Styled Kitchen Shelves {& some tidbits about me}

My shelves haven't been empty this whole time, I've just been lazy. Or busy. Or a mysteriously enigmatic combination of both. And now they're styled, or as styled as things get in my house.

It's somewhere between "magazine shoot" and "haven't done the dishes in 4 days." And if I'm being honest, nothing in my house is ever truly close to "magazine shoot" so where does that leave us?

Regardless, I've thrown some dishes up and my open shelves are officially in use.

The verdict? (You know, now that I've been using it for a month without talking about it like the bad blogger that I am) I really, really like them. And they make me really, really want my new counters and subway tile to happen soon.

I know open shelving is sort of trendy right now, and maybe in 5 years I'll look back on this phase of my life the same way I remember my neon color blocked swimsuit from 1987 (oh wait, those are back... never mind). But I'm not worried.

Trend or not, I say do what makes you happy. In design and especially in life!

Now, some (not really) juicy (at all) bits to share:

• Not actually about me, but have you read this hilarious post by Jen Hatmaker, titled "Worst End of School Year Mom Ever"?? It's apparently gone a little viral, and it is perfect. Made my day. (week? month(s)?)
• That reminds me, my son is done with school Thursday and I completely forgot about a teacher gift. So a gift card it is! No shame.
• School is done, licensing tests are done (I passed!) and my license paperwork has been mailed off. Now I guess I find a job?
• In April we adopted the cutest, dumbest, neediest, snuggliest little dog from the shelter. Her name is Violet and she's a seven pound Maltese/Shih Tzu mix and pretty much the best thing ever. I knew I wasn't really a cat person or a dog person... I'm a catdog person. Perfection.

Water and Your Yard

Post and giveaway sponsored by Pennington Smart Seed, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.

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First up, I wanted to congratulate Danielle on winning the giveaway for the $50 American Express gift card from Pennington Smart Seed! She said they needed grass for their new house (congratulations!) so the timing of this all worked out perfectly.

It's finally starting to warm up here in Southeastern Idaho (I don't want to jinx anything but the weather says it may even get into the 80's this weekend... fingers crossed!) which means the sprinklers have come out full force. I can't wait for a thicker, healthier lawn from this new seed I tried!

 

(wish us luck... bare spots be gone!)

One of the key points in keeping a lawn healthy and green is water, right? This is why I am so excited to see how this Pennington Smart Seed does! We spend so much time and water on our lawns every year, and anything that can help minimize both of those is something I can get behind.

Pennington Smart Seed is a pure bred, drought-resistant seed that not only uses 30% less water each year when compared to ordinary seed, but will remain green for up to three weeks without water...which blows my mind. I can't wait to see that one in action!

Each seed is enhanced with Pennington's exclusive MYCO Advantage technology, which essentially introduces beneficial microorganisms to the seedlings to help them establish deeper, healthier root systems. These deeper roots make less frequent waterings possible. This appears to be a seriously smart seed, people. No joke. 

With those water saving thoughts in mind, here are some easy ways to lessen your water usage this summer:

1. Condition your plants for less water. When you water, go for longer times, less frequently to encourage deeper root systems that are more drought-tolerant.

 2. Use smart irrigation. Things like drip irrigation and harvested rainwater (in places where it's legal, check with your city!) can really improve water efficiency.

3. Buy the right plants. Grass like Pennington Smart Seed uses less water, and there are countless drought-tolerant, beautiful flower varieties available for your flower beds. Plan your yard smartly and you'll save money while conserving water!  

4. Don't overwater. Overwatering is really common, and can lead to shallow roots which feeds back into the overwatering cycle by having a less hardy lawn that needs more water. Wait for your grass's color has fallen by 50%, and then put down 1-inch of water... that's all it takes!

 5. Check your sprinklers. Don't water your driveway, guys! Did you know that up to 50% of the water we use outdoors is wasted because of inefficient methods and practices?

6. Water in the morning or evening. This lessens the water loss through evaporation during the heat of the day. Mornings are my favorite time because the lawn dries a little faster to help avoid problems that are more likely to crop up in a wet lawn.  

7. Plan for wind. If the breeze is blowing the water away, your lawn isn't benefiting!

8. Mulch. Spreading mulch over soil and new areas when reseeding helps protect them and retain moisture.  

9. Sweep, don't spray. Use a broom to clean your walkways instead of a hose.

10. Fertilize thoughtfully. Fertilizer is great for helping plants build healthy, deep root systems which helps them be more drought tolerant.

 We can't deny that for whatever reasons, we are trending hotter... last year was the hottest year on record and 36 states anticipate continued water shortages. Most of us still want that fabulous looking green lawn, and Pennington Smart Seed's more efficient use of such a precious natural resource as water is worth noting.

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 Central Garden & Pet partnered with bloggers such as me to help educate us all about their Pennington products. As part of this program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the use of the products. Central Garden & Pet believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Central Garden & Pet’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Color + Texture - Actual Work = My Sort of Decorating

I'm finishing school this week and taking my licensing tests in about 10 days, so decorating my house is pretty low on my list of priorities these days. (so is making dinner... but what do you do?)

I needed some bright color in my dining room so I felt like I was trying, though...

Turning some of this yellow fabric into a table runner was an easy project, even for me! Then I added a recycled glass vase I picked up at World Market a month or two ago, and I was done. Voila. Just my sort of slacker decorating project.

I actually really like the vase, and I'm glad it made it into my cart as an impulse purchase. The greenish color and uneven thickness and texture make my heart race a little. I may need to see a doctor, or at the very least get out a little more often.

It just goes to show that you don't have to go to a lot of work or spend a lot of money to make a change in your home. Or, it goes to show that I am completely and totally, 150% too busy washing clothes and not folding them, making menus then forgetting to make dinner, and pondering the idea of vacuuming, to spend a lot of time on a decorating project. And hey, that's okay too!