Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Last week was crazy hot and humid here and now, after yesterday’s rain, I think we’ll be at much more manageable temps for the next week or two. Thankfully! It’s also our 14th anniversary today. More on that below!
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Home Projects & Updates
I spent most of the week working in the yard again (even with the extreme heat we’d been having). We were getting nightly rains and lots of heat, which made most of our shrubs and bushes get a little unruly!
We’ve had this cordless hedge trimmer for a few years and I’m in love with it. It takes the same battery as our drills, leaf blower, etc. and I never worry I’m going to cut my hand off or anything 😉 It definitely gets the job done and is so easy to use! Here’s the before and after our by the pool. The second level bushes are the ones I attacked on Thursday. I think I’m going to go back and trim them down even further!
And this is on the other side of our backyard. That bush on the left by the pine tree was nearly eight feet tall at it’s highest point! It was crazy just how fast it got out of control! I cleaned about three feet off of it and rounded it up (along with the other random bushes) and it looks so much cleaner now! Clearly we neglect this side of our yard and it seriously has the most random plants (a mix of the former owner’s and ours). The only thing I really love is they hydrangea bush on the far right hand side. If I spot any hydrangea sales soon, I may be taking advantage and getting this area looking a little more presentable!
And speaking of hydrangeas, my hydrangea tree is about to explode with blooms and I couldn’t be happier!
And the limelights out front are starting to bloom, as well. I’m going to start making a journal each year with the dates they start blooming (nerd alert). But I get so excited anticipating their arrivals each year! Clearly I need to bring the hedge trimmer out front and work on the yews this week!
I’m going to plan on writing a post on all of our hydrangeas because it sounds like many of you were interested in my growing tips, etc. I may wait another week or two so I can get good photos of each type in full bloom before I share it with you. Also then, maybe I’ll stop talking about them in every other post I write the rest of the summer 😉
Around Town & For Fun
Friday afternoon we both decided to quit work a little early and jump in the “hot tub”. With the extreme heat we had been having all week, our pool was up to 94 degrees at one point! Not exactly refreshing (especially when the heat index was well over 100 outside), but we made the most of it! We decided to head to Firebirds for an early anniversary dinner. We’re both usually too cheap to eat in the “real” side of the restaurant so we took advantage of happy hour food and drinks at the bar.
I found this cute note in my door last week from three of our neighbor girls. I’m trying to think of what they can help me with because I’m loving their entrepreneurial spirits! Any good job ideas for age 10-ish girls? They said they do anything, not just cleaning, when they came back later in the week and gave me their sales pitch 😉
Saturday I did a bit of yard work in the morning before we headed out to the pool. Got to take advantage of those sunny days!
Sunday a front rolled in, and it rained almost all day long. We finally got a break from all the heat! I don’t think it ever got above the high 70’s. Not great pool weather, so we decided to just be super lazy all day. It was pretty glorious! I started a new book and decided to make use of the reading space in our new den. Henley was a happy camper and joined me on the sectional the whole time I was up there!
Last night, I noticed our little bunny “friend” returned to our yard. And went straight for my potato vines. They were all finally starting to recover from the last time he came through and devoured them. You can see him here right below the center of the pot. He’s lucky he’s so cute and tiny 😉
Today is our 14th anniversary! It honestly makes zero sense to us that we’ve been married so long – it’s gone by so quickly! It isn’t always fun and games, but it’s been one heck of a ride and I’m so glad I get to do it all with Kurtis! I told him he needs to start saving his pennies with our 15th anniversary and my 40th birthday all falling next year 😉
We have Kurtis’ side of the family all coming into town later this week for our pool weekend with them. The weather should be beautiful and we’re excited to get together with everyone for a fun weekend!
Recent Buys & Sales
Before we get to the other sales, I wanted to mention that the outdoor conversation set we love so much is currently 40% off! Even at full price we feel like it’s a solid deal for the quality and the fact you get the sofa, two chairs, and a table!
Following are some sales that have carried over from the weekend!
- ANTHROPOLOGIE is offering 25% off bedding, rugs, curtains, and more (prices as marked) as well as 30% off all swimsuits and cover-ups. You can shop the sale here.
- BANANA REPUBLIC is offering 40% off full-priced items. No code required. You can shop their sale here.
- CRATE & BARREL is offering 15% off bedding and bath. You can shop the sale here.
- J CREW is offering up to 75% off sale items with code WHOA. You can shop their sales here.
- J CREW FACTORY is offering an extra 70% off clearance items with code NIGHTSALE (looks like this could end in the next few hours) and 40-60% off nearly everything else. You can shop their sale here.
- NORDSTROM launched their Anniversary Sale to the public on Friday. I shared all of my initial top picks here and my full try-on session here. I love that you can shop all the fall looks on sale before the season starts (even if I’m 0% ready to start thinking about fall). You can shop their sale items here.
- OLD NAVY is offering 30% off everything with code HURRY, or you can spend your SuperCash if you have it! You can shop their sale here.
- POTTERY BARN is offering 20% off your order and free shipping with code SUMMER. You can shop their sale here.
- RUGS USA is hosting their Summer Black Friday event, offering up to 75% off all rugs! You can shop their sale here.
- SERENA & LILY has added to their sale section with items up to 75% off. You can shop their sales here.
- TARGET is offering up to 30% off clearance home and patio items. You can shop their sales here.
- TJ MAXX has tons of markdowns for home right now. You can shop their sale here.
- WAYFAIR is hosting their Black Friday in July Sale with up to 70% off hundreds of items. You can shop their sale here.
I hope you all have a great week!
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Maren says
So cute! I don’t know if you have more clean-up to do, but you could let them pick up all of the clippings outside from what you trim! Yesterday was a nice break from the heat! Have a great week!
Cherish says
That outdoor patio set is beautiful. How do you keep it clean?
Susan says
Happy Anniversary!
There something so rewarding when you get some trimming and shaping done in the yard. Even your bunny is trying to help. We are having bunny help too as well as deer and those squirrels that pull up the impatiens plants and enjoy them for a snack. Looking forward to some cooler temps and rain soon , I hope.
Your yard is looking lush and green, beautiful.
Corrine Stewart says
Happy Anniversary to our wonderful son and wonderful/amazing daughter-in-law. Looking forward to the weekend to have “Good Family Fun”. Love you both!!
joni says
i think i need you to film your trimming. im always afraid i will ruin it so i hire someone. i would love to see you shape a bush.
Norma Rolader says
Happy blessed 14th Anniversary
Beth Ann says
I have 3 kiddos under 12 and they are always dreaming up various business ideas with their friends to keep themselves busy during the summer and make a few bucks.
Some ideas if you would like to ‘hire’ them:
– water your flowers (while you travel or have a busy week/weekend)
– Help with yard work
– Play/pet the cats
– If their parents are around to supervise ask the girls to bake some treats for company you have coming (my youngest and her friends baked muffins for a neighbor having company – I heavily supervised)
– Fold your towels (after a weekend with company, I would image you’d have a lot)
Really – half the fun for the kiddos is dreaming up ideas, creating materials and then feeling validated that they were able to provide a service and earn some money. I think that is fantastic that you are willing to support them!
Lori R. says
As for hiring the neighbor kiddos…book them now to do your holiday gift wrapping. I did this a few years ago with neighboring entrepreneurs it was great! I always plan in advance the color scheme of the paper ribbons, etc purchase everything…then invite them over to have a wrapping party (paid ) & provide refreshments …really gets everyone in the spirit ! Tip: send the rest of your family out with Dad or other family for the afternoon or night since you don’t want them peeking!😉