Snow Day

 I am really just posting this here to mark this rare occurrence. We got a couple inches of snow here in N.C., and it's been years since that has happened. I snapped this pic of the shed in the backyard. The children were overjoyed and truthfully,  I loved it too. How was your weekend? Did you get snow too? xx

Our Porch Refresh: The Power Of Paint

 The post is sponsored by HGTV Home® by Sherwin Williams but all opinions are my own

Our screened in porch got little use this Summer and that is a rarity! We were traveling for a bit  and when we weren't traveling, you could find me puttering in my outdoor garden. The screened in porch had become more of a walk through and was quite a dismal sight.

 Since the porch wasn’t in use, it had become neglected and it showed. It was screaming for a refresh and some tlc. I thought well now that it’s Fall, maybe it’s time to show the screened in porch some tlc with a quick refresh! And what better way to do that than with paint! You know how much I embrace the power of paint and the main feature of this transformation is all about the Power Of Paint. 

Naturally the color scheme was going to be bold and to narrow down my choices I set out to Lowes to peruse the HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams Collections that are available exclusively at Lowes. After looking at the color cards for the different collections, I settled on the Softer Side Collection for my main color choices.

Above is a mood board of sorts with all the HGTV Home® by Sherwin Williams colors I chose for the project and pictured is one of my inspo pics. In addition to painting, I also planned on doing something fun with the floors using this stencil in the large 12 x 12 size also pictured on the mood board. This was going to be A LOT of painting and maybe not such a quick refresh after all!

This is a before pic of the porch after almost everything was cleared out. After removing everything, it was time to prep the space for painting. The porch was swept and cleaned before painting. 

For the walls as mentioned above, I opted for the Memorable Rose (HGSW 2045). However, unlike before, I decided to bathe not only the ceiling and the walls, but also the trim in the same color. Here is a look at the process:

The walls were lightly sanded prior to painting and some areas needed some putty applied to even and smooth out the surfaces, then more sanding before painting. 

Since the porch was painted a saturated purple, and not a neutral color,  it took two coats of paint to cover it.  As usual, be sure to allow the paint to dry between coats.

AFTER PAINTING

I also added a pop of zest to the space with the color Frolic (HGSW 1235) from the HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams Vintage Finds Collection. In addition, the floors were prepped and base porch paint applied before starting the stenciling process using the color Black Magic (HGSW 6991) from the HGTV Home® by Sherwin Williams Soft Side Collection.

Thank goodness the hubby was around for this project as he tackled the stencil application on the floor. It took him about half a day to complete the stenciling. Below is a peek at how it all came together.

This planterific corner that I carved out on the porch is so welcoming and we love spending time out here! It’s hard to believe this was the same space.

We waited for  two days for the floor to fully cure before placing any furniture on it. And now the porch is back in business and is getting lots of use. I love these pretty colors together which are available in the HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams collection that is found exclusively at Lowes. xx

Fall Porch Inspiration

I just bought some pumpkins because it feels like Fall is finally making its way to this neck of the woods in North Carolina. I showed a glimpse here. This weekend, I hope to put up some Halloween decorations. This big guy went up yesterday and is already catching the eyes of eager children in the neighborhood. 

Do you decorate for the seasons? xx

images- 1, others via tumblr

 

Artist Jean Jullien Adds Whimsy In The Garden

Seeing these whimsical statues by artist Jean Jullien in these gardens is an immediate mood booster.  How fun! I'd love to have that orange one above or really anyone of these would do! You can see more of this installation and learn more about this project HERE.

xx

via elledecor.es

Have a Great Long Weekend!

Today was the last day of school. It was bittersweet to watch the children receive their awards in their virtual ceremonies. This has definitely been an unforgettable school year and undoubtedly one for the history books. I hope you all enjoy this long weekend(those of you living in the U.S.) and have a wonderful Memorial Day. xx

pic via pinterest

Spending Time Together with Toyota Highlander

This post is sponsored by Southeast Toyota, but  all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. Also, please note that this content was created before the onslaught of Covid-19.

It’s said that families that play together, stay together. Spending time together as a family is a great way to cultivate positive behaviors in our children and foster a positive sense of self. Spending time together is one of the greatest life experiences we can provide for our children.

Having experienced multiple deployments as a military family, we especially value our family time together and try to treasure it as much as possible, especially when the hubby is in town and not away for work. We also live for the outdoors, whether it’s going to the beach/lake, going for hikes, or simply enjoying our own backyard. As soon as the weather starts warming up, our time spent outside increases.

Recently, we were able to enjoy spending time together as a family in style with the help of the Toyota Highlander 2020. I had the opportunity to drive the Toyota Highlander for a week which I was  really excited about as it has been on my radar for a while. I love that it’s not a minivan since I am not a fan but still would love to enjoy the extra room that a minivan provides. Since the addition of Cheyenne, fitting all of us comfortably in the Toyota 4 Runner that I drive has been a challenge. We usually take the hubby’s car since it has more room if we are going out as a family. 

The children were beyond excited about the extra room. No contorting was needed and they could stretch their legs out comfortably and enjoy the ride.  They were smitten with the 3rd row seat too. I had a blast driving them around in style and was very impressed with all the safety features that come with the Toyota Highlander 2020.

Coincidentally that same week we had the Toyota Highlander, the weather started to warm up and since the hubby would be leaving for work again, we decided to spend some quality time together; enjoying one of our favorite things- outdoor movie night. 

     One of my favorite features about the Toyota Highlander2020 is the ability to fold down the 3rd and 2nd row seats. We did just that which expanded the trunk space space so we could all have a place to stay warm while enjoying the movie. 

Though the weather got warmer, the temps are usually lower in the evening so this setup was perfect for the kiddos to be able to stay warm. Plus, we added some blankets and pillows for added comfort.

Life is undoubtedly done better together. xx

Photography- Lea Hartman

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

What are your plans for the weekend? There is rain and possible thunderstorms in the forecast for the entire weekend, so I might have to delay my gardening plans... Instead, I'll try to finish reading this amazing book.  Have a wonderful weekend friends! xx

* This post contains an affiliate link

image: tumblr

10 Inspiring Outdoor Shower Ideas

source

Installing an outdoor shower has been on our to do list for awhile. The hubby especially is obsessed with the idea of installing an outdoor shower and have even carved out a spot in the backyard that he thinks is ideal. Can you imagine soaking up the sun's rays in that pink bath above. I guess that would be more of a bath experience instead of  a shower but just as delightful.  O.K., let's drool over the others, shall we?

Martha Stewart Living

Janni Delér

 Spell Designs

 Image of Hotel Azúcar in Mexico via Condé Nast Traveller

 Architectural Digest

 Architectural Digest

Do you have a fave? xx