Week in review, July 17-23: We’re sharing some of our tips for college dorm shopping, fireplace decorating ideas, a tasty salad recipe, and tips for choosing a timeless kitchen backsplash.
Our heads are still reeling from everything that’s going on with our account on Instagram!
Social media has been taking more time than usual so we’re going to need to figure out how to best manage our time.
But we’re definitely not complaining! This has been an exciting month for Simply2Moms.
Next week is our monthly supper club, and since AnnMarie is at the beach we’re actually ahead of the game!
AnnMarie created her tablescape and Anne did her recipe early, and it feels pretty good to not be racing around at the last minute. LOL
In fact, Anne’s going to be sharing two recipes with you this week because of it!
Let’s check in and see what else has been going on on our street this week.
AnnMarie’s Week
I had a super busy week getting ready to go on vacation.
Do you feel like that the week before you go away?
Like every little thing has to get done before you leave because it can’t possibly wait a week.
I had lots of work to get done too with several blog posts and brand collaborations.
But I’m finally on vacation with my family and I totally need this week to recharge (although I did bring my laptop so not completely disconnected).
We’ve been coming to the Outerbanks of North Carolina for years and years…actually, this summer is our 18th year.
It’s crazy to me to think that we’ve done the same family vacation every year for 18 years…kinda incredible if you think about it.
We have a big group…parents, siblings, cousins…it’s so much fun!
I so look forward to our family tradition, time spent together, and all the memories we’ve made over the years.
I’ll try to remember to take you along with me in stories if I can find my phone in my beach bag (wink…wink).
So be sure you’re following us on social media!
Have a great week friends!
Anne’s Week
My husband was in Amsterdam for work most of this week so I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep.
I don’t know why, but when he’s not here I have a hard time falling asleep and then when I do fall asleep, I keep waking up.
We joke that being apart is one of the best things for our marriage because it makes us both realize how much we enjoy having the other one around.
While he was gone, I spent a lot of time working on planning my office project, and it’s finally time for me to pick up that paint roller!
This weekend the heat wave we’ve been having broke and we spent some time at the fixer upper house working on building shutters.
We discovered a lot of the house’s original cedar siding underneath the old damaged vinyl siding and we salvaged as much as possible.
My husband cut it down and planed it smooth, and he’s built custom cedar shutters!
Today I helped him with getting them all sealed so we can hopefully install them next weekend.
I’ll be sure to share the entire process in a blog post soon.
The house has turned out so cute, and I have a ton of projects to share plus tips for renovating an older home.
This Week on Simply2Moms
We’ve got some fun ideas for you this week on the blog!
We’re winding down our summer ideas and our minds are turning towards fall.
It’s crazy!
Because even though we’re still soaking in all the summer fun in our lives, we have to shift gears about 6-8 weeks before each holiday and season begins.
Just wait until you see what we have coming up! But this week, we’ve got a little more summer to share.
Getting ready to send a student to college is such an exciting time, even if it’s a little bittersweet for us moms.
There are so many packing lists out there, and most are from stores and include all kinds of things our daughters never used.
We’ve put together a dorm packing list for girls with everything she needs for an organized and stylish space.
Are you tired of subway tile, but still want a white tile kitchen backsplash?
Anne found 12 gorgeous tile backsplash ideas while working to update her kitchen.
These tiles are classic and will stand the test of time to make your kitchen look amazing!
Tired of the same old cucumber salad?
Give this Asian-inspired version a try!
It’s perfect as a side dish or you can even put it over lettuce and top it with grilled chicken to make a meal!
Looking for ways to style your fireplace for summer?
Whether your style is farmhouse or transitional, colorful decor or neutral, we’ve got some simple and stylish ideas to update your fireplace for the warmer months.
From incorporating vintage finds to unique ways to use faux florals and greenery, get inspired to give your home a fresh look!
More Ideas and Inspiration From Our Friends
Each week we enjoy stopping by and visiting our favorite websites, and over the years many of the people behind those sites have become good friends!
Blogging truly becomes a community kind of experience, and we always look forward to seeing some of our friends in real life at different conferences.
We’re always so inspired by everyone’s creativity and here are some of our best finds this week.
This hack to protect your outdoor cushions from squirrels.
These simple ideas to decorate for fall.
These ideas to deal with garden pests organically.
Thirty thrift store upcycling ideas.
These tips for mixing metals in a bathroom.
And these easy ways to maintain a raised bed vegetable garden.
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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