the case for the unassuming backyard picnic table

Home Decor

The Case For The Unassuming Backyard Picnic Table

Drescription

While Caitlin writes hilarious posts against curved sofas, I’m over here doing the opposite and bringing awareness to an oft-dismissed piece of outdoor furniture. As the self-appointed PR ambassador for “big picnic tables,” I wanted to answer the 3-4 people who are curious why I like them so much. You see, the basic, pedestrian picnic table isn’t a typical designer move – no fancy wood grain, barely mixed finishes (silver screws could count?), neither trend forward nor extremely comfortable. They are literally everywhere you look – at public parks, churches, and schoolyards. And yet, they are so perfect for us and I don’t know of a solution that would work as well in our parklike backyard. So the question is: Why should I get a picnic table? Followed up with a round up of a few with different styles (some fancier, I promise).

They Work On Every Uneven Floor Surface

I believe it was 3 years ago when I bought my first picnic table (seen above). We had this pea gravel area in front of the mini-gym (near the mini-pool), and pea gravel is notoriously annoying for chair legs (they get stuck, hard to move each chair, off balance, and they look dumb/sloppy because they are never even). So it was a no-brainer – what table and chairs would work on such a precarious floor? An attached bench picnic table. I ordered these from Wayfair, and I remember they weren’t cheap ($750), which is admittedly a lot for a wood picnic table. But I liked the cleaner lines of the shape (see how they are finished all straight?), the tone of the wood, and how it was assembled. I ordered 2 so we could put them together for bigger kid parties.

They Sit Evenly On Flagstone

I moved two of them onto the flagstone landing pads that meander through our newly finished area in the backyard (thanks to Dennis’ 7 Dees) and LOVE THEM. Here, our flagstone is perfectly installed and very flat and even, but still it’s not like it’s a concrete pad – it was done organically for a reason. If we had dining legs, they would for sure get caught in the gaps, which would be annoying on a million levels. I love that these have attached benches that make them only have four wide points of contact on the floor.

Wait, I Have A Grassy Backyard! Can I Have A Picnic Table?

Yes! You too can enjoy the life around a picnic table. They also work GREAT on grass and are easy to move around, should you not want to ruin the grass underneath. I love them near a tree for shade (thus our huge trees from Big Trees Today nearby). I also love that they are easy to move – two people can easily transport them around the yard, should we all want to be closer to the trampoline or something. FURTHERMORE, for bigger dinner parties, we can put them into one long table on the grass in the evening, either with or without a gap in between. In conclusion (I feel like I’m writing a term paper in 7th grade), here is why I love picnic tables:

The vibe is casual, classic, and inviting, and says “all are welcome to sit here and enjoy a day in the park together”.

They are affordable because a table + 6 chairs would be FAR more expensive.

They age really nicely, should you leave them out year-round (like we do). If you buy pressure-treated wood or paint them with the right paint, you don’t need to cover them – they just live, and honestly, they create a nice-to-look-at wood sculpture (that might be a stretch, but it works for me).

They work almost everywhere – flagstone, pea gravel, grass. I wouldn’t put them on a fancier back patio (they do make a space look instantly casual, so if that’s not a vibe you want, then yea,h they might not be for your space). I didn’t choose them for the kitchen patio, which is herringbone brick – but I think with a cute umbrella it could work there, too!

They are extremely flexible – can be dressed up with a pretty table-scape, or just sit as-is with a potted plant in the center.

They can be beaten up with food, crafting, science experiments, and feel less precious. Great crafting tables!

They are a kid magnet – for whatever reason, kids love to sit around these and since we have like a billion kids playing here at all times, many multi-family bbqs, we can designate these tables for the kiddos, which they love.

They look great pushed together – a big old farm table for charming dinner parties.

You don’t need to store them – keep them out and use them year-round!

The Portland EHD team works out here at times, and while they don’t have back support or cushions, we find them perfectly comfortable for a few hours.

We also have this more high end version from Rejuvenation which I like a lot (that joinery is really sweet) but the detached benches do get wobbly on our flagstone and they made the benches less wide that the table which reduces the amount of people who can sit (thus the chairs on the end).

Listen, I don’t think this post is going to blow up the picnic table market, but the function + good vibes of this lowly classic outdoor table is one that I really think could work in other, even more elevated home yards. I personally think that the rustic versions are sweet (and some are so affordable – see below), but if you wanted to guarantee they’d be standing in 20 years, you could go for POLYWOOD, which comes in a few colors. We rounded up a few below, should you be in the market (and yes, you can totally paint the wood ones a pattern or a color should you want to make it look more fun, just research the right paint to leave out year-round).

Our tables have grayed out a bit which we like and really do stand up to grime with some seasonal cleaning. Now head out to your backyard and see where you can put one of these charming little schoolhouse picnic tables :) And no, we don’t typically all sit on the same side, shoulder to shoulder :)

The Cool Slip-On-And-Go Shoes We Are Into – 25 Ballet Flats That Are Both Trendy And Comfortable

Guess who’s back on her ballet flat search?? Me:) But I’m not the only one on the team. Look. We love a cool boot, a fashionable sneaker, but sometimes you just want to slip on a cute flat to feel slightly more put together as you’re rushing out of the house. The last time I was all about ballet flats, I was on the hunt for the mesh version, and boy, did I find one I loved. Because of that deep love, I may have worn them a little too much. It’s kinda like when you only have/wear a single pair of jeans and the inevitable upper thigh hole emerges from constant friction. I want to avoid that intense amount of wear and tear and have a few more easy-to-wear, stylish shoe options. And to me, there’s nothing easier than slipping on a ballet flat. So come see what my research divulged as well as one pair I did purchase:) The Day Glove I wanted to start with the pair that Emily had not only in this color but also in navy. She bought them for our big shoot and loved how easy they were to pop on and off. I love how simple but slightly modern they are. I really like the toe shape and in case tan or navy aren’t your colors, they have 13 other options to choose from! They do recommend going up a half size from your normal size. These give a perfect classic basics look. Faux-Leather Ballet Flats But if we’re going to talk about classics then to me this ballet flat is the epitome of that. Ok, maybe if you added a strap then it would be “peak ballet flat” :) This is also a very sleek shape but has the addition of the traditional thin bow. I don’t think you could go wrong with these and they also come in three other neutral colors if pink isn’t your style. Oh, and did I mention they are $20!! Leather Ballet Flats + Sway Square Toe Ballet Flat This deep burgundy isn’t just a beautiful home color trend, it’s also very much happening in fashion. I am very in love with both of these options. The pair on the left this that classic style but really feels special in that dreamy color…plus that price is not bad. They do also come in tan. Then the pair on the right are on my list!! I learned about Alohas from Emily years ago and not only are their shoes extremely cool, I really love their commitment to sustainability. And while there’s the extra step of tying the bow, I think they are unique without being “too out there”. This pair also comes in two other colors and if you are a half size, they recommend sizing up. Oh, if you love this color I also found a really pretty woven version for $80! The Day Ballet Flat I love velvet. Like a lot. So these puppies are on my list too! Aside from the leather pair above, I’m not a huge ballet bow gal, but for whatever reason, I really like it when the flat is in a velvet. Just think how cute these would be with jeans and a white T-shirt?! Effortlessly cool. Plus, this version is on a great sale, which makes them that much more enticing… They also come in seven other colors, but not all are on sale. The Greta Ballet Flat What a beautiful blue! This shoe is a Madewell bestseller and Emily had their leather open-weave one from last year. She’s traditionally not a huge ballet flat wearer so I very much trust her when she likes one. These are great for either a dress-up or dress-down situation which is real nice – neutral enough but also a little pop of color. But if blue or velvet isn’t your style they have six other colors/designs at varying prices. Go check em out! Valley Black Sole Ballet Flat + Poppy Mary Jane Flat These might not totally be my cup of tea style-wise but at the same time they are so much fun! Those yellow ones are so freaking sweet but I think would also look rad paired with a simple jean and a plain tee. They are from a small shoe brand we love – Intentionally Blank. Emily has known them from when they first opened and I have two of their clogs I wear all of the time. So big stamp of approval from us. Oh, they do come in other colors if you aren’t a yellow person. Then the blue ones are made by Areosoles which makes me think they are likely very comfortable! These ones are also a bit more affordable and have that buckle so you don’t have to worry about tying the bow perfectly every time. It comes perfect! They also come black. Reyes Ballet Flats + Mary Jane Square-Toe Ballet Flats Now, when I first saw this white pair last year I almost hit purchase. I saw them on a gal I know and fell for them hard. They are really elongating which I also loved. I honestly don’t know why I hesitated so maybe I’ll fix that soon:) Also, white isn’t always the easiest color to care for but they come in eleven other colors and patterns in case you were curious. Now for the other pair that’s $100 cheaper (!), these Old Navy ones are so cute. I like that the toe is a little squared off, there’s no bow but still has the classic strap. Plus, that red color is so good and very fun. However, if red is not for you they come in six other colors. Leni Brown Suede I think I’m adding a fourth (OOPS!) to my list because wow wow I love these! I’ve always been a brown fan so these would work seamlessly with what I already own. Plus, these are real slip-on-and-go shoes. But why I really love them is the shape of the opening. Sleek and chic. I’m very impressed, Steve Madden. They also come in four other colors. Kasey Flat I know the point of a ballet flat is that it’s FLAT. But this heel is still pretty low and is the star of the whole shoe. I really really love it. Very quiet luxury but a statement, you know? They say, “I know style but I’m not in your face about it.” So yes, I want these too. And while this is just my opinion, I’ve always found Sam Edelman shoes comfortable. Oh, and they come in a cream that’s on sale for under $100. Vana Ballet Flat + Jessie Flat At some point, I’m going to get a sliver flat because it’s such an easy and fun way to make a simple outfit unexpected. And this one is so understated which I really love. Plus, the shape of this Franco Sarto flat is so beautiful. But if you love the shape but not the color it does also come in two other options. The Jessie Flat I just saw in person because my friend was in town and wore them. They are bolder statement but in such a fun way and the shape is also so good. They actually look even better in person. These are also from Freda Salvador which is an incredible brand but definitely pricey. And while these aren’t cheap by any means, they are about 50% which is a pretty big deal. Just saying in case you were interested:) Matilda Ballerinas I BOUGHT THESE!! The first thing you should know is that I’m not really a leopard print gal (shocking, I’m sure:)) But in high school/college I had a pair of Steve Madden leopard “fur” loafers that I loved. They just made any simple outfit a lot more fun. Sadly, they got too beat up and had to be trashed. This means I’ve been living sans leopard flats for over a decade now! Then for my birthday last year, my sweet (and very generous) cousin gave me a $100 gift card to Sezane. I was so excited but also so nervous to choose something which is very typical of me. When I would look I kept coming back to these flats, remembering the good times with my loafers (rip). So I did it, I bought them and they will arrive early next week! They also come in black, which I debated between, but knew my heart wanted to go for the leopard. Very excited to wear them if you can’t tell. The site does say that if you are between two shoe sizes, choose the size below. Otherwise, choose your usual size. Dream Team Mary Jane Flat This is the same shoe in two different colors because I liked them equally:) I love the pointed toe and thicker strap with the buckle. It makes it feel ever so slightly punk (?) lol. Basically, it has a little bit of edge that I’m into. Plus, that price is awesome! They also come in two other colors – light pink and silver. Mellie Mary Jane Flat Even though this one is sooo similar to the one right before, the toe on this one is more rounded. It’s totally a personal preference. I tend to prefer more of a square or a point. But a rounded toe is perfect for others. You really can’t go wrong with either…well, I guess you save $20 if you get these:) They also have two other material options. Arissa Woven Ballet Flat Now let’s get into my other favorite version of the ballet flat – the woven ballet flat! These are right up my alley! That brown leather is such a pretty, warm tone and the toe shape is a dream:) While a woven ballet flat could be considered more spring and summer, these leather ones are good easily through fall (weather permitting, of course). They also come in two other colors. Light Woven Denim Nina Flats Ever since I saw Em wearing her light blue suede over-the-knee boots (which I am saving up for) I haven’t been able to get light blue shoes out of my head. I think they are the perfect mix of fun and chic. These cuties are prefect for the spring and summer. Can’t you see it!? I think they may be a bit darker in person because of the styled photos on the site but honestly, that may make me love them more. Definitely go check out those shots because you WILL want them (or maybe don’t if you’re trying to not buy more shoes:)) They do come in five other colors but are in leather or velvet. Arissa Woven Ballet Flats + Bleached Beechwood Michaela Flats For my natural material lovers, the flats on the left are so pretty! Can’t you see yourself, strolling along in a beach town for spring break in these? Or feeling like you’re on spring break because these cuties on your feet? That’s at least where my head is at. Ha. The reviews do say that they run a little big so keep that in mind. Then the ones on the right, are also extremely cute and are ideal for the warmer days ahead. I had a pair of slip-on flats in a similar color and material and wore them so much. They went with everything! A big thumbs up and they also come in one other color. Ruby Buckle Ballet Flats + Woven Leather Ballet Flats If you’re someone who wants a woven look but something a little different/unique, the pair on the left is perfect! The color is what is unexpected about them. I think it’s just a cool color and a great shape. They also come in what they call “sunset ochre,” which is like a burnt orange-red. Also very cool. Then, for the final pair on the right, I know they are more in the “mesh ballet flat” category, but I loved them too much not to include:) The open weave is just enough to be super breathable but not too “look at my toes!” and the criss-cross straps are so freaking cute. And because my “list” is clearly endless, two of these (especially the white ones) are on it. Oh, those also come in two other colors, and the reviews say they run big. So while my ballet dancing days are far behind me, I will be cosplaying a ballerina for probably most of the year and beyond. There were also some stunning satin options, but even for me, those felt like they would get ruined after about one wear. But if you love the idea of that, these were my favorite:) Talk about looking like a ballerina! Ok, happy ballet flat shopping.

My Overstuffed Closet Caused An Identity Crisis – Here’s How I Got Through It

There was a time in my life – we’ll call it the business casual era – when I owned thirteen blazers but not a single pair of pants I actually liked. I had work blazers (essential), dinner blazers (aspirational), date blazers (optimistic), and the emergency funeral blazer (because one must always remain prepared for stylish grief, I guess). I had one blazer that only worked with a single top, and one top that only worked with a specific bra, which had to be hand-washed, which meant that outfit was basically cursed. My closet wasn’t just a clothing repository: it was a museum of my life choices. Party dresses I rarely wore to parties, jeans too uncomfortable to sit down in (a minor detail), a pair of boots I adored even though they made me walk like a marionette, and an alarming number of clothes I’d purchased for a version of myself that had only rarely shown up to claim them. I bought clothes the way some people buy self-help books: aspirationally, and in a panic. My closet was bursting, but my daily pronouncement remained: I have nothing to wear. It took an embarrassingly long time (and probably a few too many existential crises in front of an open wardrobe) to understand the real issue. My problem wasn’t a totally catastrophic lack of taste (though I’m sure some of you might offer a counterpoint) – the problem was that I wanted to outfit each aspect of my personality. Put simply: I was picking pieces for too many different versions of myself. It wasn’t just that I didn’t like my options. I had built uniforms for disparate lives – I had outfits for crust punk basement shows and for summer on the Cape; for bougie branded parties and for the local DSA meeting; for ice skating competitions and for blending in at the recording studio when my boss told me to throw out any other woman’s résumé, as they likely only wanted to sleep with the band. (Being a woman is super fun, right?!) But it wasn’t just that I was playing dress up. I was, as it turned out, costuming (and not in the fun, let’s go to a masquerade ball kind of way). No – this was the insidious, slow-creep kind of costuming where you wake up one morning, stare into the abyss of your closet, and realize that every single garment was acquired as a uniform for a specific performance – like it’s for someone else, or some version of you that isn’t the one currently staring back. The moment that finally cracked me wasn’t a high-stakes occasion. It was a Friday night, and I was trying to find something, anything, to wear for dinner with my best friends – friends who have known me forever; who neither require, nor expect, a polished version of me. And still, I was stuck. Staring into my closet, I was confronted by a veritable sea of options, and somehow, none of them felt right for a night of shared appetizers and gossip with this group of friends. The thought struck me: I don’t know how to be myself here. I had attire for dates, for international flights, for funerals (see: emergency blazer, above). But for pasta, or errands, or love/hate-watching And Just Like That? Nothing. Now, let’s be clear: it wasn’t that my clothes were languishing with tags on. They weren’t monuments to my aspirational shopping. Au contraire: these pieces were operational. They weren’t just for imagined futures – they were my daily-wear costumes for a very real, very scheduled life. I had outfits for tour buses, for awkward backstage photos, for investor pitches where I tried to look like I understood spreadsheets. Outfits for dive bars (a different kind of pitch), for brand dinners (smile, nod, don’t spill), for handing over a P&L statement with a brave face. Each look had a function, and each function came with a slightly different me that needed to be appropriately outfitted. The problem wasn’t that the clothes weren’t useful. The problem was that I had compartmentalized myself into so many different women that I could no longer find any discernible overlap. My closets were an archive of who I’d been in specific, calendared moments, but offered zero guidance for who I was when the calendar was blissfully, terrifyingly empty. (I’m sure you can guess what happened next.) Then the world hit pause, and my meticulously curated calendar went with it. No shows, no shoots, no strategy dinners, no meetings that could have been emails. Just me, my increasingly judgmental closet, and a rotating cast of sweatpants. For a while, I convinced myself it was temporary. That at any moment, I might be called to dress for something, anything. (And at one point, I was – a Zoom wedding. I watched as their outdoor ceremony was crashed by an NYPD police boat.) But the months unspooled, and the clothes just hung there, smug and silent. So again, I cracked. Not because the clothes were useless, but because they were suddenly, profoundly unemployed. No meetings to navigate, no flights to catch, no crowds to stand in. Just me, at home, day after day, month after month, staring down a closet meticulously built for a schedule of events that no longer existed. I still remember when it happened: I started pulling pieces out of my closet with the manic clarity of a woman bleaching her kitchen grout at 3 AM. (Ask me how I know.) Blazers, blouses, and the chain-covered boots that had complemented my once-purple/green/blue hair – out they went. I didn’t weep. (And I certainly didn’t hold each one and thank it for its service like some organizational guru might suggest, despite my sentimental nature.) I bagged them. I moved on. The truly absurd part wasn’t the volume of what I owned, but how perfectly each item had once fit into a part of my life that no longer needed costuming. After the Great Wardrobe Eviction, I assumed Style™ would reveal itself. That’s the promise, isn’t it? Pare things down and your True Self, fashionably clad, will emerge like Venus from the clamshell. You’ll make a Pinterest board. You’ll define your five essential adjectives. You’ll effortlessly build a capsule wardrobe in soothing shades of camel, oat, and existential despair. Supposedly, your closet becomes a temple. You become the kind of woman who wears linen jumpsuits to run errands and owns exactly three sweaters, all named. I didn’t believe all of it, but I wanted to believe some of it. Yet nothing arrived. No style epiphany, no sartorial lightning bolt. Just a significantly emptier wardrobe and the creeping, deeply unsettling realization that I had absolutely no clue what I actually felt comfortable in. I knew what had worked for various roles, but me, unscripted? Blank canvas. I didn’t necessarily want a capsule wardrobe, with all its implied monastic chic. I just wanted to get dressed and feel like myself. Instead, I felt like an actor waiting for a casting director to hand me a new character. I’d cut the noise, but the signal, it turned out, had packed its bags and left with the blazers. It was just…quiet. (And not the good, meditative, Gwyneth-on-a-silent-retreat way. More the bleak, is this all there is? kind of quiet.) Eventually, I gave up on “finding a look” – which always sounds like you’re searching for a fugitive – and started looking for a standard. If I couldn’t dress for a specific context, maybe I could dress for some core values. Rules were made (because when in doubt, make rules). Natural fibers, exclusively, because a 2024 trip to pristine Antarctica had instilled in me a deep, lingering climate guilt. Fewer things, but better things – things that might actually survive more than three dates with my laundromat’s 8-load machine. No more shoes I couldn’t walk a respectable city mile in, no more patterns that were impossible to match, no more tops that were held hostage by that one specific bra. What came next wasn’t some cinematic reveal: it was just Tuesday. No makeover montage, no triumphant strut. I just got dressed. Badly, at first. And then slightly less badly. Some days, I looked goofy. Other days I looked like myself, or at least someone I’d be friends with. It’s a weird, slow, deeply unglamorous process, this excavation of what you wear when you’re not specifically anywhere – no event, no deliverables, no audience. Just Tuesday. Just you. It turns out, when you’ve spent a lifetime building wardrobes for very distinct, very real contexts – studios, offices, cities, farms – you can accidentally skip the fundamental step of figuring out what you throw on to buy milk. Or to go to dinner. Or, crucially, to sit alone on your own couch and feel like yourself. There’s a very fine, often line between personal style and collective bargaining with your self-esteem. For me, it wasn’t about insecurity – not really. I think it was more about range – I was so worried about dressing to fit in that I somehow forgot to ask what I’d wear if no one else was there. I think that if you really want to know who someone is, don’t look at what they wear – ask what they keep and never don, just in case. I kept a lot. I did wear almost all of it, at some point. But when I was finally alone, I realized I didn’t know what any of it meant. Not about the world, but about me. These days, when I get dressed, the outfit isn’t the answer. It’s the question. And at least now, I have a much better idea of who I’m asking. How To Start So, your closet? Does it feel less like a curated collection and more like a holding pen for a witness protection program of various past selves? Are you staring at a bewildering array of “stuff” and thinking, Surely, one of these things must feel like…me? And have you, like me, Googled for help only to be met with blindingly obvious advice that makes you want to scream into the nearest sensible scarf? (Wow: Buy what makes you feel good? Oh man! Insightful! What wise chestnut is next? Avoid hitting yourself on the head with a hammer?) I’ve been there. It sucks. Here’s what I’ve found helpful when it comes to clearing the clutter and making room for Style™, whenever it decides to show up (any day now, I’d hope). Pare Down Donate: I donate my basics to Goodwill. You can also keep an eye out for those in your community who are in direct need of aid – Jess and I pooled our donations and were able to outfit a Pasadena teacher who’d lost everything in the Eaton Fire. (Shoutout to Sara Tramp for organizing!) Trade: Got stuff that’s seen better days? (Like, way better days?) Anything stained, ripped, or hole-y? Don’t throw it in the trash – I swear by Suay’s $20 textile bags, whose cost can be reapplied to any Suay product. (I love this business. Like, they’ll deal with all my icky textile crap, and I can get a stellar lumbar pillow out of the deal?) Sell: Okay, I admit I clung to some of my “splurgier” uniforms – I mean, pieces. Wedding guest dresses I swore I’d wear again (I didn’t), trousers that promised a new, leaner me (they lied), matching sets that looked great on the hanger (the betrayal!!!). I’ve had a ton of luck offloading these pieces on Poshmark, though! I initially balked at the time commitment, but then I made $200 back on a dress I’d only worn once. It was an incredible return for 5 minutes of my time. (There are alternatives here, but this is the only one I’ve vetted.) Consign: If the thought of photographing another blouse makes you want to lie down, look for local consignment shops. (If you’re in LA, The Left Bank is a solid bet.) Just let someone else do the work and collect a (smaller) check. Worth it. (If you’re a size 12 or above, your clothes are always in demand at consignment stores, FYI.) Index (Or Indyx) As it turns out, I suffer from a peculiar affliction: I cannot, for the life of me, conjure images in my mind. When people talk about their “mind’s eye” or “imagining the audience in their underwear” – well, I always thought that was a literary device. Metaphorical. Implied, not literal. A charming turn of phrase! It was only recently I learned that most people can, quite literally, see things in their heads. (Given a natural inclination towards distraction, perhaps this is a mercy. I would likely spend my days conjuring pastries.) But this posed a silent, daily problem for my wardrobe. I knew the facts: I owned black linen pants. There were tank tops, somewhere, in that drawer. My favorite dress was red, with zodiac signs. But I couldn’t see them. Couldn’t picture combinations. Getting dressed was a daily archaeological dig involving pulling everything out and sighing dramatically. Enter: Indyx. (Link Up readers, you may be familiar.) Cataloging my clothes felt absurd at first, but it was – and I’m not being overdramatic – transformative. I can actually scroll through my clothes like an ultra-specific personal shopping app. I can play mix-and-match before creating Mount Laundry on my floor. I can see what I actually wear (and, more importantly, what I consistently ignore). It’s a process, not a miracle cure. You could do the same thing with a photo album on your phone, but Indyx is prettier. Live Out of A Carry-On This one has been the most helpful, I think. I’ve spent 4 of the last 5 months living out of a carry-on suitcase. I’m not even suggesting that you have to travel to do this – you could also try it at home! – but there’s something liberating about pulling only what fits in a carry-on suitcase and learning how to mix-and-match from a refined, edited collection of only essentials. Suddenly, faced with a severely limited selection, I was forced to actually style things. That button-up? Can I tie it? Can I tuck it differently? That dress? Can it be a skirt? Can it be layered? It stripped away the paralysis of too many options and forced creativity. It also gave me a clear metric for success: when I felt genuinely bummed out that something was in the laundry hamper because I wanted to wear it again, I knew I’d found a winner. These were the pieces that felt like me, even in miniature form. And Rent, For Some Variety PRAISE BE TO THE NUULY FOUNDERS. I’m still on the hunt for my Style™ – it feels like a mythical creature, sometimes – and opening my subscription is my low-stakes safari. Six pieces a month means I can try cuts, colors, and general aesthetics I wouldn’t commit to buying (or, honestly, even trying on in person). It’s a lifesaver during the brutal LA “winter” (read: jacket season) and the holiday party circuit (no more staring mournfully at unworn sequin dresses!). It’s experimentation without the commitment – perfect for this phase of life, while i figure out who I am. (I guess I’m just starting that mid-life crisis a few years early, huh?) What say you? Any thoughts? Tips? Advice? I can’t be the only woman whose path to self-discovery involved staring blankly into a closet, can I? Has this happened to you? CAN WE TALK ABOUT IT?

Don’t Let Wilting Zinnias Ruin Your Garden—Here’s How to Save Them Fast

When your zinnias droop, it puts a dent in your garden decor. Zinnias are usually reliable and easy to care for, blooming all summer long with single and double flowers in bright, bold colors. But if flowers sag atop the stems, you have a case of wilt. Here are six reasons why zinnias wil,t with solutions to restore your patch to top form. Overwatering Too much water causes zinnias to turn brown and soggy. Flower heads droop, and plants may topple over. Fungal diseases may appear as brown or water-soaked spots on leaves. Root rot can set in, causing plant loss. Solution: Let overwatered plants dry out completely, then resume a reduced watering schedule. Remove soggy leaves and flower heads to encourage new, healthy growth. Avoid overwatering by testing the soil before watering. Plant zinnias where they'll receive full sun and amend the soil to improve drainage. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! Underwatering Without sufficient water, leaves and stems turn pale, then brown and crispy, and shrivel up. Plants may fail to bloom or produce small flowers. The entire plant takes on a wilted look and, if left too long, will dry up and die. Solution: During extended periods of hot, dry weather, water deeply once a week or more often as needed. Zinnias are drought-tolerant once established but perform best in consistently moist, well-draining soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Plan to provide an inch of water weekly, especially during blooming. Aphids These tiny parasitic pests multiply rapidly, puncturing leaves and stems to feed on plant liquid. When aphids target your zinnias, plants become stunted with curling, wilted foliage that drops prematurely. Infestations interrupt photosynthesis and can lead to plant loss. Aphids leave behind a sweet substance called 'honeydew' that attracts ants. If you see ants on your zinnias, check for aphids. Solution: Get rid of aphids with a strong spray from your garden hose or apply insecticidal soap or neem oil. Inspect plants regularly, especially during hot, dry weather. Companion plant with marigolds, garlic, and chives. Avoid over-fertilizing and encourage beneficial predators like lady beetles and lacewings. Stalk Borers When your zinnias seem to wilt down overnight, the culprit is likely a stalk borer. Common borers are larvae of small brown moths. They tunnel into plant stems, causing sudden wilt, deformities, and eventual plant loss. Larvae hatch in spring, feeding on grasses, then moving on to larger plants like your zinnias as they mature. The gray caterpillars grow up to 1 1/2-inches long. Solution: Prevention is key because once a borer is inside the stem, treatment is ineffective. Remove affected stems, and bag or burn them. Keep your zinnia bed and surrounding areas free of weeds and grasses. Clean up garden debris at the end of the season. BT (Bacillus thurengienses) is a biological control that destroys caterpillars and can be used as pre-treatment. Alternaria Blight Alternaria zinneae is a fungal disease that manifests as reddish brown leaf spots with gray centers on both upper and lower surfaces. As the lesions increase, leaves turn brown, and the entire plant darkens and wilts. Spots can girdle plant stems and appear on flower petals. Solution: Prevention is the most effective approach. Watch for signs in mid-summer and autumn. If disease sets in, pull plants and bury or burn them to avoid future contamination. Rotate your zinnia bed and avoid overhead watering. Look for resistant varieties and pretreat seeds in a hot water bath for 30 minutes. Protect plants with copper-based fungicides. Heat Stress Heat stress occurs when temperatures remain consistently hot, causing leaf curl, scorching, and wilting. Plants may cease blooming or produce small flowers. Solution: Zinnias bounce back quickly with corrective treatment. Avoid overcrowding. Large plants need 18 inches of space, while most dwarf varieties need 12 inches for adequate air circulation. Water deeply at ground level in the morning or evening. Mulch plants to cool the soil and provide some afternoon shade. How to Keep Your Zinnias From Wilting Plant zinnias in full sun in well-draining soil. Aim for an inch of water each week, but prepare to adjust your watering schedule during heavy rains or periods of drought. Water deeply at ground level during cooler parts of the day. Check regularly for signs of pests or disease and treat preventively when necessary.

Are We Over White Bedding? Here Is What I’m Into Instead…

Idon’t know you guys – it just feels like the all-white hotel-style bed is not really doing it for me, but perhaps it hasn’t for a while and I’m just now ready to announce it. Is it the fault of my year-round spray tan that leaves a body-shaped orange glow on just my side of the bed when I use white sheets? Well, yes. But even despite that, I have been drawn to slightly patterned (but not textured) sheets for a while because they tend to be more forgiving and therefore last longer. TBH I don’t understand splurging on white sheets or white towels for everyday use because they never stay bright white. But even beyond the practicality it just seems like we are moving towards a pattern-on-pattern aesthetic that is making me want floral duvets, striped sheets, plaid anything…little prints, mixed with ruffles, with quilts layered at the end. I actually pitched this post last October and recently we had a bedding refresh partnership with Anthropologie (who does the non-white bedding so well) so we snapped some photos of this extremely fun and soft floral set. It confirmed what I wanted because it just added so much life, and such an immediate impact. So today we figured we’d round up other patterns we love (and yes, you can absolutely mix a big floral with a small stripe like I did). Big Floral Patterns + Smaller Prints The large-scale floral with the tiny-scale stripe is really working for me (I know that the stripe will work on Elliot’s bed and our bed – and yes, I put king bedding on queen beds all the time and have stopped buying queen so that we can easily interchange them all). All these prints are giving “grannycore” or “cottagecore” or whatever trendy core means old world and more decorative – and I love it. It’s just so sweet. I think one of the reasons our bedding got boring was because we wanted the ease of everything matching (true story) and having bespoke bedding for each room might be too labor-intensive for you to keep track of (also true story). But again it’s just so sweet and maybe you could come up with a capsule collection of different prints that work for all the beds to mix and match? Here are some more warm-toned and equally cute/happy options! Stripes It’s no secret that I’m a fan of stripes. Simple and can go with anything and any style. So yes, I LOVE how this looks and even though it’s light the stripe adds so much and is forgiving to dingyness. It was from a bedroom we designed for one of my best friends who wanted a modern organic look…but not a boring one. I think we nailed it. Stripes also work so well with florals. Since both of these rooms have floral wallpaper and we didn’t want only solid-colored sheets, stripes were the perfect contrasting accent! Here are a few shoppable options on the market: I tend to mix stripes with solids or stripes with florals, but if you love a stripes on stripes look it can absolutely look awesome. I would probably stick with warm tones with warm stripes and cool with cool for sheet and duvet combos. Solid For those of you who love linen sheets, there are so many pretty moody colors out there – Garnet Hill, Brooklinen, Anthropologie, and Parachute all have great options. Brian and I are not into linen sheets ourselves because we love a percale, but we do love this linen bedspread (as seen below) that we put on when we have parties and people want a tour of the house. Also, I made my brother buy bone instead of bright white percale from Parachute which is a great alternative if you still want a light neutral base but don’t want white bright… Underneath those linen spreads are likely the rose or blue brushed cotton from Parachute which is my current favorite for softness and their color palette works so well in our room. Here are some awesome cool toned colorful bedding options that I really like! If you go on Bed Threads site they have a bunch of really great preset color combos if you have a hard time deciding what colors you might want in your room. Also, velvet bedding accents are definitely having a moment and Quince has some great affordable quilts. So this is your CTA to rethink the expensive white sheets and opt for a tone, a color, a print, or a pattern. Especially for a more basic room (like our pink guest room that doesn’t have its headboard yet) this bedding really livened it up and just looks so happy now.