Erin, Author at The Sunny Side Up Blog

Family

07.10.19

Our Trip To Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a nice 4th of July weekend! I’ve missed you all. :) Crickets have been chirping on the blog for a week but with good reason! A lot has been happening behind the scenes. I’m finally finishing up a few projects around here that I’m excited to share. And today was a BIG shopping day! I was able to hit the Nordstrom Anniversary sale early and you guys.. so many fun things this year! Really dangerous. I can’t wait to share everything I’m loving with you all! Get ready for a full re-cap of my favorites early Friday when the pre-sale hits! Fun things coming to the blog this month. YEA. :)

Before I share some home updates and my favorites from the N sale, I wanted to first share some pics of the recent trip our family took to Steamboat Spring, Colorado. I mentioned our trip on IG/stories and had lots of requests to share details. I’m so happy to do that because it honestly was the best trip! I love Steamboat Springs! Such a charming city and a great spot to take the family for a fun, low key family vacation. If you’ve ever thought about visiting Steamboat Springs I would definitely recommend it!

Kenny and I visited Steamboat Springs for the first time about two years ago on a trip with our friends to see the Fall leaves. This city feels like it’s straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie to me! Such a cute downtown area surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and greenery. We had a great time with our friends and the whole trip we kept saying “oh the kids would love this!” So we planned a trip this summer to visit again with the kids.

We were gone six days but two of the days were mostly travel so we had four full days in Steamboat Springs. I’ll share a little re-cap of what we did each day. We’ve learned over the years that if we want our family trips to run smoothly we need to plan at least one activity/outing each day (preferably in the morning!). We all love having low key, unstructured time but if there’s too much of that or if we spend too long laying around in the morning it’s easier for kids to start fighting or to get bored/irritable so we try to plan one activity for each day. Nothing huge.. but something that gets us up and out the door and starts our day off fun. Then we can spend the afternoons doing more low key unstructured things. This is just what has always worked best for us when we travel with our kids!

For both trips we stayed at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas (we have a time share with Westin in Maui and these villas are part of that network). Right behind the Sheraton Villas is a ski lift that holds a mountain coaster and other fun activities during the summer months. We knew our kids would love it!

So the first day we were there we all slept in (hello vacation) and then once everyone was up and going we stepped out the back door and hit the rides!

The mountain coaster was crazy fast and it was such a blast! We bought a day pass to all the rides that lets you do everything and ride the coaster as many times as you want. By the end of the day I was almost sick we rode that thing down the mountain so many times! Such a highlight for my kids.

They loved all of the activities. Kole’s favorite was spinning and playing in the large balls in the water. Especially because dad did it with him. :)

They all loved the trampoline time too!

There were other fun tube slides.

And the boys had a great time playing a few rounds of mini golf. While the girls and I rode the mountain coaster.

Again. :)

There were also scenic chair lift rides and you can mountain bike down the mountain but we didn’t make it that far!

Such a fun day. Most afternoons/evenings after our planned activity we would go out to dinner, watch movies and hot tub. :) Our villas had a hot tub on the top level of the building and when we would sit in it at night you could see the whole mountain side lit up by the moon. It was so beautiful!

Day two of our trip we went hiking. Kenny and I love hiking and we especially love hiking in Colorado. It’s such a beautiful state in the summertime and Steamboat is full of amazing hiking trails. Our kids sometime grumble about hiking, but as soon as we get them moving they always end up enjoying it. We pretty much force them to love fresh air and the great outdoors. ;)

Kole picked out the lovely hat at a gas station along the way and had to bring it and his lamb along for the ride. I love his quirkiness.

This was the Fish Creek Falls hike and the waterfall was breathtaking!

View from the bottom. It was a cloudy day but we lucked out and didn’t get rained on! Colorado weather is so unpredictable. It would be sunny and hot one minute and then cold and rainy the next. Always a nice change for us because we live in a city that is 75 degrees and sunny ALL YEAR LONG. We don’t even check the weather anymore. Snooze fest. :)

We went on several other random hikes during our trip and these are a few pictures I snapped along the way with my phone.

My husband and I both grew up in Utah and spent a lot of time camping, hiking, fishing and snow skiing as kids. We love the mountains and even though we enjoy our lives now in San Diego living with palm tress next to the beach, the mountains always feel like we are coming back home. :) My husband would love to retire in Utah or Colorado and tries to get me to move to CO every time we visit. This last trip he even told me he’d let me build again if we could move to CO which is saying a lot because he was NOT a fan of the building process!

Maybe someday.. :)

Sneaking in a little couple chat time with the kids hiking ahead of us. :)

Day three was such a great day. I couldn’t wait to take the kids to the Strawberry Park Hot Springs! I had done some research before this trip and the hot springs sounded like such a neat place to visit. There was a cool hike next to the springs so we enjoyed the hike first and then ended at the springs.

The scenery was so beautiful! 104 degree mineral water! All natural. I heard that at night they don’t allow kids because people skinny dip! Happy to be there during the day. Ha.

The day we went was a little chilly so the hot water felt especially relaxing.

El snapped this pic. I could have swam around in the hot water for hours! But about an hour after we got there it started to rain. The kids were just starting to get out so the timing actually worked out perfect for us.

{outfit details including our twin grey shoes in this post!}

We went back to our villas and showered and then went out for dinner. After dinner it started raining again so we took the kids to see Aladdin. :)

Our 4th and last day of the trip was the absolute favorite. I booked a rafting trip down the Colorado river! The Yampa river flows through Steamboat and I was originally thinking we’d raft or tube down that river, but the water was too high when we were there from all the rain so we booked a day trip down the CO river and I’m so glad we did!

The weather was absolutely beautiful. Sunny with a slight chill in the air. We all had such a blast! The river was calm for the most part but we hit some really fun rapids along the way and my kids loved it more than I could have imagined. We all took turns “riding the bull” (sitting on the front of the raft where you are impacted by the waves the most).

By the end of the trip we were all soaked and our cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling so much! All 3 of our kids were so sad when the river trip ended and can’t wait to do it again. With “even more and bigger rapids next time!”

We’ll see. :)

The best day. One I’ll never forget!

On the side of the river for a lunch break. Not our best selfie.. but it was a nice attempt. These two! They keep things interesting. That’s for sure. :) Love my girls.

Our trip to Steamboat Springs was so much fun and we can’t wait to visit again. There are so many fun outdoor family activities. If we would have had one more day we would have rented bikes to ride along the Yampa River! Next time for sure.

Family trips can feel a little stressful to pull off sometimes with the cost, planning and scheduling around ALL the things, but they are always so worth it. I’m so grateful for the memories made with these 4 in Steamboat Springs! One of our favorite trips to date.

If you’ve been to Steamboat Springs I’d love to hear your favorite things to do there in the summer! I have a feeling this trip won’t be our last. :)

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

07.02.19

4th of July Porch (new rocking chairs!)

*This post is sponsored by POLYWOOD. All furniture selections and opinions are my own!

Happy July! I spent some time this weekend giving the front of our house a little patriotic update. Bring on the festivities.. we are ready for the 4th!

This fun update was inspired by the new black rocking chairs on my front porch. I’m so excited about them! I’ve been trying to figure out what to put on my front porch for years. I tried a bench in this spot (borrowed one from the back yard!) but I didn’t love it and I knew I eventually wanted something black to match our doors and shutters. Then last month POLYWOOD reached out to me to work together and I honestly did a happy dance in my living room because I love their outdoor furniture! Really high quality, durable furniture made out of recycled plastic materials.

Plus they have so many fun styles to choose from! I ordered this set for our backyard that I’ll share pictures of soon and then I chose the Braxton 3-Piece Rocking Chair Set for my front porch. There were so many fun rocking chair styles but I fell hard for this set because I LOVE the X back chairs! They could not be more perfect for this spot on our porch. (They come in lots of color options too!) And yes.. I’m aware that the greenery in our front yard has turned into a jungle. Ha. It’s covering half of our porch! Now that I have my rocking chairs I’m planning to cut everything back this week so that there’s room to walk. Nothing like new furniture to inspire a little yard work. :)

I’m not the only one in my family who is excited about these rocking chairs. Addison has a new favorite spot to read! She has a list of books she has to read this summer for school next year and at least once (sometimes twice) a day last week I found her sitting out here rocking and reading. Kenny also told me yesterday how much he loves the rocking chairs. This porch is now his new favorite spot to sit and cool off after his evening runs. I have to admit.. I picked out these rocking chairs thinking about how cute they would look on the porch and how fun they would be to decorate for holidays.

Bonus that my family is really using and loving them. ;)

I love the little table that came with them. Perfect to hold a lemonade and a splash of holiday decor!

They really are so comfortable. I’m thrilled I finally have my porch furnished!

You can see in this pic how bad I need to cut back the greenery. It’s taking over! I love this time of year when everything in the yard grows like crazy and our mudroom dutch door is always open with a soft breeze flowing through the house.

Hello summer. So happy you’re here. :)

I got really tricky with my red and blue banners and hung them with some.. wait for it.. painters tape. :)

Then I put up our flag and watered the red potted geraniums on my front porch and done! 4th of July ready.

I snapped this picture quick last night after I pulled into our garage. My kids were home alone for an hour (Ellie was in charge) and they had turned on almost EVERY light in the house. Kenny and I were just shaking our heads and laughing pulling up. Griswold Christmas lights moment! You could see our house from a mile away. They just go from room to room doing their thing and leave all of the lights on as they go. We had to have another talk about energy conservation. Wasn’t the first and won’t be the last! But it did highlight my new decor and make for a pretty picture so I couldn’t be too hard on them. ;)

Grateful I get to spend another 4th with this guy.

And with the photo bomber and her two partners in crime in the back. :)

*Huge thank you to POLYWOOD for sponsoring this post and gifting me the furniture. We couldn’t love it more!

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

07.01.19

Organized Cleaning Closet and Cute Skirts

(CURRENT PROJECTS PRINTABLE)

Summer is well on its way! I can tell by how quickly I’m going through my dry shampoo. :) I have so many projects going on right now it’s kind of ridiculous! I wish I was better at focusing on one project until it’s done but for some reason when a moment of ambition hits me instead of finishing a previous project, I start something new! I’ve had lots of ambitious moments this week.. ha.. so I’m a bit scattered around here to say the least. Tonight I printed out my Current Projects printable to help me get back on track so I thought I’d share it quick again with all of you in case I’m not the only one feeling a tad scattered this summer! Please tell me I’m not alone. ;) I’m picking 3 projects (this printable pictured is an older one.. new projects!) and detailing what I need to do to finish them. Then I’m not moving on to more projects until my top 3 are DONE! Ok.. just sharing that with all of you helps me feel less scattered. Now we can move on to organized closets and cute skirts!

Ok.. maybe we’re still a tad scattered. ;)

I’m trying to spend at least 15-20 minutes a day organizing this summer. There are so many spots in my home that just need a little re-fresh and this stair closet was one of them!

Here’s the “BEFORE.” Not awful.. just neglected as of late. :)

“AFTER.” 20 minutes later it was back in shape! A lot of it was garbage or items that belonged somewhere else but were stuffed in here because of lack of time or laziness. :)

One last before and after..

And yes.. I have a closet inside a closet. Why not? :) It holds some of my most used cleaning supplies. Happy I can easily walk in this space now and find what I need!

The closet makeover that has made the biggest impact this summer?

Our little organized pool and toy closet. Another simple clean out that I’m grateful I took the time to do because it has made our pool days run much smoother!

Now Kole can find his Star Wars floatie and shovels to use for paddling with ease. ??

Don’t ask because I don’t know. We are one day at a time around here.

*affiliate links used

Moving on. :) I’ve been on the hunt for some cute skirts this summer that are lightweight and cool and found so many pretty options! This Bias Cut Midi skirt is a favorite! So flattering and soft and I love the length. I found two black tops I love that I’ve been rotating. This Puff Sleeve Crepe Top is such a beautiful staple! The detail in the sleeves and neck are so pretty. It’s fitted but not tight.. perfect to wear out or tucked in. This pink leather hobo bag has been perfect when I need a bag that holds ALL the things for me and the kids and I’ve been in love with these black Odila Sandals for quite a while now! They are so comfortable for a heel.

Same skirt with a different top and purse! This Jaccii Embellished Neck Fitted Tee is one of my most favorite tees I’ve bought in a while! It’s such a perfect high quality fitted tee. Also really comfortable and just like the top above the neckline is gorgeous! I love it dressed up with a skirt but it also looks great with jeans for a night out. Closet staple!

This outfit has been worn a time or twenty. :)

This same Bias Cut Midi Skirt comes in other patterns and I tried it in the animal print but I ended up returning it! I don’t know you guys.. I just can’t get into animal/leopard prints! I know it’s such a popular print for clothes and home decor and I love the look when I see it on other people.. but it’s just not me. Now camo.. that’s a different story. I guess I’m the hunter and not the hunted in this scenario. (Clearly I’m blogging too late at night again..) Anyway.. cute skirt in whatever print you’re feeling! And you can see how my black fitted tee works so well tucked in.

Not feeling leopard, but polka dots I can do! This High Waist Midi Skirt is darling! So fun for summer.

If I could change one thing I would make the slip underneath just a tad longer, but other than that it’s perfect. It also comes in an ivory and a black floral pattern that I love. The buttons are such a fun touch and I love the slit! Feminine and lightweight for summer.

Last skirt! This is the Print Bias Cut Skirt and it’s another favorite. I love the black creme dot.. some pattern but not too crazy. It’s got a cute shape and is the perfect length – not too long for the short girls like me and would hit right below the knee if you’re taller. It also comes in a tiger print! Which you won’t see me in. ;) But you do you!

And keep enjoying your summer. More randomness and hopefully some finished projects coming soon.

{POST SOURCES}

xoxo, Erin

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Fashion

06.26.19

Summer Fashion

*This post is sponsored by Nordstrom. All outfit choices and opinions are my own! Affiliate links used.

Summer fashion! But before we get started I have to apologize.. we are knee deep in “June gloom” here on the coast which means cool temps with all clouds and no sun. I’m not a fan! It makes taking pictures a little tricky so sorry for darker than usual pics. Today I just gave up pretending it’s summer and put on my sweats (cute sweats you’ll see below) and lit my pumpkin spice Fall candle. I know that in October when I want it to be cool and cloudy it will be 80 degrees and sunny so I decided that I’d just flip the seasons. If San Diego can do it.. so can I. Don’t be surprised if you start to see pumpkins popping up around my house next week. ;)

(Stripe Sweater/AG jeans/similar Earrings/Tory Burch Bag/Tory Burch bracelet/Similar Sandals)

So since it’s Fall for me, I’ll just go ahead and kick things off with sweaters. ;) Madewell sweaters are my favorite. Light and comfortable. (Perfect for Summer OR Fall.) My cute stripe sweater just went on sale!

This Marin Tie Front sweater is seriously perfection. Have you all trusted me yet and tried one? If you have, you’re welcome. :)

I decided to get wild and crazy and try out a new mirror for my fashion posts. What do we think? I’m not sure about this new plan because it means I have to make my bed. Ha. This was the only pic I took here. I’m not a bed maker. I should be. You would think I would be as much as I love a clean house, but nope.

This Iris Fluttersleeve Blouse is so beautiful! I haven’t had it long, but it’s already almost sold out. Comes in other colors and they also have it in plus size AND it comes in a sleeveless version. Next to Madewell, CeCe is becoming a favorite brand of mine for tops! They have so many cute options for summer. I also love a white purse in the summer and I’ve been watching for Rebecca Minkoff bags to go on sale. This cute purse and this one are similar to mine (love them both) and are marked down!

Perfect outfit for last weekend’s date night! Kenny is loving the new Adidas sneakers I got him for Father’s Day. :)

My flutter sleeve is another fun summer top! I love it in white too. This hobo bag is also fun and a great price if you are looking for a larger purse. Perfect mom bag to hold all the summer things! And my Madewell Triangle drop earrings are on sale! They look good with so many tops. I wear them at least 3 times a week!

(Embroidered top/linen joggers/similar earrings/strappy sandals)

In my last fashion post I shared these cute linen jogger pants and I found such a fun summer top to go with them!

Ad snapped this with my phone on our way out the door. Worst lighting. Sun! My blog and I need you to re-appear! :)

This eyelet baby doll top is another fun summer option. Really light weight and it comes in lots of colors. It’s longer in the front and back. (I linked similar straw bags at the end of this post!)

In my last post I shared some fun things for the 4th of July and this firecracker tee had to come home with me! I’ve had the grey sneakers for a while now and knew they would be perfect with this top for a full day of outdoor activities. These shoes are so comfortable!

(Bardo Sneaker/Odila Sandal)

I bought them when I bought these black Sam Edelman sandals that I’ve loved with skirts/dresses. Two pairs of shoes I’ve been wearing a lot the past few months! They are both really comfortable.

Addison actually has the grey sneakers too! Hers aren’t quite as clean as mine. :) She loves them! So fun now that my girls are venturing into my size/style of clothes.

Ad likes to dress like me so the two of us especially have fun with it. El borrows some of my stuff but for the most part isn’t into fashion. She also doesn’t love having her picture taken (I know.. is she really mine!?) ;) so she has become a dedicated photographer. Ha. She’ll come around on the clothes and when she does.. I’ll get her a pair of these grey sneakers too. :)

Ok.. we have to talk Zella joggers quick. Eek! They are getting in fun new styles for summer! I’ve tried them all (seriously.. Zella joggers are my favorite) and these Urban Cargo joggers are my top pick. They are selling fast but I have a feeling they will come back in stock as most Zella joggers do so watch for them! You’ll want a pair of these for sure. They do run a little big (I usually am a small in Zella joggers but the xs fit in these) so try one size down. I also LOVE these Desire Recycled crop pants! I have them in green but haven’t taken a pic yet. SO cute. And the Taryn Recycled joggers are long time favorites. (I always wear them when I travel!)

El was giving me a hard time a few weeks ago. She said “Ad look.. mom is in her Zella joggers gain.. must be summer! Now that’s all we’ll see her wear for 3 months.” I just nodded and said “exactly!” They really are my favorite in the summer because they are so lightweight and comfortable. In this pic I’m wearing the joggers with this Twisted Puff Sleeve Tee. So cute! This Puff Sleeve top is almost identical.

Same shirt in black. Same joggers. Different day. Summer wardrobe. :)

Ok.. since we’re talking joggers I have to tell you about this pair too. These performance joggers are so cute and flattering! A little more fitted and warmer than the Zellas but also so comfortable. Just give me ALL the joggers this summer please. I bought these in black too I love them so much and I’m wearing them right now as I type this post. :)

(Ruffle-hem pajama top/Ruffle-hem pajama shorts)

Another summer favorite are these Madewell pjs. I love this set to throw on quick when I get out of the shower and need to blow dry my hair before I get dressed. Does anyone else like cooler clothes for blow drying? :) So nice to have a pair of comfy shorts and a matching top for stuff like that around the house. There are so many cute summer pj’s in right now. I linked my 5 favorite sets below!

(Rainbow trim lounge pants/No end to my rainbow sweatshirt)

But remember.. it’s actually Fall right now for me. (sigh) I’ve been wearing this set of pjs the most lately! Even though I’m not excited to still be in full on sweats, at least they are RAINBOW sweats. That takes the sting out of it. ;) Honestly these pants and this sweatshirt are so incredibly soft and comfortable I’m happy to be living in them right now.

Another day in the life at my office. ;)

Ok.. I’d love to hear.. what is your favorite item from this post? Anything you are excited to order? I love your feedback! The Nordstrom Anniversary sale is right around the corner.. anyone else excited? I’ll have no problem shopping for Fall clothes in our recent weather. ;) Remember to sign up for your card to gain early access if you haven’t already because the good stuff goes so fast! I’ll get my favorites posted quick for those of you who shop the sale. :)

*Thank you Nordstrom for sponsoring this post and for selling ALL the cute joggers to make my summer dreams come true. It doesn’t take much. ;)

{POST SOURCES}

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

06.23.19

4th of July Favorites!

Hello hello! We’re back. We took a quick family vacation to Colorado last week once the kids were all out of school and it felt so good to kick off summer by taking a break from the routine and spending time in the great outdoors. :) It really was such a fun trip with the kids so I’m going to share a post soon on what we did. I’m always looking for fun new places to visit with the family and this was a trip I would highly recommend! I’ve been busy the past two days getting unpacked, laundry and groceries done and prepping for a new summer routine. So excited for slower days! I have some fun projects I’m working on that I’m excited to share and one of them is sprucing things up around here for the 4th of July.

{4th of July Outdoor Decor}

We usually go to Utah for the 4th to spend it with family but with the way our vacations fell we are going to be home this year so I’m excited to pull out all of the red, white and blue!

I spent some time looking on-line for fun ideas for decorating and things to wear and there are so many cute things in right now I thought I’d share them with you! A lot of them are on sale before they’re gone for the holiday. YEA.

So if you’re looking for some fun dishes for your summer BBQ or the perfect shirt and shoes to wear for that 4th of July parade I’ve got you covered. :) All of my favorites for the 4th are linked below!

p.s. So happy to hear that many of you enjoy the simple organizing posts! Excited to check off my “to-organize” list and share the progress. Bring on summer! :)

*Affiliate links used

xoxo, Erin

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Organization

06.13.19

Organized Kitchen Cupboards

*affiliate links used

We made it! Two of my kids have been out all week and tomorrow is my oldest daughter’s last day of school. I’m picking her up around noon after her French final and we are officially DONE. I swear we are always the last people on the planet to finish the school year! But I guess it makes the victory that much sweeter. :) To officially kick off our summer I’m sharing some organized kitchen cabinets with you all today! I know.. I’m a party ANIMAL. Ha. Really though, sometimes posts like this with a few simple before and afters are just the motivation I need to inspire more organizing and I have a list of spaces I’m determined to tackle this summer! The above cupboard was how my cabinet looked about a year ago. Nice and organized with my older dishes.

But before long it was looking a little disheveled and getting new dishes this year (this set and this set) made me excited to whip it back in shape!

I love pulling things out of my kitchen cupboards and giving them a good wipe down. Nothing like a clean slate!

And now?

Ta-da! Such a happy cupboard. I smile every time I open it! And I open and close this particular cupboard A LOT. It has really made me think about how it’s especially important to organize the spaces in our homes we are in and out of constantly throughout each day. That little pick me up every time you encounter an organized space can make a big difference in your overall mood and sanity. Especially if you’re opening that organized cupboard to fix your kids snack #356.

Summer.. I’m ready for you. You will NOT get the best of me this year!

Next to my main dish cupboard is a skinny cupboard that holds all of our glasses/mugs. I gave it a quick clean out too. Don’t ask me why I have some cups facing up and some facing down. I’m a mystery even to myself at times.

Then I pulled out all of our silverware and washed out the containers and drawer and put it back together nice and organized. (I’m loving these cute salad servers btw if you need a good set! And this is hands down the best pizza cutter. Trust me on this one. We eat A LOT of pizza.)

Do you see how there are only 6 pink bowls in this cupboard? I’m so sad. I dropped one and broke it last week!

It’s from this cute set of dishes I used for my Spring/Summer tablescape and I need 8 for this table! Bummed I couldn’t just buy a new bowl.. I had to order another set of 4. I guess at least now I’ll have back-ups ~~when~~ if I break more.

These pink bowls have become favorites for morning cereal and were also fun to use for a little ice cream sundae bar for Addison and some friends last week so really I’m happy to have extras!

Sweetest girls. Love them.

I was on a roll with my organized dishes so I decided to tackle the cupboards above our micro drawer. They hold extra dishes and whatever my kids toss in them and are usually a mess! Above is a lovely “before.”

And after.. so much better! I got rid of a lot of dishes and canisters I wasn’t using anymore. I love having only the things I really use in my cupboards. Best feeling!

The cupboards below roll back and hold our most used small appliances.

Here’s a pic of this section of my kitchen. I’m hoping to give the lower cabinets a little re-fresh soon!

I got my pots and pans under control in January.

And I cleaned up the these drawers below my open shelving a couple of months ago. I use them to hold my nice dish towels, flower food packs and extra random kitchen gadgets. (Trays and bowls are a great solution to corral like items inside of drawers!)

The cupboards below I also organized in January and they still look the same. You know you’ve set up a good system when it’s easy to KEEP it organized after the initial clean out.

So that’s it! Kicking off the summer with some organized cupboards and drawers in the kitchen! It’s a good feeling.

Do you all like posts like this one sharing simple organizing?

I tend to do a lot of organizing in the summer for a few reasons. 1 – We’re home more.. which I love! Less running around to all the activities and more of my kids just hanging out with each other and friends which gives me small pockets of time for organizing. 2 – Summer can be hard in terms of productivity when you’re entertaining kids all day and organizing something quick gives me that accomplished feeling. I’ve learned that is really important for my overall mood/happiness. (I spoke more about this in my 10 habits of happy moms post!) And 3 – It’s a control thing for me. I may not be able to control the chaos and constant mess circling around me during the summer, but you better believe I can control what my pots and pans and dishes look like inside the cupboard!

Kind of silly.. but it helps. :) So let me know if you want me to share more posts like this one!

I mentioned on the phone to Kenny the day I broke my pink bowl that I was bummed because I needed a set of 8 and now I just had 7. When he got home that night and opened the cupboard to get out a plate he noticed there were 6 and said “I though you only broke one bowl.. was it two? Why are there only 6 pink bowls in here?” My response? “I mean.. look how organized that cupboard is.. I wasn’t going to put 3 pink bowls on one side next to 4 on the other. It would have thrown everything off. That would be crazy.” Then I got that slightly worried side eye look he always gives me when my OCD tendencies come out to play and he answered “yeah.. THAT would be crazy.”

It really would!

The craziest.

{KITCHEN SOURCES}

xoxo, Erin

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Gift Ideas

06.05.19

Father’s Day Gift Guide

Father’s Day always sneaks up on me because it hits right when we are just finishing the school year around here! I had a mild panic attack this Monday morning with all the things I needed to wrap up and get done this week. (I’m sure many of you moms have felt the same!) It has been busy, but Friday is near and I can feel the load lifting as each to-do and end of the year activity gets crossed off the list. I always get a little nostalgic and emotional this time of year too. So crazy to have another school year behind us.. they are flying by way too quickly! I’m so excited to have time with my kids this summer. I’m also excited for some down time with their dad! I don’t want to forget my sweet husband during all of this craziness so it’s probably a good thing that Father’s Day shopping happens in the middle of it all. :) I hope this gift guide is helpful for you! It’s full of all the things that my husband already has and loves along with things I’m getting for him this year. He knows not to read this post. :) Dads do so much.. it’s a treat to spoil them on their special day!

*affiliate links used

1 – Endurance/Into Thin Air – Books are always a safe bet for dads and these are two best sellers that look so good! Excited to give them to Kenny this year.

2 – Zella Zip Front Hoodie – A perfect hoodie for weekends or workouts! My husband has one that is similar and wears it all the time. Zella is always a win! This is my second favorite if you want to spend less (60% off!).

3 – Hayward Air Backpack – Ahhh! This awesome backpack is half off for just over $30! I just ordered it. :) My husband always uses his backpacks for hikes and travel.

4 – Nonstick Steel Grill Cookware Set – Ordering this for my husband because I want it for me! Such good reviews.. these look amazing for summer cooking!

5 – Gskyer Telescope – I’m always looking for fun activities that my husband will enjoy doing with my kids and this telescope looks amazing. Kole is so into space right now and I know the two of them would love exploring the stars and moon together!

6 – Volcom Board Shorts and Rainbow Flip Flops – Perfect gifts for dad to welcome summer! My husband likes both of these brands for suits and flip flops.

7 – Dad Bod T-Shirt – For the dad who loves a laugh! A fun tee to wear at the park or pool with the kids. :)

8 – Bose Wireless Sport Headphones – These are all the rage! If your husband is a runner he will love these. Sweat resistant and perfect for exercise!

9 – Stud Finder – Every handy dad needs a handy stud finder. :) One of my gifts for Kenny last year!

10 – Self-Leveling Green Cross Line Laser – This Laser Level Tool is a must have for home decor lovers! Or for those married to home decor lovers. Makes hanging ALL the things a breeze!

11 – Adidas Sneakers – I LIVE in my black Adidas sneakers (similar to these) so Kenny is getting this pair for father’s day so we can twin. I know twinning with me is a priority for him and I live to serve. Ha.

12 – Ecco Soft Lace-Up Sneakers – I’ve shared these before because they are such great shoes. Kenny has three pairs (the black, brown and blue) and I gave a pair to my bother for Christmas (he loves them too!). They look great with jeans and are so comfortable. Worth the price, but if you love them and want to spend less, this blue pair is half off!

13 – Slim-Fit Luxe Poplin Shirt – These slim-fit shirts from BR are my husband’s favorite! I love this color on him in the summer. :)

14 – GoSports Cornhole Bean Bag Toss Game – Another fun activity for dad and the kids! Our foosball table I mentioned in my playroom progress post is also a hit and a fun gift idea for dads.

15 – Smartcare Flat Front Shorts – I love all things “smart care” from Nordstrom because it means NO wrinkles! These shorts come in lots of colors and have high reviews. Perfect summer wear for dads!

16 – 4-Piece BBQ Tool Set and Storage Case – You can’t have a Father’s Day Gift Guide without a BBQ tool set so here is mine. ;) Really though.. always a fun gift. I gave Kenny a very similar set from WS a few years ago and he uses it all the time. Can’t wait for summer grilling!

17 – Men’s Shop Polo – Another go-to gift for Father’s Day. You can’t go wrong with a great polo! A staple for men and this particular polo is a great fit and comes in lots of colors.

18 – Weight Set – A fun gift option if your husband/dad wants to get in shape but doesn’t have time for the gym. There are so many fun sets to choose from! Kenny pulls his arm weights like these out in front of the TV at night often and lifts while we watch TV and I blog. We eat popcorn at the same time and are master multi-taskers. Ha.

19 – Flat Weight Bench (this bench also looks like another good option!) – Great for dad to get a full body workout from home!

20 – Modular Garage Tool Organizer – You all know how much I love a good organizer and this is perfect to keep tools organized and handy in the garage. I also have a hardware cabinet like this one that I love for all of the loose hardware! I’m sure my husband loves them as much as I do. Well.. almost as much. ;)

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

06.03.19

Playroom Update!

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I am giving my playroom a little re-fresh! To be honest I never really decorated this room after we moved in. I just tossed in some furniture we kept from our previous house, organized the toy closet, set up the tepee and we were ready to roll. :)

{Original Organized Playroom Post}

This room has been such a fun space for my kids and their friends.

A happy room they have used to play and pretend and create and mess up and clean up and mess up again.

But my kids are getting older and the pretend play is slowing down (tear). Our theatre room is right next to this room and this space has become more of a teen hangout room when my kids have friends over. It was due for an update!

*affiliate links used

So here is what this space looked like “before”.. when it was clean. :)

And this is what it’s looking like today! Obviously not done.. but progress has been made! The biggest progress was going through all of the toys and just keeping favorites and toys that Kole (my youngest) still plays with. An emotional job for me (and my girls!) but now that it’s done it feels so good to have space in this room to breathe. I gave my large yellow hutch to a close friend and feel so good that it’s in a happy home. It had become a junk collector in this room and was taking up so much space. I knew it had to go, but it was another sentimental item that was hard to part with. Letting go of sentimental items can be the hardest part of organizing, but it has to be done if we want to have homes that aren’t full of clutter and that truly serve our family’s current needs.

That’s what I keep reminding myself anyway. :)

So! Now that the hard part is over.. it’s time for the fun part. Decorating! The biggest change so far is the new couch! I considered a lot of different couches for this space and ended up going with this Cushy Lounge Sectional from PB Teen. I wanted something kid friendly and I love how this couch is modern, casual, comfy and low to the ground. It comes in lots of fabrics and colors and I chose the navy faux suede. So fun to mix it up and have a colorful couch!

Kenny and I camped out in the playroom late one night watching a movie and putting it together. Well. He put the couch together. I watched the movie and assisted. And by assisted I mean that I took pictures. :)

There are a few options for the base of this couch and I chose the Cushy Lounge Pedestal Base because I like the square legs. I chose Weathered White for the base color. It was pretty simple to assemble and the cushions just sit on top of the square bases.

I got an extra square for an ottoman..

but the coolest part of this couch is that you can slide the square cushions together and make one big couch bed. Kole is in heaven with this configuration. :)

I also couldn’t help snatching up this cute Awning Stripe Throw (on sale!). It comes in other colors and is so cute for summer! I know I’m jumping ahead of myself getting a throw for the couch before I’m finished with the main furniture, but those are the fun things I love looking for when I decorate a new space. I’m always anxious to get to the pillow and throw part of the job. :)

My next favorite find is this cute Callum Triple Wide Storage Set.

I knew once the yellow hutch was gone I would lose a lot of storage in this room. I didn’t need a lot more because I have the closet and pull out drawers in our wall, but I have plans for those and wanted a few extra spots for the kids’ stuff. This console is perfect! Drawers on the bottom for random toys.

And then I ordered 3 of these cute Shimmer Stripe Bins to go in the openings for additional storage. Perfect place to hide Kole’s video game controls.

I love how narrow this is on the side.. it’s perfect for wall space under a TV. It adds a lot of storage without taking up much room. I found and ordered this on-line when I ordered the couch and I’m so excited about them both!

The Foosball table is new and is staying in this room. We gave this to Kole for his birthday in March. He has wanted one for a while and we debated spending more on a really nice table for this room, but I just wasn’t sure how much Kole would actually play it. When I found this less expensive Foosball table with great reviews I decided to get it for now knowing we can update it later if he becomes a serious Foosball player. The funny part is that Addison and I are becoming the serious Foosball players. We honestly love this thing and play it every day! Ha. We’re trying to practice and get good enough to beat Kenny and Kole. It hasn’t happened yet but it will. We are determined. It will happen! I have no doubt our day will come. :)

I have a light fixture coming soon. I’m laughing at myself that I never bought one for this room! I thought I’d do it soon after we moved in. 5 years later.. one is on its way. :)

I also have a rug on its way. I’m not sure if I’ll love it in this room or not! I can’t ever really tell with rugs until they are in my spaces and I can see how they look. I mentioned before that I tried this diamond pattern rug that I love and is still sitting in the room, but it’s heading to my outdoor area.

So that’s where I’m at with the playroom! I hope you all like the updates so far. :) I’ll share pics of the rug and fixture when they come (if they are staying!) and I have some fun plans for the walls in this room that I need to get working on. We are wrapping up school this week and next and then I’m hoping I’ll have time to finish the playroom and theatre room (otherwise known as the kid zones!) so that they will be ready for ALL the friends coming over this summer.

Bring on the kids!

And send them upstairs.

;)

{POST SOURCES}

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

05.27.19

Summer Living Room Decor (I hereby declare)

Happy Monday! Oh wait.. it’s a Tuesday. Isn’t that the best!? I hereby declare that every weekend should be a 3 day weekend and every work week should start on a Tuesday. If only I had that power. :) I snapped some pictures of my living room in its current state a few days ago. I’ve been working on a few of our upstairs rooms lately so I haven’t done as much seasonal decorating, but a few small changes for summer are making me happy so I thought I’d share. :)

*All room sources are at the end of the post! Affiliate links are used. If you have questions about my paint colors you can download a printable with all of my home colors HERE.

My summer gallery wall pictures are up and new pillows are always a quick and easy way to update a room!

I shared these pillows in my Memorial weekend sale post. The texture! Don’t underestimate the power of texture and how much personality it brings into your space. Also I’m clearly having a thing for navy right now. I mean.. I’ve always had a thing for navy. But currently there is more navy in my home than ever before. It’s just speaking to me at the moment. And when a color speaks to me.. I listen. Unlike my husband who I tend to tune out. Kidding! Kind of. ;)

Hydrangeas! My favorite flower. Summer just wouldn’t be summer without fresh hydrangeas. I always just pick them up at the grocery store. Milk, eggs, hydrangeas, bread, fruit, popsicles, popcorn.. a day in the life. :)

I styled my shelves with a lot of neutrals and then just added a few pops of coral and pink throughout the room. These shelves are hands down the hardest for me to style! Practice makes perfect.. or so they say. Sometimes when it comes to me and shelf styling I feel like practice makes slightly better than the last time with a long way to go until perfect. But I’ll take it. And I know it’s a bit redundant to have a throw over each chair but you know what? I love my throws! And I couldn’t decide which one to use in this room so I used them both. I hereby declare that you can never have too many throws. I actually do have the power on that one. In my house at least. :)

This room is always my favorite room in the summer. Moms can you guess why? It’s the only room in my house that stays clean. It’s the first room you see when you walk into our home and it’s away from the main living areas so it’s usually safe from Kole’s 27 stuffed animals, El’s 14 water bottles and Addison’s 9 jars of slime. Sometimes I escape to this room in the summer and just sit on the couch or a chair (with a throw) and enjoy the clean while I count backwards from 20.

19.. 18.. 17..

and then I take a deep breath and head back to the slime.

This room might be ready for summer, but am I?

I hereby declare that this summer my kids will all get along and be perfectly content to entertain themselves. Their rooms will stay organized and they will fix their own snacks/meals and clean up after each one. They will do morning chores with a smile and will spend afternoons reading and in deep thought about how to better their home, school, community and country.

I hereby declare.

{ROOM SOURCES}

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

05.25.19

Our weekend and my favorites on sale!

{Similar black pots/navy striped porch rug/Hello mat} *affiliate links used

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying some down time this weekend. I’m so grateful for this special time to spend with my family and remember and honor those who have died while serving our country. I bought this flag about a year ago and finally installed it so that I could put it up this weekend. Seeing it every time I pull up to our house makes me feel so proud and grateful for the people who have served and continue to serve our country. I always feel that way but I’m loving the constant reminder.

Today was the first day in a long time that we didn’t have much going on. It was also the first time we’ve had sun this week! It was such a nice low key family day. We watched movies and swam in the pool (I think Kole could use one more ball in that hot tub..) and went on a drive and had milkshakes and I did a little organizing. I mean really.. does it get any better than that? :)

I was picking up the kitchen at one point and walked into the family room and saw this fun scene. Patriotic decor by Kole. I figured we could all gain a few take aways from this look to use for the 4th of July. You’ll definitely want to pin this and refer to it often. My couch has never looked so festive and inviting. Ha. ;) I love that boy.

I shared this Feta and Tomato dip recipe on IG stories but wanted to add it here for anyone who missed it! One of my favorite things to take to BBQs and to snack on in the summer. So easy and delicious! You can find the recipe here.

You guys.. I’m giving our playroom a little re-fresh and I’m so excited about it! Making it more of a teen space now that my kids are getting older. I bought this new rug and was going to share it when the room was a little further along, but it’s on sale for such an amazing deal this weekend (less than I bought it for!) so I wanted to share it now in case any of you love it too. It’s the Reflected Diamond rug from West Elm. I debated using it in the playroom, but now I’m thinking I’ll put it in our outdoor area to replace the rug that we’ve had there the past few years. I’m so grateful for all of the rain we’ve had this year but my outdoor rug has seen better days! I’ll share more playroom progress soon.

There are so many fun sales going on this weekend and I’ve rounded up favorites from my go-to stores (like these pillows I’m loving in my living room!). These are all things I have and love or are things I would love to pick up myself! Quite a few of them I already have. :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

{SERENA AND LILY} *everything is 20% off this weekend!

{POTTERY BARN} *buy more save more and free shipping!

{WEST ELM} *buy more save more and free shipping!

{NORDSTROM} *half yearly sale!

xoxo, Erin

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Organization

05.23.19

Cleaning Favorites (9 under 90!)

Happy Friday everyone! What a week. It was full of teenage nerves and emotions at our house with lots of things for my girls ending and tryouts for new things about to start. Kole looked up at me at one point during the week and said “mom.. I think it’s about time that you me and dad move out…” Ha! The funny part was that he wasn’t kidding and we almost took him up on his offer. ;) Thankfully we all survived the week and will live to tell about it, but this mom is looking forward to a calmer week ahead!

When I do have busy, stressful weeks I tend to turn to my go-to stress reliever.. cleaning and organizing! After girlfriend time it’s the best therapy out there. :) I thought it would be fun to share a few recent favorites in that category for my 9 under 90 series!

(All products are linked below! Affiliate links are used.)

1 – Micro Cleaning Cloths 2 – Scrub Daddy Scrubbers 3 – Bona (4 piece hardwood floor care system) 4 – Fridge and Freezer Bins 5 – Handheld Cordless Vacuum 6 – Battery Organizer Storage Case 7 – Mop and Broom Holder 8 – Pantry Labels 9 – Wayfair Basics Laundry Sorter

Number 1 and 2 my friends have raved about so I just ordered them both to try. Number 3 is my all time favorite for cleaning my wood floors. I have this exact set and have used and loved it since we moved into our new house! I just replace the main cleaner when I run out. (You can buy refills on Amazon or at Costco). Number 4 is a great deal on fridge organization favorites. Number 5 is an absolute staple. Number 6 is a recent favorite I’m loving that I shared in this favorites post. Number 7 is a must have for broom/mop organization. Number 8 – the cutest pantry labels I found for a steal! And number 9 – these are on sale and a perfect solution to get your laundry under control. I love my built-in hampers so much and these are the next best thing if you don’t have the room for built-ins.

I hope you enjoyed my 9 recent favorites! I’d love to hear if any of these are also on your favorites list!?

I got this Dyson handheld vacuum in the Fall and I’ve loved it so much! I use it almost every day for quick cleaning. I’m buying the one I shared above (less expensive and it has great reviews) to keep in my bedroom/bathroom. Handheld vacuums are perfect to have close by for cleaning out drawers, the car, small spills, etc. I’m a fan. :)

My last (and first!) 9 under 90 post was on cute Spring sandals and you can find links for all of the above sandals here if you missed it!

Also thank you for all of the kind words about my last tablescape post! I linked all of the dishes, etc. in that post but was flooded with questions about all of the other larger room sources so I’ll share links to them below! My table was from Restoration Hardware, but I’ll also link a less expensive farmhouse table that I found and love.

{DINING ROOM SOURCES}

I hope you have a great Friday! I have more to share with you all this weekend so pop back in soon! I’m looking forward to a few days of less driving and less drama. Fingers crossed that will be the case because I’m finally getting around to decorating a few spaces that have been on my list for years! It would be a serious shame if Kole makes me move out before I have time to finish.

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

05.21.19

Spring/Summer Tablescape

*Huge thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post! (Affiliate links used)
We are a low key family when it comes to meals and most of the time we eat dinner gathered around our kitchen island, outside when it’s warm or sometimes for me (when things are really busy like during the crazy month of May) fine dining takes place in my car. :) I know this about us so when we built our house I told my husband that we didn’t need a formal dining room. That it wouldn’t get used much and was a waste of space. He insisted that we add one to the plans and I have to say.. that is one debate I’m happy I lost! I have loved our formal dining room! This space gives me the opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone and entertain more. I used to never have people over to eat because I’m not a great cook and it always seemed too expensive and so much work.

I have found that is absolutely not true! Once I got past my own fears and just started doing it more I realized that it doesn’t matter what you’re serving or how fancy your table looks. It’s really just about bringing people together to relax, talk and enjoy each other’s company. I’ve had friends over to just have a big chicken salad for lunch or in the evening for pizza, chips and diet cokes! I’ve also learned that it’s not hard to set a beautiful tablescape for guests without spending much.

This entire Spring/Summer tablescape is from Walmart! Walmart you guys. I’m obsessed!

These beautiful pink and coral dishes are the Vintage Floral dinnerware set from the Flower Line Walmart did in collaboration with Drew Barrymore. I’ve been adding pops of navy, coral and pink to my home for the past couple of years so I was thrilled when I found these! (They also come in just pink and navy if you aren’t into coral.) I got new simple white dishes for my birthday this year and had been looking for a fun floral set to entertain with that didn’t cost too much. These are beautiful! I’m finally passing on the dishes we’ve been using for over 20 years since our wedding.

I love the larger simple plates too for every day. The set comes with these two plates, a pink bowl and a small navy bowl. I also got these cute gingham placemats from Walmart and love them with the floral plates! Gingham and floral is a fun summer combo. The gingham would be cute for the 4th of July too!

The clear glass vases I used for my centerpiece are also from Walmart. The two side vases were only $4 each! I picked up some flowers from the grocery store to make these arrangements but you could also just pop in some flowers or branches from your yard. I thought it might be fun to add some after dinner chocolates inside the small navy bowls. :)

Another favorite Walmart find are these cute gingham pillows! You guys.. I’m not joking – they are big and such amazing quality for $12! They come in other colors too. My friends didn’t believe me that all of this was from Walmart. I hardly believe it myself!

I also picked up this pretty pink throw to drape over my chair.

I found this beautiful navy vase for my console table and the navy ceramic side table is also from the Flower Line collection. I keep moving it around because it looks good in so many of my spaces.. outside too! I bought the coral ombre ceramic table for my family room. I LOVE them and they cost so much less than I’ve spend on similar garden stools. I still need to style my console table more but I’m so happy to have my art up! This room is finally coming together.

I moved one of my faux fig trees in this corner of the room and this macrame basket was perfect to hold it!

This basket is one of three (they came in a set) and I’m going to use the other two in our playroom or the kids’ rooms for stylish storage. So cute.. the Flower Line has these baskets in several color options! I’m telling you this line is too much fun.

The new art I got for my family room is also part of the Flower Line!

I hope you all like this Spring/Summer tablescape! The colors make me so happy. We are nearing the end of the school year and are in serious countdown mode. 2 weeks for Addison, 2 1/2 weeks for Kole and 3 weeks for Ellie. Easy breezy summer days are calling my name!

Time to get my husband grilling!

I’ll set the table. :)

{POST SOURCES}

{OTHER FLOWER LINE FAVORITES}

xoxo, Erin

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(CURRENT PROJECTS PRINTABLE)

{POST SOURCES}

{POST SOURCES}

{KITCHEN SOURCES}

{POST SOURCES}

{ROOM SOURCES}

{SERENA AND LILY} *everything is 20% off this weekend!

{POTTERY BARN} *buy more save more and free shipping!

{WEST ELM} *buy more save more and free shipping!

{NORDSTROM} *half yearly sale!

{DINING ROOM SOURCES}

{POST SOURCES}

{OTHER FLOWER LINE FAVORITES}

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