The Evolution of a Patio

Our house is currently in total disarray due to a water leak and mold issue (wahhhh!), so I thought  that I would post about the one area of our house that actually looks decent right now.... our patio!  

Our patio: Circa 2013

We have been working on making improvements to our patio since we moved in our house over 4 years ago.  The first thing we did was to double the size of the concrete slab to give us room for both a seating area and a dining table.  I'm especially glad that we did that now that we have Parker, because now it is big enough for his swimming pool and/or water table too.
Most of our patio furniture was a mix of antique finds and hand-me-downs from my mom.

I found these vintage chairs at Metrolina Flea Market.  I sanded them down and painted them a sunny yellow.

Our Patio: Circa 2014

Last summer, we installed a wooden pole in one of the corners and hung cafe lights.   I originally tried tying the lights to a shepherd's hook, like in the pic below, but the lights were too low for my tall husband to walk under.  The pole looks a lot better than the hook did, but it was a good temporary solution until we installed the pole.

I planted plants in an old washtub, also found at Metrolina.

Making the Final Changes!

Our old picnic table practically fell apart after years of use, so we got a new one and painted it a pretty blue.

Don't let this picture fool you, I did most of the painting-he just jumped in at the end there to finish it off ;)

Our Patio Today!

 Finally, we picked out an outdoor sectional to replace the old metal loveseat.  My favorite thing about the sofa is that each of the five pieces can separate so that you can move them around and change their look.  We have a lot more seating, and it is SO comfortable.

I love that we have plenty of space for Parker to play outside.  He is a big fan of his water table!

We also love to use the patio in the evenings, after Parker goes to sleep.  It is so peaceful and comfy! 

Sources: Outdoor Sectional found at Lowe's Picnic table and plants purchased at our local Lowe's Picnic table paint color: Benjamin Moore's Wythe Blue, mixed at Lowe's Outdoor Turquoise/Coral Medallion Pillows and Room Essentials Outdoor Turquoise Stripe Pillows similar here Yellow Chair paint color- Krylon's Indoor/Outdoor Spray Paint: Bright Idea in Gloss, (Walmart, I think) Yellow chairs- Metrolina Flea Market White lanterns- Pottery Barn Cafe lights- Target
I am so happy with how our outdoor space turned out! It feels like we added a whole new room onto our house.  
What changes have you made to your outdoor spaces this summer?

Stitch Fix Review #4

Oh my goodness!  This fix was a HOME RUN!  I requested "comfy" pieces and I also asked my stylist to include a gray sweater that would work for multiple seasons.  Below is the note that she sent me.  Isn't she the sweetest?!

Some quick facts about Stitch Fix:

-The styling fee is $20 per fix.  The $20 is deducted from the price of any item(s) that you purchase in that fix.

-You can specify your price range for the items that you receive.  You can also specify how often you want to receive a fix.

-You will receive 5 items that are hand-picked for you by your stylist, using the style profile that you will fill out upon signing up.  You can decide to purchase them all, just a few items, or to send them all back if you don't want to keep any of them.

-You have 3 business days to choose what you want to keep and send back what you don't like.  They give you a prepaid shipping envelope that you can just pop in your mailbox (so easy!).

-If you choose to keep all 5 items, you get 25% off your entire order.
-You can earn $25 in credit for every friend that uses your link to schedule their fix.  Its a win-win!

My Fix:

Sweet Rain Toledo V Neck Blouse

I loved the bright colors and the arrow pattern on this blouse.  It is easy to dress up or down, and I have worn it a lot already.  I love how forgiving it is around my waist, and it is longer in the back, so it can be worn with leggings.

Verdict: Kept

Gentle Fawn Daytona Open Front Cardigan

This sweater.  Oh my. First of all, it is SO soft and comfy.  It has POCKETS! AND a hood! WHATTTT?! I know.  It's amazing.  I want to live in it.  In fact, I think I will ;)  Another thing that I really like about it is that it is thin enough to wear on a cooler summer day, yet warm enough to wear through the fall.

Verdict: Kept

Loveappella Leanne Maxi Skirt

I asked my stylist for a cobalt blue maxi skirt and she sent me a great one.  The fabric is very soft and it is so comfortable that I can wear it around the house.  As a Stay-at-Home-Mom, I really appreciate clothing that is both cute and can be worn to play on the floor with Parker.

Verdict: Kept

Market & Spruce Sam Hi-Lo Short Sleeve Tee

There are many things that made this shirt a keeper.  First of all, it is long in the back and can be worn with leggings.  Second, it is thick enough that I don't need to wear a cami under it, but the fabric is breathable.  I wore it on the 4th of July and I felt very comfortable in it.  Third, the cut feels so forgiving.  It is not too tight, or too loose.  It is a winner!

Verdict: Kept

Skies are Blue Enna Short

When I first saw these shorts in my fix, I thought that they were adorable, but I wasn't sure how they would look on me.  I knew that I would have to wear them with a shirt that could be tucked in, since they had the big bow on the front, and to be honest, that intimidated my post-baby self.  Then, I tried them on with some other things that I had in my closet, and I decided that they would be worth the risk.  This is yet another reason why I have love Stitch Fix.  They encourage me to step outside my comfort zone.  Also, I can try on all the clothes with things that are already in my closet to make sure I am making a smart purchase.

Verdict: Kept

So.... what do you think?  What is your favorite item from this fix?

Want to give it a try?  To get your fix, click here!

Stitch Fix Review #3

Sad news.  Most of the items in my box didn't work for me this time around:(  I had the same stylist as my past two fixes, and I feel like she tried to listen to what I asked for in my note that I wrote her.  I asked for some things to wear on our beach trip and I specifically requested distressed denim, because I have been wanting some for a long time.  Even though it wasn't as successful as my last fix, I still feel like I learned a lot about my personal style through the process.

Some quick facts about Stitch Fix:

-The styling fee is $20 per fix.  The $20 is deducted from the price of any item(s) that you purchase in that fix.

-You can specify your price range for the items that you receive.  You can also specify how often you want to receive a fix.

-You will receive 5 items that are hand-picked for you by your stylist, using the style profile that you will fill out upon signing up.  You can decide to purchase them all, just a few items, or to send them all back if you don't want to keep any of them.

-You have 3 business days to choose what you want to keep and send back what you don't like.  They give you a prepaid shipping envelope that you can just pop in your mailbox (so easy!).

-If you choose to keep all 5 items, you get 25% off your entire order.
-You can earn $25 in credit for every friend that uses your link to schedule their fix.  Its a win-win!

My Fix:

Lexia Distressed Skinny Jean and 41 Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse

These jeans were a little too small.  I have been losing weight and I wasn't sure what size to put in my style profile, but I think they may run a little small.  Also, they were WAY too expensive for me.  This was a good learning opportunity for me and my stylist because I made sure that I let her know that I won't pay that much for jeans:) Ever. 

I liked the way this top looked and fit, but I am not a fan of plain white shirts.  Plus, I felt like the style was a little too stuffy for my beach trip.

Verdict: Sent back.

Sweet Rain Jefferson Overlay Blouse

The pattern on this shirt was SO cute.  I loved the colors, and I specifically asked for shirts with cool back details, so my stylist really tried on this one.  However, one problem with this shirt was that it was too small.  The bigger problem was that it was sheer in the front and it had to be worn with a tank top underneath.  The tank top made the back detail look really strange.  It just didn't work.  I wish the pink underlay would have been on both the front and the back.

Verdict: Sent back.

Skies are Blue Calvin Halter Blouse

When I saw that I was getting a halter blouse in my fix, I was a little worried.  I mean, this girl isn't wearing a halter top unless its on a bathing suit.  Fortunately for me, I discovered that this is not a traditional halter and I learned that I really like this style of top.  This shirt was a great price, excellent quality and fit really well.  Unfortunately, I did not like the Asian-inspired pattern and the v-neck enough to keep it.

Verdict: Sent back.

Fun2Fun Alannah Henley Blouse

This top was pretty, and it fit really well.  I liked it, but I didn't LOVE it.  It was a good price, so I kept it so that I wouldn't lose my styling fee.  I have listed it to sell, so let me know if you are interested!

Verdict: Kept, but listed to sell.

I know.  Whomp whomp.  But you know what?  I'm not discouraged.  I am learning that part of what Stitch Fix is all about is helping you find your personal style.  Even though I struck out on this fix, I am still really happy with what I learned about my style in the process.  I am ready and excited for my next fix, which is coming in a couple of weeks!

What did you think?  Did I make the right choices?

Want to give it a try?  To get your fix, click here!