*affiliate links used

Aloha from Maui! Not a bad view to wake up to right!? We are enjoying a little summer vacation at our favorite spot! I’m sharing 3 favorite Amazon branches with you today, but also wanted to let you know that I am FINALLY prioritizing my Maui tips post! We have been traveling to Maui for years and I often get asked about our favorite things to do on the island. To be honest the reason I’ve never written a post about it is because there is so much I want to share that it overwhelms me! But I started making a list this week and will definitely try to share favorite spots/tips at some point this summer.

I mean you need to know all the best spots to find the turtles right!? Too much fun. We saw so many on the beach and in the water snorkeling a couple of days ago.. my favorite! If you love Maui and have your own favorite spots or tips to add, please send me an e-mail! If you’re on my e-mail list just reply to this blog post. If you aren’t on my e-mail list.. why not? You should sign up at the bottom of my home page. ;) If I don’t already have your Maui favorites covered in my post I’ll definitely add them to the list! There is so much to do and see on this beautiful island.

We have so many fun memories from our time spent in Maui!

Ok.. back to our regularly scheduled program. :)

{green nandina faux branches/quin ceramic vase/matte terracotta vase/monique handwoven tray}

I’m sharing 3 favorite faux branches from Amazon today styled 3 different ways! I love all of these looks for summer. I’ve shared these faux branches styled a few ways recently.. loving the bright green for summer!

These two vases are favorites and make a great pairing side by side with their opposite colors, shapes and sizes. Also I’m kind of obsessed with this gorgeous handwoven tray! I love the design details in the rattan.. so light and airy and perfect for summer.

{faux tree branches/artisan terracotta vase/ceramic decorative bowl/tondo rectangle serving board}

LOVE this look too. These faux branches have been all over my house and look great everywhere (I shared them styled here in my bathroom). They come in a set of 5 for a great price which is perfect because it only takes 4-5 branches to create a beautiful arrangement (I think I just have 4 in this vase at the moment).

This modern ceramic bowl is a recent favorite. A splurge but it’s so large and gorgeous and really makes a statement! Especially when it’s full of lemons. Personal preference. :)

My black serving board is a staple I use for styling all the time. It’s great for charcuterie boards when you’re entertaining too!

{faux olive branches/minka textured pot/celia woven tray/black bowl}

Of course we can’t talk about favorite Amazon faux branches without including my long time beloved olive branches. They just never get old. :) Really though.. they look good YEAR round! Summer, Fall, Spring. The only time I don’t have them displayed somewhere in my house is during December because my garland and pine branches take over. The rest of the year they are always front and center somewhere! I’ve seen olive branches from other stores that cost more and don’t look nearly as realistic. One of my favorite Amazon buys hands down! I love these branches styled in any vase, but I usually have them displayed in this textured vase you’ve also seen many times in my home. I have it in 3 sizes I love it so much! This is the large vase and it’s huge!

This tray is another beautiful summer option for styling or entertaining that I’ve shared before and of course.. lemons always for that pop of summer color. :)

Which look is your favorite? Ignore the bad lighting in my kitchen pics.. our San Diego cloud cover has been relentless!

Happy to be enjoying this view for a change. :)

{POST SOURCES}

*hydrangea centerpiece – affiliate links used

*Links to everything shared are at the end of this post! 

Today is the last day of school for my kids! It always feels like we are crossing that glorious finish line at the end of a marathon. Moms of school age kids – pat yourself on the back for surviving May! We did it. Again! I remember when my kids were younger thinking that things would surely slow down and our schedule would be more open when my kids were older.

That’s funny. :)

Summer might be here, but our weather did NOT get the memo! It’s still so dark and cloudy and cool in San Diego! I actually had our fireplace on in my sweats today feeling like I might as well pull the Christmas tree back out. Ha. May grey is rolling into June gloom and after such a cloudy winter most locals are ready to have our beloved sun back! I’m doing the best I can to not let the clouds depress me which lately has meant getting outside to hike in the evening and buying ALL the flowers.

These peonies at Trader Joe’s took my breath away! Absolutely beautiful.

{trunk organizer/more car organization favorites}

Of course some had to come home with me. :) I also picked up hydrangeas because aside from being my favorite flower, I had a fun idea for a hydrangea centerpiece!

My peonies started opening up instantly after I put them in water and have just been absolutely stunning. Quick tip for fresh flowers! If you have a decor vase that isn’t made for water (I wasn’t sure on this one and usually put faux flowers inside) just set your water and flowers in a smaller vase OR a drinking glass.

I set my glass down inside of the vase and you would never know!

Then the vase stays dry and clean and my flowers stay grouped a little tighter. Win!

{quin ceramic vase/faux summer branches/frida vase/celia woven tray/handwoven trays/similar woven oval tray}

My peonies are on my dining nook table at the moment but I keep moving them around! They are just beautiful everywhere I set them.

{acrylic vase – on sale!}

I was laying in bed at the beginning of the week with my to-do list running through my head (anyone else have this routine every night?) when I suddenly had the idea to try hydrangeas in my acrylic vase. It came to me instantly somewhere between my self reminders to follow-up on a summer camp for Kole, remind Ad it was her turn to pick up bagels for her early morning church class, and to call the plumber about an upstairs shower issue. How hydrangeas in my acrylic vase relate to any of that I have no idea, but the vision came and I was excited to make it happen.

It’s the little things. :)

Have I mentioned how much I love this acrylic vase!? Seriously this arrangement was so easy to put together! It took about 15 minutes and I love how it turned out.

I quickly learned the secret to getting this to work! Cut your hydrangea stems short, but not too short! You need them long enough to reach into the vase and soak up plenty of water.

Slide the hydrangea stems in sideways in most of the circles and then you can fill in any empty spots after you’re done. You can see I have the vase about half way full of water and the stems lay sideways.

So beautiful right!? I left some of the leaves on that were close to the flower (I like seeing them!) but you could pull them all off too.

I love that this looks stunning from every single angle!

{Amarolo Narrow Console Table}

I have this sitting on the narrow table behind my couch at the moment, but I’m definitely going to be using it as a table centerpiece this summer too!

My hydrangea centerpiece and a clean kitchen trump any cloudy day! (I may or may not have lit my fall pumpkin spice candle in this exact moment. It was a vibe. The weather spoke and I listened.) 

Cheers to summer! Sunny skies are ahead!

Always. :)

{POST SOURCES}

*Patriotic Porch – affiliate links used

I hope you are enjoying your weekend! Ours has been so relaxing. Lots of down time with family and friends and just what we all needed after a busy May with school winding down!

Our flag is out and the porch is feeling festive! If you missed my favorite patriotic decor I shared it in this post. Nothing like red white and blue! Makes me want a hot dog real bad.

;)

I ordered this red rug from Amazon and had to flatten it a out. Kenny’s law books to the rescue again! Man I love them. Always coming in so handy to flatten my rugs and add height to trees.

Constitutional law is a personal favorite for rug corners. So thick and heavy it flattens them in no time. I always knew law school would pay off at some point. Ha. ;)

This patriotic porch was so easy because I already had my planters, trees, jute rug and faux hydrangeas up for summer! I just added a few items and had a new look in minutes.

{liberty banner/natural jute rug/red rug/stars & stripes door mat/faux ficus trees/modern rustic fluted planter/white ceramic planters/faux hydrangea options here/ here/here/faux red geranium options here/here/here/here/Americana wreath/similar options here/here/here/here.

It feels so bright and colorful for summer. Makes me smile every time I pull in to the house! My Americana wreath sold out but I found this beautiful similar option on Amazon and linked a few others below.

I love seeing the flags waving this weekend. Such a special time to honor and remember all of the amazing men and women who sacrificed so much for us.

A few years ago we planted red geraniums near the stairs in our front yard leading up to our house. I thought we would have to replant them by now but every year they keep coming back stronger! So beautiful.

I hope you are soaking up time with loved ones! If you missed my weekend sale favorites they are all linked in this post. Porch sources are below.

Torts and constitutional law books not included.

;)

{SOURCES}

*Weekend Favorites & Sales – affiliate links used 

Happy Friday! YEA for making it to the weekend! It’s the end of the school year for some of you! We have 4 days left after the long weekend and all have summer fever big time. This week was so busy and everyone at my house feels like we are crawling across the finish line with little strength left. Ha. I’m posting my weekend favorites & sales early this weekend because the Memorial Day sales are so good and I know some of my favorites will sell out quickly!

{cane recycled drinkware collection}

So I’ll keep the chitchat short (hard for me.. I like to ramble) and get to business. ;) I have loved this beautiful drinkware collection and it’s all on sale! So fun to pull out this time of year to entertain and it looks beautiful displayed on a shelf when it’s not in use.

{cora side table}

My new side table arrived and I’m in love! I ordered this for my bedroom and love it near my window between the two chairs. I haven’t had time to style it yet so I’m hoping to get to that this weekend.

It’s hard to tell in these pics how large it is! I love the white oak and black detail at the bottom. So good and on major sale this weekend!

{serving set}

My favorite serving set is on sale! It’s included in my round-up below along with SO MANY other fun items on sale this weekend. (The sales really are so good this year!) I hope these round-ups of items I personally love are helpful! You will recognize a lot of the sale items below from my home. :)

1- storage cabinet   2- rattan armchair

3-yoko textured pot   4- haverhill bench   5-marana table lamp

1-primrose mirror   2- capri blue candle   3- sawyer serving set

4-glenna platter  5- hawthorn bench   6-nightstand

1- outdoor patio umbrella   2- stripe rug   3-outdoor lounge chair

4-side outdoor table  5- hurricane candleholders   6-terracotta outdoor planters

1- jute rug   2-seagrass round mirror   3- wall frames

4-home office pinboard   5- drinkware collection   6- decorative metal tray

1-lanterns   2- rattan glass candleholder

3- striped beach towels  4- white cotton quilt   5-farmhouse stripe throw

1-jewelry case   2-rattan candle

3- bath towel   4-hand towel   5- serving board

1-fleming leather wallet   2-robinson leather tote

3- gym duffle bag   4- robinson leather wallet   5-backpack 

1- applaud sandal   2- kacie ankle strap sandal

3-espadrille wedge sandal   4- hazel pump   5-open toe bootie

1- patsi slide sandal   2- adore sandal

3- braided sandal   4- retro runner sneaker  5- pegasus running sneaker

1- eyelet trim blouse   2-puff sleeve top

3-double ruffle knit top   4- ruffle tie top

1- sweatshirt   2- floral halter dress   3- corset cotton dress

4- pajama top /lounge sweatpants   5- cardigan   6- boyfriend denim shorts

1-energy top   2- pullover hoodie   3-performance shirt

4- high waist leggings  5-aero shorts   6-track jacket

1- sophia cami dress   2-wide-leg jumpsuit   3- wide-leg jeans   4-bracelet set

5- poplin short-sleeve shirt   6-keira lugsole sandal   7-medium transport tote

1- shyann performance rug   2-gil moroccan rug

3- andres performance rug  4-jute rug

1- omar flatweave rug   2- gil wool rug

3- lurdes area rug   4- sylvie flatweave rug  5-uptown tufted rug

1- byron 2 person set   2- beverly set   3-  hamner wicker set 

4- solid wood 4 person set   5-calhoun solid wood set   6- metal outdoor bench

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

{3-piece patio set}

{canopy chairs}

{console table/3 gallon beverage dispenser/round serving bowl/navy striped towels/blue striped towels}

{woven seagrass table tray/celia woven trays}

Mcgee & Co kicked off their Memorial Day sale early.. 25% off everything! I shared these items in a previous post, but I’m sharing them again so that all of my Memorial Day sale items are in one spot and easy to find. :)

{quin ceramic vase/similar faux white blossoms/

real touch white tulips here & here/frida vase/celia woven tray}

1-footed bowl   2- umbrella   3-pillow

4-hewson pillow   5- woven coasters   6- striped beach towel

7-stoneware vase   8- coffee table   9-outdoor side table

1-hicks pendant   2-frida vase   3-table lamp

4- counter stool   5-mumbai rug   6- woven tray   7- coffee table

{sutherland canopy bed/bedroom sources}

1-chrisley pendant light   2- woven coasters   3-stoneware vase

4- outdoor side table   5- book display   6- dana console

GOOD weekend favorites & sales right!? Downright dangerous. ;) Happy shopping and happy Friday!

*affiliate links used

Sharing a few quick and easy last minute teacher gift ideas today! Two weeks for us! The countdown is on. I know that some schools are already out so if that’s the case for your kids, tuck these ideas away for the next school year. OR you can use these ideas for birthdays and other fun occasions. They are versatile! Very tricky like that. :) One of my go-to gifts for teachers is to get a medium sized vase and add flowers and a gift card. If you know their favorite store or restaurant that’s always great. If not you can never go wrong giving a teacher a Target gift card! It can be used for anything from school supplies to the next Mcgee home decor collection.

Tough decision for this former teacher. ;)

{place card holder}

These cute heart shaped card holders are perfect to hold gift cards in a vase!

{green ceramic vase/faux tulips}

Here are a few fun vase/flower options! Of course my recent fav. :) I personally prefer spending money on faux flowers over real! I know not everyone feels that way, but two weeks later they will still be around to enjoy! And the next season? Still there. Add a gift card and now you have a really generous gift where the recipient gets to choose something they love and also keep something that reminds them of you.

{clear glass fluted vase}

If you’re going the real flower route, add a beautiful vase that they can keep and use long after the flowers are gone. This is a recent favorite from Amazon.. so beautiful! I ordered one for me too when I saw how gorgeous it is in person!

{white ceramic vase}

This is another beautiful vase option! I choose taller flowers for this and love the look. Flowers and a gift card! It’s simple but always a win. :)

{poolside tote/blue stripe towel/yellow stripe towel/stanley tumbler}

For years when my kids were little I wrapped up a cute beach towel with a magazine (sometimes adding a gift card) for a teacher gift. Some of you who have been with me for a while might remember! Summer items are always a fun gift and this POOLSIDE bag I recently shared is a perfect reminder that good times are coming. :) Fill it with summer items or just give the bag on its own depending on your budget!

{straw bag tote/yellow stripe towel/stanley tumbler}

Another cute straw bag option I recently shared!

This year I added a towel, magazine, chocolates..

{supergoop lip balm/supergoop lipscreen}

and Supergoop lip balm. I love both of these options for summer!

{woven bag}

This is another cute summer bag option! Love the inside lining on it too. It’s a floppy style so I had to get my assistant to hold it up for me. Thanks Kole. ;)

Fun gifts!

{platters and boards/short marble cheeseboard}

I’ve shared this gift idea many times but couldn’t resist sharing again because my new marble board would make a fabulous gift! On its own or with a fun boards book. Here are other fun charcuterie book options!

{seagrass basket/oversized throw/green ceramic vase/faux tulips/spiral candles/made for living book/flower nesting bowls}

All of the fun gift ideas I shared for Mother’s Day work for teacher gifts too!

{jute tray basket/rattan caddy/blue kitchen towels/yellow kitchen towels/blue gingham tumbler/lemon platter/fruit platter}

Friendly reminder to add a quick note of appreciation (from you and your child!). I still have most of the sweet cards my students and parents wrote me when I taught for six years 20+ years ago. I pulled this out of a binder that holds them all. :)

Cheers to the end of another school year and a huge thank you to all of the amazing teachers out there! As a parent I couldn’t be more grateful for all you do.

{POST SOURCES}

*affiliate links used

{lounge set/gaige slide sandal/bracelets here & here/tear drop earrings}

Happy weekend! I hope your week was a good one and I hope you are surviving May! It isn’t a month for the weary that’s for sure. We have two weeks of school left and are definitely counting down. I had an evening at home tonight and it was the first in a while. It felt so good and is making me excited for lazy summer days and evenings without so much on the agenda! I’m a planner at heart but May always makes me want to throw my planner right out the window! Then I want it to fly right back in come early September. :)

Ok favorites and sales! I have some fun items on the agenda today! This cute Amazon lounge set has been a popular item for good reason. A friend of mine wore it to lunch and everyone there asked for the link and promptly ordered it! Talk about comfortable. I feel like I’m waltzing around in my pjs with it on which you know makes it a 10/10 for me. I do wish Amazon carried xs more often. I’m wearing the small and the pants are a little long for me (an FYI for shorties!). They look perfect rolled up at the waist, but that doesn’t work with the top. Still so cute and definitely a keeper!

{lounge set top/pilcro flare jeans/slide sandals/madewell tote/bracelets here & here}

I love the top so much I’ve been wearing it with jeans too! We are in the middle of our “May Grey” season on the coast which means cool and cloudy weather so I haven’t broken out any shorts yet. I’m over the clouds and ready for sunshine but bracing myself because “June Gloom” usually follows “May Grey” so jeans might be a staple a little longer. Good thing this pair is so cute! They are really flattering and the perfect amount of flare. They come in standard, tall, plus and petite and I am wearing petite so that I can wear them with flats/sandals. So cute with my new sandals from Target!

Wore this outfit today for lunch and errands with Ad. This pic is so dark but in our favorite Greek restaurant that we basically live at. I don’t want to admit how often we get take-out here, but let’s just say that we’re both pretty tight with the staff. I call and say “picking up the usual” and we’ve added them all to our Christmas card list. Ha. The rest of my family is sick of the food because we get it so much but not us! Ad and I could eat there every day no problem. :)

{faux red geraniums/chunky wool jute rug}

I started rounding up old and new patriotic decor today so I can start decorating! I love putting it all up before Memorial Day so that we can enjoy it mid May through July. I pulled out my faux red geraniums that I used on my porch last year and next thing I knew I had my patriotic decor all over my living room floor. :)

{liberty burlap wreath}

I love this wreath and ordered it for my front door but then a few days later..

{americana wreath}

I saw this americana wreath on-line. And wow. Talk about love at first sight! I’m not really a huge wreath person to be honest (aside from Christmas time), but the faux hydrangeas on this are so gorgeous! It’s a little pricey so I really went back and forth, but I’m so glad I ordered it. I held it up on my front door yesterday and it’s just beautiful! It’s HUGE and makes such a statement. I know I’ll have/use it for years and years. I’m going to use the other wreath inside or in our back yard. It got booted from the front door. ;)

{stars & stripes doormat/melamine salad plates/liberty burlap flags/chunky wool jute rug}

Other new additions include this cute doormat (on sale today!) and the flag plates. I’m so excited to set up a fun outdoor table with them for summer dinners! The little flags I’ve had for years and they are perfect to set inside plants, flowers, anywhere and everywhere. :)

{melamine salad plates}

I clearly have a thing for melamine. I’m pretty set on summer plates after I bought the plates I shared in this post, but I couldn’t resist. In fact my blue gingham Target plates will be perfect to layer with these! I have the outdoor table all planned in my head. :)

{liberty burlap party banner/flag lumbar pillow}

My long time favorite flag banners and lumbar pillows are back in stock! Always fun to pull out.

{evalina reversible floral pillow}

These two pillows I recently bought for my outdoor area will work perfectly too! I flipped them around on the floral side and we’re set! Bring on the red white and blue.

{large rectangle board/round board/short marble cheeseboard}

This beautiful short marble cheeseboard is adding a little something fun to my kitchen. I’ve had it a few months and love the herringbone wood pattern!

{marble & wood cake stand/fern leaf plant/rattan-wrapped glass jar candle}

So fun adding touches of summer here and there despite our cloudy weather! I bought this rattan candle last year and was excited to pull it out again. This faux plant is such a favorite that I own two of them. It’s perfect on shelves and everywhere I set it. My marble cake stand is back in stock!

{oil & vinegar dispensers/harvest art}

Loving this view! Especially when my stove top is clean because we are eating our Greek take-out.

Again. Ha. ;)

{woven seagrass table tray/celia woven trays}

Mcgee & Co kicked off their Memorial Day sale early.. a sale I’m always patiently waiting for! 25% off site wide! These beautiful woven trays are favorites I bought during past sales that I have used and loved so much.

{celia woven trays}

I took this picture so you can see the different sizes of these two trays. Love them so much.

{quin ceramic vase/similar faux white blossoms/

real touch white tulips here & here/frida vase/celia woven tray}

I know you’ve seen them in my home many times, but I waned to share them because they always sell out quickly during Mcgee sales!

1-footed bowl   2- umbrella   3-pillow

4-hewson pillow   5- woven coasters   6- striped beach towel

7-stoneware vase   8- coffee table   9-outdoor side table

These are a few new arrivals on sale I’m loving!

1-hicks pendant   2-frida vase   3-table lamp

4- counter stool   5-mumbai rug   6- woven tray   7- coffee table

Along with a few favorites from my home you’ve seen on repeat that are on sale again.

{sutherland canopy bed/bedroom sources}

Also my bed! Probably my #1 favorite Mcgee purchase ever. Nice reminder that I need to take/share a pic of how this room is looking without the Christmas tree. :)

1-chrisley pendant light   2- woven coasters   3-stoneware vase

4- outdoor side table   5- book display   6- dana console

I mentioned in my last post I’ve been looking (for over a year!) for a new light for my living room and kept going back and forth between getting a black fixture or a rattan fixture. When I saw this chrisley pendant light I knew it was a sign and meant for my space. Why pick just black or just rattan when I can have both!? Ha. Plus it matches the console table I’ve been wanting for my entry. I tried to order the dana console during the last Mcgee sale and it sold out too quickly! I was on it this time around. Very excited about the outdoor side table too.. such a great price on sale for this size of table! A peek at what I’ll be sharing in my home soon. :)

Ending this weekend post with a few Amazon home favorites. That black cabinet is gorgeous isn’t it!? Enjoy the rest of your weekend and moms of school age kids.. hang in there!

*our annal Mother’s Day picture. See the end of this post for the outakes. ;) 

I hope you had a beautiful Mother’s Day weekend! We had such a nice, relaxing family day. Low key which was so nice after a busy week. Then right when we were all getting ready for bed around 11 pm Ellie realized her car keys were missing. She drove home with them and locked the car so they had to be in the house. We tore the house apart and looked EVERYWHERE until past midnight and then when I finally said let’s just go to bed and look again tomorrow I heard a “mom” coming from Kole’s bedroom. He was suddenly awake and not feeling good. So Ellie went to bed and I was up with him until close to 3 am. Good times! It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without some real mothering right!?

At least I didn’t have to cook. :)

{rattan arched mirror/similar octagon mirror here & here/large natural basket/celine throw}

Sharing my summer mantel which could not be any more simple this year, but simple is really speaking to me. My rattan arched mirror is back in stock and on sale! So beautiful for the price. This basket (I’ve had for a while) is holding a few summer throws with my favorite celine throw on top. :)

{green faux branches/matte terracotta vases}

I’m really loving these green faux branches from Amazon! The bright green feels very summery and one branch was just enough to add a little something to these black matte terracotta vases.  (You can see one branch has several smaller branches off of it so it doesn’t take much to make an arrangement!) 

I love the 2 same black vases at different heights side by side. Speaking of vases!

{large handwoven vase/brass metal nesting tray/faux branches}

This large handwoven vase is absolutely stunning. It’s HUGE and so beautiful for summer. I filled it with the same leafy green faux branches and love how realistic they look. My brass metal nesting tray is a long time coffee table favorite and is on sale right now!

{spiral candles/set of 3 gold candle holders/modern black bowl}

My spiral candles add a nice touch! And a simple black bowl that I’ll fill with something at some point. :)

Simple summer styling! I’m still on the hunt for a different light for this room and just haven’t found “the one” yet.

But the hunt is half the fun right? :)

My girls suggested a new idea for our traditional Mother’s Day pic. As you can see it didn’t go so well.

Not my most flattering picture but VICTORY! Ha ha.

Gosh I love them.

{POST SOURCES}

Happy Mother’s Day! My college girl is home for the summer so we are all 5 together again.

I’m a happy mom this year. :)

Very excited to spend Mother’s Day with my crew. Moms I hope you all feel loved and appreciated this weekend! Most importantly I hope you don’t have to prepare one snack or meal.

Sorry.. just projecting my Mother’s Day wish onto everyone else. ;)

This card made me laugh because it is SO spot on at my house! My first weekend favorite. ;)

{woven leather tote at Madewell/woven leather tote at Nordstrom/ramona slide sandals}

Next up.. I found the cutest sandals at Target! Fun right!? Just $20, so perfect for summer and I love them with my new Madewell bag. They come in white too!

{paily braided sandal}

I bought these sandals last year and have LOVED them. So cute. So comfortable. They work with jeans and skirts and everything and are on sale!

Below are more weekend favorites and sales! 4th of July decor is popping up and I’m excited to start pulling out some red, white and blue. All good things ahead this time of year. :) Enjoy your weekend!

1-ruffle tie neck blouse   2- beach frame wall art   3- swimsuit

4- flutter sleeve dress   5- paily braided sandal  6- skinny jeans   7-bath towel

1- 3-piece bistro set   2- wicker patio set

3-  3-piece conversation set   4- rocking chair set   5- barton 3-piece set

1-stars & stripes doormat   2- burlap flag   3- paper pin wheels

4- flag burlap banner   5- americano knit throw   6- flag salad plates   7-floral napkins

1-flag lumbar pillow   2- red outdoor pillow   3-americana stripe pillow

4- striped outdoor pillow   5- floral outdoor pillow   6- red floral outdoor pillow

1- striped t-shirt   2- red stripe pillow   3-july 4th banner   4- lumbar stripe pillow

5- blue stripe pillow   6- flags   7-blue glass vase   8-round tablecloth   9- woven basket

10- patriotic banner   11- gingham cloth napkins   12- plates   13-gingham cups   14- beverage dispenser

1- snack cups   2-stars   3-4th of July decorations set   4- mini dress

5- usa sweatshirt   6- star decorations   7- wooden bead banner   8- flag pillow

*summer porch – affiliate links used

{jute area rug}

My summer porch is off to a good start! Technically this is my spring porch but since I didn’t pull it together until mid May I decided to call it my summer porch. Now I feel ahead of the game instead of behind it.

I’m super tricky like that. ;)

I tried a few different trees and rugs this year and truly can’t decide which look I like best! I’m sharing all options so let me know if you have a favorite. If you can’t decide either my porch might just have a new look every other week. I can think of worse things! :)

{modern rustic fluted planter/faux hydrangea options here/ here/here/here}

The one item I won’t be switching out any time soon are my new modern rustic fluted planters. Ahhh! They are so beautiful! I have wanted black fluted planters for a while and almost bought these concrete fluted planters but I just couldn’t get excited about how heavy they are. These modern fluted planters are lightweight and easy to move! HUGE selling point for me since I’m always moving my decor around so much and have zero upper body strength. Ha. I love the wide fluted design and texture. They come in 4 sizes and I bought the medium and large. They will be perfect during the fall/winter months too. So versatile! I added some faux white hydrangeas to the medium planters. (My exact hydrangeas didn’t come back in stock this year but I’ve heard great things about these faux hydrangeas from Amazon! Very affordable too. I linked other similar options above.)

{faux ficus tree}

In the large planter I have these beautiful faux ficus trees.

Very realistic for the price! I have a few books below each tree adding some height. If you’re new here, I went with all faux plants and flowers for my porch a couple of years ago and haven’t looked back! My porch gets all shade and we travel a lot during the summer. I struggled for years to keep things living in this spot and wasted so much money on plants that didn’t last long! I love having a porch that always looks put together with ZERO effort after I’ve styled it. It reminds me of trying out a faux Christmas tree for the first time. Once I did that it was over! Never going back to the hassle of real again. Ha.

{jute area rug}

I love this jute area rug. If it looks familiar to you that’s because I had the runner in my kitchen for a year. It’s in my upstairs laundry room at the moment!

This is look #1!

{striped jute rug}

Look #2 is the same trees with this cute striped jute rug. It adds a little more depth with the brown right!? I love both rugs.

{natural jute rug}

Look #3 is with my beloved natural jute rug that I usually have on my porch. It’s plain and simple and always looks good! Guess I love all THREE rugs.

{woven stripe rug}

Oh wait.. there’s a 4th. :) I bought this cute little stripe rug to try layering on top of my jute rug, but it’s too small so I put it in front of our mudroom door.

{olive tree}

As if I didn’t have enough options with my various rugs I decided to try these beautiful olive trees too! I feel like you can’t ever go wrong with a good olive tree. Or with good olive branches!

{olive wreath}

Or with an olive wreath. :)

Cute! See why I can’t decide!? I love the olive trees too!

They aren’t as full and bright green as the faux ficus trees, but they have a sophisticated look I love. I didn’t need books with the olive trees because they are a little taller too. Weighing all pros and cons here. :)

{natural jute rug}

Let me know if you have a favorite tree and rug! I love them all and I’m indecisive at times so come on by to visit this summer and you’ll probably see a different look each visit! Especially since I plan on adding some 4th of July decor soon.

Good thing my planters are lightweight and easy to move. ;)

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*affiliate links used

{large travel cosmetic bag}

Happy Tuesday! Quick post today if you need a last minute Mother’s Day gift idea! I was going to share this make-up bag in my weekend favorites post but it’s so good and would make a great gift. I’ve had it a few months and took it on my last two trips and LOVE it.

What is so great about this make-up bag?

{ neutrogena hyluronic acid / it’s a 10 conditioner spray / olaplaex bonding oil / no 9 hair serum

 tom ford foundation / highlight stick / maybelline mascara / bts mascara  / finishing stick /

eyeshadow palette / Mac “Plum” / Mac “Hug Me” / Mac Lipglass “Nymphette” }

How much it can hold! You can fit so many items inside of this baby! It opens wide and has pockets on each side and one in the middle. (I use the middle pocket for my make-up brushes.) Then it folds together to close using every inch of space for your make-up.

Like magic! It doesn’t look that big or take up a lot of space considering how much it holds! It comes in pink and brown and black too. Ten out of ten! It would be a fun gift on its own or you could fill it with a few favorite products. I linked most of my must have beauty/hair products above!

{celine throw/chunky wool jute rug}

I pulled out my celine throw (both of them!) the other day to style for summer and thought I would share it too. It’s a beautiful throw (comes in so many color options!) that would make a really nice gift. I actually have 3 of this same throw total so clearly I’m a fan. :)

{quench & shine restorative mask}

I’ve shared this hair mask many times and still love it so much! It would make a great gift for any special occasion. I linked my favorites that I use daily from Colleen Rothschild below. 25% off everything right now if you use the code FAMILY!

Below are a few other fun ideas/favorites I rounded up including fun gifts for the new mom/mom to be! I put together some gift baskets in this post if you missed it! I also included my Amazon gift idea collage again at the end of this post because those gifts will come FAST if you are a last minute gift shopper. ;) Happy Mother’s Day shopping and enjoy the rest of your day!

1- heart glass jewelry box   2- tennis bracelet   3-waffle robe

4-joggers   5- duffle bag   6- necklace   7-bonding oil

1- throw   2- sweatshirt   3-brush set

4- eye palette   5- pajama pants   6-leather crossbody

7-  eye gels   8-rattan driftwood diffuser

1-maternity dress   2- maternity yoga shorts   3- eye patches

4-floral robe   5- bump oil   6-tank top   7- slide slipper   8-diaper satchel

1- soap dispenser   2-live beautiful book   3- straw beach bag

4- elemis cleansing balm   5-rattan picture frames

6-luggage set   7- leather storage boxes   8-quilted belt bag

9- knife set   10-magnetic measuring spoon set

*outdoor entertaining – affiliate links used

{striped navy rug}

Happy Sunday! I hope you are enjoying your weekend! We had a sunny beautiful day today after a week of clouds and it put us all in such a good mood! I finally got the outdoor entertaining area off of our kitchen nook cleaned and put together so we are officially ready for all things outdoor. May is always crazy busy so it makes summer break even more enticing. Bring it on! We are feeling ready at our house.

{striped navy rug/round outdoor tray/frida vase/similar faux tulips here & here}

My new outdoor pillows added life to this space!

{striped outdoor pillow/macia pillow/linen lumbar pillow}

Loving this pillow combo. Stripes, floral and green for the win. :)

{striped outdoor lumbar}

I loved the large striped outdoor pillow so much I decided to get two of the striped outdoor lumbar pillows in the same pattern for my two large chairs. They also come in a fun red stripe that’s perfect for 4th of July celebrations.

{macia pillow/palm tree pillow}

The embroidered palm tree pillow is also so good! Total vacation vibes.. we’ll take it. :)

I love to have friends over and entertain during the summer and so do my kids! It’s what we all look forward to most. Along with lazy mornings when we can all sleep in. (Lots of night owls in this house! Ha.)

{floral outdoor pillow/similar poufs}

I knew I wanted to pick up some kid friendly dishes this year for summer get togethers and couldn’t believe my luck when I found so many cute options on-line from Target!

{gingham tumblers/fruit platter/lemon platter/round outdoor tray}

What screams summer more than lemons and gingham!?

{dinner bowls/mini bowls}

I ordered some of the fruit plates and matching lemon bowls.

I couldn’t pass up the navy gingham and classic plaid plates!

And how cute are the picnic plaid and yellow stripe plates too!?

{salad plates/rattan serving tray}

The fruit plates are also adorable. So fun on a table with just one fruit or a combo of all of them! This rectangle rattan serving tray is beautiful. A great size and perfect for outdoor use. Just $13!

I love that there are so many fun ways to mix and match these cute plates!

They are melamine which makes them perfect for kids meals and snacks, but they are cute enough for adult summer get togethers too.

{woven basket caddy/fruit napkins/lemon napkins/gold flatware}

This woven basket caddy is too cute.. summer BBQ perfection! I know we will use it all summer long. It would make a fun gift too!

{blue henley tee/icon flare jeans/similar sandals}

I’m slightly squinting in this pic but sidenote.. these jeans and top are 10/10! Both so flattering and cute! I got the jeans in petite and they are a perfect length to wear with flats. (I’m 5’3 and a half) :)

{blue henley tee/initial pendant necklace}

I snapped a selfie in my house to show the top better (ignore the paper piles behind me!). It comes in other colors but I love the blue floral. So pretty for spring and summer! I went one size bigger in this top (wearing a small) because it’s a more fitted/smaller fit. This initial pendant necklace necklace is a long time favorite (my most worn!) and would make a great mother’s day or graduation gift.

All of this cute summer serve ware is ready to party! Now we just need the food. Food! That’s always a second (or third or fourth) thought at my house.. ha. Cleaning and decorating – done. Then I’m too tired to cook and resort to ordering pizza.

Every time.

But how cute would pizza look on my fun new plates!?

:)

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