Cottage Keeping #38

Cottage Keeping is my weekly post where I talk about my week and share my favorite DIYs, home decor, recipes, and other great posts from around the web.

I realize this is not getting published on a Saturday morning! We had company in town most of last week and are just now getting caught up and back into any sort of groove. So please forgive me for posting this on a Monday, instead of Saturday! It’s my blog so I guess I can do what I want to do, right? LOL!

The Cottage Keeper’s Thoughts:

Today we observe Memorial Day in the US. We are reminded today that many have given their last breath in defense of the freedoms we enjoy every day. They’ve also given their lives in hopes of securing freedom and peace for oppressed people groups all around the world. Let us never forget that our freedom comes with a great price.

School’s Out For Summer! Do you hear Alice Cooper singing in your head? I have never ever been more glad for a school year to be over than this one. The spring has been absolutely chaotic and each week we’ve simply lived in survival mode. Now we can finally relax, sort of! I’m looking forward to the slower pace of summer.

Bailey is officially a High School graduate! We are so proud of him and the perseverance he has shown over the last 4 years, really the last 13 years. We are super excited about his future as a collegiate runner at Milligan University. He’s only just begun!

*This post contains affiliate links. Any purchase you make through my links allows me to earn a small commission at no additional expense to you.

The master bedroom is as “finished” as it’s going to get for now. The project that seemed like it would drag on forever is done, as far as I’m concerned. I probably should go back and caulk the trim pieces we put in, but that can wait! I still love opening the door and seeing it all decorated, painted, and clean. What’s even more interesting is that the kids come to hang out there more now than they ever did with the old setup. A new post is coming this week, I promise! To get caught up, you can go to THIS post to see where we left off!

Like it or not, swim season is here! After spending 3 summers in Auburn without access to a pool, we finally have a neighborhood pool again. That means momma’s gotta dawn a swimsuit at some point. Unfortunately, this momma has done lots of stress eating over the past 2 years and doesn’t even own a swimsuit that fits so I sucked it up and ordered a couple of these J. Crew Swim Dresses to try. I’ll let you know if they’re winners or not. Don’t hold your breath for phot evidence, though!

What the Cottage Keeper is Loving:

We’re hosting a college small group at our house a few times this summer. I’m looking for more interesting salty snacks to offer them. This Ranch Chex Mix looks like a great option!

I’m totally in love with this half-bath makeover my friend Missy at Sonata Home Design just finished. This green and white wallpaper is amazing!

Yesterday’s sermon at Auburn Community Church was so challenging and convicting. Take a watch/listen HERE.

My mom and aunt were our first overnight guests at this house. They offered a few suggestions on things that were necessary to add to the guest room for the next person who stayed. I guess I should’ve read this Top Items For Your Guest Room post before they got here.

And since it’s summertime, the kids are going to expect more from their lunches than what they were throwing in their lunch boxes. Here are a few summer lunch ideas to get your creative juice flowing.

Enjoy your Memorial Day! Be sure to pause and remember the real reason we set this day aside on the calendar!