THIS & THAT | PAINTED HOUSE, FITNESS CHALLENGE, FALL DECOR, AMAZON FAVES

Good morning Monday! I hope y’all had a great weekend! Thank you SO much for all the love on the Nordstrom vs. Amazon post.  I truly enjoyed putting that post together for you, and given your enthusiastic response, I’ll definitely do more for you.

In fact, I found these chain link mules on Amazon that look identical to the Steve Madden pair at Nordstrom.  The Steve Madden pair sold out in the tan color, but they have other colors still available.  The Amazon pair looks like it might not ship until September, but I’ve often gotten things way earlier than I’ve expected from Amazon.

Today, I thought I’d do one of those random This & That posts with you where we just chat about all kinds of things!  I love these, so grab your coffee or tea and let’s dive in!

THIS & THAT 

COLLEEN ROTHSCHILD GIVEAWAY

First up, I’ll be announcing the winner of the Colleen Rothschild giveaway on Wednesday, so if you haven’t entered, it’s not too late!  All you have to do is follow Colleen Rothschild on Instagram & subscribe to my blog.  I never spam, only send happy mail!

There will be 2 winners that get to choose 3 products! If I were the winner, I’d choose the Radiant Cleansing Balm, Vitamin C Treatment Complex, and Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum.

Colleen Rothschild Giveaway

I cleanse my face everyday with the balm, and those last two products I credit for reducing my hyperpigmentation.

I also still use the GloPRO microneedling tool, which is currently 40% off at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I wrote a detailed post about how I use it here.

BACK TO SCHOOL

We have two weeks until the kids go back to school and now I’m suddenly full of all the emotions.  The last six months have been hard and wonderful and crazy and stressful and I’m sure you can relate.  I was really ready for the kids to head back to school in August.

But now I’m feeling sad about not having them home all day.  We are in such a tight little bubble and I don’t want it to burst.

Our school is implementing a host of new policies and procedures and now I won’t be able to walk James and Jordan into the school building.  I think that will be so hard on Jordan, but maybe she’ll surprise me.  I bawled my eyes out when she started PK3 last year and I think it will be the same this year.  #sadsack

And some of you have kids starting college or returning to college and I can only imagine the roller coaster of emotions that brings.  Or, you’ve decided to homeschool or virtual school, which is also new and different.  I will say we are all in this together and we can support each other through it.

On the other hand, I’m always a fan of the FRESH START the school year brings and the new beginnings.  We will all be back to better routines and there’s so much comfort in that.

Back to school time always makes me want to clean out things, and start thinking about Fall and the holidays to come.  More on that at the end of the post!

CLOSET CLEAN OUT

I kicked off the weekend by cleaning out my closet.  Rhonda came over and helped me reorganize and it was so good to have a second pair of eyes and second set of hands. As a ‘fashion blogger’ I keep a certain amount of inventory on hand so that I can always mix and match pieces and share more outfit inspiration with you.

What you might not know is that, 99% of the time, I buy all the clothes myself.  There is no way I could keep all of the things I share with you in a dressing room post, so a majority of it gets returned.  Only the things I know I’ll keep wearing or have actually worn outside do I keep.

Sometimes, if I do a collaboration with a brand, they will provide a gifting allowance that covers the cost of an outfit, but that’s a rare occasion.  I’m also not one of those bloggers that gets tons of PR packages.  I barely get any.  I prefer to shop for the things I like (and think you may like) and do that on my own terms.

I often laugh because as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much more ‘minimalish’ at heart, so having so many clothes can sometimes stress me out.  I’ve spent many years decluttering my home and getting it to a place where there is a good mix of clear spaces, everything has it’s place, but it still feels comfortable and cozy.

Similar Jean ShortsTankHoop EarringsSimilar Pearl HeadbandRTIC TumblerGlass StrawBedroom Post

A closet clean out was long overdue and I’m so happy to have paired down and cleaned out so much!

I’ll give gently worn clothing to my mom or nieces or donate to a local women’s shelter.  I know they all appreciate it and it just feels better to pay it forward as opposed to trying to sell them.

When I finish the entire closet clean out, I’ll give you a tour (I already shared a sneak peek on Stories).

I have one whole section dedicated to Amazon because I’ve found so many things I truly love to wear and feel comfortable in!

Amazon Fashion Finds, Jumpsuit

Jumpsuit

Hoodie Sweatshirt • Leggings • Leopard Sneakers (on Amazon)Striped Cardigan • Tank • Leggings • Sandals • Coin Pendant Necklace

Waffle Knit TopDaily Ritual Skinny JeansSandalsWaffle Knit Tank • Denim Shorts • Studded Sandals

Amazon Fashion Finds, V-Neck Tunic Top, White Jeans, Studded Sandals

Tunic Top • White Jeans • Studded Sandals

 Dress • SandalsChambray Button Down • Sneakers

Amazon Haul - Pink Capri Pajama Set

Soft Pajama Set

Top 10 AMAZON for 2020

I also looked back to see what YOUR top Amazon picks this year have been so far.

Seemless Undies

Core 10 Leggings

Ponte Leggings

Girlfriend Jeans

Jersey V-Neck Tank

Cutoff Jean Shorts

Midi Tank Dress

Crop Wide Leg Pants (I cannot say enough great things about these.  They simply pull on without any zipper or button (so sleek!) and they feel amazing on, being nice and thick.)

Skinny Belts (4 pack) (probably my most worn accessory, looks great with jeans and over dresses)

HATS are big this year : Sun Hat (still a fave after several years) • Sun Visor ( you can let your cute top knot poke through the top and I love the major sun protection with the wide brim) • Ponytail Hat (we all love the ease of this handy hat)

Fake Bake (I haven’t used this in awhile, but applied it yesterday and now I remember why I love it!  I feel so much better with a little color and this one looks the most natural without any orange color! It’s also so easy to apply with the mitt).

FITNESS CHALLENGE

During the closet clean out, I tried on every.single.pair of jeans and almost all of them felt so tight! Like 3 sizes too tight.  Some I could barely pull up over my hips.

They MUST HAVE shrunk.  #rude

Well, I’m sure I’m not used to wearing jeans lately, instead opting for loose fitting jean shorts and more comfy summer/at home outfits, but, it really made me want to get back in better shape!

Which leads me to our next fitness challenge!

I’ve had several of you comment that you are in the same boat, asking me if I’d do another fitness MOVE CHALLENGE.  Yes!  I really need it myself.  I plan to officially kick it off on September 1 and it will last all month.  The goal is to move 20 minutes 6 days a week.

Are you in??

OUR PAINTED HOUSE

I shared a sneak peek of our exterior house painting recently and today I have all the details for you including the paint colors and process.

I’ve always preferred a cooler color palette and have never really been crazy about the Austin stone on the exterior of our home.  It’s been over 10 years of the brown/tan color and I was definitely ready for a change.

BEFORE

My favorite painter of all time, Ruben, came back with his crew and it only took three days to power wash and paint the entire exterior of the house.  On Day 1, they power washed the house and let it dry.

On Day 2, they started by spraying the siding.  And by the end of the day, the whole house was painted!

I was out running an errand and when I came home and pulled up to this view of my house, I barely recognized it! The grey siding is such a difference from the previously tan color.

After they sprayed the siding, they got started painting the shutters and the window trim.  BUT, I didn’t see enough contrast between the siding and trim, so we made a mid-way color change decision.

On Day 3, Ruben came back to do minor touch ups.  I couldn’t believe how fast the job was completed and how different the house looks with the grey paint.

Although I’m crazy for the new grey color combo, I couldn’t help but think that the stone clashed so badly with it.

 Buffalo Check Rug • Hello Mat • Floral Wreath • Black Planters

I asked Ruben if he could paint my front doors, but he said he wouldn’t recommend it because of the finish on the door, the paint wouldn’t stick to it.

front door patio

I started looking into alternate options for changing the stone.  Of course, you could totally replace it, but that would be so expensive.

A cheaper option is to paint the stone, but then you lose all the cool variations of color, as well as the texture of the natural stone.

A third option is to limewash the stone and that’s what I’m probably going to do.

Limewash is a heavily mineral-based paint that produces a very chalky and matte finish. The minerals seep into the porous surface of the brick or stone to which the  is applied and gives the brick or stone an authentic and aged look.

Similar Wood Bench • Side Table • Geometric Pots with Faux Succulents • Potted Faux Eucalyptus & Rosemary •  Tassel Pillows • Square Stripe Pillows

BEFORE

Similar Patio Chairs • Garden Stool • Rug • Faux Succulents •  Tassel Pillows • Square Stripe PillowsTableChairsKids Chairs

AFTER

Wall Planter • Terra Cotta Pots

Patio Chairs • Garden Stool • Rug

BEFORE

AFTER

I will say, the stone and paint color has grown on me since I first had the house painted.  I don’t hate it like I initially did, but I’m still excited to see the limewash samples and see if that looks good.

FALL DECOR ALL ON AMAZON

As I mentioned above, I’m starting to get the itch for Fall decor and I found all of this goodness on Amazon.

Do you have the Fall decor itch too?  Are you cleaning out things in anticipation of school starting?  I think getting things cleaned and organized just makes me feel more in control and at peace.  And, I’d love to hear who’s in for the Move Challenge!  I’ll start getting it ready and we’ll launch it September 1!

Come back tomorrow because I’ll be sharing what Ali-Shaun bought at the Nordstrom Sale and how she’s incorporating the pieces into her wardrobe!

Now let’s go kick Monday’s booty! 

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

17 Comments

  1. Hi Megan, love your painted house but agree the stone does not match. There are not many colors in your stone. Why not mix some shades and sponge the stones. You could still Limewash if you didn’t like the results.

  2. I actually really like the stone with the new paint! Maybe you’ve had it so long that you can’t see it objectively? I think the various shades in that stone bring complement the paint colors.

  3. Hi! Just wanted to offer some potential reassurance about Jordan walking in- my son is about the same age (just turned 4) and we did an abbreviated summer preschool session in July. The school did the same type of protocols and all kids 3 and up wore masks. It was NO PROBLEM for my kiddo… we made it very matter-of-fact and not a big deal, and he just accepted it. He already knew that the “big germs” around were why we’ve been staying home, so explaining that the masks and new systems were to protect everyone from getting sick made sense to him.

  4. My pants and jeans have also “mysteriously” shrunk too! You are not alone. This COVD 15 lbs is real! Have been wearing comfy athleisure joggers and shorts too often it seems. Would love a fitness challenge! Love the upgrades to your home. Agree that the warm tones of the stone clash with the cool gray tones of new paint. Maybe the limewash is the answer?

  5. If James can walk her into school, she will be fine. But if he can’t, the first day may be hard on you both. I predict that she will want to be like all the other kids and not look back on day 2.

    Love your Amazon decor. Ordered several items.

    Your stone has many gray colors in it. I would start by just having your painter stain/paint the really brown ones, with a darker gray color. Then step back and see what you think. And then continue as necessary. A good painter will know what product to use.

    1. That’s a good point, she will have James to walk her in. He’s a good big brother, sure to be protective. We tried painting a few brown stones grey but it didn’t look good- I think it didn’t go with the caulk in between the stones. I wish that would have worked!

  6. Hi Megan! A big YES to the fitness challenge! It would be awesome to do a nutrition component too as I’m sure many like me have fallen off the healthy eating wagon… Also, check out Romabio paint for the limewash. Young House Love used it to paint their brick and gave rave reviews! Take care 🙂

    1. Hi Jen! Thanks for the compliment! My skin actually looks better than it has in my 30s with taking better care of it. My skin is acne prone- especially my cheeks and around my jaw line. I have to be really careful what products I use- especially sunscreens and certain foundations break me out easily. I also get oily, but then it sometimes feels dry! I love the blotting tissues- I use those everyday!

  7. Your new paint job looks great! Can’t wait to see it with the lime wash. We always talk about doing that with our brick, but love the brick too, so we just haven’t been brave enough to change it yet:)

  8. I’m so sad. The tulip wreaths you have doubled in price. Shame on the company for gouging people because they are popular. It is only the two colors you bought. All the other colors are less. ?

  9. Love the new paint color on your home! I have similar stone on my house, mine may have more orange/rust, and have wanted to change the stone color to a creamy tan or white -hopefully eliminate or camouflage the orange/rust colors. I can’t wait to see how yours turns out. I may need the contact info of who you use. I live in Houston – Memorial area. Thank you for your blog – I enjoy your fashion finds and home decor ideas.

  10. The new siding color looks great! Do you have vinyl or wood siding? I asked about this on stories when it was happening but never got a response. I would love to do the same to my house.

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