S’more and Cookie Tray (and other summer desserts!)
*This post is sponsored by Walmart. All products and opinions are my own!
Summer with 3 teenagers is definitely an adventure. Mornings are quiet while they sleep, evenings are loud and late while they rally, and friends are always over! It can be exhausting, but I also love it. The kids are all so fun at this age and I love their friends. I know I’m really going to miss this stage when they are adults!
Most things anyway. ;)
I’m sharing a quick and easy snack I make often for the kids and their friends in the summer. I try to keep healthy snacks prepped in the fridge and not so healthy snacks in the pantry to feed them. Balance in all things, right? Ha.
I can get snacks here quickly with Walmart.com. When I order groceries on-line from the app I love their substitutions feature. You can choose what product substitutions you do or don’t want (so you never get anything strange that you didn’t order!), place the order and then pick it up or have it delivered.
Great Value has so many cookie options for a great price so they are a go-to for me.
I always keep graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows on hand for the fire pit. Summer staple!
I’ve had these marble print trays and bowls for years and love using them with the kids because they are melamine! They look beautiful but are light weight and they don’t break. Perfect for summer snacks.
In just 5 minutes I can have this s’more and cookie tray ready to go! Just line everything up and DONE. Sometimes I add a bowl of fruit with it. I know this isn’t anything all that fancy or special, but let me tell you why this is perfect for teens. They don’t care about it being fancy or special.. they just want to eat. :) I’ve made this before using a long wooden board which looks good, but it’s hard for the kids to carry around outside without dropping things. I’ve learned a handled tray is the way to go!
You know I’m really going above and beyond when I match the kitchen rug again. ;)
Easy to carry outside by the fire pit!
I made one for the teens on Saturday night and had enough snacks leftover to make another tray for the family Sunday. You can’t go wrong with s’mores and cookies! Always a hit.
If you need a quick and easy dessert idea for the 4th this Golden Oreo Layered Pudding is one of our favorites! Also easy to throw together and so festive with strawberries and blueberries on top.
I share this fruit dip every summer too because it’s another go-to for me! You just whip together 8 oz cream cheese (softened), a 7 oz jar of marshmallow creme and 2 teaspoons of Maraschino cherry juice. Delicious!
There’s some fruit for you to balance out all of the cookies. ;)
Summer is in full swing and if you have kids who could use some direction I’ve got you covered! My Daily Expectation charts have saved me summer after summer with just a simple list of daily chores/activities that give us a little routine. When my kids were little I used the sheet on the right that includes behavior and a weekly reward they could earn. With older kids a simple list they can check off is all you need! Kole was so excited when I pulled his chart out again this summer. ;)
Almost as excited as he was to see my list of ideas he can turn to if he’s ever “bored” and begging for the iPad.
Yup.. not my first rodeo around here. Ha.
Kole isn’t the only one with a summer checklist! I’m starting my 15 minute organizing again and it feels so good! This is actually my list from last year (I still need to snap a pic of this year’s list!). You can snag this free printable here and check out others I have to keep you on track with schedules, habits, house projects and ALL the things!
Below are pics of a few recent organizing sprints! Remember the idea with 15 minute organizing is to just focus on simple projects that can be done start to finish in 15-20 minutes. That way you don’t get overwhelmed! Baby steps add up and if you really do this daily your progress will be exciting and it will motivate you to keep going.
BEFORE
Sidenote: These are all quick cell phone pics because when I only have 15 minutes to organize I’m not worrying about lighting and photography. ;) My girls towel closet “before.” (I was washing most of their towels so it was a good time for a clean out!)
AFTER
And after! Much better!
Some updated baskets I had around the house made a big difference! They hold wash cloths and hand towels.
BEFORE
A messy pantry drawer before..
AFTER (drawer dividers)
and after!
Spent 15 minutes going through my sweaters. I had way too many! I’m going to do this with every section of my closest this summer. This is my pile to donate.
So much better. They were all crammed so tight in this spot I couldn’t tell what I had!
BEFORE
I’ve shared this drawer in our family room entertainment center before. It always becomes such a catch all! I’m mostly to blame because I work in my kitchen and family room a lot (every room in my house is my office.. ha) so I toss papers and things I need in this drawer often.
Sometimes when I’m organizing I set my phone timer for 15 minutes because without it I get distracted and take too long. Instead of tossing or filing this paper I’ve torn out of a magazine I suddenly start dreaming about next year’s Christmas mantels and before I know it I’m on-line hunting for gold Christmas trees instead of organizing my drawer.
#truestory
Seriously though.. are these inspiration pages making anyone else excited!? :)
AFTER
Got it done. Much better! Most of that drawer went straight to recycle.
Not the Christmas inspo though.. saving those. ;)
15 minute organizing projects aren’t intimidating! They are easy to do if you keep them simple. Walk around your house and just make a list of little spots you want to tidy! If you have a big project or a whole room that needs to be cleaned out, break it up into smaller projects. One drawer at a time to an organized home! We’ve got this. :)
I share my 15 minute organizing progress in IG stories throughout the week, but let me know if you want to see them like this on the blog too! They aren’t fancy before and afters, but progress is progress! I’ll take it. :)
A few things I’m loving at the moment! I ordered this luggage set a few months ago and I’m so excited to use it for our next trip! It’s such a nice set for a great price. I know the white will get dirty, but I’m going to just clean it off a little after each trip and not worry about it too much. It comes in darker colors, but I fell hard for the white and tan so it’s worth dealing with the scuffs and scratches to me! The earrings I’ve had for years and they are hands down my favorite and most worn pair. They always look like “just enough” and work with every outfit. The hair clips are SO good if you have thick hair! They are large and have a great grip. We are picky with elastics and hair clips around here because our hair is so thick and give these a 10/10! Aren’t these ruffled bowls so gorgeous!? I just ordered the black and white in a medium. They are perfect to style on a coffee or console table. I also recently ordered the white vase!
It’s the same vase as the one on my console table (just a smaller size). This has been one of my favorites – it’s so large and gorgeous! I know I’ll love the smaller size too.
The v-neck tee has been on repeat lately! I bought a couple for summer and have been living in them. This is the white tee with these cute cropped pants I’ve shared before.
Same tee in the blue! I have it knotted behind my back in this pic. It’s a boxy fit so it looks cute tied in the front or back or with a little front tuck or just as is! I love these shorts in the summer too. Especially for the pool/beach/exercise.
Can you spot our new bestie in this pic? :)
Nothing like a little shaved ice after a day of turtle watching. Kenny and El don’t like it.. can you even believe that!? Ad and Kole and I can’t believe it. We LIVE for shaved ice! Actually you just say “shave” ice in Hawaii. It’s so delicious in Maui that the 3 of us start thinking and talking about it months before we go!
Life is all about the little things. Just like 15 minute organizing.. little things add up to big things. ;)
I don’t have a lot of weekend sales for you. but I had to share that Anthro’s wildly popular primrose mirror is on major sale for a just a couple of days!
In fact most of their mirrors are! These are all so stunning. I’ve always wanted #2. I’m trying to figure out where I could put it because I love it so much!
They have a few more furniture items I have my eye on that are also on major sale for a limited time. All so good I had to share! If I don’t have room in my house for any of these items I’ll at least feel better if one of you snags them. Send me a pic to admire!
And enjoy your weekend. :) I’ll be back with more organizing soon!
I hope you’re having a good week so far! Made it to Friday. :) I’m sharing some fun summer dresses from Walmart today and honestly these might be my favorite Walmart fashion finds to date! This white eyelet dress is pretty much perfection. It’s got such a cute pattern, I love the sleeves and the tie around the waist makes it such a flattering fit.
I love the pattern with blocks of white at the shoulders and below the waist too! Plus it’s lined so it isn’t see through. Such a fun dress for summer. I’ve been living in these cute bracelets too and have had so many people ask me about them. $6! They are white and gold and look so cute with everything this time of year.
Seriously one of the cutest summer dresses EVER. I’m so excited about this maxi dress and just wish I would have had it for our Maui trip! It’s such a great and flattering fit and I love the square neck. This color is my personal favorite of course, but it comes in other colors and patterns too! I’m very tempted to order another one because it’s so perfect to wear out with friends or over a suit to the pool or beach!
It has pockets too. Seriously don’t hesitate on this one!
This puff sleeve dress is also adorable and such a flattering fit! You can never go wrong with a little black dress. I hope they bring all of these dresses back in stock because I know they are going to sell out quickly!
This casual dress is so comfortable! It comes in so many pretty colors and is a perfect summer dress for running errands, taking kids to the park, etc.
I love throwing dresses like this on after the shower to wear when I’m getting ready or just doing odds and ends around my house too. An every day staple!
Kenny and I walk or hike every night in the summer for an hour (sometimes Ad joins us!) and this outfit has been on major repeat. The jacket is thin and lightweight so it’s perfect for our cool summer evenings. The leggings are so flattering too!
Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads out there! So grateful for the dad my husband is.. these 3 kids are LUCKY to have him. We all are! I’m looking forward to a fun day celebrating him. :)
Weekend Favorites and Sales! Let’s do this. I’m kicking things off with a few recent favorite tops! I’ve been reaching for this cute ruffle sleeve top every other day! It’s so soft and lightweight, a cute fit and on sale! Wearing jeans because it still hasn’t really warmed up here yet. :)
I love this top so much I have it in blue too! This color would be cute for the 4th of July. It comes in red and other colors too and I’m very tempted to get the green.
Speaking of green.. :) This top is so fun for summer! It has been so long since I shopped at Express but I somehow landed on their website they have so many cute tops right now! I ordered this puff sleeve tee and absolutely love it.
A few other recent favorites! I ordered the matching set and dress to try (both so cute!) and have had the scallop trays on my wish list for a while. The steamer and packing cubes are long time favorites. :)
Colleen Rothschild has a great sale going on right now.. buy one get one 50% off! I love her skin products. You can find all of her best sellers here. These are my personal favorites I can’t live without! The sheer renewal cream (I love putting this on first thing in the morning when I wake up.. it’s lightweight and hydrates my skin and is a good base for sunscreen/make-up.) The eye cream is amazing! It really helps with under eye circles and puffiness. The extreme recovery cream is my favorite moisturizer for night. SO good if you have dry skin! You’ll love the way it feels and smells. :) And last but definitely not least is her quench & shine hair mask. I’ve shared it so many times for a gift idea. It’s gold! If you haven’t tried it yet you need to! I’ve used so many different hair masks and it is hands down my favorite because of the way it makes my hair look and feel. I love more of her products, but these 4 are my favorites that travel with me everywhere I go. :)
These fall branches were 20% off last I checked, but it looks like they are back to full price now. Bummer! Check back though because I have a feeling they will go back on sale again before long.
The 4th of July is right around the corner. I’ve been looking on-line for something cute to wear and rounded up a few options for all of us! A denim dress is usually my go-to. :)
Had to use my hydrangeas in this acrylic vase as a table centerpiece. I knew I would love it! I added a couple of these cute burlap flags to keep it festive. I just wrapped a paper towel around the base of each flag to fill in the opening so that they would stay standing. I’m tricky like that. :)
The table setting was so easy and fun to pull together with items I had on hand and most are on sale right now! These cute red striped napkins you might recognize from past Christmas tables. I pulled them out to try and love the red stripe for the 4th. I should have been using them in the summer too all these years! The napkins are large and didn’t look great on the side under the flatware with the chargers I was using and I didn’t want to cover my cute little flag plates setting then on top, so I folded them vertically and laid them under the plates. I have to admit.. I’m kind of a fan of my fun new napkin placement! :)
These gingham tumblers are so cute with the gingham plates but they are small! More for a kids’ table so if I’m using this table set up for my friends/adults I think I’ll use my rattan glasses.
The pitcher looks cute on the table too. This drinkware set works with every spring, summer or even a fall tablescape, but I especially love seeing rattan next to white hydrangeas! My definition of summer. :)
So that’s it! Simple and festive for the 4th! This would look really cute set up on an outdoor table too.
I added these cute blue floral pillows to the end chairs. Now I just need the food! The table setting is all I had energy for so I’ll let the rest of you come up with the menu.
Say it with me! I’m tricky like that.
;)
{TABLE SOURCES}
Because of our recent trip to Maui I’m a little behind with things I wanted to post and never got around to sharing fun ideas for Father’s Day gift ideas. I can’t believe it’s this Sunday! Always sneaks up so quickly.
I didn’t have to get too creative with my husband this year because he wants the same thing he asked for last year. More Vuori! Clearly he needs one more pair of their banks shorts. (Insert eye roll!) ;) Aside from these shorts he loves their tanks for the gym, their strato tech tees for every day (SO soft) and their hoodies and jackets. It’s funny to me that the one thing from Vuori he doesn’t wear are their joggers and that’s my #1 Vuori staple!
Below are other items my husband has and loves! Fun gift ideas I’ve shared before and lots from Amazon so hopefully you can get them shipped in time. I’ll try to be more on top of it and punctual with my Father’s Day gift guide next year! Ha.
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!
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.
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!
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!
It’s officially summer at our house and we couldn’t be more excited! Kids are thrilled about no homework and lazy days at the pool and beach. I’m thrilled about more time with them and waking up without the alarm clock! Especially appealing to night owls like myself. :)
I’m sharing some fun graduation gifts today and I know! I’m a little late with this post. Some schools are done while some still have a week or two. These are fun gift ideas in general and also work well for kids heading off to college so hopefully they are helpful. These are all items Ellie received and loved last year when she was heading off to college!
First up is this beautiful jewelry box and necklace. Either would be a perfect gift alone but also fun to give together. This faux leather jewelry organizer doubles as beautiful decor and you know I love a good initial pendant necklace! Such a thoughtful, personalized gift. This has been my favorite necklace this past year.
I snapped this quick in my kitchen to show it on and it’s kind of hard to see, but it has an initial and a little diamond. So pretty and a perfect little accent with most tops. My girls have it and love it too.
This is the jewelry organizer open. I ordered one for my bathroom too I loved it so much!
Another fun graduation gift idea is a laptop tote! This is a good one I really like and use often from Amazon.
Simple and stylish and it has a padded spot that holds my large laptop with lots of room for other books/planners/notepads.
Speaking of planners! Forever a fun gift idea. At least for people like me who never get tired of a good planner. :) El got a cute planner from a good friend at graduation last year and used it all year during college. These are some of my recent favorites!
These two planners are both simple and straightforward with pretty covers. It would be cute to pair them with a good set of pens. (These are my favorites.)
This weekly planner pad I’ve used on and off for years and have given as a gift several times. It’s a great way to lay your week out in front of you. I love the habit tracker too if I’m trying to drink more water or work on other goals. I used to always include “be in bed by 11” on my habit tracker, but after years of seeing that written with one to two to zero checkmarks next to it I finally stopped writing it down.
That’s my secret to success. Only write down the goals you know you can easily achieve. Ha. ;)
This is another planner pad I like with the same concept! Great gifts for someone leaving high school and venturing out on their own. Or for anyone attempting to “adult” really. :)
These hand tool kits are such a cute gift idea for a graduate! Or for anyone moving into their own apartment or home for the first time.
They come in lots of colors and include all of the main, basic tools you need for small repairs and projects.
So fun right!?
I have a few on hand for gifts and I’ve been keeping this pink set in my office. I’ve used it more times than I can count!
This was another fun gift Ellie got from a good friend of mine when she graduated. It’s a towel wrap with her name on it. Such a thoughtful gift! Perfect for kids going away to college because they are usually in dorms sharing a shower. El loved it and used it all year. I linked lots of cute similar options below!
I’ve been asked by several readers recently what El wore when she graduated and for dress ideas. Most of the girls wore white dresses! I’m not sure if that’s typical at most high schools or just hers but I found some cute options linked below. They are also just fun options for summer.. graduating or not. :)
And just like that.. one year done! I got lots of questions about these blue bags I used when I shared them a few posts back. You can find them here. They were perfect for moving her back and forth and I would definitely recommend them! You can see more details on what we ordered/bought for her dorm in this post if you have college bound kids this year!
{before}
Speaking of El.. here’s a recent before and after! Her hair was getting crazy long and it was time for a change.
{after}
Summer ready!
I gave both of my girls my thick hair. The girls at the salon we go to gear up for ALL THE HAIR when we come in. They always team up when it’s time to blow dry. Ha. Love them!
I love this girl too. So much. It has been the best having her home with us! Everything feels right in the world again when all of my kids are home. :)
We ended May celebrating my other mini me’s birthday. Happy 17 to Addison! I started this blog when my girls were 3 and 5 and they are now 17 and 19. So hard to believe that many years have flown by!
*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.
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!
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!
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.)
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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. :)
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. :)
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.
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.
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!
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!
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. ;)
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!
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.
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!
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. :)
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. :)
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. ;)
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. :)
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. :)
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.
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!
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!
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.
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. :)
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!
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