Some people like window shopping for shoes or furniture or even cars.  Me?  I prefer window shopping real estate across the country.  I'm excited for this new little series where we'll head to a location & check out some amazing properties that offer amazing lifestyles.

Today?  I headed to the Pacific Northwest...specifically waterfront properties, because you know my affinity for poolside living.  I'm certain waterfront living would be just as enjoyable.  Not to mention I'm tired of 'excessive heat warnings' & I'm ready to put on a sweater in the evenings, so this was the perfect virtual escape.  Click on any photo to be taken to the full listing & let me know your favorite.

This first one not only had an amazing front exterior, but the kitchen had some serious chops as well. 

Add in this outdoor living situation & you know I'm sold.  You could tell me that a tiger lives in the basement & I'd probably overlook it. 

This one is not as refined as the first, but its got all the lived in charm & quirk to make up for it.

Case and point: those doors, that stove, ship lap and the FLOORS!!!  In this instance, you want them to creak here & there right?  GIve me a sweater & some hot chocolate...I'll be right here.

I might paint this exterior a crisp white with black trim...

Then when I got tired, I would go relax right here...or here

But sometimes you just want something new & move in ready.  Love the steep roof line & that rust door.

This screams weekend getaway filled with lazy breakfasts & simple living.

Where should we head to next???

If you're like me, you love walking homes, whether you're in the market to buy or not.  I love getting ideas of how people use their spaces.  This kitchen is on the market in Scottsdale for a cool $1.9 million. 

I've rounded up all the Open Houses in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler & Scottsdale happening this weekend.  They are listed in order of price, so you can sort through to your range fairly quickly.  Shoot me an email hello@sonnydaily.com if you're having any problems sorting out the date (today or tomorrow) and time...but you'll want to click on the Detail tab (top right) and under that you'll see a link 'Open House,' click there & it will give you the dates & times of the open house. 

Let me know if you walk any...I know I put a few on my list today.

3-5 things currently on my mind this week...

Living in:
A construction zone.  In actuality it isn't so bad and is coming along nicely.  This week everything got framed out and makes the visual of the space 1 million times easier.  My mom also had a heart attack when she came to see it & I went traipsing out on it.  'Don't walk on it!' she exclaimed.  I had to laugh, because this is the actual floor we'll all be walking on all the time.  That being said, it felt really funny to walk on it the first time.  To the left of me in this photo is my huge entry light fixture.  They just tacked it up nice & high so it was out of the way.  We'll have to re-do our electrical outlets to make the upstairs fan nice & centered, but in the meantime we have a disco ball situation that makes us all laugh.  Check out my IG stories for a live walk through today.  I'm pretty sure I'm gonna love this space major.   

Shopping for:
Rocking chairs...as in just one. Have I told you that we literally got rid of every single baby item? With the exception of the crib, which my daughter had been using as her bed, I got rid of everything when we moved. It made sense then & to some degree it still makes sense. I might have 3 boys, but they are all 5 years apart from each other, so sharing or passing down between them isn't actually all that practical. Fashion shifts and boys are HARD on their things...so we're at scratch. I'm loving this one but will probably end up with this one. Have you seen anything great?

Thinking About:
Getting my closet organized! I tend to put projects like this off, but ultimately am always so glad when its done. My closet has been bursting at the seams a bit because it holds, well, everything. Until about 6 months ago my dresser was still being used as our TV stand, because #reallife. I was so excited to get my dresser back, that it's sat empty for the last 6 months. My husband is a patient soul. I really was delighted to have it back, but now I've got to re-think how I use my space. I've put some things in the drawers and then been annoyed that they aren't where they were before & promptly moved them back to my jammed closet. I'm determined to get it organized though, which really requires getting rid of 50% of the things it contains. The problem with that is that its hard to part with ANY normal clothes when you're pregnant. I'm so full of endearment for anything that offers a waist that disposing of such item, well, easier said than done. That being said, some hooks and some baskets & I think I can make it feel 1,000 times better. I'll let you know.

If you've been following along for any amount of time, you know my sentiments towards brick veneers.  If you're new here, well it shouldn't take long for it to pop up on my Instagram Stories...i'm not a huge fan.  That's not to say I don't like exposed brick, but it is to say I don't like cheesy brick veneers.  It's one of those things if you're going to do, do it all the way or not at all in my opinion.  

Today I've rounded up a few installs & applications that I really like.  Can you tell the difference between the good and the not-so-good?

While not totally practical, i LOVE it in flooring.  Not sure I'd love walking around in it barefoot, but let's be honest, once you hit you're 30's aren't you always in shoes...preferably ones with arch support? ;) . It works really great with those big exposed beams up top.  Like I said if you're going to do it, do it all the way.  Thus, I haven't done it. 

Another great floor install...this one looks nice & smooth too, so barefoot is probably an option. 

Put it outside + on the floor with a thick German schmear?  Well I'm all in.  

Did you see my friend Savannah's updated brick light posts?  The before will blow.your.mind.  This is how brick should be used.

If brick can look this good on the outside, why bring it inside?  Except I know that's what we're focusing on...

A little snippet, works perfect in this kitchen.  Hard to duplicate, because it's not veneer...it's an old house.

I'd do like Savannah an add a thicker German smear on this fireplace, but I like it.  My husband would try to stop me when I tell him that's what I want to do, but I'd wait until he went out of town and then well, go to town.  Then he'd come home and say, 'You were right, that does look better.'  I mean, I'm not sure the words, 'You were right,' would come out of his mouth, but close enough.  :) I keep waiting for the day when he'll remember that BEFORE he goes out of town and say, 'that's a great idea, can I help you?' Which is silly because in all reality, I want to do it all by myself on a late night when he's out of town.  So I guess that's why this relationship works. 

Don't be fooled, I didn't take us back outside, but with all the windows it almost feels like it...which I guess is why I love it so much: because I like brick best outside.  Or in that top bathroom...I wouldn't be mad about that one. 

See more of what I'm loving over on Pinterest and tell me you're favorite spot for brick?  

So much of house & home for me happens in the kitchen.  It truly is the heart of the home, where it seems most of memories occur.  So today we're beginning a new series called, In the Kitchen, where I'll share our family's favorite dishes.  They're always fairly simple but deliciously delicious. ​

At the beginning of every pregnancy my cooking tends to go into severe hibernation.  We survive on take-out and very simple meals...lots of pancakes & sandwiches!  I'm stepping into my 3rd trimester though & my ability to cook has returned.  I still have some tastes, textures & smells I avoid and I'm still drawn to overly richer foods than normal, but I'll take it.

Did you see the stories I posted on this rare BASEMENT home in Mesa???  Not only does it have a basement, but also a 4-car garage & it's in the gated community of Alta Mesa Estates, backing the golf course.  Yes please!  
To make it easy, we're going to throw open the gates & open the home up
this Saturday from 10 am - 12 pm 
so you can experience it in it's fullness! Unless you've seen it in real life, you haven't seen it at all.  Soaring ceilings AND updated flooring make this one move-in-ready.

While you're there, enter to win a $100 gift card to Nordstrom...
because a little shopping never hurt 
​Saturday, Aug 12th || 10am - 12pm
5345 E. McLellan Road #3

4,189 sq ft || 5 bed, 4 bath || Basement
$595,000

​Leave a quick comment to let me know you'll be there...can't wait to see all your faces!  I'll have lots of treats & drinks on hand to keep you cool while you explore every inch.

Every season it seems we have a bit of a home project on our hands & I don't foresee it stopping anytime soon. This summer we added our sour orange tree hedge and while they haven't filled in yet, by next summer they'll be nice and full & I can't wait!  On Monday, we will begin our biggest home project yet, adding square footage to our upstairs to make room for this baby.  It's a big project, but one that will add a lot of value to our home financially & make it so much more livable.  I've got that one mostly planned out & in motion, so naturally, I'm moving on to planning the project I want to have done for next summer: an outdoor shower.