Painting and Priorities

Hi friends, no Wardrobe Wednesday here as I just want to savor the last drops of summer before school starts (too early!) for us in just two weeks.  I can't stop time, but I can enjoy the lazy days we've been fortunate to have recently and for the next couple weeks.  I want so bad to be present in the moment with my child and it's difficult to do that for every moment of the day, but sometimes, those moments happen and you don't even have to try.

The morning when James declared, "I want to paint!", I admit my first thought was about how messy it would be and how I'd have to pull out all the supplies and the kitchen counters would have paint everywhere, etc.  Not wanting to be "that mom", I quickly changed my attitude and just took the painting outside so it didn't matter about the mess.  When I relaxed, I was able to just enjoy being outside with my son, and even got in on the painting action.  I can only play sword fight or lightsaber war for so long, but when we are doing something crafty together, or reading or playing a game, it's much easier for us both to get lost in time.  

We had such a nice time painting that on a recent jog in my neighborhood, I took note of all the rocks  along the way that I thought my son would like painting too.  The next time we went to the park in the wagon, we stopped to collect rocks to wash and paint when we got home.  I made a big deal about it and he thought it was the coolest thing, finding the perfect rocks to paint and then helping wash them in a big tub of soapy water and finally painting them together.  It is messy, but who cares when it's outside and you can just wash off later?!  

An activity like painting rocks reinforces the point that we don't have to do elaborate play dates or spend big money on fancy birthday parties, it's often the "cardboard box" and spending time with us that young kids enjoy most!  

My son is at what just might be the perfect age (the magical age of 4) where he is so big and independent in many ways, yet still my little boy with chubby toddler hands. He's not afraid to openly declare his love for mom and dad, give lip kisses, and ask big, innocent questions like, "Why can't I see Jesus?"  That one surprised me.  His curiosity is exquisite. 

Suddenly, the things in my life that felt like they were beginning to overwhelm me have been put into perspective and we're in a good groove.  :) 

Easy DIY // Dipped Lamp & Vase

An easy DIY project is my kind of project!  I can handle a can of spray paint! I'm working on creating a desk nook in my son's room and needed a desk lamp, so, instead of purchasing a new one, I repurposed one I'm not currently using by giving it a fun "dipped" navy blue edge.  My lamp is from Z Gallerie, but I don't see it on their website anymore. 

I only wanted to paint the rim of the base and lamp head, so I taped and covered everything else (including where the light bulb goes).  A couple coats of spray paint is all it took and the paint dries quickly. I used a Krylon glossy paint that leaves a shiny finish.

And since I had the spray paint out, I added a gold edge to a World Market Barcelona vase and sprayed the bottom of the branches.

It's just a small detail that adds a little something extra.

similar frame * Hello Sunshine greeting card * Zhush decor

Hope you're having a great week!

Weekend Recap // Lost Pines

Some of you who've read my blog since the very beginning have seen my son grow up from just a little baby old into an energetic 4 year-old boy.  He's got the sweetest spirit and everyone who meets him always comments what a joy he is.  He's one of those kids who will sit and chat with you as long as you're willing to talk.  I like sharing bits of my life with him here and I got some cute pictures this weekend while we were away on a quick getaway at Lost Pines in Bastrop, Texas.  I always debate if I should bring my good camera (Nikon D90) or just use my iPhone, but I'm always happy when I bring the good one.  

It was our first time at Lost Pines and I would totally recommend it for families, which is what it's geared toward.  I hope we get to go back again!  I am a little sleepy today from sharing a bed with a toddler for two nights - feet and elbows hitting me all night.  Can you relate?

Pool time!  The pool at Lost Pines is awesome because a big portion of it is only two feet deep, so kids can swim and also stand up.  

"I've got my phone and my camera just like you, Mom!"  One time when leaving the hotel room, the door closed and without missing a beat, he's all, "I forgot my phone!"  

Apparently, "sunbutter" is not the same as peanut butter.  

But, making s'mores is fun!  

I wish I got some better pics of this bull riding, but it was pretty dark out by the time it was his turn.  It went really slow and he hopped off when he was finished.    

My husband also adores our son.  He's a really good, kind Dad. 

The pina coladas were really good too!  I'm wearing Stella & Dot Wanderlust Triple Wrap (on sale) and the love bracelet along with a few others no longer available.  These are perfect for the summer- I haven't taken them off lately! 

I put a few more shots of our weekend on my Instagram.   I'm off today to see my hairdresser- she needs to clean up my hair after I impulsively cut off about 5 inches on Thursday!  I was just over it with this heat and never wanting to style it so it was always in a top knot or ponytail.  After I cut it, it looked pretty good from the front- but it's a hot mess in the back!  You can catch a shot of that on Insta too.  ;)  A few of you asked about hair curling details and you can see what I use to curl my hair here. 

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On Honey We're Healthy:  Mustard Lemon Chicken with Thyme

Weekend Steals & Deals

This weekend we're looking forward to some much-needed family R&R.  Then, on Sunday, we'll be getting together with friends at a back-to-school picnic (ours starts mid-Aug) where kids can play and the adults can see each other again.  I miss the moms I had gotten used to seeing everyday at the school drop-off and during sports seasons.  Hope you have some good weekend plans too! Of course the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is still going on and you can see some of my top pics HERE.  Although Nordstrom is offering the best deals on Fall apparel, now is also the time to save big on clearance items.  I went and scoured the sales online and picked up a bunch of tops/shorts for an average price of about $20!  And don't forget the workout wear and home goodies- they are on sale too!

tops

workout wear

home 

WEEKEND STEALS & DEALS

BANANA REPUBLIC:  50% off when you spend $100 or more. Use Code BRTAKE50.  FREE shipping on orders over $50.  FREE returns.  Ends 7/26.

GAP:  Send $125, get $25 off. Spend $150, get $50 off.  Use code SMART.  Ends. 7/26. FREE shipping on orders over $50.  FREE returns.

JCREW:  40% off final sale styles.  Use code TREAT.  $5 flat rate shipping and FREE shipping on orders over $150.  

NORDSTROM:  Anniversary Sale.  Prices go up August 4.  FREE shipping, FREE returns.

SEPHORA:  Brighten, Hydrate, & Resurface Skin (28 Samples) Use code WONDERS.



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On Honey We're Healthy:  

Mustard Lemon Chicken with Thyme & Thai Steak Salad with Peanut Dressing

affiliate links used

New Dining Room Paint- Sherwin Williams Comfort Grey

Thank you so very much for weighing in on my paint-color dilemma in the dining room!  I read all the comments and really appreciate the feedback.  It reminds me why I started blogging in the first place- to have other women who love home decor to bounce ideas off of.  My husband is not only color-blind, but pretty nonchalant when it comes to the decor choices in our house (unless he hates something), so I like that I have Y'ALL to share these things with! :)



After putting eight samples on the wall, the color I chose was Comfort Grey by Sherwin Williams in semi-gloss, lightened 75%.  It was the color that worked best with our milky trim color (Divine White Sherwin Williams) and had the touch more green/not too blue I was originally looking for.  I wanted it just a tad lighter than the original Comfort Grey swatch on the wall, so the color specialist explained that they needed to lighten it by 75% because the color spectrum is on a sliding scale and lightening it by 25% (which is what I initially thought I needed) would make it really white.  I'm not quite sure I understand this and if you can explain it better, please leave a comment!  We painted directly on top of our existing SW Accessible Beige and on top of the different swatches, but I bought a high-quality paint, so it covered really well.  

I'm thrilled with how it turned out and think it flows nicely with the paint in the rest of the house.  Of course, it's hard to convey a true paint color over the internet, but here are the best shots I was able to capture from the early morning.  It feels so fresh in here now!

I especially like the view from the kitchen, through the wet bar, to the dining room.  I almost hate to hang the drapes back up because it will cover that part of the wall.

I had to hem the curtains (the bottoms were coming apart) and have yet to get the rest of the room put back together- I'm contemplating changing out the mirror too.  And I want to add some summer decor.  Hopefully, I'll have more to share with you next week! 

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Thank you Michaela for inviting me to participate in her Design Do's and Don'ts (along with a great group of bloggers/designers) as she prepares to launch another Bloom workshop.  It's so good to see Michaela pursuing her passion and taking her career to the next level! 

Wardrobe Wednesday // New Arrivals at Stella & Dot

I just looked at Stella & Dot's new arrivals and I'm smitten with several of their new pieces- it's such a good collection! 

Stella & Dot Union Square Scarf- Geo Ikat 

Stella & Dot has the best scarves, I swear.  And I'm crazy about the color and pattern in this new Geo Ikat scarf. I always feel like pink looks good near the face. These scarves are perfect because they are large (38"x70"), so you can wear them in a ton of different ways, but they are still lightweight so you don't feel weighed down.  I already get a lot of use from my S&D Leopard Print (no longer available) and Union Scarf Frida Print scarves, so I know this one will be in heavy rotation  too.   I really like their new Marine Blue/Rich Red Ikat scarf too.  

Pyramid Studd Cuff

I'm still a fan of stacking my bracelets and this studded cuff is so cool.  I'll wear it with my Gilded Arrow Bangle. 

Pop Geo Chandelier Earrings

One thing Stella & Dot is known for is versatility in their pieces so you can wear one piece of jewelry in multiple ways- more bang for your buck.  I adore the chandelier earrings in my favorite colors (looks like my blog! ha!), but you can also wear them as a simple stud. 

 

Pave Spear Rose Gold Earring

This geometric shape is a perfect alternative to my go-to gold hoops.  

And, I got my recent Stitch Fix!  My favorite thing in the box this time was the Kahlo Embroidered Racerback Tank.  I loved it so much I wore it to a casual dinner that Friday night with jeans and wedges.  I'm not sure if you can request certain items, but if so, definitely request this one!  

AND, the Kate Spade Flatiron Maryanne in "geranium/cream" stripe is on sale for $89 (discounted from $198)!  I love my black/white version and have been wearing it everywhere.  It's nylon, so really lightweight, and had lots of compartments, which the organizer in me loves. :)

P. S. I finally decided on a paint color for our dining room and got the room painted.  Can't wait to share it with you tomorrow- I love how it turned out! 

On Honey We're Healthy:  

Mustard Lemon Chicken with Thyme & Thai Steak Salad with Peanut Dressing

Choosing Paint for the Dining Room - Sherwin Williams Sea Salt ??

How many samples of paint does it take to find the right color for a dining room?  Apparently, at least eight.  I've been to the paint store three times in the past three days to continue testing paint samples, and I'm not even sure I have a winner yet!  I'm determined to decide today though because Sherwin Williams is having their 40% off sale and I want to take advantage of it! (It ends Monday).

I fell in love with Sherwin Williams Sea Salt after seeing it on Life on Virginia Street, in Sarah's master bedroom.  In her room, SEA SALT looked like a very soothing grayish-green.  I thought that would go well with my dining room drapes and the rest of the house.  I'm looking for something soft  that will brighten my room from the duller ACCESSIBLE BEIGE and look good when I change out the accessories in the room throughout the year.  I like the Accessible Beige pretty well in the rest of our first floor, and I hesitated to change the dining room because I want a cohesive look, but I figured I can find a paint that goes well with the rest of the downstairs since this room is pretty much off on it's own.  I'm not necessarily looking to match the drapes; rather, I'd prefer a complimentary color.



SEA SALT is pretty, but it looks way more blue than green and a little dull in my room.  Still a contender though.  Will be so funny (not really) if I end up with this one after painting all the other colors on my walls. It's the first one I put up.



WATERY was too bright.  Looked so gorgeous on the swatch.



DEWY is nice, close to the color of the lamps I have in the now, but it's pretty white against the creamy wainscoting.



FLEETING GREEN is just a tad darker than DEWY.



RAINWASHED is too blue and bright.

But, it's difficult to judge paint colors by a photograph online, or heck, even on a swatch.  I swear the Sea Salt that's on the swatch looks much more green than it does on the wall, where it reads blue.  

Also, I was painting the colors on top of our existing wall color, not primed walls. 

Our trim is a creamy white (DIVINE WHITE), so some of the blueish colors would probably look better against a crisp, white trim.

Colors look different at different times of the day.  The three pictures below were taken in the afternoon. 

Then, I went back for three more.  These pictures were taken in the evening.



COMFORT GREY - hard to tell in the picture, but this is a pretty pale olive/greenish color.  It's a contender.  I looks good as you peek though to the breakfast room and see the drapes there.



SLOW GREEN - pretty white.



WATERSCAPE - too bright/aqua.

Now my walls are all crazy with these paint swatches everywhere!  I'm going to look again in the morning light- the last three swatches I photographed while still wet.  I don't want to do a bold, bright color in here because that wouldn't flow with the rest of the house, so I'm trying to find the best color that will brighten up the room, but still be soothing.  What do you think??

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On Honey We're Healthy:  Mustard Lemon Chicken with Thyme

Weekend Steals & Deals // Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

If you're looking to do some shopping this weekend, the Nordstrom Anniversary sale is open to the public from now until August 3 and features their best deals on all their Fall clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, and more.  I typically order online from Nordstrom because their site is so easy to shop and shipping and returns are free, but I went to the store yesterday because I wanted to try on their fall boots!  Having not been inside the store in awhile, I almost forgot how helpful and professional their salespeople are.  I remember that's one of the things I like best about shopping there.  Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale has great deals, but the prices go up on August 4.  I found two super cute pair of boots, and brought one home, but the other pair I had to order because they were out of my size in the color I wanted.

                          women's boots/shoes

The boots that made it home with me are the Vince Camuto Vala Bootie (a Nordstrom exclusive).  They look so good on because of the deeper cut on the side.  And they are a high heel, but not too high.  I'm sure these will get a lot of wear with jeans and skirts alike this Fall. 

Vince CAmuto Vala Bootie $89.90, $138.95

The pair I had to order are the Michael Kors Blake Mid-Calf Boot.  These will be my running-around-in flat boot this Fall.  They are the perfect mid-calf length for me!  I'm always a fan of the gorgeous brown color that Michael Kors uses for his shoes and bags. 

Michael Kors Blake Mid-Calf Boot $176.80, $264.95

I saw some other great boots too, especially the Enzo Angiolini Eero leather boot in a black and tan combo.  So nice to have both colors in one boot.

Enzo Angiolini Eero leather boot $134.90, $199.95

I found a lot of other great deals too online, but I need to edit down my shopping cart! Pictured below are the things I'm leaning toward purchasing.



tops

Hinge Mixed Pattern Knit Sweater $44.90, $68 (also comes in a pretty soft blue)

scarves & accessories

Nordstrom Animalia Ripple Wool Scarf $38.90, $59 What a cool mix of prints.  This will add some interest to my mostly neutral wardrobe. 

Kendra Scott Elle Drop Earrings $33.90, $52 I already wear my Kendra Scott Rayne Stone Tassel Pendant Necklace all the time, so I think I'd get a lot of wear out of these earrings.

kid's shoes

For my son, I picked up the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Street OX in grey with yellow laces. They were originally $39.95, but I got them for $34.95.  He's 4 and wears a size 8 in these. They are so cute on him.  I know you aren't all boy moms, so I included some adorable girl's shoes for ya too! ;)

It's so hard to get a good photograph of a toddler; as soon as I turn the camera on mine, he starts doing this!

Have a great weekend!

affiliate links used/sponsored post by Nordstrom