Between Us, vol. 16
Your most loved pieces from last week, what I bought last week and cannot stop thinking about, and an Amazon round up that is very much a reflection of my current life.
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Hi ladies!
You guys … I do not know what has come over me but, I can no longer stand being in the midst of so much clutter and ‘stuff’ that needs ‘combing through’. Our house is amazing but space is limited so, I don’t want ‘stuff’ just sitting around and taking up precious space. I want things to be as slimmed down as possible.
Since moving back to the U.S., all of the storage boxes full of ‘stuff’ from childhood, high school, and college that my Dad has so kindly been storing for me for all of these years are now back in my hands and in our home. John is adamant about utilizing our garage within a reasonable degree for storage but also not having it ‘too full’. We both agree that we want to have quite a bit of free space with an organized system for the things we are storing in there. So, we have gotten a hanging storage solution and storage boxes for old books, holiday decorations, and other things we don’t need to hand but, we still have some other items that were hanging out in the middle of the garage — including the storage boxes [that used to be at my Dad’s] I needed to go through.
I had told John that it was a project that could not be done quickly and that, while I am absolutely committed to tackling the boxes, it really needed to be done over time. But, a few weeks ago, John made a savage move …
… when I came home and found that he had brought all of those storage boxes into the house and placed them at the bottom of the stairs so I could literally NOT IGNORE THEM. I guess this is quite genius considering he knows I have ADHD and also an aversion to our house looking like an absolute dumpster fire. While our house is far from perfectly done and decorated, especially having just moved in recently and with two kids, but he knew that I would only really make a solid start if they were staring me down everyday and actually putting pressure on me.
So, fair play to him … as annoying as that was. I am so ready for our home to feel like a home. Our boys deserve that and so do our nervous systems. So, I decided this week was the week that I just needed to put my head down and start tackling them. In the same vein, I’ve also really wanted to start consolidating and merging all of our files so that mail doesn’t pile up the way it has been for literally years. We need a filing system so that stuff isn’t stored in 9245 different places and miniature boxes.
And, no I really probably shouldn’t be doing that this week. We leave in two weeks and I should be working, creating content, and getting my accountants everything they need so they can file our taxes soon but, as anyone with ADHD knows … when you get the urge to hyper-focus … nothing will stop it so, here we are!
If it’s helpful, I’ll share a few things I’ve been using to get organized from Amazon below. Can you believe Prime Day is this week?
Here’s what I have for you guys in today’s newsletter:
+ Weekly Top Sellers
+ What I Bought This Week
+ This Week on Amazon: Home Organization
Weekly Top Sellers
Every week I share what I'm loving and every week you all go and buy the same things and it really just makes me so happy you love these pieces too.
Here are your top 5 most loved from last week!
Y’all loved these shorts from the other day for good reason. At THIS price point and with their construction, these are really one of my best purchases recently. Paired them with a new-to-me brand top, from Marie Oliver and it resulted in this really easy and chic outfit.
You can shop the full look here.
A wedge heel with a memory foam insole AND they're from Target. That combination should not be as good as it is but here we are. The natural color goes with everything and they’re in stock.
I honestly did not expect this gauzy top to take off but I am so glad it did! I mentioned it kind of in passing and you all found it anyway. 163 reviews and a 4.9 rating, so clearly I was not the only one who saw something in it.
This bralette is really pretty on its own but where I really love it, is under a flowy top or dress. A great summer layering piece and makes any outfit feel a little more intentional.
There’s nothing overtly trendy about this classic dress but that’s kind of why I love it. Simple, timeless, and you’ll still be reaching for it in five years.
What I Bought This Week
blue satin shorts | simple white tee | beaded necklace | kids pj set | halter neck dress | Keds shoes
A couple of these finds have already been on heavy rotation in this Florida heat and a couple are getting packed for London. With the UK trip coming up and life moving fast right now, I have been a little more purposeful about what I’m bringing home.
Here are this week’s finds:
First up, I CANNOT tell you how excited I am about thes Keds. Something about a classic white Keds sneaker takes me straight back to the 90’s mom, which is such a compliment. These have been on my feet constantly.
A great white tee is an item you can never have too many of and this one from Tuckernuck is going to get a lot of use. It pairs with everything I already own and I have a feeling it is going to become a go-to for the summer.
These shorts a little more trend-forward than what I usually go for but the soft blue and the feminine details make them feel very me. I think that’s the mark of a good trend piece, when it still fits within what you already love.
This navy halter dress is London bound. It works for a nice dinner or a day of exploring and I did not want to show up there without something like it in my bag.
I love everything about this necklace. It adds a fun element to any outfit, the color palette is approachable enough for my neutral-loving heart, and would pair beautifully with a gold necklace stack if you’re more of a maximalist.
If you are not shopping Quince for your kids yet, I’m inviting you to do so. Really loving that these pj’s are organic cotton, under $20.
This Week on Amazon: Home Organization
Okay, SO … the organization era is fully underway in this house and Amazon has been a big part of that. I have been deep in purging old things, we are talking high school and college stuff, getting mine and John's files and paperwork combined into one system, and finally getting photos properly organized. I have been finding some really good stuff in the process and wanted to round it up for you in case you find yourself in need of a fully cathartic … organization moment.
Because nothing resets the brain quite like a good system.
Touched on photo organizer in last week’s Amazon finds and I mention it again as it’s been a lifesaver for the old photos I’m saving and new photos I’m printing. It’s also fun to have new printed photos on hand to swap out in frames around the house.
Are these storage boxes the most aesthetic thing, no… BUT we had a hanging storage shelf put up in our garage and we filled it with these boxes that have our holiday decorations and things we don’t need to have to hand all the time.
I use these boxes as our main filing system for our home (comes in a set of 2). I use one for our personal files and the other to store cards that we have saved from over the years that way we know exactly where those go each time a major milestone or holiday comes along.
4. I haven’t pulled the trigger on these hanging baskets YET, but I’m considering it for this spot in our bathroom that is right next to my sink for me to store my makeup without having to dig around under the sink for things every morning. Sounds silly but I feel like it’d make the process more efficient.
Anything you all use for home organization, PLEASE send it my way!
If anything in here ends up in your cart, I want to know about it.
Drop it in the comments or send me a message!
x H.
Alyson Haley is a longtime style and travel writer focused on helping you create a wardrobe you love and travel more confidently and competently. After 10 years of living between and just outside of London, she shares curated recommendations and insider insight on her favorite city and other destinations she knows and loves. She is currently building a bespoke travel boutique centered around beautifully designed, meaningful escapes. For more, be sure to follow her on Instagram.