the farmhouse entryway – a peek into my pinboard and process

Home Decor

The Farmhouse Entryway – A Peek Into My Pinboard And Process

Drescription

My Saturday morning online shopping tradition has been stunted by my internal common sense screaming, “you only have two weeks until you move in…live there before you buy one more thing.” But that doesn’t mean I don’t pin, narrow down, think, mentally decorate, etc. Besides, you can put a good bench or console in so many places so if I found a great one on FB marketplace I think it would still be a sound purchase (not sure if that is the vintage shopping addict talking or my common sense – Who knows?)

The Entry: When We Bought The House

I don’t think I’ve had a self-contained entry before and I like how clear its purpose is. This room will greet you (which is why I want it to be really beautiful, not just a bunch of shoe bins) and needs to be a good coat zone for guests but otherwise, very little time is spent in here before you immediately go right into the living room. So it needs to make an impact, set the tone, and function with some storage.

It’s a nice little space that will likely serve as a drop zone. My fear is that the kids are going to use the back kitchen door as their drop zone unless I use my hard-core parenting manipulation/bribery skills to change their patterns. And if you live in CA you might think, what’s the big deal with going through the kitchen door? But what you’ll quickly learn is that kids here are trained to take off shoes and coats almost immediately upon entering and if there isn’t a system, they will literally just DROP everything. And that is not acceptable in that dreamy kitchen corner (don’t worry, I’m designing it to withstand some dropping but no, I do not want it to be our dedicated drop zone). Anyway, my plan is to lock the kitchen door with a sign that says, “head to the mudroom, put shoes/coat away, and earn yourself a jelly bean.” Maybe after a few weeks, they’ll just automatically do it? Pavlov’s dog? I think I should write a parenting book.

Then recently I realized that the front door (where we are today) is actually pretty close to the back entrance (the closest from their school path) so maybe this is the daily drop zone? And oddly I’m fine with that because at least it’s a contained space and really only needs to look super styled out for guests. That’s all to say we aren’t sure how much of a drop zone this area needs to be. I’m hoping it’s just a coat rack, a boot tray outside where it’s covered, then a bench or a table for potential purse/keys. But I don’t really know…

Entry Mid-Renovation

So as you can see we installed the most beautiful window ever, custom designed with Sierra Pacific. It’s just so pretty. So whatever we have we need it to be pretty shallow – 18″ is the total depth of the nook and for the length we have a total of 84″ I’m thinking somewhere between 55″-72″ for whatever piece of furniture we choose (but maybe even smaller, again I need to try a piece and see how it feels).

I really don’t want anything to obstruct this view – no bench arm or table edge to be seen from the living room. Instead, I want it tucked inside that nook (again this is just my current opinion that can change). I’m thinking of a coat rack or hook on the left and/or a beautiful airy tree that climbs over the window. In this house, I’m really trying to keep sight lines pretty clean (something we’ve really enjoyed at the mountain house). The window is the focal point from the living room so I don’t want to distract from it. BTW I’m just now noticing that the sconce isn’t centered on the wall between the entry and the stairs but Jamie has already moved it, don’t worry.

If you are wondering why the baseboard and casing are blue here it’s because we thought we wanted them all to be before we realized that well, we didn’t like it AT ALL (so yes, we wasted a 1/2 day of painting labor and some gallons). It’s a great color, (Upward by Sherwin-Williams) but too twee for down here and ultimately we just want white and wood and color in the furniture/decor. I actually really like it in this shot, but once you get into the living room it’s just too much and really detracted from what we love – the wood flooring, wood windows, natural light, and sense of openness and space.

So here, below, are all the benches that I have pinned, none of which have been purchased yet. What you’ll notice is that most of these have a very minimal arm – i.e. not sticking too far into the room’s view. Not all of these would work size-wise, but I really like them all for different reasons.

#8 was my pick from this group (it’s just so pretty) and if it doesn’t go here it might work somewhere else. But then I thought that if we do a bench here maybe a rounded back (like #9) could work…

I love #1 even though I know it’s super trendy. It just feels so solid and grounding. I might put this in my kitchen window (by the back door).

Originally I was going to get #6 (and still might), but we bought the counter stools from Fernweh already so I want to live with them before we commit to adding another one of their pieces in the next room (we’d get it in walnut, not black like our stools). Real big fan of #1 but it comes with a hefty price tag. So instead I searched for antique versions on 1stDibs (which also came with a big price tag and found a few).

For a hot second, I entertained the idea of a very slim upholstered high back bench – almost like a statement settee. Not totally sure why, but I do really love these – all armless and super shallow so technically they fit the dimensions, and boy would they be a statement walking in, but they don’t ultimately feel right (I also wouldn’t order these as they are a fortune, instead using them for inspiration to custom make something).

Not going to lie, #6 gets me so excited. I LOVE an old folk art painted piece. I like all of these for different reasons and yet none of them feel quite right, but figured it would be fun to show you what was on my pinboard.

Right before I published this post I showed Brian all the options (I left this one off because it’s $8,200 but if I could have any bench this would be it – see below). Brian’s reaction to my pinboard was like, “Sure I like them, but maybe you’ll want a console instead?” I was like immediately defensive until I realized he’s probably right. I think what happened is that I fell in love with the O&G bench, it’s such a beautiful statement. Feast your eyes on this:

I pictured a piece of art above it and was like, “Boom. There, the entry has been nailed.” The joy I would feel daily by seeing that piece of art (the bench, not the actual art above) checked so many mental boxes. But due to its price, we knew that it wasn’t where we’d spend money. So I searched long and hard to find a more affordable version and definitely found some great ones, but I think I forgot to explore other pieces of furniture altogether because I just had “bench” in my brain. I’ve done this before. I fall in love with something unattainable, and try to find more affordable options instead of thinking about all the other possibilities. It’s a good lesson to be reminded of and ultimately I’m so grateful that this isn’t something we NEED to live in the house and we have time to live there and see what we’ll use the most (bench or console, storage or sculptural?) and then take my time to shop.

Petunia Leaves Turning Yellow? You Should Check This First, a Gardener Says

Petunias, known for their vibrant blooms, are one of the easiest flowers to care for and grow in your outdoor flower bed. While they're very forgiving with their care needs, there are some instances when you might start to notice the green leaves turning an unsightly shade of yellow. When this starts to happen, it's important to identify the problem immediately so you can nurture your petunias back to health. Here are the top six reasons that causes yellow petunia leaves, according to an expert, and how to fix each cause. Meet the Expert Ondrea Kidd is the lead floral designer and founder of Sowing Joy Farm in Post Falls, ID. Nutrient Deficiency Once you've planted your petunias, watered them enough, and see that the plant has become established, the work doesn't stop there. Without ensuring your petunias have consistent nutrients, you might start to see yellowing leaves. "After the initial planting, it is important to give your petunias regular feedings every two to three weeks," Ondrea Kidd, lead floral designer and founder of Sowing Joy Farm, says. "I suggest a natural fertilizer such as Neptune’s Harvest and a top dressing of worm castings. These natural fertilizers amend your soil without causing any burning." She also says that you will be able to tell that a lack of nutrients is the leading cause for yellowing leaves if there's no dryness or dampness to the soil. "A good feeding followed by regular subsequent feeds will fix this problem," she adds. "You will want to remove any unsightly leaves to allow the nutrients to go to new growth and roots." Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! Overwatering Of course, water plays a huge part in whether or not you start to notice yellowing leaves on your petunias. One of the ways water can lead to this leaf color is from overwatering. "Petunias love predictable watering schedules but like to dry out a bit in between waterings," Kidd says. "The main symptoms of overwatering with petunias are soggy or mushy yellowing leaves lower on the plant." She also says you may see root rot and very damp and soggy soil as other potential symptoms of an overwatered petunia. The good news is that she says this problem is an easy fix that your plant can bounce back from! "Allow the top inch or so to dry out in between waterings," Kidd says. " How fast it dries out will depend on your environment, so check the soil often." Under-watering While overwatering is a common cause for yellowing petunia leaves, so is under-watering. "If your petunia leaves are drying and becoming crispy and your soil is dry, it’s a good bet that the reason is under-watering," Kidd says. "You want the top layer of your soil to dry between waterings, but not to the point where you have more than an inch or so that is very dry." Kidd says under-watering is also an easy fix, like overwatering. "Simply remove all dried-out leaves, give the petunias a good soak to desaturate the soil, and then monitor the dryness of the soil and water as needed." If you live in an area that's prone to dry heat, wind, and very high temperatures, Kidd suggests watering the plant daily in the evenings so that the plant has time to really soak up the water. Pests & Diseases Like most plants, petunias are susceptible to the occasional pest and disease invasion from time to time. This is also a common cause for yellowing leaves that Kidd says is important to catch in the early stages. "The most common pest that likes to invade petunias is aphids," Kidd shares. "Inspect your plants frequently for signs of pests, and at the first sign of aphid infestation, I suggest a water treatment that will cause the aphids to fall right off." For diseases, Kidd says petunias are most likely to contract the Tobacco Mosaic virus, which, sadly, doesn't have a cure. Lack of Sunlight Petunias grow best in an area that allows them to get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight. Without this, you could start to see yellow leaves on your plant. "To fix this problem, move your petunias to a sunny spot or remove any overhanging foliage of other plants that may be causing the shadiness." The good news is that Kidd says petunias are easy to move and are very forgiving when having to move to another location. "If you need to move them from the ground, dig around the bae with a spade to make sure you are getting all the roots and replace them in a sunny area with a similar-sized hole," she says. Age Lastly, the age of your petunia plant can play a factor in yellow leaves. Kidd says this is very common since the plant will yellow and dry up the older the plant gets. "To prolong the life and season of your petunia and keep it looking its best, deadhead all spent and wilting blooms," Kidd says. "By not letting your bloom go to seed, it will keep the petunia thinking it needs to continue blooming."

12 “Modern” Chairs That Look Good With Antique Dining Tables

I’m helping two of my best friends decorate their new homes and I feel like the luckiest person in the world to use my time/talents/connections to relieve their stress and help them love their homes more. I guess thirty years of extremely close friendship warrants some perks:) And because we are all busy moms with demanding jobs, this is a guaranteed way to be able to see them frequently. So today I’ll show you R’s dining room highlighting the only piece of furniture that I think we are keeping (all the rest were starter pieces that she is ready to part with after a decade – please note the sun damage stripe on the back of that sofa – isn’t that nuts!!!!??!). Her dining table is a family heirloom and we really love it but the chairs she had were really lightweight and felt cheap/old (while admittedly they didn’t look bad). I ended up pitching this whole project to Rejuvenation and the plan for it looks so perfect for them I can’t even tell you. Here you’ll see some that we played with. To be honest many of these are above our budget and some just aren’t going to be right for the rest of the design, but I figured I’d show you all the ones I pinned and talk through why. Monte Ivory Performance Fabric Dining Chair Ugh, I love this chair. It felt a bit delicate to them and the shape at the top might be too trendy but the undertones of the wood worked well with the table. But hot tip – performance fabric doesn’t mean that they can’t get dirty, just means that when they do they are easier to clean (so to be clear – you still have to really keep white furniture clean). This was a no-go for their family (two boys and a dog). Zoey Caned Armless Dining Chair This is a solid choice – I love the simplicity of the lines of the legs against the turned table legs. And the mix of materials is really nice. Molina Dining Chair This chair is def on the hyper-traditional side (feels very 1940s) but those lines are so pretty and classic. Dalton Leather and Cane Dining Chair Again, above our budget this time (when you times it by 6 it’s like GEESH), but I think that leather and the caning is so lovely. I think that it might actually be too busy and a simpler chair would let the lines of the table stand out. Easton Dining Chair I’ve GOT to use this chair somewhere – incredible. Out of our budget here but my goodness it’s awesome. Ambrogio Dining Chair I mean, the joinery on this one… so simple and pretty. We might actually use this in a different project stay tuned. Biscoe Wood Dining Chair We shopped for more budget options and Studio McGee/Target is killing it. I want to see one of these in person to better understand the scale (again, three big boys in this family). Lana Curved Back Dining Chair Another great and affordable Target option. The lines are simple but elegant. Comes in black too which I might prefer. Enzo Solid Oak Wood Dining Chair My SIL just bought these for their house that is super high-end, and these (very affordable) look so good in there. They look far more expensive than they are and are super comfy and classic. Pottery Barn also has a version that is much more expensive but looks very similar. Sandia Leather Dining Chair I LOVE these chairs. They seem like a modern version of a cozy pub or library chair. Ida Dining Chair Now these might be too simple for you, but remember that the rest of the room isn’t designed yet and we are likely putting a wallpaper, and adding darker paint. So the room will have a lot more going on and thus the dining chairs (at least the side chairs) could be simpler. Byers Arm Chair This is a solid contender because not only is it beautiful but we sat on them and they were a really good size, super ergonomic, and substantial. Plus the curve is pretty and will stick out a little bit – enough to see it, but not so much that it obstructs walking. More to come on this project. I’ve been soooo busy (lots of trips) and very busy in life, so hopefully you’ll see more of this very very very very soon.

Our 2025 Summer Landscaping Reveal (With Full Process)

I’m currently caught in the “why would anyone live anywhere else” fever dream that is “Oregon in The Summer”, and while I intellectually know there is no perfect place to live, right now, up here, it’s magical (and has been since March – 2025 was a real pretty one). This backyard is certainly serving up some particularly beautiful vibes, and we are in full hosting season. Today I wanted to do a full documentation of the backyard landscaping process, and get into the details for all of us landscape design nerds. Like most things in design – it looks a lot easier than it is, and the more expertise and experience involved, the better product you get. As you know, for this project we hired Dennis’ 7 Dees, a local (and booming) family landscaping company that now manages all our landscaping maintenance as well (besides Charlie mowing the lawn…when we are in town). They designed, planned, executed, and now care for our yard with total seamlessness – not once did I feel like I didn’t know what was happening, when, or that they were too busy with other jobs to take care of us. (Read til the end for some hot tips on working with design professionals.) January – OOF IT WAS SAD Of course, there are more “before befores” from 2019 (when we bought the property) and 2021 (aka the year of the mud before phase 1 began). But this was in January 2025, which is always a sad time of year (and before we had proper maintenance because we thought we could handle it, so the leaves were clearly a problem). As you know, the sports court was way too big – I even mentioned this in the reveal 2 summers ago. And then the area underneath the cherry trees was fine in the summer, but just not working as well as we wanted (that’s the area between the flagstone path and the sports court). So this was the main area we were working to make better, along with the outdoor grill area (which was done by my brother’s company). The Overall Landscaping Plan We worked with Eric Hagberg from Dennis’ 7 Dees, whom we loved – he had so much experience, expertise, and was so flexible – listening to us, and editing as things came up. He came up with the first plan and accompanied budget, and presented it to us (I believe this was in November). Landscaping Plan Number #1 We really loved it, but needed to scale it back for budget purposes. So we reduced the amount of trees, plants, stonework, and lighting (all the pink), and totally nixed the back area near the paddock, seeding for clover instead. One thing we were more sensitive to this time around was planting enough evergreen plants, not just perennials. I love echinacea and all these gorgeous wildflowers, but winter can be really sad here (sadder than my former California lady brain knew), so this time we asked for 70% evergreen plants, 30% perennials. Plan #2 – Reduced Plants, Lighting And Square Footage He sent through the edited plan, which reduced the scope by almost in 1/2. Sure, we still had demo, prep soil, irrigate, run lighting lines, but the scope of planting, stonework, irrigation, and lighting helped reduce the cost substantially. I mean, it’s obvious, but the less you do, the less it costs. The Plant Palette Here was the palette they had planned, which I was in love with and all came from their garden centers (which have an incredibly robust selection). While in the past I have been picky with plants, needing to love each one and feel like stylistically it was “me,” this time around I shifted my mentality. My goal was to have a cohesive color palette, sure, (no random pops that didn’t make sense), but otherwise all I wanted was for the experts to choose things that really thrived easily here, in Oregon, under our conditions. I didn’t want to make suggestions that would override the expertise. For instance, I never thought that I, Emily Henderson, would choose hydrangeas (I had wrong judgements about them, ok?), but as you can see below – they are all over our yard and so beautiful. I am a full hydrangea girly now!! I really, really trusted Eric that they would plant plants that loved living in Oregon and would be easy to manage/tend to and beautiful year-round. They understood that we like a less manicured look, less structure, lots of levels and layers (I said no to orange, sorry, and nothing oddly tropical or like red roses). I really let them do their job because everything they showed me was so aligned with what we wanted. We were speaking the same language, which is really what you want from any designer. The Schedule From Eric: “Originally, we were thinking this would be a 4-week project. But because we’ve doubled the crew size to 6 guys, it’s likely to only take about 2 weeks”. OK!!!! Let go! Concrete Demo: Feb 17-20 Green Demo: Feb 21 Stone Patios/Paths: Feb 24-25 Soil/Grading: Feb 26 Irrigation: Feb 27 Plants: Feb 28 Irrigation: March 3 Lighting: March 3 Bark/Clover Lawn Seed: March 4 (we’ll come back in April, after freezing to apply the seed) They ended up extending it a bit, which worked better for us so that we could be around to capture more of the content. But we were seriously thrilled with the speed and manpower that went into it. Again, this whole “booking in fall and starting in winter” strategy strangely sped things up because it’s the slowest time of year, and a company of 7 Dees’ size has multiple crews they employ – more manpower and time to spend on us! The Prep Work This clearly wasn’t a DIY situation, at least not for us. They moved fast, and that chunk of the sports court was gone in a matter of days. The Hardscape – Flagstone Next came the laying of the paths and landing pads (which they drew out with water-soluble spray paint). If you think it’s just putting down stones (like we did), it’s clearly not. So much prep work underneath the stones as well as leveling and grading. But still, they were so fast. The dirt/puddle areas are where the plants would go. Then, we had the landing pads and the stepping stone paths to the sports court. Now, if you haven’t done flagstone before, know that this is a massive investment (ours cost over $20k). We could have used pea gravel, but it’s a lot messier and we wanted it to be cohesive with the rest of the walkway around the house. In Oregon, due to the rain, you really want solid hardscape to walk – you can’t use DG like you can in CA. So this was a massive investment and something we knew we needed the experts to execute. The Planting Phase Eric, our designer, created the plant selection that we tweaked together. Again, it’s a combination of perennials and evergreen plants and in all the tones that I love. One of the perks with working with them is that since they also have three garden centers in Portland (well, one in Vancouver), they call pull from them as well as place the bigger orders. They are also great resources as a home gardener without a designer – their inventory and selection is huge and so well cared for. The plants went in so fast, I couldn’t believe it. Brian and I were watching from inside like it was a movie – every day there was so much progress. So many people working so hard to make our yard beautiful. We felt so grateful. After planting, they added irrigation and the lighting, as well as a French drain with river rocks along the sports court because it was flooding a lot (remember that disturbed soil doesn’t drain as much as established soil – a fun fact I’m learning over and over). The June Reveal – 2 Months Ago We shot the first round of reveals in June because, well, it was done and looked so beautiful. Check out this post to see that full reveal. We needed to shoot the outdoor kitchen, so we did a tour of the landscaping as well. But little did we know that over the next six weeks things would pop and grow in the most beautiful way. It’s honestly so stunning, I can’t even tell you. Magical, enchanted, already so grown-in (thanks to the Monrovia plants that are so healthy and thrive so well). We have been hosting like crazy back here. We had another big 75-person multi-family school fundraiser here last Saturday – I love sharing it (read: showing it off :) so much). P.S. The theme was the pig’s birthday party, i.e., the “Wine and Swine,” which I need to show you photos from – Barb and Alicia were the belles of the ball in party hats!!! The Newest Update! Mid-July 2025 summer landscaping It’s incredibly beautiful. The panicle hydrangeas are incredible – all from their garden centers (Monrovia has very healthy, high-quality plants that are locally grown, which helps), and the layering, textures, and colors feel so natural but not messy. Here you can see how the whole yard works – the stone pathways with the picnic tables surrounded by all the greenery (designed to be full but not grow too high) and with the trees that will eventually create shade for the seating areas. We are hoping that greenery will eventually take over the grout lines in the stone (left just as soil, unplanted for budget reasons). We love how organic it feels and know that once it’s fully grown it we think it will look like it was always here. They did a great job specifying plants that would be ball barriers from the sport court but not too fragile or thorny. Here you can see the river rock that covers the French drain to keep water from flooding the plants or the new pickleball court. It’s just incredibly beautiful. Over the weekend, we put umbrellas over the picnic tables to create shade, which was wonderful (and made me secretly want big comfy upholstered chairs or a sofa + 2 chairs for the middle one to be more comfortable). The entire yard gets used when 80 people come over, and it’s incredibly delightful. Dennis’ 7 Dees did such a great job of making it look like a park-like area, casual but still elevated and appropriate to the farm vibe. Jess asked where the umbrellas went, but we just couldn’t get them all straight for the photos and videos at the same time – there is SUCH a hole in the market for long-lasting umbrella stands that actually keep umbrellas perfectly vertical. But I love that you can see the full garden without them. These hydrangeas keep changing color – first bright white, then blush, and now these sweet pastel pink. I’m here for all of the shades and love seeing the yard change. The pops of these hotter pinks from the agastache surprised me a bit, and while I love them, I want to add a few more to make the other areas more balanced. All of the echinaceas (perhaps my favorite flowers) are that bright pink, so holistically the yard works together really well. The lighting is perfect. It’s mostly path lighting for nighttime without it being lit up super bright. I know that most people like more/brighter landscape lighting, but we love the string lights on the fenceline and roofline and don’t mind that the garden area is more subtle. We had some uplights in LA and didn’t really love the vibe and prefer less (as of now). I love this view – seeing the sunroom through the trees and flowers is just so pretty. I really want to add wisteria to the back porch, to grow up those posts, so stay tuned on that (although I’m not ready for a phase 3 yet, folks). A huge thanks to Eric for the design and his wonderful crew at Dennis’ 7 Dees for executing it so professionally. This project was so seamless, and caused us zero unnecessary stress, which is saying A LOT. We got all the plants from the 7Dees garden centers (one in Lake Oswego, Vancouver and Cedar Hills/Beaverton). They source a lot from Monrovia for their garden centers, who grow such healthy plants (thank you). And always Kaitlin for all the beautiful photography. The rundown pickleball wall is getting replaced today, so we are about to do a full backyard tour with the kids in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to show you how it all flows together. A Special Reader/ Follower Offers From Dennis’ 7 Dees For all of you in Portland, they are extending some pretty sweet deals. Check these out: Offer #1: Free Landscape Design with Installation, like ours below If you mention my name, “Emily Henderson” when requesting a residential landscape consultation, you’ll get a free AutoCAD landscape design (a $2,500 value) when you move forward with an installation contract of $15,000 or more. Essentially, you’ll pay the design fee upfront, but it’s fully credited back on the final invoice if you move forward with the full design (saving $2500). This offer would be good for contracted projects through August 31, 2025 (so act now!). Additionally, they wanted me to mention that right now they have fast install timelines available, which will change as fall approaches. They also offer flexible financing options to fit your budget *Reminder to use the landing page link we sent you guys for any website links. 🙂 Offer #2: 20% Off at Our Garden Centers For any Portland followers that are more into plants + DIY, Dennis’ 7 Dees Garden Centers are such a gem if you’re looking for gorgeous, high-quality plants and fun DIY inspiration. They even have the cutest indoor plant shops—like their Bridgeport Village location that’s all about houseplants. You can get 20% off any in-store purchase with the code EMHENDERSON through August 31st (in-store only at any of their 5 locations). I love the Lake Oswego store (it’s such a lovely shopping experience), but I usually pop into Cedar Hills because it’s closer—plus, their Vancouver location is supposed to be huge and beautiful too! Thank you, Dennis’ 7 Dees, for your landscape magic. I’m just so grateful and proud to call this ours. Here Are My Tips For Landscaping: Be realistic about your budget up front. I still fall into this dumb mental trap – not wanting to say what I can spend for fear that I’ve just played my card and lose leverage. But consistently, it has wasted people’s time. Our first quote for the first design came in so high because they didn’t know what our parameters were, so once we cut it by 1/2 or two-thirds (which was realistic for our budget), they had to edit and essentially redesign it. I should have said at the beginning what we really couldn’t go over on the project as a whole from the beginning. When it comes to landscaping, while you want your artistic vision to be executed (farm! natural! wildflowers!), what you really want is for an expert in your region to choose plants that they know will thrive in your yard, based on your conditions, sun location, etc. Like I said below, I weighed in on the color palette but wanted them to use their expertise to choose the right plants that would help the yard look pretty year round (crucial, as we use it and stare it at allllllll year long). Plan early for spring/summer usage. Most landscapers are slow from October/November – February, and then they get SLAMMED. The second that we start fantasizing about using our yard (February/March), they get inundated with new work, so do what we did – reach out in late fall, and then you could be ready by spring!

Emily Buys The Team Her 3 Of Her All-Time Favorite Products To Try… And They Give Their Honest Reviews

Itry to not actually force other people to choose the products that I swear by – but every now and again, as we brainstorm posts based on our own grievances certain things come up. Once again we were discussing the frustration around comfortable and affordable underwear, beauty products, and tanning and I was like “CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME?? I HAVE THE SOLUTION THAT I’VE TOLD YOU ABOUT A MILLION TIMES!!!”. Now there are many things that I don’t have the answers for (best non-stick pan, really comfortable underwire bra for larger boobs, or good concealer). But when it comes to underwear, face masks, and tanning lotions I have tried so many, so I KNOW THE BEST. I think the hesitancy of my team to actually use these products was 1. maybe it’s just for you (me) and not for everyone’s body or skin and sure, that is definitely a good argument, and 2. they aren’t the cheapest on the market. So I begged them to let me buy them for them, put it on mommy’s card – virtually no risk!! So that’s today – my team honestly reviewing the products that I swear by. Jockey Underwear Em Explains Why They Are The Best: I DESPISE a bad pair of underwear – one that cuts in, feels super uncomfortable, and frankly makes me feel bad and sad with the line it creates. So when I found this pair (totally randomly) I want to never go back. I get so bummed when I can’t find one pair and will often hand wash one rather than wearing a backup. Where do I start – this fabric is stretchy enough so they stay in place, but they do NOT cut in – like even if I’m bloated or gain some fun “summer/beer” lbs, they are still so comfortable (it’s nice to not feel shamed by your panties). There isn’t a “band” or seam at the top or bottom in which to cut in. They are SO THIN and soft, but so far (after 5 months) are still in great shape and have held their shape. I can NOT feel they are there, at all – both the thong and the normal underwear. They don’t ride up, they stay put, and they are so soft that I’d even say they make me feel sexy – despite being so simple. Jess This actually might be the lightest and softest fabric I have put on my body. I completely get Emily’s obsession. I love that the tank top doesn’t scoop too low but I still feel kinda sexy in it. Then the hipster underwear truly doesn’t cut in at all, is a fuller coverage (my preference…especially for sleeping), but I feel really cute too! It really is such a “cute/secretly sexy in a not trying kinda way” set that I would happily (and will happily) wear to bed. I have already ordered more. O and I really really like the thong which is a pretty big deal for me. Historically, I hate thongs. But these are thin, seamless, and have just the right amount of fabric between the buns;) I think they sit a little higher than in the model photo but that might just be because of my body type. Rating: 10/10 Caitlin Rating: TMI time: I’m wearing underwear like…25% of the time, maybe? I have a butt that eats fabric like NOBODY’S business, I’m not super crazy about thongs, and I got really tired of being like “hey can you block me while I fix my wedgie in the middle of this store/park/public place?” so I just kinda stopped wearing it. All that said, HECK YEAH – these will 100% be my new period week underwear. I got the XL-2XL and kind of wish I had sized down because I had a bit of an issue with the waist band slipping down (though I can’t imagine myself wearing underwear that would also fit Mallory, hah), but I can imagine that I’ll LOVE that stretch/flexibility when I’m dying of cramps and just want my underwear to be pulled up to my boobs. (Anyone else just want to feel totally swaddled when they’re on their period?) I also really do love the fabric – it’s different from all the other silky/stretchy underwear I had – and after reading Jess’ note, I have to say that I totally agree that the top + bottom combo ARE very cute in the “I’m not trying, I’m just naturally put together” way. I paid $45 for 5 pairs + 2 tanks and think that was a super fair price – would recommend. AD Rating: 7/10 (but am I really qualified to judge? Unclear. I’m curious what you’d think about these!!) Mallory Everyone on the team keeps raving about these, and after trying them out I have A LOT to say. First let me start with this: Emily has never steered me wrong on a product recommendation, but Jockey is the one thing I just can’t get behind and for weirdly specific reasons a lot of people just won’t relate to. 1. I have a problem with seams. Always have, always will. Let me tell you what I mean by this…when I was a young girl (like 3 years old young) I would FREAK out if my socks were on the wrong way or if I was wearing 2 different unmatching socks where the seams felt different and didn’t perfectly align with the top of my foot. It’s a weird flaw, but everyone’s got their thing and this one’s mine. So when I tried on these “magical” jockey panties (we all hate that word btw) I noticed an unseeming seam riding horizontally across the butt (but like low on the butt, like where the crotch line meets the underwear in the back if that makes sense) and it just drove me insane. I also exclusively wear thongs because wearing regular underwear feels like a diaper to me – especially in pants (I KNOW ALL MY WEIRD QUIRKS ARE COMING OUT IN THIS POST AND IM SORRY YOU ALL HAVE TO WITNESS THIS). So, I tried the jockey thong also, and it’s nice, but I didn’t think it was anything super special (my team so disagrees with all of this btw). The fabric is really soft and nice, so they got a point in that department, but all in all, I didn’t freak out over it like everyone else did (and continues to do) when they first put them on. Also, the tank top is very soft, but if you have broad shoulders and a long torso (like me) the straps might feel a little short (Jess and Emily said they both didn’t have that issue at all). Rating: To Jockey, Emily, & the team: I’m sorry but this is a 2/10 (1 point for the soft fabric, 1 point for the stretchiness of the fabric) Em Explains Why It’s The Best: Like any mom/lady trying stupidly to chase youth, I’ve tried a lot of face masks. Almost all of them make me feel good, like I’m taking care of myself but very few do enough to make a visual change. I’ve been using this one, one or twice a month for probably 6 years. They call it the Hollywood’s 2-minute facial. It’s green and you can FEEL IT working (yes it kinda burns and buzzes). It is indeed intensive and not for all skin types – but listen, people say these types of intensive exfoliators aren’t for my skin type and yet every time I use it I glow, have far less visible fine lines and my skin is just tight and shiny for at least a day. I have thin skin so I need to be careful, but I also have dry skin so I have a lot to shlub off. There are many times where I’ve left it on for 15-20 minutes (NOT recommended) and it just WORKS. My kids, however, are very scared by it because it is bright green … Jess In fear of being disowned, I wasn’t as taken with this treatment as I thought I would be. Look, it felt totally good. I felt very clean and it smells so great. But I guess I thought I was going to be transformed in some way. A “new Jess” if you will which is my fault for thinking any product could do that. Perhaps though because I already have a pretty involved regiment and do a chemical exfoliation about once a week, that’s also why it didn’t feel like a “new face”. Had this been Jess in 2019 maybe it would have been a different experience since that girl did not have any kind of routine. Regardless, I loved trying it and will for sure keep using the bottle I have. AD Rating: 8/10 Caitlin Oh my, this threw me for a loop. I have super sensitive skin and maybe didn’t read the description – you’re only supposed to leave it on for a minute if you’re tender, like me – and was like “AM I DYING???” about 90 seconds in…but yeah, this thing works. I have super dry skin (and a nice little flaky patch on my right cheek! Cool!) so I usually use more abrasive cleansers to get everything all smoothed out and ready for moisturizer. This was my first-ever chemical exfoliant, so I was SHOCKED that this sloughed off all my dead skin and left a super-smooth canvas without me having to do any rubbing and scrubbing. My real test for exfoliating products is when I put on my tinted moisturizer afterwards – dry friends know the struggle of seeing little flakes start to pop up as soon as foundation goes on! – and this just left a nice, hydrated, baby-soft surface for me to work with. Good call, boss!!! Rating: 10/10 Mallory I’m not a skin guru, in fact, I find it difficult to wash my face every morning because I just forget about it (gross I know, I do my best). Because of that, I was reluctant to try another “holy grail” beauty product that sat in my medicine cabinet and MAYBE got used once a year. So, I apprehensively tried the ExfoliKate, which the bottle says is “Hollywood’s 2-minute facial” and I kinda liked that branding, so I tried to be a little more open-minded because I do live in Hollywood after all and I rarely spend the time or money on real facials, so this seemed more approachable to me. Immediate reaction was: Woah this stuff is GREEN, then I rubbed it on my freshly washed face (see I wash sometimes) and then started to rub it around in circles on my cheeks, chin, forehead & nose. Then something unexpected happened…IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BURN? I’m panicked and grab the back of the bottle to see if I should immediately rub this off my face and then I read “might cause skin tickling and light flushness” and I was like PHEW. Then it kinda turned into a good burn, dare I say, a light skin tickle. I waited the 2 minutes so I could get the full results out of my 2-minute Hollywood facial and then WOW. My skin felt like a baby’s butt. I was shook. I’m still shook. This thing actually works!! I will be using this more than once a year unlike my other face products (it recommends 1-2 times a week which seems manageable to me). Rating: 10/10 St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse Em Explains Why It’s The Best: I was called an albino in high school. I was asked if I was related to Powder. My level of pale is far beyond what you think it is, and while nothing is wrong with it, I’m really self-conscious about it. So I’ve been dabbling in the self-tanner front since the industry was first discovered in the ’90s. We joke that I’d rather be orange than pale, which is not something I’m proud of, but I think from years of being made fun of it’s just my thing. I also get sun rash if I’m in the sun and have zero melanin in which to tan, so there is no way of me doing this naturally. I know how beautiful naturally fair skin can be, but I prefer some tone and I think I look healthier with some help. That’s all to say, again, I’ve tried them all and every time I try something new I’m like “nope”, this is better. A bunch of you recommended the one Goop recommended because it doesn’t get on sheets and ladies. I tried it and sure it’s fine but maybe if you already have a tone to start with. I also like Coco and Eve but it can go way too orange on my skin. Very few products can take you from stark white to California tan in 8 hours. You HAVE to use the mitt to make it even and you have to rub evenly and a lot over your entire body to ensure an even color. And yes it will get on your sheets and while technically it washes off, after like 10 sessions on your sheets (even washing in between) you’ll see some staining. So if you want to avoid it just sleep in PJs or a nightgown. While I used to get a weekly spray tan, Covid and living in the mountains took that option away from me and I fell back in love with what I think is the best self-tanner on the market. It instantly makes me feel better, healthier, and yes even in the winter (especially in the winter, but I just don’t use as much). Listen, do I wish that the world and myself were not conditioned to loved tan skin more, YES, but if you are like me and are self-conscious about how see-through your skin is then at least there is a very easy solution. Jess I am now VERY into this self-tanner and despite Emily recommending it…forever, I was just too nervous that it would look bad or I would do it wrong (and actually my feet were ummm, not good in the morning but a shower and a little scrubbing fixed them right up). It was super easy to apply, comes out very even AND now my pale legs match my tan arms. I actually only applied it to my legs because I just needed to even out my body tone. My skin (especially my arms) typically tans pretty easily without “trying”. But my legs are another story. First off, I only just the past couple of months really started to wear shorts outside regularly so that’s strike one against my legs getting sun exposure. Strike two (and a healthy strike at that) is that I don’t want to lay out anymore. I want to go to the beach, I want to be in a pool, and I want to just generally be outside, but gone are the days I want to just sit and bake. So with this tanning mousse, my arms and legs can look like they belong to the same body without playing fire with skin cancer. THANK YOU EM!! Rating: 10/10!! Caitlin Like Em, I am VERY VERY pale. Unlike Em, I have a crippling addiction to the spray tan from Sugared & Bronzed (see if they have a chain near you – it’s SO good, once you get over the whole “standing naked in a freezing room in front of stranger” thing) because their color is beet-based, so it runs a little more “human skin” and a little less “tangerine.” I tell you this because I am a HARD CUSTOMER to please when it comes to self-tanner – like, once you’ve had the spray tan of your dreams, can anything compare?! And thankfully, the answer is YES (but only if you use the mitt, TBH). I live alone and lack coordination so I just apply this in the area that the sun actually hits (arms, legs, shoulders, chest, etc.) and my favorite thing about this foam in particular is that it blends super naturally – like, I tan the parts of my upper thighs that see the light of day, but skip going any higher (no need to tan my butt if nobody’s looking, ya know?) and there’s never a crazy line of demarcation, thanks to the mitt. Just be careful around your wrists and ankles and you’ll be glowin’ in no time, guys. It’s the gold standard for a reason! Rating: 9/10 (would be a 10/10 if I hadn’t been spoiled by the in-person spray tan wizards though) Mallory Emily turned me onto self-tanning pretty much immediately upon joining the company. I was a little reluctant at first because I didn’t know how to tan and I didn’t want to walk around like a streaky little carrot, but then this thing called the pandemic happened and I was no longer afraid of people making fun of me for how bad my first self-tan would look (because we were seeing nobody!!) We used the entire bottle between 2 people the first time we tanned (would not recommend) but now I’ve gotten the hang of applying it and I LOVE me a self-tan especially in the summer since I sunburn instead of tanning naturally. Oh, also I’ve tried the St. Tropez express tan as well (because I’m bad at planning when I want to be tan and I always wish I could tan immediately) and it works GREAT. 1 hour is a light glow, 2 hours is a decent tan, and 3 hours you’re BRONZED. I love this product. Rating: 10/10!