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The Weekender: Back to School, Dreaming of Benches + Weekend Sales!

First day of preschool!

This week marked the first back-to-school adventure for us, because Lucy started Pre-K! She rose before the sun and dressed herself (complete with her unicorn hoodie, despite being a 90-degree day), and we rode our tandem bicycle to school drop-off. We took photos on the front porch and at school, both on my phone and with the DSLR and the Instax. I’m that mom, but I remind myself that you only have one ‘first,’ and with Lucy being our only, I tearfully and gleefully hold every ‘first’ so close to my heart.

Evenings, on the other hand, have been tricky. Dinner is a struggle. Bedtime is a struggle. There’s so much newness in our collective lives, and we’re all processing each and every feeling – very vocally, haha. And then I came across this post from @bigcityreaders, and it was just the comfort I needed to hear:

You’ve prepared them wonderfully, and that’s why they feel sale enough to have meltdowns at home.

@bigcityreaders

Sharing this in case it resonates with any of you! How has back-to-school been for your family? Any fun or silly stories you’d like to share? I think we could all use some community as we head into another year of a new normal.

Other Things This Week

Here are several ways to help the people and animals that have been impacted by Hurricane Ida.

Have you watched White Lotus (HBO Max)? We devoured the series in 3 days! The social satire was poignant and delicious. This article is a great deep dive. I’d love to discuss with you in the comments (no spoilers for those who haven’t seen, please!).​​​​​​​

I can’t wait for this!

Both our dining room rug and snug rug are on sale this weekend! (The 8×10 in both styles are over 50% off! Run!)

snug rug | artwork | storage bench

Our front yard landscape planning is in full swing (I’ve been sharing on Stories all week!), and the plans call for a yard full of lush, floofy plants. We’re also adding a garden bench as a sweet little spot for morning coffee, which means I have benches on the brain. There are so many cute benches out there, but the hardest part is nailing down the style! These are the ones that have caught my eye:

1. Dexter, $499 | 2. Polywood backless, $489 | 3. Palissade bench, $395 | 4. Henning, $110 | 5. Nantucket, $249 | 6. Volker, $450 | 7. Artemis, $115 | 8. Kempel, $229 | 9. Polywood loveseat, $396 | 10. Cooper, $599 | 11. Gehlert, $370 | 12. Terrazzo, $1,299

Every single one of these benches would make for wonderful seating in an entryway, too! Right now, my favorites are #10 and #5 (very different!), and I’m putting #12 on the ‘in my dreams’ category. Which one would you choose?

Weekend Sales

Have a Relaxing Weekend

Do you have anything fun lined up for the long weekend? We hope to hit the beach, eat ice cream before dinner and sit by a warm bonfire. Wishing you a relaxing weekend full of everything that fuels you, and nothing that doesn’t. xx

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  • Carrie9.3.21 - 8:12 AM

    Our first day of pre-k drop-off (for our now 2nd grade only!), the teacher said, “They spend a lot of energy keeping it together in this unfamiliar place all day. They WILL melt down the moment they see you in the afternoons.” It was so true. And so helpful to hear. Especially to remember at dinner and bedtime! You’re doing a great job mom and dad!ReplyCancel

    • Kim9.3.21 - 10:19 AM

      This is SUCH a good point. Even thinking back to my first day at a new job, it’s the mist exhausting thing ever. So much newness, so much to learn and explore and so much restraint as you take it all in. Thanks for the reminder.ReplyCancel

  • Caitlin Rose Low9.3.21 - 8:32 AM

    Ohhhhhh Lordy!!!  The bedtime struggles!  We have a 7.5 year old only!  He’s almost always joyful and easy going!!!  But man bedtime hits and suddenly so do alllll the frustrations! Solidarity!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Sabrina9.3.21 - 9:01 AM

    You’ll never regret taking too many pictures! 
    My back-to-school recommendation is to do everything early. Early supper, early bath, early bedtime. Those first days of school are *exhausting* for all parties involved, including the teachers ????????‍♀️. Lots of patience, cuddles, and some extra sleep will go a long ways. She’ll build some stamina quickly!ReplyCancel

    • Kim9.3.21 - 10:18 AM

      Thanks, Sabrina! We can literally feel her buzzing with excitement, from the time she goes to bed to the time she springs up to pick out her clothes. I’m happy to give her extra cuddles!ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer Laura Living9.3.21 - 9:05 AM

    Such a fun age, I hope she loves school! Our youngest is off to pre-k this year too and it’s so bittersweet, happy to have long stretches of uninterrupted work time, but the house feels lonely too! ReplyCancel

  • Amanda9.3.21 - 11:10 AM

    Bed time is a struggle in our house too! Our 3.5 year old will literally kicking and screaming some nights, but is out within minutes of getting into bed. Crazy kiddos!Our one and only is back at school now too, and I am just loving all the stories she tells! They have whole lives and friendships now! It’s a magical age.ReplyCancel

    • Kim9.3.21 - 11:19 AM

      It’s sooooo damn cool seeing them grow up. Soak it in!ReplyCancel

  • Hannah Gokie9.3.21 - 11:20 AM

    That first month (or two!) of school is tiring for everyone — I swore our kindergartener morphed into a monster the first month and then she went back to being her sweet sweet self once her body and mind adjusted and got a little more sleep (early bedtimes for that period really helped). It is such a sweet time!!! Enjoy it!ReplyCancel

    • Scott9.3.21 - 11:44 AM

      Definitely! She’s working hard to adjust, but we’re getting there.ReplyCancel

  • Megan9.3.21 - 11:38 AM

    After many years of back-to-school we have learned that home time in the summer is wonderful, and school time during the year is wonderful, but the transitions are terrible!! Even to summer break!! So now we remind our kids (and each other) that it just takes some time and everyone will be ok. Hang in there!ReplyCancel

    • Scott9.3.21 - 11:44 AM

      Thanks Megan! We’re all hitting our stride after the first week. Fingers crossed!ReplyCancel

  • Rebecca9.3.21 - 5:20 PM

    My almost 3-year-old also has the after school melt downs. I’ve found if I offer to sit and hold her and snuggle on the couch when we get home before we do anything else, she gets most of it out and collects herself. It makes the rest of the evening run a bit smoother. Still, all bets are off for teeth brushing time. I just remind myself she won’t be like this forever and she won’t always fit in my lap either. You are doing a great job to all the parents struggling with back to school or just plain raising tiny humans! ReplyCancel

  • Vickie9.4.21 - 3:55 PM

    Rather than an after school snack, we use to eat dinner right after school. They were starving, it meant they ate dinner rather than snacks. It made the evening go a lot better. Then a snack before bed – yogurt, apple/cheese slices, cheese stick/pretzels, celery/pb, etc. 
    I did very early bedtimes for many years. ReplyCancel

    • Kim9.5.21 - 3:27 PM

      Good call! We’ve been doing the same!ReplyCancel

  • Ali9.5.21 - 12:14 PM

    Ugh, white lotus was SO GOOD. I watched week to week and couldn’t wait for Sunday nights. Jennifer Coolidge and Murray Bartlett were true gems that I could not take my eyes off of. So sad it’s over. ReplyCancel

    • Kim9.5.21 - 3:26 PM

      Aaaah yes!! Connie Britton, too! We still talk about it once a day. The teenagers were my favorite, providing such blunt insight and social commentary. We laughed, our jaws dropped, we had to keep pausing to dissect certain scenes. Absolutely incredible.ReplyCancel

  • Julie9.5.21 - 3:14 PM

    Congrats about preK, and totally understand about the bed time struggle. Our mealtimes are also eventful (our 6 year old is also not a good eater as well!), but they will outgrow it someday. :) We actually have bench number 9 (polywood from target) on its way. We wanted something comfortable, low maintenance and bonus it’s sustainable. Hopefully it’s as nice in person as it looks online!  Excited to see which bench you choose!ReplyCancel

  • Lori9.6.21 - 8:37 AM

    If you plan to actually use the bench for sitting and not just a focal point, definitely get something with a back. It’s a game changer in terms of comfort. I can also personally attest that #9 is super comfortable and durable (so weatherproof!), although it does get hot if it’s in full sun.ReplyCancel

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