Summer Recipe Roundup

We have been grilling and eating outside every night for the past week– it officially feels like summer! For dinner last night, I roasted up a ton of vegetables and plated with burrata and a leftover spinach basil pesto I had in the fridge. It was delicious! I have a bunch of recipes saved for the next few months and thought I’d pen some of them here for you to enjoy as well. I’m also stocking up on melamine plates and other outdoor dining essentials– some fun ideas linked below for dining alfresco. Bon appetit!

Grilled corn and zucchini salad
Grilled watermelon and feta stacked salads
Charred peppers with lemon ricotta and cucumbers
Potato salad with mustard sauce
Grilled vegetables
Watermelon salad with cucumber and feta
Skirt steak with avocado and tomatoes
Summer stone fruit salad
Cucumber and peach salad with herbs
Spaghettini with roasted tomatoes
Loaded grilled steak salad
Southwest BBQ pork sliders
Blackened salmon burgers
Everything but the kitchen sink pasta salad
Blackberry peach crisp
Browned butter grilled peaches with ice cream
Strawberry yogurt popsicles
Strawberry thyme lillet spritzer
Cucumber mint gimlets
Grapefruit ginger bourbon sour
Kentucky lemonade

Cleaning a White Slipcovered Couch

I am all-in when it comes to a big, cozy white slipcovered couch. I love the non-tailored look as it feels more casual and inviting. You can also have a ton of fun with pillows (you can shop mine and other favorites here) and it washes so easily! Many people are hesitant to get a white couch with kids, but I actually think they can be easier to maintain since they handle washes so well. I wash mine about once a month, unless some dirty little hands get to it more often than that ; )

One thing to make sure of when buying yours is that the fabric you choose is actually washable! The couch we have now is from Pottery Barn– the PB comfort roll arm, box edge back cushion, down-blend fill, with denim warm white fabric. For us, it’s a great middle of the road couch. It certainly won’t last us forever, but I don’t think twice when kids are jumping, or even eating, on it. The other brand I love is Lee, which is higher end than PB and what we have in our living room.

My tips for washing:
• Spot treat stains. We have had berries and wine spilled on this couch and have been 100% removed! The key here is to wash immediately, which can be annoying but it makes a difference. If it’s in the middle of a party, waiting an hour or two will be fine! Remove ASAP and spot treat. I use a basic “clean” stain remover, nothing fancy.
• Always wash on cold. Most HE machines now do best with cold anyway, and I think the fabric stays nicer.
• Use distilled white vinegar! This is a secret weapon when it comes to laundry. It keeps whites white, darks dark, and colors brighter, plus it softens fabric and removes odors. I add laundry detergent as usual, and then about 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar into the fabric softener section (or add into your last rinse cycle).
• Dry as usual, but remove from the dryer when it’s still a little damp. I like to put the slipcovers back on at this time so they are less wrinkly and also fit on easily. I keep the cushions propped up to dry completely before tucking everything back in.

Hope this helps you enjoy your white couch!

Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I’m a big fan of this Americana theme year round, but it’s especially fun to get in the spirit this weekend. There are a ton of sales going on, so I thought I would round up some great buys that fit the American theme– red, white, blue, stripes and natural materials. These are also all great for the Fourth!

I love this rattan chair as an accent piece for the living room and this outdoor umbrella– both are 20% off from One Kings Lane.
Serena & Lily has 20% off sitewide– this gingham pillow, seagrass wrapped pitcher, glassware, and darling whale serving spoons are all perfect for outdoor dining.
Add some American Flags with this festive coffee mug and heritage bunting for your home– both are on sale + Pottery Barn is running buy more, save more.
My favorite outdoor teak sling chairs are 20% off! I love them in this striped fabric, and you can pair with these fun beach towels.
This white eyelet dress pairs perfectly with this denim bubble for baby that is 50% off (couldn’t help myself and just bought it in all sizes)!
Fun accessories for mom– these raffia earrings, straw tote bag and seersucker boat shoes.
Lastly, for the home! I love this rattan mirror that is 20% off from S&L.

Happy MDW!

Nursery Planning for Baby Girl

With 3 months to go until we meet our baby girl, I am (very excitedly) prepping and planning her nursery. We are likely going to keep her in our room for some time (and not complete her room for a bit), so I purchased this changing table from Serena & Lily that we are housing in our master bedroom. That way, I can keep her essentials nearby until she has her own room. I added these darling beachcomber baskets to keep folded clothes, diapers and other essentials on the shelves. Of course, staying true to my beloved blue and white, I bought this Serena & Lily coastal toile crib sheet that I am using as my main point of inspiration for the room. I’m planning on having it made into a changing pad cover as well as keeping it for her crib sheet. It also comes in this darling wall paper! We are big fans of jellycat stuffed animals over here, so I purchased this darling white bunny that Henry is gifting to his baby sister upon her arrival. Next up is to order a chair for her nursery– I’m likely going to get a white slipcovered chair and order a monogrammed pillow for it. You can view some of my favorite ones- which I have found to be very reasonably priced- in my Etsy Favorites Shop. These also make the sweetest gifts!

Hope this brings you some inspiration! xo

Keeping Cozy at Home

There’s no place like home… especially right now! Now more than ever, we are learning the importance of keeping our homes a comfortable and cozy place. Whether it’s just you at home, or it’s filled with young kids running around, here are a few simple things I love to do (mostly in the evening) to relax and keep cozy.

Soft light – light all your candles and your fireplace if you have one! Honestly a glimmering candle by your sink makes doing the dishes a lot easier. Plus the scent that fills the air will help with the cozy ambiance. Also, don’t forget to dim your overhead lights.
Keep clean – this doesn’t mean spend all your time scrubbing, but picking up the mess from the day will help you feel a whole lot more relaxed.
Pour a drink! – make it something special and put it in a nice glass. Sparkling water with fresh citrus, a glass of wine, a super strong cocktail… no one is judging here.
Get comfortable – put on cozy clothes. While you’re at it, treat yourself to a new robe, pajamas or loungewear that not only look great on, but also make you feel good. Don’t forget slippers!
Turn on music – having a nice playlist on really helps to set the mood.
Fresh flowers – who doesn’t love having fresh plants and flowers around? It helps make a room feel warm and welcoming.
Entertainment – I’m a coffee table book and magazine fan (with a side of my phone), but if you prefer the TV or a great novel, then you do you. Just make sure to cozy up with…
Pillows & Throws – Add a few new throw pillows and a blanket to your couch or chair so you really look forward to cuddling up for the evening.

Hope you’re staying safe, happy and healthy at home. xx

Recent Reads

photo by Paul Massey via House and Garden UK

Here are a some articles, images and recipes I’ve come across and enjoyed– hopefully all are a quick escape from the news and bring you a little happiness! Stay healthy and at home, everyone.
xo

Rita Konig’s insanely charming farmhouse in Durham

How to grow Thyme (on my list of herbs to plant in the coming weeks)

A delicious and healthy lemon feta salad, perfect for spring

Springtime dessert: almond, pistachio and orange blossom cake

Plus, a favorite springtime Negroni to go with it

Relax your mind and body with a detox bath

The most beautiful rose farm, also on the ‘gram

Rickie Fowler’s intimate wedding in Mexico

Living Room Progress

We officially have some furniture in the living room! It’s not quite complete yet, but I have gotten a lot of questions about our coffee table, couches and pillows, so I thought I’d answer a few of those questions here.

I have had my eye on the seagrass woven coffee table from Ralph Lauren for years– it’s incredible, but very pricey! I hunted for so long and just couldn’t find anything that compared. I was being stubborn because I knew that style, shape and size would be so perfect in our space. That is… until RH came out with one very similar. I am pleasantly surprised with the quality and LOVE how it looks in our room. A good reminder to always hold out for what you’re envisioning!

Our upholstered furniture is all Lee Industries, which I highly recommend if you’re looking for high quality furniture at a good value. They are extremely comfortable and long-lasting thanks to their hand-tied springs, spring down wrapped cushions, and hardwood frames. Plus they are all made in the USA and are highly customizable.

My designer pillow secret (not really a secret) is ETSY! You can find so many stores on Etsy that sell pillows with designer fabric that are more affordable than most other places. You can shop some of my favorites here. Remember you can always message the seller to see if you can order a specific size that isn’t shown, add piping, or change to double sided. A lot sell them single sided with a plain linen backing– nothing wrong with that, it’s totally personal opinion!

Landscape Inspiration

We are in the very early stages of planning a large landscape project at our new home, so I am actively searching for images that reflect the look I am going for. We’re going to first create a master design plan with an architect, and then will likely do construction in phases. We won’t have everything complete for years (and years). It’ll be a long process… but a very fun one that we are looking forward to!

Our home has a New England farmhouse feel, so I’m playing off of that. My design aesthetic definitely leans classic New England, so this property was a dream for me. The house was built in 1940 and hasn’t been changed much, so I’m hoping to maintain a lot of the old character and charm.

Below are some images I’ve found for inspiration. Hope you enjoy them, too!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11

Myrtle Topiaries

You will always find at least a few myrtle topiaries in my house at any given time. They make a wonderful house plant– if you care for them properly, you will enjoy them for years to come! I’ve learned to really love caring for these finicky (I mean beautiful and classic!) little ladies and often get questions on how I keep mine alive and thriving. Here are some top tips:

• They love sunlight! You don’t want them sitting outside in direct sun all day long or they will dry out very quickly, but they definitely need great daylight. In the winter months, consider moving them around your house if they’re in an area that doesn’t get much sunlight. A sunny windowsill or side table near a window are great spots. Keep off a mantle if you’re burning fires or else they will fry.

• Water, water, water! Especially in the warmer months (or in the winter if you have your heater running constantly), they will dry out really quickly. At some points, you may need to water once a day, or every other day. Although, be careful not to water too much! You want the soil to be evenly moist, but not soaked constantly. I’d say average is 1-3 times per week. A quick test is to wrap your hands around the pot– is it really cool to the touch? If so, then it’s probably watered adequately.

• Trim! These cuties like to be maintained and do really well clipped into shapes. I keep mine in balls and trim about once a month. Snip at the branches and do not cut the leaves.

• From about March through September, use a mild liquid fertilizer about once a month.

• Your myrtle will likely come staked and tied– make sure to keep it this way to maintain its shape.


Looking for Something?