The Blog - Dream Green DIY

Friday, August 18, 2017

How To Install An Electronic Door Handle

*This post was sponsored by Schlage

Okay, truth time. On how many occasions have you locked yourself out of your house without access to a hide-a-key?

This actually happened to us recently. We were on our way out to brunch with my parents, who were visiting from out of town, and John and I both assumed that the other had grabbed house keys on the way out the door. After a quick empty-handed, wide-eyed stare down, we went into recovery mode, me standing by the door doing a mental check of all the doors and windows that could potentially be rigged open, and John racing to our hidden outdoor key. By the time John got back to the door, I had come up with no alternative ideas, and we discovered that our thoughtfully hidden hide-a-key was to an older door knob.

We eventually unearthed a second hidden key that properly opened the door (don’t worry, we promptly trashed the outdated key), but that moment of panic was enough to make us think twice about future lockout situations and how we might be able to better handle them in the future.

Enter: our new electronic door handle. We’ve partnered with Schlage this year to showcase a few easy door hardware projects (see our new interior pulls here and our curb appeal update here), but today’s post might just take the cake as our favorite one of all.

Schlage’s keyless options are quick to install, are easy to use every day, and the update is an affordable project that makes an immediate statement in terms of your decor, too. Read on to see how we managed to upgrade our front door to keyless entry, including step-by-step photos and a video!

To continue our slow modernization of the dated handles that had been installed throughout our home since the 1960s, we decided to go with a sleek matte black option, specifically the Schlage Touch Keyless Touchscreen Lever with Century trim and Broadway Lever. We love the clean lines of this particular design, plus the dark black finish really makes it feel extra special and modern. Click “Play” on the video below to watch the installation in action.

In case you’re at work and can’t watch the video just yet, rest assured that this home project is one you can easily cross off in one afternoon. Even with all of the pausing to photograph and film our own installation, this project took me under 20 minutes to pull off by myself, and you could easily do it in your own home in half that time.

Start by removing the old handle, and as long as you don’t need to make any modifications to the placement of your hardware hole (this lever works with most standard door notches), then you can move straight into installation mode. Just slip all of the individual pieces in as illustrated in the instructions (again, watch the video above to see it happen in sequential action), and use the unique codes that come with your particular handle to set up your keyless entry.

This whole project took far less time than I anticipated, and now we don’t have to worry about unearthing a dirty hide-a-key from our property if we get locked out. Instead, we just type in a series of numbers, and we are good to go. I have a feeling this will make it much easier when we have house- and pet-sitters in the future, too, since we won’t need to worry about giving them a spare key. All they need is the access code to get inside.

Have you gone keyless yet? If you’re feeling intimidated by the process, I’m here to tell you that it’s super easy to cross the to-do off your list, and your home will feel a whole lot more secure and modern once all is said and done. Which Schlage lever would you choose? Let me know in the special comment box below!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schlage. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

8 Bath Updates You Can Pull Off In A Weekend

*This post was sponsored by The Home Depot

Dated fixtures? Check. Leaky drain? Check. No natural light? Check. In a nutshell, our downstairs hall bathroom was just about as bad as a room could be, and we somehow managed to live with it as is for more than a year and a half. Yeah, I’m astounded, too.

Another big problem with our desperately pending bathroom renovation was budget. As in, we had very little of it. So, when The Home Depot reached out about working together to prove that it really is possible to renovate and update a bathroom in just one weekend on a tight budget, I was on board right from the get-go so I could show you guys how to pull it off on your own tight budget and timeline.

You probably know that I’m an incredibly impatient person, and that I tend to ere on the side of instant gratification. Incredibly, this makeover actually fit that bill. I kicked it off one Saturday morning last month and finished everything up the following evening, and, ultimately, was left with a space that feels modern and sophisticated despite having made just a handful of subtle, high-impact upgrades over the course of those two days.

I changed out towel hooks and bars, installed a new faucet, replaced mismatched drawer pulls, laid down a new rug, and hung framed vintage art. I managed to install a bright LED light fixture all on my own, and adopted a few new green potted friends to bring a little life to the space, too. Nowadays, our hall bath is one of my favorite rooms in the house, and I didn’t even have to paint or break out heavy demo tools!

Oh, and in case you’re looking to go back in time to the very beginning of this weekend bathroom makeover, feast your eyes on these dastardly before photos below. Again, the updates I made are subtle (some of them taking just five minutes to pull off!), but the combined effect of those new fixtures and finishes both freshened and brightened the room, making it feel much more livable.

Hop over to The Home Depot blog now to learn about all eight of the updates I made to makeover this dated bathroom, and let me know your favorite one in the comments below. Which change do you think had the biggest impact on the new look? And tell me: What are some of your favorite ways to update a dated bathroom with instant gratification in mind?

*I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in this D29B Bathroom Program (the “Program”). As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

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Monday, August 14, 2017

DIY Hand-Etched Mini Succulent Pots

*This post was sponsored by Oriental Trading

Oops! Looks like I spoke too soon, and this post is set to launch on Oriental Trading a little later on this month. Please enjoy this mini story and handful of favorite photos from the project, and I’ll be sure to alert everyone when the project is “officially” live on the OTC site soon! #caseofthemondays

Have you ever looked back at the pictures and images you’ve saved on Pinterest lately? Every now and then I do just that, and I’m always so intrigued to see the patterns that tend to show themselves. Lately, I’ve picked up on a subconscious love for things like neutral interior design, outfits punctuated by graphic tees, and lots of linen tabletop texture. I’m also apparently very into the idea of hand-etched pottery!

So, while brainstorming new craft ideas with my editor at Oriental Trading, I decided to include an experimental DIY that I’ve been wanting to test out for ages: a reverse etched painting technique to add pattern to a plain pot.

The good news is that the project managed to come alive just how I had pictured it, and the even better news is that, truly, anyone can do! Visit Oriental Trading now to see my tutorial for DIY Hand-Etched Mini Succulent Pots, and then tell me what type of design you would etch into your own pot. Would you go with a mudcloth-inspired pattern like I chose? Or maybe something a little more free-flowing and intricate? Do tell in the comments below!

P.S. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to sign up for the Dream Green DIY Tribe newsletter here! This week’s letter comes with a big (slightly bittersweet) business announcement that I don’t think I’ll be talking about here on the blog. If you want details, sign up to be part of our DIY Tribe here!

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Friday, August 11, 2017

Thrift Store Score: Vintage Handmade Pottery

These days catharses comes in the form of finding that “needle in a haystack” type of thrift store find. The rush from spotting the perfect piece is my kind of mental refresh, and since I’ve been cutting back on antique hunts as of late because I’m trying to keep more money in the bank and fewer things in our home, those moments are even more precious to me.

That said, when I do stop in at the antique store, one of my favorite things to keep an eye out for is pottery. I know it’s incredibly trendy right now to fill surfaces with handmade pottery, but it’s one of those trends I adore so much, I don’t really mind buying into and “selling out” for it. There’s just something so interesting about owning a one-of-a-kind vessel, knowing that someone made it with their own two hands and that they had their own vision in mind for the finished product.

Earlier this year, I happened upon a pretty sizable collection of handmade pottery in the basement of an antique store here in town. At the time I didn’t really have a spot for any one of the bowls, plates, and cups, but since upsizing the desk in my office, I had a bit more room for tabletop vessels. My first thought in trying to decide what to put there was the vintage pottery at our downtown antique shop.

I’ve since been back to the display of secondhand clay containers a couple more times to grab additional pieces for gifts and other little spots throughout our house, and I noticed that the shop always seemed to have new pottery to fill what I took home. Come to find out from the store owner that the bowls are all part of a huge estate, and that the family of the woman who used to collect them so religiously replenishes the display at the antique shop every month or so.

Knowing that someone so painstakingly gathered up all of these pieces of old pottery makes me appreciate the handful that I’ve chosen for myself even more. And the great thing about feeding this new secondhand addiction of mine is that pottery can serve all sorts of purposes around the house, so each one is a pretty practical purchase. Read on for a bunch of uses that I quickly came up with just now for pottery in a home.

8 Uses For Vintage Handmade Pottery

Sugar dish by the coffee maker
Pencils and glasses holder on a desk
Jewelry organizer
Place to stash keys next to the front door
Salt cellar by the stove
Makeup brush holder
Succulent planter
Dog treats dish

I mean, really, that list could go on and on, but you get the point—pottery is something you don’t need to feel guilty about picking up every chance you get. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

So, what are your favorite things to buy at antique stores? Are you just as into vintage pottery as I am? Whatever your goals, I wish you the best of luck with your secondhand treasure hunt this weekend!

P.S. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to sign up for the Dream Green DIY Tribe newsletter here! Next week’s letter comes with a big (slightly bittersweet) business announcement that I don’t think I’ll be talking about here on the blog. If you want details, sign up to be part of our DIY Tribe here!

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Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Mid-Century Inspired Curb Appeal Update

*This post was sponsored by Home Depot

While a lot of home updates take a fairly small amount of time and effort to pull off, there are inevitably those certain projects that you think will be a cinch to cross off your list, but turn out to take months to really make happen. Our new front door is one of those types of deceptively simple projects that ended up taking a lot more time and a lot more money to see through to the finish line, but, happily, the results are worth all of the trial and, yes, the tears, too.

It all started back in the beginning of the year when I decided that it was time for a curb appeal face lift. Our home’s unique A-frame shape already made it stand out from the neighborhood, but John and I always wished that the front entry matched the cool sophistication of the architecture itself. As is, the flimsy glass storm door was neither very secure nor very impervious to the elements (vines used to grow under the door, it was that loosely hung!), so we decided it was time to replace it with a professionally installed, weather-tight steel front door.

First, though, we needed to choose a style. I Photoshopped all sorts of different options onto an image we already had of the front of our house, and thought I had settled on this one, which I showed you a couple months ago in my mood board for the curb appeal makeover. I loved the pretty moulding, but after finding out that we needed a custom-sized door, the decorative style just wasn’t within budget. Here are a handful of other options we considered throughout the process in case you’re curious.

Instead, we settled on the plain, totally flat panel door you see mocked up above. I tend to ere on the side of simple anyway, so I wasn’t upset at the last-minute change, but the inevitable up-charge that comes with a custom door was a little surprising. I just wanted to make sure that I mentioned it here in case you decide to upgrade to a steel door, too, so that you aren’t taken by surprise at check-out like we were.

Of course, we could have saved hundreds of dollars by installing the door ourselves, but after working with the contractors that our local Home Depot sent out to do the work, I couldn’t possibly recommend a professional install more. And I’m not being paid to say that. Home Depot did help us with a generous discount on the door in return for a mention on the blog, but this project was something we had been saving up for and invested a lot of our own money into as well.

Long story short, we never would have attempted to install the door on our own since it required a brand new frame, new weather-resistant vinyl and weather stripping, plus hinges, a matching sill, and multiple lines of caulk to make sure that everything was sealed up tight. They even installed our new matte black hardware and deadbolt, so it was completely worry-free for us. I welcomed the installers into the house at 9am one Thursday morning, and they were all wrapped up and hauling our old storm door and the tattered old frame out by 10:30am—no questions asked.

Next, we needed to choose a paint color. The door we bought came in a primed white finish, and after waiting 24 hours to allow the caulk to set, it was time to get rolling—literally. You can click here to see a GIF animation of all the paint colors we considered (including just leaving the new door plain white), but we ultimately decided on a quintessential mid-century shade of orange—something with a hint of red in it to coordinate with the brick, but with just enough “fire” to make it pop.

Truth be told, I impulse purchased a color from Behr called “Pimento,” but it ended up being way too bright, so I raced over to Sherwin Williams, which is just a mile from our house, to grab a new, more muted version of the color to go over top. The final color we chose (that you see pictured here in this post) is called “Peppery” from Sherwin Williams, and, although I’m certainly biased, I think it’s the perfect poppy-yet-sophisticated reddish orange for our 1960s house.

The new door not only looks more “official” and stylish, it also feels more official, too. The addition of a sill down along the bottom of the entry floor and proper weather stripping allow for a tight seal when the door is closed, and we’re no longer having to deal with vines infiltrating the sunroom that sits just behind the door.

To round out the updates, we added some new potted plants, hung some custom-cut cellular shades inside, and filled in a few bare areas of the landscaping with new white rocks. I also replaced the old flood light with a round frosted lightbulb to make it feel a little more retro and finished.

All in all, the project took about three months to complete, but I think the majority of that was just waiting on coordinating the official measure appointment (Home Depot sends their installer out ahead of time to take accurate measurements of your specific door frame), choosing and ordering our materials, paying for everything, waiting for the door to ship to the store, and then finally scheduling our install.

I won’t lie to you. It was certainly a little more stressful then I had anticipated to get a new front door, but now that it’s done, and it’s done right, I’m so happy that we powered through. Hopefully, we won’t ever have to replace the door again, and we couldn’t be more in love with the before-and-after difference our new curb updates made. Let us know what you think of the new look below!

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Monday, August 7, 2017

How To Antique A Wooden Crate Without Stain

*This post was sponsored by Oriental Trading

If you’ve been following along with me for any number of years now, then you probably know how weird it is for me to even consider sharing a tutorial on how to “antique” a wooden surface to make it look intentionally rustic. For the last decade, I’ve mostly shied away from anything that looked like it belongs in a farmhouse.

All of that’s about to change today, though, because I’m here this morning to share a tutorial (put together by yours truly!) on How To Antique A Wooden Crate Without Stain Or Sandpaper.

I don’t know what it is about 2017, but I’ve just been so gung-ho about pulling a 180 on my design style. I traded hot pink and bright yellow in for a more neutral palette, and instead of packing our home with a constant cycle of odds and ends, I’ve refocused on loving what we already own and purchasing high quality pieces that will stand the test of a LONG time. Another recent style shift has come in the form of my appreciation for more rusticated decor that shows wear and age. Thus, the introduction of my DIY antiqued wooden crate for Oriental Trading.

The three cool things about this project are that (1) it takes very little time to pull off, (2) you can use the finished crate practically anywhere in your home, and (3) you don’t need stain or sandpaper to get the look. Pop over to Oriental Trading now to find out How To Antique A Wooden Crate Without Stain, and then tell me in the comments below how you might adapt this simple faux finish technique on a wooden item in your own home.

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Friday, August 4, 2017

Turn A White Dish Into Look-A-Like Pottery

In case you didn’t know, I went to school for art and was able to test out all sorts of skills in the studio—anything from furniture making and painting, to figure drawing and printmaking, but one thing I never could seem to grasp was pottery. Clay is just one of those materials that flat-out eluded me, but I’ve always appreciated it.

What I’m about to show and tell you about today is my way of working around that inexperience to get the look of a handmade dish, no clay or potter’s wheel required.

All you’ll need to bring this project to life is a plain white ceramic dish (mine came from Target for $5), a piece of scrap cardboard, and a can of stone textured finish spray paint. Although this post is NOT sponsored, I ended up really liking the Rust-oleum paint I purchased on a whim and don’t have any reservations about recommending it.

Lay your dish and its lid separately on a piece of scrap cardboard in a well-ventilated area outdoors. Shake the can of spray paint for a solid minute (or for however long your particular brand of paint recommends), and then spray a thin and even coat of paint across both pieces.

Make sure to spray from all angles in order to cover the entire surface of both the dish and the lid. Then, wait about 30-60 minutes before spraying on a second coat, and, finally, let the dish fully cure overnight for 24 hours before handling again.

Note that you’ll likely see bits of the white surface under the paint after the first coat, but you’ll cover it up when you spray on the second coat. Another thing I noticed that I wanted to make sure I mentioned here was that the textured surface of the paint seemed extra rough to me right after spraying it on, but it evened out as it dried.

You may have noticed that I didn’t bother to mask off the interior of the dish when I painted it. Since I knew this was destined to sit in our bathroom to hold things like cotton balls and dainty jewelry, I didn’t need it to be food-safe. If you plan to use your dish for sugar or some other edible treat, you will definitely want to carefully mask off both the interior of the dish and the underside of the lid. To be on the safe side, though, it might be best just to plan to use your own look-a-like-pottery dish for small everyday storage outside of the kitchen or dining room.

The finished textured bowl is hardly recognizable as the mass-produced sugar dish it started out as, and the cool thing is that I have enough paint leftover to make a whole arm-load of plain dishes look like pottery! Tell me: what would you use this type of faux finish paint on?

*My promise to you is that the affiliate links featured in this post spotlight items that I use and love myself.

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Wednesday, August 2, 2017

5 Creative Ways To Help Keep Your Cat Healthy

*This post is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, a research-driven pharmaceutical company that stands for innovative healthcare products for people and animals for more than 130 years, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.

Truthfully, there might not be a more authentic post on this blog than the one I’m about to share today. Why? Because, as I write this pet-centered story, our sweet kitty, Tonks, has just come home from the vet after a particularly harrowing (for all of us) dental procedure.

This teeny tiny cat came from the local pet adoption center with all sorts of odd conditions, including naturally-crossed eyes, constant wheezes and sneezes, not to mention a jaw full of problem teeth. This isn’t the first time Tonks has had teeth pulled during a scheduled cleaning, but it might just be the worst one yet since she’s now without “fangs” (i.e. those upper canine teeth). She seems pretty darn confused by the gaps in her smile. In fact, she’s curled up in bed next to me right now as I type this, her new underbite propping her lips up in all sorts of awkward angles.

Happily, time passes and with it comes healing, but being the proactive pet owner that I am, I’ll always keep a close eye on all four of our furry friends. So, when the makers of PUREVAX® Feline Rabies vaccines got in touch with an invitation to have Tonks and our other cats inspire a new wave of vaccination awareness, I responded with an enthusiastic, “Let’s do it!” Taking care of our pets isn’t rocket science, but there are so many little strategic things that we can do to help keep them healthy for the long run. Read on for the top five creative tricks we practice here in our own pet-friendly (read: pet-ruled) household.

1. Play Doctor

Now, of course, I don’t mean give them injections or invasive abdominal examinations, but it’s always a good idea to give your pet a periodic once over. Gently peer in at their teeth to look for signs of tartar or irritation, check their ears for cleanliness, and keep an eye on their eating, drinking, and litter box habits. Keeping yourself educated about your pets’ general wellness will be helpful when it comes time to take them to the vet for a real examination—you’ll be able to answer the doctor’s questions with ease and confidence.

2. Pre-schedule Check-Ups

While we’re on the topic of the vet, go ahead and pre-schedule those check-ups. August 22 is actually Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, so it’s the perfect time. For whatever reason, I tend to get really annoyed by reminders from anyone—the doctor, the vet, the hairdresser, you name it. Maybe it’s because I’m just so independent, but I hate feeling nagged, so I always pre-schedule appointments ahead of time. When I’m at the vet paying for that year’s visit, I go ahead and schedule the next one right then and there for the following year. It crosses the to-do off my list before it even gets added to it, plus I can rest easy knowing that our pets are well taken care of since the vet is able to look in on them at least once a year.

3. Vaccinate!

Did you know that in the U.S., more cats are infected with rabies than any other domestic animals?* The word “rabies” alone is quick to elicit fear in the hearts of any pet owner (thanks, Old Yeller…), and it’s not something you ever want to experience first-hand. The good news is that this serious, often fatal, viral infection can be prevented with proper vaccinations.

That’s why this cat lady (yours truly) was so giddy to team up with the PUREVAX team to share their Pure Protection program, which aims to educate cat owners about the importance of vaccines. Visit PurevaxPureProtection.com for more information on this particular infection’s threat, and how to help protect your sweet kitty cat.

4. Play, Play, Play

Now this is really where the creative side of things comes into ‘play.’ Activity is such a simple way to encourage healthy lives, so we do all sorts of things to make it part of our four pets’ daily routines. I’m always trying to think of new ways to get our pets moving. Of course, they don’t make it easy on us since no one pet likes the same type of play as the other.

For example, Tonks loves to play fetch, Ginny is partial to chasing a laser pointer, Luna is obsessed with anything feathered, and Rocky (our lone pup) loves to play tug of war, but only with soft plush toys. Experiment with your own pet until you find what he or she likes to do best when it comes to play, and then intentionally encourage the activity as often as you can to promote weight loss and social skills.

5. Give Healthy Rewards

When we found out that Tonks was going to be prone to oral health issues way back in the day, we started looking for different ways to manage it at home. It wasn’t until this year talking to our new vet in our new town, though, that we realized clever treats could actually be the ticket.

She suggested that we try giving the cats oral-focused cat treats to help promote dental health. These large nibbles sort of force our kitties to actually chew them, as opposed to inhaling them, which helps rub off some of the harder-to-reach plaque and tartar. Look for other similar healthy treats at your local pet supply store or vet’s office.

Big thanks to the PUREVAX team for inspiring a new focus on rabies and for their help in finding ways to kick it to the curb. Learn more about how you can help prevent this devastating infection here, and be sure to follow along with me on Instagram for daily peeks into our pet-filled household. Oh, and if you’re looking for pet-focused DIY projects to try (this is still a crafting blog, after all!) click these links for full tutorials: DIY “Meow” sticker cat food container, pet-friendly living room carpet, DIY cat door, how to keep the dog out of the cat food.

*Birhane MG, Cleaton JM, Monroe BP, et al. Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2015. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2017;250(10):1117-1130.

®PUREVAX is a registered trademark of Merial.

*As part of this collaboration I received compensation for my time. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boehringer Ingelheim. The opinions are all mine.

P.S. Did you hear? Dream Green DIY has a newsletter! I sent out the very first one this morning, but don’t worry if you missed it. Sign up here to get on the list for the next newsletter, which will go out Wednesday, August 16!

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Monday, July 31, 2017

Our Painted White Brick Sunroom: The Reveal

Of course I’m a little biased, but I can’t help but claim that the sunroom off the side of our house is one special space. Since it’s unheated and has no A.C., it’s more of a seasonal type room that we only use during the spring and fall. It’s pretty sweltering in the summer unless you open all the windows and turn the fans on high, and it’s freezing in the winter, but during those more temperate months of the year…well, let’s just say it’s easily our favorite spot in the house.

Since the sunroom can only be enjoyed during those specific months, it’s often a bit of an afterthought. So much so that I tend to forget we even have a sunroom, and when I do remember, it’s like Christmas morning all over again. Lately though, it’s the space I default to—even if it’s over 90 degrees outside. Reason being the brand new white painted brick walls.

Earlier this summer I put out a public plea for support to paint the brick room white. As you can see pictured below, the raw brick enclosed space before was pretty heavy from a visual standpoint, and it felt a little unfinished to me. It just looked very much like a porch, but I had dreams of making it integrate right in with our whole house all-white color scheme. Thanks to near-constant begging, I managed to get John to agree to let me paint it once and for all.

We actually started by getting an estimate from a local contractor to do the job for us, but after reading their $2,450 proposed price tag, I decided it wasn’t worth it and did it myself. It took two coats over two days (with John’s help the second day), and cost about $180. They say paint offers the biggest bang for your buck, and this room proves that statement without question.

The fresh white walls make the room feel three times as big, and that crisp neutral background helps make our collection of new and vintage furniture and accessories really pop. Case in point, the retro record player that we inherited from John’s family last year. We never really had a good spot for it, but the newly made-over sunroom turned out to be the perfect place after all. It’s so relaxing to switch the speakers on and kick back on the sofa to listen to the radio or a good album. The curvy silhouette of the player would have been completely lost against raw brick, so I’m glad we are able to properly show it off against the new white walls.

Resources: Sofa, Similar Rug, Tufted Corduroy Floor Pillows, Mint & White Dotted Pillow, Blanket, Gold & White Throw Pillow, Multi-color Striped Pillow, Mint & White Triangles Pillow, DIY Magazine Rack, Lamp, Hanging Light Over Table, Cellular Shades, Wood & Chrome Pedestal Table, Vintage Hanging Basket Chair

While I’m still making small tweaks here and there to make the room feel even calmer and brighter, it’s undeniably better than where we started. I know many people balk at the idea of painting over brick, but since I consider this house our “forever home,” the decision was the right one for us to enjoy for years to come.

So, what do you think of the makeover? Would you have painted the brick, too? Should we paint the trim as well, or leave it off white? Full disclosure, we didn’t paint the trim this go-around because it was just too overwhelming and I don’t mind the two-tone look, but I’m not ruling out the possibility of going entirely white somewhere down the line. Feel free to leave your suggestions and alternate ideas in the comments below.

*Photos by Carrie Coleman

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Friday, July 28, 2017

6 Summer Wines To Try For Under $10

We’re hosting a big group of family here at our house tomorrow in honor of my dad’s birthday, and I’m feeling excited but also a little overwhelmed. I’ve never hosted this many people in our home before (really, it’s our first official party ever), so it will be a big learning experience. Luckily, everyone is family so they won’t judge us too harshly, but fingers crossed that all goes well and that we have enough eats and drinks for everyone!

Speaking of buffet goodies, one of the main things I am especially hoping to nail at our mini family reunion is the wine selection. John and I are big wine drinkers, and I know my family is as well, so we’ve been collecting bottles for weeks now. My mom is planning to bring a few of dad’s favorites as well, so I’m sure we’ll be set, but these below are a handful of the wines we’re personally loving this season. The best part? These wines are $10 or less per bottle.

6 Summer Wines To Try For $10 Or Less:

Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio ($9.99): One part Pinot Grigio and one part Chardonnay, this citrusy wine is a great one to serve at dinner. It’s ideal for complementing fresh fish or light pasta dishes, so plan your menu accordingly.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon (on sale for $9.99): I can never, ever resist a good Cabernet Sauvignon, and this version from Dark Horse is one we almost always keep stocked. Even though it’s totally budget-friendly, it feels like such a treat to enjoy a glass (or two) in the evenings.
Chateau St. Jean California Pinot Noir ($8.99): The spice and vanilla finishes make it tough to settle for just one glass. Although we love it during the summer, it’s even more of a mainstay at our house throughout fall and winter.
Bogle Chardonnay ($9.99): Bogle is a family favorite. It’s my parents’ go-to and their love for it has made me come around to the fruity, buttery notes of Chardonnay in general.
Carayon La Rosé ($4.99): Note that we stock up on this simple Rosé from our local Trader Joe’s since it’s a little hard to find online. Can you believe that price?!
Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99): We grab this almost weekly from the grocery store. The light, lemony flavor is easy on the taste buds, and it’s often on sale for just $7.99.

Did I miss any of your favorite wines? Do share in the comments below because, even after years of enjoying wine, I still feel like I know next to nothing about the fine art of wine tasting. I’m just a novice, but I sure am an enthusiastic one. Share your top picks (whether budget-friendly or worthy of a splurge) below. Cheers!

P.S. Looking for more wine chat? Revisit this past post all about how to host your own wine and cheese party at home (including a video!).

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P.S. Looking for more wine chat? Revisit this past post all about how to host your own wine and cheese party at home (including a video!).

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