We recently decided that it was time for a little bathroom refresh in our home. Our hallway bath is shared by all three kids, so to say it is a workhorse would be an understatement. Hot, steamy showers paired with overall heavy use had this room in need of a little love.
BEFORE
A total gut wasn’t necessary as the floor and vanity were in great shape, but a tiled shower was what we had always envisioned in here. Additionally, we updated the wall color to better suit the floor tile (which wouldn’t be my first choice, but also wasn’t bad enough to tear out), updated the lighting, faucets and fan.
Organization is critical to keep this bathroom functioning well for three kids. Baskets and a number of bins under the sink help to accomplish that goal.
In order to work with the tile, I landed on Ben Moore’s Maritime White. It’s a beautiful warm white that once on the wall had me not opposing our floor tile nearly as much as I been.
Since we were keeping the vanity and existing counter, I didn’t want to compete with that, and I additionally wanted to create a simple and clean look for the room. I decided to use a 3×12 glazed white subway tile for the tub surround and I love the way it turned out.
I made the decision to heighten our shower rod in this bathroom using an 84″ shower curtain as opposed to a my standard 72″ curtain. Although there certainly aren’t as many options to choose from at that length, the result is a more custom vibe and an elevated feel for a typical 8ft ceiling.
Freshly painted walls and filled in holes gave me the ability to refresh the decor in this space as well. With our youngest being 10 years old, we are no longer in the phase of using bubbles and bath toys (although there are some days I wish we were!). This room now feels a bit more sophisticated while also feeling peaceful and serene. A perfect place for anyone to unwind.
Zion and Bryce Canyon have been on our bucket list for quite some time. My husband has visited many of the National parks out west and was eager to head back. Jack (currently 16) has an adventurous spirit and loves exploring anywhere and everywhere. Madelyn (currently 13) opted to stay back with friends and family as this type of trip is not her cup of tea. Audrey (currently 10) was excited to go and although I was hesitant about how much she could handle, she kept up with everyone like a champ!
Being my first trip to this part of the country, I don’t claim to be an expert, but we were guided by a few friends and learned quite a bit while we were out there. I’ll share some of our most beneficial tips throughout the post.
From the east coast it was easiest and the most convenient to fly into Las Vegas. St. George Regional Airport is a closer option (less than an hour from Zion) if that’s available to you. We spent our first night in Vegas, rented a car for the week and then drove out to Zion the following morning.
One of the best recommendations that we received was to spend our first night in the Lodge that’s located inside Zion Park. The only vehicles that are allowed to drive into the park (in addition to the shuttle buses) are those staying at the lodge. This meant that we were able to drive straight into the center of the park and let me tell you, that initial drive in is absolutely majestic. The Lodge ends up being a hub and a convenient spot to refuel for everyone passing by in the park. Even after we had checked out we found ourselves back there most everyday.
We checked in and immediately hit the Emerald Pools trails (lower, middle and upper). When you’re staying at the lodge, you’re so easily able to access many of the trails without needing additional transportation. The next morning when we woke, we took advantage of being able to beat the crowds and hiked up to Scouts Landing. In order to hike up to Angels Landing, one of the most sought after destinations in the park, you are required to have a permit. Jack wasn’t selected via the random draw that first day, but he applied once more and was fortunate to receive a permit for he and my husband the last morning we were there.
My son has little to no fear of heights. I cannot say the same for my husband who pushed through if for no other reason than to make sure he had eyes on our fearless 16 year old! This summit was a moment they’ll both remember for a lifetime.
After that first night in the Lodge, we relocated just outside the park into the town of Springdale. Here we stayed at the The Redcliffs Lodge for the rest of the week. The rooms were well equipped and the pool was a fabulous retreat after our daily hikes in 80/90 degree weather.
There were a number of places that we enjoyed while in the town of Springdale. A few that stood out were Canyon Coffee (great coffee and baked goods), Deep Creek Coffee (quick breakfast sandwiches and oatmeal etc.), Oscar’s Cafe (great dinners and sit down breakfast), Bit & Spur (great dinner option), and Canyon Creamery (ice cream and sweet treats).
We took one day and drove out to Bryce Canyon National Park which is about a 2 hour drive, unless you stop multiple times to see the sights as we did. Although very different from Zion, the views here are just as breathtaking. It’s filled with rock formations referred to as hoodoos, which have been shaped by erosion over the years and seem to fill the park with sights unlike any others I have seen.
We spent a the morning and early afternoon here hiking around the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop trails. It felt like the perfect amount of time for us.
Back in Zion, we took advantage of another tip that was given to us and we rented e-bikes to transport us to the Narrows. We rented both the bikes and our gear that we used to hike the Narrows at Zion Guru. Their staff was very knowledgeable and helpful as we navigated all of this for the first time. The bikes were certainly one of the highlights for us all. With the bikes, we were able to head in on our own time and make pitstops along the way as we wanted.
Here was one sporadic stop that we made off of a trail and I think it was one of the prettiest spots that we saw.
The Narrows hike is predominantly through a river, hence the rental gear (special boots, socks and a walking pole). Trust me, those poles made a huge difference as we were walking over large rocks. We saw many others tripping and falling without that extra stability. Keep in mind the water changes with the seasons. It came waist deep on me at the deepest section in mid-June. Jack had also rented a waterproof bag which was helpful to have for our belongings.
We had the most incredible time on this trip and I can already see us wanting to go back. We balanced the hikes with time to relax by the pool or walk around the town. We left plenty of time within our days so we never felt depleted, yet rather excited for the next day ahead. I’ll also add that although there are some rather challenging hikes that we did, there are also plenty of less strenuous hikes that would be ideal for the younger and older crowds alike. ZIon especially is an ideal spot that I’d recommend to just about everyone who enjoys the outdoors. Maybe the next time we get out there we’ll even convince our middle child to join us!
I packed a simply as I could for this trip. I’ll link some of my travel MVP’s below which include my luggage, hiking shoes (these were so comfortable all week), mix and match pieces and most notably this bag which included a separate pouch to hold a water bottle.
I’m not one to constantly overhaul my beauty routine. I tend to stay pretty consistent with products once I find things that I love. I’ll play around with eyeshadows and lip colors a bit, but for the most part, my daily routine remains relatively consistent. Below you’ll find six of my everyday go-to products, most of which I can’t go without.
Under-Eye Brightening Corrector: I can’t even recall how long I’ve been using this product. With genetically dark under eye circles, this color corrector is the first thing I apply following my skincare routine. It is pure magic erasing dark circles and hydrating my skin at the same time.
Creamy Contour Stick: I think I’m on my fourth or fifth purchase of this product at this point. I’m much more into a soft, dewy look as opposed to a matte finish these days and this creamy stick makes contouring a breeze. I use the shade Biscuit.
Mascara: I admit that I have tried other mascaras for the fun of it over the years, but this is the one that I continuously return to. The brush is what wins me over. I have yet to find another one that lengthens and separates the way this one does.
Cheek/Lip Combos: I do bounce around between a few of these lip/cheek combos depending on the shade I’m after on any particular day, but the Ilia (in At Last and Tenderly) and Westman Atelier (in Petal) are two of my favorites. Not only do you have the benefit of the lip/cheek combo but I find them very easy to apply and blend for a soft, natural look.
Anti-aging Tinted Moisturizer: This is the most recent product that I’ve been using for the past few months. After a friend convinced me to try it, I quickly realized why it’s so popular. It’s a daily anti-aging tinted moisturizer with SPF 45 that corrects, protects, conceals, brightens and hydrates skin. There’s also no need to waste time finding your correct shade as their Intellishade blends into your skin tone.
Full Coverage Concealer: A final workhorse product that has been a longtime favorite is this concealer. It’s full coverage, doesn’t crease and lasts all day long. I rarely go without it.
The holidays have come and gone and our home is back to feeling like its normal self. Our family room is one of the most used rooms in our home and over the years it has gradually evolved as I’ve pieced certain elements together. No room is ever ‘finished’ in my mind, but for the moment, I can’t figure out what the next change will be ;)
The last time I shared this room on the blog, I was sharing my thoughts on our sectional. We’ve had our Crate & Barrel Lounge sectional for over six years now and we absolutely love it. At the time that we purchased ours, C&B only offered a regular and petite version. They now carry three sizing options; classic, regular and deep to ensure everyone is able to find the perfect fit for their space and needs. Our sectional is closest in size to the deep. As per the name, it is the perfect sofa to lounge in and my feet do not come close to hitting the floor when I’m sitting against the back cushions. If this isn’t what you’re after, the classic and regular sizes may be worth exploring.
It has had a ton of use by our family and friends and with regular care (vacuuming, rotating cushions and spot cleaning as needed) and is holding up beautifully. If it ever does show enough wear, chances are we’d order the same thing again! It’s the perfect place to cozy up and watch movies, play games or hang out. The fabric we selected is the Taft in Cement.
I had always felt this room could use an accent chair, but it wasn’t until I spotted this swivel chair at our local HomeGoods that I knew it was what we needed. At first the kids were annoyed that I was filling up more of their free space, but it quickly became a highly used piece. I’m not able to link this exact chair, but i did find another similar option here.
A few years ago I hired a local friend of mine to make cushions for our window seats. The exact fabric is no longer available, but there’s a similar option here. These seats provide extra seating which comes in handy when we have large groups of people visiting.
Since this room backs up to the woods, there isn’t a need for window coverings. Cinnamon, our dog, loves tracking down and threatening all the squirrels from the window seats!
This rug was a more recent purchase that I ordered from Pottery Barn a few months ago. I had ordered quite a number of rug samples and am so pleased that we landed on the Flannery Performance Rug in 9×12. It did have a decent amount of shedding the first few months, but that was to be expected. It is so soft and cozy and perfect for this room. I love the neutrality of the rug as well as the striped texture. It would also work really well underfoot in a bedroom.
I love playing around with accent pillows, throw blankets etc. With the large components of the room being neutral, it allows me the flexibility to change up accent pieces and decor as I feel led. Many of the items in this room are no longer available, but I’ve done some digging to find similar pieces that I will link below. As I mentioned at the beginning, homes are ever evolving as tastes, needs and family dynamics change. So although it may not always feel complete you can work towards feeling content in your home sweet home.
It may feel as though the year has just began, but Valentine’s Day is already less than a month away! I’ve gathered some items below that can serve as inspiration for yourself, someone you love or a not so subtle hint to send to your significant other. This neutral garland would look pretty over a mantle, window or hutch in your home. I love a cute lounge set or new pair of festive pj’s. This airpod case, a pair of hair clips, a cosmetics bag, and a bracelet and/or earrings would all work just as well for your teens. And a cute set of cups, a cozy pair of slippers or a sweet key fob are great little ideas for your girlfriends. Oh, and not to forget this thoughtful puzzle that any wife or mom I know would appreciate.
It has been a few years since we had our family pictures taken so I was eager to capture these kids in a moment as they continue to grow up right before my eyes! We may have had to reschedule due to the weather (wind being the main culprit) but I’m so grateful for the gorgeous day we ended up with and the incredible photos my friend Heidi captured.
Cinnamon had yet to make it into any family photos and it only felt complete to have here there.
When I was coordinating everyone’s outfits, everything spiraled off of a dress that I found for myself at TJMaxx. It had a pretty mix of colors that I knew I’d be able to work off of for the rest of everyone’s looks in addition to bringing in some other textures. I wanted to keep the colors relatable to those that I use in my home since I’d be hanging a number of these pictures on our walls. For the same reason, I was after a somewhat season-less look.
Narrowing down our final selections was no small task. I love how Heidi manages to pull the best out of everyone and it’s helpful that all of the kids are now at ages where they willing smile on demand!
Pictures may not be my husbands favorite thing, but I’m grateful he puts up with them for me ;)
Thank you Heidi Lynn for the incredible gift that you are to so many.
Shop the Looks (similar items included when exact is unavailable):
Last month Jack and I were fortunate to be able to visit Rome for a few quick days. It was in part a work meet-up for Jack and I tagged along as his lucky +1. It’s rare these days that we travel without the kids, but being just the two of us we were able to pack so much into our days despite the jet-lag and high temps.
I’ll be linking everything that I wore and my travel essentials at the end of the post, so scroll down for more of those details. I will say, cobblestone streets certainly put your wheeled luggage to the test! And when it came to clothing, I focused on packing lightweight pieces that would be practical for the 90 degree temps.
We took a red-eye over and landed around 7am. With very little sleep on the plane we both took a quick nap once we checked in and then hit the streets to explore. I immediately fell in love with the beauty of the architecture that was literally around every single corner. The details, the colors and the sheer beauty of everything around us had my jaw on the floor for the first few hours.
There was so much to see within walking distance of our hotel and we enjoyed walking because we wanted to look at everything there was along the way. Teva’s are not a shoe I’d typically gravitate towards, but they were so practical and comfortable in the heat while we logged mile after mile every day. The Pantheon was one of our first stops which we saw in daylight (seen at the top of this post) but also saw as we passed by it at night. We didn’t take the time to wait in line to venture inside, but I did wait for this delightful treat that I had read about in this little tour book…
The granita di caffe con panna (coffee and crushed ice with whipped cream) that we found at one of Rome’s top coffee shops, Caffe Tazza d’Oro, was so delicious. It was such a unique treat and so refreshing in the heat!
From the Pantheon, we continued on to see the Spanish Steps. It was crowded but not overwhelmingly so. We did a bit of shopping around and I found a Zara that I happily popped into.
We met up with Jack’s team for dinners which were planned and reserved ahead of time and took the thinking and planning out of the equation for us! Our first dinner was was a private event hosted by the fabulous Barbara. She prepared a six course meal from scratch (her lasagne was out of this world) and wined and dined us for hours! Definitely worth looking into if you plan a trip.
Happy and full following our dinner and heading back into our hotel.
We had a tour booked for the Vatican (as well as the Colusseum), which was very helpful to avoid the massive line to enter the Vatican. Our particular guide was a bit difficult to understand but it was breathtaking walking through the various parts of the Vatican and Saint Peter’s Basilica. As a side note, you were required to have your knees and shoulders covered inside.
The detail surrounding you inside is just incredible, especially when you realize the thousands of years it’s been in existence and how intricate every detail is.
Trevi fountain was another favorite of ours. Out of all the sightseeing, this location felt the most crowded, but I can understand why. Pictures simply don’t do it justice.
In an attempt to avoid the crowds, we circled back through at night time only to realize that Rome does not sleep! Midnight seems to be when things get started in that part of the world and we had such a wonderful time walking around at all hours of the night, our bodies not having any idea what time (or time zone) we were in.
For as much as we ate on this trip, we only managed to end up have gelato once and I think that’s our biggest regret! Mastro Cono was outside of the Pantheon, and after reading tips on how to find the best gelato, this place lived up to it!
On our last day (we were in Rome for a total of three full days), we toured the Colosseum. What I didn’t realize was that the tour would also include a tour through the Roman Forum. Our guide for this tour was wonderful and we learned so much about the history of the Romans culture.
The Colosseum is every bit as impressive as you’d expect it to be. We learned that it was built by 20,000 slaves in only 8 short years. It’s such a surreal feeling standing in an ancient arena trying to imagine all that it has been through.
I could, and we did, wonder the streets for hours admiring everything around us.
Front doors in America just don’t have the impact they do in Rome!
Jack was constantly reminding me how much of a ‘bloggers paradise’ Rome was. He isn’t wrong.
I wore a belt bag both day and night. They were practical and eliminated any worry of pick-pocketing. Jack actually carried this bag which was lightweight and perfectly held both of our water bottles during the day.
The last evening, we dined at Rione 13. They served our large party family style and this is where Jack and I became addicted to Carbonara. We now do our best to recreate the meal every other week! Everything we tried was out of this world and sitting outside along the quaint street was simply perfect.
It was certainly a whirlwind or a trip, but we made the most out of every day and hour. We are already dreaming of heading back to explore more of Italy. If it’s not already a place that you have visited I’d highly encourage you add it to your bucket list!
Below you’ll see links to similar and exact items I traveled with and wore while in Rome…
There’s something about a bold color to bring an outfit to life. I’ve had these pink trousers for a while now and love pulling them out of my closet, especially during the spring/summer months. I had had my eye on a pretty eyelet top from JCrew but grabbed this one when I saw it in Rome instead. I love both as they add such a feminine touch to anything you pair them with. I layered it over a nude bodysuit for a chic yet easy look! Many of these pieces have been in my closet for years, but I’ve linked similar options that would allow you to piece together a similar look below.
Each year Nordstrom hosts their Anniversary Sale, temporarily marking down new, fall items for this pre-season sale. There is a lot of inventory to scroll through, but over the years I’ve learned to track down some of the key pieces that are practical to purchase. While I’m not sharing my mens and childrens top picks, know that there are some great options for them as well. Especially when you’re doing your back to school shopping. While things do sell out, they are known to periodically re-stock throughout the length of the sale, so it’s worth checking back. Here are my picks from this year…
Cardigan: A classic sweater in a handful of color-ways. I love that you can wear this style alone or layered to create various looks.
Tunic-length top: I’m always looking for longer layers to wear over leggings in the cooler months. Free People always has great options. And if this one does sell out during the sale, you can always find it straight from the retailer, here.
Chelsea Boot: This style of boot has been my most worn over the past few years. They seem to go with everything from boots to dresses giving you the most bang for your buck.
Bracelets: I love a pretty stack of bracelets and this color combo is lovely.
Sunglasses: I have this particular style of sunglasses in two other colors and they are one of my most favorite styles to wear. Light-weight, comfortable and cute. They also come in a beautiful lilac.
Underwear: Hanky Panky have been my go-to underwear for forever. This sale is when I restock every year.
Bombas: Another one of my go-to’s. These socks are my absolute favorite. They are comfortable and stay in place. They are pricey for socks, so grabbing them on sale is always the way to go.
Cardiagn: Lilac is my current color crush, so I had to order this classic sweater. It’ looks to be a great late-summer layer to throw on with white denim.
Jacket: Coats and jackets are great pieces to take advantage of during this sale. I ordered this lightweight quilted jacket in ivory which I’m hoping will be a great staple to have for the fall.
Tunic Sweater: I own this sweater in three colorways and it’s been a go-to for years. It’s a little pricey, so again a great splurge when it’s marked down.
Sneaker: I own and love these sneakers. They quite literally feel as though you are walking on a cloud. I wore them all around Universal when we went last spring and my feet didn’t hurt a bit.
I love a good pink and blue combo as you cans ee from today’s look. This light-weight, ribbed top from JCrew is different from anything else in my closet and I love the style of it. It comes in a bunch of colorways and although it’s cropped, it’s a great fit to allow for tucking it in without worrying about a bunch of excess material. I do recommend sizing up as it runs on the small side. You’ve seen these trousers a number of times which is a testimony to how much I love them. You’ll find similar options linked below. I added this cardigan for warmth and a neutral layer to ground the look and these adorable chambray heels that I ordered during a recent Loft sale. They make a great neutral shoe that will work with so many warm weather looks!
