Living

summer scheduling with NuBryte+ summer week I

First week of summer vacation is in the books. I wasn’t so structured in their scheduling this week to give them a little break after being in school for months.

Next week?  The structure and planning will be more for me. The fact that I don’t have to get up at 6a to get them off to school doesn’t by default mean I need to stay in the bed until 9a, because that is what I did last week.

My thoughts are that certain days of the week will lend to certain activities. My son has suggested “Foodie Fridays.” Yasss son, yas. By Friday I’m exhausted and the weekends will likely be filled with other activities so staying in and trying new recipes on Fridays sounds like a win.

Sticking with the theme, Mondays will be for movies. Since we have a theater in our house, Mondays may also involve staying at the crib and maybe grabbing dinner or milkshakes out before settling in.

My kids ask me a million times what we will be doing daily, and to give my nerves a break I have  input Movie Mondays and Foodie Fridays into the NuBryte smart home system in my son’s room. As I schedule new activities I’ll add them to the virtual calendar using the free NuBryte app on my phone. Once I input the activities into the app, they automatically sync with the calendar option in the unit.  They know to go here daily to check their activities. If you have a busy family this is a great product to keep everyone on track with their activities. They can even add their own activities to take some of the work off of you to manage and schedule everything. Amazon sells NuBryte, the entire system is a sanity saver.

IMG_0382

 

This week we:

Went to Rita’s.

File Jun 02, 11 08 17 AM

 

Napped.

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Washed rides…..in church dresses.

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Read books

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I’ll be sitting down to plan out this week. What do you have planned for summer fun? I need all of the ideas. All of them.

*I was provided a NuBryte Smart Home System. All opinions are mine. NuBryte is an all-in-one smart home system with a built-in home security system, automated lighting, wireless home intercom, and other family management tools – all from your light switch!

 

DIY Home

Rubbermaid FastTrack | Garage Makeover

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GarageCleanUp #CollectiveBias

If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat you know that my husband drives a classic car. Her name is Sylvia but I refer to her as Mistress Money Pit (MMP) for obvious reasons. If you know anything about classic cars the care and love for them by their owners can be a tiny bit obsessive. So much so that some of them drive their car about three times before they go and sell it! I mean, they spend however much money on the car, however much doing the car up, and then however much on getting traders insurance from somewhere like One Sure Insurance just so that they can sell the damn thing. An exercise in futility, in my honest opinion.

One of the main issues we were having in the garage is the kids park their bikes on my side of the garage (go figure). When they park their bikes on my side it causes me to have to park a little too close to Sylvia to avoid taking them out. As a result every time I open my door to get out I have to touch my car door to MMP and over time her door has accumulated far too many nicks for his liking.

Fixing this dilemma was fairly simple. We decided to relocate the children’s bikes into the downstairs garage. Genius resolution until I saw snakes enjoying the breeze down there, and quickly that option became flawed.

Snakes.

We then decided the best option would be to install a system to hang their bikes on the wall in the upstairs garage to free up space for me to park properly.

We live in an older home so our garage is huge and there was more than enough space after we measured to put the system upstairs along with his tools leaving the bottom garage for his other classic car that is in the shop *rolls eyes* and the lawnmower. This is what we started with.

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage organization system

I made a trip to The Home Depot to pick up the Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. It took me a minute to figure out what hooks we needed to house everything that we would be moving up to that garage.

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage Organizatioin System

I ended up going with {2} FastTrack® 84 inch vertical rails, 3 FastTrack® Vertical bike hooks, a FastTrack® Utility Hook and a few FastTrack® Multi Purpose hooks along with the hardware packs needed to securely attach the system to the wall.

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage Organization

The FastTrack rails were quick and easy to install once he measured out where the studs were. The system can hold up to 1750 lbs, to make sure you don’t have an issue it is super important to make sure the system is attached to the studs. Our studs ended up being the standard width apart which is roughly 16″.

 

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Once the studs are marked out you have to put in the anchors, found in the hardware pack. You must use the hardware pack for the system, it is only $1.97 so no need to cut corners.

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage Organization

Now it is as simple as screwing the track to the wall and placing the rail cover over it for a sleek and completed look.

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage Organization

 

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage Organization

 

 

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage Organization

 

 

 

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage organization system

I put the process on Snapchat. Here is a short clip of how it works.


Once the hooks were up he was happy to bring his lawn equipment up from the other garage.

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage organization system

All done.

Rubbermaid FastTract Garage organization system

 

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…and because old Money Pit Mistress is so needy, it will be a few days before I can get my bike down without his help. Just think after we put in this system to avoid her door getting nicked and I make a mistake and drop the whole bike on her. That would be some Alanis Morrisette irony there.

Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage organization system

This system is a man’s dream. With Father’s Day coming up this is the perfect gift to give all of the father’s in your life.

Can your garage stand a makeover?

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Zara Maxi Dress
Fashion Mama Style

my new favorite dress

This heat lately. Y’all know I love my plants and lets just say they’ve all burned up, so the sun and I aren’t on particularly good terms right now.

I’m so thankful for the ability to avoid the outdoors at all costs and I have been practicing my right to stay inside during the hottest parts of the day cause, in the words of my husband, ” It’s hot out that doe.”

Zara Maxi Dress

My fashion jam right now are dresses in the shift and maxi variety. I don’t want to look all made up and slay daily, I just want to put a dress over my head, put on a necklace and some shoes and keep it moving.

Zara Maxi Dress

Looking put together is intentional and as simple as a dress, a necklace, and some shoes. That’s it.

Last summer my Gap dress came through. I wore the you know what out of that dress and it has been placed in the dresser with the rest of the well loved clothing items that have reduced themselves to house wear.

Needed a new one.

Zara Maxi Dress

This $22.90 special at Zara is my new love. Light, flowy and everything that is put on and go. I got this in Austin, and have been meaning to get downtown and pick it up in all of the colors.

But again, HEAT.  So I’ll just keep washing and wearing this one. Last night trying to eat and drive I spilled polynesian sauce all down the front of it. I hope it comes out.

The wine I spilled on it here came out. Fingers crossed. You have to follow me on Snapchat at UnlikelyMartha to get all of the good stuff as it goes down.

What’s your go style in the heat?

 

Feature Living travel

Magnolia Market + Waco | my trip and before you go tips

I’ve been meaning to write this post for some time. As I sit watching another marathon of Fixer Upper I suppose it is a sign that I need to get this post up.

In April I went to visit my bestie in Austin and being a huge Fixer Upper fan there was no one way I was going to be one hour from Waco and not make the trek to Magnolia Market. I’m an unapologetic member of the #GainesSquad, not so much for the work they do but mostly because they just seem to be some good folks that you would totally want to be real life friends with. I mean my husband even watches without fishing for the remote. From their family and faith focus, to following their dream of taking the Silos from a mere dream to reality in one hour show segments on HGTV, I have been extremely inspired to say the least.

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

My dreams of happening upon a glance of them was dashed when I learned the same weekend I was there they were in High Point, NC revealing their new furniture line.

On to the good stuff.

Pulling up I was totally in fan mode and I had done some research prior to getting there but my experience was much different from others I had read about. If you are planning to visit do your research and get different perspectives if you are into these things.

Magnolia Market

Magnolia Market

I had read people say it took them nearly an hour to just get in the doors, and they had to pay to park. Due to the threat of bad weather, I suppose some people didn’t show up that Saturday because we were able to walk right in, at noon I might add, and find a free parking space on the street.

Walked. Right. In. Favor and the threat of bad weather isn’t always fair. I said that to say prepare to have a wait, I think we got lucky.

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

The space is overwhelming when you first walk in. Just imagine wanting to see ALL of the things but not knowing where to start. There will be lots of people so pack your patience, and it helps if you do some research ahead of time to have an idea of what you want if you plan to purchase items.

The items were well priced in my opinion. I kind of thought the items would be handmade, one of a kind items. Instead a lot of the things there you could easily find at Hobby Lobby and you could use the coupon and get it for much cheaper but if you want bragging rights….have at it.

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

The space isn’t especially large, especially the store part but the barn was huge. Most of the items were laid out against the walls leaving the open space available for moving around.

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

Most of the items are also available on line so I didn’t buy anything big because shipping would’ve been about the same online rather than dealing with the aggravation of having to ship it separately because I flew. If you are driving and can transport by car you will be better off purchasing in store.

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

It is an entire experience, especially for families. There is a huge lawn with games and lawn chairs and it was hilarious to see the men laid out as if they were hanging outside of a large dressing room waiting on their ladies to finish shopping.

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

After finishing up at the Silos we ventured into Waco and had some wine and perused a few antique stores. One particular spot we ventured to called Spice, was great. It was a lot of small independently owned shops in one space. Quietly they had some of the same items that were being sold at Magnolia Market for a little cheaper. It is only about a block away.

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

Here are some of the items offered at Spice

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

With a quick search we discovered we were only about 3 miles from Harp & Co. If not familiar this is the wood shop that creates many of the handmade furniture items featured on Fixer Upper. I just love that Joanna brought Clint with her. Wasn’t expecting a whole shop but he has his own little shop that has just a few parking spaces but we were able to get one and go in and take a look.

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

 

Magnolia Market

Looks like he still makes furniture here?

Magnolia Market

I just love this whole story of a small dream being broadcast on a big screen. I’m glad I was able to see it with my own eyes. Waco is the cutest little city, and  if you are a fan I think Magnolia Market is something to see if you are in the area. If you are a distance away I would say make a trip of it, visiting some of the larger cities nearby like Austin, Houston or San Antonio to get the most bang for your buck and time.

Here are my tips outlined

  • Be prepared to wait outside
  • While there are food trucks on the property there are other locally owned small restaurants within a mile or so in downtown Waco in the event food trucks aren’t your jam
  • It is likely it will not take a full day to visit the Silos. There is also a Dr. Pepper museum a few blocks away that I didn’t know about. Do your research you may be able to fit in a number of cultural activities during your visit.
  • Parking is difficult. Be prepared to pay to park at some of the smaller lots that are available. The cheapest I saw was $10
  • There was no rhyme or reason to the pricing. I picked up things I thought would be expensive but was cheaper than I expected and vice versa. Unless you are driving, if it can’t fit in your suitcase you will be better off purchasing online.
  • Sign up for their newsletter and you will get a 10% coupon. I forgot to use mine *womp*
  • THEY ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAY

I think I covered everything, but I’m sure something got left off. If you have any questions please leave them and I’ll be sure to answer them.

Are you a Fixer Upper fan?!