Erin, Author at The Sunny Side Up Blog

Organization

09.10.18

Organized School Supplies and Recent Favorites!

•Affiliate links used below

Happy Monday everyone! I’m so excited about this week! It’s busy but lots of fun stuff going on. First up.. Organized HQ starts today! Seriously you guys.. it’s like the Superbowl of organizing! More than 20 organizing pros from across the country are joining to share their knowledge to help you get organized. They will be covering everything from quick meal planning to healthy eating on budget, home management, creating routines, self-care, photo organization, decluttering, eliminating paper clutter, home decorating, budgeting and finances, cleaning methods, and lots more! My session is this Wednesday and is focused on office organization. A favorite topic of mine as you all know. :) I love listening to stuff like this when I’m getting ready in the morning! I bring my laptop in the bathroom and put on make-up and do my hair and learn a few new tips and tricks and it just motivates me throughout the day. You can still get your free ticket for a short time! {HEAD HERE TO SIGN UP!}

Ok.. speaking of office organization!

Still wrapping up a few things I wanted to go through over the summer and didn’t quite get finished in this space. See the chalkboard crates in the openings below my cupboards? I’ve loved having them for extra school/office supply storage but they quickly became dumping grounds and needed a serious clean out!

I’m slightly embarrassed about the hoarding situation going on here. With most things I’m so good at purging but when it comes to school supplies, notepads/planners, and throw pillows I’m a lost cause. Ha. :)

{Chunky Wool & Jute Rug/Bliss Throw}

I dumped everything out in our family room (where most of my organization takes place!) and got to work categorizing. I just love categorizing. :)

Pretty soon my crates looked like this..

One for markers, crayons, pencils.

One for tape, staples and sticky notes. This cracked me up btw. We are ALWAYS out of tape at our house and rummaging around looking for some. Um.. guess where all the tape was hiding? I had so many of them in these crates but they were underneath other things so I kept thinking we were out and I needed to buy more! Reason #7,592 why it’s so important to keep things organized. You know exactly what you need and DON’T need to buy. Christmas I’m ready for you this year. ;)

One for miscellaneous craft/home supplies.

And one for important manuals I refer to and our pencil/crayon cases for when we need supplies on the go.

SO much better. This took no time at all.. I don’t know why I lived with them messy for so long! I feel like this every time I organize something. It makes my life so much easier when things are neat and tidy and I know where they are and what I need. Little projects like this (just 20 minutes a day) add up to an organized home. They really do! These bins will stay this way because once I organize something I work hard to keep it clean.. it’s easy to maintain things when they are organized in a way that makes sense!

I thought about labeling these bins and might at some point, but I know where things are and kind of like the solid black. For now they look the same on the outside but are a happy surprise on the inside when it’s time to grab new supplies. :)

A few other fun new things around the house! Remember my living room makeover with new pillows from Lauren at Lo Home? I had to get some of her fun Cherry Blossom ginger jars! Love them. They come in lots of colors and I’m seriously tempted to pick up some in a darker color for Fall. They look good everywhere!

I also got a new console table for our formal dining room! Kenny and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary last week and he asked if I wanted jewelry and I asked him if he even knows me at all. Console tables are the way to my heart. :) I’m so excited about this one! When we designed this room I specifically created a cut out on the right side of the room for a large sideboard table that we could use to spread out food on when we entertain. To be honest I’ve had a hard time finding the right piece of furniture for this spot because it’s really long and not very wide. I also knew I wanted a navy table so finding a navy table that was the right length and width and that I loved and that worked well with the other furniture in the room proved to be a challenge! I got this beautiful table here at One Kings Lane but I also found it later at Wayfair too. It cost more than I wanted to spend, but after years of searching for the right piece of furniture and not being able to find anything I jumped on this and told Kenny diamonds would have cost more. ;)

I never really finished decorating our formal dining room. I got a good start with the farmhouse table and chairs and bench, but never finished. Finding this table has completely motivated me to get this space done and I’m so excited for what I have planned! Now I’ve got this whole room all decorated in my mind!

It’s sitting in limbo right now for a few days and then some changes will be happening! (That ladder mirror was from a local store and doesn’t really go there!) Poor Kenny.. maybe diamonds would have been less after all. Ha! I’ll be sharing dining room progress on IG/stories!

{Lumbar pillow/Leighton Pillow/Radde Pillow}

Got these darling new pillows from Lu Lu and Georgia for the theatre room and now I love them so much I want them downstairs! Do you all ever shop there? They have so many fun things for home decor! I’m kind of obsessed with that site lately. These all sold out so quick but they have some in other colors and they have a place where you can get on their waitlist for when they come back! They usually get stuff back in stock that sells out quick.

{Lace Up Back Cardigan – 40% off!/AG jeans – also 40% off!/Madewell leather tote/Madewell necklace/Kentvi Sandal}

On the fashion side of things.. getting so excited for things to cool off around here so I can dive into Fall clothes. They are my very favorite! We had a cool, cloudy day last week and I got to wear this cute new cardigan I picked up on sale. LOVE how slouchy and comfy it is!

I tried to get a pic of the back and failed miserably but look at it on-line because the back is the cutest part! It runs really big so order down a size (I’m wearing the xxs and you can see how slouchy it still is). My jeans are also 40% off right now!

Ok.. signing off for now but you guys! I’m SO excited about my next post! I worked hard all summer long to create something that is going to help us get so organized for the holidays! I even hired a couple of my close friends to help because I wanted this to be so good. I found this pic on my phone.. El took it one afternoon this summer while we were working. Can’t wait to share what I’ve been up to with you all! Coming soon to a blog near you. ;)

Enjoy your week everyone!

xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

09.04.18

Decorating for Fall – 5 Tips!

*affiliate links used

Happy September! So happy to say that! Or type that. Or whatever it is I’m doing. So happy it’s September! :) Our family did a little shopping over the weekend and I picked up the BEST smelling Fall candle. EVER. I can’t say that I discovered it on my own. I went to lunch with friends a few days ago and one of my friends gave it to another friend for her birthday and we passed it around the table smelling it for half of lunch and I said I’m buying that candle immediately.

Then I went out and bought that candle immediately.

It’s “Pumpkin Clove” and you can order it here from Anthropologie and the outside of it is as beautiful as the inside smells and you’re welcome because seriously.. so good you guys! I’ve been burning ours today and the house smells heavenly right now! I couldn’t wait. My kids are back in school and we had a cloudy day. That’s all I needed to be ready for Fall. I’m so excited to decorate! I was going to start today but decided I wanted to deep clean and organize a few more things and take down some summer stuff first so I got started on that. But by this weekend I will be busting out my pumpkins!

I was looking back at past posts to remember what I did last year and thought I’d share a few pictures of how I decorated and some tips that always help me when I’m thinking Fall decor.

I tend to stick with traditional Fall colors and neutrals. Which of course you don’t have to and it’s fun to experiment with different looks! But I like WARM colors for Fall. Feels cozy to me. :)

Tip #1 – Bring on the baskets! Baskets are one of my favorite things to use when I decorate for Fall. Really when I decorate for any season but they feel especially perfect for this time of year because they bring so much texture into a space. Set one by your couch to hold throws.

Put one near the fireplace to hold magazines or books.

Place one on the kitchen counter to hold a plant. They look great in every space! I’ll link some of my favorite baskets below but if you don’t want to buy anything new try rotating the baskets you have and using them in new places.

Tip 2 – Bring the outdoors in! There’s so much beautiful faux Fall decor out there to buy, but don’t forget to bring in some things from outside! For a lot of you that’s a piece of cake with all of the beautiful leaves changing outside of your windows. We have to be a little more creative in my neck of the woods. :) Some fresh flowers and real acorns from my parent’s yard do the trick for me every year.

Tip 3 – Pull out ALL the throws! My favorite part of decorating for Fall is bringing out all of my cozy throws! Experiment with colors and textures. Layer throws with poms, fringe, tassels.. everything goes! You can’t have too many throws in the Fall. In my humble opinion that is. :)

Tip 4 – Layer and Stack! I mentioned layering your throws which will add a lot of texture and visual interest. Also play around with stacking things. I love stacking pumpkins on top of each other!

This is my same mantel the year before. Books are another fun item to decorate with in the Fall and are also perfect for stacking! I’m always sad to take my Fall mantel decor down every year. The pumpkins just make me too happy. :)

Tip #5 – Pull out past Fall family pictures! This time of year is a perfect time to get some of your pictures off of your computer and displayed in your home. Those cute pictures of your kids when they were little at the pumpkin patch, fun times in their Halloween costumes, or maybe a picture of you and someone you love at a football game or your family last year around the Thanksgiving table.

{Shiplap Trick or Treat Halloween Picture Display}

Use them in your decor and seeing them displayed around your home every day will make the holidays that much more meaningful for you and your family.

Bonus tip #6 – light that pumpkin spice candle immediately! You can’t be unhappy when a pumpkin clove/spice candle is burning. You just can’t. It’s not possible. So buy two if you need to and soak it in! That’s the plan at our house. :)

I’ve linked favorite Fall decor below if you need some ideas or are looking for a new throw, basket, pumpkin, etc. to spruce up your home. It’s Fall! YEA. Happy decorating friends!

{BASKETS}

{COZY THROWS}

{PILLOWS}

{FALL DECOR}

{HALLOWEEN DECOR}

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xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

09.02.18

Weekend Pool Party and Sales!

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying it so far! We kicked off our weekend by hosting a pool party for my daughter’s competitive dance team. We hosted this party last year for the first time and I meant to share some pics and never did!

*affiliate links used

So here are a few pics I found from last year. Not my best look here (ha) but one of my close friend’s 50th birthday landed on the exact day of the company party so I presented her with a fun gift at the party.

I had all of the team parents write down one or two things they love about her and compiled it in a “50 Things We Love About Susan” frame. Some of my friends did this for me when I turned 40 and it was such a special gift! She loved it. :)

Last year on the day of the party it was cloudy and we were having the worst humidity. Just look at my hair in this pic for evidence! Humidity and I don’t get along. It makes me turn into Mufasa from The Lion King.

We had such a fun time throwing the party last year that we were excited to host again!

This year it was nice and sunny. :)

El’s dance coach sent me the final RSVP a few days ago and it said 94 people were coming. Mild panic set in! Definitely the largest crowd we’ve entertained. So we rented some tables and chairs and ended up putting our pool umbrellas over them for shade.

Adults had fun catching up.

Kids had fun in the pool.

And of course the trampoline is always a hit. I know I owe you all a post on this in-ground trampoline! Seriously one of the best things we did when we built this house.

Hours of entertainment!

The girls soaked their dance coach! She was a good sport. :)

They are honestly all the sweetest kids!

With the sweetest moms. They all feel like family after spending so much time together at dance competitions!

Kenny lived it up in the shirt our girls’ gave him for Father’s Day – remember my round-up post :) – and my hair stayed in tact so we called the day a success!

Of course after the party we felt like this guy. Ha! (This pic was from last year of one of our good friends.. he seriously cracks me up!) The party was such a fun way to start the weekend and now we plan on spending the next two days relaxing and catching up on a few home projects. I’ve been waiting for this weekend to order a few things for the house because the sales are always crazy good!

So many of my recent favorites are marked down! Here are pics of a few clothes I have and love that are on sale..

These outfits and my other favorites that are marked down this weekend are all linked below if you’re doing some on-line sale shopping too! I hope you all enjoy the long weekend!

{FAVORITES ON SALE}

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xoxo, Erin

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Family

08.30.18

Good-bye Summer of 2018!

Seriously!? Is it really Friday!? I was going to have this post up Tuesday morning. Then Tuesday turned into Wednesday.. Wednesday turned into Thursday.. and there you go. This week was a blur! I always forget how busy the first week back to school is until I’m living through it each year. But we survived and lived to tell about it! :) I have so many fun things to share with you all and can’t wait to get into a good posting routine again! But before I start with all of my organizing/decorating/fashion posts I’ve got lined up I’m feeling the need to wrap up summer with an iPhone picture dump! It’s tradition. :) Way too many pictures so I’ll keep the chit chat to a minimum. Or at least try to! Then I’ll be popping in again over the weekend so check back!

To be honest, August has always been one of my least favorite months. We’re over the heat and summer fun is winding down. We’re ready for school to start but starting school again is always an adjustment. It’s sort of an in-between month and one I’m always happy to have behind me. But then we moved into our home and I planted this Crepe Myrtle tree and bam! We get this showstopper in our yard every August. Just for that one month! I think someone knew I needed a little extra cheering up this time of year. :) (I snapped this pic with my cell phone and no editing! Isn’t it breathtaking!? I wish I could plant 10 of them!)

Once in a while my house looked like this over the summer.

But most of the time it looked more like this. :) Our playroom is in such an in-between state right now! You can see what it looked like after we moved in in all of its organized glory here. I moved the furniture we used to have in this room out because my kids are getting older and using this space differently. I’m still deciding which direction to take this room and I’ll be filling you in on what I’m doing as soon as I know that myself. I’m not feeling too rushed since right now it’s a perfect spot for board games and tepee parties. :)

Lots of late night pancakes and waffles with dad.

I always keep a stool in our island cupboard because this one loves to help. :)

The hot tub is our favorite on cool summer nights.

On a whim I bought this $12 slip and slide at a sports store a couple of months ago.

Hands down my smartest purchase of the year.

Summer fun at its finest. :)

Our pool, yard and house were full of kids this summer and we loved it!

Of course uninterrupted alone time is also a good thing. :)

*affiliate links used

Getting ready to see Ad’s play with friends! (My favorite Rebecca Minkoff dress from the N sale is back in stock in all sizes and was just marked 40% off!) You can see a better pic of the dress in this post.

Ad played the part of Horton the Elephant in Suessical this summer and it was so fun watching her. She had three solo songs in the show and I cried through the first one! A combination of being proud and also my nerves. I get so stressed right before my kids do stuff like this. Honestly just TOO nervous. I need to chill out! Working on that one.. :)

She did great and the play was darling! Auditions for Wizard of Oz are up next on the agenda. The scarecrow is my favorite. :)

After the show with her sweet director.

Found this pic on my phone and it made me laugh! I have no idea why El and her friend were hanging out in the pantry. I’m telling you.. kids were tucked away in every room of our house this summer!

While El was at dance Ad and I watched LOTS of good classics.

Late at night after the kids were in bed I completely tackled all things paper in our home! And made one huge mess in the process. Love how my husband is just doing his thing oblivious to it all. That’s a man who has lived through an organizing project.. or two or ten. :)

My little buddy started playing soccer. Happy for him. Scared for me adding one more activity to the list. I’m ready to hire a driver.. any takers? #kiddingbutnotkidding

Beach days.

We played Sorry more times than I can count. Hands down my kids’ favorite!

A summer camp program selfie.

Heading to church with my favorite 8 year old. I’ve been loving my pink open toe mules! I shared this pic on stories and got lots of questions about this dress. It’s a couple of years old but I ordered this denim dress and can’t wait to try it if you’re looking for a cute one! I’ve always loved denim dresses. The thick material makes them so flattering! Also my Kate Spade purse is marked down. YEA.

I always tried to get a little bit of computer work done from my couch in the mornings when my kids were sleeping in. I can’t say that I was extremely productive but I did enjoy the view. :)

Our only trips this summer were to Florida (I shared a few pics here).

And to southern Utah to visit family. It’s not a trip home without hitting Pizza Factory with my cute mom. :) My ruffle sleeve top is on sale for only $33! I have this shirt in 4 colors.. ha! You could say it’s a favorite. My wedges are also on sale. GOOD sale weekend! I wish my mom was here to go shopping with. She taught me everything I know when it comes to shopping. I know she’s so proud. My dad not so much. But kudos to him for always attempting to reign us in. We love you dad. ;)

Fun with the cousins in Utah!

Hard to tell which ones are the kids. :)

My girls and I couldn’t get enough of my sweet niece!

Kole was so proud of the hat he found for his dad’s birthday. Kenny puts it on at some point every day.

I enjoyed lots of fun with my own friends! They were tucked away in every room in our house this summer too. ;) Funny story at this dinner. I get a call from Addison after I’ve been gone about 30 minutes. She was babysitting Kole and was panicked because he “wasn’t cooperating and minding and was running all over the house.” I get her calmed down and then talk to Kole on the phone and remind him that Ad is in charge and he needs to listen to her and I get him back on track. Then I talk to Ad again and say.. “ok.. I think everything will be fine now. Just turn on a movie for him and pretty soon your dad will be home.” Ad says “Oh dad’s home.”

Um. What!?

I can’t even. I just shook my head and hung up. My friends and I were cracking up!

Just like that summer is over and kids are back in school! Three different schools and start times meant three individual pictures this year. 3rd, 7th and 9th grade. I teared up dropping El off and watching her walk into such a big school with such big kids. I just can’t believe she’s in High School! I mean.. the boys have facial hair! It’s a whole new world I’m not quite ready for.

Kole insisted on wearing his soccer socks the first day and wouldn’t roll them down below his knees. Right off the bat I was reminded that we have a long year ahead and I need to choose my battles wisely.

Hang in there moms.

Summer of 2018. Thanks for the memories!

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xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

08.24.18

Favorite Home Decor

*affiliate links are used in this post

Happy Friday friends! I’m so excited to be sharing some of my all time favorite home decor items with you all today! I’m partnering with Pottery Barn on this post and when they reached out for this collaboration they asked if I could share an item in my home from PB Apartment.. um. One item? How about one hundred items. :) We all know my love for Pottery Barn runs deep! Needless to say I didn’t have a problem deciding on items to share with you all today. Honestly a lot of my all time favorite home decor throughout my house is from Pottery Barn Apartment! First up.. their baskets. ALL the love for PB Apartment baskets. If I was forced to pick just one favorite.. I couldn’t. But if I HAD to.. (like my life depended on it) I would pick their Savannah Utility Baskets.

I have the larger size in my glass bathroom cabinets and they hold so much!

Really I have the Savannah Utility Baskets all over my house.

{Savanah Utility Baskets/Vintage Wood Oval Tray/Hyannis Lanterns}

They look beautiful on their own as decor.

Plus they are also so functional for storing and organizing.

I’ve loved having them in my pantry to hold random food items. Soon after I took this picture I switched out these for the Savannah Lidded Baskets because they are deeper and I can fit more items in them. (Lids stay off!)

Another long time favorite item is Pottery Barn Apartment’s Daytrip Lidded Baskets. These baskets were one of the very first things I bought for our new home! I was so nervous that I wouldn’t find baskets to fit above our mudroom lockers since I hadn’t measured for specific baskets before building the cubbies. I found these Lidded baskets and loved them. When they fit perfectly I knew they were meant to be! Love it when that happens. I keep thinking of how fun it would be to use one or two of these baskets for a picnic sometime but so far they have just been great to look cute and hold our measly selection of winter clothes. ;)

These Beachcomber Round Handled Baskets are other favorite baskets of mine. This large tote is perfect for holding a large plant or some magazines.

I’ve been using it for years to hold our Faux Potted Fiddle Leaf Tree. This tree and basket get moved around a lot because they look so good in every corner of my home! And unlike most of my plants, it won’t ever die on me. Bonus. :)

I can’t possibly do a post about favorites from PB without talking rugs. You all know I’m crazy about their rugs! They are my favorites because they are affordable, comfortable and also stylish. I’ve gushed on and on about my love for this Chunky Wool and Jute Rug in my family room and I still get questions about it daily!

This is a pic I took soon after we bought our first one. To answer the most commonly asked questions.. I have the Natural rug (not the gray) – YES – we have a rug pad from PB under it. YES it’s incredibly soft! Perfect for babies and kids. YES – it does shed. But not forever! It will shed for the first few months and then just eventually stop. It hides EVERYTHING. One of my favorite things about it! There will be popcorn kernels and all sorts of food on it and you really can’t tell. Standing in the room it always looks clean! Plus I just LOVE the look of it! It’s a perfect neutral rug that goes with any and all decor.

We loved it so much that we bought a second one in the largest size (10×14) two Decembers ago and moved that one in our family room.

Then we put the 9×12 in our dining room. I especially love this rug in these two main rooms because I like to switch our decor up so often and it really does go with anything.

My Bosworth Printed Wool Rug in blue is another favorite.

I have the runner and love it but a close friend has the largest size in her family room and it also looks so good!

These Marlo Bath Rugs have been perfect in my girls’ bathroom. I love the happiness this yellow brings!

They both recently stopped needing/using their white stools. Sad moment for their mom. :(

{Pearl Embroidered Organic Towels/Marlo Bath Rug}

{Hydrocotton Quick Drying Bath towel – Rose}

And then there’s my all time favorite bathroom rugs that rotate through my powder bathroom.

Ah yes.. my beloved Morgan Memory Foam Bath Rugs. You know something is a true favorite of mine when you see it showing up again and again in different colors. :) Let’s see.. I have it in twilight..

coral..

And flagstone.

Then I bought MORE of them in flagstone for my son’s bathroom.

He loves them too. :) My whole family loves these rugs! They are the softest in all the land.

If you are living in a smaller space or are looking for a smaller table, this Mateo End Table from Pottery Barn Apartment is a perfect addition to any room with a couch!

I wanted something small for the end of my couch and love the look and height of this little table. Perfect to hold your drink or book..

and your favorite organizing magazines. :)

We definitely put it to good use.

The PB Found Dough Bowls are also favorites that I love to decorate with! Each one is a unique found antique and they are so beautiful in person. I have several of them and this big dough bowl in front of my living room fireplace is actually a size medium. The large is huge! It’s so fun to switch up the decor in this! Most of the time I use it to display books.

I’ve put Christmas tree ornaments in it during the holidays too. And last year I used it to hold some of our favorite Christmas books.

Of course in the Fall.. pumpkins. :)

I have several PB dough bowls in the small size also and use them all over my house. I use them to decorate my open shelves a lot and they are perfect to hold fruit in the kitchen.

{Paris Print/Vintage Wood Oval Tray}

Another PB treasure similar to the dough bowls are my Vintage Wood Oval Trays. I have several of these throughout my home also, but especially love having two of them on my family room entertainment center shelves.

{PB Fall pillows/PB Fall decor}

They even out my shelves and I love putting fun things in them during different seasons. This picture is making me so excited for Fall!

In December I fill my Vintage Wood Oval Trays with greenery. This is too much fun.. bring on the holidays!

I can’t wait to pull out my favorite faux pumpkins! I bought these cute faux pumpkins for my kitchen last year and then ended up going back to PB for more two different times! If you display these faux pumpkins mixed in with a few real pumpkins everything looks real. I’m picky about faux items like this and these pass the test! Best I’ve seen.

I guess I’m glad my kids are going back to school after all. It means Fall is on its way! Leaves and Pumpkins and School Supplies and Football and multiple trips to Pottery Barn for fun decor. SIGN ME UP. :)

*Huge thank you to Pottery Barn Apartment for sponsoring this post! So many items from PB really are beloved favorites. Love always, a long time loyal fan

{POST SOURCES}

{FAVORITES THAT WILL BE COMING SOON} :)

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xoxo, Erin

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Organization

08.22.18

How to Keep your Sanity this School Year!

Back to school. It’s that time again! Our summer is winding down and I have mixed feelings this year! Excited to get back into a routine and for new beginnings, but also sad to see summer end. I’m a little anxious about this school year because I have three kids in three different schools with different start times and end times and breaks. (Their Spring Breaks are literally one right after the other three weeks in a row! Such a bummer.) Add that craziness to our already hectic activity schedule and I have no doubt I’m in for a wild year! I get tired every time I think about it. Ha. :)

So I’ve been working hard to get all of our systems in place and on top of things around the house. I’ve found lots of ways to help keep my sanity in tact during busy seasons of life and I’m sharing them with you today! I need the reminders myself and I hope that some of these tips help you keep your sanity this school year too. Moms need to stick together. :) And if you don’t have kids or your kids are grown I hope you still find a few tips that are helpful for your current season of life! Organization with or without kids is always a good thing. :)

{SET UP SYSTEMS TO CONTROL THE PAPER}

I know. We’ve been talking a lot about paper control lately but it’s such a HUGE thing that is essential to keeping your sanity! We all know how much paper comes in the home on a daily basis and if you don’t have systems set up to handle it, it ends up all over counters cluttering our homes and our minds and making it hard to stay on top of things. For my personal paperwork I set up these wooden bins in my office. The top row is for personal paperwork and the bottom row is for work paperwork. LOVE having a place to keep all of these loose papers I reach for daily. (More details in this post.)

If you don’t need multiple bins like I have I’d recommend at least having some sort of “inbox” where all of your urgent papers can land. Things that need your attention soon. I check this box at least once a day and this helps me make sure that important things don’t get lost in the shuffle!

For random papers my kids need to hang on to I have this hanging file system in my office that I’ve had forever. If you’re looking for something similar I just found this inexpensive solution that folds up and is perfect for managing papers! I also love this system and a few more options below.

*affiliate links used

Papers I need to save long term are filed in my drawers. So happy to have this little project behind me!

(Details in this post if you missed it!)

For random school/art work that my kids are proud of and we want to display I have these cork boards in my pantry.

I love having a place to quickly pin up tests or assignments my kids are proud of. Or that cute little note they wrote me or the wedding/baby announcement that came in the mail. I got these cork boards from PB and they’ve now replaced them with this similar option. I also love this one and it’s on sale right now! Below are a few other great options if you have room for a pin board in your kitchen, office or hallway.

Art work I’ve been displaying on our shiplap display wall through the summer months. Then I toss a lot of it! More on school work/art organization is coming. :)

(You can read all about our shiplap display wall here.)

{CLEAN/ORGANIZE KIDS’ SPACES}

I always feel much more sane during the school year when the spaces are organized that my kids’ are using often. Landing zones for shoes and backpacks especially need to be organized. My kids are always so excited to clean out our mudroom every summer. ;)

(Mudroom sources here)

In our previous home with no mudroom or space for shoes/coats/backpacks I used a wall in our garage to keep things organized. You can see more details on this set up in this oldie but goodie. :)

We also clean out the kids’ closets every summer. So nice to get rid of clothes that are too small or they aren’t wearing and clean out the clutter! It’s crazy how quickly things pile up in kids’ closets isn’t it!? It’s like they can’t help but collect every little insignificant item that comes their way!

(Details on Ad’s closet organization in this post.)

And of course if you have any type of office/craft room/homework room that the kids use for homework it’s so important to have that area cleaned and ready to go!

I’ve been working on my hot mess of an office all summer and am so excited to have cupboards and drawers streamlined!

If you use a kitchen counter or table for homework have a drawer or bin nearby ready with pencils, crayons, etc. Nothing like sharpened pencils and new crayons is there!? My favorite. :)

Having a set zone for homework that is clean and ready to go when kids start makes a huge difference!

{CREATE ROUTINES AND SHORTCUTS THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER}

I’m all about creating routines and shortcuts that help things run smoother each day. Simple things like laying my workout clothes out the night before, pre-packing lunches, etc. are a huge help during busy mornings when I’m tired and my brain isn’t quite awake yet!

Think about your every day routines and how you can simplify them. Kole’s bedroom is upstairs and every day when we were ready to put on shoes and head out the door I’d have to send him upstairs to grab a pair of socks. Lightbulb moment two years ago when I finally asked myself why I wasn’t keeping socks downstairs by the shoes!

Our powder bathroom is also downstairs close to our garage.

Soon after we moved into our home I set up this drawer with extra toothbrushes for mornings we are running late. If the kids haven’t brushed their teeth they can do it quick in the powder bathroom before they run out the door vs. running back upstairs. Does anyone else lose their kids when they send them upstairs? :)

I didn’t put one for me in this drawer because I get dressed and my teeth brushed early. If I don’t get myself ready before I get the kids ready it doesn’t happen!

Another helpful time saver for busy mornings is having a set place for snacks/school lunch stuff.

I have two drawers in my pantry that are just for snacks and they make it easy for my kids to grab something quickly to take to school with them. If you don’t have drawers in your pantry just pick any kitchen drawer! Or put a “snack” basket on the counter.

Having all of the lunch snacks corralled in one spot that the kids can reach makes lunch packing a breeze! (You can see pics of my full pantry here.)

Another routine that we started this summer that helped immensely with keeping my kids on track was using our Daily Expectation Charts.

I’m not going to use them for my girls this school year. Loved them for the summer, but my girls are just too busy with school/activities and they know their room/bathroom needs to stay clean and they help with house chores when they can. But I will definitely continue using this chart for Kole (my 8 year old) during the school year! I’ll add homework as one of his daily tasks. These motivate him so much and having set things to get done each day laid out like this keeps him off of the iPad and doing better things with his time! (You can read more about my expectation charts and how to download your own in this post.)

{SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS}

This is my favorite time of year to set new personal goals and routines. The start of a new school year is such a fresh start and I always feel motivated to work hard and be productive after having an unstructured summer. It’s a much easier time for me to set goals in September vs. January when I’m in a post holiday funk and just want to veg in sweats all day. :)

Now that kids are back in school take some time to really think about YOU. What are your goals and dreams? What do you want to achieve and work towards? Maybe you just need more time for self care if you’re a busy mom always meeting the needs of your kids and others. Making time for yourself can be a goal too! Whatever it is, write down your goals and decide on small steps to work towards them each day.

Here are a few of my past posts that might help us all get motivated!

Three Time Management Tips to Increase Productivity

Five Tips to Manage Your Time Better (Eat That Frog!)

How To Get Out of a Productivity Slump

I also plan on re-writing a few of my Current Projects pages so I know next steps for the projects I’m working on. I made some progress this summer I’m excited to share with you all! (You can read more about this printable and snag your own here!)

And of course my to-do list printables will be on heavy rotation. I’ll be using my time blocking page the most and scheduling out my day in detail so that I can make the most of the small kid-free time that I have! Just my drop off/pick up schedule alone needs its own printable.. ha! Say a prayer for me. ;) (You can read more about my favorite to-do list pages and print them for yourself here.) It’s so important as moms that we are taking care of ourselves and working towards something that makes us feel fulfilled and happy. You owe it to yourself to figure out what that is if you haven’t already! It makes all the difference for me and truly makes me a better mom/wife/friend/overall person.

{GET ORGANIZATION MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION FROM OTHERS}

Last but not least I think it’s so important to get motivation and inspiration from others! We can all learn so much from what others are trying and finding success with. I’m so excited to share a big event that I’m going to be a part of next month! I’m going to be a featured speaker at Get Organized HQ and you are all invited to join! Get Organized HQ is a FREE event with 20+ organizing experts to help you streamline your life and home. The best part is that you can join us without hiring a babysitter, changing out of your yoga pants or even leaving your house! My kind of event. ;) Mark your calendars now, Get Organized HQ runs from September 10th – 14th.

{CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE TICKET!}

More than 20 organizing pros from across the country are joining to share their knowledge to help you get organized and run a happy home with less stress and more structure! I’m really excited about the speakers at this event. They are all bloggers and YouTubers who have great tips to share in all areas of life, work and home. At Get Organized HQ the speakers will be covering everything from quick meal planning to healthy eating on budget, home management, creating routines, self-care, photo organization (I’ll be paying close attention to that one!), decluttering, eliminating paper clutter, home decorating, budgeting and finances, cleaning methods, streamlining your wardrobe, and more! My session is focused on office organization. Of course it is. ;) This was my first time doing anything video related. (Other than IG stories which I’m not that great at.. ha.) I’m trying to break out of my comfort zone! I hope you’ll tune in. :)

So that’s it!

Set up systems to control the paper
Clean and organize kids’ spaces
Create routines and shortcuts that make life easier
Set yourself up for success
Get organization motivation and inspiration from others

My best tips for keeping your sanity this school year! I’d love to hear any other tips/tricks you have in the comments! Like I said, we can all learn so much from each other. Here’s to happy school days ahead for all of us!

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xoxo, Erin

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Organization

08.13.18

Organized Greeting Cards

Organized Greeting cards! Our topic for today. You guys I’m seriously obsessed. Organizing everything in my house. I go through phases like this and JUST CAN’T STOP organizing. Really I think it’s just a control thing with me. It’s the end of summer and I’m starting to feel like running around everywhere with my kids but get nothing done is wearing me down. (It has been a fun party but it’s starting to take its toll!) So at night when the kids go to bed.. I organize! And feel a little bit of sanity slowly seep back into my life. Best medicine out there. ;)

I always buy extra cards.. birthday cards, thank you notes.. whenever I see one I love I buy it so that I have cards on hand when I need them.

I bought a binder with folders for each month years ago to hold my cards, but it clearly wasn’t made to hold my crazy stash!

So I looked around on-line and found this Card Keeper (you can get it here or here) which was a much better solution!

*Affiliate links used

I gathered up every random card from around my house and set up shop in font of my TV. You might have noticed in organizing posts like this one that I always lay out a throw or blanket and organize on my floor. I’ve been getting questions about that on IG stories when I share organizing pics. Something I’ve done for years.. forever really! I like to spread out and I like the blanket down in case there is anything dirty.. dusty papers or whatever. Then I can just shake or wash the blanket quick when I’m done and my rug stays clean. Funny habit. :)

{Bliss Throws (Teal Gazer/Pink Peony)/Chunky Wool Jute Rug/Thatcher Chair/Floor Lamp/Similar Coffee Table}

I did this little project the night The Bachelor finale was on. I never watch the entire season of the Bachelor/Bachelorette shows.. just the finale. Love the romance but not the drama. :) Plus my husband always has great commentary during the finales.. like how “their love will hands down stand the test of time because they are jumping out of an airplane together or swimming with dolphins and that’s the true sign of a long lasting relationship..”

Ha.

One heartbreak followed by one proposal later and my messy pile of cards was organized!

This Card Keeper has six dividers so I just labeled them the categories I had cards for: THANK YOU/BIRTHDAY/MOTHERS & FATHERS DAY/LOVE/HELLO/ & BLANK. You can find my beloved label maker I used here… it’s pretty much my 4th child. ;)

Some categories had more than others (like the thank you notes) so I turned the cards vertical to fit more.

Pure joy! Stuff like this makes me too happy.

I put together two birthday gifts for friends today and found a card for each of them in a snap! I’m usually digging through various drawers rushed and frustrated knowing I have birthday cards somewhere but not being able to locate them. Life just runs more smoothly when you’re organized, doesn’t it? That smooth feeling fuels my addiction. Because life with kids is usually not so smooth. And I like smooth.

I like it a lot. :)

Lid down and this happy organized box is now put away in my office cupboard! Just a few more things to go through in my office before it’s completely organized. It has been quite the summer project! Off to go through piles of old pictures.. I’ve been procrastinating on that one. Time for my blanket and Netflix!

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xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

08.10.18

Bathroom Decor (a pop of pink!)

{Family Room Pics and Sources} Bathroom Decor (A pop of pink!) *affiliate links used

Well! This week was a blur. As are most weeks during the summer! We still have 12 more precious days before my first child heads back to school (quickly followed by my other two the following week) so we are making the most of it. Then I will be writing all sorts of time management/organization posts because I seriously need to get focused and back on track! But today we are talking bathroom decor! I’m still loving all of the spring/summer touches around my home and am especially obsessed with combining coral and soft pink! It seems to be a theme running through my home lately and it is making my spaces feel so current and light and bright. I’m a fan. :)

When Pottery Barn reached out to collaborate on this post (after doing a happy dance in my office because we all know how I feel about PB!) I knew exactly what I wanted to share with you all. Their Hydrocotton Quick Drying Bath Towels are long time favorites (they are seriously so plush and soft!) and I’ve had my eye on the Rose colored towels for a while now.

It’s such a treat when I find things I love to use daily that also look great in my home and work with my decor. The rose color in these towels looks so good against any and all grey paint! Making them perfect for my bathrooms.

(You can download all of my paint colors here)

I already had pops of coral in my master bathroom and love the combo with the soft pink!

So feminine and pretty.

I wondered if Kenny would mind the pink towels but he didn’t say a word about the color.. only how soft the towels are which was no surprise. He never notices details about how things look! Only how they function so the towels are a win. For both of us.

I have a feeling the pops of pink have only just begun. :)

I loved my new towels so much in my master bathroom I decided to put some in my powder bathroom too!

This rose color is a deeper pink making it perfect to transition from summer to fall. I have a feeling a lot of pink will be popping up in fall home decor this year. It’s such a hot trend! I’m still trying to decide if I want to keep the pinks or go with traditional fall colors. What’s your favorite for fall?

I added some of the same towels below my powder bath vanity, added a white hydrocotton towel in my basket and washed my bathroom rug.

I also got this pretty pressed glass soap dispenser! I’ve needed a new soap dispenser for a while now and love the vintage look of this! I also ordered a few more pressed glass accessories and am patiently waiting for them to arrive.

A few simple changes and it feels like a new space every time I walk in this bathroom!

Crazy the difference a few new towels can make. One thing I’ve learned through the years is that it really doesn’t take much to transform and breathe new life into our spaces. A few new towels in the bathroom, a few new pillows on the couch, a new plant or some fresh flowers and DONE. We fall in love with our homes all over again. :)

Huge thank you to Pottery Barn for sponsoring this post! And for helping me decorate my home through the years. Your style and quality keeps me going back. And back. And back again.

And then back again one more time even when my husband says it’s time to be done going back. :)

Enjoy your weekend everyone! This pictures sums up plans around here. :)

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xoxo, Erin

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Fashion

08.03.18

Fashion Friday (Anniversary Sale!) and a Special Day

Happy Friday everyone! We made it! Always a good feeling isn’t it!? Friday is hands down my favorite day of the week. Everything just slows down and for me, the promise of a great weekend is usually better than the weekend itself.. ha. Not that weekends aren’t good, but because of the stage we are in with our kids they are busy! I usually have grand plans of down time that don’t really pan out. But Friday is my day to dream! I’m sure a lot of you can relate. :)

I’m excited to be partnering with Nordstrom today to share more of my favorites from the Anniversary Sale! The sale ends this Sunday night so this is the last weekend to get great deals on cute new things for Fall. Love this sale. I’m always sad to see it end! Some of the things I ordered on-line arrived and I’m excited to share a few more of my favorites with you along with things I’ve shared that have been re-stocked!

*affiliate links used

{Bell Sleeve Cashmere Sweater/Madewell Necklace/AG Jeans/Kentvi Sandal}

So this sweater was a splurge but is honestly one of my favorites! I absolutely love bell sleeves and the neckline and color of this sweater is so beautiful. So cute with a long necklace! This Madewell necklace was also on sale and sold out but this is another Madewell necklace I have and love that is similar.

{Bell Sleeve Cashmere Sweater/Arrowstack Necklace/AG Jeans/Analise Sandal}

I ordered it in gray also to try and wanted to show you both colors. I’m going to keep the purple because I already have a lot of gray but love them both! The gray I ordered in petite but I like the regular xs above in the purple better so I’d say order your regular size! Looks cute a little long in the sleeves.

{Rails Plaid Shirt/AG jeans/Caslon Wedge Sneakers}

You all know I can’t resist a good black and white plaid flannel top! And this one is darling. So cute with these casual wedge sneakers.

But I also love it with this cute faux leather tote and my brown Kentvi Sandals! Isn’t this purse cute!? And such a great price. Comes with a strap you can add but I like it better without. The gold handles are my favorite! My top comes in other colors and patterns too. I really love all things Rails, but it’s a pricey brand so I usually only buy Rails during this sale when things are marked down. Their plaid shirts just hang so perfectly! And they are warm but not heavy flannel – perfect for easing into Fall when it’s cool but not cold.

{Oversize Open Cardigan/Jeans/Arrowstack Necklace/Purse/Sandals}

I bought two new cardigans during the sale (live in them when it’s cool!) and this oversize cardigan was one of my favorites. I love the big sleeves and how slouchy and cozy it fits. Excited to have a cardigan in navy too! I love navy.

The other cardigan I loved from the sale this year is the Leith Ribbed Shawl Cocoon Sweater. Beautiful cardigan that comes in so many colors. Loving the teal! Just a few sizes left in this one so grab one quick if it’s something you want and they have your size! Matching my bathroom here.. not intentional but we’ll roll with it. :) You can see how I organize my jewelry in this post.

Speaking of jewelry, these Oblong Drop earrings are my very favorite from the sale this year (this pair is similar) and I’ve been wearing them almost every day since they came in! So cute and they seem to work with everything. I snapped this pic last weekend on our way to watch El perform in Dancerpalooza (a fun dance intensive we usually travel to but this year it was in San Diego) .. so much fun seeing her on stage!

{Balloon Sleeve Sweater/AG jeans/Madewell Bag/Similar bag on sale/Vince Camuto Kentvi Sandal}

I mentioned this balloon sleeve sweater is one of my favorites from the sale this year. So comfy and such a great price!

I had to order it in green too! Just couldn’t resist. LOVE this sweater. LOVE this color! Wearing it with my Kate Spade Aviators I also love from the sale this year! A friend snapped this pic for me and we were laughing so hard..

I was dying! So hot wearing this sweater outside in the summer! Half of my pics came back like this of me fanning myself.. ha. I was trying to mix up the bedroom mirror selfies for you all but quickly realized that sometimes I do things a certain way for a reason.

Air conditioning! Back in my cool house and ready to try on winter wear. ;) Ok.. you all know how I feel about camo.. this Caslon Utility Jacket is so cute! Especially love the little pop of pink above the pocket. It runs large so I’d order one size smaller than your regular size.

I got it in the green to try too and now can’t decide which one to keep!

I ordered this Fit and Flare dress early on and knew I would love it! I was so excited to try it on and it fit perfectly true to size. It looks a little short on the model but on me it hits just above the knee (I’m 5’3.. and a half). ;) I love it with my over the knee black boots for Fall! I bought my boots during this sale last year and about wore them out. I love not having to worry about my legs! Haven’t shaved? Out of tanner? No problem. :) This pair of Vince Camuto over the knee boots are similar and on sale!

Here is a side view of this dress so you can see how sliming it is and how beautiful the ruffle sleeves are. Plus I’m crazy about this stunning teal color! But it also comes in navy and burgundy.

And it ties in the back! Would be so cute with hair in an up-do to show off the bow. LOVE this dress.

{Make and Model Too Cool Pullover/Make and Model Good Vibes Jogger Pants}

Ok.. enough dressy talk.. let’s get to the really good stuff. The pjs! :) I shared this cute Make and Model pair I bought early on in the sale. If you know me you already know of my never-ending love for Make and Model pjs. If we had to evacuate our home I’d grab my kids, my albums and then my Make and Model pajamas. Because I’d need something comfy to wear during the disaster of course. ;) Really though.. they make me so happy. I put them on at the end of the day and just ahhh.. instant comfort. Plus they are cute and flattering too! Comfort first, but that’s a major bonus.

They’re cute enough to wear for every day wear too! Isn’t this pullover darling with jeans!? Wear pjs all day? Well if you insist… ok.. don’t mind if I do. :)

{Good Vibes Jogger Pants/Brushed Hacci Hoodie}

So I bought the new pair above during the sale. And not too long ago I bought this blue pair. (Those I wear during the day running errands all the time too!)

{Sleepy Fleece Hoodie/Sleepy High Rise Lounge Jogger Pants}

And now Nordstrom has this pair in stock and on sale! Ahhhh! Don’t do this to me! I seriously can’t resist a cute pair of Make and Model pjs. I’m just not strong enough. Admitting my problem is the first step to recovery. The only reason these aren’t on their way to my house right now is because I can’t decide which color combo to get.. aren’t they all perfection!? Help! What’s your favorite? Tell me in the comments or I’ll be forced to order one of each.

And then I’ll be promptly signing divorce papers when my husband finds out.

Kidding.. but not kidding.. ha. He just doesn’t understand! If they made Make and Model pjs for men he would get it!

I broke out of my Make and Model comfort zone and bought these matte satin pj’s during the sale too and have loved having cool silky pjs when it’s hot – which is most days right now. Thinking of getting a few pairs for Christmas gifts this weekend. I have a feeling my mom would love these too. Am I right mom? :) Also my favorite bliss throws are going fast! Just a handful colors left if you want one for only $25!

{Cashmere Sweater/AG Jeans/Purse/Open Toe Mules}

Ok.. quickly linking past favorites that sold out and have been re-stocked!

{Rebecca Minkoff Dress/Vince Camuto Kentvi Sandal/Kate Spade Aviator Sunglasses}

This darling dress was re-stocked but is almost sold out again!

{Leith Rib Wrap Sweater /Pleat Detail Midi Skirt/open toe mules}

{Adidas Hoodie/Adidas Leggings}

My oldest daughter and one of her friends have already borrowed this hoodie from me so I know it must be cool. ;)

{J Crew Tres Chic Tee/AG jeans/Chuck Taylor Sneakers}

{Treasure and Bond cinched sweatshirt/Zella Crop Leggings/Flashback Sneakers}

These flashback sneakers have sold out twice and are going fast the third time around! Long time favorites.

{Tie Knot Sweatshirt}

These wedge sneakers and my favorite Make and Model Gotta Have it Tees are two things I would highly recommend if you don’t already have them! Both so comfy. The tees are long time favorites.

{Vince Camuto Blouse/Vince Camuto Midi Skirt/Halo Strap Sandal}

I also wanted to let you all know that there are similar Paige skinny jeans on sale in this olive color! I have loved my green Paige jeans.

{Michael Kors Suit/Smartcare Dress Shirt/Austin Derby Shoes}

Yesterday I shared some cute clothes Addison and her friend got for back to school from the Nordstrom sale, but I didn’t share anything for my little guy! This Michael Kors suit was his splurge from the Nordstrom sale this year. A major splurge for a special occasion. Two weeks ago Kole was baptized. (In the church we attend kids can get baptized when they turn 8 years old). It was such a special day for our family! And a bit emotional for me seeing my husband baptize our youngest. Plus I just kept looking at Kole in his first suit looking so grown up and handsome and couldn’t get over it!

{Lewit Puff Sleeve Dress/Halo Strap Sandals/Purse/Earrings}

I had this new dress that was perfect for such a special occasion so Kole and I were feeling fancy. ;)

The ceremony was so beautiful. My girls sang and I shared some sweet and funny things about Kole. So easy to do! He brings so much happiness to our lives and to everyone around him and makes us all laugh every single day. I can’t imagine life without my sweet boy. He is growing up way too quickly! And because of that I had his pants tailored in a way that we can keep letting them out so hopefully this suit will last a while. ;) This is one outfit I’ll save forever. Wish I could freeze him in time and keep him this age forever.

He got baptized with two of his good buddies and we had a luncheon with lots of friends and family after to celebrate these darling boys and the good choices they are making in their lives.

Of course they responded with unmatched poise and sophistication.

As they always do.

*Huge thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post, for the incredible customer service and for such an amazing sale this year!

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xoxo, Erin

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Organization

08.02.18

Organizing Progress and Girls School Clothes

So this past week has been NON-STOP organizing at my house. Ok.. that’s not totally true. There has been a lot of running kids around and enjoying summer in-between the organizing, but whenever a free minute pops up, I’ve been working! We have three weeks until school starts and I am on a mission to get my house in order and projects wrapped up that have been lingering on my to-do list for way too long. First up was organizing the file drawers in my office.

I absolutely loved hearing from so many of you that my post on organizing my file drawers motivated you to get some of your paper under control too! One sweet reader sent the picture above along with garbage bags of recycled paper she finally sorted through. E-mails like that make my day! So thank you to all of you who send me kind comments and thank you notes. They are appreciated more than you know!

Finally getting my file drawers organized gave me the motivation I needed to clean out other areas in my house so today I’m sharing some progress we’ve made. Emphasis on the word PROGRESS. These are quickly snapped cell phone pics with lousy lighting and real life messes. Be warned. :)

*affiliate links used

*You can see my full office decor and sources in this post. It’s much cleaner there too. :)

My office. What can I say.. I’ve cleaned it out so many times but to be honest, I’ve been mostly just shuffling things around. Not this time! This past week I have been tossing EVERYTHING we aren’t using and I can’t tell you how good it feels to get this spaced cleaned out and organized for good!

Two bags of garbage and one to Goodwill after this major clean out. “After” office pics of how I’m organizing this space are coming! Most likely when the kids are back in school and I have time to take some pics. :)

Mudroom was next on my list! I shared this little clean out on Instagram Stories but thought I’d share the pics here on the blog too for those of you who missed it!

My kids are always so happy when I start tearing cupboards and drawers apart.. ha. Sorry but not sorry. :) We took everything out of the cupboards and drawers, vacuumed and wiped them all out, then put back the shoes and things we are actually wearing right now and put the rest in bags for Goodwill. Crazy how quickly kids grow out of their shoes! A few pics of the progress..

I love having all of our flip flops in one drawer by the door! Before we moved into this house I always kept a basket in our garage full of flip flops during the summer then put it away in the winter.

I use these cupboards to hold shoes that aren’t worn as often and old backpacks. (My kids always keep one old backpack each for camping, travel, hikes, etc.)

Time to organize each of our lockers on the left side..

We each have a drawer for our most worn shoes. This is my 14 year old’s drawer and I got so many questions about her rose gold sandals! You can find them here. They are darling, come in lots of colors and I love them for me too! So fun that we are the same shoe/clothes size now. :)

My husband’s shoes are in our closet and so are most of mine (I just keep my exercise shoes in my mudroom drawer) but ALL of the kids’ shoes are in this room.

Wiped clean and ready for new backpacks!

I shared this little tip and heard from so many moms! YES! Keep socks downstairs by the door with the shoes! Saves so much time with younger kids.

{Bosworth Printed Wool Rug (on sale!)/Coral Celine Throw/Woven Araya Pillow/Embellished Shape Pillow}

Thrilled to have this room so clean and ready for a new school year!

This evening Ellie and I tackled her closet and room and OH MAN. I’ve been putting this one off! It was getting so full of clutter! Here is my BEST TIP for cleaning out kids’ rooms when they have hit disaster mode. Pull everything out of the room! I had El get everything in her closet, under her bed, on her floor, on her desk, etc. and pull it all into the hallway. The nice thing about this is that you are starting with a CLEAN room and it feels like a blank slate that you don’t want to mess up again! I vacuumed her floor really good while El got to work organizing..

Well. More like taking a little trip down memory lane reading old journals. Ha. Moms.. you have to oversee large projects like this for this very reason. Kids should do most of the work, but they usually need some prodding along the way so that a 2-3 hour project doesn’t take a week. ;) I gave El one black sack for garbage, one for Goodwill and everything else she wanted to keep she needed to put back nice and neat. She did a great job and we got rid of most of that stuff in the hallway only keeping special keepsakes and a few things she still uses.

We even hit the jackpot finding money and gift cards in all sorts of places. I think I should take that for my services and assistance..

We also pulled all of her clothes out of her drawers and vacuumed them, then wiped them clean!

Then we put back only the clothes she is wearing now. Addison took a few things and then we had another full black bag of clothes for Goodwill!

Half way through I asked her how she was holding up and this was the response I got.. ha! It wore us both out but oh my word.. her room is so nice and clean! Ready to start High School clutter free! I think she’s motivated to keep it clean too because she doesn’t want to have to do a clean out like that again for a long time!

Switching gears with daughter number 2! She and her friend got some cute new back to school clothes and I wanted to share them with you now because most of them are from the Nordstrom sale that ends Sunday night! I have a few more of my favorites that I’ll be sharing tomorrow but here are some cute things if you have girls heading back to school this fall!

{Zella leggings/Zella Pullover/Gladiator Sandals/Balloon Sleeve Cardigan/Similar Jeans}

Ad is the shortest of all of her friends. Both of my girls are! They are taking after their mom in lots of ways. :) So in love with this cardigan I got Ad for Fall! She loves how cozy it is and can’t wait to wear it when it cools off. Her friends is wearing Zella wear that is also so comfy for back to school!

{Red Cotton Tee/Good Vibes Tee}

These two have been doing a fun summer theatre camp together so in-between these pictures there was lots of practicing for their upcoming performance. Cutest girls. Love them!

{Floral Blouse}

This floral blouse is one of Ad’s favorites!

{Rainbow Stripe Sweatshirt/Fleece Sleep Shorts}

And how cute is this sweatshirt and pj shorts!? My girls have this brand of sleep shorts too and live in them at home! So comfy.

{Tie Sleeve Sweatshirt/Glitter Anna Flat}

This cute tie sleeve sweatshirt is one of my favorites! So cute and soft.

{Sport Ruffle Sleeve Top/Zoe and Rose Dot Flutter Sleeve Dress}

{Walking on Sunshine Tee/Lace up Hooded Dress}

This lace up hooded dress is also so cute! I bought this one for Ad and it was too long on her but looks daring on her friend! So she kept it and we ordered Ad another one a size smaller. They will be cute twins in this darling dress this Fall!

Never a dull moment with my girls and their cute friends. :)

{Trixxi Sweater Knit Tulle Dress/Stripe Woven Shirt}

Another dress both girls will be wearing this Fall! There were so many cute dresses on sale this year for girls! And Ad is obsessed with tops that tie so I knew this striped top would be a hit. I love it so much too and wish it came in my size!

So happy it’s still summer around here but when school hits we will be ready! I have a few more spaces to organize and need to do some clothes shopping for my other two, but progress! One day at a time. :)

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xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

07.29.18

Living Room Summer Decor

A few weeks ago I freshened our living room up with a few small changes and I have been loving how bright and crisp and clean this space feels for summer!

So come in! Sit down and let’s chat. :)

{You can find paint details for this space by downloading my paint printable HERE}

I think the first thing we would chat about are these beautiful new pillows! This room can sometimes feel busy to me because I have a lot of accessories on the shelves and a lot going on in the pictures in the gallery wall so I absolutely love the way the simplicity of these pillows calms things down and brings everything together.

They are from Lauren at LO HOME and are amazing quality and so beautiful in person! Plus Lauren is just the sweetest and I’ve loved getting to know her. She reached out to me about doing an IG post, but I just had to share her fun website with you all here on the blog too because I honestly love her style and decor so much and know I’ll be ordering more from her in the future. She set up a page of my favorite pillows and throws I chose for my living room (they come in so many different fun colors!) but she also sells furniture and accessories. I have my eye on some cute new ginger jars she just got in and I love her lamps! But I have to tell you what I’m beyond impressed with are her pillow inserts! Oh my word! Seriously the softest pillow inserts ever! I’m going to be using them for all of my pillow covers when I switch things up for different seasons because the quality is amazing. Although I have to say I’m in no rush to switch out these beautiful pillow covers!

Still loving navy and coral.. and I added a fun pop of pink for summer!

I also added a couple of cute tassel pillows to my chairs and love my new throws!

I have been looking for a larger tray for my coffee table for a while and finally found this silver lacquer tray.

I love that it gives me more room for accessories. A favorite flower book for me and my husband’s Harley book underneath. A little bit of both of us on the table. ;)

I got this cute white glass box from LO HOME also but it looks like it has sold out! Hopefully it will be back in stock soon.. so cute for a great price!

I switched a few things around on my shelves. Funny how such simple changes – new pillows and mixing up accessories can make you feel like you have a whole new space.

Tulips are a Home Goods find and the coral brings in the beach for summer! We’ll ignore the fact that I still have my O Holy Night Christmas sign up behind them. Guess I’m trying to bring ALL the seasons into this room. Or I’m just too lazy to find something else to put there. Verdict is still out on that one.

Entry pics and sources are HERE.

Always a good thing to mix up our surroundings and re-decorate every once in a while. It just breathes new life into a space! And is kinda fun.. so there’s that. :)

{LIVING ROOM SOURCES}

LO HOME PILLOWS AND THROWS

CURTAINS ARE CUSTOM AND YOU CAN FIND ORDERING INFO. IN THIS POST

{SIMILAR RUGS}

{SIMILAR MIRRORS}

{SIMILAR FRAMES AND LAMPS}

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xoxo, Erin

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Organization

07.25.18

How I Plan My Day (with free printables!)

HOW I PLAN MY DAY (with free printables!)

Well! Here we are mid week already! All three of my kids are in summer camps right now and I had been looking forward to this week thinking I would be able to get so much done. Instead I’m spending most of my time getting them to ALL the places and then picked up from ALL the places with a quick grocery store run and kitchen clean up in-between. It’s looking like it’s not going to be such a productive week after all! Ha. I decided this might be a good time to chat about planning and productivity on the blog with all of you since this week is a total bust for me when it comes to productivity. I’m hoping just chatting about being productive will make me feel better. :)

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about how I plan my day and what type of planner I use so today I’m sharing a few things that help me plan and be more efficient with my time. But I have to first warn you.. the only thing that is consistent about my planning is that I’m completely inconsistent. :) I’m not inconsistent with planning itself.. I’m a planner and I always make a plan for my day. I’m just not so consistent with HOW I plan. There are two reasons for this. First, different planning methods work better for me depending on the month/season that I’m in with my life/kids. And second, I just love planning and to-do lists so it’s always fun for me to switch things up and try new strategies. I’m kind of nerdy like that. I don’t think this is new news to anyone here. :)

Because I LOVE a good to-do list I started making my own years ago. These are three different to-do lists I have always loved using and rotate often. I finally made them into free printables for all of you too! Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I love sharing things with you that are working well for me! Then you can all be nerdy and geek out over new to-do lists too. #itsaparty #youreinvited

{CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MY THREE TO-DO LISTS ALONG WITH OTHER FUN THINGS IN MY PRINTABLE LIBRARY!}

(If you are already a Sunny Side Up subscriber just enter your info. again to get the printables.. it won’t add you twice! Also, if you sign up and don’t get an e-mail soon after check your junk mail! Once in a while it lands there first.)

This first list I call my Time Blocking To Do List. I use this the most during the school year.. especially on my really busy days when there are lots of things I need to get done. I write my to-do’s on the right side in a list and then put my top three things that HAVE to get done that day at the top. Then I assign specific times during my day to specific to-do’s. I have learned a lot about time blocking this year (mostly by trial and error!) and will write a separate post about things I’ve learned at some point. This printable is great for days you need to be really specific and strict with your time.

My Weekly To Do List is two pages long. I use this when I have week with a lot of specific things I need to do or remember each day. I created this a couple of years ago in May! May is always a crazy month with all of the end of school year activities and I needed a place to write ALL the things I had to do/remember each day. Send flowers for teachers Monday, volunteering for field day Tuesday, crazy hair day Wednesday, and on and on. This list helps me immensely during weeks that I need a lot of daily reminders!

My Day/Week/Month To Do List is my favorite list to use over the summer! It’s a less structured list that helps me keep track of things I need/want to do for each day, the week and then things I’d love to get done during the month. My favorite part of this list is that it’s perfect to use with sticky notes!

This list fits a regular square sticky note for the daily to-do’s and a 3×5 sticky note for the weekly to-dos. I didn’t come up with this idea (I found something similar on pinterest and made it my own!) but I absolutely love it because it’s so nice to toss that top sticky note at the end of each day and start a new one! Sometimes I get to toss the weekly list early too and then I feel oh so productive. :) I still cross things off as I go too. I love that I don’t have to keep re-writing the monthly to-dos. Those are usually bigger projects or things that I need to get done, but don’t have an immediate deadline. Perfect to-do list for summer because each day is so different and this list isn’t structured in any way.

I hope these to-do lists are as helpful to you as they have been to me! Now.. for the question of what planner am I currently using? That changes often around here too. :)

*affiliate links used

I am always on the hunt for the perfect planner and to be honest I feel like I have yet to find it! I’ve found a lot of planners that I really like, but I haven’t found one that has everything I want it to have. Sometimes I dream about creating my own and owning a little planner/notebook shop! For now I enjoy experimenting with different planners and binders and using my to-do lists above. This summer I’ve been using this simple 5 Star Flex Note Binder.

Remember the wooden trays in my office that are divided into categories to help me keep paper I need often under control?

Because we’ve been traveling more often this summer I decided to use this binder because it has lots of folders! So I can take the miscellaneous papers I need with me. The folders/dividers also have tabs and I was going to label them but just haven’t got around to it yet. (Too much time in my car! Ha.)

Very similar to this Time Management Binder I created a few years ago!

Not many planners have folders inside to hold miscellaneous papers and I wish they did!

Aside from the folders I also love that this Note Binder has a place to put my to-do lists! Right now I’m using my Day/Week/Month To-Do List..

and of course several of my Current Projects lists. (Which are also available in my printable library and you can read more about how I use my Current Projects printable here.)

I hope that sharing what has worked for me when it comes to daily planning gave you some ideas too! I’ve always loved mixing up how I plan. It keeps my to-do lists fun and less of a chore. Happy planning!

Or if you’re still in summer mode with kids home like me.. happy planning how you’ll soon plan when everyone goes back to school. :)

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xoxo, Erin

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{CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MY THREE TO-DO LISTS ALONG WITH OTHER FUN THINGS IN MY PRINTABLE LIBRARY!}

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