One of my monthly missions this month was to find simple patio decor ideas.

I happened upon these fun patriotic luminaries on Pinterest and thought to myself: “That looks like a simple patio decor idea!”

And indeed it was. What made it even simpler is that with a few little tweaks, I had every single supply already on hand. Score!

Here’s how I made them in three easy steps:

Step 1:

I happened to have a nice supply of circle and star stickers from my scrapbooking days which worked perfectly to create a mask to peel off later in order to let light shine through. I then spray painted these with white for the first layer and let them dry.

Step #2:

Once the first layer of spray paint had dried, I added the decorative touches. I didn’t have larger star stickers, but I do own a star shaped paper cutter (yes – also from my scrapbooking days!). I used it to cut stars out of some painter’s tape we had on hand. Then, to create the red and white flag-lined effect, I added four rows of electric tape to the second mason jar. Then I spray painted the starred jar blue and the lined jar with a red spray paint.

On a side note, if there is a way to spray paint jars without the paint dripping and looking uneven, I’m not sure what it is. For that reason, I do recommend using regular paint rather than spray paint if you have it on hand.

Actually, now that I’m thinking of it, I guess I could have just used a paint brush after I spray painted, huh? Thwack. (That was the sound of me smacking my head, in case you weren’t aware.)

Well, there you go. Use a paint brush when you are done to avoid the dripping effect. You’re welcome. 🙂

Step #3:

When the paint had dried, I peeled off all of the stickers and tape revealing the patterns and the holes for the lights to shine through.

There was some drippage and they didn’t turn out perfectly, but I’m just going to declare them Shabby Chic – and pretend that was my plan all along.

Easy peasy.

Then I just placed some tea lights in them and watched them glow. Optionally, you could use sandpaper once they dry for a distressed look.

They were a fun addition to our first patio party of the summer!

Now, pardon me, while I go get ready for tonight’s patio party – thankfully, festive luminaries are already checked off my list!

Thanks to Addicted to DIY for this fun idea!

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Happy June, friends!

What do you look forward to most at summertime?

For me, summer embodies the exact goal of The Merry Little Living Project – Simple, Joyful Life.

That’s what my hopes and dreams are for this summer anyway. I picture grilling on our patio with friends, enjoying fun and free activities with my boys, swimming, fair-going, playing outside and just soaking up the beauty of a simpler schedule.

As much as I hope that will just fall into place this summer, however, I know that even a simple schedule needs a plan. I’m sharing all about that plan in my next Merry Little Living Project email (you can subscribe here if you want to know how I’m going to make it happen!)

In the meantime, here is my update from May’s Monthly Missions. Last month, I asked myself four questions:

• What is one way I can simplify life this month?
• What is one way I can practice a healthy habit this month?
• What is one way I can organize life this month?
• What is one way I can bring joy to life this month?

Here’s what I came up with:

How I simplified life:

I shared last month that I am working on a simple and inexpensive 5 day menu plan using ALDI ingredients. Pictured above are the ingredients. I made some really yummy and – yes – simple and inexpensive meals with those ingredients. Stay tuned for the menu plan soon!

How I practiced a healthy habit:  

I committed to eating eggs for breakfast last month and for the most part, I stuck with my commitment. I have to admit though – I really don’t crave eggs for breakfast. As much as I want to like them, I’d much rather just grab a bowl of cereal. But, I think I need to keep trying. Or better yet, maybe you have some suggestions for simple and  healthy breakfast ideas?

How I organized life: 

I finally did it! I tackled my filing cabinet.

Ok. True confessions. I didn’t work on it until today. And I set my timer and only spent 15 minutes working on clearing out old files. But it’s pretty fantastic what a deadline and a focused 15 minutes can accomplish.

How I brought joy to life: 

I shared in last month’s Merry Little Living email that we had to cancel my three year old’s birthday party at the last minute because he woke up with the stomach bug. As disappointing as that was, we quickly got it rescheduled for the following weekend. Every single person we invited was able to come and the weather turned out to be gorgeous. Also, it turns out that freezing a cake actually makes it even yummier, I think.

I’ll share a post with more pictures soon!

I also had a blast running a Color Dash with a group of friends. We were much more colorful that this picture lets on.

So now I want to know:

What are YOUR Monthly Missions for June?

I’ve been really happy with this new strategy for planning simplicity and joy into my life and I’d love for you to join me.

If you sign up for the Merry Little Living Project email newsletter, you’ll receive a free printable Monthly Missions planner in your inbox right away.

Then sometime in the next few days, grab your printable,  a cup of coffee and a pencil and map out your missions for the month.

And then – if you’d like a little bit of accountability – share your missions in the comment below. Let’s help each other celebrate Simple, Joyful Life!

I’ll be sharing what my missions are this month in my Merry Little Living Project newsletter so be sure to click here to sign up if you haven’t yet! 

I’m going to let you guys in on a little secret. I’m not a laundry expert.

Don’t get me wrong: I’ve been doing laundry since my teen years (so that’s like…a lot of years). So, I guess that kind of makes me an expert. But if I’m keeping it real, I’m more of an expert at how not to do laundry than anything. If you don’t believe me, this video might help prove that:

You see, I am a bit of a Rule Breaker – or what I like to call a Free Spirit (sounds so much nicer, doesn’t it?). So if someone tells me that THIS AWESOME METHOD is how you do laundry – chances are I’m going to do laundry a different way. Because what if another way is more awesome?

It’s a whole thing.

But it’s the truth. I don’t think all the schedules, printable planners or laundry hacks in the world will change that fact.

So when I set out to simplify my laundry method this month and started to research tips from the experts, I started to feel a bit overwhelmed.

Like a Big Fat Laundry Loser.

Like Laundry = 1 zillion; Me = 0.

And then I had a magical happy epiphany. I asked myself the question that I should have asked from the very beginning:

What is the best laundry method for me? 

I started to ask myself what the Expert of my laundry situation (ahem…me) would say the most awesome method of doing laundry would be.

And suddenly, the world was right and laundry no longer owned my soul.

So, friends, this is the 3 Step Laundry System that is now working beautifully for me. 

It might not work for you. And if you are a Rule Follower and Lover of Cleaning Systems and Such, be forewarned. There is no discussion here about sorting or ironing or printable daily laundry schedules or anything of that sort, because I am incapable of such structure. I love people dearly who are Those Types. I am not. You’ve been warned.

Here we go:

1) I start my laundry for the week on Friday and end on Sunday. 

I need a start and an end to my laundry frenzy. I simply cannot do laundry every. single. day. because then it is never done and that makes me sad. (I am aware that this is the most awesome method for some people. And I am ok with that.)

I try to get a load in first thing on Friday, but sometimes I forget and don’t get started until later because I was distracted by pretty birds outside my window or the latest Jimmy Fallon YouTube clip. Again with the Free Spirit thing.

2) When a load of laundry has finished drying, I fold it directly from the dryer to laundry baskets designated for each family member. 

I have not used this method for very long, but this one small change has transformed the process for me since I started using it. Gone are the days of digging through baskets of unfolded clean laundry for an entire week because I “still need to fold the laundry and got distracted.” (What can I say? There are a lot of funny Jimmy Fallon videos and pretty birds out there…)

3) When all of the laundry has been completed, I send the older boys upstairs with their designated laundry baskets to put their laundry away and my husband and I take care of the rest.

Yes – that means sometimes clothes are willy nilly in my son’s drawers. And no – there is no ironing or fitted sheet folding involved.

And we’re okay with that.

Which the experts say is awesome.

How about you? What’s the most awesome laundry method for you?

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