August is in full swing and our new rental is feeling more like our home just in time to resume our enjoyment of summer during its dwindling days.

We got these Expedit shelves from Ikea for the playroom. I can't tell you how long I've wished for storage like this to organize all their toys. It's a huge improvement to have things sorted and put away. I'm very happy with it. The big square drawers on the bottom are from Target and the baskets are from the dollar store.

PLAYROOM BEFORE:


AFTER:





I worked on the yard a bunch last weekend. My husband bought me pruning shears that came in handy pruning our roses. So satisfying and addictive to work in the yard. I liked it as much as my husband liked mowing the lawn!

We really needed a rug to go underneath our kitchen table, because it sits right on brand new fancy carpet that we didn't want to ruin. Ikea helped us out there too, for a very reasonable price given the size of the rug. Rugs are not cheap!
BEFORE:


AFTER:


We are very close to ordering actual bedroom furniture for the girls! I'm thinking we're going to go with Macy's, as they have the furniture I'm liking the most after having perused all the other stores like Costco, J.C. Penny, L.L.Bean, Land of Nod and Pottery Barn. It's between the Summer Breeze Scroll Top Bed and the Summer Breeze Sleigh Bed. The girls are fans of both. Which one would you pick?

Yesterday it actually rained for the first time all summer! We stood on our covered deck in the dark listening to the rain. It smelled like the spearmint and lavender that grew at our feet. Next week I will register Julia for first grade at her new school! She hopes she gets a teacher, "as sweet as Miss Honey." (She's been listening to Matilda).