Well hello! I hope you’re all having a great month and moms I hope you’re surviving May madness! We had a couple of not fun weeks being sick at our house. I spent Mother’s Day in bed because of a lovely sinus infection and I kind of want a re-do on that one. Guess I’ll have to wait a year! Ha. Really I’m just so grateful to be feeling better. It always make you extra aware and appreciative of your health when you go through not so healthy times doesn’t it!? I’m especially grateful to be getting some of my energy back because I’m definitely going to need it finishing up this month!
Totally switching gears because today we are talking bike organization!
How was that for a transition.. bikes.. switching gears.. clever right? Yes.. the sinus infection may have affected a few brain cells as well.. ha. I can see my kids all shaking their heads right now.
You might remember the original way we stored bikes in our garage on the floor using a system similar to this rack (our exact rack isn’t in stock anymore.) We also stored our scooters next to them using these little stands that link together. I loved this system! It was perfect when our kids were little and were constantly riding their bikes. It made it so easy for them to safely get their bike and go on a ride and then put it back. We upgraded our bikes when life shut down in 2020 and (like so many others) we were riding them almost every day and I loved having our bikes so easily accessible.
Fast forward to today. Life is back to full speed with ALL the activities and we are lucky if we can find one day a month to use our bikes. (Hoping for more riding time this summer!)
Plus my little minis who used to look like this zooming around on their razor scooters in the back yard..
now look like this. My girls grew up (tear) and we now have TWO teenage drivers. Don’t blink moms! I really don’t know how this is even happening! But here we are and aside from not using the bikes as often we also needed more garage space for cars.
Kenny spent some time researching what would work best and finally decided to go with these rail mount lifts that would hold the bikes on our garage ceiling. He got to work installing the mounts and had no problems attaching them to the ceiling.
Two up.. two more to go!
Of course he couldn’t have done it without such a trustworthy and loyal assistant. :)
A few hours later and done! We now have a new system for bike organization and I have to say that we are obsessed! It feels amazing having the bikes off of the ground and out of the way. I can’t believe how much space it gave us back. Now we can easily park all of our cars with room to walk around them.
I had Kenny come out to take these pics so that he could show me (and you!) how to get the bikes down and put them up. The bikes are attached with hooks and a rope. To get them down you pull and release the lock (just like using a blind!) and then use the rope to lower the bike.
There is a locking mechanism that keeps things secure and they are so easy to raise and lower. Really so simple!
You can attach the ropes to the wall but because of the way we hung ours it was easier to just tie the extra rope around a bike petal.
So nice to have our bikes off the floor and out of the way! I wanted to share our new system in case it’s the right solution for any of you too. You can also use these mounts to hold ladders. Let me know if you have any questions! I’ll also share more on IG stories and save it to a garage highlight if you hang with me there. :)
I’ll be back with more organization (and other fun things) soon! There’s no stopping the projects (or cheesy jokes) when mom is feeling like herself again.
Happy Friday! I hope your week has been a good one! I’m sharing my spring/summer porch to kick off the weekend. Bring it on! The porch and the weekend. I’m ready.
Don’t get me wrong.. I love real flowers on my front porch this time of year! But I’m limited on what plants will work since this porch gets full shade and every summer my plants die a slow death when we travel. I always think I’ll remember to ask a friend to water my plants while we’re gone and then I always forget to ask a friend to water my plants while we’re gone.
I usually return home from summer travels to dead plants and a sad looking porch.
But not this year!
You’ve all seen these beautiful raspberry peonies in my home. I’ve had them for years and love pulling them out every spring! I placed them in these textured ceramic planters and love the way they instantly brightened my porch. (*Sidenote – The peonies are marked down right now! Also these planters look more white in person than they do on-line.)
I’ve had these beautiful faux white hydrangea stems for years too and bought a few more to have enough to fill my coiled round baskets. I have 7 hydrangea stems in each basket and I could easily fit more, but the leaves on these faux stems are thick and and bushy and I like the way these flowers look a little spaced out!
Very excited about today’s post! I’ve rounded up so many of my favorites things to give you lots of fun ideas for Mother’s Day this year! This is a long post FULL of ideas so sit down and grab a snack. :) I’m kicking things off with lemons. You all know I’m a fan. I have lemons at the top of my blog, lemon trees in my back yard, lemon planning pages and notebooks and dishtowels and lemons in my kitchen year round.
Do you know why I love lemons so much?
They remind me of my mom. :) My mom’s favorite color is yellow and she is a true “yellow” personality on the color test (fun loving, happy, optimistic and ready for a party). Her favorite thing in this world aside from her family?
Lemons.
I get the yellow extrovert side of my personality from my mom. The other side of my personality – the peacemaker who is happy at home and needs to have all things in order I get from my dad. :) Aren’t my parents the cutest!? This is an older pic (I think Ad was in 4th grade!) but I had to share because of my mom’s yellow purse. She always has something yellow on or around her! Every Mother’s Day my sister and I try to get creative with a new fun LEMON gift for her that she doesn’t already have. We know if her gift has to do with lemons she’ll be happy.
Mom – this lemon collage is dedicated to you! Let me know what you want this year. ;) Thank you for all of the happiness and sunshine you bring into my life. I couldn’t ask for a better mom and being a mom myself has made me realize time and time again how much you sacrificed for us and how lucky I am to have you. Can’t wait until we are together again this summer – swimming, shopping and eating garlic bread at Pizza Factory.
Like always, you bring the Diet Coke.. I’ll bring the lemons. :)
Next fun gift ideas are for all of the moms who love the sun and are ready for days spent at the pool or beach! We’ve had these beach towels for years and they have held up so well. Really large, nice quality!
I shared these recent summer favorites not long ago. This hat is so cute and perfect to keep the sun off your face!
These linen pants are go-tos for me in the summer and I lived in them on our Kauai trip! Perfect to throw on over a swim suit for the pool or beach but also nice enough to wear after to lunch. This straw bag is a favorite too! You can find this year’s version here.
This cute maxi cover-up dress is also back in stock. Great for vacations and another great option to throw on after the beach to head to lunch. Below are my summer favorites!
I bought these beautiful dishtowels in the fall and they are seriously so good. Beautiful and thick – I love the texture and how soft they are! They would make a great gift and I wouldn’t mind a few more for Mother’s Day this year!
This round woven serving tray I recently shared is perfection and would also make a fun Mother’s Day gift because it’s such a staple – works everywhere!
Below are more fun gifts ideas for mom’s who love to entertain! Most are personal favorites I’ve loved. :)
My celine throw is on sale and comes in lots of colors! This throw looks beautiful draped over a chair or couch.
This antiqued metal tray is another favorite that works all over the house and can be styled so many different ways. It comes in two sizes (mine is the large) and would make a beautiful gift your mom could use for years!
These are all beautiful home decor books that I love and would also make great gifts. Below are more favorites you’ve seen in my home for mom’s who love to decorate! I tried to include the items that I use again and again and again – tried and true favorites!
We can’t talk Mother’s Day gifts without including a few of my favorite cozy items. Barefoot dreams blankets have become not just mine but also my family’s most requested gift! Pricey I know.. but wow. The coziest! A gift that keeps on giving and we use ours every single day – even in the summer! I’m always cold from the air conditioning and this blanket is never far. :)
Ok.. I saved my least favorite gift collage for last. I mean.. the gifts are fun! The cooking.. eh.. not so much. ;) This pic sums up how I feel when I cook too perfectly. A combo of tense, annoyed and just waiting for the fire.
I know making scrambled eggs isn’t technically “cooking” but in my house it totally is.. so much so that Kenny has taken over all of the egg scrambling around here since I can’t be trusted to do it. This egg spatula is one of our favorite things! I love that it doesn’t get egg all over the counter when we aren’t using it (Addison is allergic to eggs so we have to be especially careful).
Kenny loves the way it scrambles eggs so perfectly every time. I eat his eggs all the time so I can attest – they are perfect. :) Below are some fun gifts I rounded up for those of you who love to cook! I will never understand you, but I will say that cute mixing bowls and aprons and dish towels do make it more tempting. :)
I hope this round-up was helpful and you are able to find something special for the mom/moms in your life who deserve to be celebrated! This post took a hot minute to put together so I’m off to celebrate myself and enjoy a Coke Zero.
Well! It has been a week! So many end of the year activities. I am running on dry shampoo and little sleep and don’t know if I’m coming or going anymore. I know all moms feel me. This time of year is not for the weary!
I’m a little weary. Ha. So quick post today! I’m sharing 5 things I’m loving recently starting with this cute large tote! I shared it in the collage in my last post but here is a better pic of it. I gave it to a friend for her birthday and just love it. Nothing like a stylish bag that holds all the things and this one comes with a smaller bag inside too. It also comes in a medium size. So cute!
Talk about a perfect set of dishes for summertime. I couldn’t love this seagrass dish collection more! I saw them last year and waited too long to get them and they sold out so when I saw the collection on-line here this spring I didn’t hesitate! I bought the salad bowl too and have already used it multiple times! You can remove the seagrass sleeve on everything except the pitcher and put them in the dishwasher so they are easy to clean. Later I saw them back on-line at PB too. When not in use they are beautiful kitchen decor on an open shelf or inside a glass cabinet. Or just out on your kitchen counter/island on a tray! They would make a beautiful Mother’s Day gift.
Ok.. remember my beloved navy herringbone kitchen rugs? I love them so much I still have them even though I’m not using them! Just couldn’t part with this set in case I want to pull them out again.
Then there is my malta striped rug that is so beautiful! I wish I could say that it’s still in my playroom and that my playroom looks like this but sadly no. Kenny bought a ping pong table and there went this cute set up! I’ll have to share a pic soon of just how NOT cute this room is at the moment. But it’s full of teens most days so practical won in this space! Anyway.. back to my rug. It’s currently in our guest room! It looks so beautiful there. One of my favorites.
I’ve always loved Dash & Albert Rugs and so many cute styles are on sale today for WayDay! You can find them all here but I rounded up my favorites below!
Ok.. this is a horrible pic of me but I had to share because this book! A friend gave it to me for my birthday and I read it immediately (it’s a quick/easy read) and then sent her this pic of me in a puddle of tears when I finished to thank her for such a thoughtful gift. (Her message to me on the inside was so kind I was crying before I even started the book!) It is just the sweetest simple story that weaves in life lessons about love and hope and the true gift of friendship. It’s a book for everyone.. young and old and I adore it along with the friend who gave it to me.
That’s a wrap! A cute tote, summer dishes, beautiful rugs, good home sales and a charming book that felt like a warm hug. 5 things I’m loving right now!
Happy Sunday! I’m popping in to share a couple of fun spring arrangements today! I guess these could really be summer arrangements. Or even fall for this first one. But since it’s spring at the moment let’s call them spring arrangements shall we?
I’ve had this black terra cotta pitcher for a while and absolutely love it. It looks great with flowers or greenery in it, but also just on its own on a shelf. It looks especially good next to my beloved spectrum pitcher, but that little jewel goes with everything! (Both pitchers are on sale at the moment!) I set it all on this beautiful handwoven serving tray. Round woven trays like this are my favorite. No surprise there because I have them all over my house! I love that they work in every room – kitchens and bathrooms and living rooms and bedrooms. They look good on coffee tables and console tables and on islands and in all the corners. Staples! Candles are staples for me too so I added a candle to make a nice little grouping of three.
My second spring arrangement is all about these beautiful faux cherry blossom branches you might remember from last spring. They are STUNNING! And take no effort to style. I literally just plop them in a vase and the branches bend and land every which way and look amazing instantly. I love them on my black cheese board – the white and black are a fun contrast.
I use this artisan vase over and over every season because I love both the size of the vase and also the size of the opening. It tappers in a little at the top so you don’t need a crazy amount of stems to make a nice arrangement. I have six of the faux cherry blossom branches in it now and could probably get away with just four or five. This cute little woven fruit basket is a recent find.. perfect for summer! You can never have too many lemons in my opinion. :)
Which arrangement is your favorite? I don’t think I can choose so one is going to land on my dining room table. :)
I’m sharing a few fun Mother’s Day gift ideas below from Anthro that are all on sale this weekend! Most are items I have and love and all would make great gifts. I also added a few seasonal favorites! In other fun news Studio Mcgee’s latest collection at Target released today and there are some beautiful options for spring/summer there too. Such a fun time of year to get our homes clean and organized (who is working on my list!?) and then add beautiful spring decor for the cherry on top. :)
I hope you all had a nice Easter weekend! We ended up going to a friend’s house for Easter dinner so I got ham instead of pizza after all! I was on salad duty. Easy and done. Good things come to those who slack off.
Kidding!
Kind of. ;)
We’re getting back into the swing of things around here after a fun week in Kauai for Spring Break. Not a bad view right!? Take me back! We met my sister and her family there and it was so nice getting away and spending time with family. I was supposed to be going in for knee surgery as soon as we got back from our trip, but because of a few other things that came up I ended up having to re-schedule my surgery. I’m kind of bummed because I was ready to get it done and behind me, but also happy that I’m not spending this spring/summer on crutches. Silver lining for sure! I’ve decided that I’m going to make the most of this extra time I have (that I thought I would be spending in bed!) by wrapping up some organizing and other un-finished projects around my house.
I know you’re all very surprised by that decision. Ha.
I did two things today that instantly made me happy. First, I planned out our summer. I always print out my June/July/August calendar pages (in my printable library.. you can download them here). We use our on-line calendars for every day things, but I like to visually see what’s going on during the summer months. We finalized all of our travel plans snd I signed Kole up for a few summer camps. It feels good to have that done because it will be a busy summer for us and all of the things going on during those months were swirling around in my head. Now it’s organized and written down on paper and planned and I can forget about it!
The second thing I did was print out my “20 Easy Ways to Spring Clean” list. I shared a Spring Cleaning list a few years ago and I’m sharing it again with a few inspo. pics! If you want to instantly feel better about your home print my Spring Cleaning list (link is also at the end of this post.) Then pick one item to tackle each day! It’s so easy and fun and you will feel amazing when this list is complete and checked off!
Here we go!
20 EASY WAYS TO SPRING CLEAN
1 – Toss any old medicine in your medicine cabinet.
2 – Clean out the glove compartment in your car.
3 – Wipe out your fridge and freezer.
4 – Clean out and donate any clothes you didn’t wear over the winter or last spring.
5 – Organize the apps on your cell phone (delete any you can!).
9 – Clean out your purse and buy a new one if it’s old/dirty. I wrote a post on purse organization here. Nothing like a clean purse! If you’re looking for a new purse of course I love Madewell totes! Here are a few others I’m crushing on at the moment..
or faux! In my opinion faux flowers make a better splurge because they are a gift that keeps on giving! (Table details are in this post.)
11 – Pick a closet that’s driving you crazy and clean it out.
12 – Sweep your porch and add some plants, flowers, a new rug and/or a wreath.
I swept my porch last week! I’m using my same faux Eucalyptus trees and jute rug this spring. Still working on my porch and I’ll share it as soon as it’s done!
I rounded up some fun spring doormats if you’re working on your porch too. They are all so happy!
20 – Last but not least.. organize a kitchen drawer or cupboard that is usually a mess.
You can print out my Spring Cleaning checklist HERE and get started today! Feels so good. :) Below are some of my go-to favorites for cleaning and organizing. Bring on spring! We’re all going to have the cleanest houses on the block!
Just in time for kids to get out of school and destroy them again.
*This post is sponsored by Walmart. All product selections and opinions are my own!
Easter is right around the corner! After I set up my festive Easter dining room table I started thinking about some fun snacks I could make to help make the weekend feel special.
I ordered my groceries on-line from Walmart and got to work decorating cooking. Ha. We all know there was no cooking involved. I like making cute platters because it’s basically decorating with food. Now that I can do. :) This simple 4-piece serving set is a staple at my house I use over and over that I’ve shared before. I use it for candy, I use it for ice cream toppings, I use it when we’re roasting s’mores and I use it for after school snacks for my kids. It’s perfect to hold cheese and crackers and fruit!
Don’t you think Easter candy is the best candy? Chicks Ducks and Bunnies don’t last long at our house. Then there’s Cadbury Eggs. Cadbury eggs from the grocery store don’t even make it through the door. :)
This is a simple way to make a festive snack for Easter that kids love. Make fruit kabobs and add a peep in the middle! You can get really creative with colors and use a rainbow of peeps or just stick to one color like I did. These white porcelain serving platters I’ve shared before.. they are also staples I use over and over when I serve food/entertain. They come in a rectangle size too!
I saw this on Pinterest a few years ago and love making it for Easter because it literally takes two seconds! Isn’t it the cutest!? I made one for my friends a couple of weeks ago. We were meeting quick to chat and have Diet Cokes before we all took off for Spring Break and I came walking in with this carrot. They were cracking up. Paired perfectly with our Diet Cokes if you ask me. I’m all about balance! Ha ha. :)
This is another idea I saw on-line a few years ago and really enjoy creating. So fun right!? I love this too much and always have fun making different versions with the bunny face in the middle. You can use a bowl instead of bread and get creative with the face. This year I used blueberries for the eyes, celery for the whiskers and smile and a strawberry nose. Cutest little bunny face. One year I used all fruit and this pink fruit dip in the middle..
It’s seriously the BEST fruit dip if you haven’t tried it yet! I share it every summer. You just whip together 8 oz cream cheese (softened), a 7 oz jar of marshmallow creme and 2 teaspoons of Maraschino cherry juice. YUM.
Isn’t the floral food server fun for spring!? I ordered it along with my groceries, but then when it came it was so pretty I didn’t want to cover it with food! It would be a cute table centerpiece too or fun to set napkins, utensils and salt and pepper shakers on (smaller items so you can still see the pretty flowers!)
Candy, peep kabobs, carrots and cucumbers. Like I said.. balance in all things!
I know most people have Easter food traditions that include fancy hams and side dishes, but when you’re lacking in the cooking skills department (and your ham would 100% turn out less than desirable) you have to get creative.
Bunny face fruit & veggie platters for the win!
Plus pizza.
;)
If you’re doing last minute Easter shopping Walmart has everything you need! When I ordered this food I also ordered all of the candy for my kids’ baskets. So nice to do it all on-line. When I was on-line shopping I also noticed that a lot of the items I ordered for my summer guest room re-fresh last summer are back in stock!
My rattan lamps are also back! Love these lamps. I left them up all year but they are especially fun during the spring/summer. The ceramic basket pot is also a favorite.. I think I own over 5 of them! Last summer I had them all over my house. They sold out quickly last year so don’t wait if you want one.
Sharing a simple Easter table today! I can’t believe Easter is next weekend! I put this together quickly with things I had on hand around my house.
Soft pinks again for the win!
Favorite olive branches in my go-to white vase for the center. When it’s time to eat I’ll take the vase off and fill in the open spot with my delicious main dish. Maybe pizza? Kidding!
Happy April! I hope the month is off to a good start for you! I’m sharing our March Amazon buys today along with a few other favorite things I’ve been wearing. Then wrapping up the post with some personal pics I want documented so feel free to skim if you’re not interested. There is no time in my life during this stage for documenting family life so once in a while I go old school and toss a few things up here. :) If you’re new here and don’t know, this blog started as my family journal around 13 years ago when my girls were 3 and 5! Sometime (if any of you are interested!) I’ll have to write about my blog journey so that it’s documented too.
But that’s a story for another day. Today we’re talking about recent favorite green pants. Because that’s fun too. ;) Seriously though.. how cute are these high waist pencil pants!? Talk about an Amazon score. They are so flattering and comfortable! I’m wearing a small (they fit true to size) and I would 100% recommend them.
I’m wearing them with my paily slide sandals and thought I’d share a pic of these two sandals because they were my most worn shoes last spring/summer. They work with everything! Great neutrals and the square toe is so much fun. The flats are Marc Fisher slides and come in several colors. This is their new version out this year.. so cute. Below are other similar options I’m loving that are also out this spring!
These are my March Amazon purchases! Lots of fun things for Kole because he turned 12 on the 30th. :) He needed new ties for church and new swim wear.. I ordered lots to try, sent a few back and kept the ties/suits in my collage above.. they are all great! I ordered #3 and #12 for our spring break trip! A cute clutch and a huge mesh bag that’s easy to pack and perfect for the beach. The hair putty is Kenny’s favorite he has used for years and the the furniture repair markers we use on our wood floors for larger scratches. You have to find the color that matches your floor and it works so well! Underwear for the girls and a cute cover-up and knit outfit for me. The knit outfit is so cute and comes in lots of colors! I’ll share it on soon too. The EzyRoller (#9) was Koles main birthday gift. He loved his ziggle so much growing up we got him a more adult version to help with any summer boredom. ;)
I can’t believe my baby is starting middle school next year! Love this boy so much. :)
In other fun news I have a discount for you on my favorite speakers! I shared my Kove speakers around the holidays.. great sound and we use them all the time. They connect to your computer or phone but they don’t need to be right next to them. I love using them when I clean the house to listen to music or a podcast. We use them a lot outside too when we’re hanging out, exercising or when we’re lounging in/around the pool.
They just came out with a travel size I’m loving! So small but the sound is still great and you can attach them to your bike or backpack. If you use my link you can get 67% off! They would make a great Easter basket gift for a teen. My girls love using them too. :)
You know that I’m all about comfort when it comes to clothes.. I run around in joggers/leggings at least half of the week! These are 3 tops I’ve been absolutely loving! All so cute and comfortable. The first is this twist top pullover. It’s cropped so I love it with high waisted leggings like the pair I’m wearing. Perfect to throw on after a workout or wear on its own. The material is so soft!
Vuori is hands down one of my favorite brands (and my husbands #1 favorite!). This halo crewneck is also so cute and comfortable. I’ve been running around a lot with belt bags because they are so easy and convenient and this Madewell belt bag is perfect. Just right for your phone, keys, credit cards and chapstick. I think the black sold out but it comes in other fun colors and I linked both places you can find it above.
This is another belt bag I love. They are perfect for spring/summer family outings too! Especially if you’re traveling to a theme park, zoo, etc. So nice to not always have to haul around a purse when you’re doing a lot of walking. This Zella crewneck sweatshirt is what I reach for more than anything else in my closet! I love it so much I bought two of them! It’s the perfect length and such a great fit. Really soft and comfortable.. I can’t recommend this sweatshirt enough. Staple!
Alright.. a little blast from the past.. you know how I always pop my left knee in my mirror selfie outfit pics?
This pic was taken on my first day of Kindergarten.. can you find me? Apparently the knee pop has been my signature look my whole life.. ha ha. Always posing. ;) Behind me are a couple of other girls who became life long friends.
This was our class picture that year. I love old pictures like this! Can you spot me again? Just a slight head tilt this time. :) (Second row of girls.. red turtleneck and a pony tail.) If you find the tallest girl in our class you’ll spot my then future BFF Koni.
Koni and I were friends all through school but by high school we were inseparable. The tallest and the shortest in our class and we did everything together. Everyone said we shared a brain and we pretty much did. Who remembers how cool these striped shirts and braided belts were!? I miss the 90’s!
When I say we were always together I meant it.. this picture always cracks us up! Me kissing Kenny at a ski resort and Koni isn’t far.. ha ha. She didn’t approve of him at first but eventually he won her over. ;)
This was the rest of our crew. I was so lucky to grow up in a small town with these girls! I was close friends with all of them through Elementary, Middle School and in High School we got really close. (Bangs were all the rage at this stage. I remember the night of this dance I was experimenting with hot rollers.. maybe not my best move.. )
{homecoming royalty senior year – I’m with my buddy Tyler.. the two shorties of the group} ;)
A new High School was built in our area right before my senior year and everyone within the boundaries had to move schools, but as seniors we had the choice to stay at our previous high school and graduate there or to come over to the new school. It was a hard decision because we all had so many other friends we would have to say good-bye to! We decided to move to the new school together and to help get it up and running and we ended up having the best senior year. We got to pick out everything for the new school.. school colors, mascot, we set up new traditions, Koni and I got to be in charge of everything with the new dance team. It was an amazing experience and bonded us all so much.
We finished high school together (class of 95) and all went to our local community collage for two years (basically an extension of high school!) before all taking off in different directions for more school or work.
College graduation with my girls. :) We have all stayed in touch and every year when we visit our families in our hometown for the holidays we try to get together for lunch. It has become harder through the years to all meet and we have talked about making a girls trip happen for years! Last weekend we finally did it for the first time and I don’t think we’ll let a year pass going forward without doing it again!
Above was us then.
And this is us now. :) One of us couldn’t make it and we have one close friend (shoutout to Bonnie in the far left!) who wasn’t from our little town and stayed at our original high school senior year, but she was always part of the gang. :)
We went to Sundance and lucked out because even though there was still snow on the mountains the weather was warm and beautiful!
We rented a cabin for the weekend and had the best time together laughing and catching up!
We swam in a crater..
ate out, went shopping and bought Sundance hoodies. Because when in Sunance you should buy a Sundance hoodie. Unless you’re like me and live in a place you don’t wear hoodies much. Then you buy a Sundance long sleeved tee. :)
But most of the trip we did this. Stayed up hours every night in sweats eating all the food and just talking. We talked and talked and talked and then laughed until our sides hurt and then talked some more. So many funny memories we all have! It’s cool how everyone remembers different things. There were so many things about our past I had completely forgotten! But it all came back pretty quickly with this crew.
My friend Angie brought everyone bracelets with our home town zip code on them. That was the name of our group because in high school we were obsessed with Beverly Hills 90210.. ha! Our plan was to grow up and leave for school and then all move back to our hometown and live in a cul-de-sac together. We haven’t quite pulled that off, but we’re thinking there’s still hope for when we all finish raising kids and retire. ;)
There is something so special about childhood/highschool friends isn’t there? I could go years without talking to these girls and then see them and pick right back up like we were never apart. We’ve been through so much together. From constant play time and sleepovers and riding our bikes to the local Merc for candy, to braces and awkward middle school years, to first dates and kisses and high school drama, to college and “adulting” for the first time, to careers and marriage and having babies, to raising toddlers through teens. We’ve been there for each other though all of life’s joys and through a lot of heartache and hard times too. We will forever be close and I’m so grateful for the special bond we all share. This was the first of many girls trips to come and in 5 years when we all turn 50 (yikes!) we are going to plan something BIG. Maybe THREE nights of non stop talking and laughing instead of just TWO.
I think after all we’ve been through together we’ve earned it.
*This post is sponsored by Walmart. All product selections and opinions are my own!
Wow.. we are at the end of March! What a whirlwind of a month. I’m over here just trying to catch my breath. For some reason this month has been a little crazy for us. Anyone else feeling the same!? I’ll catch you all up on a few things going on around here soon (mostly good.. some not as good!) but today I’m excited to share another fun update to my backyard! I’ve been working so hard to get our yard ready for spring/summer! Remember these fun chairs I shared last month!?
I love them so much I ordered this cute matching set! A close friend of mine just moved and the little patio set I used to have in this spot was perfect for her outdoor space so I gave it to her. I’ve been looking for different options for this space and couldn’t pass up these cute chairs and table. I had a really hard time choosing because I love this chair and ottoman and this little couch too! I might still order the couch to add with the chairs. Still a work in progress but I love the way it’s looking so far!
You know how I feel about all things rattan so when I found these cute rattan plant stands I was thrilled! Such an easy way to spruce up the yard and elevate your plants. You could flip them around and use them as baskets too! Flowers make everything happy don’t they!? Crossing my fingers I can keep these alive through the season!
My lemon trees are having a good year and this glass pitcher has become a summer staple (comes in a set of 2!). I get excited to pull it out because it represents summer and sunshine and lemons and friends. :)
My tried and true coat rack turned towel rack isn’t going anywhere! Still the best solution for all of the pool towels! I highly recommend it if you end up with lots of kids and towels in your yard all summer. Of course you can also use it by the front/back door or in the garage to hold coats and shoes too. I’ve loved seeing pictures of how so many of you use your coat rack! This baby is a treasure for many of us. :)
I ordered another navy geometric rug for this space so I’ll put one out by the pool and keep this here. I really wish it came in a bigger size! I’m still hunting for a new rug for my space by our fireplace. If you like this chair and table set and it’s showing that it’s sold out this set is very similar! Also check back because they might get more in stock.
Our pool storage closet is overflowing (on the summer “to-organize” list once again!) so I ordered this cute outdoor console table.
So excited about this! I’m going to keep goggles and smaller pool toys in the baskets so they aren’t cluttering up our pool storage closet (I’ll just use the closet for large floaties.) This will also be perfect to use for entertaining. Look at the picture on-line.. perfect to hold food and drinks too!
I might move this.. I have a few spots in my backyard that it works, but for now I’ve got it tucked into this little corner.
Before I set this up I spent an hour cleaning our back deck.. it gets so dirty when we aren’t using it often! It feels good to have this space clean.
My roses are blooming and everything in the yard is starting to show off!
I love this time of year when everything is blooming.
I snapped these yard pics with my cell phone quick after I finished sweeping. It always feels so good to have the yard clean!
I had a spurt of motivation after working on the backyard so I cleaned off my front porch too and sprayed the dust off of our rocking chairs. Then I added these cute new pillows. Stripes for the win at my house!
Again! :)
They are really soft and I love the texture. Perfect outdoor pillows for a great price. They are actually more comfortable than some I have on my couch so you could definitely use them inside too! I started my front porch and will share that as soon as it’s done.
Have you started getting your outdoor spaces ready for spring? I grew up helping my dad in our yard every weekend and mowing the lawn was always my favorite! All those perfectly straight lines and that smell of freshly cut grass.. ha. :) There is something so gratifying to me about putting together spaces like this. It makes me happy to create gathering spots where friends can enjoy spending time together. Plus sunshine and flowers are good for the soul aren’t they!? I’m always in the best mood after working on our yard! I have help with some of our plant/lawn maintenance (it’s too much for me to keep up with now) but I will always love yard work and creating outdoor spaces we can enjoy all season. Bring on summer.. it’s time to plan a party!
I’ll bring the lemons.
:)
I’ve rounded up more cute Walmart outdoor furniture below.. I’m seriously loving their options this year! If you see something you love don’t wait because their outdoor furniture always sells out quickly!
Happy weekend! Sharing some current pics of my family room. Now that the time change is behind us it’s really starting to feel like Spring! I struggle losing that hour (I’ve felt tired all week!) but I love that it stays light enough that Kenny and I can walk/hike in the evenings again after work. So nice having a little more daylight in the evening isn’t it!?
I keep tweaking things in this space and it doesn’t feel “done” for the season yet but I took some pics to share anyway. Progress! :)
I love this faux ficus tree! Pretty leaves and it comes in this cute pot, but I’m still deciding if this is the best spot for it. I wish it was just a little bit taller for this space.
Simple shelf styling. I might add some black at some point (maybe black frames?) but this is where we are for now. I love the 3 decorative boxes! They are so pretty with those gold handles.
My mantel is simple at the moment. There is always so much going on with my shelves and the console table that it starts looking like too much when my mantel is busy. Plus I just can’t quit my brass lanterns! I love the candle light clicking on in the evenings. They are so cozy at night!
I’ve been decorating with mostly neutrals – blacks, browns, creams, etc. with some soft pink here and there for spring. I found some really cute, inexpensive pillows to pull things together.
I actually found 3 lumbar pillow options I love! Really nice quality for the price. (Sorry this is horrible lighting! They look better in person.) The stripe on the left is currently on my bed in my master bedroom. :)
I had this stripe pillow and throw already (I used them in the Fall) and I added a pink tassel pillow from my living room. Then I felt like I needed a floral pattern with all the stripes going on.
Sometimes I tend to over stripe.
It’s a problem and admitting it is the first step.
My nook is pretty simple at the moment. I just added these pretty white flowers.. they brighten any space for spring!
Nothing like March. Around here that means turning the fireplace on one day and heading to the beach the next. There’s only a 10 degree difference between the two activities, but that’s as exciting as it gets when it comes to weather in southern Cal. :)
Have you been adding spring touches to your home? Bring on the sunshine!
Hello hello! I hope your week is off to a good start! I’m kicking off this post with a quick pic of some birthday fun last Friday. Feeling pretty grateful for good friends! And for my favorite balsamic grilled chicken salad. And for good pizza. You just can’t go wrong when the three are combined. ;)
I’m also grateful for Cadbury eggs! I got them.. yea! Lots of them! Ha ha. When my friend Darci pulled these out I honestly laughed so hard. She hadn’t read my blog post from that morning! She knows I love them but my friends haven’t given them to me for my birthday the past few years.. usually my kids do. I just had a feeling I guess.. ha. #nailedit ;)
They were prizes for a little quiz she gave everyone to see “who knows Erin best.” (My friends are too funny.) Can you answer this question that was on the quiz..
What has Erin had for lunch almost every day for the past 25 years?
If you can answer that you are probably a long time reader and I’m very impressed. :)
Really it was a great birthday. Spoiled by family and so many great friends throughout the day. AND sweet e-mails and happy birthday wishes from so many of you. Thank you! 45 might not be so bad after all. ;)
Ok.. on to some Spring Fashion! If you come here solely for decor and/or organizing take a quick pause and I’ll be back with more of that in my next post. If you are one of my fashion loving friends this post is for you! I’ve been taking selfies of daily outfits forever and keep thinking I’ll share them and then I get behind on posts and just never do. So apologies in advance for so many mirror pics! These outfit selfies have been building up for a while. :)
First up this cute green top I wore to my birthday lunch. True Erin fashion and just as predictable as what I eat for lunch most days. ;) The necklace is a recent favorite I shared a few months ago. Love it!
This cream v-neck top is so soft! (Comes in other colors too.) I love the material and neckline (perfect to wear with a fun necklace). ;) Also how fun is this half moon bag!? Such a fun style and perfect for both spring and summer. It comes in a green too (that I of course love!) but I bought the cream because I already have my green madewell bag and cream will work with more of my spring/summer wardrobe.
Speaking of all things spring and summer these are 3 of my essentials! A cute purse, a good sun hat for the pool/beach (this hat is so cute on and is 25% off right now!) and some great sandals that go well with everything. Check check and check. :)
You might have noticed my cute new phone case too!
Walli cases – a recent obsession. They are great because aside from all of the cute patterns and colors they come in, they also have a finger loop and a slot for credit cards so they can double as a wallet. So handy! I loved mine so much I got one extra for me and one for each of my girls. I recently got so many questions about my phone case on IG stories that I thought I’d share the link here too for anyone who missed it. You can get 15% off when you use this link and type in the code SUNNY at checkout. :)
A simple, cute black tee is always a good thing and I love the sleeves on this top! These light jeans are also fun for spring. (Do you love that they are cropped on the model and long on me!? Ha. I’m 5’3 and 1/2 for size reference.) I need to break out of my skinny jean rut but just can’t quit my AG’s! When you find a jean you love that fits well it’s hard to stray. :)
Our weather is all over the place lately. Cold and cloudy one day and then 75 degrees and hot the next. This hooded pullover has been perfect for most days because it’s warm but lightweight. Really cozy and I love this pretty soft blue!
Half of the week I’m cleaned up and the other half of the week I’m in clothes like the outfit above – leggings, sneakers and some sort of sweatshirt or cropped hoodie. That’s why I love my madewell totes so much and have used them for years. You can dress them up, but they also look great with casual clothes for every day running around. Staples for me! (My green canvas tote sold out at Nordstrom but is still in stock at Madewell and on sale right now!)
I wore it to dinner on my birthday with some of our besties. :) *Sidenote if you’re local – this was my first time trying Larsen’s in La Jolla (UTC) and it was SO good! A really fun special occasion restaurant. We were originally going to go to the place I got food poisoning at a few weeks ago (had planned on that ahead of time) but of course after that night I alerted our friends that we needed to hit plan B! Ha. So happy we did because I loved this restaurant.
This is really cute too. A little long on me so I’ve been wearing it with leggings. I might give it to my girls because I prefer sweatshirts that aren’t quite this long/baggy. My girls are all about long and baggy. :)
They came out with the same pjs in spring colors! Blue and pink! It was a very happy day when I discovered this news. :) I love these pjs because first – they are so soft! They are also warm but lightweight so they are perfect to sleep in. I’ve worn them almost every night since I bought them! I also love that they come as separates because I’m always xs on top and small on bottom and when pjs come in a set I either have too tight bottoms or a too baggy top. Ha. (Anyone else different sizes on top/bottom? Then you know exactly what I’m talking about.) ;)
Ok.. we have definitely hit a limit for mirror selfies today! But I truly love everything I shared so I hope this post was helpful if you need a pretty spring top or a cute comfy sweatshirt or anything in-between! Let me know your favorite!
It’s always the pajamas for me.
;)
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xoxo, Erin
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