We are trying to get our rental all organized and feeling like home, so I’ve been ordering tons of bathroom and kitchen things to make it feel simple and clean! Even though it’s a rental, I still want it to be our style and feel put together. I’ve found some great items so I wanted to share with you all.
Organizing our rental bathrooms and kitchen has been so refreshing! Amazon has some many good options when it comes to organizing and making things look simple and clean. I’ll highlight some of these items below.
: MIXING BOWLS
We needed some new mixing bowls so I ordered this set of 5 mixing bowls on Amazon and I really really love them so far. The bowls have non-slip bottoms, measurement markers, grater attachments, and I love that there are 5 different sizes of bowls. Only $45 too!
: SMART OVEN/ AIR FRYER
Since we left all our appliances at our last house, we decided to buy this smart oven/air fryer/toaster! Our friends had such good things to say about it so we decided to order it and we have LOVED it! I love the look of it too and that it doesn’t take up much space.
: OXO CONTAINERS
I had these oxo containers in my last house and they were a game changer when it came to pantry organization! You can seriously store whatever you want in these containers… flour, oats, snacks, sugar, rice, etc. They are under $25 too! Make sure you snag a few of these to up your pantry organization game.
: ZIPLOCK BACK ORGANIZER
I am so glad I ordered this bamboo ziplock bag organizer! It has helped keep our plastic bag drawer really organized AND it was under $30! That’s a win in my book.
The showers in our rental home have no ledges to put things on, so I ordered these black corner shower caddies! They come in a pack of 2 for $22 and they hold up so well!
: SHAMPOO + CONDITIONER BOTTLES
I wanted our bathrooms to look more cohesive and clean so I decided to order these $30 labeled shampoo + conditioner + body wash bottles! They’ve helped minimize our bottles in the shower and get rid of extra crap we don’t need. Not to mention that I love the look of them! So if you’re wanting a more clean look in your shower, then these are a good way to get started.
: PLASTIC SOAP DISPENSERS
In our previous home, we had all the soap dispensers built into the bathroom counters so I bought this 5pk of plastic pump bottles for only $15! I ordered plastic ones because I knew that the kids would probably knock over glass ones. I also ordered the hand soap labels to put on these pump bottles. They’re waterproof and don’t smudge so that’s been really nice!
: SHOWER CURTAINS
I ordered two of these $17 waffle shower curtains and the fabric is really nice! I ordered the white color so it looks simple and clean. We ordered these shower curtain liners as well.
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That wraps up part 2 of all my Amazon purchases for the rental! If you missed part 1, here’s the link!
You guys! We are officially moved into our rental! It has been a busy couple weeks, but we are so so grateful to be fully moved into the rental. Moving is no joke! I have made Amazon order after Amazon order trying to get everything we need! I thought it would be fun to share all the random items I’ve ordered. This is just part 1 of everything I’ve bought… part 2 will come out next week so be looking forward to that!
I’m going to highlight some of these items and better explain what I ordered them for, how much they were, and my review on them.
: VACCUUM SEALED STORAGE BAGS
These compression vacuum sealed storage bags were so helpful as we were preparing to move and packing up our things. We used these sealed bags to pack pillows, blankets, baby clothes, and things we knew we wouldn’t need to use while we are in the rental. And better yet, they don’t take up much space at all! They come in a pack of 6 bags and are under $30.
: CLOTHES RACK
The laundry room in our rental has absolutely no hanging space so we ordered this $40 clothes rack that we can mount to the wall! It holds a lot of clothes so I’m glad we purchased!
: LED BEDROOM LIGHTS
Hunter wanted to order these LED lights for her bedroom! They are seriously so cool! She ordered the 100ft of lights and it was only $17.99! You can change the color of the lights and they can also sync to the music you are playing. Such a fun buy!
: EXERCISE PUZZLE MATS
I am so glad that we bought these puzzle gym mats! We ordered 2 bulks of them because we wanted to create a small home gym in the unfinished basement and these have worked great so far! They are under $40 too!
: WHITE TRASH CAN
Joe and I really did our research on trash cans and we ended up ordering this white one! It holds 20 gallons and was the biggest one we could find. I’ve really liked it so far, especially because you can store garbage bags in the back of it.
: NITROBULLET BLENDER
We had to order this nitrobullet blender because everyone loves making their protein shakes in the morning! We have loved this brand of blender, especially because it’s a great deal! Only $70. Easy to use too!
: CHEST FREEZER
Our rental freezer in the kitchen does not have much space, so we bought this white chest freezer from Amazon. Nothing too exciting, but it has worked great for us and it holds a lot!
: HEAVY DUTY STORAGE BAGS
Another great purchase was the blue heavy duty storage bags. We used these to pack stuffed animals, clothes, toys, and more. They made for an easy transition to our rental.
: SWIFFER SWEEPER MOPS
Last thing I wanted to quickly mention was that I ordered the swiffer sweeper because our rental has dark floors and I don’t want to mop everyday. We had dark floors in our California home and my swiffer sweeper was a life saver!
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That wraps up part 1 for all my Amazon orders for the rental! I know these are such random items, but I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve ordered and have enjoyed making our rental feel like home. Part 2 will be all the items I ordered for bathroom and kitchen organization so stay tuned!
Today’s my birthday! I always love doing birthday blog posts, so I thought it would be fun to answer my most asked questions! You’ll find out how old I am in the q+a, but I’ve honestly loved my thirties. I’ve never been more confident than I am now. I feel content with myself and all that I’ve accomplished so I’m really excited for this next year of my life!
BIRTHDAY QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
: WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
St. George, Utah.
: HOW OLD ARE YOU? WHAT ABOUT JOE?
Today I’m 39 years old! Joe is turning 40 in 2 weeks.
: ARE YOU LDS?
Yes! We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You can learn more about our church here.
: WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF?
I’ve learned to trust my gut and trust my own instinct. Everyone is going to have an opinion and not everyone is going to agree with you, so you’ve got to just trust your own intuition.
: WHY ARE YOU MOVING INTO A RENTAL?
We just wanted to be careful and didn’t want to end up with 2 house payments. We wanted the money from selling the house to go right into our new build so we didn’t have to take out as much for our loan. It’s just the safer option for us.
: DO YOU HAVE VENEERS?
Yes, I do! I’ve written a whole blog post on this so I’ll link it here.
: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My favorite thing about myself is that I’m a go-getter! I don’t ever stop. I’m very ambitious. I want to do everything and I want to do it really well. But that can also be a bad thing, haha.
: HOW DO YOU GIVE EACH OF YOUR KIDS ALONE TIME/ MAKE THEM FEEL SPECIAL?
This can be really hard. I have seasons in my life where I feel like I do this really well and seasons that I don’t. We usually do mom dates, but life is crazy right now. I’ve learned that it’s quality over quantity when it comes to this. If you can only give each of your kids 5 minutes of your undivided attention each day, that’s better than 20 minutes of here and there, being on your phone and trying to talk to them. I really try to soak up our driving time and ask my older kids how their day was. With the 2 younger kids, I don’t do that as much because I feel like I’m with them all day long. I have a hard time with Hayden, so that is partly why we are doing homeschool with her.
: HOW DID YOU AND JOE MEET?
I wrote a whole blog post about our story! Here’s the link.
: BEST PARENTING TIP?
Take all the advice and read all the books, but pick what works for you and leave everything else on the wayside. That’s my biggest tip. Listen to it all, take it all in, and then only take what you feel is best for you + your family. That’s been the biggest thing for me.
: WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST INSECURITY?
I’d have to say that my biggest insecurity is that I doubt myself. I never feel like I’m doing good enough. Am I doing this well enough? Am I being a good enough mom for my kids? My doubts mostly revolve around motherhood and if I’m giving my people what they need, are they going to remember this, etc…
Hopefully soon. We’ve had lots of delays with the closing of our home and our loan. So we are hoping in the next 2 weeks! (all prayers needed)
: HOW WILL YOUR NEW BUILD SIMPLIFY THE WAY YOU LIVE?
It’s basically the same size as our last house, but the layout is different. All the kids and all the rooms are on the main floor, so the basement will be for entertainment. In our old house, when Hunter and Hudson had their friends over, they wanted to be loud downstairs and that’s where the little kids slept, so we are wanting a separate area for entertainment and friends. But the 2 boys and the 2 younger girls will still share rooms, so not much is changing besides the layout.
: GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR?
This year my goal has been to be present and that will always be my goal! To be present where I’m at and to fully enjoy things in the moment.
: HOW DO YOU KEEP PLUGGED INTO YOUR ADULT SIDE WITH KIDS?
Honestly, I have to schedule it in. I have to schedule dates with Joe, alone time, workout time, and make time for myself. I think it’s really healthy for my kids to see that I put myself and Joe as a priority.
: HOW DO YOU STAY ORGANIZED? DO YOU USE A PAPER PLANNER?
I keep everything on a google calendar. I’ve used a paper planner before but I don’t always carry it with me, so it gets complicated when schedules change and everything. I have an open notes tab, so anything that is going through my head during the day I just throw it on this note, it’s like a to-do list. Then at the end of the night, I go through those notes and schedule them into my google calendar. Google calendar is a game changer!
: HAVE YOU EVER HAD BOTOX ON YOUR FOREHEAD?
Yes! I go to Elase Medical Spa and I get it in my forehead and in my crow’s feet which is my eye area. I get it about 2-3 times a year.
: ARE YOU EXCITED OR SAD ABOUT SCHOOL STARTING BACK UP?
I love routine and schedules, but I’m one of those moms that loves to have my kids home. So I’m actually really sad. Even with the move and how crazy it’s been, I would still rather have my kids home. In a perfect world, I could homeschool all my kids and have them home with me all the time!
: WHAT’S ON YOUR BIRTHDAY WISH LIST?
My ONLY birthday wish is to break ground for our new build!
: WHAT IS THE #1 LIFE LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED?
The #1 life lesson I’ve learned in the past few years is to take time for yourself! I’ve learned that self-care is not selfish. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, and your mind isn’t in the right place, you can’t take care of your kids to the best of your ability. I totally notice when I’m not saying my prayers, writing in my gratitude journal, meditating, working out, and taking time for me, I don’t have as much patience with my kids. I’m a better mom when I do things for myself. So that is something that I’ve really tried to implement in the last few years.
: FAVORITE SLC RESTAURANT?
Ruth’s Chris Steak House is our favorite!
: WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE REGIMEN?
I did a whole blog post about my morning skincare routine here. I’ve used Tula for a long time along with a mixture of other favorites. My Tula code is KAILEE.
: BEST PLACE TO TAKE A KID ON A 1 ON 1 TRIP?
If you didn’t know, Joe and I take each kid on a solo trip when they turn 12. I have a whole blog post written about it here. We let the kids choose where they want to go in the US, besides Hawaii. We went to California for Hunter and Hudson chose Boston! Both trips were so fun! We just let the kids pick, so I think you can make anything what you want it to be.
: FAVORITE PERFUME?
It’s called Valentino and I get it from Nordstrom. Here’s the link for it.
: ARE YOU GOING TO ORGANIZE YOUR NEW HOME OR ARE YOU GOING TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL?
I’m going to do it. I feel like I’ve learned enough over the last 9 houses we’ve lived in, about what works and what systems need to be in place for our kids. There are some rooms and some jobs that you can hire a professional if it’s something you can’t tackle yourself. I might hire someone to organize our garage because the garage is not my favorite thing to organize.
: WHY ARE YOU BUILDING A NEW HOUSE?
We truly loved our old house, but we want to have more privacy. No neighbors behind us, smaller schools for the kids, and be closer to Joe’s work.
: WHAT IS ONE PLACE YOU WANT TO VISIT THAT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE?
Definitely Bora Bora! I’m not a big exotic traveler, but Bora Bora is one place I dream of going because staying in the overwater bungalows would be amazing!
: DO YOU HAVE DEBT?
No, we don’t. Just the debt from our house. Right after medical school, we put as much money as we could into paying off those medical school loans. We’ve always lived within our means and don’t buy anything we can’t afford! (besides school, cars and home) Even when we were first married, if we wanted a new couch, we saved up until we knew we could buy it all at once. If we did put something on a credit card, we made sure to pay our credit card off in full every month.
: WILL THERE BE A POOL AT YOUR NEW BUILD?
Yes! It will be the exact same size and exact same sport pool!
: WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR RETIREMENT?
We would love to have a ton of land with nobody by us except family. I would love a milking cow and some chickens so that we can live off our own land! Not necessarily have a full blown farm, but be able to have milk and eggs so that we can make our own cheese, butter, etc. Our family’s dream is to have us all live on the same 15-20 acres and share the duties! Joe has a retirement fund so that gets taken out of his check every month.
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That wraps up my birthday Q+A! Thank you to everyone who put in questions. Should we make this a tradition?! Cheers to year 39!
I swear my little people just got out of school and now we are preparing for school to start! It’s so crazy how fast summer flies by. We’ve been doing some shopping for back to school and I’m excited to share what we’ve found with you all!
Harper is going to school full-time, so we’ve found her some great basics for school this year! If you know anything about me, you know I’m all about the basics! Although Hayden is going to be doing full-time homeschool, I felt that it was important she got to pick out clothes she likes and feels comfortable in. I’ll link all our favorite girl finds below! Most of the items work for both little girls and big girls.
When it comes to my boys, they are all about finding comfortable tees and shorts. We always go with graphic tees and comfy shorts! Houston will be attending school full-time and Hudson will be 50/50. So, we were able to find some good staples that both the boys will love for school and hanging around the house! Most of these items come in both little boy and big boy sizes. Check them out below!
That wraps up our favorite picks for both girls and boys this school year! We’re all about affordable basics for school so I hope everyone was able to find something fun for your littles! If you missed Hunter’s blog post about her teen back-to-school favorites, make sure you check it outhere. Good luck everyone with the new school year!
Hey guys! It’s Hunter here with another Teen Takeover. Before school starts, I normally share a round-up of some of my favorites for back to school. But honestly with soccer tryouts (I made the team!!) and helping my family move, I haven’t had much time to school shop. So I’m going to share some items that I found throughout the summer and some things I’ve recently ordered online (hoping those will get here in time for school). It’s crazy how fast summer has gone by, but I am so excited for sophomore year!
When it comes to tops, I’m all about comfort! My go-to favorite tops are usually graphic tees, oversized hoodies, and good basic tops. Anything I buy is pretty versatile so that I can wear them with jeans, sweats, or shorts. I found a couple fun graphic tees at Nordstrom this summer so I’ll link those below!
My favorite bottoms for school will always be boyfriend jeans, mom jeans, sweats, and shorts! Basically, bottoms that can be paired with any top! I linked my favorite bottoms below so make sure you click through them!
Shoes are always the most important for me! I love finding good basic shoes that also show my personality. I always try to find a good pair of Jordan’s too and I finally found some I love! Converse and Vans are always my favorite picks for school too! Linked my favorites below.
My go-to accessories are simple necklaces, bracelets, rings, and dainty gold hoops. My favorite accessory this summer was my $17 gold initial necklace from Amazon! I wore it with everything. See my other favorites below!
. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE ACCESSORIES. . .
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I know that back to school shopping can be stressful, so I hope this post helped you all and gave you some ideas, whether you are a teen or a parent of a teenager! Feel free to send me some of your favorite back to school finds!!
I wanted to update you all about what is going on with our new build, our home sale, and our new rental. It has been hectic going through this process, but my family and I couldn’t be more grateful for how it’s all worked out.
OUR LIFE UPDATE
: NEW BUILD
So the update on our new build is that we were supposed to break ground a month ago but everyone knows that this process takes longer than expected. We are trying to get a jumbo loan and it’s just been crazy. We’ve been trying to get a couple different loans to get it but long story short, owning our home and trying to start building our new home at the same time is where we were having a hold up. So that’s why we put our house up for sale! We will keep everyone updated when we break ground. We are praying that it will be in the next couple of weeks when we finally close on the loan. The builder is telling us that our home will probably take about 16 months so we are hoping to be in there by next Christmas.
: HOUSE SALE + MOVE
If you didn’t know, we sold our home! We sold it fully furnished. They literally wanted everything… like I’m talking sheets, mattresses, towels, etc. So, we are starting over when it comes to all of that stuff. We did get a full price offer, so we are so grateful. When we signed the papers, we had 13 days to be out of our home. We thankfully found a rental that is still in the same area as our home so that our kids don’t have to change schools, church buildings, etc.
By the time we had gotten accepted for the rental, we only had 6 days to move out all of our stuff. And you think that it’s mainly just moving clothes, but there’s so much stuff you don’t think about! We have been moving all our storage, holiday decorations, sports stuff, 7 bikes, everything in our bathrooms, etc. It has been a lot more than we thought. We also have to furnish our rental, so we’ve been going to IKEA to get new couches, a dining table, barstools, bedding, etc. We also ordered new mattresses from Cariloha so everyone is excited about that, [Cariloha code: KAILEE20]. Truthfully, this selling and moving process has been overwhelming, but again, we are feeling so blessed.
: RENTAL
Our rental home is a lot smaller than our house we sold. The boys will be sharing a room and so will Harper and Hayden. Hunter will have her own room, so there’s not much change there. The rooms are little, their beds barely fit in there! The pantry is TINY compared to our current one and the closets are really little. So those are the only things that are going to be hard to figure out. The rental has an unfinished basement, so there’s tons of room for storage. All that storage space will be wonderful since we don’t need to unpack everything since we’ll be moving again in 15-16 months when the new build is done. As for the yard, it’s completely dead and there is no pool in the backyard.
Even though this house is a lot smaller than our house, I’m looking forward to less cleaning and soaking up more time with my kids. Simplifying is something that gives me peace so I’m looking forward to having less “things” and having more time to do the things we really want. The other day Hunter said she was actually excited to move into the rental. It’s kinda exciting now for the kids because it’s new, but I know it will hit us all soon. I’m sure there will be mourning for our last home. Hayden came into my room last night crying. She’s having a hard time with all the emotions. She is mostly excited but gets sad when she thinks she only has a few more nights in her bed. I’m really trying to teach the kids that memories are in our minds and not attached to things.
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There’s an update for you all about our new build process and moving into our rental! We will keep you all updated when we break ground. Once again, we are just so so grateful. Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive throughout this process!
Although I’m a sucker for good deals, there are a few things that I have splurged on. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite splurge items, but don’t worry because I am also sharing with you the dupe options for less! I wish I would’ve known about these dupes before I splurged so I’m hoping that you will all find something you like for a great price!
First item is these popular Free People “The Way Home” shorts! I have these in multiple colors and wear a size xs. I love the thick waist band and that they are high-waisted! These shorts are $30 and come in 38 colors. I would recommend them to anyone. BUT I have to tell you about the dupe shorts I found on Amazon for only $18.99! I ordered the shorts from Amazon and loved them! The only difference is that the Amazon shorts run a little big, so I would size down when ordering.
If you know anything about me, you know that I wear my Budha Girl bracelets every day! I have been obsessed for years (I wear the small size). These bracelets are lightweight, waterproof, don’t make any noise, and are the perfect accessory for any outfit! However, these bracelets are a bit pricey. Luckily, I have found dupe bracelets on Amazon! On Amazon, they come in a set of 5 and are under $10! They have amazing reviews too! If you have been wanting bracelets like these, this Amazon option might just be what you’re looking for!
This Free People Jumpsuit has been one of my favorite staples for years. It is the perfect staple for any season! It comes in 4 colors and is $70. I know that $70 can be quite the splurge, especially when there is one almost identical on Amazon for cheaper. The Amazon onesie comes in 26 colors and is only $32.99! How much better can it get? Either of these onesies would be great options!
The Lululemon Belt Bag has become so popular, and I totally understand why! They are such good quality and are perfect for running errands or going to the gym. They are $38 and they sell out so quickly. So, if you are looking for a cheaper option that stays in stock then the amazon dupe belt bag is perfect for you! It’s $17.98 and comes in 15 colors! That’s a win in my book.
This cropped tank from Lululemon is my go-to for workouts (wearing a size 4)! It has built-in padding and is butter soft! However, it’s $68 so it’s definitely a splurge. But don’t worry, I’ve found a dupe from Amazon for only $20.98! The Amazon option comes in 22 colors! You can’t go wrong with either of these tanks, but $20 is hard to beat!
Last item I wanted to share is these Chelsea boots from Nordstrom! These boots are water-resistant and fit true to size! They are on sale right now for $69.90, but even for them being on sale, it’s a splurge. I searched for a great dupe and finally found one on Amazon! The Amazon chelsea boots are so similar to the Nordstrom ones but are only $39.99! Both of these boots are great options for Fall coming up!
That wraps up my splurge vs save on my favorite items! I hope that these “save” options will be helpful for you all when looking for an affordable belt bag, a pair of chelsea boots, a cropped workout tank, and more! Now I’m dying to know what your favorite splurges or saves have been!
Is anyone else as shocked as I am that we are weeks away from heading back to school?! I am not sure how I feel about it! This Summer seemed to fly right by! It has been a minute since we did a roundup of your favorites, so I put together a fun roundup of our best sellers of Summer!
I’m not surprised that this bodysuit from Target was a best seller this summer! It has been everyone’s favorite staple! It comes in nine colors and is only $16. I am not the biggest fan of bodysuits, so I just don’t button the bottoms! You’re missing out if you haven’t snagged one of these yet!
I could never live without my Lululemon belt bag! This summer I fell in love with the mini version of the belt bag. It is the perfect size for the gym or running errands. I also found a belt bag dupe on Amazon that has multiple color options and is only $17. These belt bags can be worn as a fanny or as an over-the-shoulder bag. It doesn’t surprise me that these were a hit this summer because they are the perfect accessory to add with any outfit! Not to mention that they are practical and hands-free.
I’m all about bright workout outfits, especially during the summer. This align tank and leggings from Lululemon quickly became my favorite duo! Especially when I add my favorite mini belt bag.
This sweater and short set from Amazon were one of my favorite purchases this summer so I’m glad you all loved it too! It has been the perfect cover up for vacation and lounging around the pool. And for this sun hat, I can’t rave enough about how much I’ve used it this summer! It is a men’s hat, but I ordered the s/m size and it has worked perfectly. Plus, it’s only $20 so you can’t beat that!
This Free People set was a hit this summer! I’m so glad you all loved it as much as I did. I’m wearing the xs size and it fits perfectly. There are 6 other color options and I seriously just want to buy them all! You really can’t go wrong with this set.
I’m very picky when it comes buying sunglasses because I worry about quality and how they will fit on my face but these Quay sunglasses from Amazon have been my go-to this summer. They are the best quality and only $50! You need these sunglasses in your life!
I can’t say enough good things about Free People Movement. They carry the best workout attire and have so many fun options. My favorite picks this summer were definitely this crop tank and shorts! I’m all about the bright colors this summer so I knew I had to try these out! I am so impressed with the quality and how well they fit. For reference, I ordered the xs/s in the tank and xs in the shorts.
My kids are obsessed with their flip straw tumblers! I got each of my kids their own to use for sports, summer activities, etc and they have loved them. They are the perfect size and I love that the flip straw doesn’t leak! That’s a win in my book.
It doesn’t surprise me that this biker set from Amazon was a top seller this summer! It is so comfortable and comes in multiple colors. And even better, it’s under $30! This set is a must have for summer so be sure to grab it. I’m wearing a size small for reference.
This K18 hair mask has been my favorite for years! This mask helps with hair damage restoring strength, softness, and smoothness. And it works for all hair types! To all my blonde friends – you need this! I see a major difference in my hair when I am consistently using this mask. It’s worth every penny!
I’m all about finding flattering swimsuits that run true to size and this colorblock swimsuit from Amazon met all my expectations! It is AMAZING! It has great bum-coverage too. If you are looking for flattering swimsuits that are affordable, Amazon is the place! Shop all my favorite Amazon swimsuits here.
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That sums up our top 15 sellers of the summer!!! I love seeing you guys love the same things I do! Hope everyone is having a great summer!
If you know anything about me, you know that Amazon is my go-to store for online shopping! I’m allll about the quick deliveries and affordable prices! I always love seeing people’s Amazon finds, so I thought it would be fun to show you some things I have recently ordered.
This $17 belt bag is almost identical to the lulu belt bag and is half the price! It also comes in 15 colors! I’ll keep you updated on how they compare.
: AMAZON DRESSES
Amazon is my go-to place for summer dresses! They have the best selection for great prices. I’m excited to try these few I’ve found. I grabbed a simple black puff sleeve dress because it’s perfect for any occasion. I also thought the plaid dress, mauve dress, and mermaid dress would be fun for summer and even fall because square necks and puff sleeves are so in right now. And even better, all these dresses are under $40!
: HENLEY TEE
Everyone needs a henley tee in their wardrobe. They are the best staple! This white henley tee comes in 7 other colors and is only $21.99! That’s a win in my book.
: JOGGER SET
I’m all about comfy summer outfits so when I came across this lightweight jogger set, I knew I had to order it! Plus, it’s under $30 so you can’t beat that!
: NECKLACE
This $17 initial necklace has quickly become Hunter’s favorite so I’m finally ordering one for myself!
: CROP TANK
You know my love for colorful workout tanks and good prices. So when I found this $17 crop tank, I couldn’t say no. It comes in 8 other colors too!
: RUFFLE JUMPSUIT
My kids and I basically live outside by the pool so I ordered this ruffle jumpsuit to use as a pool cover up! It will be perfect for vacations too.
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That wraps up my most recent Amazon order! I’m excited to see how they all turn out. Let me know what random Amazon finds you have found lately!
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is in full force and like usual, things are selling out so fast!! I know it can be frustrating and major let down. But, I’ve looked through my favorites and still found 6 items I LOVED from the sale in stock and ready! Check them out below!
top + pants (N SALE ITEM) + flip flops + hat + bracelets
PANT SIZING DETAILS: wearing a SMALL – perfect length (I’m 5’4)
These pants are still available in all sizes and I am actually pretty surprised!! They feel like pajamas but are so versatile. You could easily dress them up with heels for a night out, or keep them casual for a day on the go like I did here. LOVE them!
This coat was a favorite for both Hunter and I! I love the uniqueness of it and how comfortable it is! It gives such a fun vintage sporty vibe we both loved!
lounge set (N SALE ITEM) + hat + bracelets
LOUNGE SET SIZING DETAILS: wearing an XS – TTS + absolutely love the lightweight fabric
While this set is sold out in this fun pattern, it is still available in a super cute light tie dye pattern. They are buttery soft and I’m not ashamed to admit I have worn them non stop since the sale!
top + jeans (N SALE ITEMS) + hat + bracelets
TOP SIZING DETAILS: wearing a XS – runs TTS – these lightweight long sleeves are the BEST STAPLE
JEANS SIZING DETAILS: wearing a SIZE 4 – I think they run a big, so size down. They have a lot of stretch.
If you know me you know I’m all about basic closet staples and this long sleeve is one I’ve loved for years!! It is such a great stretchy fitted long sleeve! You can grab it in 4-5 colors this year and it is worth stocking up on!
This is another one I am shocked is still in stock! I have used this curling iron religiously for years because there is not better!! It does not use a lot of heat so your hair is staying more protected, but the results are amazing every time! Quality is amazing and it will last you years!
If you are in search of a good self tanner, this is the absolute best!! This is pretty much all I use right now because the results are so good and it is quick and easy to apply. I love to stock up on a price like this! Check out this post for some of my tanning tips too!
. . .
I hope that little roundup helps you find what you’re looking for before the sale ends!
If you would’ve asked me before or during the pandemic if I would ever consider homeschool, I probably would’ve laughed in your face! To be honest it was the furthest thing from my mind. But as the world changes and so many things are out of my control as a parent, I really started to get this gut feeling that I needed to look into it more. I mentioned it over on Instagram and got a TON of feedback (alll positive) about it, as well as so much help in how to get going. So today I thought it might be helpful to kind of explain my why, our tentative plan, what has helped me prep, and ALL your amazing recommendations!
I’m sure most of you can agree with me right now, that the world is kind of a crazy place. There is so much being presented to our kids at school (particularly in the older middle school grades) that I just was shocked about. For me, after talking to my kids and their situations over the past year, I just really felt the pull to take more control. Another reason we started to consider the homeschool option was scheduling, particularly for Hudson. When he misses school for baseball, he has had to stay hours after to make stuff up, for silly classes like PE. I was seeing so little of him already with normal school hours, and that just bothered me! So we started to see what we could do about it.
: OUR HOMESCHOOL PLAN
As far as our plan goes, we are not jumping in with 5 kids at 100% full time. With our bigger kids, we sat down with them individually and let them help make the decision. Here is what we are planning on for the start of this school year.
Hunter:
She will go to high school full time. We may do one class as homeschool, but as of now, her schedule will remain all public school.
Hudson:
He will be doing 50/50 with homeschool and middle school. In the mornings he will be home doing history, gym, and home economics/gardening. I honestly cannot wait for this time with him and love how excited he is about it too. In doing our research, Joe and I have also read a lot about the benefits for teens to get an extra hour of sleep. Studies show it is so much better for their health than anything else, which is why we are choosing to do mornings with us. He will do lunch at school, as well as math, science, and english.
Hayden: She is going to do 100% homeschool. I am equal parts so excited and so nervous. We tend to butt heads a lot, so I am more apprehensive as to what to expect. She is the middle child and totally craves that one on one time, so I also think this may just be an answer to our prayers. We are both going into it with an open mind, and know that if it doesn’t work out, she can change things after Christmas.
Houston + Harper:
As of right now, the littles are going to go 100% public school. I know they love learning with their little friends and think they are still in a place where it is so beneficial for them. Depending on how things work out with the big kids, we may start doing partial homeschool in the future.
: OUR CURRICULUM PLAN
You guys gave me SO many recommendations and were full of so much knowledge that I am so grateful for. After doing our research, we are going to use The Good + The Beautiful program.
. . .
As I mentioned above, you guys were so beyond helpful when I asked for your help on this. I got hundreds of messages with books, accounts, and curriculums to try. If you are considering this yourself, or interested in learning more, I highly recommend you check them out!
I know that is a TON of information, but I hope it helps kind of give you a better idea of where we are at, and if you are interested some places to start!
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is officially here!! We are rounding up all of our favorites for the family, and this post is all about your teen! Check out our favorites for both boys + girls below, and head over to stories to get some details from Hunter!
Hudson is all about simple basics, just like his dad. The Nordstrom Sale is such a great place to snag those for your teen. I loved that this year they had a lot of simple tee styles available in short sleeve, long sleeve, and hoodie so you could hit the season you needed. We also scored a lot of great neutral shorts.
Hunter came with me to shop the Nordstrom Sale this year and it was so much fun!! She said her favorite finds were for sure the great selection of graphic tees + these jeans she is wearing! She’s got sizing details for you below too!
graphic tee + jeans + shoes (all N SALE items)
TEE SIZING DETAILS: wearing a small – oversized fit
JEANS SIZING DETAILS: these run small so go a size or two up
SHOES SIZING DETAILS: run true to size
graphic tee + jeans + shoes (all N SALE items)
TEE SIZING DETAILS : wearing a small – oversized fit
JEANS SIZING DETAILS: these run small so go a size or two up
SHOES SIZING DETAILS: run true to size
graphic tee + jeans + shoes (all N SALE items)
TEE SIZING DETAILS : wearing a small – oversized fit
JEANS SIZING DETAILS: these run small so go a size or two up
SHOES SIZING DETAILS: run true to size
top + jeans + shoes (all N SALE items)
TOP SIZING DETAILS : wearing a small – true to size / cropped but fitted
JEANS SIZING DETAILS: these run small so go a size or two up
SHOES SIZING DETAILS: run true to size
