Simply Stated 58
Weeks in review, June 26 – July 9: We’re sharing some of our favorite summer ideas from decorating to entertaining and recipes.
We took a little vacation!
It was just five days away, but we had a great time disconnecting (sorta) in Charleston, SC with another couple we consider framily.
Our husbands and the other couple are big fans of Eric Church and when tickets went on sale last year we all decided it would be fun to see him in Charleston.
Then this winter, we realized that the guys had a long weekend after the concert because of the July 4th holiday so we decided to turn it into a mini vacation!
The kids held down the fort at home while we enjoyed music, sunshine, amazing food, and time with friends.
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Simply2Moms Went Viral: Twice!
We mentioned that one of our posts went viral on Instagram at the end of June, and it’s continuing to grow daily.
As of now, it’s up to 21.9 MILLION views!
You can check out what the fuss is about and watch the reel here.
But then, on our way home from Charleston, our introduction video also started growing…
It has over 193K views and is continuing to grow each day.
Between the two posts, we’ve gone from 19.8K followers on June 20 to 68.5K followers on July 8 (it’s probably higher by the time you read this!).
It’s all pretty overwhelming.
We’re trying to keep up with the comments and messages that we’re receiving, but we can only reply to so many at a time before Instagram blocks our activity.
We decided to host a 50K followers celebration on Instagram, but we hit 60K by the day after announcing it!
Truly, this has been a surreal and mind-blowing couple of weeks.
What’s the Big Deal About Going Viral?
You might be reading this and thinking “That’s nice, but what’s the big deal?”
That’s a great question!
These kinds of numbers really help our little business in the eyes of the brands we’d like to work with.
In fact, since getting back from Charleston, we’ve spent a lot of time on conference calls with brands and fielding inquiry emails to begin working together.
Our website and all the social media promotion that goes with it is our full-time job, so this growth puts us closer to some of our big goals: like reaching the point where our husbands can retire from jobs they don’t love and join our team.
How crazy is that?!
There’s still a ways to go to reach that point, but going viral is helping us take a few big steps forward.
We’ve got another milestone to celebrate too! It’s been five years since we launched our website.
Be on the lookout for some fun surprises for you to help us celebrate over the next few weeks!
AnnMarie’s Week
After being out of town it’s always good to be home, isn’t it?
Not that I don’t love traveling because I do, but I have to admit I really missed my kids while we were away this time.
Chris and I tend to go away for long weekends when the kids are away at college so that we can spend more time with them when they are home.
I realize everyone is busy with work and significant others during the summer but it’s just nice to be home so I can see them when they pop in.
I guess that’s why I like working at my kitchen table instead of upstairs in my office…then I can be in their business whenever they’re around…LOL!
Yesterday we finally got a free day and spent a few hours by our pool…it was so nice and relaxing.
We had to have our pool liner replaced this year which snowballed into other projects and more money out of our pocket.
Isn’t that always the way?!
Anyway, the pool is finally back in working order just in time for this crazy heat and humidity we’ve been having here.
How’s the weather been by you?
Anne’s Week
While we were traveling, I was able to sneak in a little bit of time to read.
I’ve learned that my hubby and I both enjoy car rides much more if I don’t pay attention to his driving…
I have a feeling we’re not the only couple like that!
Our book club chose Happy Place by Emily Henry and I was able to finish it while we were away.
I gave it a 5-star rating in Goodreads which is really rare for me!
Even though I had a good idea of how things would end up (Emily Henry doesn’t write tragedies), she still did a wonderful job getting us to that point, with all kinds of twists and turns, and some really heart-wrenching writing.
Once we got home, I found myself trying to fit 36 hours of activities into each 24-hour day.
Lots of things didn’t get done (like checking my personal email… yikes).
On Friday, I finally unpacked the last of our bags: the one with our beach towels, sunscreen, and some shells I collected on Morris Island.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that there was something alive inside one of the shells!
And by surprise, I mean shrieking, hyper-ventilating, and generally overreacting…
Once my husband figured out what it was that tickled my hand (a stowaway hermit crab), my heart rate finally leveled back out.
I swear I checked inside that shell when I picked it up and there was nothing visible!
That’s a mistake I won’t be making again…
This Week on Simply2Moms
Here at Simply2Moms, we share ideas and inspiration for home decor & DIY, entertaining, healthy food, and tips for moms like us with older “kids.”
We have one post for each area to share with you this week!
Check out these easy tips for hanging outdoor string lights from your pergola for a beautiful ambiance in your backyard all year long.
We’ve discovered a secret that will make your yard really stand out!
Are you planning a cookout or summer gathering?
Check out these 5 easy ideas for hosting a backyard BBQ party on a budget.
The best part?
No one will ever suspect how little you spent!
This sugar-free recipe for Blueberry Lemon Overnight Oats is such a healthy treat, even though it tastes like cheesecake!
Whip up a batch on Sunday and you’ll have a healthy breakfast you can easily grab and go throughout the week.
This might be our favorite overnight oats recipe we’ve shared!
Get ready to SLAY college move-in day 2023!
With our 24 essential college move-in day tips, you’ll have the most organized day possible.
Say goodbye to moving stress and hello to college life with our guide’s help.
This TV storage shell that protects regular TVs if you want to hang one outside is on sale!
Are you ready for Amazon’s Prime Day?
Even though it’s not until next week, we’ve got some great early access deals that you don’t want to miss out on!
More Ideas and Inspiration From Our Friends
Each week we love taking some time to visit the websites we follow.
There are always so many great ideas!
Of course, we share those ideas with you, since that’s what friends do, right?
Like these flower arranging hacks.
This easy and delicious recipe.
This inspiration for decorating with peonies.
These easy breezy summer decorating ideas.
This guide for getting the most from spray paint.
This fresh take on a light and healthy summer side dish.
If you have any questions or suggestions, contact us or leave a comment!
Don’t miss any of our tips, tricks, or stories!
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