Happy long weekend friends! I hope you’re having a good one! I’m sharing some random summer pictures I had on my camera and iPhone with you all today to wrap up summer 2017. Then we are full steam ahead with all things organization! And pumpkin spice everything.
Seeing my kids’ swimsuits drying on our laundry room drying rack is always one of my summer favorites. :)
So is walking into a room and seeing this.
Again and again. Crazy how long they can hang like this.
Morning chores.
Our morning chores usually take WAY longer than they should. Not sure why…
;)
New flowers in our flower boxes!
Can’t get enough of this toothless smile.
I took these pictures at a summer wedding my girls were a part of.. waiting for the bride!
So happy for this beautiful girl and long time favorite babysitter. She saved me when we were building our house and feels like part of our family.
My girls got a little emotional. Happy for her, but also growing up and change is hard.
Such a special day that we were honored to be a part of.
Quick stop at In-N-Out to eat before Addie’s play! Wearing my recent favorite Ruffle Tee that I shared in this post. Kirk the dinosaur joined and was clearly ready for a cheeseburger. :)
Show time! So proud of our little Alice in Wonderland!
She was darling. #proudmom We had a crazy couple of weeks with lots of showings but it’s always worth watching her on stage. She loves it so much. And I love her. :)
So many of her darling friends came to see the play!
I had a hot date to most of the shows. El snapped this picture.
So then Kole insisted on taking a picture too. I think he has real potential for a career in photography.. you?
Friends! I’ve missed you! Crickets on the blog lately because the past two weeks have been just short of insane around here wrapping up summer and starting a new school year. Plus with the situation going on in Texas and Louisiana right now it has been hard to focus on a lot else. I am so heartbroken to see the devastation taking place. We have had to evacuate our home in the past two different times because of California wild fires so I know all too well the feeling of panic that comes when your neck of the woods is in danger. To see what some of these people are going through.. words can’t describe. I have several friends who live in Texas and have had to evacuate. I’m so grateful they are safe and I’m so grateful for organizations who are taking donations so that we can feel like we are doing something to help. If you live in an area affected by the floods please know you are all in our constant thoughts and prayers!
I know I said my favorite organized drawer was coming (and it is!) but because of life and recent events I got completely behind on my blog schedule (seriously.. why did I even attempt a blog schedule during the summer!?) so now I need to play catch up first. That post is coming soon! Along with TONS of other organization! I’m really excited about everything I have to share with you all this Fall! Summer was light on computer time but heavy on project time – lots going on around here and I’m so excited to finally have a minute to breathe and post about it all!
My girls started school Monday! 6th and 8th grade. Middle School! I can’t believe it. One in a sweatshirt hoodie and one in a dress. Typical! :) (Btw.. Ad’s dress is so cute and on sale right now for just $24!) They were both so excited to see their friends and meet new people. I always give my kids the same advice continually throughout the school year… to never be afraid to ask questions and to look for the kids who are new or need a friend. Addison came home from the first day and said “mom.. I made sure to reach out and was really nice to the new girls and included everyone, but does your advice apply to boys too? (Nose crinkled up) Do I have to be nice to the annoying boys?” Ha ha.. I told her yes! You don’t have to invite them to sit with you at lunch, but you can still be nice. ;) I guess I should be grateful that she still feels this way about boys because I know all to well that her opinion of them will change before I’m ready for it!
Speaking of boys! My little buddy started 2nd grade today! I just dropped him off a few hours ago and while it feels wonderful to have a quiet house and a minute to catch up, I’m already missing him. I can’t wait to pick him up and hear about his first day. He chose his red shirt and couldn’t wait to wear the new shoes I let him pick out last week. He said after we bought them “mom these are my favorite shoes I’ve ever had.. can I sleep in them?” Ha! He loves them because they are velcro (this kid does NOT like to tie shoes) and he loves the shade of blue. Picture is with a buddy who is starting Kindergarten today. :)
I’m sharing a few new Fall favorites with you today from Nordstrom! (Huge thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post!) I wanted to get this post up today before all of the organization/decor posts because I found some CUTE things and I know sizes will sell out fast if I wait!
We are having a major heat wave right now! So typical San Diego. It gets HOT when things are cooling down everywhere else. This is a great transition to Fall top because it’s lightweight. Also very slimming because it ties just above your waist where most women are the thinnest! Plus it’s half off and just $21! (Btw.. for size reference because a lot of you ask, all of the tops in today’s post (except one) fit true to size and I’m wearing an XS.)
This is another simple and fun tee I’ve been running around in. The V strap at the top is so cute! This is the one top in today’s post that doesn’t fit true to size. It runs BIG! I’m wearing an XXS and it’s still loose so order one size down! I’ve been using larger bags like my Tory Tote a lot lately because of all the school forms. SO many school forms! Paper organization was a huge summer priority for me.
Wore this top last week to school Open House. Favorite sunglasses because #notimeformakeup. But how cute is Kole’s smile!? He lost both of his front teeth this summer one right after the other. :)
A new favorite dressy blouse that I love so much I ordered it in two colors! The sleeves are so pretty on this! It’s long so I like it best tucked in the front a bit or with a belt, but it would also look cute over leggings or tucked in all the way with a high waisted skirt. I’ve reached for this top so many times in just the past few weeks! It’s perfect for dressy/casual events.
Another “I want it to be Fall but it’s not quite cold enough for sweaters” sweater. :) Love the puff sleeves! I also ordered these black stretch skinny jeans and they are a great fit (and a great price!). They are a bit long so I’ll have to have them hemmed at the bottom (same old!) but SO comfortable. I’m excited about them!
This Slim Bell Sleeve Tee is another recent favorite! It’s fitted and slimming and a light weight knit material. I actually wear a black tank top (this one) under it. It’s not totally see through, but barely see through if that makes sense. :) Also comes in a beautiful burgundy color!
Took this picture so you can see the fun bell sleeves! LOVE this trend.
A simple black top like this is fun to dress up with jewelry! I either wear my Tassel Fringe earrings with it or a long gold necklace like the Arrow Stack necklace I shared above.
Brought out another favorite bag for this time of year! I actually just bought one identical for a friend’s birthday too. Such a great staple for just $50! I always get compliments on this bag. It looks a lot more expensive than it is!
It will hold ALL the back to school papers too. ;)
So I got off my computer and just took this picture. I made myself wait to bust out my new pumpkin spice candle until my kids went back to school and today they are officially back in school! YEA! Wait is over. My house smells heavenly right now! It’s a total disaster (haven’t even cleaned up the breakfast dishes yet) but it smells heavenly. #priorities :)
And yes. TWO candles for Fall. I kept smelling them both in the store to decide which one to get and the lady working there said “oh.. those are the same candle! Just different packaging.” I said “Ahh! That’s why I’m having such a hard time choosing which one! Ha! I’ll take them both. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin is my favorite.” :)
It looked like this when it was all finished and I was so excited to have something fun to take up the wall space between our powder bathroom and my office.
Such a happy wall. :) This is making me excited for the holidays!
A lot of you have asked what I planned to display during the rest of the year so I wanted to share how this wall has looked all summer.
I’ve been using it to display some of the art that my kids brought home at the end of the school year.
Happy, colorful art.
Kole made the fun vine and animals at the top. He is obsessed with snakes and has been for years.
A couple of other pictures are his and the rest are the girls. I loved having a fun place to display artwork they were proud of. It has brightened the whole hallway and was perfect summer decor. :)
Eye of the Tiger for a centerpiece. ;) I took too many pictures of this wall I know. I’m picture happy and tend to get carried away. But that is something you already know too. :)
This is our last week of summer and then I will be taking this down because I have a fun idea for this shiplap display wall for the Fall. I thought I’d share it with you quick before I change it again! I can’t believe how quickly summer flew by. It always does but this one seemed especially busy and fast flying. We are doing lots of back to school prep this week and are shopping for a few school supplies today. I’m hoping we also have time to swing by the Container Store! I need something to finish up a project I’ve been working on. I’m so excited to have it done! And to share it with all of you.
Enjoy your day friends! I hope it’s a good one. :)
**Getting lots of questions on Instagram about this paint color! You can find info. on all of the paint colors in my house in THIS POST. Also for those of you asking for more info. because Frazee switched to Sherwin Williams, I am working on that and will have it up on the blog soon! Once my kids are in school. ;)
Happy weekend friends! This week was the best! It cooled off just a bit (it has been so humid here this summer) and there was a hint of Fall in the air. Made me excited for things to come. It also motivated me to get out of my joggers and to clean up. For a few days anyway. :) Here’s what I wore this week and a couple of things I’m excited to wear when it cools off even more. Fall Fashion is my favorite! Love this time of year.
This Ruffle Tee is new in at Nordstrom and this picture doesn’t do it justice! It has such a cool vintage/washed look and is really flattering. These are the kinds of tops I reach for again and again because of the way they fit. Comfy and casual – fitted but not tight. I know these jeans and booties will be Fall staples this year!
I also wore my cozy twist front pullover this week – love this top! It’s the softest. I wear it all day and then keep it on with pj pants in the evening. :) This top just came out in so many fun new colors for Fall! Might have to get one more.
My girls had their back to school registration yesterday at their middle school and I wore this fun lace up sleeve top. The sleeves on this top are just SO cute and I love it in olive green for Fall. It was fun getting their schedules and locker combos and seeing friends at the school. My girls both have to have bottom lockers because they are too short to reach the top lockers. Ha! A little gift from their mom. ;) El is so sad to see summer end.. Addison can’t wait for school to start. :)
Another great top to transition in from Summer to Fall!
Love this material. This corset top has the same look as the ruffle tee above. Faded black and just cool and casual. It was cute on the hanger but I really loved it most after I put it on. Such a good fit!
I also love it with a long layered necklace. I linked to a few cute layered necklaces below!
I haven’t worn this top yet but I’m so excited to when it gets cooler! I LOVE shirts like this that look like they are layered but are really just one top. It’s such a cute striped turtle neck and the grey tee gives it a fun, casual look. I tried it on with booties but I think it would look cute more casual with sneakers too. Perfect for early Fall because it’s lightweight!
The sleeves also have the thumb cut out if you want to wear it longer over your hand. LOVE this top! Free People is a favorite brand of mine that Nordstrom carries and they have so many cute new things in for Fall! I’m excited to wear my favorite FP sweatshirt when it cools off again too!
Another fun sweatshirt I’m excited to wear this Fall! Good Vibes always. :)
Some of my recent Fall favorites from the Nordstrom sale have been restocked! This Ruffle Trim Track Jacket sold out in a hot minute but is now back in all sizes.
Huge thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post! I would tell you all how Nordstrom is hands down my favorite place to shop for clothes because of their great selection of brands and amazing customer service, but you all already know that. ;) Links to my favorites from this post are below!
Ok.. friends. I have someone I want to introduce you to before I sign off!
Meet my new niece! Quincy Kate who came into the world yesterday – 6 lbs 8 oz. My brother and his wife are so excited to get a girl after having two cute little boys and we couldn’t be more excited at my house either! This little one completes our family and we are all so grateful to get her here. It’s killing me to not be there with my family right now! I was a hot mess of happy and sad tears yesterday! Counting down until I can visit and hold her. I’m sure I’ll be sharing more pics of her soon. This was taken soon after delivery. :) #proudaunt
Make sure to check back next week for other fun pictures coming! I’m so excited to show you all my favorite drawer in my house! You’ll see why soon. :) Favorite organized drawers. Fall fashion. New babies.
Nearing the end of summer friends and I can honestly say that I’m completely exhausted. Ha! The best kind of exhausted but exhausted none the less. :) I know a lot of you are already headed back to school. (Here’s a fun post on back to school organization if you’re interested!) I hope the transition is going well! Two more weeks for us and this mom is hanging on by a very thin but mostly happy thread. ;) Here’s a picture dump of what’s on my camera and phone at the moment!
*affiliate links used
This kid. His outfit says it all. :) Love him. There is no rest with this one in my life, but his toothless smile makes up for it.
My little buddy is allergic to something in regular sunscreen – his skin breaks out and he gets the worst rashes from it. I’ve struggled with this problem for years and have seriously tried over 20 different sunscreens on him. I finally found something that works! Sharing this for any moms dealing with the same issue. This Burn-Out Eco-Sensitive sunscreen is amazing. Goes on so smooth and doesn’t bother his skin at all. (Hallelujah!) I initially found this at a health food store and then later found it here.
Ad lounging at the pool with friends. Rough life, right?
This girl has had a great summer hanging with friends, hanging with the family and working on her play. My little Alice debuts in Wonderland next weekend!
Back to school is going to be a rough transition for my girls. Ha! I am going to start getting them to bed earlier each night and waking them up a little bit earlier each morning next week. Wish me luck with that one. I’ll need it. :)
El has spent her summer dancing. She recently got back from a week long dance convention in Long Beach. I told her to pack before the trip and she said “I already did mom!” Her stuff was laid out so neatly. It made me smile so I took a picture. :) She’s such a little mini-me when it comes to organization.
Proud of her and her cute friends.
I snapped this at her dance studio a few days ago. She came home from her trip and has been there non-stop learning next year’s solo routines. Hardly a break from dance for this girl! And hardly a break from workout clothes for me. I’ve been living in Zella leggings and tanks this summer. I always have great intentions of getting dressed and ready after I exercise, but most days it’s suddenly 6 pm before I even realize I forgot to get dressed. Some days it’s 6 pm before I realize I forgot to exercise too. :) #summerproblems
If I do get dressed I’m wearing these joggers! Hands down my favorite summer staple. They sold out so quickly and have now been re-stocked. I have them in the green and black and just keep rotating the two with different summer tees. My girls tease me each time I put them on about wearing them yet again. They are just so light weight, flattering and comfy!
We’ve been doing some MAJOR paper organization at my house this past month. I tore my office apart last week. Again. Shared some pics on my IG stories of the mess. :) I’ve been trying to get all of my files and everything in order before school starts. Today I had my girls sort through some of their old work that was accumulating. We had a movie paper sorting party mid day. :) I can’t wait to have this project checked off my list!
New backpacks for 6th and 8th grade! Did I really just say that!? El’s last year of middle school. My girls picked out their own and I love them both. Nothing like a new backpack full of new school supplies for day one. :) I’m going to see if I can stretch one more year out of Kole’s backpack, but it might only make it to Christmas.
The start of a new school year gets me so excited to plan ALL the things! My head is bursting with ideas and projects right now! Some I can’t wait to finish and show you all and some that I can’t wait to get started on. OneCanoeTwo came out with their new planners for 2018.. SO cute! They sent me this adorable version and now I’m itching to use it! I’ve loved using their planner from 2017 this year.
Remember when I shared my Summer Living Room re-fresh? I’ve been looking high and low for something to replace that square Spring sign because it just never looked right to me. Too many square shapes and not the right size.
So last week I took it down. And I love it with nothing there! Which made me think about how we sometimes overthink decorating (at least I know I do!). A lot of times when I don’t love the way something is styled, after playing with it forever I always end up taking off half of the “stuff.” And like magic.. it looks better. Breathing room is a good thing and quite often less is more. A little life tip I needed to hear myself today. ;)
Found the quartz I’m using for our theatre room! Man. What a project that space has turned out to be. It has occupied a lot more of my energy this summer than I planned on, but things are moving right along and I can’t wait to get it finished. We have one counter in the room (I’ll share another progress post at some point!) and I chose this slab of quartz called “Calcutta Vicenza.” Very similar look to marble but it will hold up great in a space that will often be used by teenagers. Mission accomplished!
Summer evenings outside are my favorite! My outside lights all click on and there is such a soft glow when the sun starts to set over the ocean. I can just smell it. The summer evenings and my neighbor’s BBQ. ;)
Then it gets dark and we all head inside to continue our Harry Potter Marathon. Ad is reading the books and is flying through them at record speed so that we can watch each movie after she finishes a book. I don’t think I’ll let Kole watch the last few (they get so dark and scary!) but he has loved the first few movies. And I love our time spent cozied up on this couch together.
Maybe I’m not so ready for summer to be over after all.
August! I can’t believe it’s already August. This summer is flying by so quickly.
I realized when I recently shared my summer shelf decor that I never shared pictures of my summer kitchen decor.
Either because we got busy. Or I forgot. Or I thought it wasn’t a huge enough transformation to share. Or the kitchen was too messy to take pictures.
Most likely all of the above. :)
I’ve been feeling a major pull towards “less is more” with my decorating this summer. Probably because there are so many other things filling up space in our home lately. The kids toys are out more than usual, there are pool towels drying on empty chairs, friends’ shoes fill up the mudroom, books and movies cover my console tables and slime is around every corner. (I’m SO over the slime!)
It’s crazy. And I love it. I really do enjoy a break from the hectic school schedule and having less structured, low key days with my kids and their friends. BUT. While I love summer, chaos can be hard for me. Too much stuff and clutter in my home is hard for me. So to keep my sanity the past two months I’ve really simplified my decor.
Less is more has actually become my motto when it comes to everything in my house. Even more than usual. Every day I find myself getting rid of more things we don’t need and putting away excess decor until I’m in the mood to have more of it out again.
It has been therapeutic for me and has helped me cope with the mess surrounding me each day that comes with having kids out of school.
Hello friends! I am so knee deep in projects and kids at my house right now it’s crazy! I need a distraction! Not that projects and kids aren’t both wonderful, but sometimes you just need a break from all that wonderful. ;) The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has been a fun and happy summer distraction for me. Did you all know there was a sale going on at Nordstrom? Ha. ;) Some things I ordered on-line to try a while back have come in so I’m sharing my last round of favorites from the sale! The sale ends this Sunday night and on Monday everything will be full price again. So sad. Well.. for some people. Not so much for my husband. He will be doing a major happy dance. I told him the other day when a few more new boxes arrived on our doorstep “don’t worry! I’ve ordered multiple sizes in things.. there will be returns!” He was like “um.. yeah.. not buying that anymore since every time you head to the store to return 3 things you buy 5 more. How about I ease your load and start making Nordstrom returns for you?” Me: “Hmm.. Let me think about that. Nope. Not really a fan of that plan. But you can ease my load by taking Kole to the park next time I make Nordstrom returns.. I’m open to discussing that option.”
Clearly the two of us have some compromising left to do.. ;)
(Huge thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post and for the amazing sale this year! Affiliate links used.)
My favorite earrings from the sale! I have the tassel earrings in a coral/orange and have loved them so much I picked up this rose gold pair on sale and also splurged on this black pair (which aren’t on sale but I know I’ll wear all the time!). The Kate Spade earrings will be such a fun simple every day pair. I have friends who have bought and also love these that are similar and on sale.
You guys.. I never thought I could wear over the knee boots like this black pair. I’m short, I have thick calves.. I just didn’t think they would fit right and look good on me. But I tried on this pair on a whim and they seriously fit like a glove and are so comfortable! I absolutely LOVED them. So excited to wear them when it cools off! If you’ve been on the fence about boots like this too this is a great pair to try. They really are so flattering. I was shocked at how much I loved them!
Or with regular length jeans. I wasn’t sure if I’d love this Ruffle Bell Sleeve Blouse because it looked kind of boxy on-line but once I tried it on I was so happy I ordered it! Looks so cute tucked a bit in the front with jeans and I love the sleeves! Comes in lots of colors.
It’s also really cute tucked in and dressed up with a skirt. This skirt was another favorite find! I knew I needed a new black skirt this Fall and I ordered two to try.. this pencil skirt from Vince Camuto and this A – line skirt I’m wearing. The pencil skirt was just too long on me and too tight on my butt! I tried 2 sizes and it still didn’t work for me. If you’re tall and thin it would be a great staple skirt! #shortpeopleproblems #bubblebuttproblems
This A-line skirt worked so much better for me. A great length and you can see in this pic it’s high waisted and while it’s fitted up top, it’s very butt friendly. So if you’re short or have had one too many BBQ’s like me this summer you’re still in good shape with this one. ;)
I also ordered a few of my favorite Caslon long sleeve tees on sale. They come in lots of colors and have been a favorite Fall/Winter staple of mine for years. On sale for just $19!
I ordered this cute Camo Lounge sweatshirt on-line a while ago and forgot that I had ordered it! It was such a happy surprise when it came. LOVE it! So cute and soft and on sale for just $31! Great for lounging or those cold days I’m just working from home and don’t want to clean up.
K – my favorite dress from the sale! This Asymmetrical plaid dress caught my eye when I first saw the Nordstrom catalog before the sale. I loved the look but wasn’t sure how it would fit and the material looked like it might be itchy. I was wrong! It’s a knit but so soft and incredibly comfortable! Flattering fit and I found it to be true to size. I love the sleeve length for Fall too. I’m so excited to wear it with my new over the knee boots!
Showing a little skin here (we just went from G to PG) ;) but I wanted to show you all where these boots hit my thighs (I’m 5’3 1/2 – don’t forget the 1/2). Can I just tell you another reason why I’m so excited about these boots!? There are so many days in the winter when I need to dress up (for church or other events) and my legs are white and I haven’t shaved. These boots are going to save me! No more tights or nylons! No more last minute scrambling to put on some tanning lotion or do a quick half shower shave! (Am I the only one who does this?) I’m pumped.
I was too excited to wait until Fall to wear this dress so I wore it to church last Sunday with my peep toe booties. (Got so many compliments on it!) The booties make the dress look a little more casual. Peep toe booties with skirts or a dress is such a fun look right now. I don’t love the look on me personally because like I mentioned I have short legs and thick calves, but I still do it anyway sometimes because I love my booties. :) I actually think this looks better on me…
See how a simple black heel without straps in the front elongates my legs where the booties cut them off? Little trick I learned years ago on “What Not to Wear.” (I love you Stacey and Clinton.) Short people take notes. ;)
Another fun sweatshirt I ordered that still hasn’t come yet! Sub_Urban Riot is one of my favorite brands. LOVE the way their tees and sweatshirts fit. I also ordered this Good Vibes tee that’s backordered and am patiently waiting for it to come. I love this brand for my girls too!
I got my girls two Sub_Urban tees from the sale and they love the way they fit too! El is at a dance camp this week so Ad has been running around in them. Good Morning Sunshine. :)
As if I could pass up this cute little striped Kate Spade zipper pouch that’s on sale.. especially when it comes with mini school supplies! Be still my heart. :) I’m planning on using this to hold things in my purse. Maybe receipts I want to keep, or extra cards, or my lipstick.
And last but certainly not least.. a favorite find from the sale this year for my home decor lovers out there! Ahhh! So crazy about these throws! I saw them on-line and thought they looked nice and ordered one. When it came it SO exceeded my expectations! They are crazy soft, the perfect length, thick and warm enough but not too heavy, and darling with those tassels. But the best part? They are on sale for just $25!
So I picked up 4 more for Christmas gifts! Crazy but smart right!? I know it’s early but I love getting my Christmas shopping done before the holiday madness hits and these throws will make a PERFECT gift. Throws are great for people you want to get something nice for, but maybe don’t know as well personally to know exactly what they would want. Neighbors, friends, teachers.. everyone loves and can use a comfy throw! And these throws are heavenly. Clearly I’m a fan of tassels. :)
I styled a couple of them in my house. Love the navy in my living room!
And I have a crush on this soft pink throw in my family room! Light and bright for summer.
It has inspired pink flowers all over my house. :) Now the only problem is that I want to keep more than one! We’ll see if they actually get used for Christmas gifts or just rotated around here. Ha..
I can think of worse things.
Just don’t tell Kenny.
;)
Linking to everything in this post and all of my favorites from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale below! Remember that it all turns into a pumpkin and goes full price this Sunday night. What a sale. All set for Fall and beyond!
I went on and on about the fun schoolhouse pendant that not only gave me the look I wanted in this space but also came in the exact shade of green that matched my cabinet paint perfectly. The day this light fixture arrived at my house was a very happy day. :) I ordered this light from an on-line store I’ve loved for years called Barn Light Electric and couldn’t be more excited about partnering with them on this post! When they reached out to me to collaborate I had a major pinch me moment because I seriously LOVE their products. Their Primary School House Stem Light in my laundry room has always been my favorite part of that room. I was able to pick out a couple of fun things for my house from their website (like I said.. pinch me!) and I’m excited to show you what I chose and how I’m using it in my house!
Does it surprise you I headed right to my favorite color combo again? :) I can’t get enough Jadeite in my life. And white with a black stripe? Perfection. Barn Light Electric started carrying Porcelain, Enamel and Copper Dinnerware a while ago and I’ve been eyeing this Dipped Enamel Breakfast Set for so long!
Major upgrade from the plastic Target dishes we’ve been using for breakfast since my girls were toddlers. :) I love that they are enamel because aside from their fun vintage look, they won’t break! My kids are older now, but I still try to avoid glass dishes in the kitchen when I can. Plus my dad always had an enamel set of dishes in our camper we camped in as kids growing up so they bring back fun memories for me.
We’ve been using them for breakfast this summer and have loved them. This is a typical look at breakfast at our house most mornings. Except for all of the flowers that are usually in my family room. I brought them in for all of you. ;)
El and Kole always want fruit and toast (Kole’s with cinnamon!). Ad is my cereal girl. Some mornings if my husband has time he makes scrambled eggs or pancakes. Once in a while I attempt scrambled eggs or pancakes, but that usually ends with pancakes that are too doughy or scrambled eggs that are half burned so when I’m in charge I often stick to cutting up fruit and toasting the bread. On cute new enamel dishes. ;)
When I started snapping these pictures I told my kids “ignore me and just eat your food.. act like you usually do at the breakfast table.”
So they did.
What I should have said was “ignore me and just eat your food.. but instead of acting like you usually do at the breakfast table, sit up and pretend like you have manners.”
Manners? You mean like not putting elbows on the table and chewing with mouths open and cutting out shapes in our bread (because heaven forbid we eat the crust!) and laughing hysterically at who knows what.
Yeah.. bad plan to tell them to act normal for these pictures. Ha! They don’t know it yet but after sorting through 20 pictures that look just like these I’ve decided we’re starting table etiquette 101 at breakfast tomorrow morning. Thank goodness my teaching skills are better than my cooking skills. There’s no hope for my doughy pancakes but there’s still hope that these three will turn out ok. ;)
While using my new dishes for breakfast every morning has been fun, what I really love is how cute they look styled on my butler’s pantry shelf! I wanted to re-style these shelves for summer and they make perfect accessories. So fresh and clean and I love just pulling them off this shelf to use each morning.
I kept the rest of my shelf decor simple. Lots of white and a fun plant for summer. Lemons always. :)
I wanted the jadeite set to match the other jadeite in my kitchen but these dishes come in so many colors! That’s one thing I love about everything Barn Light Electric sells. Most items come in a large variety of colors so you can get a custom look for your home.
Want to see what else I picked out that I’m so excited about!?
Lamps for Kole’s room! Oh my word. I couldn’t love these lamps more! I actually knew I wanted lamps from Barn Light Electric for his room from day one before I even started decorating this space, but I kept debating color and style and just hadn’t pulled the trigger on ordering anything.
Once I decided his room would be navy and gray with pops of orange I knew the direction I wanted to go with the lamps. This collaboration couldn’t have come at a better time because I’ve just started accessorizing his room and was ready to order! I chose two Drake Retro Desk Lamps in orange. I was a little worried about the orange being too red of an orange so they sent me a sample of the color (they have amazing customer service!) and then I could tell it was perfect.
You can really customize these lamps. I ordered the largest stem and the largest shade because I wanted the lamps to stand out and I knew I had plenty of wall space, but you can get them in a smaller size.
They are huge in person! And amazing quality.
I honestly couldn’t love them more. They give Kole’s room such a fun pop of color. Exactly what this space needed! Kole loves them too. We have been reading The Magic Treehouse series together every night with his new lamps on. :)
Huge HUGE thank you to Barn Light Electric for sponsoring this post! I just couldn’t love their products more. You have to check out their wall sconces (I’ve got a major crush on this copper gooseneck light at the moment!) and all of their ceiling lights. Too much fun.
Alright.. signing off for now! I need to get some rest since I have a serious date with my kids in the am at the breakfast table.
;)
*This post was sponsored by Barn Light Electric but all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own! Love them. :)
Hello friends! How is your week going so far? Good I hope. Summer is moving right along isn’t it!? Part of me wants it to slow down and then there’s another part of me that is getting excited to have a little structure back in my life. That part of me usually hits around 7:00 pm after a full day of entertaining kids when everyone is tired from fun in the sun and Ad and Kole start arguing over who started their previous argument first. Ha. Good times. :)
Last month I shared a favorite recipe with you all (our Easy Cashew Chicken) and you were so sweet! E-mails came pouring in from so many of you who have tried it and love it and are adding it to your family’s favorite recipes. Seriously that made me so happy to hear! That a non-chef like me could make dinner time just a tad easier for someone. ;) So I’m going to try to share more favorites like that with you all.. maybe one a month? By the end of the year I’ll have shared everything I know how to cook.. ha. Kidding! Kind of. :)
When we were in SLC over the 4th a few weeks ago, aside from acting like a dork with my husband.. (seriously what is this pose!?), my sister and I cooked up a huge feast.
Well.. I shouldn’t say my sister and I cooked. She and her husband cooked up a huge feast and I assisted as is usually the case with family get togethers. I always get the “chop this Erin” or “stir this Erin” or “entertain the kids while we cook Erin” types of jobs. And they work just fine for me. :) This year I begged my sister to make the Feta dip she makes every year when we are all together over Christmas. I was craving it! It’s SO good you guys. And so easy to make. I snapped some pictures along the way to show you all how to make it too. If you haven’t had this yet you have to try it! Btw.. my mom snapped this picture of us looking so triumphant just before we broke into a laughing fit over something like we usually do. Isn’t my sister’s kitchen cute!? Her home is so modern and fun. I shared some other pics of her house in this post if you want to check it out.
Ok.. I’m calling this Feta and Tomato Dip for obvious reasons. All you need is Olive Oil, Feta Cheese, Roma Tomatoes, Green Onions, Greek Seasoning and a fresh Baguette. My sister has been making this every December for over 10 years but found it on-line so we didn’t invent this! We just love it. :)
I’ll show you how to make it step by step since that’s how I need to see all things recipe related. :) First! Pour some Olive Oil onto a platter.
Then chop your tomatoes.
And put them on top.
Dice the green onions..
And add those too.
Stop and take a quick picture of your cute niece because whew! A lot of cooking has been going on and we need a break to do something fun.. like photography. ;)
Add the crumbled Feta and then sprinkle the Greek Seasoning on top.
That’s it!
Stir it up and serve with slices of fresh bread.
Is your mouth watering yet!? It’s SO delicious you guys! And I don’t even love tomatoes. But I LOVE this dip. I could eat it all day long.
If this is a new recipe for you I hope you enjoy it too! (Thanks for letting me share it Car! And for making it every time we’re together after I beg you to..)
Ahhh! Today’s the big day my fashion loving friends! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is officially open to the public! Everyone can shop the sale regardless of whether or not you have a Nordstrom card. Oh happy day. :) If you enjoy my organizing/home decor posts more than the fashion, fun stuff is coming next week! But this is an exciting day for those of us who love a good peep toe bootie that’s on major sale. ;) Especially when it’s new Fall stuff that’s marked down! Oh how I LOVE this sale! I’ve already shared a lot of my favorites in this post and this post, but I have a few new things to show you and wanted to do a quick round-up of my favorites in each category to celebrate the official opening of the sale! I hope this makes your shopping easier. Remember that if something you love or the size you need is sold out to check back. Things get re-stocked often during this sale. I’ve already seen a few of my favorite items get re-stocked and then sell out again. Crazy! But fun crazy. :) Here are my favorites from the 2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!
(Huge thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post! Affiliate links used.)
The sweaters this year were my all time FAVORITE! Bell sleeves and ruffles are big for Fall. I loved this Bell Sleeve sweater so much I came home with it in gray and navy!
This is the navy. I need to take one back and can’t decide! SO cute. Whenever I’m debating 2 options during this sale I always buy both! Returns are a breeze at Nordstrom and things sell out so fast it’s better to just get what you want now and return later.
This Ruffle Bell Cuff Sweater is a favorite I came home with that I don’t think I’ve shared yet. It’s just $31! And so cute.
This Ruffle Sleeve sweater is one I know I will reach for over and over this Fall/Winter. So comfortable! Comes in lots of colors.
Same with this Tie Front Cozy Fleece Pullover. (I’m clearly loving forest green at the moment!) This sweater isn’t as fitted which means it’s prefect for dinner out. Especially if Italian or Mexican is on the menu.
Now I’m hungry.
And sharing this Flare Sleeve sweater one more time because I just couldn’t love it more. These types of tops/sweasters are my favorite! Simple, solid color with a little something extra that makes it look like you’re fashionable and put yourself together when all you did was toss a sweater on. :)
Darling tops on sale this year – how cute is this ruffle top!? Pink usually washes me out, but I’m ordering it to try anyway! We still have many hot days in our future and this is perfect for summer.
This Ruffle Front Poplin top is also darling. I love it out and tucked in. If you work out of your home this would look so cute for work with a skirt or slacks! A little dressy for my every day office (hello couch and laptop.. I’m back). ;) It also comes in a black and white stripe.
Speaking of stripes.. how could I pass up this Rounded V-neck Tee when it’s so comfortable and such a good price!? I LOVE a good, simple tee. This comes in other colors too. It runs big so order down! (I’m wearing an xxs and you can see it’s still plenty long!) These green Slim Utility Pants are also darling and a great fit. (True to size.) I didn’t come home with them because I already have a few pairs of pants/capris that are so similar. And yes.. I already have striped tops too, but stripes surpass all rules in my fashion book. ;)
It’s great for summer but will also be fun to layer when it’s cooler with a cute cardigan! SO many cute cardigans on sale right now! I came home with 3 so I’m gearing up to hear lots of Mr. Rogers jokes this Fall. At least my husband thinks he’s funny.
I was talking to a friend the other day and she was telling me how she always hits the shoes very first during this sale. I get it! The shoes are SO cute this year. Initially I just came home with these Peep Toes, these Over the Knee Boots and these Running Shoes.
But I kept thinking about these Block Heel Booties I had seen! Perfect for dressier occasions and such a great price for this shoe! So I ordered them on-line. Can’t wait to get them. I have a similar bootie that I’ve worn for years and they are starting to look really worn. I think I just found their replacement. :)
Date night with my babe. This picture is from last summer but the Laurel Peep Toe Booties I have on and have had for years are on sale too! I love the slouchy look of these shoes. They are beautiful but I’ll warn you.. they aren’t as comfortable as the Vince Camuto peep toe booties. They are perfect for dinner out, but not all day.
The Vince Camuto booties are my very favorite! So comfortable and stylish. They go with everything. If I had to recommend one shoe for everyone it would be this Vince Camuto peep toe bootie in black. I bought mine at this sale last year and am still wearing them 4-5 days a week! But you see what I’m wearing most days so you already knew that. ;)
There are so many darling plaid shirts on sale this year! I came home with this Classic Plaid Shirt but also love this Plaid Cotton Blend. And have you noticed the new thing is to tuck half of your shirt in and leave half of it out like the picture above? What do you think? Kind of funny looking but I like it. :)
This Ruffle Trim Track Jacket is another sale item at the top of my list. I’ll probably wear it just as much as a top! It’s so soft you can bag wearing something under it and just zip it up for days that aren’t cold enough for a second layer.
And my all time favorite jacket maybe EVER that I’ve shared with you all!? This Shrunken Leather Bomber Jacket. So flattering! So soft! So warm!
I’ve already worn it twice this week! (It’s always cool enough for a jacket in the evening in San Diego – even in the summer.) We went on such a fun mom/daughter date with friends a few nights ago. First dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.
Then we saw the play Guys and Dolls. Love these darling girls! And their moms. :) Kenny and Kole watched The Lego Batman movie and had their own party. ;)
. We can’t talk favorites without mentioning lounge wear! My favorite of all the favorites. :) I’ve already shared details/pictures in this post but here are my favorites for lounging one more time! My family will see me in these clothes LOTS this upcoming year. :)
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Whew! Well now. That was a workout. :) Like I said, I hope that my favorites give you some fun ideas and help with your sale shopping! Nordstrom and this Anniversary sale are my favorite. So many fun new things marked down!
May you have more strength than I’ve had this year.
*Picture of the day: Kole and his buddy poolside with root beer floats – livin’ the good life. :)
Ahhh summer. Moms.. how are you holding up? Are you all hanging in there? Two days ago I had to go to the doctor for an MRI. (Dealing with re-occuring knee issues I’ve had since I was 10 years old.) The guy administering the MRI told me that he was sorry, but I’d have to put on some headphones and lay still for 30 minutes.. 15 minutes for each knee. I said “Sorry? You’re sorry? I have 3 kids and we’re in the middle of summer. 30 minutes of headphones and laying still doing absolutely nothing sounds amazing. Don’t be sorry.. it will be the highlight of my week!”
And it was. It felt so good. I just zoned out, let my thoughts wander and almost fell asleep. Talk about relaxing! I was seriously sad when it was over. I told him it was the closest thing to a spa treatment I was going to get for a while and I’d see him next week please.. same time same place? Ha. :) I love summer. But it’s exhausting and I’m tired.
Part of the reason I’m tired (aside from the usual summer shenanigans with my kids) is because of a little project I’ve got going on that is occupying a lot of brain power. Remember the extra room next to our playroom? You can see more pics of it and my organized attic in this post from a couple years back.
When we built our house we planned for this space to be a theatre room. At one point during building we were going to finish it, but we knew it was a room that would take a lot of planning and we were so overwhelmed with all of the other decisions going on that we decided to leave it alone, get settled in the new house, buy a couch or two and tackle it later.
And now it’s later. :)
My husband and I went back and forth on this room so many times and had totally different ideas of how it would look. I really wanted it to just be like a second family room more than a theatre room. I didn’t want the stacked rows of seats – I like comfy and cozy and just wanted one big couch. I also would have been fine with a large TV instead of a projector and screen. My husband had dreams of making this space more “theatre like.” Finally we met in the middle and decided that I would take over the room layout and all design decisions while he would handle all things audio, electrical and technical. So basically this room will consist of a large comfy couch (with cute throw pillows of course) and a projector/projection screen.
And popcorn. We both agreed on the popcorn. ;)
These pictures are early on getting everything taped out the way we sketched it.
Soon after it was go time and the couch and crib had to leave!
And this is what our theatre room looks like at the moment!
So maybe there’s a little more going on than just a couch and projector.
If I’m designing a room you better believe molding will be involved. ;) I’m in my happy place with where this room is going!
While this project is only one room, it has been so time consuming. A lot to figure out – especially with all of the electrical stuff going on. I’m really grateful we didn’t try to tackle this room while we were building the rest of the house. Even though doing it this way means we get to enjoy all the dust floating though our upstairs. ;) It’s seriously everywhere!
So there you go! A little progress update on one of the many projects going on around here right now.
I can’t remember if I shared this on the blog at the beginning of the year, but if not these were my house goals for 2017:
1 – Design, build and decorate the theatre room. Obviously we hire out the building part! By “build” I mean to manage all of the moving pieces. :)
4 – Finish decorating the master bedroom (done and I can’t believe I still haven’t shared it with you all yet! I’m not checking it off of my list until I’ve blogged about it.) ;)
6 – Finish the garage. You can see my last garage progress post here although it didn’t include a whole lot of progress! I’ve realized that it’s really hard to whip the garage into shape when you have so many other projects going on. Our garage has become the catch all for everything project related! Right now it’s full of extra wood the guys are using for the theatre room. And dust. LOTS of dust going on at my house. Did I mention that already?
The garage might not get finished this year but I think (I hope!) everything else on my list will.
I also have a “to organize” project list that I’m working on but that project list deserves a blog post of its own!
Want to see our other recent catch all with all of these projects going on?
Yup. That’s what used to be my organized playroom. Everything isn’t quite in its place at the moment! And yup. Still not ready to get rid of my crib and rocking chair. So I’m not. :) Keeping them both. I just need to decide where to store them. And find the energy to put them away.
Then I need to find the energy to clean up everything else in this room. This space will most likely be on my 2018 “to decorate” list.
But I can’t go there now.
It makes me want another MRI.
:)
p.s. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opens to everyone on Friday! I shared my favorites from the sale here and here if you missed them. :)
Happy weekend everyone! Back with round 2 of my picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! (You can see round 1 here if you missed it.) Such a good sale this year! For those of you who don’t have a Nordstrom card and are patiently waiting, the sale opens to everyone on Friday. Woot woot! And I know a lot of items and sizes are selling out, but keep checking back if you love something because a lot of times they re-stock things. Alright.. has everyone gone to the bathroom, do we all have a snack? Have I been spending too much time with my children this summer? Yes. :) But this is a long post so we need to be prepared. I have my popcorn. Let’s do this.
So yeah.. we’re kicking things off with pajamas. But not just any pajamas. Good Day Sunshine pajamas! I mean how could I resist.. right!? :) You all know my love for Make and Model so I was thrilled to find so many cute new pj’s on sale this year! I love this brand of lounge clothes because they are so comfortable and a great fit. Plus they’re light weight so I can wear the pants year round. But since this cute sweatshirt is a little hot for summer I bought this too..
LOVE this tee. Such a fun 80’s vibe that totally reminds me of clothes I wore when I was a little girl. I had a pair of pants with a rainbow just like this on the pocket. Clearly it had to come home with me. For memory sake. ;)
This tee also looks really cute with jeans. I love tops that I can run around in all day and then keep on to lounge in in the evening. I have two pairs of AG jeans that I seriously LIVE in (you see them in every single fashion post) and they are both on sale! The pair pictured above (Raw Hem Ankle) and the Stilt Cigarette Skinny Jeans. Seriously love them. Hands down my favorite jeans!
Sorry. Ignore the lightsaber. Quick visit from Kole while I was taking pics. :) And this is the last lounge wear pic! But these were so soft I couldn’t resist. (Seriously you won’t want to take this sweatshirt off!) I had to sneak all the pj’s past my husband. He tells me every year at this sale to just not come home with more pajamas. He thinks I have too many. But if you ask me, pj’s are like notebooks and throw pillows. You can never have too many.
I’ve loved my Zella gray high waist leggings so much I was thrilled when they went on sale! Got a black pair to exercise in.
And I fell hard for this darling white vest! Perfect for cool morning walk/runs. I’m wearing the Zella Siesta Studio Tee under it. Great top for every day or to exercise in. Also on sale! I’m hoping this outfit inspires more exercise than I’ve been getting lately. I’m determined to get back in shape after letting things go the past few months. A topic for another day! The struggle is real. {sigh}
So you can see this vest from the side. So cute right?!
K.. feeling a little silly posting this picture and I almost didn’t, but since I recently showed you everything in my bathroom drawers (clearly we’re that tight) and since a good majority of my readers are women I feel like I would be doing you all a disservice to not share my favorite brand of bras that are on sale right now. :)
Natori bras are amazing! Such a great fit and the 3 I bought are perfect to wear under tees. I’ve loved this brand for a long time. They are a little pricey so I stocked up while they are on sale! Also the seamless bikini underwear pictured above, while not the cutest, are also amazing to wear underneath fitted clothes. No lines and they are SO lightweight. They are also pricey (you’ll see why if you get a pair!) so now is a great time to try them or stock up if you already use and love them. Also Spanx are on sale! YEA! Love my spanx. Most moms do. ;)
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My favorite shoes from the sale! They come in other colors. I already have similar shoes in black and a deeper brown so this color will be perfect for Fall.
I also love these Prasata Booties. So cute! I have narrow heels and they kept slipping out (hate that!) so they didn’t come home with me. But a favorite for sure.
And here’s a better pic of my favorite vest from last year that’s re-stocked and on sale again this year!
I have this vest in navy too – yes I love it that much. :) Wore it for family pictures a couple of years ago. My kids look so little to me in this picture! Time needs to slow down.
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This little V-neck wool cardigan is darling! Comes in lots of colors. A lot of times cardigans like this pull at the chest, but this one is a perfect fit. Fitted but not tight. And so soft! (True to size)
And a few pics of some of the things I shared in my first sale post. The lighting in that dressing room was so bad so here are a few favorites without the fluorescents! This shrunken leather bomber jacket is one of my favorites from the sale. So beautiful in person and so comfortable. I love that you can move in it! Sometimes moto/short jackets are stiff and it’s hard to move your arms around (hate that) but not this one! I don’t know that I love these boots with it – too similar in color – maybe a darker brown? I got lazy trying this stuff on for you all. I’m used to taking my fashion pics as I wear the clothes.. not so many at once! This was a workout. Ha. ;)
While we’re on the subject of cardigans.. ahhh! LOVE this one from Barefoot Dreams! So perfect for chilly days and seriously the softest material EVER. I got it in black but it comes in lots of colors.
This is the other Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan I came home with. I had a hard time choosing which color to get.. they are all so beautiful! I brought home Stone.
Seriously these 2 cardigans above are like being wrapped up in the softest blanket! My best attempt to show that with the above picture. ;) Last Fall I bought several cardigans and I wear them all the time either with jeans or over my pj’s when the house is cold. One time I was wearing a favorite cardigan and Kenny told me I looked like Mr. Rogers. (Had to laugh at that one.) Ever since whenever I put on a cardigan he starts singing “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood..”
So glad he amuses himself. Ha.
Last cardigan (Ruched Bell Sleeve) I shared earlier but wanted you to see it in better light. I love the style of this so much!
The sleeves and pockets are my favorite!
Had a visitor mid photo shoot. Back from volleyball practice. :)
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So you know I went on a major purse spree around my birthday last year (purse sources in this post) and I got my Tory Burch bag for Mother’s Day so I couldn’t justify a purse or bag during this sale. But they definitely had a few I wanted! Love this Crossbody purse on sale that is so similar to my navy purse above! These are my 5 favorite bags from the sale..
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And we can’t forget the HOME department! I’ve loved my fringe pillow and there is a similar pillow on sale that comes in navy and gray on sale. So cute! I ordered it in both colors to see what works best. I have a spot in mind. :) Here are my favorite sale items from the HOME decor department!
And I got some new shoes for the Mr. Last year I bought him a pair from the sale and he has LIVED in them. He usually tells me to not buy him anything but this year he asked for shoes. Progress! ;) He was due for a few more and already has a lot in brown so I went with navy, black and white. They have a great selection of shoes on sale for men this year.
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And a few things I got for my girls for back to school before I sign off! We aren’t keeping all of this. I always pick out my favorites and then let them my girls try everything on and just keep what fits and what they love. Things sell out so quickly during the Anniversary sale so I buy heavy upfront and return later!
A few things that we loved and are keeping..
LOVE this washed and worn green romper! I want it in my size! Ad hadn’t been out of the pool long but couldn’t wait to try it on. :)
I bought her these pants in the Spring and she has loved them so I got another similar pair.
They are the Utility Cargo Pants and are a great fit. Ad had just stepped out of the shower this time. Clearly we don’t do our hair much in the summer. ;) She also loved this black and white striped top.
And I especially loved the Pineapple Graphic Tee so that’s a keeper for sure. :) El still needs to try a few things on. Really cute stuff on sale for back to school for kids this year! I still need to look at a few things for Kole. They grow so quickly! Here are some of my favorites for the girls..
This post has also grown quickly. Sorry for the novel! I told you you’d need a snack for this one. And my popcorn is gone so it’s time to sign off. Happy Anniversary Sale shopping friends!
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We can’t talk favorites without mentioning lounge wear! My favorite of all the favorites. :) I’ve already shared details/pictures in 
