Erin, Author at The Sunny Side Up Blog

Fashion

07.03.18

This and That and all things Summer

How is everyone’s summer going so far? Good I hope! Sharing some randomness today. Some of this.. some of that. A little bit of the other. :)

My house for the most part is a disaster. But I’ve found that during the summer if I can just keep the kitchen semi-clean with a vase full of hydrangeas, I can handle the rest of the chaos.

{Kitchen post/sources}

*affiliate links used

Of course it’s no easy feat keeping the kitchen clean in the summer. Especially with all of the slime that’s going down around here. I had hoped by now that my kids would be over it (2 out of 3 are) but I have one child who is STILL slime obsessed a year later and we’re honestly about to turn into a slime factory over here she has made so much of the stuff. I’ve been holding out hope that this phase would pass (right along with her “I desperately want/need a Bearded Dragon in my life) phase but both are still going strong. I can most likely compromise with her and get rid of one if I’m ok with the other.. but because I’m not excited about either we are at a stand still. And the slime just keeps on coming. I guess I should just be grateful that (so far) there isn’t a large lizard camping out on my couch every morning.

I wanted my girls to learn some healthy habits they can take with them the rest of their lives so I hired a nutritionist to meet with us a few times this summer. I’ve got a lot of things covered around here (they will definitely leave this house knowing how to scrub a sink) but healthy eating habits? Turning this one over to an expert. We had our first meeting and it was pretty clear that I’m the one who needs the most help! Apparently Coke Zero doesn’t count as a healthy breakfast. Who knew? ;) After 2 hours of ALL the information, she gave each of a copy of this Wellness Journal.

We have to write down everything we eat over the next couple of weeks and it has a place to check off our water (we are drinking SO much water I feel like I’m drowning). I thought I’d share this little journal (you can buy one here) in case it’s helpful for any of you! Misery loves company so come on.. join my world of carrots and cauliflower. ;)

{Embroidered Lace Top/AG Jeans/Earrings/Wedges/Purse/Sunglasses}

Summer evenings are my favorite! I love being outside in our yard watching my kids swim and play, checking on the plants and flowers in my yard, going on walks with Kenny. When a neighbor is having a BBQ or mowing their lawn it’s even better. Aren’t summer smells the best? Love them.

Summer night date look. This Embroidered Lace Top is so beautiful! Hands down one of my favorites this season.

The detail is so pretty and I love wearing white in the summer time. I wore this somewhere a couple of weeks ago and when two of my friends saw it they decided to order it too! Now we will all be white embroidered triplets in this top. :)

{Eyelet Dress/Strap Sandals/Earrings/Purse}

I shared this similar white eyelet dress in my last Fashion post. All the love for summer white! These are a few other white tops I adore. I really wanted to order this one (adorable and only $32!) but it’s sold out in my size! One of you get it and wear it and love it for me. I’ll feel better. :)

{Family Room Update/Sources}

If we aren’t outside enjoying summer evenings you can usually find us camped out on our family room couch. Reading or watching TV.

Or cracking up over who knows what. This picture made me smile when I came across it! Typical night with Ad. We laugh a lot when we’re together.

Somehow it always ends up being us two hanging out together because El is usually busy with dance or friends and Kole and Kenny are doing their thing. Ad and I have become partners in crime lately. :) We watched the entire series of Gilmore Girls together when I had knee surgery (Ad’s first time watching, my second) and are looking for a good summer series to start. Any suggestions for fun Netflix series or movies? I’ve been showing her the classics lately. We started with Gone With the Wind and then Fiddler on the Roof. I have a list we’re making our way through this summer so if you can think of any good classics you love give me those too! I can share my list in a post later if anyone is interested? I love a good classic. Especially when it includes Clark Gable or Jimmy Stewart. :) Is it ok to watch It’s a Wonderful Life in July? I never get tired of that movie.

{Brushed Hacci Hoodie/Good Vibes Jogger Pants}

The cute blue sweats I’m wearing are one of my favorite brands.. Make and Model. I love this set so much because they’re lightweight, crazy soft and comfortable and also I feel like I can wear them to the grocery store or to run kids around. I’m all for pj’s that double for real clothes! Plus in the summer I’m always cold inside most places because the air is usually blasting so these have been perfect indoor summer sweats.

Some of you have asked if I’d share pics from our recent trip to Florida. Here are a few for those of you who are interested! We hit Universal Studios and Volcano Bay and spent three days at the two parks. My best tip if you are planning on hitting theme parks this summer (after years of owning Disneyland season passes and spending more time than I’d like to at theme parks!) is to GO EARLY. Pretty obvious tip, but I’m always amazed how few people do it. We always try to be at the parks ready to go the second they open! It’s hard to get up so early on vacation, but you can hit so many fun rides and see A LOT in the first two hours before the park starts getting busy. Plan your route the night before and hit everything that you care about the most first thing. My kids have wanted to see all things Harry Potter at Universal for a while now so we surprised them with this trip and they were so excited.

Such a fun day and because we went early we were able to really enjoy it all without crowds!

Caught this quickly with my cell phone in line to choose their wands. Oh my word.. the look on her face! Ha ha.. priceless.

The windows all have fun things that happen when you wave your wand a certain way and these two could have done this for hours.

A little tricky to figure out, but after some help we were in business! Like magic. :)

First ButterBeer of the day!

Riding the train between parks was one of our favorite things! The window showed scenes from the movie and there were shadows on the doors of the train on the opposite side that made it feel so real. Friends from the movie, Dementors and leaping chocolate frogs all passed by on our journey. My kids loved it.

{Blue ruffle sleep top/Zella Crop Pants/Similar Adidas Shoes/Kole’s Adidas Shoes}

After we hit all things Harry Potter we split up for a while because my girls wanted to go on some scary rides that Kole wasn’t excited about. Plus he and I had our own agenda. Time to hang with Transformers. After years of Disney Princesses it has been so fun to dive into all things little boy. :)

Curious George was a long time favorite so we spent some time there and on other fun rides. The next day Kenny took the girls back for more rides and Kole and I decided to take a break and swim at the hotel and feed the ducks. Sometimes the two of us enjoy a slower pace. ;)

Our third day we hit Volcano Bay (the water park next to Universal Studios) and this is the only pic I have to share! Taken from my lounge chair. :) We put our phones away and enjoyed a day of water slides. Really fun park! Once again we made the most of our early morning time and hit as much as we could. By 3:00 the park was so busy and we had done most of the rides we cared about several times (plus the lazy rivers.. love those!) so we left early for dinner. Right around that same time a huge thunderstorm hit and they closed the park! I was so glad we went early and were on our way out anyway.

{Kole’s rashguard/Ad’s swim suit (she wore this as a cover up – so cute!)}

The rest of the trip we just enjoyed some down time at the hotel. Always such a treat to have uninterrupted time together.

On our last day there we took off on a boat to see alligators. When in Florida right!? The girls and I sat in front with the boys in back.

Can you see the gator in this picture? They blend in SO well with their environment! It was unreal being so close to them without even knowing it until we spotted them. I have to admit.. I was ready to move on as soon as I saw that nose coming up out of the water. Too close for my taste!

Holding a baby after our boat ride. “Snap a pic quick because I’m not holding this thing for two seconds longer!” Ha. Glad I did it.. don’t need to do it again.

But when in Florida right!?

{POST SOURCES}

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xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

06.27.18

4th of July Outdoor Decor

Finally! I finally have some 4th of July outdoor decor to share with you all! Every year I think of how easy it would be to make this already white and blue space festive for the 4th with just a touch of red.

Every year I think of this right around July 5th. :) I’m so proud of myself for being more on the ball this year! Next year I’ll shoot to have it up by Memorial Day in May.

Whoah now. Let’s not get too crazy ahead of ourselves. Ha.

But really this was so easy and fun! Plus it just felt good to be decorating again. Things have been nonstop around here with my kids for months and I haven’t had as much time to do the things I really love. Decorating this space only took 45 minutes and put me in the best mood! A good reminder to all moms out there to prioritize your hobbies/passions and find a way to make time for them! I feel like I’m a much better mom/wife/person when I’ve had some happy creative me time.

Here are a few quick and easy things you can do in no time to make any outdoor area festive for the 4th! (Also if you are looking for more fun 4th of July ideas you can follow me on Pinterest! I have a board for the 4th I love referring to this time of year.)

*affiliate links used

First the banners. So in love with these! Such a simple thing that added so much to this space. I bought this banner from Pottery Barn and you can find it here. They have so many cute things for the 4th of July this year! I recently found this banner on-line also that is very similar. Thinking of getting it for my front porch! (I also linked other fun similar options at the end of this post.)

I just used my favorite go to blue painters tape to hold the banners. One side of the left banner came down and I made Kenny climb up on the counter and fix it (he just loves doing stuff like that for me). They’ve stayed in place ever since so fingers crossed! I’m thinking I’ll put a small pin or nail up there to hold them if I do this again next year.

My rug and blue pillows and poufs were already 4th of July festive so I just added a few fun new pillows.

It always amazes me how just a few new pillows can transform a space! I love these red tassel pillows (they come in other colors and are on sale for only $21!). These red pillows would also be cute for this time of year. (They’ll be fun to use in December for Christmas too.)

Then I used flag pillows for the two chairs. These exact pillows also sold out but I linked similar options below. White hydrangeas make everything beautiful don’t they? My forever favorite flower. I moved this white tray out from my family room but I like it so much outside I want to get another one!

I rounded up a few dishes I would use if I was entertaining and put these cute Liberty Burlap flags in a white pitcher. Easy decor. Now I want to throw a party! We are usually out of town visiting family for the 4th but with this fun set up I’m thinking my family needs to come to us. It’s cooler here too.. are you listening mom? 70 degrees and navy gingham plates and white hydrangeas and flag pillows! And a fridge stocked with diet coke and lemons on my trees. And a guest room that is finally decorated.

I’ll answer for you. SOLD. :)

Flowers are working well with my set up this month. :)

This rug is fading fast because of all of the sunlight this area gets so I’m going to get one more summer out of it and then find something new. Really it has held up pretty well considering all we’ve put it through the past few years!

I’ve loved having this area decked for the 4th. I just feels like summer and makes me smile every time I go outside.

As for the inside of the house.. I didn’t do much! I just put up this fun American Flag sign (similar option) I bought from PB last year on sale. I always love buying holiday decor about a week before the holiday. There are still a lot of fun things in stock and everything is marked down. Then it’s like a happy surprise pulling it out the next year.

{Stripe Sleeve tee (a favorite!)/jeans/wedges}

My kids love the new flag too. :)

So proud to be an American. Bring on the parades and fireworks and food!

This year we’re ready. :)

{POST SOURCES and SIMILAR OPTIONS}

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xoxo, Erin

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Organization

06.22.18

Daily Expectations – a printable to keep your kids on task!

We are officially kicking off summer at our house! While I love carefree summer days and plan to have a lot of fun with my kids, I still need some sort of order. Without order our carefree summer days start to feel like one never ending unorganized hot mess! Any moms out there relate? I thought so. :) I’ve come up with a fun “Daily Expectations” printable to help keep my kids on task this summer and to help me from losing my mind and hiding in my garage with a small bowl of peanut butter and chocolate chips.

Don’t ask me where that example came from.. I assure you it has never happened before.

These fun Daily Expectation printables are available to download at the end of this post! Clearly I care about your sanity too. ;)

Does anyone remember these oldies but goodies? When my girls were little I made these Star Behavior Charts for them to help motivate them to work on certain behaviors and to help out around the house. They worked so well for us for years! (I always smile when I see these charts with fond distant memories of the days when I actually had time to cut out individual stars and stamp individual letters and laminate everything in sight.. ) #goodtimes

When my girls were a few years older I created these individualized chore charts to help remind them of things they needed to get done/work on each day. Those worked well too, but for the current stage we are in I wanted something we could easily change up once a week.

Enter my new “Daily Expectations” printables. I’m so excited about these! There are two different versions. One for older kids like my girls (ages 12 and 14) and one for younger kids. I filled out the first one for my kids this week but will have them fill out their own charts from now on. I decided to call these “Daily Expectations” instead of Chore Charts because I wanted to add things my kids are working on each day that aren’t (or at least shouldn’t be!) chores. Things like reading or creative play or drinking more water or writing down what they are grateful for each day, etc. The list will include anything they are working on and need to remember to do each day. Some will be chores and some won’t, but they will all be things I want them to do daily or goals they are working towards themselves.

For Addison this week, aside from reading and personal progress (something my girls do for church), she has certain rooms she needs to clean or help me clean each day. Next week we’ll mix it up and I’ll give her different rooms and give these rooms to Ellie. They will always be responsible for keeping their bedroom and bathroom clean and for getting their laundry done. Addison has some new personal goals she wants to include next week (work on lines for an upcoming play and eat more vegetables.) When they finish their goals/chores each day they just check each item off! My girls like to check things off of lists.. wonder where they get that from? :)

For younger kids I broke the Daily Expectations up into two sections: tasks and behavior. I also added a reward because younger kids aren’t as motivated by the checkmark alone. :) This week Kole has been working on reading 20 minutes, playing creatively by himself (he struggles with this one!), unloading the dishwasher when dishes are clean, putting away his laundry and vacuuming. He loves to vacuum. :)

For behavior he is working on having a positive attitude, minding the first time (so I don’t have to keep repeating myself!), and getting along with his sisters. Work in progress around here for sure. :) For the reward I usually like to have my kids choose an outing or experience (get ice cream, go to the park/mall, have a playdate, go to the beach, etc.) but Kole has really been wanting some Star Wars books so I let him put that as his reward this week. I’m trying to have him read (or read to him) as much as possible this summer so anything that helps encourage that goal I’m all for! He has to check off all of the boxes for a whole week to get his reward, but if you are using these for really young kids it could be a reward they get at the end of each day. You could also use stickers to put inside each box instead of a check mark for little kids. Anything to make completing their tasks fun!

I absolutely LOVE having something like this during the summer. Aside from motivating my kids to be productive and help out around the house it also makes it easier for me to parent! When they want to play with friends or swim or get on the iPad or watch a movie I can simply say “have you done everything on your list?” If they have it’s time to party! I’m all about fun as long as everyone is pitching in and working hard on the side.

The colors I used for the Daily Expectation printables are the same colors I used for my Summer Calendar pages so they all coordinate!

Can you tell I went to a happy place with these printables!? I hope they help some of you this summer as much as I know they are going to help us!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE DAILY EXPECTATIONS PRINTABLE! They are available in color and black and white. Calendar pages are also available along with other fun downloads in my printable library.

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

Here’s to summer and not needing to escape to the garage!

Although I’m not making any promises about no peanut butter and chocolate chips…

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xoxo, Erin

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Fashion

06.19.18

Summer Fashion!

Sharing some summer fashion with you all today! Basically everything I wore in May so I’m apologizing in advance for the crazy picture overload. I am so beyond behind on posts you guys! So much to share and never enough time to get things up on my computer! We ended school and took off the next day on a quick family vacation to Orlando, Florida. Hit the theme parks and wrestled alligators. Ok.. we didn’t wrestle alligators, but I did hold one (a baby for about 5 seconds and I was shaking the entire time) so close enough. Florida was beautiful! A great trip full of good times and bad hair. :) Now we’re home again and I’m excited to be settling into our summer routine! I have so many things I want to get done this summer. My “current projects” printables are filled out and ready to go! More on that soon. For now.. let’s talk clothes!

*affiliate links used

{Flutter Sleeve Crepe Top/AG jeans (on sale!)/Earrings/Similar bag/Espadrille Sandals}

Cutest summer top! You all know me and my difficulty branching out from my beloved AG jeans. It just doesn’t happen much (even in the summer because our temps are basically the same as they are in the winter). :) But this would also be cute with a skirt, white jeans, with something red for the 4th of July. Endless possibilities!

It’s silky and lightweight and perfect for warmer temps.

{Flutter Sleeve Crepe Top/Paige Jeans/Earrings}

I love it so much I bought it in white too! Isn’t the ruffle detail pretty and feminine?

{Flutter Sleeve Crepe Top/Earrings/AG jeans/Purse/Wedge Sandals/Kole’s shoes}

It has been on major repeat the past two months. Wearing it here with my little sidekick at Ad’s last play!

My cute friend took these pics when she came to see the play with me. Still loving these wedge sandals!

I made her get in a pic too. Because you can’t hang out with me for long without having to endure some pictures. My friends love me for it.

I also love this top paired with these cute green Paige crop jeans. Straw bags are so fun for summer! I bought this one in the Spring and it has sold out but if you’re looking for a cute one for a good price I love this circle straw tote! So many cute straw options right now…

{Crochet Neck Linen Tee/Paige Jeans/Corlina Ankle Strap Sandals/Earrings}

Different day, same bag and Paige jeans with a different top and sandals. I love the top of this black tee! So pretty. I’ve worn it with skirts a few times too and it’s easy to dress up or down. It comes in other colors too.

{Scallop Eyelet Dress/Earrings/Purse/Strap Sandals}

Ellie had two special end of the year events (her middle school promotion and party). We didn’t have time to go shopping so we ordered LOTS of dresses on-line for her to try. She’s an xs in womens now (my size – woot woot!) so we had a major dress party in my closet. I couldn’t resist trying them all on too! I had a hard time not keeping half of them. She chose two (this dress and this dress to wear with a little sweater or cardigan over them) and I chose two. This pretty white dress was one I just couldn’t send back. It didn’t work for El so I had to take one for the team and keep it myself.

I’m nice like that.

Isn’t the pattern and detail pretty!? Perfect dress for summer.

Me heading to an event one night and Kenny heading out on an evening run. Our 10 minutes to see each other so we documented it. And then hugged good-bye and said “until next time..” We were in major divide and conquer mode for that end of school year 6 week madness!

{Lace Fit and Flare Dress/Purse/Earrings/Strap Sandals}

This was the other dress El ordered and I kept. So beautiful and I’ve always loved navy! Does the pattern/material look familiar?

It’s the same as the back of this Ruffle Sheath dress I shared a while ago.

Such a favorite! I’m excited to have a few new dresses to work into my rotation! Seems like I’m having to dress up for things more and more lately.

{Keeping it fun since 1991}

Even though if it were up to me I’d be living in sweats and graphic tees like this one. I loved the 90’s. :)

Love this green v neck tee from Cassie’s Gibson collaboration! (Isn’t her whole collection just fun!?)

It has such a cute little twist on the sleeve!

Another favorite from her collection I’ve been wearing a lot is this Kahala tie sleeve top in navy. So cute! I need to get a better pic of the detail on the sleeve. I also need to pair it with something other than jeans! Goal for next month. Along with drink more water and eat breakfast every day. (My girls and I met with a nutritionist yesterday and I have much to work on.. starting slowly with the basics!)

{1901 Ribbed Sweater/Gingham Ruffle Skirt/Similar Shoes here and here}

While we’re talking navy tops, isn’t this outfit adorable!? Love it for the 4th or any summer get together. I told Vanessa she was already a pro so she might as well hop in a few more pics. ;) We sometimes share clothes and I am so borrowing this red gingham skirt! It’s so cute and 40% off!

She had her daughter take this one later in the day. Her shoes are older but these are similar. I love the sweater, but if it’s hot during he summer where you live this skirt would be cute with any tank or tee!

{Ruffle Sleeve Tee/AG jeans/Espadrille Sandals/Earrings}

Another favorite green top I’ve been reaching for over and over. In fact my girls were teasing me about wearing it again the other day.

It has a slouchy loose fit that is so cute and flattering! It just hangs well. And I didn’t get a pic of the back but it has a cute v shape. It does run big though so I’d go down a size (I’m wearing xxs). It’s also 40% off!

An older beloved shirt with my favorite Zella crop pants. Had to have them in blue! If I’m taking a break from jeans I’ll be wearing these. I get asked about these Zella crop pants almost every time I wear them! Which is a lot sine I now have them in 4 colors. I especially get questions about them on airplanes! I always travel in them and every trip women stop me and ask me about them. It’s becoming a thing.. I wait to see how long it takes on the airplane before I get asked about them. Walking down the aisle.. 4.. 3.. 2.. “Love those pants! Where did you get them?… “ BAM.. knew it. ;) I’m kind of hoping they don’t come out with these in more colors because I will be FORCED to buy them and they will take over my closet. I might have to design a separate closet just for these Zella crop pants. Hmmm.. that’s a thought.

Kidding! But not kidding.

{Eyelet Sleeve Top/AG jeans/Espadrille Sandals/Earrings/Similar Bag}

Ok.. clearly I’m a fan of green tops! But seriously is this not the most darling summer tee!? The sleeves are perfection! Comes in other colors too. Summer nights in the yard are my favorite. Everything is growing so beautifully right now and I love watching my kids play outside while I soak it all in. The best is when a neighbor starts a BBQ (or better yet when we do!). Don’t you love that smell on a warm summer night!? It’s my favorite.

{Banded Lace Midi Skirt/Strap Sandals/El’s dress/El’s shoes}

A few pics from the end of our school year! Middle school graduation.. I can’t believe El is off to high school. (sniff)

Wrapping up Ad’s last play (Willy Wonka). She is going to be Horton the elephant this summer in Suessical. :)

{Ava and Yelly Dress/Felicia Anna Flats}

Then we had a special audition for a play in the Fall. We found this dress and it’s absolutely darling. I can’t find it on-line! And sparkly shoes make everything better. :)

LOTS of driving for this one the past 6 weeks. He’s always a good sport when friends can come along.

I just bought him his annual pair of Natives which means summer is officially here!

{Rashguard/Boardshorts}

Bring on lazy days by the pool!

We are more than ready.

{SUMMER FASHION SOURCES}

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xoxo, Erin

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Blogging

06.13.18

Married to a Blogger: The Husbands Tell All!

Oh friends. Today’s discussion is serious business! If you come here solely for decorating, organizing and fashion inspiration you might want to skip this post and come back for the next one! To celebrate Father’s Day I was invited to join nine of my close blog friends in a “Married to a Blogger.. The Husbands Tell All” blog hop where our husbands answer questions about us. Let me tell you.. it was NOT easy turning my blog over to Kenny. I knew all too well that I either wouldn’t approve of what he was saying, OR that I would just want to crawl under a rock reading his answers! (Both are true.) So you’ll find my own commentary/responses to him below some of his answers in a sad attempt to defend myself! I also added pictures. Other than that, this post is all Kenny. Read it with a grain of salt. Or don’t read it at all. ;)

If you need me I’ll be under that rock..

1) When did you first meet your wife and what was your first impression?

I first met Erin in the hallway of our high school when I was a Senior and she was a Sophomore. I was with a friend who was talking to her friend. The first thing I noticed about Erin was how cute she was. Then she turned around and I saw what a cute butt she had, and the rest was history.

*(I seriously can’t believe you just said that. I don’t know if we can continue.. )

2) Which one of you more aggressively pursued the other?

I was definitely the pursuer. I think Erin was afraid of me at first. I kept asking her out and she kept saying that her mom wouldn’t let her date yet, so I decided to cut to the chase and ask her mom directly if I could take Erin out. Her mom said yes before Erin could tell her not to, which led to our first date. (Thanks again Bonnie)

*I was scared of him! And I was furious with my mom for saying I could go out with him! But we hit it off instantly. We have the same sarcastic sense of humor and laughed non stop. I guess I should tell my mom thanks too.

{Old favorites circa 1993 – our hair and those sleeves!}

3) What are the best and worst parts of your wife’s job as a blogger?

The best part is that Erin gets to do something that makes her happy. Also all of the friends she has made with other bloggers and connecting with people who read her blog. She loves that. The worst part for me is that she stays up working too late every night and we never go to bed together.

4) How do you explain what your wife does for a living to your friends and coworkers?

I just call her a professional blogger and let them take a guess about what that means. Sometimes I get strange looks. Sometimes they tell me they already follow her on Instagram.

5) What is something we might not know about your wife?

Erin has a large tattoo on her back of a phoenix rising from the ashes just like Ben Affleck. Just kidding. Honestly I think if you’ve read her blog for a while you already know Erin. She writes like she talks and is pretty open. People who meet her who have read her blog first always say she is just like they pictured. She is friendly, happy and sincere. Everyone who meets Erin loves her.

*sweet babe.. thanks. For the second part of your answer. The tattoo part wasn’t amusing.

6) What does your wife do that drives you crazy? What would she say you do that drives her crazy?

It drives me crazy that she is rarely on time. I think she’d say I drive her crazy always harping her to be on time.

*I’m laughing he said that because I just shared this “Running Late is my Cardio” tee on IG and mentioned that this is an issue for us! I do tend to run a few minutes late all the time but I like to gently remind him that he only has to get himself ready while I’m always getting me + 3 other people ready. Plus rounding up all the things my kids need. Plus putting away the milk and turning off the TV on our way out the door. Plus if I had his hair I’d be ready fast too. ;)

7) If you had an extra $10,000 that you could do anything you wanted with (no saving, investing, or donating allowed!), what would you spend it on? Would your wife be on board?

Motorcycles. She doesn’t love that I ride them, but I think she’d be on board as long as she didn’t have to ride them with me, I promised not to take the kids on them, and I ride under 20 miles an hour on roads that no other cars are able to travel on.

8) You get home from work and your wife is giving you “the look”. What have you most likely done to get yourself into trouble?

Erin is pretty happy-go-lucky. We were at dinner with a bunch of friends once and they asked if Erin ever gets mad. She answered that she gets furious sometimes. I laughed and told them that her version of furious is most people’s mildly irritated. We were all teasing her about it. It’s true. She doesn’t get mad much. I’m a lucky guy.

9) What’s your favorite trip you have taken with your wife/family?

We have taken lots of fun trips. Best trip with Erin was Italy about 10 years ago. Best family trip would be one of our fun trips to Hawaii. They are all good because they give us a chance to be together without interruptions.

(Most recent family trip to Kauai)

10) Do you have a “man cave”? If so, where?

I have a home office but I don’t use it much. Erin has taken it over with her treadmill and extra decorating stuff. My man cave is probably our bedroom with the door shut watching a movie. I’m hoping to claim our new theatre room as my man cave as soon as Erin finishes doing her thing in there.

{Master Bedroom Sources}

*I’m kind of laughing that this is his man cave but it’s true! So manly right.. ha! Time to move “decorate the theatre room” and “clean Kenny’s office” up on the old to-do list.

11) What’s one thing that your wife is super “picky”/particular about?

Uh, what’s one thing my wife isn’t super picky about? She’s particular about everything — food, movies, clothes, organization, houses, etc. It’s a running joke with her family. We all enjoy giving her a hard time about it. She’s the most high maintenance but low key person you’ll ever meet.

*What!? Not true! Ok.. a little true. Alright alright.. totally true. But I’m picky in the nicest way… ;)

**12) What’s your favorite dinner that your wife makes? What is your specialty?**

That’s easy. She makes ramen noodles for Kole and lean cuisine frozen dinners for her and the girls. But if it’s a super fancy occasion she has a spinach lasagna recipe that someone gave her 15 years ago that she’s used about 500 times. I think that about sums up her entire cooking arsenal. As for me, I’m good with grilling and all things breakfast food. Want eggs and bacon for dinner? I’m your man.

*Thanks for totally throwing me under the bus on that one babe! I knew you would. For your information Kole loves ramen noodles and I make more than that Spinach Lasagna (although it has been a while and I’m due to toss it into the rotation again). If I’ve made that 500 times you’ve teased me about it 10,000 times so I think we’re due to call it even.

If anyone doubts that I really do mix up the lean cuisines once in a while you can see my go-to recipes here. Spinach Lasagna recipe coming soon. Ha.

13) Are you a DIY-er or more of a “hire the professional” type of guy?

Totally a “hire the professional.” I hate trying to fix something, wasting a bunch of time and making the problem worse.

*For sure. My husband does a lot of things well, but DIY projects are not one of them and we’ve found it’s better for our relationship to just hire help! Although I have to say that my husband helps with a lot of other things around the house and when a job requires more man power (which is often the case!) he is alway happy to jump in and assist.

14) What do you think about your wife’s blogger friends? Who do you hear about the most? Have you met any of them?

Erin has met some of her favorite friends through blogging. I’ve met a bunch of them from all around the country. They have stayed at our house and I got to hang out with some of them and their husbands on a trip to Colorado and New York last Fall. They are all awesome and make blogging really fun for Erin.

(Colorado/NY Better Homes and Gardens Trip)

15) Has your wife ever done a project that you secretly didn’t love but you never told her?

Erin knows how I’m feeling all the time. I can’t hide my feelings from her and don’t try particularly hard to. That might be another thing about me that drives Erin crazy! I don’t mind Erin’s projects except when she goes on one of her typical organizing frenzies and I can’t find my stuff. She puts things away in “their spots” when I already had a spot for my stuff on the kitchen counter.

*I actually love that. I know how he feels about something before he feels it himself because I know him so well. And things can’t live on the kitchen counter babe. It just doesn’t work.

16) If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Would your wife agree?

I get bored super easy so if I could live anywhere it would be in many places at different times during the year. Europe in the spring, Colorado in the summer, Utah in the fall, California in the winter and Hawaii for a few months somewhere in there too. Erin is the polar opposite. She wants to be in one place and never leave. Literally. Build. A. Nest.

*What’s wrong with nests!? Ha ha.. so true! I’m a home body and would be completely content staying where we are now forever. In San Diego. In this house. With this man and his stupid ninja faces.

17) What’s your idea of the perfect Father’s Day?

Early morning motorcycle ride, nap in the early afternoon, six mile run in the late afternoon, dinner with Erin and the kids, and then alone time with Erin after. :)

*I think we can manage that. At least the nap, run and dinner part. ;)

Whew! Is that over!? Ha ha.. Thank you to my husband for being a good sport and chiming in today! I think. It might be a while before I ask you back though. Or before you get spinach lasagna again. I know that’s a great hardship for you.

I’m so excited to read what my friends’ husbands said about them! You can check out all of their posts below! This should be fun.. :)

Randi – Randi Garrett Design

Kris – Driven by Decor

Shauna – The House of Silver Lining

Bree – Z Design at Home

Haneen – Haneen’s Haven

Brittany – Addison’s Wonderland

Tamara – Citrine Living

Jen – Decor Gold Designs

Kelley – Kelley Nan

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xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

06.11.18

Pottery Barn Comfort Roll Arm Sectional (theatre room progress!)

I’m back! And I missed you all! My kids finished their last week of school and it was so jam packed I barely had time to sleep let alone blog. But we made it! At our house it’s now officially summer! I can’t tell you how good it feels to take break from all the things school brings. (I’m sure I don’t need to tell most of you.. you know!) When my kids were little summer felt like more of a struggle, but as my kids get older and more busy and involved in activities I am cherishing our low key summers with family time more every year. We are ready for this break!

I have so many things to share with you all I don’t even know where to start! So today I’ll just start with a couch. My Pottery Barn Comfort Roll Arm Sectional. I get asked so many questions about our family room couch so I’m sharing a few details today along with some theatre room progress! That also involves a PB Comfort Roll Arm Sectional.

Because I’m never predictable and I don’t buy multiples of things I like. Ha. :)

*affiliate links used

This picture was taken soon after we moved into our home (about 4 years ago) and I was just starting to decorate. I knew I wanted a sectional because of the spacing in this room and sat on what felt like hundreds of couches to find “the one.” The PB Comfort Roll Arm Sectional was hands down my favorite. I love the look and style but mostly am a fan of how comfortable it is. So comfortable! We customized it to fit the room size and went with the roll arm vs. a square arm.

{PB Comfort Sectional/Chunky Wool Jute Rug (I shared rug details in this post)/Similar Coffee Table here and here}

We have loved this couch and I look forward to crashing on it at the end of each day! The only thing I haven’t loved is the material we chose (which I get asked about a lot!). For this couch I chose “Flax” Textured Basketweave (Fabric Grade D). I LOVE the look. And HATE the way it stains. I knew I was getting into trouble going with a linen and not getting a performance fabric, but at the time the performance fabric options at PB weren’t as appealing. I really wanted this fabric and thought we could keep it mostly clean. And we have. The kids are pretty careful, but accidents always happen and while most of the couch looks good, if you look up close there are a handful of spots and stains. Not a huge deal, but if I were buying this again now I would get one of PB’s Performance Fabrics like we put on the couch in our living room. Things wipe off so easily with the Performance fabrics and they have so many better options available now!

The most common question I get asked about this couch (after what is the fabric) is about how the cushions are holding up!

{Family Room/Kitchen Sources}

Not bad! They are a little more squishy.. especially the few we crash on the most often, but I like a “lived in” look so they don’t bother me at all. We chose a slipcover for this couch and will probably replace this fabric with a Performance fabric that has a similar look in the next year or two.

So when I last shared Theatre Room progress it looked like this.

While we aren’t completely finished, things are looking a lot more put together and we have a couch! Another PB Comfort Roll Arm Sectional to be exact. You can customize these couches so we made this one bigger to fill the room and added a chaise. We also went with an upholstered couch to mix things up (I’m tricky like that) and a performance fabric knowing that this room will be mostly used by kids. With popcorn and treats in hand. :)

We also have fabric on the walls in this space and I’ll share better pics of that in a post when I finally finish the lingering details that need to be wrapped up this room. Hopefully this summer!

The fabric I chose for this couch is “Pebble” Premium Performance Basketweave (Fabric Grade P) and I love it! It has a similar look/style as the family room Flax fabric I have, but this fabric has more of a grey undertone. (It’s hard to tell the difference in these pictures!)

I knew I wanted this same couch for our theatre room because I have loved our family room couch so much! And I wanted more of a family room feel for this room vs. the theatre style of chairs. We can fit a lot of kids on this couch! And pile more on the floor. Mission accomplished. :)

I also recently decided on a rug for this space and am excited to get some color in this room! I choose this Kala printed rug in “midnight.”

It was on sale for a great price (still is!) and I love the shade of blue. I still need to slide it up under the couch a bit more. It’s soft and durable and just what we needed to protect the carpet and add some personality to this space. I’ve been having a love affair with blue/nay rugs lately!

It’s very similar to this Arabesque Wool West Elm rug I put in my guest room.

And to this Bosworth printed wool rug (blue) I have in my mudroom.

Like I said, I’m never predictable and don’t buy multiples of things I really like. :)

If any of you have other questions about my Pottery Barn Comfort Roll Arm Sectional let me know! I’ll answer them in comments and I’ll add them to this post. For now, the kids’ backpacks are cleaned out and put away in our mudroom lockers! Let the summer fun begin!

{POST SOURCES}

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xoxo, Erin

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Fashion

06.02.18

Father’s Day Gift Guide!

Happy Saturday everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying the weekend! We have been so busy wrapping up the school year that I didn’t realize until a few days ago how close Father’s Day is sneaking up! I went on-line (no time to hit the mall these days!) and found SO many fun things for Kenny and my dad. (They know they aren’t allowed to look at this post!) I’m excited to share them with you all in this Father’s Day Gift Guide! I’ve also included a few of my husband’s current favorite things to give you lots of ideas for Father’s Day. Dads do so much for us don’t they!? I love having a day to celebrate fathers. (You can see my Mother’s Day Gift Guide here if you missed it! Fun gifts for women for any occasion.)

*affiliate links used

1 – Oxford Slim Fit Shirt – Love this shirt! Ordered it for Kenny. He loves the ‘slim fit’ shirts and wears this type of shirt to work most days. The blue is a great price but there are also other colors on sale!

2 – Bose Wireless Headphones – We’ve had these for years! Long time favorites. Especially when we travel!

3 – Nonstick Burger Press – This looks so perfect for summer! It has great reviews and is a fun gift for the man who loves a good BBQ.

4 – Herschel Travel Kit – Every man needs a good travel kit! This is a great size and I love Herschel bags.

5 – Stainless-Steel Sliding Skewers – So excited about these! I’ve been looking for some good skewers and these have great reviews and look perfect for summer grilling! Giving them to Kenny but really it’s a gift to me when he does the cooking.

6 – You Can’t Scare Me Shirt – #truth Love this. Perfect for any dad with daughters! There is also one for 3 daughters and 4 daughters. I know my husband will wear it proudly. ;)

7 – Tumi Alpha 2 International Carry On – I have a close friend whose husband travels a lot for work and she swears by this suitcase! Her husband has been bragging about it all year. It’s durable, lightweight, has a lot of great storage compartments inside. A perfect gift for a dad who is often on the go!

8 – Billabong Board Shorts – Every spring/summer I get new swim suits for me and the kids. Then we go on vacation or hit the pool and I see my husband wearing the same suit he’s had for going on 8 years. :) Trying to be better about updating his swimwear and with lots of board shorts on sale right now that’s easy to do! These are a few favorites I’m choosing between..

9 – Ecco Soft 8 Sneaker – My husband has these shoes in black and grey and loves them! So comfy and stylish and on sale for a great price right now!

10 – Wooden Chess Set – We gave Kole and Kenny this for Christmas and they love playing Chess together! A fun game they bond over. Another fun game Kenny loves playing with the kids is Clue so I just ordered this Harry Potter version of Clue for the kids to give him. My husband just loves that we all give him gifts that benefit us too. I’m tricky like that with my gift giving. ;)

11 – S’well Water Bottle – I love this wooden S’well! Our favorite water bottles are Hydro Flasks, but we all have S’wells for times we don’t want to carry our larger Hydro Flasks and they are great water bottles too.

12 – North Face ‘Surge’ Backpack – I’m so excited about this! My husband has been using the same backpack for every campout and trip we’ve gone on for years and it is seriously falling apart. This North Face backpack will be a perfect replacement! I’m a huge fan of organizing compartments and this looks like it will hold every single item and then some. Great reviews. I know my husband will love it! You’re welcome babe.

Oh yeah.. you’re not reading this.

13 – Rainbow Flipflops – Perfect gift for summer! These are simple and casual and comfy. My three requirements for mens flip flops.

14 – Key Cable – This keychain makes it a breeze to charge your mobile device! Such a fun and creative gift.

15 – Fitbit – A great gift for any father who doesn’t already have one! Kenny loves his.

So that’s it! My favorites for Father’s Day. I hope this post gives you a few fun gift ideas to help spoil the dads in your life!

p.s. Did I mention how excited I am that it’s June and May is behind us!? Seriously SO HAPPY about that. You can download some fun summer calendar pages here!

I’m also happy about my closet organization progress and my updated planning system, but that’s beside the point.

And posts for another day. ;)

Enjoy your weekend and happy Father’s Day shopping!

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xoxo, Erin

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Organization

05.31.18

2018 Summer Calendar (free printable!)

Summer is almost here! And what better way to celebrate than with a summer calendar printable!? Planning and lists and calendars make me absolutely giddy. So does the thought of taking a break from driving my three kids all over this city and then back again each afternoon! To say this mom is ready for summer break is an understatement. Good-bye May! I’m not sad to see you go. :)

I use a combination of apps, notebooks and my planner to plan during the school year, but summer is a break from our regular hectic schedule and I like for it to feel a little more care free in my planning too. Enter these fun June, July and August summer calendar pages!

We like to keep things low key when school is out, but my kids do have various camps and activities going on during the summer so I’m using these calendar pages to schedule those types of things.

If you have younger kids home this summer you could use them to schedule some fun activities/outings for each week.

Or you could use them to schedule trips, projects, appointments, something to organize each day. The possibilities for blank calendar page are endless! :) Do you love the color scheme I used?

Navy, coral and mint.

Hmm.. looks familiar…

Yes.. navy, coral and mint. I do believe we’ve seen those colors around here a time or twenty. Clearly I’m a fan. ;) If you aren’t crushing on those three colors like I always am, I also have these calendar pages available in black and white. In my book, you can’t go wrong with simple black and white either!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUMMER CALENDAR PAGES!

I hope you enjoy these summer calendar printables! Happy summer planning everyone! :)

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xoxo, Erin

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Home Decor

05.30.18

McGee & Co Shopping Trip!

Happy Wednesday everyone! Is it Wednesday already? These four day weeks always throw me off! But I’ll gladly take them. :) A couple of weeks ago (when I was feeling particularly burned out – story of my life this month) I gave myself permission to take the morning off so I could go on a little road trip! I have been DYING to get to the new McGee and Co store in Costa Mesa and told Kenny a trip to the store was all I wanted for Mother’s Day this year. He helped me make it happen and it was such a fun trip!

*affiliate links used

Want to come shopping with me!? I took pictures so that I could bring you along! I wish you would have been there in person. :) I walked up to the front door and instantly felt at home.

I wonder why?

Their black dutch door felt strangely familiar. ;) Clearly I need to add a green Spring wreath!

The store is tiny but Shea used every inch of space so wisely and it was brimming with gorgeous home decor… ahhh! Angels were singing!

I hung out in the kitchen section the longest. Be still my heart! I wanted one of everything there!

I wanted these white metal boxes so badly! But I had to pace myself..

I’m not sure what heaven looks like, but I have a feeling it’s similar to this kitchen view. At least for me. ;) The dark navy cabinets had me debating re-painting my kitchen islands! The kitchen accessories had me drooling. And those vertical planks with white thick open shelves!? Wait a minute..

No wonder I love them so much. ;) My long time favorite marble and wood cheese board on these shelves is from McGee and Co! Heaven indeed.

I loved the way they tied ribbon around their cutting boards. Fun style tip and such a perfect gift to give someone – a nice cutting board with just ribbon and a card.

I always add ribbon to kitchen items during the holidays but now I’m thinking I need to add some fun black and white ribbon to my every day decor too! (My kitchen cutting boards behind my range are also from McGee and Co!)

So many fun accessories in this store! I could have stayed ALL day.

I was going to get a picture of me in the store and completely spaced it because I got talking to the sweetest ladies who recognized me. (Hello to my new friends from San Francisco!) I was wishing I had taken some fun friends shopping with me and ended up making new friends there. :) We got chatting about the best home decor stores on the west coast and how to keep a Fiddle Leaf Fig alive (watering with ice was their tip! Would have been good to know before I killed three real figs one right after the other.. RIP).

I finally made my selections and left the store. Telling myself on the drive home it was all ok because I would be back very soon.

{Jute-Twisted Geode/Large Demijohn Bottle/Wood Pedestal/Halifax Stripe Hand Towel/Upton Stripe Hand Towel/Glass Beads/Stripe Trays}

I tried to not buy things just because they were beautiful (everything was beautiful!) and to only get things I knew I had a place for and would use. This is what I came home with! Happy Mother’s Day indeed.

The wooden pedestal was a splurge but something I have wanted for a long time and it was even larger and nicer in person than it looked in the pictures on-line. It will be so perfect for entertaining!

Or you know.. for holding my productivity timer. ;)

Now that I have a few new accessories to play with I am itching to re-style these living room shelves! Something I’ve wanted to do for months and haven’t had time for. One of the many summer projects on my to-do list!

FUN fun. It was the best finally visiting the McGee Store after loving Shea’s style and products for so long.

Who wants to go back with me!? I could be ready in minutes. :)

Actually today won’t work. It’s my sweet Addison’s birthday! She is 12 years old today. I can’t believe it! I’m so proud of this little peanut. She is wise beyond her years! Such a hard worker, deep thinker, and she honestly has the kindest heart. This picture will always be special to me because she rarely left my side during my knee surgery recovery. She took such good care of me for weeks! People always call her my “mini me” when they see us together and I just beam. I couldn’t be more proud to be her mom.

Her birthday always falls during the busy end of school year madness so we wait until summer for her party, but we schedule and make time for a pedicure just the two of us. A special birthday tradition we started years ago! We invite El every year but she doesn’t like pedicures. Addison on the other hand? Loves every minute of it. :)

Enjoy your day friends! And remember to make some time for something you love. A trip to a favorite store, a long walk with a close friend, curl up with a good book, or maybe it’s time for a pedicure.

{cutting boards/similar faux plants/jute striped plant baskets}

Enjoy the little things. We are working hard around here to do the same. :)

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xoxo, Erin

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Organization

05.28.18

Weekend Organizing (with closet tips and good sales on the side!)

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you’ve all had a good weekend. I found this picture of my three kids from Memorial Day years ago. They look so little! This day means a lot to our family with my grandpas and uncles and dad all being Veterans and I know so many of you feel the same. I love that there is a day we can stop to remember and honor them all. We have enjoyed the past two days so much just slowing down and spending time together as a family. Catching our breath before the last two weeks of school!

Aside from honoring our veterans, getting some rest and spending time with family and friends, I love to tackle organizing projects over long weekends like this one! Sometimes there are projects that just feel too big and overwhelming to start during the week when time is so limited. My closet is one of those projects that I have been putting off for a long time. I have ‘half way sort of but not really’ organized my closet more times than I can count and it is a space that has been driving me crazy for a while now. Time to finally give it the makeover it deserves! I snapped the pic above with my phone after pulling out my first drawer of clothes. We’ll call this a “before.” :)

Quick tip that helps me when I organize clothes: Pull everything out of your drawers and categorize clothes in piles before you put them back. Why? Because sometimes this helps you see better how/where to put the clothes back. Maybe you don’t need the full drawer you’ve been using for gym clothes.. maybe they can be combined with something else in a better spot in your closet or dresser. Maybe it makes more sense to keep certain things together you hadn’t thought of before. If you just re-fold and organize clothes in their same spot and don’t pull them out you sometimes miss better solutions and “homes” for your clothes.

For example I realized after pulling everything out and categorizing my clothes that I could put some of my winter stuff together in one drawer to save space. I used to have a full drawer of scarves (seriously why? I live in San Diego!) but after purging scarves I didn’t wear last winter I had room to add my Christmas pj’s and a few other cold weather items.

I only finished a small section of our closet (there is so much work to do in there it’s scary!) but it felt so good to just get started. Now I can make a list on my current project printable and finish the rest during smaller chunks of time when they pop up. Hopefully I’ll have more progress to share with you over the summer!

Here are a few past organizing projects that are perfect to tackle over the weekend if you need a few ideas! Click the link below each picture for the full post and details. If you have a project like my closet that feels overwhelming and you keep putting it off, get out a timer and set it for 30 minutes and just START. You’ll gain momentum and be cruising before you know it. :)

{ORGANIZED DVD’S}

{ORGANIZED OFFICE SYSTEM}

{KIDS SCHOOL WORK – what to save and what to toss!}

{ORGANIZED PANTRY}

{ORGANIZED JEWELRY}

{ORGANIZED KIDS’ CLOSET}

{ORGANIZED DECOR CLOSET}

{ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET}

{ORGNAIZED BATHROOM DRAWERS}

{ORGANIZED TRAVEL SUPPLIES}

Also I recently shared 20 EASY WAYS TO SPRING CLEAN – quick organizing projects you could definitely tackle over a weekend. (You can find family room sources HERE.)

We are going to a BBQ at a friend’s house tomorrow and I’m planning on making this Feta and Tomato Dip! Perfect party food if you need a quick idea for any upcoming summer event.

I’m also thinking I’ll make some patriotic pretzel hugs. They are always a hit with the kids! Plus they are sounding pretty good to me right about now too. :)

*affiliate links used below

I was doing a little on-line sale shopping tonight and saw that this favorite top is marked down!

So is this favorite swim suit and this one that is similar.

And my favorite white tassel earrings are also on sale! Picking them up in another color. I shared other favorite clothes from the Nordstrom sale in my last post too. Of course while I was shopping the sale I ended up finding some cute things that I couldn’t pass up that weren’t on sale. Never fails! I’m sure my husband will be thrilled to hear that one. :) But how cute are these five tops!?

See why I didn’t have a choice!? I especially love the Running Late is my Cardio tee. Pretty much sums up my life story. :)

A few favorites I own that are marked down this weekend..

Some fun patriotic things I bought for the 4th. Can’t wait to add these red tassel pillows outside!

I own these four rugs and they are all marked down today! (Recently ordered this one for the theatre room and love it!)

And these are my favorite sale items from the Nordstrom Home department. Such cute stuff! Clearly I’m having a love affair with navy rugs at the moment.

Enjoy what’s left of your weekend friends! If you need me, I’ll be in my closet.. ruthlessly purging so that I have room for the new clothes I just bought. #andthecyclecontinues

;)

Happy Memorial Day!

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xoxo, Erin

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Fashion

05.23.18

How to Get Out of a Productivity Slump

Monday I was in a total slump. You know when you have those days when you just can’t seem to focus and energy is low and you’re having a really hard time getting motivated to tackle your life? Adulting can be rough sometimes. Am I right? I can totally see you nodding right now. :) I think I hit a wall yesterday for two reasons. Part of it is our weather. San Diego is a bright and sunny place most of the time, but we have a couple of months during the year that we get a lot of cloud cover (especially where I live near the coast). Locals call it “May Gray” and “June Gloom” and a lot of people love the change of clouds and cooler weather. I would love it too.. if it happened in November when it’s supposed to! But right now for me the clouds are just feeling gloomy and they are inspiring nothing but sweats and an excessive amount of snacks. :) The other reason is because honestly I think I just hit major burn out at the beginning of this week. May has been crazy and last weekend was non-stop with late nights. I got the kids off to school Monday and had so many things to get done but I was feeling very DONE myself. I wanted to turn on Netflix and give in to the lack of motivation, but that just wasn’t an option. So after a few hours of wandering aimlessly attempting to be productive and seriously struggling, I pulled out an old friend! My little secret to how I get out of a productivity slump. Because let’s face it, they can be hard to shake!

*affiliate links used

Friends meet my Miracle Timecube Timer. I know what you’re thinking.. a timer? Really? But yes. Really. I’ve had this for quite a while and it always seems to come through for me when I’m lacking motivation and need to kick things in high gear.

This particular timer is my all time favorite! It comes with options of 5 or 15 minutes…

or 30 or 60 minutes. Whenever I’m feeling zero motivation to do something I get it out and tell myself I just have to focus for a set amount of time and then I’m done. So if the house is a mess and I feel overwhelmed with where to start and I’m not in the mood to clean, I’ll set the timer for 30 minutes and tell myself I just have to start somewhere and clean for 30 minutes. If I need to write something that I keep putting off, I’ll sit down at my computer and tell myself I just have to focus and write for 15 minutes.

I know it sounds so simple but having the timer going and feeling like I only have to do something for a short amount of time helps SO much. Why is that? Because the hardest part of doing things we put off doing is just GETTING STARTED. Of course, what usually happens is that once I’m past that “getting started hurdle” I get in a groove doing whatever I was avoiding and when the timer goes off I want to keep working past the time I set. That’s why it really is a “miracle timecube timer.” It just gives me that kick that I often need to get started! It also helps me really focus on one thing for a set amount of time.

I especially love this timer because it’s so easy to use. You just put the time you want face up and it immediately starts counting down. Sure.. you could use your iPhone or a clock, but the timer makes it more fun and I like the simplicity for my kids. I use it a lot with them too! Here are some ways I’ve used this timer:

When the house is a mess and kids are home I’ll say “I’m setting the timer to 5 minutes! Let’s see how much we can all pick up before it goes off!” Suddenly cleaning is a game and my living room/kitchen is miraculously cleaned in just minutes.
When Kole is struggling/complaining about starting homework I”ll tell him “we just have to do your homework for 15 minutes and then you can take a break!” By the time 15 minutes is up he’s usually close to done so then we just finish it up.
When Kole wants to get on the iPad I’ll tell him he has 30 minutes and set the timer so that he doesn’t accidentally end up on it for longer than he should be.. not that that has ever happened around here.. ;)
And of course, I use it ALL the time for work. I’ll tell myself to just focus on one thing (writing a blog post, answering e-mails, editing pictures, etc.) for 30 minutes and then I can take a break. It really helps me block out the rest of the world and just stay focused because I know I’m only working for a short period of time. I need this because I tend to get distracted really easily working from home! I’ll work for 10 minutes and then remember I need to put clothes in the dryer and before I know it I’m re-organizing a closet. :) This keeps me focused on my one thing I need to get done.

Speaking of the one thing I need to get done.. have any of you read this book – The One Thing? It’s so good! Another thing I do when I’m in a slump is pull out one of my many time management/productivity books and look at some of the things I’ve highlighted. Nerd alert! But I don’t care. :)

Btw.. Kenny told me the other day that if I just took all the time I’ve spent reading about time management and actually just worked instead I’d be a lot more productive. Ha! He’s probably right.

But don’t tell him I said that.

Anyway.. I seriously LOVED this book! So much that I’m reading it now for a second time. This is what it actually looks like (I always ditch book covers pretty quick).

The main idea is that to be successful you need to go extreme and only focus on one thing. So if your goal is to lose weight, it’s not time to also grow you business or learn how to play the guitar. Losing weight (and all that it takes) is your constant focus and #1 priority. Then each day ask yourself “what’s the ONE THING I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” Find the one thing that will move you closer to your goal each day.

A few of my take aways from this book:

– Successful people make their focus very narrow. They start with a large list but are able to narrow it down to ONE thing. THE one thing that has top priority.

– Whether you say “later” or “never” you don’t do anything else until your one thing is done.

– Multitasking is not efficient or effective. (Fascinating reading his thoughts about miltitasking!)

– You need to regularly work at something until it becomes a habit and regularly works for you. Build one habit at a time.

– Lists are invaluable, but they have a dark side. (What what!?) Achievers are able to whittle out what’s not important and focus on their one important thing vs. just checking to-dos off of a list all day. (Ouch! That is so me! Working on that one..)

– A balanced life is a lie. (SO fascinating reading his thoughts about balance!)

– Time block your day so that your One Thing gets done. Set regular appointments with yourself and protect them at all costs.

I could go on and on.. so many great take aways from this book! I highly recommend it if you need a some re-direction or motivation in your work or personal life. And then I highly recommend re-reading the notes you took if you’re in a slump. ;)

{Reglan Sweatshirt/AG jeans}

Ending this post with a few pics of what I’ve been wearing lately. Completely inspired by our weather I’ve been living in comfy sweatshirts. Maybe not the most stylish in Spring/Summer fashion, but definitely the comfiest. :)

This Make and Model Pullover hoodie is so soft! Pjs that are acceptable to wear out and about. Of course my favorite comfy Zella crop pants have been on major repeat.

Another favorite pj/sweatshirt with my black Zella crop pants.

And remember this Dream Scene sweatshirt I bought soon after my knee surgery in January? I’ve seriously worn it out! My favorite go-to when I’m cold.

So I bought it in black too! It’s the comfiest sweatshirt ever. And I’m wearing it with.. drum roll please.. you guessed it! My Zella crop pants. I think I’ve had them on 6 out of the last 10 days. Kind of embarrassing and yet.. I’m not embarrassed.

This Treasure and Bond sweatshirt is also really cute and comfy. I love it with jeans.

Dress for success! That’s what I always say… ha! ;)

And in case you’re thinking that my counter looks awfully clean in the picture above, I snapped a picture of what the rest of my office looked like the day that picture was taken.

You can see my timer box (don’t ask me why I keep it in the box but I do!), my camera, several notepads with lists (clearly the “one thing” concept is a work in progress over here), my Skinny Pop popcorn and a Coke Zero. Essentials for a typical day at he office. :)

And in case you don’t want to follow my lead and dress like you’re crawling out of a major slump this month (or crawling into one?) Nordstrom just kicked off their half yearly sale! I rounded up my favorite fashion picks below that are marked down and I have a feeling most of them will go fast. The good stuff always does!

A favorite timer, a favorite book, favorite comfy clothes and a good sale. We’ve covered a lot today friends! My work here is done.

For now.

;)

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xoxo, Erin

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Fashion

05.16.18

Fashion Favs and Summer Tips

{Ruffle Sheath Dress/Purse/Earrings/Halo Strap Sandal}

Sharing a few recent things I’ve been wearing and loving! This dress.. such a favorite you guys! I was really excited to try this when I ordered it on-line because it had amazing reviews and I totally see why. It is absolutely beautiful and so flattering! I wore it to church for the first time a couple of weeks ago and got so many compliments. Even my kids and Kenny noticed and loved it. Keeper!

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It has a ruffle in the front that goes low in the back.

And the back is absolutely stunning! I love that it has a mesh lining under the lace flowers too. I have pre-teen/teen daughters so keeping it modest is always a good thing. ;)

Another fun summer dress that’s a bit more low key is this striped maxi dress. Don’t ask me why I only have a side picture to share.. I swear I took one from the front but couldn’t find it on my phone! I blame it on May. This month is making me feel SO scattered. I have piles of paper everywhere right now and I hate piles! But that’s a story for another day. :)

{Stripe Camp Shirt/J Crew Skirt/Purse/Necklace/Earrings/Heels}

My cute pink camp shirt came back in stock! I shared it a couple of weeks ago with this long time favorite J Crew skirt.

{Earrings/Camp Shirt/AG Jeans (on sale!)/Purse/Wedges}

But most days I wear it with jeans. :)

{AG Jeans/Sandals/Similar Necklace}

This gingham top is one I’ve had for a couple of years but the jeans are new. I know that it’s Spring and not a time to normally pull out the black pants but I had to act quick when these AG jeans went on sale. I’ll watch and let you know if they do again. Such a great fit! And I’ve loved these cute sandals I first shared in this post. Surprisingly comfy!

{Earrings/Gingham Top/AG Jeans (on sale!)/Wedges}

Dressing room selfie from a couple of weeks ago when I picked up this cute gingham top. I need to get a better picture of it.. it’s darling for summer! Would look good with white jeans. Which I never buy because I can’t keep them clean. But in theory.. that would be cute. :)

And I SO wanted this Free People striped shirt to work! I absolutely love the way it fits. Shorter in the front (perfect for tucking in), a cute length in the back and it comes in other colors. But you need to order one size down and it sold out in my size in the navy. It says true to size, but I felt like the xs was just still too baggy. Oversized tops are such a thing right now and sometimes I love the look but sometimes I just feel like they are.. well.. too oversized. :) But this is a cute one if you can size down!

{Tie Waist Pullover (40% off!)/Zella Crop Pants}

Weekend casual. My favorite. :) This top is SO comfortable and cute and is 40% off! And they came out with two other colors of my favorite Zella crop pants! I have these in black and am wearing the grey urban in this pic (kind of a green/grey), but I’m thinking I need the blue too! I seriously LIVE in these in the summer. Really lightweight and comfy. But you all know that because I’ve shared them before. :)

A cute tee for summer!

And these earrings have become fast favorites that seem to go with everything. I’m really loving white earrings at this current moment in time because they stand out so well. Black earrings tend to get lost and hidden in my hair. :)

Ok.. if you’re a mom in the thick of it with school winding down this post on strategies that help when you’re feeling overwhelmed might get you through the month! If you’re not a mom in the thick of it with school winding down this post might get you through overwhelm you’re feeling because of another situation. If you’re just not overwhelmed at the moment.. well.. we can’t be friends anymore because misery loves company. Ha. ;) Seriously though.. I re-read this post a few days ago because I definitley needed the reminders. May is never my friend!

Making our Summer To-Do List is on the agenda because it helps remind us all that fun less stressful times are ahead!

Below is our list from two previous years if you want more summer activities to do with your kids.. a lot of them are the same or similar. :)

And this pic above was from a post WAY back in the archives but I wanted to share it for those of you who are heading into the summer with little ones! When my kids were little and we were heading to the pool or beach it was alway so hard to remember ALL the things we needed to take. I finally made myself a “get out the door list” that I hung on our garage door so I could quickly scan it and make sure we had everything we needed. I have something like this for vacations too! I figure my brain has enough it has to keep track of on a daily basis.. why make it work harder than necessary? ;)

I’ve shared this summer tip before too – keep a veggie tray like this out and full for the kids to snack on! It helps ease my guilt when we’re eating pizza for dinner for the third night in a row. #truth

I have a few new things I’ll be doing with my kids to help keep things running smooth this summer that I’ll be sharing soon!

But for now I just need to make it though May. So many good things going on.. just too many good things all at once..

one more weekend long dance competition, one campout, dance team tryouts, 3 birthday parties (one I’m planning), parent-student dance, two school meetings, tech week and two full weekends of Ad’s play, annual dance recital (Kenny and the dads have been working hard for that one too!), final school projects due, 3 end of year parties, 2 church talks, 1 open house

and a partridge in a pear tree.

Mothers against May! Who’s with me!?

;)

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xoxo, Erin

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{POST SOURCES and SIMILAR OPTIONS}

{SUMMER FASHION SOURCES}

1) When did you first meet your wife and what was your first impression?

2) Which one of you more aggressively pursued the other?

3) What are the best and worst parts of your wife’s job as a blogger?

4) How do you explain what your wife does for a living to your friends and coworkers?

5) What is something we might not know about your wife?

6) What does your wife do that drives you crazy? What would she say you do that drives her crazy?

7) If you had an extra $10,000 that you could do anything you wanted with (no saving, investing, or donating allowed!), what would you spend it on? Would your wife be on board?

8) You get home from work and your wife is giving you “the look”. What have you most likely done to get yourself into trouble?

9) What’s your favorite trip you have taken with your wife/family?

10) Do you have a “man cave”? If so, where?

11) What’s one thing that your wife is super “picky”/particular about?

12) What’s your favorite dinner that your wife makes? What is your specialty?

13) Are you a DIY-er or more of a “hire the professional” type of guy?

14) What do you think about your wife’s blogger friends? Who do you hear about the most? Have you met any of them?

15) Has your wife ever done a project that you secretly didn’t love but you never told her?

16) If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Would your wife agree?

17) What’s your idea of the perfect Father’s Day?

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A few of my take aways from this book:

{POST SOURCES AND FAVORITES ON SALE}

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**12) What’s your favorite dinner that your wife makes? What is your specialty?**