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Wildflowers

August 2, 2023 by Fotini Filed Under: 14 meals, 16, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 25 Days of Christmas, 27 West & Co., 4th of July, home

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.” —May Sarton

This Spring, I chose to step outside my comfort zone and plant wildflower seeds. I love the plants I have planted around my yard throughout the years; but I bought them established. I went out on a whim and decided to purchase wildflower seeds on Amazon. [here & here]

I planted them in the flower beds around my house. I included a mix of potting soil, organic egg shells and the seeds in a bucket, mixed it up and poured into the dirt. My flowers took a little longer to grow than I imagined, but once they did, they started popping up all over the place!

There are so many different varieties of flowers! And I love that!! It’s exciting to see what’s going to bloom next. This past week, I clipped some of my stems and brought them inside to make an arrangement.

Here is the arrangement I made with flowers from the garden

I am going to continue to enjoy these this season for as long as I can. But, I have decided next year, I will plant twice as much to enjoy! I love having fresh flowers in my home!

Thank you for stopping by!

Thanksgiving Tree

November 5, 2020 by Fotini Filed Under: 14 meals, 16, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 25 Days of Christmas, 27 West & Co., 4th of July, home

As soon as Halloween was over, I was ready to put up the Christmas tree… and I did just that! If you follow along on Instagram, you know that I’ve said before, my son thinks I decorate for Christmas too early 🤷🏻‍♀️ This year I decided to do something a little different, a Thanksgiving tree!

2020 has been a different year for all of us. Instead of focusing on the negative I am spending the entire month of November being thankful!!

I bought a new tree from Walmart and it arrived on Halloween. You better believe the excitement of opening it & putting it up was nearly unbearable! I was really on the fence about purchasing this tree because it was very basic & affordable. To be honest, as soon as I opened the box I was like, “ugh..” It look so cheap! However, for the price point, beggars can’t be choosers, right!

We opted for the 9′ because of our cathedral ceilings in the living room. In years past, my tree was 7.5′. I loved the bigger tree! By the time I fluffed it out & started adding my decor, you could barely see the tree, perfect!

I opted for a very neutral theme with Thanksgiving in mind this year. Typically my Christmas decor is always out when I host Thanksgiving, but I’m looking forward to doing things a little different this year! I have enjoyed my live pumpkins this year & wasn’t ready to part with them just yet. So, I included them in this design, aligned at the bottom of the tree!

I got the best of both worlds, decorating my Christmas tree & having the ominous of Christmas with a twist! Honestly, I wish I would of started this tradition while my kids were younger! Better late than never though!

I am thankful for each & every one of you who stop here & spend time! Thank you for being here!

See you again soon!

Ah, September!

September 1, 2020 by Fotini Filed Under: 14 meals, 16, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 25 Days of Christmas, 27 West & Co., 4th of July, home

Can you believe it’s September? With everything that has been going on, it seems like time is dragging on. The months seem to be running together, but dare I say it, things are becoming somewhat normal again! My kiddos just started back to school last week and as tradition, I pull out the Fall decor!

This year was no different! I was absolutely bursting at the seams to decorate! Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul!

Unlike years past, I wanted to incorporate a little color into my design. I headed to Michaels & found this beautiful maple leaf garland. It’s the perfect touch of color to pair with my decor! I swagged it across the middle, leaving a little to hang down on the side. Perfectly imperfect.

While I was at Easton that day grabbing my garland, I stopped by one of my favorite stores, Trader Joes! They always have the best selection of fresh eucalyptus. I snagged two bunches of silver dollar & two bunches of traditional.

I came home & made small bouquets for a couple places throughout my decor & also added in fresh stems to my garland to pull the look together.

The simplest way to add instant character to any mantel design is books & candles. You can never go wrong! Of course, I used my favorite mercury glass votives & candlesticks. I added in a few antique pieces & it just gave this design life!

Not to mention my favorite chunky knit blanket! Adds instant coziness ♥️ You can find one here similar to mine!

I feel like this is the perfect, simple introduction to Fall. I will be changing it up as we will be making some changes to the paint color & other updates coming soon! Follow along with me on Instagram for the latest!

Shop this mantel look here using Liketoknow.it

Be sure to check out some of my other Fall posts below!

Simple, netural early Fall mantel

Farmhouse chic Fall tablescape

My neutral Fall formal dining room

The Best Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants

April 30, 2020 by Fotini Filed Under: 14 meals, 16, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 25 Days of Christmas, 27 West & Co., 4th of July, home, home decor

Plants are something I give my hand at often. But, like I’ve mentioned before, you either have it or you don’t. By “it” I mean a green thumb. Keeping indoor plants alive is no joke & often times I fail at it. Today I’m sharing with you, a fool-proof method, the best faux fiddle leaf fig plants around!

I always adore the pop of bold green plants bring to my normally, neutral home decor, but sometimes it can get pricey & this Mama doesn’t like pricey! I have gathered a handful of the prettiest, affordable faux plants out there & I think you’ll love them just as much as I do!

* Affiliate links provided for your shopping convenience.

I was pretty impressed with the prices of these plants! Wayfair coming in at the most expensive at right under $70 & Michaels coming in at the most affordable at right under $15 on sale! These are without a doubt a super simple way to add style & tone to your every day decor. I’ll be snagging a few of these & styling them to share with you all!

Fiddle leaf fig plants have really become popular in the last year or so. I see them in so many homes & different decor styles. Whether it be boho-chic, eclectic, farmhouse or modern. These plants are versatile & the possibilities are endless!

Don’t forget to get extra savings by using (formerly Ebates) for cash back on your purchases, because why not!!

Have a wonderful weekend friends & I’ll see ya back here soon!

Fun Spring Break Breakfast Idea!

March 18, 2019 by Fotini Filed Under: home, recipes

I’ll tell you what, we couldn’t be more excited that Spring is officially on it’s way, here at our house! The kids are on Spring Break this week and we’ll soon be headed to the beach!

To be honest, the last few years we have done absolutely nothing while the kids were off school, so this year I wanted to treat them to a little adventure! Starting off, with a fun Spring break breakfast! They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a reason! Not to mention, it sets the for the entire day ☺️

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FREE Mrs. Meyer’s Holiday Set from Grove Collaborative

November 27, 2018 by Fotini Filed Under: Christmas, home

It’s that time of year again. Our house is buzzing with activity, from hosting out-of-town guests, to throwing holiday parties, to wrapping gifts & decorating the mantel.

Not surprisingly, my desire to have a clean, welcoming home intensifies tenfold in this time each year!

Fortunately, it’s also the time of year when Mrs. Meyer’s holiday scents return!!! (insert happy dance🙌🏼).

Not only do they look & smell festive, they also make the task of cleaning & doing dishes a lot more enjoyable!

This year, Mrs. Meyer’s is bringing back three crowd favorites: Iowa Pine, Peppermint, & Orange Clove. I’ve been waiting all year for Iowa Pine to return, because the crisp and spicy scent fills the entire house with wonderful smells of Christmas trees.

Right now, you can get a free Mrs. Meyer’s trio in your choice of scents, plus a free set of Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges — all packed up in a limited edition red cleaning caddy for gifting (or keeping!).

New customers will get the holiday set when you place your first order of $20:

Free Mrs. Meyer’s holiday hand soap
Free Mrs. Meyer’s holiday dish soap
Free Mrs. Meyer’s holiday multi-surface spray
Grove Collaborative red caddy
Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges

Plus, if you spend $39, you’ll also receive a free Grove stoneware tray to beautifully display your new holiday soaps.

If you’re already a Grove customer, you’ll get a free set of Grove walnut scrubbers — perfect for cleaning up after baking cookies or pumpkin pie.

This beautiful red caddy is everything you need to organize your home for the holidays! While you could go the traditional route & use it to store your cleaning supplies, it would also make a great gift wrapping station stocked with tape, ribbons, markers, & tags. Or, wrap your silverware in napkins, secure with a napkin ring, & place them in the caddy for your holiday buffet.

Speaking of holiday buffets, there’s no shortage of dirty dishes this time of year. Fortunately, Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap is perfect for tackling tough messes. Put a drop in your roasting pan or crockpot and watch grease disappear!

Of course, no kitchen or bathroom is complete without Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap. I get tons of compliments on these scents, & the cheerful bottles are an easy way to spruce up your sink-side display.

Another holiday hosting must-have is Mrs. Meyer’s multi-surface cleaner. It’s ideal for those last-minute cleanups before guests arrive. You only need one product for countertops, walls, bathroom fixtures, & wood or tile floors. Plus, it leaves your entire home smelling like the holidays.

Since the holiday season is also flu season, I always keep the multi-surface spray on hand for wiping down faucets, doorknobs, & other surfaces that get touched all the time.

Grove Collaborative is also an essential for me during the busy holiday season! Grove hand-selects the best natural products & delivers them (carbon offset) right to your doorstep, on your schedule. They’ve got you covered for all your cleaning & organization needs as you head into the holiday season.

When you submit your first order, you’ll also be signed up for the free 60 day VIP trial. For 60 days, you’ll save even more with free shipping, free gifts, price matching, exclusive sales & customer service. That means more money left over to spend on gifts for your family (or a little treat for yourself!).

These holiday sets fly off the shelves faster than toys on Black Friday, so don’t wait! Here’s how to grab your free set:

Sign up for Grove Collaborative here (affiliate link).You will receive the Mrs.Meyer’s Holiday Set for free when you sign up!
To receive this offer, your order needs to be a minimum of $20. Choose the combination of products & scents you love & receive your first box within a few days.
You made it! Click Finish & Pay and place your order.

You’re going to absolutely love Grove Collaborative & the simplicity of using great products chosen by YOU, delivered straight to your door! Thanks for stopping by! XO.

Back to School Organization with Grove Collaborative

August 7, 2018 by Fotini Filed Under: home Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by Grove Collaborative. All opinions are my own.

Back to School Organization with Grove Collaborative

Tell me I’m not the only one…. One day you’re sleeping in & staying up late, then suddenly the first day of school is right around the corner!

When life gets busy, you need a way to keep your home organized & healthy while you’re running to open houses & after school activities, packing lunches, & helping with homework.

Let me introduce you to my secret weapon: Grove Collaborative! Grove makes creating a healthy, beautiful home effortless & affordable. They deliver the best natural products (carbon offset) right to your doorstep, on your schedule. Grove has you covered for all your cleaning & organization needs as you head into back-to-school season.

First, grab this free Mrs. Meyer’s trio + hand sanitizer spray + walnut scrubber sponges with your first order of $20 from Grove Collaborative when you use my link (affiliate link). As an added bonus, you’ll get a free Grove enamel caddy when you spend $39 or more!

If you’re already a customer, you’ll get a free set of Grove walnut scrubber sponges. They work equally well for doing dishes or cleaning up after at-home science experiments.

Then follow my stress-free tips to stay organized and healthy as we head into fall:

Back to school means lots of germs! I like to throw a bottle Grove Collaborative hand sanitizer spray in each of my kids’ backpacks so they can clean up before lunch or snack time. I also keep one in the car so they can disinfect their hands after school.
Of course, hand washing is the best way to keep from getting sick — but how do you convince a rambunctious second grader to wash for the recommended 20 seconds? Here’s a trick that works in my home: My kids each get to pick out a bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap in a favorite scent. It smells so good, I practically have to drag them away from the sink! They especially love the basil & lemon verbena scents.
Teachers spend so much money out-of-pocket on classroom supplies, so donations of disinfecting wipes & tissues are always appreciated. I’m adding a few containers of Seventh Generation disinfecting multi-surface wipes & several boxes of Seedling tissues to my Grove order to send in to my kids’ classrooms.
Don’t forget back-to-school teacher gifts, too! This free Mrs. Meyer’s trio is beautiful, but also totally practical for a busy teacher.
The first question when my kids get home is always, “Hey mom, what’s for snack?”. This year, I’m keeping a drawer in the fridge stocked with grab-and-go snacks like cut up fruit, hard-boiled eggs, cheese sticks, & veggies & hummus so my kids can help themselves to something healthy. Grove reusable storage bags are a great way to store individual portions because they’re durable, easy to clean, & won’t leak all over the fridge!
When things get hectic, multi-tasking cleaning supplies are a must. I love Mrs. Meyer’s multi-surface spray because I can walk around the entire house & clean countertops, floors, toys, & even sticky lunchboxes with just one bottle.
Getting kids to sit down & focus on homework is hard enough without having to rummage through the junk drawer for a pencil sharpener. To streamline homework time, I created a “homework station” by filling a caddy with supplies like pencils, sharpeners, tape, glue, crayons, colored pencils, & a stapler. Don’t forget, when you spend $39 or more, you’ll get a free Grove enamel caddy with your order!
One of my biggest challenges is keeping the kids busy while I cook dinner without plopping them in front of a screen. Lately, they’ve been loving dry erase markers and whiteboards. I have them write a pretend shopping list, draw, or practice spelling words or math facts. When they’re done, they can clean the boards with Grove all-purpose concentrate & a microfiber!
If your house is like mine, dishes seem to multiply when you’re not looking. Fortunately, Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap & Grove walnut scrubber sponges make quick work of greasy pans, crockpots, & lunch containers.
School supplies can take a big chunk out of your budget. Grove Collaborative is a great way to save on back-to-school household & personal care products like tissues, hand sanitizer, & vitamins. I find that items are less expensive than our local grocery store, & you can often score free products with a minimum purchase. Plus, once you’ve submitted your first order, you’ll be signed up for the free 60 day VIP trial. For 60 days, you’ll save even more with free shipping, free gifts, price matching, exclusive sales & personal service.

Here’s how it works:

Sign up for Grove Collaborative here (affiliate link). You will receive the T2 August 18 Offer: Back to School for free when you sign up!
To receive this offer, your order needs to be a minimum of $20. Choose the combination of products & scents you love & receive your first box within a few days. Plus, you’ll receive a free Grove enamel caddy when you spend $39 or more!
You made it! Click Finish & Pay and place your order

Pamper Yourself This Winter with Grove Collaborative

February 13, 2018 by Fotini Filed Under: home Leave a Comment

It seems like February is always the time of year when I get tired of Winter and start dreaming of Spring. I’m so ready for sunshine, fresh air, gardening and flowers coming up, I can barely contain myself! Since we still have a good few weeks left of Winter, my friends at Grove Collaborative are offering this free personal care kit to help cure the winter blues. When you place your first order of $20 using my link, you’ll get:

Free Mrs. Meyer’s body wash
Free Mrs. Meyer’s body lotion
Free Grove loofah
Free Shipping & 60 Day VIP Trial

If you’re an existing customer, you’ll receive a free Grove lip balm — perfect for soothing chapped lips!

Dry winter air is particularly hard on your skin. I’ve found that switching up my regular bar soap for this creamy Mrs. Meyer’s body wash was exactly what my skin needed! It’s made with aloe vera so it’s super nourishing, and the scents smell like a spring garden. My favorite scent so far is the lavender!

Mrs. Meyer’s body wash is even better with this Grove loofah. You only need a little dollop of soap on the soft mesh to create a rich lather. It’s great for exfoliating and increasing circulation to leave your skin smooth and glowy.

After a nice hot bath, I love using Mrs. Meyer’s body lotion. It sinks in quickly, and hydrates without feeling greasy or heavy. This has earned a permanent spot on my bathroom counter next to my Mrs. Meyer’s hand lotion!

Grove Collaborative has become my go-to for healthy, beautiful personal care products. After you place your first order, Grove will remember the products you love and even recommend a shipment schedule so you don’t run out. You can add or remove items from your cart or change your shipment date, and they’ll deliver everything (carbon offset) to your doorstep, on your schedule. They’ll even suggest products you might like, which is how I’ve discovered some new favorites!

You’ll get this set free with your first order of $20. Here’s an example of what your cart might look like:

Grove hand sanitizer spray 3.95
Mrs. Meyer’s foaming hand soap 3.89
Preserve soft toothbrush 3.19
Tom’s of Maine sensitive toothpaste 4.79
Yes to Blueberries cleansing facial wipes 5.99

Cart total: $21.81

You’ll get all those products + Mrs. Meyer’s body wash and body lotion + Grove loofah for around $20! Plus, you’ll get free shipping and a free 60 day VIP trial. Grove really pampers their VIPs, from free shipping to free gifts, price matching, exclusive sales, and personal service.

This offer is only available until February 18, so don’t miss out!

How it works:

Sign up for Grove Collaborative here. You will receive the FREE personal care kit for free when you sign up!
To receive this offer, your order needs to be a minimum of $20. Choose the combination of products and scents you love and receive your first box within a few days.
You made it! Click Finish & Pay and place your order.

Grove Collaborative is apart of our monthly routine! If you follow me on Instagram, you will see me share my monthly box openings in my Insta-stories 🙂 I hope that you decide to take the plunge and try this awesome service too!

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

Apart of our family!

October 2, 2017 by Fotini Filed Under: home

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and The J.M. Smucker Company, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #miloskitchen http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

It’s no secret that we are crazy about our pups in this family! I’m often featuring them sitting pretty in, and around, our home. There’s no doubt that they make the cutest models for showcasing my designs! I’ve grown up having a dog around since I can remember. As a matter of fact, my mom bought me a sweet Maltese puppy for my second birthday! Talk about a girls best friend! I truly believe that our animals are apart of our family, they are just like children to me. I worry about them when they aren’t feeling well, if they’re lost, I care about their eating habits and giving them healthy snacks. Which is why I was so excited to introduce them to Milo’s Kitchen home-style dog treats!

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Free Laundry Kit from Grove Collaborative

June 6, 2017 by Fotini Filed Under: home 9 Comments

This post is sponsored by Grove Collaborative, but all opinions are my own.

As a Mom, we tend to worry about things like allergies to fragrances, eczema and/or sensitive skin. If you’re noticing an irritation on your child, or yourself, after you’ve put on clean clothes, you may have a sensitivity to the products you’re using. The answer: scent-free products! If you love scent- free products, you’re going to love today’s offer from Grove Collaborative! When you place your first Grove order of $20, you’ll get a free Seventh Generation unscented laundry kit to eliminate those symptoms. Here’s what’s included: Free & Clear laundry detergent // Free & Clear stain remover // Free & Clear fabric softener // Free Shipping & 60 Day VIP Trial! If you’re already a customer, you’ll receive a free set of Grove Walnut Scrubber Sponges. These are great for multiple uses around the house!!

Say what?! Yup, you read that right!!

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