• DIY Outdoor Sectional Couch

    Fall always brings to mind very specific thoughts: hot chai tea lattes, cozy sweaters, snuggling around a bonfire or wrapped up in a blanket on our patio. Over the summer while working on putting together a comfortable and fun patio to hang out on we realized we needed to have adequate seating for the large parties we host throughout the summer and fall. What better seating than an outdoor sectional couch?! A new patio set easily runs $2,000-$3,000 which seemed outrageous to me so I looked into what it would take to build a DIY outdoor sectional from scratch. About a week later I created this! Here it is in all its pillow…

  • Organizing for Back to School

    It is that time of year when stores open their gates to neverending supplies, the mailbox starts getting letters with school info for the kids, and I start looking at the calendar to try and squeeze in a few more days of outings with the kids before summer ends. This year I will have two of my four kiddos in school, a middle school first timer and a second grader. I wanted to share some hacks and tips I have in organizing and preparing for school to make the transition into this fall easier and better (or at least a little bit better! lol). I’ll also link some of the items that help…

  • T-Shirt Dress Styled 4 Ways + A Giveaway

    SPECIAL GIVEAWAY at the end of this t-shirt dress post! Be sure you scroll to the end of this post to see what all the hype is about. Hint: you especially want to check it out if you like Target… just saying 😉 You all know I am a basics girl at heart. One reason is that basics are easy to restyle so many different ways and for various occasions. I had posted an outfit on Instagram wearing a simple grey t-shirt dress and some of you requested seeing multiple ways to style it since it is such a great basic to have, is incredibly comfy, and is under $10! Here I am…

  • Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2018

    It’s here! The long awaited Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is one of the most highly anticipated sales events, it happens only once a year, and it starts today! Here I’ll break down important dates, anniversary sale info, tips and some items I am excited for. I’ll be updating my Nordstrom Sale Shop tab periodically with items I find and like. Important Dates: Early Access: begins July 12th and open for cardholders only General Access: begins July 20th and open to the public Sale Ends: August 5th Shipping and Returns: Shipping and returns for Nordstrom are FREE so no need to have a minimum purchase amount. You can also order online and pickup in store if you want an…

  • 4th of July Desserts Roundup

    Every summer I look forward to the 4th of July: BBQ, warm weather, friends and family gathering together, and of course fireworks to celebrate America. Each year my husband’s family throws a big bash that includes an annual Rib Cook Off, trophy and all, and everyone brings food to share. I thought it would be fun to compile the desserts I have served up in the past on Independence Day, as well as some good food inspiration from others. Lemon Berry Trifle Last year I served up my first trifle and it was a huge hit! The colors fit right into the red, white, and blue theme by using three kinds of berries…

  • Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

    Wow May came quick! With spring now in full swing and school days dwindling down Mother’s Day is fast approaching. If you are anything like me, the craziness of May with baseball practices and end-of-school activities has gotten me a bit behind in looking for great Mother’s Day gifts for some of the women most important to me: Mothers! I rounded up some of my top picks for gift ideas that can either be picked up in store right away or ordered online with Amazon Prime and still be delivered in time for the big day. Either way be sure to make all the moms and mom figures in your life feel special…

  • Wardrobe Pieces to Transition from Winter to Spring

    Spring is officially upon us, and although mother nature has yet to inform Minnesota that it is in fact spring considering we still have snow falling as I type this, I am more than ready to start pulling out spring attire! In fact it may be because of this lingering winter that I feel compelled to write and dream about spring even  more! Here I have gathered up some great pieces and outfits that I think are perfect for this season as we transition from winter into spring. It is that odd time of year where one day it feels warm, the sun is out, and the birds are chirping and then the…

  • Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

    Today is Valentine’s Day and I know that means different things for a lot of people. Maybe it is a special day for you and your significant other to proclaim your love to each other with chocolates and flowers, maybe it is a perfect day for you and a group of friends to indulge in a grand dinner and dessert at a fancy restaurant, or maybe it is a love-filled day spending time with your kids baking cookies and cuddling in pajamas. Whatever Valentine’s Day means to you, it can only be even better with a slice or two or five of warm, delicious, out of the oven Chocolate Chip Banana Bread! It is simple,…

  • Hello Again!

    I’m back! After taking a bit of a blog hiatus due to every mom excuse imaginable including holidays, time, kids, and well excuses, I am ready to take KindaSortaSimple to the next level! I want to reintroduce myself and KindaSortaSimple to you so grab a coffee, have a seat and let’s chat as we talk about what I see coming this year and where my blog is heading. Now do not freak out as food and recipes will continue to be a part of my story, however my focus will also be including other things I am especially excited about including family, DIY’s, possibly YouTube videos and more! Keep reading to get a…

  • Lemon Berry Trifle

    The 4th of July was an absolutely perfect day of ribs, fireworks, and great company with weather that was warm and comforting. It was one of those parties where everything came together and conversation flowed well into the night after the fireworks were done and the tiki torches had burnt out. I had found a lemon berry trifle recipe online that I was excited to try out and figured it would be a great dish to change up and make variations of in the future. More about the dessert and the recipe below. We hosted the celebration this year at our house even with our siding looking like swiss cheese from a recent…