Spring Patio Refresh

When the first warm days of spring arrive, I can't wait to get outside and prepare a space to enjoy all of that fresh air I have been craving. I usually begin with our covered patio. When BJ's® Wholesale Club asked if I would like to use some of their items to refresh my space for spring, I jumped at the opportunity.

My husband and I headed to our local BJ's and had fun perusing the outdoor decor/furniture aisles. We appreciate shopping in stores where we can grab some new outdoor decor AND pick up the milk and orange juice that we always seem to need with 3 growing boys in our house. I was especially glad to have him along because he helped me haul the big new rug that we selected. We decided to start our refresh with an outdoor rug. Our old concrete patio has acquired a few cracks and this rug really helps to camouflage that.

I like the texture it adds with the natural colors. I enjoy how it really dresses up the space and makes it feel more cozy - more like an outdoor room than a patio. I think our sweet pup, Dax, agrees and has found a new outdoor napping spot. :)

We also picked up some new planters. I love the look of the stone on these planters.

They add such great color and texture to this area. I added a couple of potted ferns by simply plopping them into the new planters. So easy! The beige "knitted" look planter is also a new find from BJ's. It reminds me of a cozy knit sweater. Just perfect to help cozy up our patio.

I also grabbed the striped bag to add another pattern to the space. We are always on-the-go at time of year so this bag will certainly be put to good use this spring.

I kept a majority of the area open and uncluttered because with 3 boys and 2 dogs, there is a great deal of activity happening in this space each day.

I love to garden so new clippers are a must each year. These are such a pretty mint green color and they came in a package all together. I am so looking forward to peony season and cutting my own bouquets to bring indoors. And let's not forget about the lilacs. I think I can smell them already.

There is nothing quite like the new beginnings that spring always brings. And now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to head on out to our "new" covered patio and relax for a few minutes with the pups. Happy spring!

Disclosure: BJ's® Wholesale Club provided items for this post, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

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My Perfect Mess, Kids & Pets Included (& Giveaway!)

It probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone that my house doesn't always look like the pretty pictures I usually post on this blog. In fact, I sometimes look at this very blog that I myself publish just to remember what our house can actually look like when I tidy everything up. But the truth of the matter is, we actually live here and it would be sad if we all weren't able to make our messes everyday. First and foremost, like most parents, I want my kids to have the best childhood we can give them. I want them to remember a mother who was present, not one who was always worried about the tidiness of our house. I want them to have space to be creative. To be themselves. And let's not forget our two beloved dogs that are such an important part of our family. I want them to be comfortable too. :) And so I present for your viewing, my perfect mess.

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Apple Picking Fun with Fujifilm Instax & Giveaway

My family's very favorite early fall tradition is our annual trip to pick apples on a farm in Vermont. The beautiful mountain and Lake Champlain views, together with fresh and delicious crisp apples make for a great day. It is also a great opportunity to take pictures. This year, I used some of the pictures taken with a Fujifilm INSTAX mini 70 camera to create an apple picking themed mantel display in our living room. We are having so much fun with the Fujifilm INSTAX camera. I just love the retro feel of this camera. Even more importantly, I appreciate that I immediately have prints to use in my home decor and for crafts.

The Fujifilm INSTAX camera provides instant photos anytime anywhere. It is easy to carry everywhere, which is a great advantage to me. I find that always toting around my bulky and expensive DSLR camera to be cumbersome when we are enjoying an activity like apple picking. The INSTAX is a good size to fit in a purse of small tote bag. Fujifilm INSTAX makes it easy to capture the perfect photo every time.

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Living with Kids & Pets? Here's Why You Need A Dyson Light Ball Vacuum (Review)

In our busy household with 2 hairy Golden Retrievers and 3 active boys, we need a tough vacuum that can withstand daily use. The amount of dog hair I vacuum up each day is insane. When Dyson contacted me about reviewing a new vacuum, the new Dyson Light Ball, I jumped at the opportunity. We have been using a Dyson vacuum in our home for just about 10 years now. I often get asked by readers what my floor cleaning routine is with big dogs and I always recommend getting a Dyson. I was excited to receive the new vacuum to compare it to our 10 year old vacuum.

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Celebrating 20 Years of Marriage

Do you have that special place in your life where everything just feels "right" and you can totally relax? A place where you can share a glass of wine, a perfect sip, with a special someone? For me, it is the porch at our family's cabin in the mountains. My husband and I will be celebrating 20 years of marriage this summer and we are very excited to reach this milestone. We recently spent an evening together in our favorite spot while enjoying a glass of Chateau Ste. Michelle wine and I wrote about it in an article for SheKnows.com that you can find here.

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Comfort Works Custom Slipcover Review

I am so excited for today's post to share our new custom sofa cover from Comfort Works for our Ikea Ekeskog sofa in our family room!  Seriously, it feels like I have gotten a brand new sofa and it has changed the feel of the entire room.

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Keeping A Clean And Germ Free Home With Three Boys, Dogs & Clorox®

There's no doubt about it, with three boys and two dogs, life gets messy!  This time of year, I am especially focused on ways that I can keep my family healthy.  In our busy household, with three school-aged kids, it is easy for germs to spread.  Before you know it, the same cold and flu viruses can end up being shared throughout the whole family. We miss out on school, work and fun and nobody has time for that!  I appreciate that Clorox has a variety of products available that can help stop the spread of those sneaky viruses that we are all trying to avoid.

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Winterizing Our Gallery Wall

'Tis the season to change our gallery wall back to holiday/winter theme.  When we added the planking to this wall in our family room last year, I had a winter theme in mind and this is still my favorite season to decorate this space.  I think the loveliest gallery walls are those that reflect the interests of the people who live in the home.  We enjoy spending time in the mountains, especially in the winter, and I love how this wall reflects our lifestyle.  

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Holiday Gift Ideas With JCPenney

Have you started your holiday shopping yet?  I like to start early in the season so I can put some thought into each gift, but not too early that I am not yet in the holiday spirit. I enjoy shopping when the stores are decorated and the holiday music is playing.   JCPenney challenged me to create a few gift ideas for some of my favorite people. I was happy to learn that I could buy a few of our most trusted brands at great prices.

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The Smells of the Holiday Season & A Giveaway

*I am teaming up with Air Wick® for this sponsored post.  As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Even though it isn't quite Thanksgiving yet, we are in full holiday decorating mode in our house this week.  I look forward to this season all year long and I have been planning our decor for weeks.  Even before we bring that first box of holiday stuff from the attic, I begin adding scents to our home with holiday candles and wax melts.  Nothing gets me into the holiday spirit quite like the smells of the season do.

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Caramel Apples (and a giveaway!)

Fall is our family's favorite time of year and since our boys have been little, we have started a few traditions that we look forward to every year.  One of these traditions is making Caramel Apples when we bring back loads of apples from the pick-your-own apple orchard that we visit every year.  I love that this tradition has stayed, even as my boys have grown older.  It is an activity we all enjoy.  One of my concerns, as a mom, is what exactly all that ooey gooey caramel is doing to all of our teeth!  Fortunately, brushing with Aquafresh® toothpaste twice a day can put my mind at rest to allow us all to enjoy sweet treats in moderation, especially on Halloween.

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Mixing Colors and Patterns in the Bedroom with JCPenney & A Giveaway!

When it comes to home decor, mixing colors and patterns is just about my favorite way to add personality and my own unique stamp to a room.  This week, our master bedroom got a whole new look.  Lately, I have been loving the color combination of deep blue mixed with a bit of orange and I decided to make that the inspiration for our new bedding.  When I spotted the Adana bedding from The Eva Longoria home™ collection at JCPenney, I knew it would be the perfect starting point.

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Making the Most of Summer with Kellogg's & $100 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway

Summer is an exciting time filled with vacations, staycations, trips to the pool, and loads of fun!  It lasts just a few months, but the memories made will last a lifetime.

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Connecting Families with HomeTeam™ & A Giveaway!

Growing up, my grandmother lived just upstairs from me, in the same house as my family.  I have such wonderful memories of the time spent with my grandma.  Whether we were playing card games, board games or reading a story together, it seemed that my grandma always had time for me.  I am positive that I wouldn't be the avid reader I am today if it weren't for her.  But times have changed.  Even though my kids' grandparents live a little over an hour away, I want them to have the same sort of relationship that I had with my grandma.  Thanks to the wonderful technology available today, my kids keep in touch with their grandparents mainly through texting.  Which is why I am so excited about Panasonic's new app, called HomeTeam™.

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