When we moved into our home, the small backyard left a lot to be desired, but over the years we transformed it, little by little, into our very own oasis in the city. One of my very favorite parts of our yard is the planter bench that provides seating on one side of our patio table. But finding the best plants for this garden bench proved more challenging than I originally expected. After weeks of online research, and a trip to just about every nursery in town, we finally stumbled upon the perfect solution. I've talked about the planter bench on the blog before, but I decided this soft and tall plant recommendation for behind a bench really deserves a post all its own.

Closet Clean Out: Donating & Recycling Clothes

As a mom, it can be tough to take time for yourself. There's always something to be done for someone else, and in those rare moments that the house is quiet, it's hard to think of much else other than your never ending to do list and how tired you are! With Mother's Day right around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to remind ourselves that to be the best moms for our kids, we also have to make our own well-being a priority. Thank you to Hefty® for sponsoring this post, and for helping me to support other moms as well!

Five Step Quick Cleaning Routine

That moment when the phone rings with friends asking if they can stop by, and you look around the house wondering how much you can clean up in the next 30 minutes before they arrive. Please tell me I'm not the only one this has happened to?!

I always do better when I have a plan, so I thought I'd embrace the idea of spring cleaning this year by coming up with a simple game plan that I can use throughout the year to whip the house into shape quickly. With young kids and a new puppy in the house, I'm always in search of green cleaning products that are safe for our home and family, so I've partnered with Safeway and their exclusive Open Nature™ household cleaning and care products to share my new Quick Clean Routine.

Budget Friendly Sewing Room Organization Ideas

I got a sewing machine for my birthday a few years ago, and I have big plans to create my own mini "sewing room" inside an armoire. This project hasn't made it to the top of my to do list just yet, but in the meantime, I'm excited to share the most adorable space packed with tons of smart sewing room organization ideas to inspire us all! This space proves that you truly don't need a large space or big budget to create a stylish and organized sewing room.

{one room challenge} Week 3: Slowing Our Kitchen Roll

One of the things I love most about the One Room Challenge is that it gives me the motivation I need to start and finish a project in the short span of six weeks. I've participated in the ORC seven times before, and I've always managed to complete the makeover just in the nick of time without ever compromising on the design. In fact, participating in the ORC has always pushed me to go big and make bold design decisions, which exactly the way I like it.

When and Why to Prime Before Painting

This post is sponsored by Rust-Oleum, whose products make almost all of my DIY projects look better!

Do you ever ask yourself, do I need to prime before paining this or is primer really necessary? I know I do! Back in law school I spent many hours painting a laminate bookshelf for my apartment, only to have the paint peel right off because I didn't prime it first. I'm a much savvier DIYer now than I was back then, but I still find myself questioning when I need to use primer for projects around my house.

Take our recent bathroom mess for example...

{one room challenge} Week 2: Kitchen Dining Design Decisions

Normally when I start a One Room Challenge, I already have a solid plan in place. I've already have a vision for the space, and I've done my research and at least some of my shopping. But not this time... Here we are at Week 2, and I'm still formulating my vision and shopping like crazy to figure out how to pull this space together. While that is bad news for my timeline, the good news is that I get to take you along for the ride and giving you a bit more insight into the design process.

{one room challenge} Here We Go Again...Kitchen Edition

There hasn't been much happening on the blog the last few weeks (blame the new puppy!), but it's like with kids... when they are quiet you need to worry about what they're getting up to. And while it's been quiet on the blog I've come up with the crazy, last minute idea to jump into the One Room Challenge again this spring.

If you've been reading the blog for a while now, you're probably pretty familiar with the One Room Challenge, which I've participated in a whopping seven times before (which I think makes me certifiably crazy). But if you're new, let me give you the inside scoop...

DIY Home Projects in Red, White, and Blue

Denver has been teasing us lately with a few tastes of spring like weather mixed in among the traditional cold and snow of March in Colorado. And with every spring flower I see starting to bloom, I'm itching for summer. Afternoons at the park with the kids, BBQs with friends, and warm nights on the patio.

Since summer bookended by Memorial Day and Labor Day, with the 4th of July in the middle, I often associate summer with all things red, white, and blue. 

How to Make the Daylight Savings Time Change Easier on Kids

I've always loved daylight savings, despite losing an hour of sleep. Maybe it's the night owl in me talking, but I'm a fan of the extra light in the evenings to enjoy time as a family and to get my DIY projects done. But as a parent, the transition can be a bit rough! How do you convince young kids that it's bedtime when it's still light outside? And how do you get them up and moving for school in the morning when it's still dark in their room?

With the time change coming this weekend, I thought it was the perfect time to share some tips on how to make the daylight savings time change easier on kids {and mom and dad!}. Thanks to my partners at Hive, I've found some ways to make the transition even easier by taking advantage of some simple smart home automation tools.