Outdoor Entertaining Essentials

Hey all! So much going on in my neck of the woods but just wanted to let you all know that for the moment the patio reveal is on hold. Its nearly done but I decided to add some last minute projects to really turn the space into something I really love and am proud of. Although I've only been blogging and sharing my world with you for a short time, I really only want to post and share projects that I love and am proud of. Otherwise I don't feel that this blog would be genuine or true to who I am. As of right now...I'm just not there with the patio...I've sorta hit a brick wall with the patio and need to take a step back and re-evaluate what I envisioned for the space originally. But I will finish it soon and when that day comes, you'll be the first to see! Deal?

 

If I could ever finish the patio I might be able to enjoy some of the items I'm featuring on the blog today because we're talking all things outdoor dining and entertaining. Summer is almost here! I keep saying "almost" because California has been experiencing an unseasonably gloomy May so as soon as California can make up its mind and temperatures start rising, I'm sure we'll be dining alfresco in no time! And good thing because...there's just so much good stuff out there folks! The outdoors have never looked so good.

 

Speaking of good totally amazing...have you seen this patio refresh? I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor. It was gorgeous before...and now?! This is what patio dreams are made of people!

 

Today I'm rounding up a whole slew of items perfectly designed for outdoor dining and entertaining. Maybe some of you (with finished patios and backyards) can find some use or inspiration from the items featured below. The stores are just killing it these days with so much awesome outdoor décor!

 

Beverage Dispenser / Melamine Dinnerware / Drink Bucket / Black Outdoor Pillow / Blue Outdoor Pillow / Outdoor Lights / Fire Pit / Acrylic Pitcher & Glasses / Bose Speaker / Serving Tray

 

Well? What do you think? Are you ready to invite friends and family over for a big ole BBQ? Some margaritas maybe? I know I am! Now...if only I can figure out the patio situation...hmmm!

Aloha!

In a little over 3 weeks, I'll be 30k feet in the sky and on my way to Hawaii. Aloooo-ha! I cannot wait! The sand and sun will sure beat this weird rainy weather we've been experiencing the last few days. Rain in California? Is there even such a thing?!

 

This time around we chose to rent a house vs. staying in a hotel and from what I can gather from all the reviews and recommendations from friends and family...it's absolutely the way to go. The pictures online of the house are stunning. It's a waterfront property and exactly what tropical dreams are made of. If you follow me on Instagram (you totally should) I'm sure I'll be sharing plenty of beautiful sites and scenery along the way, so don't miss out!

 

Because I have Hawaii on the brain, I've rounded up some items with a tropical flair and thought I might share my finds with you! Even if you can't go on a little tropical vacay, doesn't mean the tropics can't come to you!

 

 Banana Leaf Palm Pillow / Straw Pillow / Bamboo Flatware / Pineapple Bowl / Flamingo Sheets / Pineapple Canisters / Mirror / Banana Leaf Palm Prints / Cocktail Glasses 

 

I'm pretty sure there aren't any flamingos in Hawaii, but hey...I couldn't resist. Also...I'm dying to get my hands on those canisters. Who doesn't love pineapples or white ceramics?! Umm...no one! As for that pineapple bowl...I recently scored a similar one at a thrift store for a couple bucks, but this one is gorgeous. And that flatware. Don't get me started. Just make sure you leave enough for me to buy too!

 

We'll be vacationing in Oahu and while this will be our second time visiting this beautiful island, I'm always eager to find new places to explore, see, or things to do! That's where you come in. Suggestions are very much welcomed before I head on out! Any must-see, must-do, must-eat spots that you absolutely love? Help a girl out here, I'd love to hear!

15 Minute Fix: Updating Dollar Store Vases

Hey there! Sorry for the brief hiatus...it's been a busy, but productive, few weeks (ahem...patio! I'm talking to you!). The patio makeover has literally eaten me alive but I'm rounding the home stretch and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel so for now I don't have any other patio updates except to say that the chairs arrived and they're all kinds of tooshy heaven, but I wanted to pop in and share a quick little project I checked off my to-do/want-to-do list recently.

 

With summer knocking on our door, or at least here in CA it is, I'm loving the longer daylight hours and what that means for the blog and the endless amounts of projects I have going at any given time. The extended daylight hours sure make it easier to work on projects and photograph them after a long 10 hour day at the office but even with the added convenience that Daylight Savings brings, sometimes all I really have time for after work, traffic, dinner, clean-up, and all that jazz is a quick 10-15 minute project. Anyone else feel the same? And heck...let's be honest...sometimes I have no desire to do any of the aforementioned tasks and instead just plop myself down on the couch and watch HGTV on repeat. Feel me now?!

 

If you're anything like me, your brain never shuts off and there's always a to-do list a mile long. When I sat down to actually write out what I wanted/needed to accomplish, I realized that a lot of these items were quick, easy, and something I could easily get done in 10-15 minutes...if only I actually set aside those minutes to actually do them. What a concept! Sometimes something as easy as putting pen to paper puts things into perspective and makes all those to-dos a whole lot more manageable.

 

So because I thought many of you might be in the same boat as I, I thought I'd start a new series of sorts with quick 10-15 minute projects straight off my own to-do/want-to-do list that even you might find useful when time is limited.

 

Please don't judge me on my to-do list prioritization because as you'll see when you come back for the next post in this series, I chose to paint dollar store vases first before I tackled the disaster that is my purse because obviously gold vases are way more important than organized purses. Moving on...

 

Over the years I've managed to accumulate close to 50 (#youthinkimkidding) dollar store vases. How? I have no idea, but yeah...it happened. If you need a few vases, holla at your girl! They're the perfect vessel for so many things around the house and because I have so many, I thought I'd have some fun with a few.

 

All I did was tape off a portion of the vase using some blue painters tape. You can get all kinds of crazy or creative with your pattern, just mask off the area that you don't want painted and leave the area you do want painted exposed. For my vases I just taped off an asymmetric line. Sorry, no pics of this! Then just spray the vase whatever color you fancy. I chose gold...because well...duh...I'm obsessed with gold.

 

Once the paint is dry, remove the tape and ta-da! Dollar store vases look like they cost $1.50 now!

 

 

This is literally the easiest project on the face of the planet. I didn't re-invent the wheel, this project isn't going to break the Internet, and you've probably seen it done a thousand times a thousand times better, but it's been on my want-to-do list for-ev-errrr and now...it's not.

 

 

That's all for today - just a quick little 15 minute project for ya! Enjoy my friends! And be sure to check back soon for the next installment of 15 Minute Fix...or if you're lucky, you'll get a patio reveal soon!