The five best items to shop at HomeGoods

OK, can I just tell you how excited I am for fall? I am SO sad to see this summer end because we had such a great one -- but I will not miss the heat. Our temps are supposed to be in the 70's and low 80's for the next two weeks (and rainy, I love it!) and I couldn't be happier. I know many of you haven't started school just yet but once it does here I'm READY for apples and crisp air and big sweaters. 

Even though I miss our boy during the day I do love getting back on a schedule and having some "me" time again. One of my favorite things to do that I rarely get to do all summer is walk through HomeGoods or TJ Maxx. I can do it in the summer but don't often because there's usually a precious nine-year-old begging to know when we can leave. :) 

So at some point during the first couple weeks of school I'll take my first "fall" trip to HG and it's like I'm discovering a whole new wondrous place. (They'll start bringing in fall decor now too, if they haven't already.) 

To celebrate my return to shopping I thought I'd share my five favorite items I shop for at the HG. Their stores are packed with goodies but these are my favorite basics that are always affordably priced. This is not a sponsored post, I just love this place -- every time you go there will be something different. I LOVE this when decorating my home because it feels like I'm finding something a little more unique than what you'd find in most stores. 

First up -- if you haven't been the HomeGoods lamp section you need. to. get. there. The selection is crazy good. And the prices are usually great, especially considering the lamp shade is included: 

As you can see they have everything from modern to traditional to coastal to industrial. I have not found a better selection of lamps anywhere. I also love that they have most of them plugged in with light bulbs so you can see how the shades look lit up.

Some of my very favorite lamps are from HomeGoods. I get asked about these green beauties most of all:

DIY framed mirror

I found them years ago and their traditional shape and color have continued to work in our family room all this time. 

Another HG favorite of mine are their frames. Again, the selection is extensive and I always find something unique: 

You've got wood, pretty, funky and just plain cute. I love that they have frames that are more sophisticated and some that are more fun for kids spaces. 

I love to mix and match the color and wood frames together: 

built in half wall bookcase

(Um, that lamp and storage box are from there as well.) 

They also have a great selection of larger wall frames that are perfect for gallery walls:

I'll usually grab one of the basic white frames (like the upper left) for the house just because I know they'll work anywhere. 

The frames and lamps are great at HomeGoods but I consider the jackpot to be the pillow section. It is the BOMB. Again, I've never found a selection like this anywhere else. You could spend a good 20 minutes just checking out the pillows: 

I love to make my own pillows but their options rival the fabric store options I have. 

They usually have every color in the rainbow, from large to small: 

Most of their pillows come with feather inserts which is a huge bonus. A feather insert alone costs nearly as much as some of the pillows. (Unless you get them at IKEA!)

I've found some of my favorite throw pillows in our home there -- I get asked about these blue beauties in our living room a lot:

Ohhh, how I love the pillows! But the baskets are a close second. I'm a little basket obsessed, for real. I have a problem. I want to buy one every single time I walk in. I use them for all kinds of stuff: 

They have every shape and size you can imagine. Sometimes in different colors too. They also carry some super cute canvas bins and containers too: 

Those are great for toys, stuffed animals, laundry or throw blankets -- anything you want easy access to and may want to more around. 

I also put nearly all of our bigger plants in baskets and use them for all of the above throughout the house:

dining room turned library

I seriously can't get enough of them. I love the warmth that baskets bring to a space. 

Last but not least, one more of my favorite HomeGoods finds -- the cutting boards: 

If you are a fan of the farmhouse look you need to check these out. They have sizes and shapes that rival any (much more expensive) vintage boards: 

I have them all over our kitchen -- most I use, like the one next to the sink for chopping: 

But some I use for decoration (although I've used them plenty): 

how to build a wood vent cover

They carry some truly beautiful wood boards -- some are really thick and more heavy duty too. I think adding wood in your kitchen brings in some warmth as well. 

There you go! Those are my five of most favorite items at HomeGoods. Remember TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods are all owned by the same company (and HomeSense in Canada) so each store will have decent selection of each of these -- but all will have a different products. 

Do you love these items too? Are there any favorites I missed that you love there? 

Check out my other shopping posts, like my favorite lamps from Target: 

And my five IKEA favorites as well!: 

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Spring clean with a FREE Mrs. Meyer's set (in their beautiful spring scents!)

Hello my friends! I'm SO very excited about this gift for you all and the weather lately -- even if it's been a little rainy around here, SPRING HAS ARRIVED. I was driving today and found myself smiling because the trees are starting to turn shades of green, white and pink here in Indiana. Spring and fall are the most beautiful seasons in the Midwest. 

For me, the warmer temps make me want to throw open all of the windows and clean the house from top to bottom. I really think I keep our house cleaner this time of year -- I just feel like keeping the house fresh and organized more than any other season. 

If you're feeling the same I'm excited to share this gift with you. Because...Mrs. Meyer's products. We all love them, right? They can be hard to find, especially the most sought after scents. I'm not sure anything screams spring more than these: 

I'm so excited about this people! I've been using these for years and other natural products from Grove Collaborative for months now and I love them for so many reasons. The scent of course...if you've ever used the Meyer's products you know. 

I have the BEST ones for you today: 

These are HARD to find, but they have them! Most of you know I'm a sucker for the peony scent, but I gotta tell you, the lilac may beat it out. They are both SO lovely, smell amazing and they WORK too (more on that in a bit). 

Right now if you sign up with Grove and place your first order of $20 you'll get this awesome Mrs. Meyer's gift set for free. Here are the gifts you'll receive with your first order:

Mrs. Meyers Spring Seasonal Hand Soap

Mrs. Meyers Spring Seasonal Dish Soap 

Mrs. Meyers Spring Seasonal Multi-Surface Spray

A two pack of Grove Walnut Scrubber Sponges

(PLUS free shipping and a free VIP trial.)

*Get your free set now by signing up for Grove*

You can pick your free set in the lilac or peony scents. The overall value of this gift is $30 and this offer is available for new customers only with a $20 purchase. Click here to get your free gift. If you are an existing costumer, we have something for you too. ;) Just go here to get a free hand soap. 

Grove Collaborative doesn't just sell Meyer's products. They sell a ton of natural items for cleaning, personal care and the home. Here are some of my recent favorites: 

Essential Oils 

I use and love oils anyway but the Grove prices are amazing. I have purchased eucalyptus (great for stuffy noses), lavender (wonderful to diffuse while sleeping) and grapefruit from them so far. The grapefruit and lavender smell absolutely lovely together: 

Natural Soy Candle 

Their vanilla and sandalwood candle is AMAZING. It fills our whole main level with the soft scent. I love that it's soy and it's just plain cute: 

Full Circle Mini Brush Set

I've purchased a few cleaning brushes from Grove but this is one of my favorites. It's adorable, I KNOW. But it's perfect for getting small messes off the kitchen surfaces (and not on the floor). I also use it to wipe everything right off the counter into the sink: 

Bubble Up Dish Brush

This is another one I love because it just looks so good (love the wood handle) and works so well. I love it for our bacon griddle we use in the oven. It scrubs all of that yumminess off and stays clean and stink-free afterwards: 

Squeeze Cellulose Sponge Clothes

I'm now obsessed with these and use them everyday. These are on my reorder list for sure. We use half the paper towels with these around. You just get them wet and they clean up great -- you can scrub with them too: 

Mrs. Meyer's Cream Cleaner

OK this is the BOMB. Do you have a black cooktop that you can't get super clean? I'd clean and wind up with smudges every time. It drove me crazy. I even looked online for a solution and nothing worked. Until this. 😍😍Look how shiny! It works: 

Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Spray

I've used this stuff forever now. It works on anything. If I have a tough spot I'll spray it, walk away for a few minutes and then when I come back it wipes away. Love it and the scent...you can't beat it. Your whole house will smell like spring: 

I prefer the cleaning supplies but as I mentioned, they have tons of personal care items as well. I have their hand lotion and it is lovely. If you participate in the free gift, you'll get a free VIP trial. VIPs never pay for shipping and get free products five times a year.  

This is what I LOVE about Grove: 

1. Natural products at a great price. Simple as that. Over the past few years I've gone to more natural cleaning products and we all know they can be more expensive. It's hard to beat their prices. 

2. They make everything SO easy. 

• Your favorites will come on a regular schedule.
• Your personal Grove "guide" is assigned to you will offer suggestions or you can pick what you want. They email to check in before anything is sent. 
• It's super easy to cancel any shipment, just email them back to let them know.
• You can even text your guide! Tell them you want to add or delete something your order and they can give advice about the products. I LOVE this. 

3. The packaging. One thing that drives me BATTY about most shipments is the crazy amount of space wasted. Either the box is entirely too big or they ship one thing at a time instead of combining. My items came packed super tight (and thoughtfully) and there was no wasted space. They also secure all cleaning supplies with tape so there are no spills in transit. 

4. It's easy to opt out. You can choose not to receive any items at any given month and you can cancel anytime. AND it's easy to do so. Just email them.  

5. They offer a price match for VIPs. If you see any of the items cheaper (I doubt you will), they'll refund the difference!

If you are interested, click the image below and they'll ask you a few quick questions to help tailor your order. Your cart will auto-fill with $20 worth of products but you can change them out to whatever you desire! And you'll get your free Mrs. Meyer's products in the process. This offer is only good till April 3rd! 

I love this company and their products and am excited to share it with you. Have you used Grove yet? What Mrs. Meyer's scent is your favorite? I have always been a sucker for peony (it's so hard to find too), but I think lilac has taken over. :) 

As of now Grove does not ship to Canada, Alaska or Hawaii. 

I am a Grove Collaborative affiliate. (And I only share brands I use and love.) 

Our new sofa in the living room!

Well hello! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! Ours was mostly very low key, other than some basketball. JUST the way I like it. :)

I'm SO excited to share our latest furniture purchase with you! We don't buy many larger pieces anymore -- what we have I love (for the most part) and have right where it works. Our floor plan doesn't allow for moving stuff around much so when I find a good spot for something it stays. Foreverrrrrr.

It was fun to add a little something new again! You may remember the slipcovered sofa we picked up a couple years ago for our living room:

I took a chance and moved things around in here back then and LOVED how it came together. It completely transformed the room.

You won't even believe where that sofa is from either. I'll give you a second to go look at the transformation of that room and the resources here. I'll wait. ;) 

OK so we really do like that sofa a lot. It was really inexpensive but plenty comfy. Many ask if it's the Ektorp from IKEA and it does look similar -- but I find it to be way comfier. (I think I'm the only person on Earth who doesn't care for the IKEA sofas.) 😬

But two things happened. I have to say, I'm not a "fancy room" kind of person. I want every room to be used and I don't want to worry about any of our furniture getting use. But I did find myself wanting something just a little bit fancier in here. Just a bit. 

AND our plan for the completed loft called for a sofa. That was the one thing missing when I finished it up last August. Since then we've found we really want to have a spot to sit and relax up there other than on the window seat or at the desk. 

SOOOO. I've been looking for the past few months at various places. Mostly online and HomeGoods. Although we did buy the slipcovered sofa online, I usually shy away from that. I need to sit on it in real life to see how it feels. One evening in December we were running around and I saw a new store called Urban Underpriced. I think they're just local (for you Indy folks, they are in the old Pier 1 store at Castleton). 

Anyway, I saw a sofa I loved and decided when the budget allowed I would go back to see if it was still there. I had to wait a little over a month and it was still there...but I found another one I liked even better. :) The original price was $799 but they were having a sale and I got it for $550! Considering our slipcovered sofa was only $50 cheaper, that's pretty incredible for the quality: 

There's a close up of the fabric. I LOVE it. It's very soft and I love the color so so much. As you know, we have many animals in this house and the dog has already found his new perch on the back of this one. They told me I can clean it myself with a mild soap if needed. 

(I will share the brand name of the sofa at the very bottom of the post with some other details, so check that out if you are interested!)

We don't use this sofa EVERY day so it doesn't get nearly as much use as our family room one. But man...it is SO comfy. I love it!! It's way deeper than the other one: 

(Coffee table makeover)

It actually measures just a couple inches shorter in length...but it looks so much bigger because of the depth. This size works so much better in here with the tall ceilings. 

I swear it's the size of a twin bed: 

(Free botanical prints)

We like our naps in this family (well, at least the adults) so comfy couches are very important around here. The first day we had it my husband took one and when he woke up he said "I LOVE the new couch." 

Nap approved. :) 

I am in love with the more modern feel -- I've determined over the years that I don't like big arms on sofas or chairs. I'm all about using as much space in a room as possible and they take up too much of it. I regret getting one with such big arms for our family room. But these are perfect: 

(DIY craftsman window trim)

And I like the more modern feel mixed with our traditional pieces. I am switching out the coffee table and when I do I'll show you (and explain why). Maybe even this week if all goes well. 

The old sofa is upstairs in the loft now and it's awesome to have one up there! This coffee table will go up too. We've lived in our home for almost 13 years and just in the past year I'm starting to feel like the rooms are filled just right. It takes time my friends! 

Now...the important question. It's all about the pillows -- I actually quite love the ones they sent with the sofa, which is very rare. Usually I don't use whatever comes with the couch. But when I put my old blue ones on there I think they look lovely on it too: 

(Blue dresser paint color)

Here's a rare aerial shot for you -- I love this angle! Here are the original pillows: 

And the new ones:  

I like them both for different reasons. As much as I love the new ones I'm leaning towards the original ones. The new pillows look really good up in our loft on the old sofa too! I'll let you know what I decide. Because these are the deep things that matter in life. ;)

I hope to share the coffee table change up soon!

P.S. The brand name of this sofa is Fusion and again, our store is called Urban Underpriced. (VERY cool store with great accessories, but they are expensive in relation to the furniture.) I found Fusion online and it looks like they have reps you can contact to find out a local store. Our sofa color is called Grassroots if that is what you are interested in and they had a loveseat that matched. It is 83 inches long by 41 deep. :)

OH and we've had the new rug since last year and I got it at HomeGoods. Our dog ruined the old one. :(

So I never have to leave my house again...

So I've been wanting to tell you about this little gadget for a while now, but really wanted to see how it worked before doing so. I freaking LOVE it...so it's time. :) 

I discovered the Amazon Dash buttons last year on Prime Day. I had no idea what they were but they kept popping up as I shopped so I did some research. They were super cheap that day (I think a buck each?) so I put a few in my order and decided to try them out. 

Well...as I said, I LOVE THEM. I've found the older I get the less I like to leave our house. I mean, I'm no hermit...we're out nearly every evening for activities and love to go out with friends. BUT...when it comes to running out to the store to grab that one thing we need, we'd rather just stay home. Annnnd now we can. ;) 

We got a few of the buttons and there are a couple we use quite often. I'll show you how to use them here -- it's kind of amazing. We keep a couple in our laundry room cabinet:

(DIY floating shelves tutorial)

No, those cabinets still aren't painted. Someday. 

We keep our Downy and Gain buttons in here -- they come with a sticky back so you can hang or place them just about anywhere: 

When you notice you're running low on whatever the product is...you just push the button. It will flash with a white light (the Downy button on the left) and then when the order is completed, it will flash green (the right):

And then in a day or two your products arrives at your door. That's it! 

I mean. Come on! It truly felt like the Jetson's when we first tried it...I just think it's awesome. 

I love ordering online because I know I spend less. We've even started ordering groceries online occasionally because I can sit with my shopping/recipe list and I only order what we need. No impulse buys. 

Same goes for these items, that I would run into Target for and then just happen to stop in the dollar section "real quick" and then forget why I even went in and come out an hour later with a cart full of other stuff. I hear that's how it goes for some anyway...

My favorite button is the one for toilet paper that we keep in our master linen closet. Down to just a couple rolls? Hit the button and voila! TP to your door: 

A few things to consider: 

- When you get the button you need to set it up for the item/size you'll want to be shipped each time. It comes with instructions and it took just a few minutes for us to set up each one. After that you just push it and you're done. There's actually a Kindle book that tells you all you need to know for these buttons now! It has excellent reviews so there may be info in there I don't know about these little jobbies. 

- As far as I know, you can only set it up to order one thing with one button. So if you use Downy fabric softener and the pellets, you can only use your button for one item. I am pretty sure anyway, I could be wrong. 

- Because I kind of hate how Amazon uses so much packaging for small items, I try to coordinate our smaller purchases with other orders.

- You have to have Amazon Prime to use them. 

- I could have sworn the buttons used to be $3 but now they're $5. But I truly believe we save over time by not running out to grab a few items. Be sure to watch for promotions -- I'm sure they'll do something special for prime day again this year. 

We use the Downy button, Ziploc, Gain button and my favorite, the Cottonelle, but they don't seem to have that one right now. (They do have Charmin!). 

They have a TON of buttons -- it's kind of fun to look through the list. Everything from paper towels to dog food, diapers, trash bags and food products (for those of you with toddlers, Goldfish crackers have one!). They even have a Nerf button! 😂 (Just don't tell our son!) 

Have you tried these little gadgets? We love them in our house and are always considering more. I'm all about anything that lets me stay in my pajama pants a little longer every some days. 

Have a great weekend my friends! 

Affiliate links included for your convenience! 

Where to buy Magnolia Homes farmhouse style for way less!

Hey all and welcome to the weekend! I saw this week that Pier 1 is now selling Magnolia Home rugs and pillows, and they are all gorgeous. And very expensive. 😳 Believe me, I'm all for splurges. But the cheapest pillow I found was $70 and most are closer to $100 each. Yowza. 

I can't help you with their rugs and pillows but I can help with the Fixer Upper style for a whole lot less! I showed you their less expensive line of furniture and decor and where to get it last year. 

They also carry a bunch of beautiful accessories at a good price point at these stores: 

I found some items I loved there and want to go back to see if they have anything new.

You can find the same look for even less if you know where to get it! Hobby Lobby has a new aisle in the store and if you love this style you'll want to check it out. 

This cotton wreath is a good size and is $50:

BUT this stuff is half off all the time. So you'll pay $25. (They also have the stems at a great price.)

I love the cow and large farmhouse prints: 

Check below to see where to find a bigger half windmill for a great price! 

By the way, I LOVE those cute "hi" signs -- just can't figure out where to put one. :)

This aisle was cleaned out the day I went by to take photos, but they still had a lot of great stuff -- it's popular! This distressed cake stand was pretty -- it could be used so many different ways: 

I loved this large glass demijohn as well -- the vintage versions are SO expensive:

One of my favorites from that aisle were the tobacco baskets they are carrying now. From what I've heard from employees they are flying off the shelves. I was able to pick up one a few weeks ago and it was the next to last one -- and they had gotten a new shipment hours earlier that day. 

I LOVE it -- it looks lovely on our fireplace: 

I got it half off, so it was only $9. NINE bucks! Awesome. 

Target is rocking the farmhouse look lately too. I adore this table I found online: 

It's called the Harvester dining table and is on sale right now for something like $350! Gah. Love it. 

I've been eyeing these terracotta hangings planters there for months and months: 

I love hanging stuff but never know where I'd put it! I just love those so much. They have the normal terracotta color as well. 

These wire cloches scream farmhouse style and are on clearance right now! (I found these on an end cap.): 

I found a bunch of farmhouse decor in their outdoor aisle -- they always have the best stuff you can easily use inside. Olive buckets are another one that can be crazy expensive when you buy vintage: 

I keep eyeing these wood birds too -- I just think they're adorable. 

And if you love the look of bread bowls but can't find one, Target has a few versions in their outdoor section: 

If you plan to use them for decor, you could stain them to darken the wood tone. 

I was most excited about these metal wall planters I found in that area a few weeks ago: 

They're the Threshold galvanized wall planter and the last time I went to find them they were gone. And they're gone at most of the stores nearby. 

I'm guessing it's because of this?:

;) These versions are smaller than those you see in the beginning of every Fixer Upper, but they are only something like $9 each. This is another one I want to find a place for...but I waited and now I can't find them. 

If you don't have a Target or Hob Lob, you can look online! I loved the following I found on Amazon. This farmhouse sign is smaller but it's metal and very inexpensive: 

Joanna loves her windmills and this one is nearly three feet wide and only $20:

And these enamel canisters are perfect for a farmhouse kitchen and are less than $20: 

If you look around you can find that Magnolia look for way less. I've heard Kirklands is now carrying a farmhouse line as well but I don't have a store nearby so haven't seen them.

Do you have a favorite spot for farmhouse-inspired decor? I like to use some of this style because they easily fit in with most decor. They add some whimsy and warmth to a house!