How To Make The Most Out of Your Outdoor Patio

The other day, I posted some summer patio ideas on Instagram that were affordable, adorable, and perfect for all outdoor patio needs! It is finally patio season and I could not be more excited about it! Creating a perfect patio is all about making it fun, but more importantly, it is about making it hostess (and guest) friendly. Here are a few ideas on how to make the most out of your outdoor patio:

Make a game plan

Before you run out and buy furniture or plan to extend your patio space, make a game plan. Take a good look at what you are working with and think about your long-term wants and needs. Doing this will really help you get a full picture and it will help you create a “need” and “want” list that you can tackle over time. Once the list is complete, start tackling your “needs” and then get to the want list later on! It doesn’t have to be perfect right away, so take your time.

Add in a garden

Do you have the space and the time to take care of a garden? Adding in a fruit and vegetable garden is an awesome thing to do right now, it will make your patio feel really “homey,” and you will reap the benefits, as well. If you have a little less time, focus on flowers instead. There are some useful (and pretty) flowers, such as lavender, that will really boost the look of your patio, while offering benefits such as natural mosquito control.

Fine tune your patio furniture

Seating is one thing, but a deep seating set, lounge chairs, loungers, or chaise lounges really allow you to stretch out and relax, whether it’s under an umbrella, by a swimming pool, on a deck, or even on the balcony of a high-rise apartment building. If the seating is comfortable, you’re more likely to kick back and spend some time outside, rather than sit down, say, at a patio dining table, eat a grilled burger, then go back inside. While you are at it, how about adding a hammock for some serious relaxation? 

One thing that you do need to consider, though, is 1) how are you getting this furniture to your home and 2) what are you doing with your old furniture? Patio furniture (especially high-quality furniture) is extremely heavy and sometimes, it is just better off letting someone else take over the project. A great example of this is a grill that my friend moved a few years ago. They got the grill free off of Facebook marketplace and it is an amazing grill, but it’s a few hundred pounds heavy. They had to rent a truck and carry it themselves. One of the guys moving it almost lost a toe because it dropped on it, and by the end of it all, it would have just been better (and more affordable) to hire a moving company to deliver the grill to their home. If this sounds like a better option to you, too, then make sure to choose a reputable company such as Our Truck Moving. They have a furniture pick up and drop off service, which is perfect for this scenario, and they also offer all other moving related services, since they are a full service moving company in TX! Don’t stress about moving the heavy furniture and grill(s) yourself. Hire them to take care of it for you.

Consider a screen or windows

Last but not least, consider a screen or windows. If you are not a fan of the heat, or bugs, I highly recommend this! While it might be costly at first, it will save you over time and make your patio much more comfortable for yourself and your guests!

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Gift Guide for the Hostess

Blonde & Caffeinated uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you might help me make a small commission from your purchase. It’s links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!

Do you love to host? I do, it probably brings me the most joy! That has been one of the worst parts of 2020 was not hosting people in our home.

If you have a hostess in your life, these gifts would be perfect! I either own these or WANT them very badly.

Wine Glasses

Norpro Marble Lazy Susan

Pura Smart Home Fragrance Diffuser Set

MASTERTOP Cake Stand

Collapsible Party Tray – I have the bowl version of this and it’s the best!

iBambooMart Cheese Board and Knife Set

Platters and Boards: Beautiful, Casual Spreads for Every Occasion 

Luminarc 10-Piece Tempered Glass Nesting Mixing and Prep Bowl Set

Fox Run Marble Cheese Slicer

Happy shopping!

xoxo Britt

Gift Guide – Stocking Stuffers

Blonde & Caffeinated uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you might help me make a small commission from your purchase. It’s links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!

Were stockings a big deal in your house growing up? We’ve always had huge stockings at my parents house (3ft tall, no joke!). One of my favorite things in college was getting toilet paper and paper towels in my stocking, maybe that will happen this year. Here’s just a few items for your stockings this year.

Gemelli Protective Keychain

E.L.F. Cosmetics Putty Primer Trio

Ello 8pk Plastic Straws

Billie Razor Starter Kit

Portable Phone Charger

Tile Mate

Men’s Striped Holiday Oblong Scarf

Cancelled Plans Single Bells Scented Candle

Happy Shopping!

xoxo Britt

Gift Guide For the Homebody

Blonde & Caffeinated uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you might help me make a small commission from your purchase. It’s links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!

We’ve all been spending more time at home this year so here is a gift guide for those who are still loving it! Here’s a list of the best cozy and comfy gifts for more time at home.

PJ Salvage Plush Robe

Bathtub Caddy

Leopard Pattern Cotton Socks 

Anthropologie Dagny Monogram Mug

Rivet Bubble Textured Lightweight Decorative Fringe Throw Blanket

Capri Blue Volcano Mercury Glass Jar Candle

100 Movies Scratch Off Poster

Invigorate Shower Steamers Gift Set

PJ Set

Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker

Happy shopping!

xoxo Britt

Gift Guide – For Her

Blonde & Caffeinated uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you might help me make a small commission from your purchase. It’s links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!

It’s Thanksgiving week! A time to reflect on while we’re thankful, and some of the best sales of the year! Are you looking for a great gift for your mom, wife, girlfriend or any other woman in your life? Here’s some great options for those awesome ladies!

Simple Modern Classic Insulated Tumbler

Bauble Bar Pisa Pavè Initial Bracelet

Capri Blue Reed Diffuser

UGG Fluffette Slipper

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic® Ribbed Throw Blanket

Kendra Scott Jae Star Choker Necklace

Portable Electric Heating Pad

Handheld Massage Gun

Lexon MINO S Bluetooth® Speaker

In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs

Happy shopping!

xoxo Britt

Gift Guide – Beauty Edition

Blonde & Caffeinated uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you might help me make a small commission from your purchase. It’s links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!

The holiday season is inching closer. I love this season, I’m actually already done Christmas shopping. I’ve been trying to become more of a “beauty expert” this year so this is actually a list of everything on my own personal wishlist.

Makeup Eraser Set

Electric Facial Cleansing Brush

Facial Steamer

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Secrets Set

BEAKEY 5 Pcs Makeup Sponge Set

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks

Olaplex Holiday Hair Fix Set

Living Proof Dry Shampoo

Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer

Happy shopping!

xoxo Britt

Gift Guide – For Your Pet

Blonde & Caffeinated uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you might help me make a small commission from your purchase. It’s links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!

Do you shop for your pet for the holidays? We sure do! Our dog, Bear, usually has just as many gifts as we do under the tree.

Here are some great items for all budgets for your pets – dogs, cats, rabbits and even ferrets!

Portable Pet Water Bottle

Furbo Dog Camera

Pet Grooming Gloves – great for dogs, cats and rabbits

Cat Tunnels for Indoor Cats – can also be used for small dogs, ferrets, and rabbits

Backseat Car Seat Cover

Pet Travel Bag – this is what we bought Bear for Christmas

Calming Dog Bed – we got this for Bear last year and it really does work!

Embark Dog DNA Test

Happy shopping!

xoxo, Britt

Gift Guide – for Him

Blonde & Caffeinated uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you might help me make a small commission from your purchase. It’s links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!

It’s that time of year again and if you’re like me sometimes the men in your life are the hardest to shop for. Here’s just a few things to get started for the guys.

Wrangler Authentics Men’s Long Sleeve Quilted Lined Flannel Shirt

Bluetooth Speaker for the Shower

Pop-up Golf Chipping Net

Digital Tire Pressure Gauge

 Deep Tissue Kneading Electric Back Massager

Bosch Drill and Driver Tool Combo Set

Fizzics FZ403 DraftPour Beer Dispenser

Happy shopping!

xoxo, Britt

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020

Blonde & Caffeinated uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you might help me make a small commission from your purchase. It’s links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!

The NSale is here! This is my first time covering the sale and I am beyond excited! Here’s how it works – if you’re a Nordstrom Card Holder you get to shop according to your tier. I’m an Insider so I can’t shop until August 13, but I’m watching my Wish List closely. You can log into your Nordstrom account to find out your tier. If you don’t have a Nordstrom Card you can shop starting August 19.

Please remember, you don’t have to get everything. Set a budget or item limit. I’m personally looking for tops, shoes, and home and kitchen stuff this year. This sale is GREAT but there will be other sales so don’t get discouraged if something you love sells out.

Here are my top picks from this years sale.

Shoes

Tops

Sweaters/Jackets

Cozy Clothes/PJs

Bottoms

Accessories

Barefoot Dreams® 2-Pack CozyChic™ Socks – $19.90

Nordstrom Cubic Zirconia Ear Crawlers – $22.90

Kendra Scott Lola Mini Frontal Hoop Earrings – $28.90

Kendra Scott Sydney Charm Bar Necklace – $37.90

Tory Burch Circle Logo Stud Earrings – $46.90

Tory Burch Carson Croc Embossed Leather Crossbody Bag – $149.90

Tory Burch Carson Convertible Leather Crossbody Bag – $299.90

Home – Cozy

Home – Kitchen/Bar

Beauty

Happy shopping!

xoxo Britt

What To Do When You Get Laid Off

I struggled with writing this post for a while. It’s a hard topic and something really personal. Something I never thought would happen to me during this pandemic, I was laid off from my job. It was a huge curveball and a learning experience.

Everyone handles experiences like this differently but here is my advice for if you’re laid off.

  1. Talk to someone – the first thing I did when I got the message was call my mother. Not only because I was sad and needed to talk to my mom, but because she has been in the business world for so long. I needed advice on what to do and when to do it.
  2. Get your paperwork in order – filing for unemployment is not a fun or easy process, especially right now. There can be a lot of hoops to jump through and you need to make sure all your information is accurate. And please remember, have some patience. It’s a process and if you have to talk to someone at the unemployment office don’t take your anger out on them. They’re just doing their job.
  3. Update that resume and start job hunting – Always have your resume updated, you never know what could happen. Once you have it updated, send it out. It doesn’t do anyone any good for your resume to just sit on your desktop. Send it out everywhere, you never what could happen. Plus, once all this is over who do you think is more likely to get hired, someone who hustled to find something or someone who sat and just waited for this to be over?
  4. Take some time for yourself – In the midst of all of this I made an effort to take some time for myself. I drank some wine, did some face masks, and laid around the house It was a great way to recharge. Even when bad things like this happen it’s always important to find the silver-lining, mine happened to be mud masks and naps.

Have you been laid off recently? I’ll say what we’re all thinking, it sucks. But there will be a light at the end of your tunnel.

Do you have any other tips that have worked for you? Let me know in the comments.

xoxo, Britt