Max Out Happy

Affordable Amazon Home Finds

I love to rearrange our furniture and repurpose decor we already have. I’m also always trying to find ways to make our home more functional and maximize storage. We can’t go buying new things every time I feel like our living spaces are getting monotonous, so we sprinkle new items in every so often so it’s not overwhelming!

I’m not currently in the market for new home decor, but that doesn’t mean I’m not always looking! My go-tos for home decor are always Target, Amazon, and TJ Maxx/Marshall’s/Home Goods. These are all affordable for me and have great options! I haven’t pinned down a style for myself, so I feel like everything is kind of a mix. My main goal in decorating is to make the space feel cozy and organized. Clutter makes me uncomfortable, so I’m constantly organizing, moving things out as I move things in, etc. I really enjoy clean lines and simple statements. Classic with a twist, as I always say! This has been challenging with having a toddler and all the THINGS that come with that. It’s a constant lesson in patience.

If I HAD to choose a style for our home, I guess I would go with Modern Farmhouse with a touch of Boho vibes? Is that a thing? Anyway, here are some home decor picks that are currently on my wish list:

Affordable Home Decor

  1. Matte black candle holders for taper candles: Love the moody look to these candle holders.
  2. Clear plastic drawer organizers: Because organization. I love using containers like these for bathroom and kitchen drawers.
  3. Beige accent chairs (set of 2!): I think this is a great price for 2 nice accent chairs!
  4. Upholstered dining chairs (set of 2!): We need dining chairs with backs on them now that Davis is sitting at the table. Eventually I hope to get a big round table; I think these would look great at a round wooden table.
  5. Medium storage baskets: I mean, you just can ALWAYS use more storage baskets! Linen closet, kids toys, cleaning supplies, you name it. We use a fabric basket for Davis’ little shoes by the door!
  6. Gold geometric bookends: I was in the market for bookends for my cookbooks recently, and I love these! A bit edgy – and I like the antique black color too.
  7. Set of 3 ceramic vases: There is also a distressed white option that’s really pretty!
  8. Boho throw pillow covers: This is for 2 pillow covers, so you would need the inserts.
  9. Simple round side table: Love this for a guest room, living room, or even just a cozy corner.
  10. Handmade 20″ wooden dough bowl: Nice for decor, but also functional – it could hold loose items, produce, seasonal items, whatever!

Where do you shop for your home decor? In a perfect world, I would purchase all of these items in one go and spread the love around. In reality, I have to stretch out my purchases paycheck by paycheck, slowly adding here and there. And that’s okay, too. Home is what you make of it. It is where you spend most of your time and where you should feel peaceful, safe, and comfortable. Whatever that means for you, little touches can make a big difference!

Just a reminder that I might receive a small commission if you shop and purchase directly through the links in this post!

The FriYAY Series

Happy FriYAY! It has been a few weeks! In today’s edition of the FriYAY series, I’m just recapping the week and sharing some things I’m loving. As always, nothing too heavy as we head off to the weekend!

This Week’s Recap

This was a busy week! On Sunday, we relaxed at home and I rearranged/organized the playroom. I’m getting it ready for our cloffice project that I wrote about in my summer bucket list post. I’m really excited about that project! The picture on the bottom left is after Andrew took the doors off of the closet, so you can see the space we’ll be using. Of course, I’ll take pictures and do a before and after reveal once it’s all finished!

On Monday, I went to help Whitney get ready for a photo shoot she was doing with another photographer. I did her hair and makeup, and we just got to chat and hang out for a bit, which is always nice during this busy season of life!

Tuesday and Wednesday, Davis had playdates with friends in the mornings. I also got my hair done Tuesday and it had been a MINUTE. My usual stylist is out on maternity leave, and I had to cancel my last appointment with her at the last minute, so it needed to happen. I went to someone new, recommended by some friends. It was a great experience! It always feels good to get your hair done and feel a bit pampered.

Between those things, I did a lot of work for Max Out Happy, cleaned the house, did my daily routine stuff at home, and ran errands. It felt like it flew by! And now it’s my favorite day – FriYAY! No huge plans on the horizon today.

My brother is here for a couple of days visiting us and my sister. I’m the youngest of three, and so is Andrew. It’s weird and cool that Davis is spending time with his cousin Jackson (my sister’s baby) just like we did when we were growing up!

What I’m Loving

  1. I am absolutely enthralled by RV/camper renovation right now. I’ve started going down a rabbit hole on Instagram and Pinterest and even started a board for tiny living. If I was single, or if Andrew and I had only 1 dog and no children, this would be my dream. We hope to get a small camper someday, so for now, I’ll just daydream through these beautiful tiny spaces!
  2. I read The People we Meet on Vacation at the beach and it was SO GOOD. I couldn’t put it down. It was just so well-written. Sadly, that’s the only book I have read this summer and it has flown by. I have another couple of books I’d like to get through before school starts, but we’ll see what happens. What’s everyone else reading? Here’s my summer reading list in case you missed it!
  3. I got an email today that my new Billie razor refills are being shipped to me. You already know how I feel about this program. I don’t know why they haven’t sought me out to pay me yet for all the free advertising I’m doing for them, haha! Here’s their starter kit! Best shave I have ever had.
  4. Revel Nail’s new Bohemian Bouquet collection is live and the colors are so perfect for fall!
  5. I’m anxious and hesitant about the school year starting, but of course I’m excited to stock up on some cute school supplies. We have a brand new school building, and I’m excited to set up my classroom! I’m working on a post about some of my favorite items, but in the meantime, if you haven’t used the Paper Mate InkJoy pens, you’re missing out. These Zebra Pen Midliner highlighters are also a must. Y’all know I love good writing utensils and paper products.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoys your FriYAY! We are expecting some rain where I am, but I’m thrilled to see the temperatures in the 80s instead of the 90s! It’s really the little things that make a difference.

Best Subscriptions I’ve Tried: Top Ten

I honestly love a good subscription box. Something to look forward to, something you can count on, new goodies…it just MAKES SENSE. They also make really great gifts! But, like with anything, subscriptions are not all created equal. Some are better than others, and some just aren’t worth the money. I’m here to break it down for you. Here are the top 10 best subscriptions I’ve tried!

Beauty

  1. Ipsy: Super affordable. $12 for 5 beauty products! I love that you get a pretty little bag with each box, because I use them for all kinds of storage needs in my purse, diaper bag, beach bag, and in my bathroom! I think this is one of the best subscriptions for trying new products.
  2. Birchbox: I got this as a gift several years ago and then signed up to keep receiving it for a long time. It’s another great way to try new products! This one is almost exactly like Ipsy, for $15 a month.
  3. Billie Razor: Y’all already know. I LOVE this thing and I will never look back. Best shave I’ve ever had, a handle that is amazing, refills sent to you, etc. I mentioned this one in my worth the hype post last week!
  4. FabFitFun: Another one that I think is worth the hype! This is such a fun box to receive, and I love that it always has full-sized products. You pay $50, and most boxes have over $200 worth of goodies inside. Beauty, hair, home, jewelry, accessories…there are all kinds of things in this box, but I usually customize it to get more beauty products. I reviewed previous FabFitFun boxes in this post (fall) and this post (spring)!

Fashion

  1. Stitch Fix: I got a couple pairs of pants for teaching from my Stitch Fix box years ago and I loved them so much. You can always customize your preferences, sizes, and styles easily. Clothes, shoes, bags and accessories, and jewelry options are available, and you get a surprise box of items you can purchase each month. I stopped getting the box because everything was too expensive for me to purchase, and I just couldn’t justify it anymore. Still, I really enjoyed my subscription while I had it!
  2. Fabletics: LOVE this subscription. All kinds of great finds, cute matching fitness outfits, sports bras, loungewear, you name it. The only downfall to this was that I felt like everything went out of stock so quickly as soon as all the new releases came out. I got so many great clothes from this subscription! I would love to do it again if our budget allowed it.

Other

  1. Cloth & Paper: For all my fellow nerds and office supply lovers out there. I got this for my birthday a couple years ago, and I absolutely loved it. Whenever it was time for it to arrive, I got so excited with anticipation! Everything was high quality and beautiful. Choose from a stationery box, a pen box, or both! Here is a previous review I did of my Cloth & Paper subscription.
  2. TheraBox: I got this self care box as a gift for my friend Savannah’s birthday last year while the pandemic was in full force and we were all stuck at home, sheltering in place. Such a great idea for a subscription or a gift! We all need to practice better self care, if you ask me.
  3. GlobeIn: My siblings and I got this one for our mom a while back, and she loved it! This box is filled with unique, handmade and ethically made artisan goods from around the world. I love the idea! Lots of good items for the home in this box.
  4. Chewy: We get our dog food delivered monthly, and we have also done heartworm or flea/tick meds in the past, as well as Bruno’s insulin and syringes. I love that we can order a huge box of food, and I don’t have to lug it into a cart or out to my car and into the house. Chewy has a great reminders setup, and you can postpone or change your orders really easily and without fuss.

What are the best subscriptions you’ve tried? Which ones do you swear by? I know lots of people who receive HelloFresh boxes, wine of the month club or Winc for wine, and I’ve seen a lot of influencers do the KiwiCo boxes for their kids. Of course there’s BarkBox for dogs, but I didn’t realize there’s also a CatLadyBox! Love to see it.

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