What are you up to this weekend? Our little Faye Faye (Faye-Fee, Fayebelizer) is turning 4 tomorrow! She asked for a swimming party, so we rented out a local hotel’s pool for two hours for her, a couple friends and cousins. Faye is love. She just exudes so much love. She never hit the terrible twos. Or threes. Even when she seemingly does something naughty, like cut all her hair off, it’s so cute you can’t even be mad! She’s just been a complete delight her whole life and thrives on affection–which is so easy to give her. I’m so excited to celebrate her this weekend.
Other fun things this week!
• Bon Appetit’s 14 Kitchen Tips worth memorizing. (It was fun quizzing Chris and I learned so much!)
• My travel make-up bag solicited 627 dms on Instagram this week. I have the gray (it sold out) but I dig the red, too! It’s a good one.
• The best decor to hang on your walls that isn’t photography. I really want to get in on the woven baskets/plates train because it’s so pretty every time I see it! I just gotta get over my fear of looking like a wannabe and try it!
• Here’s a thing. I love shopping for home goods at places like Wayfair because they have everything. The downside: they have everything so you better know what you’re looking for! Which is why I also love shopping at places like McGee&Co because it’s so curated and every. single. thing I love. The downside: I love every. single. thing. (Their spring collection just launched and I had to get these nesting batter bowls–I’m a sucker for anything that combines form and function. Somehow I passed on this Rattan Hanging basket (I love it with herbs in it hanging in the kitchen!) and this perfect alarm clock that I could actually base our entire guest room around.
• This powder room makeover shows such elegant restraint. Check out the before here! I want to LIVE IN YOUR BATHROOM @rachelschutzzz! (seriously pretty IG feed, too)
• My favorite purchase this week (additional 40% off!). And my least favorite purchase. I like to whiten my teeth once a year and decided to veer away from my tried and true crest white strips. But this (despite the nearly 2000 positive reviews) was awful! So much less convenient. Uncomfortable. Bad experience! (I gave it a good 3 day try before ordering my favorite strips.)
• Our bathroom renovation is well on its way and I’m excited to share more about it here next week! It’s also time for our annual The Good, The Bad, Would We Do It Again post where we update you on things around our house that we’ve had, how they have worn and would we do it again. If you have something specific in your mind that you’d like an update on, let me know in the comments!
Hope you have a great weekend!
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Maybe you can include the woven plates over the guest room bed? It would add to the warmth and freshness of the new bedding. Love everything you do and really enjoy following your adventures making your home work for you and your family.
I’m new to your blog and I love it! I would love an update on how the concrete countertops have held up and do you still love them?! Our kitchen (and home) is in desperate need of upgrade and we are planning to sell in the next 3-5 years. I’m very interested in doing the white concrete countertops. My hubby is very handy, but broke his leg very badly in December 2016, which he is still recovering from, and this would be his first *big* project. It seems like a very doable project. Also, I love the girls’ bathroom and I’d like to do something similar in our guest bathroom. It’s about the same size and has one itsy bitsy teeny weeny north facing window so it’s rather dark. Do you still love the paint color? Is it as warm and friendly as it serms? Thanks so much for your inspiring blog! ????
Excited for another “The Good, the bad…” I’d love an update on your window treatments and whether the blindster or blinds.com brands are good despite the discount, especially as compared to The Shade Store window treatment in the nursery. Has the functionality of the cordless lift been what you hoped for across brands? Thanks!
Hello Julia and Chris,
I’m wondering what, if any, touch-ups you’ve done on your concrete countertops?
Thanks!
We haven’t done any yet, but there are some spots we need to reseal.
I’d love an update on the outdoor table you bought from Ikea and also your parent’s from World Market. The World Market table has some bad reviews online but I LOVE the style and really want it and the benches!! (PS – I find so much inspiration on your blog. We even just painted our bedroom the paint color you painted in your bedroom. I got a sample first and am so happy that it worked in our space, too. It’s truly perfect!)
Would really love to know how your outdoor fireplace has worked out for you guys?! We are in the middle of a full home remodel (not living in the house yet), and we used your fireplace tutorial to build the same this past fall, love it! It looks awesome, but we’re getting ready to install the decking and finish it up this spring, and our new contractor said that fireplace won’t work on the deck. We are putting in Trek decking, just like yours. He thinks without a hearth or stone slab on the deck in front of the fireplace, there is nothing to prevent burning embers or a loose log from landing on the deck and melting right through it? Our previous contractor ended up being a dud (the one who built the fireplace initially) so this concern wasn’t even brought up at all until now. So, I’m wondering if you’ve had any issues with lighting a fire in it?? Do you put down any type of protective thing to cover the deck when you have a fire going? Would really appreciate any feedback you have because I don’t know what to do about ours now, and need to figure out some kind of solution within the next month or two!
would love an update on your article ottoman in the family room!
not sure what you’re referring to?
I’d love to see something about your new coffee table in th good, bad, would we do it again post! It’s so beautiful and I want to buy it but worry the wood will he difficult to keep in good shape with people not being diligent about using coasters.
Please tell us the good/bad/do it again about your kitchen! How have the IKEA cabinets held up? Would you do it again? What would you do differently?
Thx!
XO
I’m sure you’ll include it, but your concrete AND walnut countertops? Maybe compared to the laminate one in the office? I’d also love to see how you’re feeling about the black kitchen cabinets now. Still love the color? Feeling a bit dated?
Hi – Thanks so much for your stories. I’m wondering about your dining room furniture. Are you still pleased with the table? And how are the new(newer) black dining room chairs? Are you still pleased with them? Do guests like them? Does anyone comment about them being “too hard”? Does anyone comment they want the white chairs back instead? I LOVE the way they look, hoping they come back in stock soon so I can order some!
I’m curious about your rugs indoor/outdoor and the rug pads, also your outdoor furniture. We are buying our first house and I can’t wait to start making it our own. Thank you for all the advice and resources you’ve shared through your blog, it’s been a great source of inspiration :)
Hi Julia! Love your blog. Can you give an update on your living room color (Hazy Skies?). I assume the paint itself is holding up great, but do you still like the color? We bought a new house yesterday and the entire place needs a fresh coat of paint. Seems like white walls are still the trend and would be an easy way to create a “blank canvas” in our new home, but I love the warmth of the slight color in your space. Can you share any thoughts you might have? Thank you!
great one!
I know last year you were still happy, but do you still love, love, LOVE your family room carpet, even after TWO years?
I’d love to know your thoughts on your Ikea kitchen cabinets (specifically the drawers) now that you’ve been using them for a few years. We are planning on using them in our kitchen remodel this summer. I want to store pots and pans and dishes in deep drawers but I’m having trouble finding reviews of how the drawers hold up over time.
Same!
I’d love an update on your West Elm bed since I’ve been debating purchasing one myself. I know you all had issues with your mattress before, but I thought I recalled reading that you wouldn’t purchase the bed itself again. But it made the cut for your room refresh so maybe I’m making that up! As taller people, how do you like having a lower bed? And do you find the wide side rails troublesome for getting in and out of bed? (These are obviously my biggest concerns – ha!)
I’ll add it to the list!
Where are your shoes and jeans from in the bathroom reno photo above!?
I just updated the post with links to those sources!! Shoes are from here. Jeans are these. My favorite!
Happy Birthday to Faye!! My son Weston will be four on Sunday, I remember being pregnant at the same time as you (and Sherry from Young House Love :) ). Crazy how time flies. Have fun celebrating your little lady!
I’m new to your blog and love it! What a fun post. Have a great time celebrating with your daughter! Can I ask about the white shirt you are wearing in that last pic? Love the style and sleeve length! Thank you!
Can you write up your experiences with the Yukon coffee table in the great room? I went looking for a post on it, but couldn’t find one. Would love to hear how it’s working out for you, we just bought one that is similar and I’m a little worried about the crack down the middle being a magnet for crumbs and fur.
Happy birthday to Faye! Enjoy the weekend and as always, thanks for sharing all you do! Love the shopping tips/hints/things you love and don’t love????
I vaguely remember you giving Chris a tub of charcoal whitening stuff as a gift (hope I didn’t dream this). Did he find that it worked?
Haha, I think that must have been a dream. I don’t know if I could handle charcoal in my mouth, unless it’s in small amounts and is from a well grilled piece of chicken. ;)
It was definitely on the christmas gift guide, I remember it too! I’ve heard mixed reviews, so idk!
I remember it from the gift guide also—and ended up getting for my husband! He isn’t a huge fan. :(