Hi friends!! I’ve recently discovered a brand that has CHANGED THE GAME when it comes to laundry and dishes and I felt like I would be doing y’all a disservice if I didn’t tell y’all about them!! We’ve been using Dropps in our laundry and dishwasher for about half a year now and they are the absolute BEST!!
{PS there will be a discount code at the end, so make sure you use it when you order!!}
There are tons of different reasons why we chose Dropps and why we’ve continued to use them! Dropps formulas are made with natural ingredients, they’re never tested on animals, and the packaging is just plain old cardboard – no plastic containers!! I think my favorite part is how quick and easy it is to just toss the pods into the dishwasher and washing machine and not have to deal with any measuring or spills!!
If you’ve been around here for a while you know that Hayes started doing chores as soon as he could walk (check out my “chores” highlight on instagram for a good laugh), he LOVES helping out!! He’s started to do his own laundry and I’m pretty sure it’s his favorite day of the week now haha. He literally shouts over and over “IT’S LAUNDRY DAY!!!!” Dropps literally has a pod designed for anything you could possibly need!
They have a newborn bundle, sensitive skin pods, pods for stain & odor removal, the list goes on!!
Make sure to use code MONICAK for 25% off your Dropps order.
I honestly don’t know how we lived without them for so long, this girl will NOT be going back to regular detergent.
Oh, and did I mention that Dropps is more affordable than other leading detergent brands?!
THEY ARE SO GOOD.
Well friends, Quarantine has done good things for this little home of ours! Now that Kyle has all this extra time on his hands he’s ALL about staying busy and taking on all of the projects I’ve been begging him to do for the last two years, haha! The main one being our cabinets!! Kyle pretty much did all of the work on the cabinets while I kept Hayes entertained during the day. It was a LONG and exhausting and chaotic and somewhat stressful few days but the outcome was BEYOND worth it. Keep in mind, it won’t take you near as long as us if you don’t have a wild toddler running around! I think the biggest pain was the kitchen being a disaster, meal time was always super difficult…but honestly I’d do it all over again now knowing how happy I’d be with the finished project and all I can think about is goshhhhh WHY didn’t we do this sooner!!
Here is the AFTER.
Here is the BEFORE.
& here is a closeup of the backsplash!
AFTER
& BEFORE
Since so many of you have questions and have been wanting to paint your cabinets too I figured I would put together a super easy “what you need” guide and then step by step instructions on exactly what we did! So here is what you’ll need! (we actually used Valspar cabinet paint but it wasn’t an option to link)
STEP BY STEP: WHAT WE DID -Take cabinets off one by one, Remove first cabinet, label it A (we used painters tape) and then put all of the hardware in a baggy and label it A as well. Continue doing this (obviously with different letters) with all of the cabinets and their hardware! -Use soap & water to wipe down all surfaces that will be painted, making sure to get any grease off! -Use TSP spray on all cabinets after wiping off soap and water (follow instructions on bottle) -Lightly sand all areas with 220 grit sand paper -Wipe down well! -Lightly caulk all cabinet door panels (use white if you’re painting white) -Used paint sprayer (in garage) with primer did one coat on front and back we let the paint dry a few hours before using the real paint -Used paint sprayer to paint all cabinets (we did 2 coats) We used color ALABASTER on both the cabinets and the backsplash and love it!!
We also used the paint sprayer inside too, if you do this make sure you cover EVERYTHING! We followed all of the same steps as above! We didn’t cover the floors well enough and had to buy some paint remover to get a lot of splatter marks off the tile.
BACKSPLASH: This was shockingly SUPER easy…I just wiped it all down with water and then did 2 coats of primer (same as cabinets) let that dry overnight, and then did 3 coats of the paint (same as cabinets) The backsplash is my favorite part! We did a tester and we both thought it was going to look horrible but so many of you encouraged us to DO IT! Even while I was painting it I wasn’t convinced it was going to look good but once it was all done and dry I was completely IN LOVE!!
We spent about $150 on everything. We already owned a paint sprayer because Kyle does so many projects!
If you’ve been wanting to paint your cabinets there is NO better time then now!! Go for it, you will not regret it… (well maybe you will during) but you will not regret it afterwards!! hahaha
Today’s post is something I am SOSO excited about!
I don’t share too much “home decor” stuff on here or Instagram but I’ve been getting a lot of requests to share more home decor/lifestyle posts so I’m definitely going to start doing that for y’all.
and what better way to kick that off than with an AMAZING deal!?
I’ve teamed up with Photography.com to offer y’all an incredible buy 1 get 3 FREE deal!
{No, that gorgeous canvas photo doesn’t stay on our bed!! haha
I haven’t found the perfect spot for it yet so I figured I’d just set it here to show y’all how gorgeous it is}
Okay let’s talk about this deal…
If there’s one thing that’s essential to make any house feel more like home it’s beautiful photos that take you back to some of the best days of your life.
I have ALWAYS been obsessed with taking photos, making memories and having a photo to look back on has always been incredibly special and important to me.
I have been dying to create a “gallery wall” in our home but keep putting it off because the nursery has been priority lately!
Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled when Photography.com reached out to me and wanted to send me one of their canvases and offer ALL OF YOU a deal that you just couldn’t resist.
So, If you’ve been wanting to create a gallery wall for your home like me – JUMP ON THIS deal.
When you use my link to buy one canvas you will get THREE FOR FREE!!! This is not a drill people.
Here are a few ways these canvases are special and unique!
(they aren’t the kind that have the cheap waxy feel that you’ll find at most home goods stores) They are 100% true stretched canvases.
They have high definition printing.
They offer standard and thick edge options.
Your canvas ships ready to hang!
Just click the banner below to head straight to their website for the deal of your dreams.
and make sure you let me know if you do.
I’m thinking of creating the gallery wall in our bedroom, I can’t wait to show y’all how it turns out!
Happy Tuesday y’all!
If you haven’t heard of SexyMamaMaternity, I’m telling you NOW…
They have the cutest maternity wear ever!!
They have really great “basics” that are so easy to dress up and they also have adorable statement pieces,
like the maternity overalls/bumperalls I shared with y’all here.
I styled this over the bump olive skirt from them and received so many compliments on this look!
This year is going to be full of changes and I’m determined to make them positive ones!
I’m less than 7 weeks away from becoming a mommy – our little world is going to be SO different soon.
I am so blessed to be able to work from home and have the opportunity to take care of my baby,
but working from home can be HARD.
It’s so easy to put things off, or get distracted, or only get things done half way.
This year I am determined to get myself on a routine/daily schedule and really stick to it,
2018 is going to be a productive one, I’ve got big dreams y’all!!
There are a few super simple things I’m going to start doing every single day to make me feel better,
and make my life a little happier. Yes, I’ve made these resolutions before, but I’ve actually been sticking to them this year and it’s amazing how much better I feel and how much my stress level has gone down!
1. Make the bed every morning – right away, like for real IMMEDIATELY (or it won’t happen – trust me I know from experience lol )
I have never been a “bed maker” I’ve always thought it was so silly. Like what’s the point of making a bed for no one to see and then only to unmake it a few hours later? and I mean, what if I happen to want to get back in it sometime during the day?! All great points…BUT y’all… it really is amazing how your entire world can feel put together when the bed is made…anytime I walk into our bedroom and the bed looks pretty a sense of “yes, I got this, what can I get done next?!” immediately comes over me. Also, there’s nothing better than starting your day with an accomplishment/getting a task done. AND when unexpected guests do come over – It’s always a nice feeling to know that your house is already somewhat put together. Need I say more?!
2. Do one small load of laundry every morning (this has legitimately changed my life)
Laundry and I are not friends, we hate each other actually. I am notorious for letting laundry pile up and get out of control & then be too overwhelmed to even get started on it…OR raise your hand if you’re guilty of re-washing/drying the same load of laundry 3 times because you keep forgetting to throw it in the dryer//take it out of the dryer!! Yep. Same girl, same.
WELL, we’re adding another family member soon and the laundry is only going to start getting worse and worse, so I’ve been throwing a load in every morning, putting it in the dryer when I get a chance…and then making sure I put it up before bed – no more re washing/re drying 10x in 2018. This has helped make my life SO much easier y’all…one load a day is NOTHIN’, especially when you know that’s all you have to do.
3. Set time aside to pray/get a quiet time in every morning. Life is busy and crazy and it’s so easy to wake up and just get going and distracted. I really want 2018 to be a year of spiritual growth for me, so this is a really important part of my daily schedule. I want to really focus on praying specifically for Kyle and Hayes every single morning. I’m going to link my absolute favorite devotionals for y’all below. Jesus Calling is absolutely incredible, it’s gotten me through some really rough patches and each day the devotional was always SO spot on and relevant for me that it was a little scary haha. The power of a praying wife has been so perfect in helping me pray better for Kyle – sometimes ya just don’t have the right words or know exactly how or what to pray for when it comes to your husband and this book has helped me SO much. I just recently started The power of a praying parent but i’m sure it’s going to be just as great!
4. Be intentional with my time I am extremely ADD, I get distracted easily and I’m never able to finish a task without starting another one and then completely forgetting about the first one I started. So this year I want to be more intentional with my time. I’m not going to start a task unless I have full intentions on FINISHING it, and I won’t start another task until the first one is completed. <– This is going to be hard for me y’all.
Also going to do my best to STOP wasting to much time just scrolling mindlessly through social media, gahhhhh I’m so terrible at that.
5. Exercise/Get back in shape – Even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes every day Now there’s only so much I can do right now, because well, I’m still growing a human and can barely bend over BUT I can’t even explain to y’all how ready I am to get back in shape. I wasn’t working out regularly before I got pregnant and I totally regret that and MAJORLY miss being healthy and in shape. My goal is to get my Summer body that I had back in 2015, but Lord knows it’s going to take some time to get this baby weight off and gain all my muscle back…BUT I know I can do it and I’m super excited to start making small positive/healthy changes until I can really start working out again.
Well, That’s it –
5 super simple changes I’ve been making in 2018 that are already making me so much happier and stress free!
Okay guys I have been so busy and totally clueless on what to share with y’all this week!
So after seeing a few other bloggers put together posts similar to this I figured I’d do one as well!
So today I’m sharing the BEST purchases I made in 2017 and why I love them!
I’ll be sharing each product and a little description/why I love it and then you’ll see clickable images with direct links that will take you to the item!
(If you don’t see each item listed, make sure you click the arrow next to the images to see the rest!)
This Safavieh Rug – We have this in our living room and are constantly getting SO many compliments. The colors are so much fun and add a little brightness to our mostly neutral home! This rug is also SUPER easy to keep clean, which is GREAT since we have a golden retriever and baby boy on the way.
This book – I actually just ordered so I haven’t read it yet but I know it’s going to be amazing. I have the “Praying wife” version and it is phenomenal so I have no doubt this one will be just as good!
These leggings – Kyle got these for me in both the gray and navy colors and I NEVER want to take them off! They are extremely cozy and will be a total lifesaver for after baby comes and I want to be comfy in the house but also still look cute.
This bralette – guys I have been LIVING in bralettes since being pregnant. I cannot stand the thought of anything hugging or squeezing around my chest so these have been E V E R Y T H I N G. Aerie has SO many cute and unique options when it comes to comfy and gorgeous bralettes.
This Cardigan – I actually ordered this not too long ago and I have worn it NON STOP, I love that the sleeve length is a little shorter and how cozy and oversized it is. It’s super easy to style, throw it on over a dress or jeans or leggings or WHATEVER.
This tote bag – I snagged this from Target and I will definitely be using it as a diaper bag when Hayes gets here! It’s the perfect size and the colors make it go with almost any outfit!
These Sunnies – are hands down my absolute fav. I have a really small and narrow head so it’s always SO hard finding sunglasses that don’t look ridiculous on me. These are PERFECT.
This “Let’s stay at home” sign is always a huge hit in our home! We have it above our mantle and it just makes the perfect accent to our cozy living room.
This decorative pillow – As soon as I laid eyes on this I knew I needed it in my life. It’s so much cuter in person and has so much character. I just purchased one and we have it sitting by the fireplace for decoration.
These maternity leggings – I wear these multiple times a week and RAVE about them. They are the only pair of leggings that I have been able to *comfortably* wear since the beginning of my pregnancy, the support they give your tummy is phenomenal.
This Kendra Necklace – I’m not a big jewelry person but I LOVED how dainty this necklace was, I wear it every single day.
This diaper bag insert – Seriously best invention ever, this insert will fit into any tote bag so you don’t have to carry the same exact diaper bag every day.
These sneaks – I mean, I think the photo says it all…..SO freaking cute, and unbelievably comfy I might add!
Y’all LOVED this tee when I shared it on Instagram! I’ve gotta admit I totally love it too and wear it on the regular, not only is the phrase hilarious but this shirt is made of the comfiest fabric!
This Headboard – I was nervous ordering this because of the mixed reviews but we L O V E it and it looks gorgeous in our bedroom! Such a steal.
This pop socket – Okay guys, It took me a while to jump on the pop socket train but I honestly don’t know how I waited so long, these are THE best things ever.
This shower curtain – is probably in my top 5 of favorite purchases, I’m obsessed with the detailing and anytime anyone comes over they just HAVE to know where it’s from so they can get one for their home!
These OTK boots – I’ve had a lot of over the knee boots over the years and these are the first pair that actually STAY UP and are actually really comfortable. There’s nothing worse than wearing a cute outfit but having to yank on your boots all day to keep them up – I HIGHLY recommend these, I’m about to order them in another color and will probably never order OTK boots from anywhere else
This Cardigan/ Jacket – is just super classic and a “staple” every girl needs in her closet. I wore it on our babymoon in San Diego and I think I’m going to wear it on Christmas day as well!
This wall decor – We have something SUPER similar on our entry way table (that isn’t available anymore) and it’s just the perfect piece for your home if you’re going for that homey farmhouse vibe!
This gold mirrored tray – I have this on my bedside table with some flowers and my perfumes in it and it’s just super pretty, and who doesn’t love pretty things?
I’m a huge lover of Chanel fragrances and I love having this quick spray that I can carry around anywhere!
These booties are probably my #1 favorite purchase of the year – I can’t even count how many times I wore them. They go with EVERYthing, are so comfy, and are seriously the cutest booties. I love that they are super transitional as well!
Phewwwww, Okay this post took way longer to put together than I anticipated
so hopefully y’all enjoyed it and are able to snag some of these items that i’m obsessed with!
We’re doing our maternity shoot this afternoon and I am SO freaking excited!!!!
Can’t wait to show y’all the photos!
Happy almost Friday!
