There’s something for everyone on my list this month — from power tools to bath salts… and the must-see documentary for anyone with school-age children!
Over the past month, we’ve made some massive changes to our backyard.
The 2 most noticeable are a new pool and a large concrete patio (both happened on the exact same day — it was pure chaos!)
I’d love to share beautiful pictures of our peaceful backyard oasis… but the truth is, it’s still really torn up and basically a complete mess right now.
Landscaping is coming in another week. Then we can fix some sprinkler issues and reseed large portions of our yard that were torn up during this process.
We’re still not sure when the deck around the pool will happen due to lumber shortages…
Our goal is to have everything finished by next May so we can open our pool for the summer. I’ll share pretty pictures then!
In the meantime, I want to show you one of my most favorite things about this entire project… the kids’ handprints in our new concrete!
The concrete guys worked so much faster than I anticipated; I was worried the cement would be too firm by the time the kids got home from school (and it almost was).
They ran over from the bus stop and I had to use both my hands to press down on their little hands in order to make a visible impression… but we got it, and I LOVE it!
Have you done anything like this at your house?
Below I’ve shared a few more of my favorites for this month!
NOTE: This content is not sponsored.
Power Washer
Every spring and every fall, we break out our trusty power washer and put it to work for a weekend or two.
We power wash everything from our house and deck to our concrete walkways and patio furniture. You name it, I’ve probably power washed it! Even outdoor fabric cushions and rugs.
It’s amazing how “brand new” things look after a good spray with the power washer.
We purchased our power washer from my parents’ neighbor (several years ago) so I can’t find our exact one online right now, but this one is pretty close in terms of motor power and other features.
Personally, I’d recommend buying a gas-powered unit (versus electric). They are more expensive up-front, but also much more powerful AND you don’t need to drag a cord around with you.
Also, we never use soap or any other type of cleaner — just water.
Aside from getting it started (which is always a little tricky for me), using the power washer is super easy — even our kids can “help out” when they want to!
If you aren’t ready to make a purchase yet, you might consider renting one from a local home store — try it out for a day and you’ll be hooked!
Childhood 2.0 Documentary
A few years ago, Protect Young Eyes gave a presentation at our church regarding raising children in the era of smartphones, social media, the internet, etc.
At the time, our kids were all really young so I didn’t actually attend the event, but I signed up for their email list.
Since then, I’ve read much of their content and acquired so much valuable information regarding raising children in this highly digital age.
Recently, they shared a new documentary, Childhood 2.0, specifically addressing the mental and phycological side effects of obsessively using social media (both for children AND adults).
Spoiler alert — it’s NOT good!
I was initially interested in the documentary because I personally chose to scale back on my own social media usage in June. And after watching this documentary, I’m completely convinced I made the right decision.
Dave and I are the very first generation of parents who had smartphones and social media before having kids (we got our first smartphones within months of having our first baby).
We can vividly remember life without a constant online presence… in fact, we didn’t even have home internet for the first 3 years of our marriage!
And now, we totally understand the “addictive pull” it can have on us.
If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews; or if you have any influence over or interaction with youth, I highly recommend visiting the Childhood 2.0 website and watching the Childhood 2.0 documentary on YouTube.
It’s very well done and extremely eye-opening.
You can also sign up for their email list, download a free discussion guide, and join in with a community of like-minded parents for support. Head to their website for all that information.
Wahl Cordless Hair Trimmer
Believe it or not, I’m the only one in our family who has ever paid for a “professional” hair cut — all other haircuts are given by me (definitely not professional, but I get the job done).
I figure I save at least $450 each year by cutting my family’s hair at home ($10 per month for the 3 guys and $20 every 6 months for the 2 girls + tips)
So far, they all seem happy with my abilities, and they much prefer a quick trim in the basement or backyard versus waiting at a salon and then making awkward small talk during the haircut.
I often get asked what trimmer I use for the boys’ hair — and since I really do love it, I figured I should officially add it to my list of favorites!
We use the Wahl Cordless Trimmer — and I highly recommend it.
The different “guards” snap on and off in seconds, the battery life is excellent, and the blades seem to provide a nice even trim.
Plus, it comes in a handy storage bag, so it’s easy to grab-and-go when it’s time for haircuts.
All that for less than $30 = pretty darn good!
Of course, I’ve never tried a professional trimmer, so I’m only comparing this to other basic trimmers we’ve had in the past.
That said, the Wahl trimmer does a great job for the price and it’s perfect for any at-home hair trimming needs!
The only thing not included in this set is a cape — this is the cape we use.
Also, if you don’t know how to cut hair, just look up YouTube videos for certain hairstyles. You’ll most likely find exactly what you need!
Behr Frost White Paint
Several years ago, I shared my Favorite Farmhouse paint colors.
Since then, I’ve painted SO many more walls, ceilings, doors, windows, furniture, etc. In fact, I’ve painted many of the rooms in our home for the second time!
A few years back, I fell in love with the color “Frost” by Behr.
Yes, it’s another shade of white. 😉
And while I’m not an interior designer, I personally feel that Frost goes with EVERYTHING. It’s a cooler shade, but it pairs so well with my red, white, and blue decor… and it looks great in every season and with any lighting.
I’ve repainted our entire upstairs Frost, as well as the mudroom, our bedroom, the half bath, and our outbuilding.
I literally buy it in 5-gallon buckets now!
If you’re looking for a really good white… try Frost from the Behr line at Home Depot!
Oh, and I use Behr Ultra Pure White for all our doors, windows, and other trim.
Bend Soap’s New Fall Scent
I got my most recent shipment of Bend Soap products a few weeks ago, including their new scent for fall — Almond Delight.
It smells heavenly!
As with all their products, this scent is made by infusing goat’s milk with natural and organic almond scent. Just a few all-natural ingredients in each product — which I love!
Our family has used Bend Soap products exclusively for just over a year now, and (speaking for myself) my skin has never felt so soft.
Of course, I love that we’re supporting a made-in-the-USA, family-run business… but the real benefit is treating our skin (and hair and hands and feet) to these lovely all-natural products.
If you’re planning ahead, the Bend Soap Bundles make wonderful clutter-free holiday gifts (perfect for the person on your list who doesn’t need anything), and the unscented collection is great for babies or anyone with allergies or extremely sensitive skin.
Use code AD10 to save 10% on your order!
My favorite for anyone just starting out with Bend is the Starter Set — it’s just a little sampling of everything!
And if you’re looking for a new product to add to your collection this Fall, I’d suggest the Almond Delight sugar scrub… yum!
That’s all for me this month.
View my previous months’ favorite things — and please share some of YOUR favorite things in the comments below!
Carolyn says
My husband has a gas powered pressure washer, he uses it to clean farm equipment and other cleaning chores, it has to be at least 20 years old, so they last with proper maintenance. As for seat cushions for deck chairs, I soak them in a galvanized tub with oxyclean. It does a great job getting them clean without damage.
We have been doing haircuts at home for years. We bought a corded set of Wahl Designer clippers, peanut clippers, a couple decent capes, hair clips, wide tooth, sectioning and clipper combs, plus pro grade hair shears. He opted for the better clippers as they run quieter, don’t vibrate as much, and won’t get hot, plus they cut better. He has done hundreds of haircuts with them, so they were worth the extra cost. I take a seat every couple months to have him trim my long hair and my teen boys get their haircuts every three weeks. I figure at $25 per haircut for each boy, plus $100 for mine due to the “long hair extra” charge, I save over $1400 a year, plus time and transportation costs. He is really good at doing the haircuts, I get compliments on my hair and my boys haircuts, when the salons were closed, I had a couple friends visit to hang out/grill on the deck, and both asked hubby for a haircut. I was fine with sharing my stylist with them, and both liked the haircuts they got on the deck. It is great to have a family member that has a knack for cutting hair, it comes in handy.
Karen says
I will have to check out that documentary. I usually stay away from documentaries due to so much misinformation or feelings over facts in them, but I may need this for myself also. I trust your judgment. My youngest is 12 and we have decided that she will not have access to a smart phone while under our roof. We recently purchased a Gabb wireless phone and love it. There is no access to the internet and with this phone you cannot send or receive photos. It looks like a regular smart phone so it still looks cool to carry. lol. I know a few families that just bought one phone and share it among siblings when they are away from home. I am so thankful for this phone.
Andrea says
Yes, I’ve seen plenty of “overly emotional” documentaries in my day — but this one really seemed legit (and not over the top).
Also, thanks for the tip about the Gabb phones — this might be something for us to look into eventually!
Bonnie Grysen says
Andrea
Sorry to hear about James broken arm.Layers for complete healing Boys will be boys….hope he’s doing ok
Fran says
I’m excited to use the bend soap…..btw hope James is feeling better ❤️
Andrea says
Thanks Fran. James got his cast on yesterday (but it’s waterproof so that’s a plus!)
I’m excited for you to try Bend soap!
JJ says
Andrea, I’m so glad you posted the hair trimmer set. We need a new one, and I definitely look forward to it not having a cord–thank you! And the cape!!! I put them both in my cart.
Your post about cutting hair had challenged me to do my kids’ hair. I have always cut my husband’s, but my first child(a boy) had a very different texture of hair than my husband. We had always gone to a kids’ salon, and we paid 17.99 per haircut, plus a nice tip. Three kids later, it was insane how much we were spending. I bought the Original CreaClip set for my daughter’s hair when I decided to try cutting their hair. I can’t cut a straight line to save my life, so this has been a huge help! It has a level in it. Haha! I also had purchased a hair cutting kit for the boys. The amount I spent for all of that was about the same as what I would have normally paid at the salon. Then when the pandemic struck, I was so happy that I had already been cutting their hair. Your tips are always so practical and helpful!!!
Andrea says
oh yay — perfect timing! and yes, I guess I was being conservative on my hair cut cost estimates. Maybe we’re saving closer to $800 per year by cutting it ourselves at home! It all adds up, that’s for sure!
Judy Hooks says
What color are your kitchen/bath cabinets?
I love the white.
Andrea says
Hi Judy,
Our kitchen cabinets are a shade of white (but I don’t know). Our bathroom cabinets are Americana Egg from the Magnolia collection — LOOOOOOOOVE this color too (but not for my walls!)
Ashley says
As we’re shopping for a house, I’m actually really looking forward to having white walls! I’ve never been a white wall type, but I think it’s because when I was growing up it came with sterile environments. I’ve now seen how clean and cozy white walls can be. Your house is a perfect example!
Andrea says
yay for house shopping!
and yes, you can’t TOTALLY cozy up pretty much any white. My house is full of color — just not on the walls or the floor (white/brown). This means I can completely change up the look and feel of the room in an afternoon (which I’ve done MANY of times already). The walls just melt into the background and let my fun accents steal the show!
Tori says
I will take one of each item, please. 🙂 Love the concrete handprints. We have a power washed but it is not strong enough, so we will look into your recommended one. Also, probably stealing the paint idea and color! Blessings to you from this hapless homemaker in Kansas City.
Andrea says
haha — thanks Tori! steel all my paint colors, I don’t mind!
Julie C says
I have been using the same clippers for over a year now (I have had the corded version for several years). I switch back and forth between them, depending on how many heads are getting cut and if I remember to charge it. I have also had professional cutters, not too much difference except in the price. Thank you for the tip about the social media/kids. Thank you for all you share, it is appreciated and enjoyed!
Andrea says
good to know I’m probably not missing out on too much by using an “amateur” clippers! Thanks for your kind words, Julie!
Laura says
Andrea, would you recommend watching the documentary with our kids (pre-teen) or is it just for adults?
Andrea says
Hi Laura, This documentary would DEFINITELY be appropriate for middle and high school students to watch — maybe not for elementary age though. There are multiple interviews and testimonials with/from students as young as 5 and 6 years old all the way through 17 and 18 years old.
That said, I’m sure it couldn’t hurt to watch it yourself first — just to make sure you feel it’s ok for your kiddos.
They do talk about pornography, sex, suicide, and other addictive behaviors… obviously, not in a graphic way, but more giving statistics and facts. However, if your children have no idea what that is, it might not make sense to them.
Ann says
One word of caution about power washing! My husband decided to power wash our patio furniture. The plastic chairs lost their satin smooth finish and are not a rough plastic. And he blew holes right through my cushions and I had to get new ones (which isn’t cheap!) Use caution!
Linda Jean says
Ditto. My husband destroyed the connective fibers holding the fabric together on the chairs on our patio. If the impact had been more dramatic immediately, he likely would have noticed.
We ended up with tiny white threads being shed all season on everyone who sat in them. Replacement planned for the spring.
Ann says
And I meant the plastic chairs are NOW a rough plastic. Not “not”
Michelle says
My daughter was once power washing barefoot and got her toe and hurt it pretty badly. Also…without realizing our screen for the patio door was fiberglass as opposed to metal like the rest…my husband blew a hole through our screen with a power washer a few years back too. I would recommend caution when using as well.
Tiffany S says
Oh, no! I hadn’t heard about James’ arm! My then 3yo broke hus arm last September. It was an adventure for sure. Praying James heals quickly without an issues.
Andrea says
Thanks Tiffany 🙂