Summer So Far
I have completely slacked on my blogging as of late. It’s been over 2 months since my last post. My excuse? Summer. In my attempt to play catch up, here’s what we’ve been up to…
We spent a week at our cottage
We had already made a couple weekend trips but over July 4th we were able to stay for a full week. This is the 2nd summer vacation we’ve spent at our cottage after 2 the two previous summers spent renovating it. Every drop of sweat and penny spent is well worth the time with family, pontoon rides, bonfires, quiet morning walks in the woods and everything else that comes with it.
We visited Manistee, MI
A few years ago we started a tradition during our summer vacations in Michigan of picking a new destination for a day/overnight trip, this year we picked Manistee. This was a first for Mark and what felt like a first for me. From what my parents’ told me there is a good chance we visited there when I was too young to remember. We spent the day exploring, eating, sipping and shopping our way through this little lake shore town. We were also lucky enough to be there to watch the Manitowac cargo ship come all the way down through the canal.
We adopted another dog
His name is Woody and he was an unclaimed stray that we discovered through the same rescue group we adopted Ruby from. Our first attempt at fostering was a “fail” in the best possible way. He’s been recovering from surgery and he has a lot to learn and experience but he is sweet as can be and is already part of our family. I have quickly learned how difficult it is to get a good photo of 2 dogs at once…I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it.
We completed zero projects around our house
Unless buying new cushions for our patio furniture counts? (not pictured) Other than that we did nothing by way of DIY/home improvement projects. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of projects I have in mind. However, evenings on the patio, long walks with the dogs, nights out with friends and various other summer activities have been the priority. I’ll have plenty to keep me busy this fall.
I hope you’ve wonderful summer so far and enjoy what is left of it. I promise it won’t be another two months until my next post.
DIY Kids’ Art Display
I have to give full credit to my mom for this post. She texted me a few weeks ago to let me know she had an idea and sent me a few photos. I loved the idea and decided to work on it while we were in town for Memorial Day weekend.
I know plenty of parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc. are interested in ways to display kids’ artwork in a way that is a step above the tried & true refrigerator/magnet method. My great niece made the 4 seasonal paintings ( pictured above and below) and Mom liked them so much she decided to pull together some supplies to create a display that would not only showcase her art but still blend in nicely with their decor.
This is the perfect time of year for a project like this since kids are bringing home plenty of artwork as the school year closes. Also, this would be a perfect summer project to do on a rainy day.
Mom already had everything on hand for this project…artwork, scrap cardboard, scrap wood, paint and/or stain, brush, glue gun & pop tabs.
All it took was a few simple steps…
- Cut scrap wood & cardboard to size
- In this case we glued directly to the cardboard that the artwork was already painted on, you would just need to glue the artwork to the cardboard
- Stain/paint wood as desired & let dry
- Line up wood on cardboard and glue in place
- Glue pop tab to back if desired for hanging
Quick, easy, and basically free depending what supplies you already have.
Much better than a magnet on a refrigerator if you ask me 🙂
Mother’s Day Gifts
Today is the first day of May (crazy right?!) which means Mother’s Day is right around the corner. If you are looking for gift ideas for a special woman in your life I have some great options to share with you. Even though these ideas are geared towards Mother’s Day, they are also great for other occasions like graduations, birthdays and hostess gifts. Or maybe even something for yourself?
disclosure: this post contains affiliate links
First is a small sampling of gifts available from Hello World Paper Co. They not only have beautiful pre-made designs in a variety of items, but they offer several custom options as well. I think my favorite item (if I HAD to pick just one) would be the laser engraved wood bookmarks…I have ordered several for myself and gifts.
Want in on a little secret? All of their cutting boards are on sale for 20% off using the code: 20OFFMAY. Mother’s Day orders need to be in by Sunday, May 5th. Also, you can always use my coupon code: BYTHEPOOLE for 10% off your order.
I was introduced to Nature Supply Co through a friend on Instagram. She was wearing a monarchs matter tee…which immediately made me think of my mom who is both a wonderful & conscientious gardener. I first learned about the threats to the monarch population from her. Aside from having the cutest merchandise to pick from, “your purchase helps us plant one acre of wildflowers each month through the Bee and the Butterfly Habitat Fund”. I’m not sure if my mom was more pleased by the tote bag (pictured below) I gifted her or the positive impact my purchase had…probably a little of both 🙂
I have my dear friend Lindsey to blame for my Plunder earring addiction. Not only do they have unique statement pieces, they also have a variety of jewelry that can go with anything like the options below. Those “Taelynn” earrings are my new favorite. They also have a whole collection of items that can be personalized with photos, quotes, etc. You can browse the entire catalog through her website or you can also join her VIP Facebook group to stay up to date on the latest specials.
Once again, I have Instagram to thank for introducing me to Krystal, the incredibly talented Coast To Coast Artist. I already have a few of her floral paintings and stalk her Etsy shop regularly to see her latest and greatest. She has the most beautiful assortment of wildlife, botanical, and even structural paintings. Not only that, she also does commissioned paintings of pets, livestock,etc. I can’t think of a better gift than a one of a kind piece of art.
If you are a procrastinator (no judgement here) and need a last minute gift you can always count on Amazon in a pinch. This neutral buffalo plaid throw or Burt’s Bees tips and toes kit and these hand painted wine glasses are all Prime eligible and under $25.
I know I’m a week and a half early but I’ll say it anyway…HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Amazon Home (Spring)
Wouldn’t it be great if all these corks were collected from wineries we visited and saved to commemorate those occasions? Sadly, that is not the case, but something I plan on doing in the future. In the meantime, it was Amazon to the rescue once again.
I’ve got another round of Amazon home favorites to share with you. In cast you missed the last post, you can find it here. I discovered these decor items over the last couple months while doing some Spring refreshing around our house.
For comparison I’ve included my own picture (first) and a photo from the listing (second).
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
These are the real deal, some of them are even stained by red wine on one end which adds to the authenticity. They are great for bowl filler or craft projects until you are able to collect enough of your own, which I intend to do.
large air plant (xerographica) & ceramic birds
I am still in awe by how big and beautiful this air plant is. It is much larger and healthier than the ones I’ve found in local garden centers. These birds are an affordable accent that will compliment a variety of styles. They come in two sizes and are also available in black.
birch trees peel & stick wallpaper
Gone are the days of messy, difficult wallpaper. Now there are peel & stick options like this in an endless array of colors and patterns that are easy to apply & remove. I even wrote a whole blog post about it.
Who doesn’t love a cozy throw blanket? I wanted one that was neutral & lightweight enough to transition from Winger to Spring. This one fits the bill and is also available in several colors.
This is from Amazon’s Stone & Beam line. I’ll be honest, this wasn’t exactly a “bargain” BUT the cover and insert are separate which in my opinion adds more value.
I apologize that I’m sharing these a little late for this year’s Easter decorating but they would still be cute to have around all Spring.
I continue to be surprised by all that Amazon has to offer for the home and I’m sure it won’t be long until I’ll have more to share with you. Until then, I’d love for you to share your favorites with me!
DIY Easy Accent Wall
April 1st?! How are we already 1/4 through 2019?! I’m not really into April “fools” but I am into DIYs and Spring is the perfect time for projects. I am especially excited about today’s post. Not only is this a project I wanted to do for a while but I will also be sharing a few other talented & creative ladies. At the end of this post you’ll find the links for their projects, make sure to check them out!
I decided to refresh our entry with a DIY easy accent wall…with wallpaper. I know wallpaper might seem like a big commitment there is a multitude of “peel and stick” options that can be easily applied and removed.
These are the last two photos I found on my phone showing what the entry view was when you open our front door
It isn’t a large space which provided a perfect opportunity to try out something new.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
SUPPLIES
- peel & stick wallpaper
- measuring tape
- X-ACTO knife
- X-ACTO cutting mat
- smoothing tool-I used a ruler and it worked just fine
STEPS
- measure, measure, and re-measure
- mark & cut using knife/board
- peel off backing a little at a time and apply to wall
slowly smooth out air bubbles using tool of choice
- line up pattern and repeat until desired area is covered
- use X-ACTO knife to cut any excess if necessary
Given that this was my first time, I was pretty happy that the entire process took under an hour. I’m sure it could be done faster once you get the hang of it. I did have an extra set of (much taller) hands which was a big help. This wallpaper really brightened up the space and added some interest. I wonder what I should wallpaper next?
Now go see the DIY projects these ladies have been up to
Beau Place Like Home
Calling All Creators
How to Make 9 Wedding Bouquets for $50 Total
Bungalow One Seventeen
Rusty Barn Blog
I hope this helped you find some DIY inspiration, wishing you the best of luck with your Spring projects!
My Style?
If you asked me today what my decor style is I honestly couldn’t give you a direct answer…maybe rustic-modern-vintage? or cozy-antique-eclectic? perhaps target-amazon-thrifted would be the most accurate summary. I enjoy incorporating elements from lots of different styles and that is what makes up MY style. Our bedroom looks very different from our living room, bathroom, etc. and there is nothing wrong with that. I love each unique space in our home.
It is easy to get caught up in wanting your decor to look like someone else’s; it is also easy to get discouraged when it doesn’t. There is nothing wrong with admiring a certain style but you should never let that make you dislike your own. I love being exposed to a wide variety of decor…from boho to farmhouse to minimalist and everything in between. Even if I wouldn’t put something in particular in my own house, I can still appreciate the beauty and the effort behind it.
It is ok to absolutely love one specific style and decorate your house top to bottom in it. It is also ok to not have one set style, like me.
The #1 rule I have learned about decor?
THERE ARE NO RULES.
Source disclosure: this post contains affiliate links, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Sectional Hypocrisy
Once upon a time I told myself I would never own a sectional…but here I sit writing this post while curled up on the perfectly comfy chaise of our recently delivered sectional. 
I’m not exactly sure where my misguided anti-sectional notion came from in the first place but this decision wasn’t something I took lightly. Our previous living room furniture was one of our first big purchases after we moved in together. It served us well for several years but was showing signs of wear and wasn’t as comfortable as we would have liked. Once we realized it was time to start thinking (and budgeting) for something new we took our time, over a year in fact.
We decided on a sectional and here is why…
Comfort & Coziness ~ Our #1 priority. We wanted something that would fill a large portion of our living room but would still be cozy. We needed furniture that would allow Mark, Ruby and I to all lounge/cuddle/nap to our hearts’ content while still having enough space when we have company
Style & Configuration ~ Sectionals have come a long way. There are now design options to match nearly any style of decor. Not to mention a myriad of fabric choices and custom options like recliners, chaises, power features, etc. With those options we were able to select the configuration that would make the best use of our space
After extensive searching and debate…and lots of “test sitting” we settled on the Reese sectional from LAZBOY and waited for a good sale. We chose a fabric that would coordinate with the ottoman we already owned and were able to include matching accent pillows with our custom order.
We both agreed it was well worth the wait.
Here we are a few weeks in and we keep asking each other “What took us so long?”
Furniture can be a big investment and commitment. There is nothing wrong with taking the time to shop around, discuss, save up, wait for sales and discuss some more to get exactly what you want…even if it ends up being something you once said you’d never want 🙂
