Hi, friends. Gosh, our family is still fighting off a cold over here. Tis the season I suppose. Any tried and true remedies that work for you? It’s not bad enough to keep us home or in bed, but just annoying enough where we all feel pretty lousy. That aside, I stumbled upon some great sale pieces and I am also asking for your help! Let’s jump in.
GREAT BUYS
dress | sunglasses | converse | similar tote | necklace
Noticed this dress is back in stock in all three colors and in all sizes. I really adore this dress and wear it quite a bit. I wear it for date night with booties but also for running around with my Converse. It feels like pajamas and has a very forgiving fit.
top (50% off) | handbag | similar jeans | booties | sunglasses
This top is now 50% off and one that people always comment on. The sleeves are super cute with a seersucker print, ruffles, and bows. It’s a thicker material and feels like a lightweight sweatshirt. Very soft and comfortable.
ASK AWAY
In other news, I am planning to do a Q & A session on the blog. I thought it would be a fun way for us to sit down and have a up of coffee in the morning and fit in a little girl chat. So fire away. I am happy to answer questions about blogging, decorating, shopping, family life, parenting, grief . . . you name it. I honestly feels so lucky to have such a loyal and wonderful readership and this will be a fun way for us to get to know each other more. So feel free to leave a question in the comments below, email me or direct message me on Instagram.
And talk about hot buys, that velvet pillow above is only $8 from Ikea. Boom. The very soft tape is just what I have been looking for.
Turning to current events. It’s absolutely heart wrenching to watch the news and see what its going on. We have been glued to the coverage and consistently praying for everyone affected by all of the natural disasters. There is a comment in my last post (a talk by Mr. Rogers) that could help when trying to talk with children about the endless tragedies they are witnessing.
Is that chair also from IKEA? I’m trying to talk the hubs into getting two of those chairs but he is digging in about rattan in the house. Is it comfy to sit in? It would be in our not so formal formal living room which we don’t use much but I love the look of rattan and leather together.
Also, my other question for you – do you set your tarte foundation with powder or wear it alone? I’m thinking about giving it a try but my skin tends to get oily late in the day so wondering if I will need powder with it.
Hey Kim , I had to butt in and mention you should try the Too Faced Peach Foundation (sephora)…I have super oily skin and this has lasted me my entire day at work. I’m pretty impressed with it 🙂
Would love to know actually what you do for workouts and how many days a week you do them. I need some ideas as my workouts are getting rather boring and I dread doing them.
What it should’ve said was, what exactly do you do for workouts?
Love the chair, pillow and throw. My oldest had the chairs, but I can’t remember if she sold them when she moved this past spring. She loved them, and thought they were comfy (if they are the Ikea ones).
And yes, so much devastation. We hosted my cousin and his family during Irma. All was well when they returned home, but sadly my aunt (his mother) suffered a brain aneurysm shortly after (in Maine, they are in FL). She passed away this morning. Their lives have been upheaved for weeks now. It breaks my heart.
As for questions…how much time to you have girlfriend. You know I adore you, the fam, your style, your honesty. What haven’t we “talked” about in 7 years of blogging?
I guess one of the things I love most about your home (and your previous home) is that while you have kept decor simple (minimal?), it has big impact. Hope that makes sense. I am at a point where I would like to have a bit more “free space”. But, I find when I start taking things away our rooms appear a bit cold, empty. Or like in our kitchen, things I would like to put away to clear counter space are needed everyday. Hope I am making sense with all this. Any tips and advice on the topic of editing while still keeping a room warm?
The other thing I am struggling with is decorating a Master Bedroom. I prefer function over a bunch of stuff that just needs dusting every week.
for colds our essential oils help us. lemon, lavender and peppermint and thieves. using them now for sore throats!
Love your blog so much! I have a few questions for you –
1) I have a son and daughter, like you, and they are 2 years apart. How do you help your kids build a close friendship? Sometimes my son, who is the younger one, will purposely annoy my daughter. I think he just wants attention, but it can end up in screaming matches between the two of them. So stressful! Any tips on that?
2) How do you prioritize your remodeling projects? I have so many things I would love to update and redo in our home, but I know it will take lots of time and money. We have to do things one at a time, and sometimes it is hard to have a cohesive plan because we are not doing the entire room at the same time.
Thank you!
Ohmygosh Elizabeth, I could’ve written these exact questions! My son is 2 years younger than my daughter and he is such a bugger to her sometimes! I’m praying it’s just a phase. ????????????
I would love to read more about your everyday life for example how you plan your days, how you get things done in and around the house, exercising and I’m very interested in reading about your eating habits. What are you eating in a week? And do the kids eat everything as well? I’m also interested in how the whole30 inspired eating is going.
Love your blog by the way!
This is what I was going to write would love to hear hour by hour how your day goes on typical day. Seems like you are able to fit in so much. Also your eating habits as well.
I find myself with never ending list of to do’s with not much getting crossed off. I was so inspired with how you got settled so fast. We moved into a new place before you and still have many unfinished rooms. Do you hire out for certain things, like house cleaning, laundry, food service? Just want to become more efficient with my very little spare time I have with a full time job and a 6 and 9 year old.
I would love a Q & A post! I would love to know more about your background. You have mentioned you used to be a teacher. Did you stop teaching to stay home with your kids? What made you decide to do blogging full time and how exactly did you get into blogging? Thanks!
I noticed you have the Troy Sausalito light hanging in your entryway. It is currently on sale and I have been eyeing this light fixture for some time now. I wanted to hang it in my entryway as well, however I only have eight foot ceilings. How tall are your ceilings? I wonder if I should go with a semi-mount instead. I have enjoyed reading your blog and love the inspiration you provide. Thanks so much!!
I’m a former teacher too! 🙂 Would love to hear your answer, Courtney!
Also, for colds- I just love Wellness Mama’s recipe for Elderberry Syrup – my 3 kids were all sick and I completely avoided it a week ago! (And I was wiping a lot of noses, haha.) Here’s the link: https://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/ It really helps to both avoid getting sick when someone in your house is sick, and it helps shorten recovery time if you do get something.
Looking forward to these Q & A posts!
Not sure if you can get it in the US, but Vicks First Defence at the first hint of a cold, along with echinacea.
What a fabulous idea! I know this is way too open ended and if I lived in CA I would hire you :), but since I can’t…need help with wall decor ideas for my kids’ rooms. Just repainted and have their forever (or til college) furniture, but the walls are EMPTY.
P.S. Your new home is AMAZING
Love your blog. Wondering how many other Canadians follow you? Love the fashion and home decor finds but we don’t have those stores here. I’m 45 mins from Toronto and I think they just got a Nordstrom.
Hi Carolyn,
I’m a loyal reader and I live in Vancouver, Canada ????????We have a Nordstrom here but I just order things online! Their international shipping is really ersonable and I think the return policy is good too…I have t had to return anything yet!
As a family with two little ones under 5 and a baby on the way, we’re struggling to keep our budget. Any suggestions you might have especially as a mom who had two little ones?
I would also like to see a post about your eating habits and diet. A Day In Your Life Post would also be good. If you are willing, a closet tour would be great too!
Hey Courtney!
For a cold, I recommend Bee Propolis – you can get it from Beekeepers Naturals. I’ve been using it for about 6 months now and every time I feel a sore throat coming on – I spritz some extra sprays of this sweet spray in the back of my throat and it totally goes away! I did some research after hearing about it on a podcast – and so far it’s been working really well in my house. Good Luck!
For the Q and A – I would love to hear about how you prepare a space for a renovation or redecoration. Do you store items no longer needed? Sell them? Do you completely empty a space before a project begins? Or just move things in/out as required by the project and when times arrive or are completed? I always feel overwhelmed by the existing stuff and the process of preparing for and starting a new project. So often times – I just do nothing as a result!
Would love to see a ‘day in the life’ post from you Courtney. Also, some tips on how you stay on top of mess in your home. I try so hard but like you, have a husband, daughter and son who seem to make it their life’s work to un-do my efforts!! How do you work keeping your home clean and tidy into your work on your blog and your role as Mother and wife. I can’t imagine how you keep up! I know I struggle! xx