Ways To Save Money On Your Primary Bathroom Remodel And More Faves
Find out how to save money on your primary bathroom remodel while still achieving a luxurious look with smart choices. And more good things…
I’m also sharing how Dolly Parton brought joy to me personally, denim outfits to wear anywhere and a cute show on television. Oh! And a great late summer main course recipe.
It’s Sunday Faves time with Annie and Cindy.
Ways To Save Money On Your Bath Renovation
Our primary bathroom is coming along. I’m trying to be cost-effective where we can as we want to splurge on some luxury items like a smart toilet, a porcelain and cast iron tub (cha-ching) and new lighting.
A full-blown high-end bathroom would be an over-investment for our neighborhood. But you know I still want it to look good.
Three places to save $$$:
- Layout: Try to keep the layout roughly the same (like where the toilet is located) to keep costs down.
- Tile: Look for tile that is lower in price per square foot. So that probably means less real stone and fancy mosaic designs. But there are lots of pretty and durable porcelain tiles to select. These are uniform, making the installation easier and therefore more cost efficient for your installer. Also, the ceramic tiles that are so popular and made from red or white clay (the hand-fired look) are affordable and good for shower walls. We have had luck with Home Depot and Floor and Decor.
- Ready-made Vanities: I do love a custom vanity, but for this bathroom, we ordered a premade vanity and counter in the 84″ length we needed. You might only need to replace the vanity to update your bathroom’s look. Some of the new ones are taller.
And since the vanity we selected is on Birchlane’s Labor Day Sale, I thought I’d tell you about it.
The white oak vanity above comes with the engineered stone top, sinks and drawer hardware. It also has soft close hinges, drawer glides and dovetail joinery. And it saved us a lot of money. It arrived well packaged, in good shape with free shipping.
I will do a full primary bathroom reveal once it’s completed!
Here are a few more beautiful vanities on sale now for your bathroom or powder room renovation.
The Hermes 72” Double Bathroom Vanity comes in other colors and features a marble top.
Pinehurst Oak Single Bathroom Vanity • Lakeland 48” Single Bathroom Vanity
You may also like Easy Bathroom Makeovers with New Vanities.
What To Watch – Acapulco on Apple TV
Howard and I are really enjoying this cute series and are on Season 4.
Wear Anywhere Denim Outfits of the Week
Denim Shirtdress
Ann Taylor Weekend has cute things that I would wear every day like this collared denim dress. This is a petite small and they call it a mini but it hits the top of my knees. It’s 30% off! In fact, all of Ann Taylor’s new arrivals are 30% off.
The denim dress with pockets comes in regular sizes too. My new favorite readers are by Eyebob with woven leather sandals.
New Tiny Rollneck Cotton Sweater
My daughter-in-law, Mona, is wearing J. Crew’s newest sweater style...more fitted (lots of colors) and cute with light wash blue jeans and stylish sunglasses.
Check out J. Crew’s end of season sale. Like this classic leather belt is a great deal.
Reversible Cardigan Sweater
I think this is a fun idea for a versatile closet update to wear with your favorite jeans.
Reversible Cotton Knit Sweater
Pork Tenderloin With Peaches, Cucumbers, Corn And Lime
This late summer dish takes advantage of the season with peaches and corn. I hope Howard makes it again soon. He says that using a mandolin makes quick work of the slicing of vegetables and fruit.
Pork Tenderloin With Peaches, Cucumbers, Corn And Lime
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup lime juice (from 2 limes)
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 serrano chilis thinly sliced
- 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), silver skin removed (see tip), meat halved crosswise and patted dry
- 2 tbsp neutral oil, such as avocado or grapeseed
- 2 cups corn kernels (from 2 ears, or frozen and unthawed)
- 2 firm peaches
- 2 Persian cucumbers
- 1/2 red onion
- salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together the lime juice, brown sugar, fish sauce and chile until the sugar dissolves. Coat the tenderloin with 1 tablespoon of the sauce, rubbing to coat. Set the rest aside.
- In a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add the pork and cook until browned all over, 6 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat, then add the remaining tablespoon oil and the corn. Stir to coat. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until the corn is tender and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork registers 140 degrees, 10 to 14 minutes. (The pork will continue to cook as it rests.)
- Meanwhile, thinly slice the peaches, cucumbers and red onion.
- Transfer the pork to a cutting board to rest for at least 5 minutes, then thinly slice and season the cut sides lightly with salt. Transfer the corn, peaches, cucumbers and red onion to the bowl of sauce. Stir to combine and season to taste with salt. Serve the pork topped with salad and all of the sauce.
- Tip:To remove the silver skin, a tough connective tissue, without cutting off too much meat, locate the white, shiny membrane and insert your knife at one edge of the silver skin to cut between the skin and the meat, creating a flap to hold onto. Pulling the flap of silver skin tight with your non-dominant hand, continue to slice along the length of the skin until you’ve removed and released all the silver skin.
Remembering Dolly…And The Lift I Got When I Needed It
Losing Dolly hit the world pretty hard this week. She was such a positive light. I remember 10 years ago, I was stuck in a wheel chair for several weeks with a fractured ankle. It was taking a long time to heal; I couldn’t drive and felt very dependent on others. Basically I was feeling really down…and I was turning 60.
Then, for my birthday, my sister and daughter took me to see Dolly Parton in concert at the Hollywood Bowl (and wheeled me up a long, steep incline to the cheaper seats–thanks, you two). Dolly was so funny and engaging that night. A great storyteller with a beautiful voice. I can’t tell you how uplifting that night was!
That’s what Dolly did for everyone. Howard sent this video to me…just listen.
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Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:
Hi Mary Ann,
Now that I know you love Dolly Parton too, I want to share something special with you.
About four months ago I checked out, “Star of the Show: my life on stage.” It’s so well done,
heavy (as in weight) it’s a coffee table book. I’m going back for it again.
My mind should have mentioned your remodel. I know it will be lovely, smart pointers too.
I hope you and Howard are going to watch the Dolly specials tonight on TV, ABC and NBC.
Thanks! Going to check that book out!
Hi Mary Ann,
Thank you for posting that video just a beautiful way to start the day! Dolly was extraordinary and a huge loss. Her Imagination Library was such a tremendous inspiring gift and why don’t we have more entertainers/public figures doing good! Love your bathroom make over thank you for sharing! Cute dress too!
I didn’t know about her library until after she died…so generous.
MA! Love your vanity choice and can’t wait to see the big reveal. Acapulco looks looks adorable and it’s on my next-up to watch list. That’s a lovely story of how Dolly was there when you needed her … and at the Hollywood Bowl no less. I regret not seeing her in concert. xo
I know, Juliet. I feel so lucky to have experienced her concert!
Mary Ann, I love your bath ideas! The vanity you chose is lovely. I agree we did the same with our bath and I had a designer who wanted me to do marble tiles. It was going to cost a small fortune. I decided to go to a nearby tile spot and got tiles from Italy and instead long inset with marble for the shower. I think it looks just as nice and cost me a quarter of what the other would. No one can tell the difference.
Love your denim dress- and your hair so much!
Max and I are going to try the dish tonight with chicken and see if it works. It looks perfect for late summer.
Love that your sister took you to the Hollywood Bowl to see Dolly. Aren’t you glad you went- even in the wheelchair? I keep wanting to go back there for a concert. Dolly could make anything better. Love the video. x
Hi Mary Ann,
Wow, your sister and daughter knew exactly what you needed to lift your blue spirits after your fall and recovery. This story continues to speak volumes how wonderful your family is. Like you I am a big fan, my heart has been deeply saddened by her passing. Hopefully many of us can lead by her example. Dolly had the best giving heart. She is resting in heaven and is at the very top. Thanks for sharing.
Your new hair cut and style looks super cute on you. It takes probably more time to style it, trade offs.
Have a lovely week.
Mary Ann! I didn’t know that Theresa and Alexandra took you to see Dolly for your birthday after your terrible fall! I did know you all loved Dolly! What an amazing person! And such a great memory!
Howard’s pork tenderloin dish with peaches looks delicious!
xo
annie
p.s. I gave my tiny rollneck to Madeline!
Mary Ann that vanity is great! Why do custom if you can find one that looks that great! Your new bathroom is going to be fabulous!