW TO FIX IT!)}

And here are a few past Valentine posts for anyone looking for ideas for next week!

{Over 10 Fun Ideas for Valentines Day}

This post is full of Valentine decorating ideas, fun Valentines for the kids and our favorite pretzel hug V-day treat.

{Our February Tradition.. Sharing the Love}

{Simple Valentine Party Ideas}

{How to Make a Cupcake Valentine Box}

An easy solution if you need to throw something together for the kids!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend friends!

{POST SOURCES}

xoxo, Erin

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Organization

02.05.19

Organized Attic and Office

*This post is compensated by Walmart and affiliate links are used, but as always all product selections and opinions are my own!

I’m sharing some organizing progress with you all today! YEA. Attic and office organization to be exact. But before I jump into that bag of chips, I have to quickly say that blog posts take me a long time to put together. This is in large part because I have issues with taking WAY too many pictures. Way too many pictures means I have to spend extra time sorting, selecting, editing, watermarking.. preparing the pictures to post. Taking less pictures is something I’m really going to work on this year.

Starting with my next post.

Ha. This post is picture heavy! As many of my posts are. Grab a snack.

Chips anyone? :)

I had so many questions about how I store my Christmas decor after the holidays and yes.. I realize it’s now February and not on your mind anymore. But I spent a good part of January organizing my attic and wanted to share my progress regardless! Soon after Christmas I ordered these clear Mainstay boxes from Walmart and got to work sorting and purging ALL the things in my attic down to only the things I really love, use and wanted to save.

I quickly realized that I love, use and want to save a lot when it comes to Christmas decor. :) Clear containers are my favorite when it comes to storing items like this because then I don’t need to label everything and I can easily see what’s in each box when it’s time to decorate for the holidays again. Walmart has so many storage options at a great price!

This set of 68 quart clear boxes was perfect for most of my items. I used them to store large tree ornaments..

miscellaneous holiday decor..

stockings, tree skirts, throws..

and one box I used to store keepsakes from my kids’ baby/toddler years. I have to be honest in telling you that this is the one thing I struggle with when it comes to letting things go. Other items I can ruthlessly purge and not think twice, but I struggle with letting go of my kids’ baby stuff and probably still saved too much. If you saw how much I started with you would be proud of this one box. Progress for now!

These smaller 17 quart clear boxes were perfect for grouping other similar holiday items together.

I used them for things like my reindeer..

and the keepsake ornaments from the kids.

Then I used these under bed clear boxes for longer Christmas tree decorations.

They were perfect for all of my greenery too!

And for my mercury ornament garland. (Quick tip for next year: save bubble wrap from Christmas gifts you order to use when you store breakable ornaments and decor!)

So here is the “after” of my upstairs attic space. Do you love that my outdoor deer made perfect wreath holders? Who knew? ;) I would share the “before” of this space if I had a picture of it, but it scared me so much I didn’t photograph it. Let’s just say you couldn’t comfortably walk in this space! It was bad. I’ll share more pics I took at some point. The left side of my attic is all of my seasonal decor and keepsakes and the right side is ALL Christmas.

My new clear bins were a perfect solution to hold the items I love and wanted to keep! I combined them with the ornament boxes I’ve had for years and love having all of my holiday decor so streamlined and organized! Next year will be an easier process setting up and taking down for sure.

Next space I’ve been chipping away at.. for years!

My office. Oh man. This space has been hard for me! It has been “sort of kind of but not really organized” for years. I finally decided to go through the things I have been putting off going through since we moved into this house 5 years ago and just GET IT ORGANIZED once and for all!

That meant pulling everything out of my cupboards and making decisions on what projects I started years ago were worth keeping and finishing and what I needed to just let go. That also meant going through random miscellaneous pictures that aren’t in albums or organized on my computer and figuring out what to do with them. I’m not going to lie.. this little project took hours. Several nights of pulling things out of my cupboards and drawers and sorting and organizing in the family room in front of my TV. My favorite spot to organize. :)

But at last it’s DONE! My office is completely organized. (Angels are descending!) My cupboards that initially looked like this.

Now look like this. Ahhhh! I can’t even tell you how happy I am to have this project finished! There are too many pics to share of this space now so I’ll write a complete post on my organized office soon, but I have to share this one cupboard first because I’m so excited about!

For a long time I didn’t sort through random craft items in this room because I wasn’t sure how to organize them best. When I discovered these cute Craft Supply Boxes I was thrilled. PERFECT solution! I ordered 12 and got to work!

They are the perfect size for ALL the things I needed to store but wanted separated.

They were just a tad too big to fit in this cupboard facing forward so I turned them sideways and labeled everything. They stack so nicely and getting rid of the bulky boxes that were holding some of these items saved so much room!

Those of you who have followed my blog for years know that I used to be really into scrapbooking. I had so many scrapbook supplies that I finally said good-bye to because I just don’t have the time to spend on pages like I used to. I did keep some items I’d like to still use and some random craft items I know my kids will use for projects. I still love scrapbooking, but know that if/when I do start working on family albums again they will definitely be simple!

I even have one empty box for a future project.. score!

Hopefully you’ll be seeing some of the “in progress” projects in this cupboard actually completed someday. For now I’ll settle for just having them organized. :)

After getting my cupboards in order I felt the need to spruce up my desk with a few fun new accessories!

So in love with this gold desktop metal tray! And the matching pencil cup. I’ve been using the tray to hold my planner/printables.

I also picked up this Weekly List Notepad. Thinking I’ll use this for planning meals! I’m always more motivated when I have a cute notepad. :)

I also love having a large desk calendar to write reminders on that I’ll see every day. The font on this one is so cute!

Last new addition was this little business card holder rack to hold my business cards. Because I have them. And displaying them like this makes me feel official. ;)

A cute and clean desktop.

And organized cupboards for a new year. Well.. a month into the new year. But a new year nonetheless.

My work here is done! Time for that bag of chips.

{POST SOURCES AND FAVORITES}

xoxo, Erin

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Holidays

02.04.19

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fun weekend! Ours started with a lot of rain but the rain cleared and the sun peeked out for Super Bowl Sunday and we had a fun low key day. Kenny cooked steaks so I was off the hook for dinner. Pretty much all I need to be happy. :)

Our fireplace was on in the morning but by the afternoon Kole was in the pool trying to “drain” the extra water with his squirt gun. :) I lost interest in the football game half way through and started organizing (no surprise there). Excited to share what I’ve been working on soon!

For today we’re talking Valentine’s Day! It always seems to sneak up so quickly and I’m usually scrambling to find a little something fun to give Kenny and the kids. I came up with a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for us all and I hope it’s helpful! A few fun ideas for loved ones and of course a few fun things for us if our signifiant others need a hint. ;)

1 – Fresh Bath and Shower Gel – My friends LOVE Fresh bath products! I’ve been wanting to try them for a while now. Fun V-day gift!

2 – Sugarfina Candy – Have you all tried Sugarfina candy yet? It’s seriously so good! These Kiss Me Sugar Lips are my favorite! Dangerous stuff to have in your cupboards, but perfect for a V-day splurge. :) They have so many fun Valentine’s Day gift ideas!

3 – Rails Heart Print Tee – Such a cute top for all year but especially in February. I love Rails but it can be a pricey brand! I also love this heart tee and this cute Lucky tee for this time of year. And how cute is this top for little girls!?

4 – Pour Spout Mixing Bowls and Valentine Heart Spatulas – I have these mixing bowls in yellow and they are my favorite! Such a fun Valentine gift idea in red. Put them with the Valentine Heart Spatulas and this gift is perfect for the person in your life who loves to cook! Or the person in your life like me who doesn’t love to cook but loves cute cooking accessories anyway. ;)

5 – PJ Salvage Loved Lounge Top and Jogger Pants – Cutest PJ’s! You can’t go wrong with PJ Salvage. They have so many cute new styles in right now! My husband knows that pj’s are the way to my heart. If not.. here’s a reminder babe. :)

6 – Dove Chocolates – You can’t go wrong with chocolate for Valentine’s day and Dove is delicious! This is a fun pack of 6 bags. Tie a bow around each and give them to friends, family, teachers. Share the love! Then keep a package for yourself. :)

7 – Valentine Love Cards – Such a cute set of cards to send someone a special note.

8 – WS Red Striped Dish Cloth – WS striped dishcloths are my very favorite! A set of red stripes would definiltey brightens someones Valentine’s Day.

9 – Vince Camuto Ankle Strap Sandal – I’m in love with these red shoes! Perfect for a night out. I have them in tan and they are so comfortable for a heel. Plus they just got marked down.. 50% off!

10 – Sam Edelman Odila Sandal – I’ve also been debating these cute blush gold sandals for Spring. LOVE them!

11 – North Face Etip Tech Gloves – Perfect gift for the man in your life if you are living in cold temps right now! These gloves are touchscreen compatiable and allow natural movement so they are also great for outdoor exercise and activities.

12 – Heart and Arrow Rouge Lipstick – I’ve wanted to try Yves Saint Laurent Lipstick for a while now (I’ve heard it’s amazing!) and would love getting this as a V-day gift!

13 – Mini Heart Pendant Necklace – Such a cute personalized gift idea! I love this for my teen girls too. This initial heart bracelet is another fun similar option.

14 – Glisten Chemise – Want my advice to all the women out there? Get this beautiful Satin Chemise for your partner (so pretty and comes in 4 colors!) and go for the PJ Salvage pajamas for you. Win win.. everyone’s happy. ;)

15 – Personalized Valentine’s Day Cookies – These giant personalized V-Day cookies are too cute! Such a fun gift for anyone. Order by this Friday!

16 – Guess How Much I Love You – When my kids were little I loved getting them a cute book for Valentine’s Day (I still do this with Kole!). If you don’t have this classic in your collection you need it! I love writing a little personalized Valentine’s Day note in the front cover to make it extra special. :)

17 – Happy Valentine’s Day Mouse! – Another Valentine’s Day favorite of ours!

18 – Mt. Hood Genuine Shearling Slippers – These cute slippers have been on my wishlist for a while now! They come in 4 colors and are too cute. I want them for Spring/Summer because they don’t look as hot as the Uggs I live in during the winter months. If I’m home I have on some type of fuzzy socks or slippers.. always!

19 – Make and Model Chamois Crew Socks – Speaking of fuzzy socks.. :)

20 – Heart Coin Case – Such a cute little coin case to attach to your bag or to use as a keychain! I would love this and so would my girls.

Happy Valentine’s Day planning everyone! Enjoy your day. :)

xoxo, Erin

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Favorites

02.01.19

January Family Favorites

Happy February everyone! We made it through January. YEA. I love January for the organizing and “fresh start” but I have to admit.. it can feel like a very LONG month. And very Mondayish. Ha. :) So I’m ok with it being behind us! But despite the longness of January good things still happened. I thought I’d try something new this year and share a few family favorites at the end of each month. Things we’re each loving and what we’ve been up to. So get cozy (I got a little long winded on this one!) and I hope you enjoy our January family favorites!

*affiliate links used

Lunch date with these two! I seriously scored with this Patagonia Nano Puff Vest I gave Kenny for Christmas. He has lived in it this month! He loves it because it’s fitted and lightweight but also really warm. Hands down his most loved Christmas gift and definitely his January favorite! Don’t be surprised if it’s his February favorite too.

I have a few favorites around the house that are making me happy. First up – one of my favorite throws came back in stock (this SFERRA Celine) so I bought a second one! In the exact same salmon color that I love (although it comes in other colors). It’s so pretty in person and perfect to drape over a chair or couch corner. I love this throw in three different spots in my home during the Spring/Summer..

{Family Room Sources}

On this chair in the family room..

{Master Bedroom Sources}

hanging on the ladder in my bedroom..

{Mudroom Pics/Sources}

and on the mudroom bench. I rotate it around so much! I knew I wanted one more, but it sold out too quickly last Spring. I’m so happy it’s back in stock!

I’ve found the best way to breathe life back into my home once the holidays are over is with plants. Everything in my home always feels so bare and sterile after I take the Christmas decor down! Adding greenery makes a huge difference and always makes me excited for Spring. Faux plants are coming out this year and are looking more real than ever. (Check out all of the fun options at PB right now!) Seriously the BEST news for people who can’t keep a plant alive to save their lives. And by “people” I mean me. :) I’ve found that if you toss in one real plant or some fresh flowers with all of the faux plants in your space it makes everything look real!

(Potted Boston Fern/Potted Kangaroo Paw Fern/Fiddle Head Fern)

These are my three favorite faux plants at the moment! I’ve loved trying these in different spots in my home. I bought several of these Fiddle Head Ferns last Spring and was excited to pull them out again this year!

They are the two faux plants above my stove next to my sign.

Happy little plants that look good everywhere I put them. :)

(Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree/Basket/Wool Jute Rug/Comfort Sofa/Velvet Pillow/White Pillow/Similar Tassle Pillow)

There are so many things to think about, get done, and keep track of every day. I don’t need to add watering plants to my list. Maybe someday that won’t be a big deal, but in this stage of life I’m all about simplifying whatever I can!

My last January favorite is this Varsity Stripe Hoodie. So cute and comfy and this month I haven’t felt like wearing much other than pjs or this hoodie and Ugg boots. I’m hoping to break out of my hoodie/Ugg/pj rut in February. Maybe with some other cute Treasure & Bond sweaters below. (I love T&B!) But they are going to have to be really comfortable to compete with my recent go-to’s. ;)

Ellie’s favorites.. that’s easy. Two things! The Apple AirPods she got for Christmas and cutie oranges. I can’t keep cuties in my house. One of her favorite things to eat!

She turned 15 years old this month.

She’s loving high school and is such a beautiful dancer and has made so many darling friends. I’m so proud of her and all that she’s doing this year.

But wow. I blinked! It’s all happening so fast. I know a lot of you were reading my blog when she was the age above. Seriously what happened!? We organized a few cupboards, decorated for the seasons, found some cute things to wear and BAM. During all of that fun blogging and hanging out together the kids kept growing. I love things about every stage with my kids and try to focus on the beauty and joy in each stage, but it’s hard to not miss having my babies as babies! :( Also I was 15 years old when I met Kenny..

so there’s that little fact to digest. #herewego #timetopray

(Organized Slime Cupboard)

Addison’s favorite? Well that’s easy. :) Some of you have been surprised I’m so cool about her never ending slime addiction. (You all know me well – I’m usually not a fan of mess!) So here’s the situation that’s been going on in our home for a while that might explain my coolness on the matter…

Ad is allergic to many things including dogs, horses and anything with fur. She’d love a dog but that’s out of the question for her. She can’t even handle hypoallergenic dogs (the saliva irritates her skin!). She is a pet lover so reptiles are really the best option. For a few years we had tortoises that she loved dearly. BUT.. the kids got older and busy with activities and played with them less and less. The tortoise responsibility (food/cage cleaning, etc.) fell more and more on mom and dad and we started wondering why we even had them. So when Cocoa started attacking Spring and we needed to separate the two of them, we decided it was time for them to go back to the pet store.

The kids were good with that decision and all was fine until Addison got on a Bearded Dragon kick. Oh yes. She has wanted a lizard for quite a while now! In fact, she begged for one for Christmas this year.

Kenny and I came home one day in December and found this sign hanging on our bedroom mantel.

And these smaller signs down the hallway and all over our floor. She also wrote a full report that she presented to the family all about Bearded Dragons (pros and cons) and why we should ultimately let her get one.

Her research and persistance was impressive! But I just can’t do it. (Mean mom!) I know without a doubt she’ll love it for a few months and then get busy and move on and I’ll be taking care of a lizard every day. A lizard! I can’t even handle real plants and I’m supposed to add lizard maintenance to my daily routine!?

I sat her down before Christmas and we had a little heart to heart. I explained why a lizard just wasn’t in the cards right now and asked her what I could do to make it up to her and what I could get her for Christmas that would be a fun second best option.

What do you think her answer was? Slime. I had to agree to be cool about the sliming. For life. Or as long as she’s into it. (Sigh) I really had no choice but to agree. And to buy her new slime supplies. And a new slime mat. And to organize a slime cupboard for her.

It’s messy. And I don’t love it. But I love Addison and it’s not a lizard.

So there’s that. ;) #rockonslime #slimeforever

Kole’s January favorite – Geronimo Stilton books! He got these for Christmas and loves them. My girls read and loved the Thea Stilton books at his age so I thought we’d try these and they have been a huge hit this month!

We also read one of my all time favorites this month together.. Skinny Bones by Barbara Park. My 4th graders used to love this book and Kole did too. So fun reading it with him.

So those are our January Favorite Things!

I’ll close with a few random fun family moments from the month and call this monthly post our 2019 scrapbook. ;)

Fun trip exploring Julian (a mountain town near SD famous for its pie!). We got our cold fix. I’m still loving these cute lace-up booties!

Addison made her debut as Glinda the good witch and killed it with her kindness on stage.

And last week Kenny and I took the girls to LA to see a Kelly Clarkson concert. SO fun. My girls love her and all of her songs so we surprised them with tickets for Christmas. I wish I would have recorded the screams that morning when they opened that gift! Totally made up for the fact that there was no lizard under the tree. ;)

Kelly was amazing and I have to say that after seeing her live in person I adore her even more. She is so genuine and down to earth and her songs just give you chills! We had so much fun singing with her all night.

Last favorite! Seeing all of your pics of things I love that now you’re loving! I’m thrilled so many of you are enjoying the glass water bottles I recommended! It always makes my day when I hear from you guys. Seriously the best!

Good-bye January! I guess you weren’t so bad and Mondayish after all. ;)

{JANUARY FAVORITES}

xoxo, Erin

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Organization

01.28.19

Organizing Solutions!

*This post is compensated by QVC and affiliate links are used, but as always all product selections and opinions are my own! :)

Ok. I’m seriously so excited about today’s post! 2019 hit and ever since I have been purging and organizing up a storm. There is something so refreshing and therapeutic about getting your house organized and put together for the new year! It just seems to help make January a better month since it’s a month that can sometimes feel a little long and depressing. Cleaning out unwanted items from our home breathes new life into our space and is just the BEST feeling, right!? I know you all know exactly what I’m talking about. :)

QVC reached out to me at the beginning of the year and asked if I wanted to pick five of their organizing solutions to share in my home. I started going through all of their organizing products on-line and felt like a kid in a candy store. They have so many fun items I had a hard time choosing which 5 to feature! But I definitely had some problem areas in my home I was excited to improve and can’t wait to show you how things turned out. First problem on my list to fix – my pots and pans! I didn’t get a “before” of them but trust me when I say they were bad!

When we built our house I wanted two long pull out drawers for pots and pans under our stove, but because of the size of range I chose, the drawers were going to be too long and large to pull. I opted for two sets of cabinets with pull out drawers inside instead. They were an un-organized hot mess before, but now..

So organized! The reason they were a mess before was because I was trying to cram too much in them. I had lots of pans I never used plus all of the lids inside and it was just too much.

Taking out all of the lids and clearing out pans I don’t use anymore freed up so much space! Now it’s easy to see the pans I love and use most often.

My pot and pan mess was also spilling into these cupboards below my open shelves and they were definitely due for a clean out. (Um why do I have 6 packs of candy canes on the left? And 4 of the same size of frying pan on the right? That I never use because I have other frying pans below my stove! And is this really the best place to store my small vacuum? I think not..)

MUCH better. Do you hear the angels? I believe they started singing once again. It’s a happy sound indeed. ;) Seriously so much better! I got rid of everything I wasn’t using, moved a few things to a better location, and now I have room to store the items I truly love and use most often.

A few larger kitchen items on the left.

And some of my cutting boards and all of my pot/pan lids on the right. These StoreMore Pot Lid and Cookware Organizers might be one of my most favorite organizers ever. They are such a genius solution! Before I discovered these my pot and pan lids were taking up precious space in my pullout drawers. Plus I don’t use lids that often! I do once in a while so I wanted to keep them, but a lot of nights I don’t use them so it’s nice to have them in a different location not taking up precious pot/pan storage space. (I had to lay one lid back a bit because it was too tall to stand straight in this cupboard!)

The Pot Lid Organizers are also so easy to adjust to fit the size of your specific lids and hold everything so nice and organized. I love that they make it so easy to see what I need instead of searching through a messy pile to find the right lid. They are such a great organizing solution – I can’t believe I’ve lived this long without them!

Next little issue at my house. Addison and her slime. (Sigh..) Most kids are over the slime craze but not my Addison! She is as obsessed as ever and loves to make/play with her slime every day. Months ago I finally told her the cabinet next to our dining nook could be her “slime cabinet” because she needed a place to keep everything together. (No way was it leaving the kitchen and going into her room!)

This little cabinet has been driving me crazy for months! She was using so many different sizes of containers and everything was crammed together and I knew there had to be a better way to keep the slime at bay!

The second I saw this Multi-Color Twist Lid Storage Set I knew I had found our slime solution once and for all! Aren’t these fun!? There are four different jar sizes and you can use them in so many different ways. In the pantry or for crafts in a craft room…

or in the kitchen to hold various colors, types and sizes of slime. ;) Addison loved moving all of her slime over to these jars and was so excited about her new organized slime cupboard!

Ready for the after?

Ta-da! Talk about an improvement! This took all of 15 minutes!

I kept all of her slime on the bottom shelf and her supplies on the top.

It’s amazing how these stackable storage jars saved so much room! She has one large empty jar left to fill but knows that if she wants to make more slime after that she has to toss some old slime! That way we can keep things organized in this small cupboard and mom won’t completely lose her mind with slime taking over the kitchen. Addison also knows the rule that if slime is out it has to be on the mat I bought her and it can’t leave the kitchen!

Luckily she’s a responsible slimer so we haven’t had any problems.

Yet. ;)

Next organizing solution.. time to open my little hobbit door and straighten the mudroom luggage closet again! It’s a space that always needs a refresh each year.

Part of the reason this little closet is hard to keep clean is because it’s such a catch all for random miscellaneous items that we aren’t using. This Over-The-Door Collapsible Organizer was a perfect solution! It is SO easy to install. Just hang it over a door and bam. Extra vertical storage! Do you hear the singing in the background?

Car headphones, pool odds and ends, Kole’s soccer socks and shoes that he’ll need next season but doesn’t need now. The types of things you don’t know where to stash now fit nicely in this organizer taking up ZERO closet space!

I can think of SO many things you could use this for if you are short on space in your home. In an office to hold wrapping paper or office supplies. In a pantry to store extra food items. In a child’s closet to hold extra shoes, clothes or accessories. In a bathroom to hold toiletries. I wish so badly I would have known about this in my previous smaller home! I would have had one on every door in the house!

Ok.. next obsession! You know I’ve never met a black and white stripe I didn’t like so needless to say, I was sold on this Thermal Insulated Bag and Tote Set before I even knew how cool they are. :)

So cute on the outside and this isn’t the only color/pattern they come in. LOTS of fun options! But the magic is on the inside! They are insulated and perfect for bringing home groceries or for a day at the pool, park or beach!

I’ve only had them a few weeks and we’ve honestly used them almost every single day! I love taking them to the grocery store. I also love taking my kids to the grocery store.

One of those sentences wasn’t entirely true. ;)

They are heavy duty, easy to carry, a variety of sizes and PERFECT to hold cold items and other groceries. I’ll never use random sacks and bags again!

My shopping helper and partner in crime agrees.. they are a hit!

Last organizing solution! I mentioned in my healthy snack post that if I take the time to prep healthy snacks and things to eat ahead of time we do much better each week! So I was excited to try out this Lock & Lock Nestable Rectangle Storage Set.

I knew I would love them! Perfect size options and they are so heavy duty but still lightweight. Exactly what I need for storing fruits and vegetables and leftovers during the week.

My favorite part? The lids are ALL the same size! GENIUS! You never have to hunt for the right size of lid (that’s somehow always missing) again. The lids lock in place so nice and easy. I’m ordering another set!

Did I mention they are also stackable? Couldn’t love them more.

So that’s it! My five organizing solutions from QVC. I couldn’t be happier with all of my product selections and about the new organized solutions for my home! Which one was your favorite?

Checking all of these problem areas off of my list motivates me to tackle more! I’m not ready for the angels to leave just yet. :)

{POST SOURCES and OTHER QVC FAVORITES}

xoxo, Erin

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Organization

01.23.19

Goals/Habits/Plan Ahead Printables

For years on January 1st I would set ALL the goals. Cook 4 nights a week! Exercise an hour every day! Bed at 9:00 each night! Then by the end of January we were living on pizza, exercise was hit or miss and I was back to my regular 1:00 am bedtime. Like many others I had given up on my lofty goals, felt like a failure and then carried on with my life in February just like I had in November and December before goals were established. Sound familiar? :)

So I do things a little differently now. First, instead of lofty goals I focus more on simple, small daily habits that feel doable.. almost easy! Second, I re-assess at the beginning of each month and tweak/change things as needed. And third, I recognize that I’m in a busy stage of life with others who depend on me. I have a busy schedule with a lot of moving parts and therefore.. I’m not so hard on myself. Pizza for dinner for the second time this week? All good. We’ll have a healthy snack and eat better tomorrow. ;)

Today I’m sharing some fun printables that have been really helpful to me. I’ve used two of these for years (a sketched version I wrote on for myself) and then I created a new one to help with the habits I’m working on this year. I’m so happy to finally have all of these typed up and available to share with you!

{CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THESE PLANNING PAGES ALONG WITH OTHER FUN THINGS IN MY PRINTABLE LIBRARY!}

(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.)

{MONTHLY PLANNING PAGE}

This first printable I call my “monthly planning” page and it has been such a huge help to me! It’s two pages with just simple lines under each month. I’ve used it so many ways to plan ahead! A few things I use this printable for:

– BIRTHDAYS – I fill out one each year for family/close friends’ birthdays I want to remember. Yes I have reminders on my phone, but I keep this in my planner so I can check it when I do my weekly planning and I have better luck remembering birthdays that way.

– PLANNING AHEAD – I use this page to write down things that I need to be thinking about each month to help me plan ahead. For example.. Kole’s birthday is in March. I write down “Kole’s birthday party” under January as a reminder to start thinking about it and planning it early. In September I write down “Halloween costumes” so I’m thinking about them a month early. You might write down in January “plan a July trip,” etc. I try to think about things that need to happen each month and then I write a reminder in a slot the month or two before. It might sound confusing but really.. it helps me so much with planning ahead because that’s not something that always comes easy for me!

– BLOG POST PLANNING – I also use this page to brainstorm blog posts I might want to write in certain months. If you’re a blogger that could work for you too and if you’re not, I’m sure there are a lot of other ways these pages can be used!

{MONTHLY GOAL PAGE}

This printable is another long time favorite and has worked so much better for me than just setting big yearly goals. I write the month at the top and then a few ideas for each area that I want to improve. I snapped a quick picture of what this page has looked like for me this January:

You can see that these are more like simple to-do’s but they really help me focus each month! If I don’t get to one of them in January that’s ok.. I’ll just move it to February. Or if I feel like my January goal of drinking 60 oz. of water each day isn’t happening most days I’ll change it to 40 oz. a day in February and see if I can maintain that. You might have noticed I started with an easier bedtime for me to aim for under the health category. If I can pull off midnight for a month or two I’ll move it to 11:30 and maybe SOMEDAY I’ll actually start sleeping again. ;) The last category (Service/Connect with) is new for me this year. I’ve talked to my family about this and we are going to try to be better about simple service like taking cookies or dinner to a family who might need some cheering up each month. I also want to use this space to write down anyone I want to make sure to connect with.

{DAILY HABITS PAGE}

I’m so excited about this habit tracker! You can use this to correlate with the monthly goal page or just use the one you think will work best for you! I made two versions of the daily habits page. The page above with circles you can fill in or check off. OR..

The same page with just numbers you can check off. I couldn’t decide which version I liked better so here are both and you can pick the one you like the best. :) I didn’t take a picture of how I filled out this page, but all you do is write down the month and then in each box write one small habit you’re working on for the month. Then check it off each day you follow through!

Some of my habits for January: Read with Kole at night, Drink 60 oz. of water, Hang up my clothes in my closet, etc. Some of them are items on my monthly goal page and some of them aren’t. They are just simple things I’m trying to remember to do each day. If you are working on staying organized this year the habit tracker is a perfect way to keep you on track! Write down things like “Straighten the pantry for 5 min, Put away make-up, Do one load of laundry, Tidy office space,” etc. I know I’m not going to check off every single thing every single day. That’s ok! This is just a reminder and if I miss something one day I’ll try to do better the next. My goal is to get as many days checked off each month as I can so that the things I’m working on become daily habits I don’t have to think about. I truly believe that’s the secret to any kind of success.. you have to make things a part of your daily routine. I’ve always loved the quote I added at the bottom of this printable!

I know we are nearing the end of January and goals are usually starting to fade in the background so I’m hoping that this post and these printables inspire all of us to keep moving forward one day after the other! Don’t get discouraged. If the goals/habits you set for yourself one month aren’t happening, break them down into something more simple for the next month and press on!

With pizza for dinner as often as necessary. ;)

{CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THESE PLANNING PAGES ALONG WITH OTHER FUN THINGS IN MY PRINTABLE LIBRARY!}

xoxo, Erin

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Food and Cooking...or lack thereof

01.17.19

5 Healthy Snack Ideas

Hello friends! A whole lot of organizing has been going on this week. Which means my house is a mess! But it’s a happy mess that’s about to be a very clean, organized, not mess. :) Since I’m still chipping away and don’t have anything quite ready to show you yet I thought I’d share 5 healthy snacks that I often have on repeat. I know.. I’m totally switching gears. But also not, because it’s January. And in January we all try to organize our homes and eat healthy, right? See how I tied those two things together? I’m tricky like that.

So healthy snacks! I use the word “healthy” loosely. I’m not sharing anything too fancy.. no organic tofu surprise. Just simple things I like to eat that are on the “healthyish” side. We all know I’m not a food expert by any means. And I have so many things I’m trying to work on when it comes to eating healthy and exercise.

Like how I need to eat healthy and exercise. Ha.

But all joking aside, one thing (maybe the only thing) I have figured out is how to maintain my weight. I’ve weighed the same weight (within 5 pounds) for the last 20 years (aside from pregnancies). Like a lot of people I struggle to lose weight! But I’ve got the “maintain” part down. I’ve managed to do that a few ways and one of them is by finding things I like to snack on during the day that taste good to me and don’t pack on the pounds. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite snacks to give you some ideas if you are also trying to eat healthy in 2019!

*affiliate links used

One of my favorite breakfasts/snacks has always been blueberries and strawberries with Vanilla Greek Yogurt. (Light & Fit is my favorite brand).

If I’m getting really crazy I’ll add granola. I’m sure there are healthier granola options out there, but this Quaker Simply Granola is quick, easy and delicious and since I’m just sprinkling some over the top I’m not too worried about the extra sugar.

So good and really filling!

A friend of mine introduced me to these Balanced Break snacks about a year ago and I’m obsessed with them! I’ve seen them in the grocery store, but I always get these larger packs at Costco for a lot less.

It’s just cheese and nuts and cranberries.. something I’d fix for myself but I love that they are portioned so that I don’t over eat.

Each one is 180 calories and they always seem like they are just filling enough to get me by until the next meal.

If you’ve read this blog for longer than a hot minute you know that I’m a popcorn lover. I have been my whole life! Most blog posts you read have been written while I munch on popcorn. Fun fact you probably didn’t care about. :)

We always have these Skinny Pop bags of popcorn on hand. This isn’t the most filling snack, but they are so tasty and perfect for those times that you just want to eat something to eat something. I seem to have a lot of times like that. ;) For a mere 100 calories you can snack away hungry or not!

My kids love them too and take them to school a lot! (You can see my organized pantry here.)

I know that it’s winter and most of you are more in hot chocolate mode than popsicle mode, but as soon as it’s warm enough in your neck of the woods you have to try Yasso bars if you haven’t yet! SO delicious! My girls and I are obsessed with them and couldn’t get enough last summer. They have so many yummy flavors (the mint chocolate chip is my personal favorite!). They taste way too good to only be 100 calories.

Ok.. this is something else I often do since I am trying to be more adult like and eat my vegetables. I know myself well and if healthy snacks are prepared and in my fridge ready to go, I’ll eat them. If not, I won’t take the time to wash and chop and dice. So once a week I try to prepare these little snacks that I can keep in the fridge and then I have no excuse not to eat some vegetables each day.

I like to use these Ziploc containers, but you can use anything that has compartments. They don’t always look the same – I just toss in whatever vegetables/fruit I have on hand. I do always add turkey (because I love turkey) and I always put a hard boiled egg in a few of them. (Addison is allergic to eggs and my girls eat these too so I leave some eggless.) I haven’t been putting cheese and pretzels in them as much lately because I’ve found that they only stay fresh for a couple of days in the fridge and then the pretzels get soft and don’t taste as good.

These have been perfect for busy afternoons when I’m driving my kids around to activities. I can grab one and take it in the car with me to eat on the go! They are nice for when the kids are rushing too.

So those are 5 healthy snacks ideas for you! Things you can usually find to eat at our house. :)

Another thing I started doing about 6 months ago that has helped me and my girls drink more water is keeping these glass water bottles in the fridge.

They come in a pack of six and you can order them here.

I labeled them and gave each of us two bottles. The girls know these don’t leave the house. They are just to have at home and we are each in charge of re-filling our own two bottles when they are empty and putting them back in the fridge.

They keep the water nice and cold and so many times I go to my fridge for a Coke Zero and then open it and see these bottles and say “ok.. ok.. water instead.” Of course sometimes I open my fridge and say “no.. not today” and drink the Coke Zero, but life wouldn’t be fun if we did what we’re supposed to do ALL the time right?

What goals would we have to set each January?

;)

Aside from eating healthy snacks and exercise, one thing that has helped me maintain my weight is my 5 pound rule. I just don’t let myself gain more than 5 pounds. Sometimes I don’t worry about it and eat what I want, but then as soon as my jeans start to feel too tight I kick it in high gear and start eating better. If I know I’m going to dinner at night I always eat a really light breakfast and lunch that day because I like to enjoy myself when I eat out! I’m just constantly managing it and don’t let myself get too out of control.

When my jeans are tight and it’s time to kick it into high gear I snack on the things I shared above and then I eat a lot of fajitas. (I shared the recipe here.)

And chicken!

Now that I know how to cook PERFECT chicken it has definitely been on repeat around here.

I mean just look at that!

And don’t I look so confident!? Ha. This picture right here sums up my life long experience with cooking! But despite my insecurities, the chicken is good. Maybe not perfect.. but good. :) And it helps me keep my AG jeans fitting how I want them to.

Always a bonus. ;)

Enjoy your day everyone! May it be full of organizing and Skinny Pop.

p.s. If you have a favorite healthy snack that’s always on repeat at your house I’d love to hear about it!

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

01.13.19

Boy’s Bedroom Update!

Do you love how my last post was like “let’s take on the world and organize all the things!” And then radio silence for a week? Turns out I had to push pause on taking on the world. ;)

I started the week with so much energy and got the last of my Christmas put away. Which is no small feat because as you all know.. I had a lot of Christmas up in this house! These reindeer were the last to head up to our attic. I didn’t want to keep them in the garage because I want to finish off that space this year and I really didn’t want to take them apart and have to put them back together again next year so up they went fully assembled!

Of course.. when you give a mouse a cookie. :) Bringing the reindeer up fully assembled meant I needed to move things around to make room for them which sparked a ~~minor~~ major re-organization of my attic. I was feeling so energized! All things January and Marie Kondo! I decided I could get rid of at least half of the things I was hanging on to in our attic.

After just a few hours in the attic I had filled my laundry room and a good part of my mudroom with things that could go to Goodwill. I was feeling so accomplished! Then Kenny left to San Francisco for work for the rest of the week and our schedule got busy and Kole came home sick and then Addison came home sick. By Thursday I was sick, the attic was still a hot mess, stuff I was purging was all over the house and I couldn’t remember when I last washed my hair.

I wasn’t feeling so Marie Kondo anymore. All sparked joy had left the premises. ;)

But it’s a new week! My back-up support is home and this week is a fresh start with kids on the mend and hopefully some antibiotics for me. I have lots of projects I’m excited to kick off this year starting with getting a few bedrooms finished. El’s bedroom is getting a major makeover (more on that soon!) and Kole’s bedroom got a fun Christmas update that needed a few minor tweaks to look more like a boy’s bedroom again and less like the North Pole. :)

(Boys Bedroom Update)

Getting Kole’s bedroom put back together was my one accomplishment from last week before we all hit the couch and the cough medicine! One of my favorite places to get bedding (The Company Store) is having their semi-annual white sale. Everything for the bedroom and bathroom is marked down – sheets, comforters, pillows blankets, towels. I have shopped at the Company Store since my girls were babies and love their products so I’m thrilled to partner with them on this post and share a few fun things I got from the sale for Kole’s bedroom and bathroom!

First up.. new sheets and pillows! I brought back his orange lamps so it was time for the red sheets to go until next year. These 450 thread-count solid sateen flat sheets are so soft! This color is sliver and looks great in his bedroom against the white, navy and darker grey. Plus they are wrinkle free (always preferred!). I also picked up two of their Best Down Pillows.. so soft.

I got this washable wool blanket in dark grey to add some contrast to his bedding and to throw over him on these colder January nights. I feel like we are actually having a winter this year in southern Cal! Exciting stuff! We are really enjoying our fireplaces and sweaters for a change.

His comforter under the bear duvet cover was an older one we’ve had for years so I updated it to my favorite comforter from the Company Store. The Legends Luxury Royal Baffled Comforter – medium warmth.

It’s the same one we have in our master bedroom and is so comfy! I talked more about it in my post on 5 Tips to Create a Relaxing Bedroom.

I also picked up this cozy cotton fleece blanket in light grey because my kids love sleeping in our playroom/theatre room sometimes on weekends and I knew it would be perfect for slumber parties.

But I liked it so much it’s currently on my bed under our comforter and now I have no plans to move it. Sorry kids. Maybe next time. ;)

Nothing like crisp, clean, new sheets!

His bathroom got a little re-fresh with some of my favorite white Chevron towels and these cute gray stripe bath accessories.

You can see more pics of Kole’s bathroom here.

I love white towels. When we all use white towels it’s easy to toss them all in the wash together and knock them out in one load! A little productivity tip. :)

These are the same towels I use the most in our master bathroom that I first shared in our Evening Routine post. I love the look and how quick drying they are!

I put Kole’s duvet cover back on his new comforter and love it with the new sheets and blanket.

So sophisticated I had to put a few stuffed animals out or I’d cry!

My baby is growing up. (tear)

I have a few more small things I want to add to his room and then I can check this space off as done and move on to the next project. So many fun things I’m excited to work on this year!

And just like that, I can feel my sparked joy coming back.

;)

*All of Kole’s other room sources are listed at the end of my Year Review post HERE.

Huge thank you to The Company Store for sponsoring this post and for one of my favorite sales of the year!

xoxo, Erin

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