August 24, 2018
I like to keep baskets of colorful flowers on my front porch to welcome guests
On Fridays, my boyfriend comes over to take me out to dinner and spend the weekend with me. He’s a bit of a “neat freak,” so to make him more comfortable during his visit, I spend extra time and energy cleaning my already-pretty-clean house and making it comfy and welcoming. (He doesn’t ask me to, it’s something I do for him voluntarily). Let’s get our homes ready for the weekend ahead!
(Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you)
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
Lemon Basil Hand Soap, from Michel Design Works, via Amazon
- Run through your bathroom/s making sure they’re fresh for the weekend. Wipe down mirrors, counters and sinks; mop or vacuum floors as needed; replace hand towels with clean ones; check hand soap levels; check toilet paper supplies; water any houseplants; replace vases of flowers, if any, with fresh ones; clean toilets as needed.
- Empty off any surfaces that accumulated clutter during the week – dining table? Coffee table? Breakfast nook table? Kitchen command center? Entryway table? Basket of shoes by the door? Staircases?
- Sweep entryway to home, and deck/patio as needed.
- Toss out any vases of flowers from last week, replace with fresh.
- Vacuum any pet hair from carpets and couches, as needed.
- Empty trash cans in kitchen, bathrooms and living areas.
- Wipe down kitchen counters, sweep or mop kitchen as needed. Replace hand towels with fresh ones; check levels in dish soap and hand soap.
- Peek into fridge to see if anything needs to be thrown out or cooked up to make room for the weekend’s meals.
TODAY’S PROJECT: Summertime Chores
J.R. Watkins Lavender Room Freshener, on Amazon
My list of chores is somewhat different in summer than in the other seasons. I have outdoor furniture (a sitting area, a dining table, a chaise lounge for reading and naps) that must be cared for; a patio to sweep; herb and vegetable gardens to tend; lawns to water and flowerbeds to weed. My windows are open more often, which is wonderful but causes dust to settle on my furniture and fingerprints to appear on the windows. My dogs spend more time outside, and track in more dirt and leaves from their outdoor wrestling matches.
My chores today are sweeping off the outdoor furniture and plumping the cushions; wiping down the outdoor table for our upcoming meals; sweeping the patio and deck; laundering the throw rugs I keep in front of every door; watering and clipping my fresh herbs; meeting with the gardener to talk about the upcoming fall lawn care; restocking the outdoor bar with some alcohol; checking my ice supplies in the freezer; spritzing my curtains and couches with lavender Febreze; spraying lavender room freshener in rooms that smell like dog (my bedroom especially!); fertilizing my front flower bed; and laundering some beach towels we used at a picnic over the weekend.
What’s on your Summer Chores to-do list?
LOVELY BATH & BODY: New Vegan Body Yogurts from The Body Shop
I’m excited about the new vegan body yogurts (moisturizers) from The Body Shop. They’re great for summer (especially scents like Mango, Strawberry and Moringa). Because they’re not lotion, they soak in faster and are less heavy and greasy. I’m tucking one in my suitcase for my upcoming trip to Las Vegas, where my skin will surely dry out in the hot weather!
LOVELY BLOGS: Joy Food Sunshine
I wanted to show you this blog full of easy, delicious nutritious recipes. Laura is a mom of four who blogs from Utah.
I’m tempted to try making her Avocado Pasta Sauce recipe for dinner tonight; and I have a feeling I’ll be buying a lot of avocados at the store tomorrow so I can try out her technique for making Baked Avocado Fries.
You’ll love her beautiful food photography, and I bet you’ll find her recipe index helpful.
LOVELY BOOKS: Rooms with a View: The Secret Life of Great Hotels
I love reading books and watching TV shows about legendary hotels (such as Samantha Brown’s Great Hotels show). I can’t afford the time or money to travel right now, but I’m content to be an armchair traveler and explore grand hotels via print and television media.
I’m tempted to add Rooms with a View to my small shelf of books about grand hotels.
The publisher writes, “The great hotels have provided glamorous backgrounds for some of the most momentous – and most bizarre – events of world history… Salvador Dalí once asked room service at Hôtel Le Meurice in Paris to send him up a flock of sheep. When they were duly brought to his room he got out a gun and fired blanks at them.”
I would never personally behave like this, but find these stories fascinating!
Chapters include stories from great hotels in America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, Asia, and more.
LOVELY SHOPS: Sweetniks
With fall just around the corner, it’s nearly time to start bringing out our hot cocoa supplies. (And of course, hot tea and hot coffee). I don’t personally care for marshmallows (they aren’t vegetarian) but I’d like to have some nice tasty gourmet ones on hand to spoil guests and visitors to my home.
Sweetniks offers several intriguing flavors in their handcrafted gourmet marshmallows line, including Cardamom and Honey, a tempting set of Margarita Tequila Marshmallows, Key Lime marshmallows, and Japanese-inspired Matcha Honey marshmallows.
The shop also sells some inventive artisanal caramels and colorful, whimsical lollipops.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetniks
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
Air Fryer Crispy Herbed Chickpeas (Epicurious)
The Best Ricotta Doesn’t Contain Lasagna (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Grilled Zucchini Pizza Tacos (A Hint of Rosemary)
Healthy Kale & Cauliflower Salad (Running on Real Food)
Herbed Kale & Sorghum Salad (The Zestful Kitchen)
Making Gifts From Your Garden (The Spruce)
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta with White Beans and Basil (Half Baked Harvest)
