1. I took 20 minutes and zhooshed the kitchen last Sunday, with a few new things and the freshness always makes me fall in love with a room all over again. It also inspires me to keep the counters clearer and invite someone new over.
We added this printable equivalents chart (I tore the edges of like in my print making classes in college) in this frame, and these nesting batter bowls. I got a lot of questions about the large white bowls on the top shelf--they are from Amazon right here. We use them for everything from Pho and Ramen to serving or a big bowl or cereal.
We also hung the hanging herbs back in the kitchen! Target still has the hanging planters (here) that we added some additional twine to to stagger them a bit. The twist? They're faux herbs. The basil (from here) could not look more real! And we put these faux herbs in the other. Chris goes through our actual herbs so fast, hanging them wasn't working or practical for him, but I missed the hanging planters and I'm so thrilled with the solution.
2. I started doing my nighttime facial routine as soon as I get the girls to bed, instead of two hours later when I'm too tired. It's a small thing that feels like such a big, positive change. I take my time removing my makeup, and washing away the day and then sometimes I'll do a mask and finish up with my favorite face and eye cream. Put on a line on lash boost above my lashes and my white strips on for 30 minutes. My skin feels so much happier. (I love this mask, this face cream and this eye cream.)
3. These 5 tips for photographing interiors. I'm always trying to improve!
4. I got dressed in real clothes every day. Because I work from home, it's easy to fall into a loungewear habit, but a button up and jeans still makes me feel more productive sitting at my desk and it felt strangely fun wearing my clothes just for me--like my true self.
5. Our backyard playground was swarming with kids as the weather warmed up earlier this week.
6. I went to Target with a friend and didn't force myself to love any of the new OpalHouse stuff. It's just not for me, and that's okay! (I did love this top though and totally bought it).
7. I tackled a big, easy, tedious DIY fabric project that I'm really excited about--and will share soon! But mostly it was so fun to just focus on a project I could do 100% myself again.
9. Instead of an alarm, I started using the bedtime option (it's in the clock icon) and not only does it wake me up with the nicest tune, but it also lets me know 30 minutes before I need to go to sleep, to start winding down. Like a reverse alarm. I won't start another episode. I'll close my computer and just relax those last 30 minutes and I've been sleeping so much better--for 8 hours a night--waking up at 6:10 to hit the gym feels so much easier.
10. My new "leather" jacket came (I ended up going with this one from Express) and I haven't stopped wearing it. It's perfect and the weather is just right for it!
What made you happy this week?
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I am struggling with the height of my kitchen shelves. What is the height of yours from the counter? Any thoughts ("i wish we had......")
Our bottom shelf is about 18in, and I think it's great for us. But we're a little taller. You can use painter's tape to put lines on the wall where you're thinking of putting your shelves, and that can help you visualize.
How did you get the faux herbs to look right in your plantners? I bought the studio McGee faux herbs and same planters from target but was a bit disappointed at how small they are. They don’t look right in the planters
Is it the herbs themselves or the base that looks small? The base of ours is small but unseen so we don't worry about it - the leaves look good. If the small base bothers you, you could even add some real dirt around it.
Is that footed tray in your kitchen the hearth and hand one from Target? If so, it looks so much darker on their site. I love the color of yours! If not, do you mind telling me where it's from?
Also, You are motivating me to get better about a face washing nightly routine! I'm so bad!
Yes! That's the Target one. It's fantastic.
perfect! Thank you!!
Hmmm. As of last Friday (i'm blog catching up), what would I have said made me happy the previous week? I was home in Oklahoma with my parents (I live in France), so mainly just being there with my folks -- my dad turned 80 the week before. Things like having my dad's grilled burgers, or my husband cooking polpette for my folks and aunt and uncle; visiting a new independent bookstore in Tulsa and seeing all the rejuvenation work downtown; treating myself to some new fabric since the shipping rates were right; moseying around Michael's looking at paper crafting stuff and buying a few little things; and pruning some pyracantha with my dad. Just the little things of being home mean a lot when it's so far away.
Love your zhooshing!!
Do you have any favorite ramen recipes you could share? Yum!
Chris just started experimenting with it! I'll try to get him to share one.
Can you please tell me where you got the shelving for your kitchen. I see where you bought the brackets but not the shelving. Thank you
We got them reclaimed from a local lumber yard
What a great idea! Are they making any other furniture pieces as well?
I’m not seeing where the brackets for the shelves are from ?! Would you mind sharing??
There are so many bed time apps. Do you mind saying whatwhat is the exact name of the one you use? Thanks!
The one I use is standard with iPhone! It's under the clock section where you find timer and the standard alarm. It's called bedtime.
Well, this was very interesting to learn. Thanks.
I honestly don't get the new Opal House line. I was a fan of Project 62 but I'm lost on this one...nothing really appeals :/
Do you have links for the decor you have next to your sonos speaker?
The candle is my favorite forever fig Candie and the succulent is faux from target
I am a major evangelist of the bedtime app! The sounds are so gradual and pleasant, which is perfect for me because I’m a light sleeper, and I prefer to finish getting ready without waking up the kids.
What made me happy this week:
* An unexpected cold snap. I live in Houston and will postpone summer heat as long as I can!
* Transitioning to using a paint sprayer. Definitely a learning curve, but my last layer was maple cabinet door fronts, and I nailed it.
* Homemade pizza.
* The small kindness story on Cup of Jo about "Yellow Submarine"
I always look forward to Casual Fridays, but I really like the slight shift to "Casual Friday: 10 things that made me happy." More please!
Happy weekend!
Thank you for sharing Zano's room!!!! xoxoxoxo
Washing my face every night was a goal for me too and right after the kids are in bed is the best time! I also brush my teeth at the same time which keeps me from late night snacking lol.
Which wake up sound did you pick for the bedtime app out of curiosity?
Sunny. :) It's rejuvenating.
Doing your nighttime routine early is a game changer!
I totally started using the bedtime option as well and am loving it.
The picture of your dog made me smile - my first impression is that he is color-coordinated to the kitchen with white, black and a touch of gold.
I know right? She was meant to be in our family.
I use the bedtime feature as well, and i really love it. It's easy to lose track of time in the evenings, so I like having that reminder. Mine goes off an hour before bedtime, and I will stop what I'm doing and go start my bedtime routine (wash my face, brush my teeth, take the dog out, etc.). Most nights I'm in bed 20-30 minutes before lights out, so I have some time to do a little reading before falling asleep.
Can I ask what size you got in the leather jacket? I’ve had my eye on it, just not sure what size to get.
I got a small and I'm so happy the sleeves are long enough!
I love how you mention you are making an effort to wear “real clothes”. I’ve been doing the same thing lately and my daughter said, “why do you look so pretty?”. Makes me laugh but happy that I’m coming back to my true self a bit too.
Love your kitchen!! We just remodeled ours and I'm wondering what you do to dry your dishes after they're done being washed? I admit I don't like the look of a practical drying rack in our small open kitchen - plus it takes up crucial counter space for us. Tips?!
We have a drying rack that I store under the sink when not in use
I've never heard of a reverse alarm! That sounds really intriguing - is it standard? Or is there a special app for it?
It's just under my clock app where you'd find the normal alarm setting. It's called bedtime. :)
Hi there.
I always love using your recommendations - so would you mind sharing which lash boost you use?
Thanks
Jenn(ifer)
I use the Rodan & Fields one
Thanks
unfortunately not available here in Germany ;(
Aww...that photo of the hanging herbs where Willow is posing is making me smile! :D
How is your gorilla playset holding up after the Idaho winter? I live in New England and have been researching playsets for my littles. I came across gorilla but wasn't sure about their quality and then you published this post and it was fate! lol. Any information would be great! Thank you and I love your blog, miss your podcast and love your style!
It's held up really well. No fading or damage to speak of - we're really happy with it.
Hi Erin--I live in New England and the gorilla set we got last year held up really well. In hindsight, I wish we'd done a better job sealing it last spring. It definitely needs to be resealed once it's warm enough and there's some slight fading on the high traffic area like the ladder. But that's all human error on our part ;) I'd definitely recommend the brand and our toddler loves it!
I always say, “zhooshed” out loud but never knew the best way to spell it! Jjjuuushjjed? Zzjushjed? Thank you!
PS. Let me know when you get to “the male jjuuudge” joke in the Great British Baking Show. It’s too cute and I reference it all the time.
We just finished last night! "I had to hide my feelings." Nancy!!!! I kind of wanted Luis to win, but I loved that moment and the whole show!
Ditto!
Hi! FYI -- the link that's for the large white bowls is taking me to the nesting batter bowls.
All fixed!
When I hit the link for the white bowls it takes me to the nesting bowls from Studio McGee. Maybe it's just my phone but I'd love to know where to buy them. It seems like I can never get bowls big enough for cereal for my family! Thanks!
Got it fixed for ya.
Hi Julia! The link for the white ramen bowls goes to the nesting batter bowls. I can’t find those on Amazon. Could you give us more info. Need.those.bowls!!!
Thanks!
Fixed!
Hey, I'm really interested in the amazon bowls but the link goes to mcgee and co.
Fixed!
Thank you! I've been searching for a good bowl set to hold all my salad for a while. I appreciate the link!
The link to the large bowls from Amazon takes you the the batter bowls from mcgeeandco. Would love the link to Amazon. Thank you!
All fixed now. Thanks for letting us know!
Their faux herbs = They’re faux herbs
It made me so happy this week to launder all the heavy blankets put them away!! Love the photo of your pup!