Last summer vs This summer

Our lawn took a beating last summer. We had record heat, with several days at 106 degrees ( which is unheard of for here ) Last year we had our pool up the last week of May, and by late June our lawn was fried ( yes we had watered it, it just wasnt enough )

This year, we are in the 60's, lots of clouds and drizzle. My thermostat is at 70 right now, we are in hoodies, and the pool wont be going up this year. It's supposed to get in the 80's this week, thank goodness. However, it's bittersweet, because I do love having my green lawn.

Ugly Monday

Welcome back to Ugly Monday. JCP has provided us with some, well, interesting products, I'm doing 3 this week.
First off, we have the lovely 4 piece Italia Fruits with Tray for $79.99, the description says it's an ornate tray that holds 3 DELECTABLE fruits. Tell me, please, for I must be blind, what is delectable about baby poop colored fruit? Furthermore, they look like they are starting to rot.

In corner number 2, we have a 4' Capensia Bush with basket for $60. First off, JCP carries multiple fake plants/trees. I am 110% against faux trees/bushes. I think they are hideously tacky. One might say, well I cant have real plants because I kill them. Well guess what, I used to be a black thumb, but after finding the right indoor plants for ME ( low maintenance ) I'm a green thumb now. Just say no to these dust collectors. They scream dated to me.

And finally, the winner in my eyes, A Wicker Lamp for $72. The description reads..
"adds the rich texture of wicker to warm up your décor." Really JCP? Really? I doubt this stark white catastrophe will warm up any decor. Stark white doesnt do it for you? It'll darken your space with a black one too.

2 yrs of home ownership

2 years ago we bought our first home. The first pic is moving day, and yes, that is my daughter in her bumbo on the porch, picking at her toes. The second pic was taken days before we moved in, the floors were beautifully restored and shiny. ( so not what they look like right at this moment ) It's lost quite a bit of value thanks to the market, but we dont care. We are so content here :)

The house we rented before this home, was right around the corner ( google shot, sorry so blurry ) The lawn was green when we lived there ;) It was very small inside. 2 tiny bedrooms with a jack and jill closet, 1 bathroom, our laundry unit was in the kitchen, and our living room barely held our furniture. But this is the house I was very pregnant in, we brought our daughter home to. We paid $1250 rent. Today, it has a finished upstairs that added a master and master bath.

Before the white house, was this red craftsman we rented from the same friend,owner. It had 2 bedrooms downstairs, a very large livable attic room and 1 more bedroom upstairs. To the right of the house was an enormous pumpkin patch, we loved that. The house had a big problem with sugar ants in the summer, and in the winter we had to put plastic on the windows and have a dehumidifier to keep the heat from being so moist. It was always a struggle, but still we liked it. Our rent was $950, We were fresh out of college, I found out I was pregnant in this house, My husband got his first real job offer  in this house. It is no longer there. They demolished it, and the homes behind it to put in a freeway.

Before the craftman, in 2005, we lived at my husbands dorm. It was for young marrieds, it was our first place together. It was a one bedroom loft style townhouse, 492 square feet. I wish I could find my pictures of it, I'll keep looking. It was just so small, but it was all we needed. Poor college students paying $3300 a semester to stay here, with all their wedding gifts to help them start off their lives :)

Enjoy your freedom!

Have a fantastic fourth of July weekend!

Free Glidden

I got my free Glidden paint samples today in the mail. It cracks me up to see ALL they put into these tiny, two samples. They spent a fair amount of money on the presentation, when I would be happy with bubble wrap and a box :)