^^Thar she grows! Tomatoes are in!
Bosoms
Remember how I ordered the ThirdLove bra to try? Disliked. I hate to ever be negative, but it was just the same as any old T-shirt bra I’ve tried. Weak aka not supportive fabric. I sent it back. I am still on the hunt for a few good new bras, as mine are on the old side and I had to toss one out. I am giving this True & Co one a try after a friend raved about it, and I ordered one of my favorite sports bras from Victoria’s Secret again. I am looking for some strappy sports bras to wear under casual clothes this summer when it’s 90 degrees and Mazen wants to go around the block on a bike ride, so I am trying out this one and this one from VS too. Their sports bra prices are better than most of the higher end companies too.
Stairs
Gussie was having a hard time on the wooden stairs, so we DIYed a runner for them. I used two Dash & Albert runners just like the Young House Love tutorial. Thomas was able to install them with a staple gun in an afternoon. Love the herringbone!
Sheets
I wrote about the Target Threshold Performance sheets last year when I bought a set on sale. They continue to be my favorite sheets! I was on an all-white sheet kick for many years, but suddenly I am into patterns. I picked up this pattern with a gift card/cartwheel/sale combo and love it! The pattern colors go so well with my PB linen duvet cover.
Also purchased at Target: this vintage v-neck t-shirt in bright blue for $6. Love it when things are awesome and inexpensive!
Patio Furniture
Some history
2013: bought Pottery Barn Palmetto outdoor furniture for covered screened-in porch in white
2015: moved away from screened in porch and furniture now exposed to the elements
2016: realized white cushions I bought for a covered porch weren’t going to work living outside, so bought navy blue PB canvas replacement slipcovers to hopefully hide stains/dirt better
2016 summer: navy didn’t make it. Totally faded.
Lessons learned: never move. haha.
I sent photos of the cushions to Pottery Barn to see if they would consider replacing them, and they said they normally don’t replace for wear and tear but mine are so bad they will just this one time. (Aka I can’t call them next year and get more.) I have to ship the covers back (for free) and they will give me a store credit card. I am going to buy the expensive Sunbrella kind this time around (waiting for a 20% off PB sale) and cross my fingers that they last! I should have just gotten them to begin with. It looks like PB no longer sells the covers in the cheaper PB Canvas, so maybe they realized it just wasn’t good quality and stopped making it. I’ll let you know how the Sunbrella holds up!
Yard Work
Remember how last year I put sod down in the yard? For the most part, it did pretty well. The edges of the yard are thick and thriving. But the middle part, where the incline is the steepest, didn’t quite make it. I overseeded in the fall but it just wasn’t enough to fill in the gaps. We’re working with Turf HD to boost the health of the yard this summer and will do a more structured seeding in the fall for the bad spots. It’s actually way more affordable than I thought it would be, so hopefully, the grass will look like it did on sod installation day last year!
That’s it for all my updates!
Thanks for the feedback on ThirdLove – I keep hearing advertisements for them on a podcast I listen to and was curious..good to know!
I love my ThirdLove bra! I am usually a VS fan, but this bra is MUCH more comfortable. It may just have everything to do with if ThirdLove sends you the right size. I think that is the hard part since they aren’t really fitting you like they can at a store.
Thank you for the honesty on reviewing products. It’s so refreshing when bloggers do that!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Great to see bloggers actually not toally loving everything. I love your duvet and sheet pattern combo!
Lululemon just released a new sports bra that is supposed to be great for those who are bustier. I think it is called the Enlite bra…might be worth checking out!
I was going to comment about this bra! I work at lululemon and we just released it on Tuesday. It comes in actual bra sizes and we measure at the store for the best fit. It is the most comfortable sports bra I’ve ever tried on and the fact that it is designed for high-impact/high intensity workouts makes it that much better. Comfort + support finally in one bra ?? .
i work in color and your PB cushions fading problem should be a quality concern to PB. that is a colorfastness to light issue and you can ask them what their CF to light rating was on that fabric/color combo. for outdoor use they should only accept a rating of 5 or it will begin to fade (usually within 20hrs of direct sunlight). i am so happy to hear they’re replacing them for you and i hope the new ones are better quality! it’s certainly a quality concern, not normal wear and tear. did your teal cube handle the sun exposure okay? dyestuffs used for teals usually perform poorly in the sun. pkay, i will stop needing out now! loved your updates post!
Thanks for the tips!! Cube is doing great 🙂
We have sunbrella cushion covers. I would suggest not getting a light color. They get dirty and are a pain to take off and wash, but otherwise still in excellent condition!!
Good to know!
That’s great that PB was willing to replace your slipcovers! They look great–I love the navy color.
https://jonandaudadventure.wordpress.com/
My PB canvas cushions (in red) were gross and faded after one summer (and we used a cover when it rained.) I keep telling myself I’ll only buy sunbrella from here on out, but they are so much more $$$. I may buy patio furniture from Target in the future because it’s not worth the premium if the PB stuff won’t last!
This must be why they stopped making it!
That runner is adorable! We have carpet still downstairs but I think our next big project will be wood flooring, that way you can see the scorpions better… #arizonalife
Haha! Ahhh!
Love that herringbone runner! Did you use the rug padding underneath like John and Sherry did, too? How many rug pads do you have to buy? I’ve been pricing something similar out for my own stairs!
Yes to the padding, although we went with cheap padding and wish we’d picked something a little sturdier. It took 2 runners to go down our stairs.
Hi Kath. I am a frequent reader of you blog, never comment. Have you tried bras from Soma? They are my favorite! Not sure if they have the right style you are looking for but the fit is fantastic. I love the blog and love the pictures of your garden! Have a great day!
I haven’t but they have a store in Short Pump so maybe I will go when I am there next!
I’ve had the best luck with CABERNET bras from Dillards. They don’t show much online but may be worth a look next time you’re near a store. I always get a fresh fitting in the store before starting my search.
Thanks!
The Natori Feathers bra is my absolute new favorite bra ever. It’s so comfortable, super flattering and even has a little lace but still looks great under any kind of shirt. Plus it comes in a million colors. Highly recommend! http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/natori-feathers-underwire-contour-bra/3122001
Thanks!! I think it’s too plungey for me – TMI, but I tend to come towards the middle and out. Do you feel that way about it?
Hmmm… I hear ya, it is rather plungey. I am fairly small-chested so (sometimes unfortunately) don’t have that problem 🙂
: )
Lululemon just came out with a new sports bra, the Enlite Bra. I haven’t tried it but if its similar/better than the tata tamer that would be enough to justify the price.
Champion sports bras by hanes. Lots of styles and colors and various types of support.
Hey Kath! Have you ever been to Derrier de Soie on the Downtown Mall? It is a little more expensive, but I have gone there and bought a new bra around once a year and it is so worth it. They have a ton to try on to find the right one and the people are really helpful. I’d definitely recommend checking it out!
I just walked by it today and thought “I need to go in there stat!!” Hopefully soon….
Stairs…I just did 3 minutes of a hard stair workout in the midday as part of my personal all training internship and oh my lord do my legs burn me! It felt so good though, so I’m thinking of incorporating them more into my running or cardio routine.
Speaking of yard work, have you an indoor garden? I’m thinking of adding more green plants indoors because it’s so refreshing and maybe it clears up the air?
Yeah, you really have to get sunbrella to get any more than a year or two out of them in my opinion. i have some deep red sunbrella cushions that are still doing good after 2.5 years so fingers crossed!
That’s good news!
Thank God you got Gus fixed up with the stairs! 🙂 I started out kidding, but after I thought about it, I really mean that. Dogs need to be with their people.
Love your “easy breezy” blog post!
Outdoor furniture is tough! We just got a new table and now are looking for a cover because there was a warning in the box about leaving it out in the rain!
I’m actually obsessed with VS sports bras. They’re all I wear now. Wore a normal bra for the first time in months today and it was actually painful!
Love your patio furniture. They’re my favorite colors! .
Dear Kath,
so lovely that you fixed the stairs for Gus, it will love you even more 🙂 (please, show more pics of the doggy, it is so cute)
Hi Kath! To protect outdoor furniture we use 303 Fabric Guard (you can find it on Amazon). It helps protect from sun load, which should help prevent or at least slow down any fading. We use it on our boat and other lake outdoor furniture and it helps a lot! You only need to apply once or twice per season (just follow instructions). Good luck!
Oh cool – thanks for the tip!