Blog - The Lilypad Cottage

May 20, 2020 By Kelly 8 Comments

Lake House Dining Room Light Fixture

I have been a busy bee planting my flower boxes, garden, and planters this past weekend! I was so excited to share with you all and then it proceeded to rain the last 3 days nonstop. Hopefully, it will dry up soon and I can head outside again with my camera, but let’s switch gears to the inside and a fun little change-up in the dining room!

If you have been following me for a while, you know I love to change things up! Nothing has brought this out more than not leaving our house for the last 2 months. (See this blog post on our new kitchen island paint color for further evidence).

After 3 years of living here, I decided it was time to swap out a few light fixtures. I think at the last house I had changed our dining room light fixture twice at this point?! So, I feel like this has shown real restraint on my part. :) Don’t worry all the old lights are going to a good home!

I’m waiting on the new kitchen pendants I ordered to show up still (I’ll share soon!), but my new lake house dining room light fixture arrived! I loved the old light fixture, but it took up a bit more visual space than I anticipated. It blocked quite a bit of our lake view from the kitchen area.

I wanted something a little more streamlined this time to really let the view shine. Pretend it’s a sunny day out there and the water is all pretty and blue in the background instead of the gray MI spring skies.

And yes I needed to move my camera over a bit to have everything centered argh (ha!), but you can see how pretty and simple it is without interrupting the view.

I loved the classic yet modern style of this light fixture (and the price point – it’s under $200!), but they didn’t have it in black. The other light fixtures on the main floor here are all black so I wanted to stick with that color scheme. Although, I do think it is pretty in all the color options, and if you aren’t as picky as me the oil rubbed bronze would give you the same feel I’m sure.

I actually painted the old light fixture black in here, so I knew it wouldn’t be a big deal to raid my spray paint stash again. If you try this at home, just be sure to tape off the light sockets and wiring and you are good to go. I use matte black paint and a few coats later it was ready to hang up.

I bribed the Mr. with a margarita (side note we have been sharing all sorts of fun cocktail recipes on Instagram on the weekends so be sure to check out my stories if you need a little happy hour help), and he helped me hang it up. Swapping out lights is not hard, but be sure to shut your power off first!

I love the new look and the softer ambiance the shades let off. It will be perfect for our next dinner party – whenever that is able to happen again!

I also like how simple it is looking the long way through to the living room. Your eye travels to the fireplace and the large light fixture in there as well.

I love our new lake house dining room light fixture and cannot wait to see it paired with the new kitchen lights coming soon!

You can see the old light fixture in this post here.

SOURCES: Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD words.

Light Fixture

Table – Art Van Furniture which recently went out of business

Chairs – I have the light gray color they don’t seem to offer anymore but these are similar if you want gray

Slipcovered chairs

Wall Color – Extra White by Sherwin Williams

Wood Floor

Art – Katherine Cordon

Frames

Bar Cart

Vase – no longer available but this one is similar

Flowers – cut off my tree

May 14, 2020 By Kelly 2 Comments

My Fave Hair Products

I recently shared a little hair tutorial on Instagram as it has been the number one requested thing lately on my little Q & A’s. If you missed it, I saved it to my Instagram highlights. I’m there in all my awkward glory, complete with Vanna White gestures and random jazz hands. Anyone else unable to talk unless they use their hands? Anyway, I linked up all my fave hair products and tools at the end, but I thought I would share them over here too. In case you are in the market for some new hair goodies, or maybe you are just experimenting with how long you can go without washing your hair at this point while we are home. She said as she sheepishly raises her hand…

So here are my fave hair products and tools –

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.

My Fave Hair Products & Tools

Morrocan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream – I use this as a detangler/moisturizer on my hair when I get out of the shower. I just smooth it through my damp hair. This makes all the difference for my dry ends, especially during the summer.
Morrocan Oil Root Boost – I spray this right on my roots before I blowdry it and it really gives my fine hair some volume.
Kristen Ess Dry Shampoo – I alternate dry shampoos a lot and this one is always in the rotation. It’s nice and lightweight.
Kristen Ess Beach Wave Spray – I spray this on my hair when I’m done curling it and it adds a lot of texture and shine without making my hair sticky. It’s also great to touch up curls that 2nd or 3rd day of hair.
Oribe Swept Up Volume Powder – Ok, I’m not gonna lie this stuff is pricey, but I love it and a little goes a long way! I sprinkle this on my roots on day 2 and 3 to perk up my limp hair. I don’t know how it does what it does, but it adds so much volume. I actually bought the travel size to try it out and it’s lasted me a few months. So while it’s pricey you don’t need much.
Redken HotSets – I have been using this for a million years. I spray this on after before I curl my hair and it helps protect your hair from the heat and also helps hold my curl for longer. I spray it on, brush it throughout, and then curl.
Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast – I’ve only had this a few weeks and I love this stuff. I spray this on my roots and around my crown it adds a lot of texture and volume.
Loreal Elnett Hairspray – I do a light mist of this when I’m all done styling my hair. It has great hold without giving you that untouchable helmet head feeling.
Comb Trio – I have this set of combs and they are great for sectioning off your hair or doing a little backcombing if needed.
Alligator Clip Grips – I don’t typically need to section my hair to curl it but my daughter has really thick hair and these are the absolute best clips out there! They can hold so much hair and won’t slip or tangle when you go to remove them.
Wet Brush – My daughter and I both swear by the Wet Brush any of them are great but I like this paddle one a lot.
La Fortezza Hair Dryer – I received this hairdryer in a PR package (the sometimes perks of being a blogger) and I really like it. I’ve never had a fancy expensive hair dyer before but wow does it save me a lot of time on the days I do actually wash my hair. I normally let my hair air dry most of the way and then dry it the rest. This does a great job of it without getting too hot or making my hair frizzy.
T3 Curling Wand – I recently splurged on a T3 to see what all the hype was about it. I have to say it is a really nice curling iron and my curl hold so well with this. I never feel like my hair is getting fried either.
Hot Tools Extra Long Barrel – I have had this curling iron for a long time and it’s a great less expensive option that still really does a great job and gives an even curl.

I think that’s everything!? Like I said if you want to see me put all these products to use you can check out my little tutorial here on Instagram. Happy Weekend!

May 6, 2020 By Kelly 4 Comments

Lake House Outdoor Decor

We finally had a glorious stretch of weather this past weekend. The kind of weekend that makes you remember why you live in Michigan in the first place! :) Only to be followed by colder temps this week but still, it has me dreaming and scheming of decorating and our lake house outdoor decor! After laying 19 yards of mulch, I’m ready to make a pretty spot to relax and enjoy our handiwork. In the last few years, I’ve focused on getting the pool area ready. Unfortunately, the pool will probably be out of commission for most of the summer, it was scheduled to be repaired and resurfaced but with the shutdown, everything is behind. So I’m going to work on the lakeside spaces a bit more this summer.

One rookie mistake I made last year with our master deck space was getting too small of a rug. So I’m fixing that this year and adding an umbrella for some shade and a few new accessories too! We spend the majority of our time out here from spring to fall so I’m excited to give this space a little cozy upgrade. Actually a few of these items arrived already – I love the pillows! But while I’m waiting for everything to be delivered I thought I would show you my plans.

We have had these chairs for 6 years and they are still in perfect condition. They are on sale right now and I can’t recommend them enough! I linked a similar side table to what we have and I’m adding in the rug, pillows, and umbrella. I also bought some new planters, and now that the greenhouses are open I can’t wait to fill them next week when it warms up!

SOURCES: Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.

LAKE HOUSE DECK DECOR

Rug

Chair

Planters (the ones I ordered sold out but these are similar)

I’m also planning a little refresh on our patio down by the lake. I’ve been using the same rug from our old house that is about 6 years old and it’s always been too small for this space. I think I’m going to bring that rug up to our other deck to use under our dining table. I’m excited about finishing this space. Oh, and I finally found our firepit table back online for you all since it’s been requested a ton lately! These planters I have linked are gorgeous but $$. I actually have some old planters that I’m going to try to paint to look like this so stay tuned for that post…or maybe not if it’s an epic fail.

LAKE HOUSE PATIO DECOR

Rug

Firepit table

Polywood Adirondack chair – these are indestructible and I love them, we have slowly been upgrading our wood ones to these.

Wood Adirondack chair – these are a great budget-friendly option

Oh and yes I mentioned that the greenhouses are open here now which means window boxes coming soon!! I’ve been gathering tons of inspiration on Pinterest so we shall see what direction I go this year – can’t wait!

You can check out more of our backyard and landscaping ideas here, and outdoor furniture here.

April 29, 2020 By Kelly 34 Comments

Revere Pewter Kitchen Update

I’m back this week with another Revere Pewter Kitchen update over at my parent’s house. All the cabinets and walls are painted and the new floors are finished! It feels like a fresh clean slate over there. Like really clean. Like completely blank, because nothing is put back except the major furniture items. My mom was supposed to come home this week and we were going to go to town on revamping this space. We had plans to sort through what she had and power shop to mix in some new pieces too. Unfortunately, she will be staying in Florida for the foreseeable future, so all of that is put on hold. I thought I would at least share a few photos of the fresh paint and new floors.

First, let’s take a look back at the before, if you remember my parent’s built this house 18 years ago. The kitchen recently flooded and all of the floors were ruined, which kicked off this whole makeover. The antique glaze on the cabinets was starting to yellow and peel so now seemed like a good time to freshen everything up with a new coat of paint!

BEFORE –

And AFTER –

It feels so fresh and updated!

I cannot wait to restyle these glass cabinets with some pretty finds.

We swapped out the cup pulls and chunkier knobs for these simple black handles and knobs from Battle Creek Hardware.

It’s funny how swapping out the hardware can really change the feel of a space! It went from a country kitchen feel to an updated modern cottage vibe.

We kept these black cabinet units the same for some contrast.

The walls got a fresh coat of paint as well. We went with Natural Choice from Sherwin Williams which is the same color they have in their Florida home. She has some really beautiful colorful paintings to hang back up that will pop against the nice neutral wall color.

The dining nook feels brand new with the freshly painted table and built-in benches. We have plans to pick a new cushion fabric and some pillows to finish off this cozy space.

Imagine a wood tray with a big glass vase of hydrangeas on the newly painted table.

The lighter more neutral-toned floors really made a huge difference in the whole house! I love how they look with their stone fireplace. They are all hand stained by a local company here in Michigan called Urban Plank. I know a lot of you wanted the flooring info, unfortunately, I can’t link them for you, but if you are local be sure to check them out!

Also, I always get questions about my mom’s sectional and it’s from Art Van Furniture and they unfortunately just went out of business. Boy, I’m feeling really helpful with the links today ha, sorry!

So excited to add some fun throw pillows and throws in here.

I cannot wait to get shopping, get styling, finish this space off, and most importantly hug my mom when all of this is over!

I hope you all are hanging in there and staying well!

SOURCE LIST: Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links which means I may make a small commission on products purchased through these links at no additional cost to you.

Cabinet color – Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore

Wall color – Natural Choice by Sherwin Williams

Hardware – BattleCreek Hardware

Table – Ballard Designs

Chairs – Find them here

Couch – Art Van Furniture

Countertops – Honed Black Granite

April 23, 2020 By Kelly 2 Comments

Wayfair Save Big, Give Back Sale

I’ve had a few of you message me wondering if I had the inside scoop on when Wayfair’s next big sale was going to be, well today is the day! I’m excited to be partnering with Wayfair on this post to share their Save Big, Give Back sale this week!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.

You all know Wayfair is one of my fave online shopping spots and this is one of their best sales yet. Not only are they offering great sale prices, but they are also taking this opportunity to give back. 10% of all proceeds from this sale will be going to Feeding America which is such a great organization.

Feeding America helps provide meals to people in need and has been crucial during this time to keep our food banks stocked. I know you all may not be in a place to be shopping at the moment, but for those of you that are, I’m linking all of the products in our home from Wayfair. I’m also rounding up a few items that are in my online cart currently in addition to some great outdoor furniture options as well. I’ve had several of you who have requested that lately! Basically, here is a giant list of all my favorites from Wayfair for you! All you have to do is double click on the items pictured.

First up here is everything currently in our home available from Wayfair.

Ok, next up you may have noticed our living room isn’t quite done. There is not an end table in sight, well minus the outdoor garden stool I stuck here temporarily. I have said before that I don’t like to buy everything all at once for a room but rather collect different pieces over time as we live here and see how we use the space. Well, I’ve decided it’s finally time to collect some end tables. Especially now that we are hanging out here all the time. I’m thinking a square one on the end of the couch under the window and a round one on the other side. I’m not big on matchy-matchy, so I have quite the eclectic bunch of tables in my cart at the moment. I’ll share what I decide in a few weeks!

Ok and last, the number one request I’ve had lately is to round up some great outdoor furniture options as I think we are all trying to make the most of indoor and outdoor spaces being stuck at home. Here in Michigan, we have had an odd combo of weather. It’s been 60 degrees where my kids have been so desperate for some fun that they have been swimming in the freezing lake. It’s also been snowing on and off all week too, that didn’t stop us from getting our outdoor furniture out and bundling up to enjoy a fire outside. Here are a few of my faves including our outdoor dining set above that I love!

I linked all of our Adirondack chairs as well, we have a few wood ones which are budget-friendly and the low maintenance Polywood ones too! Our firepit is no longer available, but I linked a few other options! Sigh, come on summertime!!

I hope if you are in the market for anything you are able to take advantage of this Save Big, Give Back sale from Wayfair. You can shop the sale here. It’s such a great opportunity to grab something you have had your eye on and give back to Feeding America at the same time!

April 8, 2020 By Kelly 12 Comments

Wood Beam Breakfast Nook

I should title this wood beam breakfast nook version 6.0 as I think I have changed this space around a zillion times now. If you are keeping track, I’m on table number two (well technically it’s the same table, but I painted it) and chair situation number three now?

I’ve finally realized the issue is I bought too small of a table to begin with. I was so concerned about people getting in and out around the table and on the bench, that I failed to consider the people sliding around the table most would be my tiny 60 lb children who can maneuver just fine.

A little too fine.

Sharing this bench they were constantly bumping elbows, knocking over each other’s drinks, and generally driving me nuts. I decided enough was enough and it was time for a bigger table, so just one person sits at the bench instead of them both.

And yes, I realize they will still find something to fight about at dinner, but at least they won’t be knocking food over! Although I have to say only having one another these past few weeks, they are really getting along better than ever. I guess when there are no other options, your little brother is not so bad to hang with. Silver linings :)

At this point, you may be saying wait is that table new? Why no, it’s not. My new table is currently hanging out at Crate and Barrel at the closed down mall. They called me to tell me it arrived on the same day they were shutting the store down. So, I will pick it up at some point whenever Michigan opens up again.

It looks like this though. I went with a round table that has a leaf option to go to a bigger oval. That way I have the best of both worlds. I love that it’s a simple pedestal which is great when you have a window seat. It makes it so much easier to slide around. I’m not sure if I will go with the circle or the oval, so stay tuned for breakfast nook 7.0.

My new chairs did, however, arrive before the stay at home order, and I’m in love with them! I ordered new ones because the chairs I had here are only sold in pairs and I only needed 3. I sold the old pair and bought these beauties. I wanted something wood-toned to pick up the beams and I like the rustic yet modern vibe these have. They are comfortable on the back and the quality is great. They do have the option to buy seat pads as well but I like them as is.

Also, I realize in photos the table doesn’t really look too small with 3 chairs, but our knees are all banging against each other.

The details on these chairs are so pretty.

I’ve also been working on a cushion for the window seat over here now that my kids are a little older and spilling less. I bought foam and outdoor fabric (again before the stay at home order). My mother in law is going to help me sew it eventually. Since we are staying home and not visiting family, that plan is on hold for a bit. I did cut and pin the fabric on so we could use it for now. It will look a lot more finished when we add batting and the fabric is sewn tight.

I shopped my home for these throw pillows to finish off the space. I’ll try to link what I can below, but most are a few years old.

I wish I had done a cushion here sooner! This has become Charlie’s new fave spot to watch the neighborhood cats now that it is so comfy and cushy. My kids have also taken to snuggling up with books here while I’m cooking so it feels like we use this space so much more now too.

The new chairs play so nicely with the darker tone of the island (read that post here if you missed it), and overall it feels like a brand new kitchen! Which is great because we have basically been living in here with all the cooking we have been doing.

We actually did a fun family cooking challenge the other night – girls vs boys. Losers had to do the dishes! I hope you all are staying well, staying home and staying sane! :)

SOURCE LIST:

Island color – Blue Note by Benjamin Moore

Wall color – Extra White by Sherin Williams

Beams – They were in the basement of the old cottage that used to be here and we saved them to use here.

Stools – find them here

Step stool – find it here

Old table – find it here (I painted mine white)

New table – find it here

New Chairs – find them here

Wood floors – find them here

Light fixtures – find them here

Subway tile – Lowes

Pillows – old from Target

Bowls – Local store The Counting House

Cookbook – find it here

March 31, 2020 By Kelly 41 Comments

Navy Island White Kitchen

I read a tweet the other day something to the effect of “It’s crazy how fast I got to the rearrange all the furniture in my house stage of quarantine.” And I feel seen! Except I weirdly started with the “paint everything in your whole house” stage of self-isolation first. I’ve also hit the obsessively cleaning stage, organizing stage and rearranging pillows stage to name a few. I’ll keep you posted on what other stages I happen upon next…but here we go with my new navy island in our white kitchen!

I painted my island! Well, really I painted my pantry door first and it all went downhill from there. Or up depending on how you look at it. I have many times talked about falling prey to the “if you give a mouse a cookie decorating situation” and once again an innocent paint touch up turned into a big ole project.

Also, that right light is crooked in every shot and it is making me crazy. It’s fine. Just fine. FINE! ;)

There was a big gouge in our pantry door, so I got a bee in my bonnet to paint it, but I thought if I was going to paint it why not switch things up more? So, I painted it black. Which I loved! Then I got on a painting kick and started touching up all the baseboards in our house. Which led to the island. It was kind of destroyed thanks to my kids smashing their barstools against it all the time. About half of it needed to be painted. And AGAIN, if I was going to paint it, why not switch up the color?

My back up paint color for the wet bar cabinets in the basement that I painted that mushroom color (see that post here) was this deep navy blue. It’s Blue Note by Benjamin Moore. I thought why not use that here! I still loved the old color, but I love to switch things up even more. And… I have just a little bit of time on my hands being stuck home, so why not?

I love it! It feels like it should have been this color all along. It’s such a fun change and I love the contrast of the deeper color in here. It plays really nicely with our navy chairs in our living room. I didn’t take any full room shots since it was hard enough just to get this area clean with all of us elbowing for office/school space, but I will at some point.

The navy bar stools really pop against it.

I again used the same paint and painting tips I talked about in this post here. It’s the same paint that the painter painted them with the first time around, so I know it’s good stuff.

Oh, sneak peek of my new breakfast nook chairs over there too. I will be sharing that next week. That’s a whole other saga, and I’m currently waiting on a new table over there too! The Mr. bought it for me for my birthday (which was yesterday), but it’s trapped inside the mall at Crate and Barrel for the foreseeable future. That just gives me one more thing to look forward to when life returns to normal again.

Oh and after all that, I actually re-painted the pantry door white because the black looked bad with the navy. Well, actually I painted it gray and then white, but the point is it’s white now and I like it! I hope you all are staying safe and well and possibly tackling some fun projects in your house or painting everything in sight light a crazy person. Tell me I’m not alone?! :)

SOURCES: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

White cabinets – Extra White by Sherwin Williams

Island – Blue Note by Benjamin Moore

Flooring – find it here

Range – 36 in Monogram by GE

Utensil rack – Ikea

Countertop – white quartz by Vicostone the color is Misterio

Tile – Lowe’s

Grout – not sure a mid-tone gray that the tile installer had

Runner – find it here

Step stool – find it here

Hardware – find it here

Tray – find it here

Lights – find them here (I spray painted mine black)

White vase – not available anymore but this one is similar

Stools – find it here

Pantry wallpaper – find it here

Navy Island White Kitchen

March 26, 2020 By Kelly 12 Comments

Good Books I’m Reading

As promised I’ve been reading away over here any spare minute I get, to try to get a new book list out to you all. I know we are all looking for something to help pass the time right now, and books are a great way to escape. Unfortunately, my spare minutes have been few and far between with homeschooling the kids and feeding them approximately 463 snacks a day. Plus keeping them from throwing stuff at the Mr. when he is on a video conference call. In their defense, he started it by making bunny ears on the kid’s zoom class calls for school. We have a mature bunch over here! Luckily my mom is here to help! Well not here, here, as she is in lockdown down in Florida, but we share the same taste in books. She actually volunteers at the library several days a week in her neighborhood so she is always up on the latest books. We are constantly swapping book recommendations and books. Although do not dog-ear a page on one of her books – she will come for you… ;) a firm believer in bookmarks that one! So she has graciously offered her review on the last 3 books she has loved that are currently on my list.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

So via my mom’s email –

Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathon Lethem

This is a quintessential detective novel that I could not put down. The central character is an orphan with Tourette’s Syndrome. He is taken under the wing of a mobster, and the story follows his quest to solve the mystery when the mobster is murdered. I loved the characters of this book and it was well written.

Sidenote from Kelly – this is currently on my nightstand and next on my list!

A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

I’m currently in the middle of reading this one and I really like it. Set in the neighborhood of Oak Knoll, North Carolina. The story revolves around the blossoming romance between two interracial teenagers and the effect the relationship has on the two families.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

This is on the NYT bestseller list and caught my eye because I loved Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (Sidenote from Kelly: Yes! I loved that one too!). This story is set over the course of 50 years and told from the perspective of the main character Danny. It is a tale of the relationship between a brother and a sister. If you are looking for an action-packed novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat this is probably not your book. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, the subjects of love and forgiveness. I missed reading about the characters long after finishing the book.

Thanks, mom – I appreciate the input! Now for my book reviews – I’ve read two, I’m 1/2 way through another, and the 3rd is next up to bat on my kindle.

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake

This was recommended to me by one of you and I’m really enjoying it. I’m about halfway through right now. This story follows a wealthy family, The Miltons through three generations headed up by matriarch Kitty Milton. It revolves around their family vacation home on an island off the coast of Maine. It covers difficult political and racial issues through the years and how the characters navigated the 30’s, 50’s and present day. The story jumps back and forth between time periods and narrators which can be confusing at times (mainly when your children are fighting next to you on the couch). It has a bit of a slow start but I’m really invested in the characters’ lives now.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

If you are looking for a thriller you can’t put down – this is it, but also if you are self-quarantining solo maybe skip this one as it is creepy!! I love a good spooky story though and have read her other novels In A Dark, Dark Wood and The Woman in Cabin 10 (both good!). This follows Rowan a young woman who accepts a live-in nanny position for 4 kids in Scotland. She is immediately left on her own with the kids, and a spooky old house set in the country that seems to have a mind of its own. I did not see the twists and turns coming at all in this book! I was a bit disappointed in the way it ended but this was a page-turner for me. Definitely check out her other books as well if this is a genre you enjoy.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Laura Gottlieb

This is another book I could not put down and is definitely on my list of favorites that I have read this year! It’s a memoir written by a psychotherapist following her life as a therapist and also as a patient in therapy herself. I found this book so fascinating seeing both sides of the coin. Also as someone who has been to see a therapist myself, it was so interesting to hear the other side of things. Her writing style is funny and the storytelling is engaging. There is also a lot of helpful insight along the way. Out of all the books in this post, if you only read one, this is at the top for me.

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

I haven’t started this one yet but it sounds really interesting! This book takes place in the Bahamas, in the ’40s (with everyone canceling their spring break plans I figured a beach setting would be nice to read about!) and follows a young reporter who befriends the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. With all the hubbub in the news about the Royals lately, I thought this would be an interesting read so I’ll keep you posted!

I hope these half-read reviews from my mom and I are helpful! I had planned on cruising through a big stack of books over spring break on the beach and reporting back, so sorry for the short list. I have had SO many requests for good books that I wanted to get this out to you while we are stuck at home. I promise my next review will be more thorough – happy reading!

PS You can read my other book reviews in this post here. And my kids’ fave books here.

March 25, 2020 By Kelly 10 Comments

5 Tips to Get Your kids to Read

Hi strangers, how are you doing? Hanging in? I didn’t mean to go radio silent on you all, but this has obviously been a weird time. I’m not sure what it’s like by you, but we are on week 2 of schooling from home/working from home (for the Mr. too). Michigan is I think 4th or 5th in the country for the most cases of the virus, so our state is on complete lockdown.

We are all adjusting to the new norm of working around each other (as I’m sure some of you are doing as well). With 2 kids’ online schooling, I can’t seem to get a turn with my computer, so I will try to pop in over here when I can. That said, I have been working on a few fun projects. Being trapped in the house with a basement full of random paint has somehow yielded a little kitchen mini-makeover! I will share it next week once I get it all put back together.

I have been on Instagram just sharing fun tidbits throughout the day (like how cardboard boxes are still the best entertainment out there!) trying to maybe be a fun distraction from the news. As I try to keep things light and fun here, I will probably continue to do that and hopefully be a bright spot in your day. Just know that I am praying every day for all of you struggling job-wise, health-wise, and maybe sanity wise with your kids? ;) I’ve had so many messages on Instagram encouraging me to keep on with some normalcy so that’s what I’m going to shoot for….in between hiding in my pantry with my wine glass…

Charlie is very concerned about the state of the basement…

I actually started writing this kid’s book post weeks ago, and I never had the chance to finish it before all heck broke loose. So maybe the reading tips aren’t the most helpful at the moment because we are all just in survival mode. Also taking kids to the library isn’t really an option right now, but you can always file them away for later. I figured now may be a time where your kids are looking for some good books, so I’m adding a list of my kid’s faves at the bottom. They each have a kindle for reading, as well as the Libby app where they can check out books from our library electronically. They also have been loving audible books too, so that’s a great option for being cooped up at home right now too.

I shared this shot of my kiddos reading on the beach over Christmas break and I received SO many messages asking for tips for getting your kids to love reading. Both of my kids are thankfully major book worms. We have finally reached that holy grail of parenting where my kids are both happy to sit on the beach with a snack and a book and actually relax for a bit. Now trust me we still got our fair share of whining and I’m bored coupled with lots of wave jumping and tossing the football on the beach too. I also don’t claim to know that anything I really did was some magic formula for getting kids to read. I think some kids just genuinely enjoy it more than others. However here are my tips for getting your kids to read or the things we did at least.

5 TIPS TO GET YOUR KIDS TO READ

The Mr. and I are both huge readers. We constantly each have a stack of books on our nightstand. We definitely read way more than we watch tv. So they see us reading all of the time. We actually have family reading time on Sunday after church where we all hang out in the living room with a snack and read our books for some quiet time.
My mom took me to the library once a week when I was little, and her mom did the same with her. So naturally, I started when my daughter was a baby hitting up storytime once a week at the library as well. Having something your kids are genuinely interested in reading is key for my kids. I take them about every other week now and let them pick out whatever interests them. They both always have a stack of books next to their beds.
I’m pretty strict with electronic time (post on this coming soon too because I have had some requests for that also) so sometimes they are bored and they have no other option but read. Whenever I hear “I’m bored!” I suggest a book. They definitely grumble sometimes but once they get going in a good book, they rarely want to put it down.
We have always read to them as part of their bedtime routine since they were little. Now they both can’t fall asleep without reading to themselves a bit. I always have them in their rooms by 8 on weeknights, but they are allowed to read for as long as they would like every night.
Try listening to audiobooks to get them interested. We have always listened to audiobooks with them on long car rides (which is often since we live 30 minutes from everything – school, church, the grocery store, etc). I think that has increased their level of interest in books in general. I have also employed the “oh we listened to the first book of the series on audible, I picked up book two at the library for you!”

I think that’s really it? Not sure any of that contributed or not, but it’s worth a shot if it’s a struggle in your home. Ok now for my kids’ fave book lists.

My son is 8, but he reads at a higher grade level (he shares books with my sixth-grader a lot), so I would say his faves here would be good for 8-12 just depending on their reading level.

Diary of the Whimpy Kids – not a shocker here, but both my kids loved this series.

Harry Potter, of course, will always be the best.

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan – he loved this series!

Magnus Chase by Rick Riodan – he seems to be just working through all of Rick Riordan’s books.

The Charlie Bones Series by Jenny Nimmo

Story Thieves Series by James Riley

Wings of Fire Series by Tui T. Sutherland

The Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths

The entire Roald Dahl collection (I bought him the box set for his 8th birthday last year)

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Ring Series by J.R.R. Tolkien

Ok and here are a few of my 12-year-old daughter’s faves. Most of the above are ones she has loved too, but here are a few recent ones as well.

Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart

Because of Mr. Terrupt series by Rob Buyea

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

The Alchemyst Series by Michael Scott

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Any books by Gordon Korman

Any books by Carl Hiaasen

I hope your kids discover a love of reading as my kiddos have. Let me know if you have any other good book recommendations for this age group. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home :)

March 12, 2020 By Kelly 31 Comments

Neutral Lake House Family Room

There always seems to be that one room in a house that you can’t get just right. Especially when building a house. Sometimes visualizing how a room will look and function and then actually living there for a few years will make you realize you got it all wrong the first go-round. In our last house, I think I redesigned and rearranged our playroom no less than a dozen times and got it right just before we sold it, ha! Our neutral lake house family room was that room in this house.

It started with carpet that I thought was going to be grayer that ended up more teal, and it all went downhill from there. After three years of living here, it finally feels complete and like it should have been all along.

I swear Charlie is alive in the photo below – that dog lives to nap in the sunshine.

The first step in fixing this room was swapping out the offending carpet. It wasn’t a big space, so it was a relatively cheap fix for a couple of hundred dollars. Did I love replacing three-year-old carpet? No, but it was something that was making the room impossible to decorate around.

Next up, we moved our old sectional down here and added in a comfy oversized chair from Sixpenny. We then swapped out the ottoman, which I thought would be soft and comfy for kids, but really was just a magnet for spills. We went with a more snack friendly round coffee table that works perfectly for movie night popcorn.

I found this gorgeous rug and brought it down here for warmth and coziness. Not to mention the pattern helps hide spills and messes.

The craft/game table got a new life with comfortable leather chairs. I had wood ones over here that no one ever wanted to sit on, but now we can actually feel our rear ends after a long puzzle session. ;)

This poor plant is not doing the best, but I’m trying my best to revive him.

Painting the cabinets may have been the biggest change of all (see that post here). Everything just flows so well now and I love the lightness and warmth of the new color. Your eye really focused on the jarring blue of the cabinets and now it’s able to bounce around the room.

The last finishing touches were finding a few new throw pillows and some plant friends! I found these gorgeous new pillows at Tonic Living. I have been on the hunt for the perfect terra cotta/blush pillow to bring out the colors in the rug and everything was so coral looking, but this one was just right.

I think the only thing that really stayed the same down here is the wall color and built-in bookshelves.

Oh and I guess the recessed tv is still here too.

Ahh! It feels so good to finally have this space feel like us. Game nights and movie nights are so much cozier down here now, and I actually look forward to hanging out in this space rather than dreaming up ways I could make it work for us.

Oh, and if you want to see the before pictures, check them out here.

SOURCES: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

Couch – Local store that went out of business

Chair – Sixpenny the color is inkcap

Rug – find it here

Table – find it here

Wall color – Agreeable Gray by Sherwin William

Cabinet color – Langdon Dove by California Paint

Table – garage sale find

Chairs – find them here

Hardware – local store and I don’t have brand info on them

Planter – find it here

Sofa table find it here

Bookcase – custom built

Wood floors – BuildDirect Engineered white oak by Vanier

Striped Throw pillows – Tonic Living

Linen Throw pillows – HomeGoods

Blue throw pillows – Find them here

Tan striped pillow – find it here

Baskets – HomeGoods

Stool – find it here

Oar – Pottery Barn from 10 years ago

Wood Beads – find them here

White stripe basket – find it here

Lake House Dining Room Light Fixture

My Fave Hair Products

My Fave Hair Products & Tools

Lake House Outdoor Decor

LAKE HOUSE DECK DECOR

LAKE HOUSE PATIO DECOR

Revere Pewter Kitchen Update

Wayfair Save Big, Give Back Sale

Wood Beam Breakfast Nook

Navy Island White Kitchen

Good Books I’m Reading

5 Tips to Get Your kids to Read

Neutral Lake House Family Room

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