When we moved in, this space looked very different, as did all the landscaping or lack thereof. We actually ended up with the patio furniture by mistake. Our first winter at our house, we went shopping for a snow blower and ended up finding the furniture on crazy clearance. It wasn’t even on display anymore, so we had to google the codes on the box and cross out fingers that it was actually what was inside the box. I think we made a good deal and never ended up finding a snow blower. 

We started our patio update last summer when Tommy built the corner planters with poles to hang up the string lights. We also got our little coffee table and fire column. We loved the space, but it was a little bare. 

Early this summer, we repainted the patio with Behr Porch and Patio paint in Grey Mist. When it became apparent that any summer plans we had for this year were going out the window, I decided did some retail therapy and purchased the rest of the decor and accessories to make this space extra cozy. Having an outdoor space to hang out in has helped so much during quarantine. Even when it was still chilly outside, I would grab a sweater and my laptop and work out here for a change of scenery.

I think the real MVP of this patio update has been out Minnidip pool. I know that they are sold out everywhere, but if you can get your hands on one of these, don’t think twice. It’s the perfect size for lounging on the hottest days with a drink and a good book and still big enough for Alex to “snorkel”  in.

This space has transformed so much since we moved in and I love how is has turned out. You can use the images below to shop items from this post for your patio update.

Now that you’ve checked out my decor, check out the posts that these lovely ladies are sharing on their blog!

• Kayla
• Bria
• Renee

And as always, if you got any inspo for your own space from my patio update, share it on Instagram and don’t forget to tag me! 

The post Creating a Backyard Oasis: Side Patio Update appeared first on Frolic Through Life.

As much as I love the fall, as soon as Halloween passes, I am ready to break out the Christmas decor. There is something about Christmas decor that adds a special coziness to the house. But before we can bring Christmas into the house, I like to do some winter cleaning – like spring cleaning, but in the winter!

A clean house is like a blank canvas. You don’t have to worry about moving clutter from one corner to another and it makes it easier to plan out all the fun Christmas decor. I love to lay out all our decor and plan out what goes where before getting started with decorating. I also like to take down a lot of our non-seasonal decor to make room for Christmas and to ensure that our house isn’t looking cluttered with too many items competing for your eye.

I love that I have passed down my love of all things Christmas to Alex. He is always excited to pick out the decor for his room and to decorate his little tree with all of his favorite ornaments. While he isn’t always thrilled for the cleaning that needs to be done, he knows that the faster we get it done the faster we can decorate!

With Christmas decor comes floors covered in flocking and glitter. I can always count on Bona to get the floors clean, but when they need a little extra help, I reach for the big guns – the Bona PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner. The oxygenated formula loosens and removes heavy dirt build-up, providing a deep clean for my floors without any extra effort. I just spray the floors down and go over them with my Bona Premium Microfiber Mop for sparkling clean floors. I also love how quickly the floors dry because anyone who has kids or pets knows that it is impossible to keep them from making footprints all over your freshly washed floors!

Getting all our cleaning done quickly with Bona leaves lots of time for the fun stuff – visiting Santa, watching ALL the Christmas movies and shopping for our friends and family.

When do you start decorating for Christmas?

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If I could choose one chore to never have to do again, it would be cleaning the floors. If you have kids or pets (or both!) you know that when you clean the floors, they stay clean for about five minutes. So when I found out I could outsource the floors, to this wonderful little robot, I was all over it!

We’ve had robotic vacuums before, but the ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO 950 is not your typical robotic vacuum. Let me tell you about my favorite features:

• It mops! You read that right, in addition to vacuuming, this little guy mops the floors. It has technology built in that differentiates hard floors from rugs and carpets, so there is no worrying about soggy rugs!
• It can clean the whole house on one charge! With a 3 hour run time, the DEEBOT OZMO 950 can clean our whole house without having to recharge between rooms.
• It maps our your house! The first time I ran the vacuum, it scanned the whole house and created a map in the app. It does this to ensure that it reaches every corner of your house, but also gives you the power to block off rooms or areas in the house where you don’t want it to go.

• Its fits everywhere! The DEEBOT OZMO 950 is one of the slimmest robotic vacuums on the market and fits under all of our beds without any trouble. It actually pushed a flip flop out from under our bed that I had been looking for since the summer!
• It has a great app! You start by connecting the vacuum to the app by scanning the QR code sticker on the OZMO. From there you can set automatic run times, get notifications about the vacuum when you aren’t home and set specific areas of the house to clean. It also shows you the path that the OZMO takes cleaning the whole house and is compatible with other smart devices. Hey google, clean the floors!

• It picks up all the things! It has three levels of suction – standard, max and max+ and even on the standard level it picks up everything! We have hand-scraped hardwood floors that are “wavy” to the touch and our old vacuum that issues picking things up off of it due to the texture, but not the OZMO. It also picks up pet hair like a champ!

Now that I’m not spending tons of time trying to keep our floors clean, I have so much more time. When you work from home it’s tempting to do chores during the work day, but with the OZMO I can work while my chores do themselves. I also know that this robotic vacuum is going to be a lifesaver for the next few weeks while I am recovering from foot surgery because even though I’m not a doctor, I’m pretty sure vacuuming on crutches isn’t recommended.

So sit back, catch up on your Netflix and that stack of books waiting to be read, while the ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO 950 does the cleaning for you!

P.S. This is a great item to add to your Christmas lists!

The post Making Time for Me with ECOVACS appeared first on Frolic Through Life.

Fall is my favorite season. I love when the temperatures start to cool down and we can all return to the outdoors (because who wants to be outside when its 98 degrees in the summer, right?).I love pumpkin picking, fall festivals, corn mazes, Oktoberfesting and nights by the fire pit. I love pumpkin spice, baking cookies and hearty soups for dinner. If fall was a person, it would be my bestie.

Now that you know all the things I love about fall, I will share one thing that I don’t enjoy year round – cleaning. I love when our home is tidy and cozy but cleaning just doesn’t float my boat. I love finding ways to get things done quickly so that we can get back to all the fun stuff!

Off all the chores there are to do, cleaning the floors is my least favorite, but if you have kids or pets (or both) you know that cleaning the floors is one of the most important chores. Even though Alex is 9, he still spends most of his time laying around and playing on the floor and with our new puppy, cleaning the floors is even more necessary because dogs shed in the fall! Enter Bona to the rescue!

The Bona Quick Clean System is designed to speed up cleaning and give you extra time for all the fun stuff. The Bona mop has an extra large head that covers more surface area in each swipe. The dusting pads are great at picking up dog hair and holding it in with their 3D fibers, but the wet pads are the real MVPs. They lock into place on the mop head with special locking strips and clean the floor better than a traditional mop and bucket. They are infused with Bona cleaner, which is water based and GREENGUARD GOLD certified to ensure a safe product for your family, pets and our planet. The solution is residue-free and dries quickly which is great because we all know that little feet are especially attracted to wet, freshly mopped floors.

Since the Bona wet pads eliminate the need for a bucket full of water, I feel good about enlisting the help of the kiddo in cleaning the floors. The only thing that is worse than a dirty floor is a bucket of dirty water that needs to be lugged to the bathroom to be spilled out. I can also feel good letting him learn to mop with the Bona because I know it won’t leave streaks on the floor because the solutions dries quickly.

With the Bona Quick Clean System, we are able to cross off all the chores on the list together and return to our regularly scheduled fall fun! When you live in a town with four pumpkin patches, you know there is a lot of fall fun to be had!

What are your favorite fall activities? What is your least favorite chore?

The post Making Time for Fall Fun appeared first on Frolic Through Life.

A funny thing happens when you buy a new house…everyone wants to come and see it! Now don’t get me wrong, I love having guests, especially since we don’t know many people in our new town yet, but sometimes you get a text that guests are on their way and the house is a hot mess. And if I’m going to be honest, since we are still finishing up our renovation, that sometimes is MOST of the time. So when guests give us a heads up, these are the six things I do to make the house look put together, even though its not!

1. Enlist help. Give everyone a task to do. This makes the work go so much faster and honestly I don’t like to be the only one running around when I’m not the only one who makes the messes.
2. Wash the dishes. A sink full of dishes is a total eyesore! Throw those dishes in the dishwasher, so enlist the help of a kiddo to dry while you hand wash. This job will be done quickly, but will make the kitchen look 100x better!
3. Remove clutter from all surfaces that guests will see. This is not the time to start folding the pile of laundry in your bedroom, but if that pile of laundry is smack in the middle of the living room, get it out of there! Take a minute to get those piles of letters off the dining room table or those toys off the kitchen floor. Put things back in their place, or in they don’t have a space, move them elsewhere until you have the time to deal with them. Just a quick pick up session will make a huge difference.
4. Wipe down bathroom surfaces. Our hallway bathroom is also the main bathroom for Alex, so more often than not you can find toothpaste splatters on the counters. A quick swipe will leave the counters shining and ready for guests to use.
5. Make it smell good. A yummy candle or some essential oils in a diffuser can make your space smell fresh and inviting. I love citrus scents in the spring and summer and more spicy scents in the cooler months.
6. Make sure your floors are clean. We just put in new hardwood floors in the whole house. I am obsessed with how great they look, and they are one of the things that guests first notice and comment about when they enter our home. This is why when someone is coming over, you better believe that I make sure the floors are looking their best. Confession time: I have not used a mop and bucket combination consistently, well ever. I feel they are cumbersome, time consuming, make the floors too wet and don’t do that great of a job when it comes to cleaning. Instead, I turn to Bona to keep my floors looking their best. In our old apartment, I used the Bona for tile and laminate floors, but once the hardwood went down in our new house I went out and bought every Bona item that I could find and I have not been disappointed yet. When I am short on time, I turn to Bona’s quick clean system. The Bona microfiber mop head is larger than competitors’ leading to 40% faster cleaning. I start with Bona Disposable Dusting Cloths with their3D fiber design to sweep and lock away dust, dirt and hair. Then I use the Bona Hardwood Floor Wet Cleaning Pads, infused with Bona’s Original Formula, to quickly clean dirt and grime. Best of all, Bona Quick Clean products leave the floor clean with none of the residue other products leave behind. Not to brag or anything, but I can get the floors in the whole house from crackers crumbs to clean in less than 15 minutes.

I hope these tips help get you guest ready in a flash!

What’s your best ‘get ready for guests quick’ tip?

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Getting kids to help out with cleaning isn’t always the easiest feat, but I am a firm believer in “if you live in this house, you need to help keep in clean.” Even with help, we still struggle to keep our house clean (understatement of the year), but we have found ways to make chores more enjoyable and more importantly, get done quicker. Since lots of people have Spring cleaning on their minds, I thought it would be fun to share some strategies that have worked for us in the ever uphill battle of keeping our house clean. A special thanks to Bona for helping us love all of the floors in our home with their new Stone, Tile, & Laminate Cleaner.

• Don’t make cleaning up optional. If given the option, I know that I definitely would not clean the house. If I could wait for someone else to come along and clean, I wouldn’t lift a finger. Set tasks that belong to your child and keep them accountable. If chores aren’t done, set consequences.
• Turn chores into a challenge. Set a timer and give your child 15 minutes to get something done. Ask them to organize everything by color or in alphabetical order. They will get it done much faster than they would otherwise and it will make it much more exciting for them!
• Make chores age appropriate. You can’t expect a 4 year old to do laundry, but even young children can have tasks that are their responsibility. Toddlers are capable of cleaning up their toys after playing or putting their clothing in the hamper at bed time. You know your child best. You know what kinds of chores they will be capable of completing now, and what kinds of things may take a few more years.
• Praise, praise, praise. When your child completes their chores, tell them you are proud of them for their hard work or for getting everything done so quickly. If you feel like you need to correct them on something they did, make sure you praise them first and give them suggestions on how to make it better next time second. Hearing criticism when you tried your hardest can be discouraging. 
• Give them a choice. The choice isn’t to clean or not to clean, but what they would like to do first, that day, etc. When given a choice, 9 times out of 10, Alex will choose to mop the floors (which conveniently is one of my least favorite tasks!). Ever since we received our Bona Stone, Tile, & Laminate Cleaner mop, I have all been dreading cleaning the floors less. The Bona system is super easy to use -you just spray the premixed solution and mop! The quick-drying solution leaves no sticky residue, meaning that there won’t be tons of footprints all over your freshly mopped floors! Bona used to be available only for hardwood floors, but their new Stone, Tile, & Laminate Cleaner is designed specifically to be safe for use on hard surfaces including stone, tile, laminate and luxury vinyl. It makes cleaning floors a breeze and its specially designed degreasing formulation effectively removes dust, dirt and grime leaving your floors clean and beautiful.  It is also Greenguard Gold certified which means its safe for the whole family, even your four legged friends.

  

  I hope that our tips helped make your Spring (and everyday) cleaning a little easier and more fun! To pick up some Bona Stone, Tile, & Laminate Cleaner for yourself, head to their website and show your floors some love!

The post 5 Ways To Get the Kids To Do Their Chores appeared first on Frolic Through Life.

The pinecones in the vases are ones that I picked and dried myself. They have been going strong for 3 years!

Felt pumpkins and pumpkin bowl are from the Target dollar spot.

The tree print is from The Print Cafe on Etsy and was our wedding guest book. The leaves are signed by all of our guests. I love that we have a daily reminder of all our loved ones who celebrated the day with us.

The hedgehog has measuring cups stored in the log!

After Halloween, I put away the halloween themed items and replace them with a few things that I have for Thanksgiving. All of the general fall decor stays the same.

Copper Candle Lantern | Lightbox | Apple Vase Filler | Pumpkin Vase Filler | Letterboard | Orange Mercury Glass Pumpkin (similar) | Silver Mercury Glass Pumpkin (similar) | Boo Pillow (similar)| Hedgehog Measuring Cups | Leaf Garland

The post Fall Home Decor appeared first on Frolic Through Life.

1. If it takes less than 5 minutes, do it NOW! There are two dishes in the sink, there is a pile of junk mail that needs to be recycled, the bed needs to be made. All these things should take less than 5 minutes to complete, and they will make a big difference down the line. If something is a quick and easy task, do it sooner than later and have less to do when you get around to deep cleaning the house.
2. Create a cleaning schedule. When I was a kid, Saturday was cleaning day and it was an all day task that I dreaded all week long. Instead of spending one whole day cleaning the house from top to bottom, tackle a different room in the house each day. A half hour each day is a lot more manageable and less daunting then spending the whole day cleaning. There are even cute stickers that you can buy for your planner (I love my Erin Condren!) for extra encouragement, because really, who doesn’t like stickers?
3. Get a robotic vacuum. I know that these can be pricey, but for me it was a game changer. Our Black + Decker Robotic Vacuum is set to run every day at 12:15. We come home to clean rugs and all the crumbs swept up in the kitchen, and it takes a whole lot off my plate for the day. Once a week, I still use my regular vacuum cleaner and mop the floors, but the robotic vacuum is my BFF! 
4. When in doubt, throw it out. Clutter can make even the cleanest home look messy. If you think you’re going to read that magazine from three months ago, remember that your a mom and the chances of that happening are slim. Toss it out!
5. Use All-Purpose Cleaners. I use one all-purpose cleaner for everything from wiping down the counters, to washing the shower and dusting in the kid’s room. I cut down on the clutter of having 10 different cleaners stacked under my sink, and I can transition from one room to another quickly to get the job done.
6. Delegate! Even the smallest kiddos are able to help clean up. Give you children chores and enforce them. They learn responsibility and you get a few things taken off your plate. Win-win!

Happy Cleaning!

*I received a robotic vacuum from Black + Decker for review. All opinions, as always, are my own!*

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Here are some of my favorite things from Uncommon Goods that would make amazing housewarming gifts [or 30th birthday gifts. hint, hint]:

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Uncommon Goods. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Better Stuff Doormat | Custom State Pillows | Personalized Family Print | Cheese & Crackers Serving Board | Gin and Tonic Diagram Glassware | Driftwood iPhone Charging Dock | Mason Jar Indoor Garden | Homesick Candles | Cork Cactus Organizer | Himalayan Salt with Grater

Not only does Uncommon Goods curate an amazing selection of products, they are committed to working with their suppliers – from artists to small manufacturers – to make their products in a more socially and environmentally responsible manner. UncommonGoods is also a founding member of B Corporation, an organization created to help customers understand the social and environmental impact of their purchases. Great company with great products, what is there not to love?

Uncommon goods is much more that just housewarming gifts. You can find a gift for anyone and for any occasion from bridal showers, to weddings to baby showers [they seriously have the cutest onesies ever!]. In the unlikely case that someone does not like what you purchased for them, exchanges and returns are a breeze. There is even an option to return a gift without letting the original purchaser know, which is pretty neat and saves you from an awkward convo.

Do you have a go-to website or store to shop for housewarming gifts? 

Happy Shopping!

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1. Picture frames. There is nothing I love more than a house filled with pictures of family and friends. It just makes me happy to look at pictures of good times when I’m curled up on the couch. We have a big gallery wall in our living room full of pictures of family and friends and I love having everyone up on the wall to see on a daily basis.
2. Pillows and cozy throws. We have more pillows and blankets than I would like to admit at our house, but we are all (including Alex) pillow and blanket people. There is nothing better than snuggling on the couch with your favorite people to watch a movie with a cozy blanket. Out of all our pillows and throws, my favs are the personalized ones from Shutterfly. Because whats better than a cozy blanket covered in pictures of your favorite people in the world?
3. Oils, Oils, Oils. Our oil diffuser is always on and makes the house smell delicious and cozy. My favorite blends are Citrus Fresh, Joy and Christmas Spirit. We also diffuse Thieves during the colder months to kill germs and keep us healthy. I prefer oils over scented candles because they make your home smell awesome, without the potential health risks that candles may pose.
4. Plants. There is something about plants that just make a home feel warm and cozy. I have a particular soft spot for succulents. I will also share a pro tip – if you can’t seem to keep your plants alive, Michael’s has a ton of beautiful fake plants that look very real. I bought a few of them a few weeks ago and even tricked Tommy into thinking they are real.
5. Sunlight. Natural light in the house is priceless. We are lucky enough to have big windows that give us a ton of light in our bedroom and living room. I always tell Tommy that if we found our dream home, but it didn’t have enough natural light that it would be a tough sell. We have sheers hanging in all of our windows. They provide the privacy we need, while still letting in all of the amazing natural light. 

What are your favorite ways to keep your home cozy? 

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