Happy Monday! I’m actually glad the weekend is over, so I can put last week behind me! That sounds horrible but I’m so ready to get back into a routine (and to not have our house as torn up)! The bulk of my weekend was spent hiding away in our house or outside while the painting crew was here, so I got next to nothing done and really didn’t do much relaxing. But the good news is, they’re almost done! More on that below, and in tomorrow’s kitchen progress post.
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Home Updates & Projects
I haven’t mentioned this much before, but when I had the painting in the kitchen bid, I also had them include bids for other areas in our home. We figured while we were in the mess, it was worth having a look at the numbers. We actually included the window trim/doors/railings in all the common areas in this project! So, when I said I was hiding away, for the weekend, I really wasn’t kidding. I had to crawl thru a plastic hole to go to bed each night! I’ll share more in tomorrow’s post, but here’s a sneak peek of just how crazy it was. Worse than when the ceilings were painted!
The kitchen moved so quickly that we borderline felt like everything was done. So, having our house covered in dust again was far from fun. But, it’s obviously just part of the process!
Also, I need your help! While the painters were here, they set our metal waste basket from our powder room on the countertop so they could do some taping. The countertop must have been wet, and as the waste basket sat there for two days, it rusted into the quart. Guys, we can’t get it out! The painters are going to try something later, but I’d love to hear if you guys have any suggestions for getting rust out of quartz. We thought this stuff was pretty much supposed to be indestructible and impenetrable, but apparently that isn’t the case. Our exact material is Daltile called One Quartz in the Luminesce color. I want to ensure that whatever we use won’t dull the polished surface. Help!!
Around Town & For Fun
Kurtis headed to Iowa for the weekend to help with his Grandma’s estate sale. He had originally planned to only be gone Friday night, but ended up staying thru Sunday afternoon to help with other things. So, it was just me and the painters all weekend. The poor cats had to stay locked in the basement all weekend to avoid the painting mess. I was basically trapped at our house for the weekend, so it was a bit boring. I did go out a few times to check on my sister-in-law’s cats but otherwise I was at home. I can’t wait for the days of freedom, post kitchen-renovation, where I’m not trapped at our house any longer!
When I wasn’t inside hiding in my hole, I was outside just sitting on the patio. It was nearly 90 degrees most of the weekend, so while it would have been perfect pool weather, I was fully dressed. I figured the painters didn’t need to see my business 😉
I ended up reading and finishing The Wife Between Us, after receiving a lot of recommendations for it. It was pretty good, with some unexpected plot twists. I would compare it to The Girl on the Train, or other similar psychological thrillers (just not as scary). After finishing that, I wanted something a bit lighter, so I started Love and Other Words last night. I’m already about 25% of the way through it and really enjoy it so far!
Friday night, I watched a few Netflix movies, but on Saturday, the TV was covered in plastic so I couldn’t even do that. I told you I was boring this weekend! Like I said, it’s all just part of the process, but it’s definitely frustrating when you’re in the moment. So, I’m looking forward to the week ahead – we’re so close to the finish line!!
I’ve been so wrapped up in the kitchen stuff, that I haven’t been posting on Instagram either. It’s hard to share anything when your house is covered in an inch of dust and drop cloths everywhere 😉 But, I’m wanting to take a bunch of photos this week and share all the fun updates we have going on. I mentioned this once before, but there is also a mini project I haven’t talked about yet that will be wrapping up soon. I’m excited for all the reveals I’ll have to share over the coming month or so!
Recent Buys & Sales
This week is full of some of the best sales of the year! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opens to cardholders bright and early on Thursday. I ended up getting a Nordstrom card last year just so I could have pre-sale access. I hated how in prior years, most things sold out before the sale ever went live for the public! Get ALL the details on the sale here. As a reminder, I’ll be doing a huge post with my top picks once the sale goes live.
Then, Amazon Prime Day starts next Monday for all Prime members! You can get a sneak peek of what’s to offer here. In prior years, this sale has been bigger than their Black Friday and Cyber Monday offerings!
And now, that the 4th of July has passed, I feel like stores already think it’s fall/winter and are offering crazy markdowns on summer clothes. Which is great since there are basically still two months left of summer! Here are a few of the best sales going on right now:
- J CREW is offering up to 75% off TONS of sale items plus 30% off your purchase with code BIGSALE. You can shop the sale here.
- J CREW FACTORY has marked their entire site 50% off – plus an EXTRA 20% off your purchase and free shipping with code FORREAL! You can shop the sale here.
- NORDSTROM has added tons of markdowns for women and home, likely in preparation for their Anniversary Sale this week. This tie-front tee (shown below) I’ve been wearing all summer is now only $14.40 in four colors! I love the slightly longer length. If you’re between sizes, I’d order down, as it does run a little large. You can shop current sale items here.
- POTTERY BARN is still hosting their buy more/save more sale, with 15-30% off your purchase! Also, one of my favorite pillow covers of the season is now only $16.99! Shop the sale here.
- WILLIAMS SONOMA HOME is offering 20% off your entire order, plus unlimited flat-rate delivery, with code HOME. Shop their sale here.
Tie-Front Top | 5″ Denim Cut-Off Shorts (currently 40% off with code THANKU) | Striped Sandals | Tassel Earrings | Bamboo Bag (knock-off version here) | Blue Aviator Sunglasses | Makeup Setting Mist | Faux Palmetto Palm
I hope you all have a great week!
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Marty Oravetz says
When all the painting and remodeling is done, it will look so fabulous. Going through ours last year is still fresh in my memory too, I understand how frustrating it can be.
Janice says
We have white quartz countertops and also had a rust ring from a cast iron pan. I read that soft scrub (with bleach) would work. And, sure enough, it worked flawlessly and all I had to do was wipe it off! I’d research it before you try on your counters though. Good luck!
Linda Grubbs says
Loved this post….made me fell “not so bad” about having been frustrated by my big mess! It’s behind me now, but had the “popcorn” scraped from my living room ceiling and retextured. I can imagine what you’ve been going through! Hang in there, it will be SO worth it! I love your style!!
Just ordered a tie- t-shirt from Nordstrom’s…. thanks for the heads up! Great price. Excited for your next post to see what’s happening!
Renee@Living511 says
Try Bar Keepers friend. You can find it at any grocery/retail store. It is excellent for rust. I would mix it with a little water in a bowl to make a thick paste and place it on the ring, let it set for a few minutes and wipe up gently. I wouldn’t scrub it because it may be a little abrasive on your new countertop. I have used it in several areas where we have had rust and it has worked great. Hope this helps.
Kate says
I’ve been successful removing rust from our quartz with Bar Keepers Friend, the spray foam kind, about $3 at any home improvement store. (Most places only carry the powder). I let it sit for a few minutes, went to work, and it came off perfectly. For what it’s worth, it took me two years of trying products, none of which worked, so it was kind of unbelievable when this was so easy.
jen says
We had a yellow stain on our new quartz countertop. Looked like a heat stain. The quartz ppl came out and used diotamaceous earth to clean it. I had tried EVERYTHING and that worked.
Good luck and please let us know what does work!
D.Michelle says
I always look forward to reading your blog and absolutely love seeing your projects. However, I have to say, your past few posts have really started to rub me the wrong way! Yes, renovations are a PIA, I’ve been there/done that when we did a new kitchen and a big addition but please remember to acknowledge you are getting a beautiful, brand new kitchen, fresh paint, etc.. Enough of the complaining! We are in desperate need of some things done around our house that aren’t just for aesthetics but have to be done and money doesn’t grow on trees! Again, I realize your blog is yours and you have every right to post whatever you want, however, I think a lot of people who are part of your audience are still scratching heads as to why you needed a brand spanking new kitchen to begin with so the complaints are getting a little old. I’m not trying to be the bad guy so please don’t take offense. You truly seem like a very nice person who works extremely hard but I just wanted to make you aware, and I know I’m not alone, in saying you might be starting to alienate a portion of your readership.
Sarah says
Hi Michelle-
I really appreciate your comment. It’s always difficult for me to strike a balance between being optimistic and yet keeping it real and not wanting to gloss over the details. I have a lot of readers going thru similar renovations (or will in the near future) so I wanted to keep my experience genuine, even if that means talking about the tough moments. But I never intended for that to ever come across as complaining and I apologize if that’s how it sounded – that was never my intent. As always, I appreciate you following my blog and taking the time to comment. Thank you,
Sarah
Christine says
Looking good. I can’t wait to see it when it’s complete. We have white quartz and swear by Bar Keepers Friend. It’s removed every stain we ever had and was recommended by the quartz dealer. Good luck! Love your style.
Allison @ House of Hepworths says
In our old home we left a cast iron pan on our new granite and it left a ring. It never came out completely. We tried a magic eraser, wipes, scrubbers. I bought a product for rust from home depot and that mostly worked but it was forever discolored. Of course, that was granite, not quartz. I’ve got quartz in my new kitchen and as far as I can tell, a magic eraser takes EVERYTHING out.
Carol says
Yes, Magic Eraser takes everything out, including the porcelain, learned the hard way, glossy sink now mat finish : )
I am glad to know I am not the only one that can’t relax with workers in the house. I feel guilty sitting there while they work, like they might think I am goofing off!