Red's Roundup: May 2021 - Red's Lil Schoolhouse

The end of May, the end of the school year, the beginning of summer, and slowly getting back to “normal” after over a year of quarantine…that’s where we are at! It feels good to be here. It feels good to have hope again and be able to spend time with family and friends. My May Roundup reflects the way I have been feeling: enjoying a lot of time outdoors!

It is fun to watch the leaves grow on trees and bushes, flowers start to grow and bloom, the weather is (generally) nice, and summer is SO close. We have a pair of Baltimore orioles that visit our feeders daily as well. If you haven’t already predicted, there is definitely an outdoor theme to my May Roundup.

Enjoy my May Roundup of favorite things!

Hilton Carter for Target – I first learned about Hilton Carter after reading his book Wild at Home (which is BEAUTIFUL)! When I heard he was launching a line at Target I was so excited! Real plants and accessories designed by a plant expert? Yes, please! I ordered the black and white wall-mounted stoneware planters. There are so many other great items in this line, be sure to check it out!
Cotton Stem (Erin) – I started following Erin on Instagram this past month, which led me down a rabbit hole of reading past blog posts! Anyone else ever do that? I always think this is a good sign when I want to keep reading more. I have so much to learn myself… Erin is a mom, former teacher, and we share a lot of common interests. Check her out!
Cork Sandals – One of my favorite people to follow on Instagram (Jen @theramblingredhead) recommended these sandals. With almost 26,000 reviews and 4.6 stars, I figured that many people couldn’t be wrong! They are much more reasonably priced than Birks, come in many colors, and are super comfortable! I can tell these are the sandals I will reach for almost every day in the summer. After reading reviews, I decided to size up a half size and they fit perfectly! I ordered them in Black Nappa.
Growing Strawberries – We planted a small strawberry patch two years ago, after moving to our home in the country. In the first and second seasons there were a few berries, but this year, the plants are growing beautifully! They are producing gorgeous, large berries! Our family loves checking the strawberry plants daily and eating the juicy berries. We are hopeful our patch will continue to grow and produce for many years. Even if you don’t have space for a garden, strawberries grow really well in pots. It is fun to grow something that produces such a sweet reward.
Tortoise Shell Sunglasses – My old “cheap” sunglasses have so many scratches on them and look like they could fall apart any day. It was finally time to find a new pair of inexpensive glasses. I have one pair that is more expensive and I always keep them in a case, but I like to have another pair to throw on, throw in a bag, and not be too worried about. The tortoiseshell pattern and square shape of this pair are neutral enough to wear with anything, but not too boring.
Sun Bum Scalp and Hair Mist – As a redhead with fair skin, I try my best to wear sunscreen every day in the summer. In the past, I have forgotten about my scalp and have gotten burnt in the part of my hair! The worst! This hair mist has SPF 30 and a nice small nozzle to direct it right at my scalp. If I am not wearing a hat, I always put this on before heading outside in the summer. It works great! It is not sticky and doesn’t leave a residue.
S’mores Oreos – I fell in love with this flavor of Oreos about six years ago. They are seasonal, so some years I have bought several packs and saved them in the freezer to enjoy at a later date. 🙂 While I can pass up regular or many of the other flavors of Oreos, this one always gets me! They are currently on the shelves, so grab a package (or two, or five) before they are gone! You will love the mix of chocolate, graham, and marshmallow flavors…the perfect summer combination!
Gray Cement Shallow Planter – I’m trying out a cactus/succulent/rock garden this year, and needed a shallow planter to set on a stump. This one is perfect! It is nice and heavy so it won’t tip over easily, and the gray cement coordinates with any decor style. I like to keep my planter pots neutral to really let the plants be the star!

My pot freshly planted, before setting it up on a stump. I like how the hens and chicks trail over the edge of the pot!

9. Local Ice Cream Shops – One of my favorites desserts is ice cream. I’m not even picky about it. I like soft-serve, hard scoop, malts, shakes, sundaes, and pretty much every single flavor! While I can enjoyably eat ice cream at home, there is something special about visiting our local ice cream shops for the first time of the season. I have my favorite things at two of our local shops. At Heavenly Delights it is the Lemon Cake Shake and at Korner Kone I love the Banana Cream Pie Krunch Shake. Just thinking about them right now makes me hungry! We have visited both of these shops and wow did that ice cream taste amazing!

10. Braided Jute Boater Hat – I wore this hat for Easter and thought it was really fun! I don’t always think to add a hat to my outfits, but I think it can really take a look up a notch! I hope to find many more times to wear my hat this summer.

11. Damask Tufted Vintage Wool Rug – I ordered this rug for our youngest daughter’s room and I just love it! It has beautiful muted colors and a distressed appearance. The pattern is subtle but adds so much to her room. I bought it at 45% off which was a great deal for a good-sized rug!