Happy Wednesday, friends!
I flip flopped our Wellness Wednesday for Monday because it was June 1st. If you missed that post, make sure you check it out HERE. I love celebrating JUNE with all of you 🙂 .
Alrighty, last year, per your request, I shared HOW WE CLOSE UP THE NANTUCKET HOUSE at the end of the summer season which means that today, I’m sharing HOW WE OPEN UP THE NANTUCKET HOUSE at the beginning of the summer season.
It’s basically the same thing but in reverse 😉 .
Many of you ladies love the random little details about our living situation on Nantucket which I absolutely understand because these types of posts are always my favorite to read as well.
Last year when we left at the end of the summer season, I shared HOW WE CLOSE UP THE NANTUCKET HOUSE, so today, I’ll give you some tidbits about how we just “opened” it back up.
Our goal is always to try and visit Nantucket once a month, so we never completely “shut it down”, but we do do a few specific things to “open” and “close” it for the summer season. Our neighborhood has an HOA, and they’re very helpful during the year making sure some things are always maintained. There would be a lot more to do if we didn’t have their help during the off season.
Alrighty, in no particular order, here are a few ways we “open” it up to kick off the summer season…
#1: CLEAN
We always try and start with a super clean house, so we’ll have a cleaning service come in and do a thorough deep clean before we arrive.
#2: NEW AIR FILTERS
Andrew replaces the air filters.
#3: GET THE TOYS OUT
We love our outdoor “toys”, but they go to storage during the off season. One of the very first things we do is head to storage and pull out the bikes, scooters, boogie boards, surf boards, fishing equipment, beach gear, etc. It takes us several trips, but we get all of those items out to use during the summer season.
#4: WASH THE CUSHIONS
We also pull the outdoor cushions out of storage and wash them before putting them back on the patio furniture.
#5: UNCOVER THE CARS AND CLEAN OUT
Even covered, the cars get pretty sandy/salty during the off season. We get them uncovered and do a thorough cleaning inside and out.
#6: PULL THE STORM WINDOWS UP
We pull these up so that we can open the windows and let the fresh air in. This is one of those little indulgences I love…and something we NEVER do in Texas.
#7: WASH SHEETS
We take all of the bedding to the laundry mat at the end of the season, so that’s all clean and fresh when we arrive…but we rewash all the sheets so that those are refreshed.
#8: TURN WATER ON IN OUTDOOR SHOWER
We love our outdoor shower! The water stays on in the house year around, but we turn it off in the outdoor shower during the off season.
#9: FILL THE WINDOW BOXES
Window boxes are a big deal on Nantucket. We get ours replanted and looking fabulous for the summer season.
#10: CLEAN OUT AND RESTOCK FRIDGE AND CABINETS
I always give the fridge and freezer a once over tossing expired and stale items and adding new ones.
#11: RESTART THE TRASH SERVICE
There is not a public trash service on Nantucket. You can take your own trash to the dump (something we do each visit during the off season) and/or hire a private trash service to come collect each week. During the summer season, we restart this service.
#12: GO THROUGH THE CLOSETS AND DONATE
At the end of the season, the kids take quite a bit back to Texas because they’re all still growing like weeds, but we always do a closet/drawer once over on our first day back BEFORE we add any new items. When we come at the beginning of the season, we bring suitcases with their shorts, tees, shoes, swimsuits and such from McKinney (because those items currently fit them, so we need to be wearing them before they’re outgrown). I have them go through their drawers and closet just to confirm that they still can fit into anything that was left. Whatever they can no longer use, we collect and take to be donated and then they unpack their suitcases.
Which means…
#13: PUT AWAY ANY LUGGAGE/DOG CARRIERS
…once we get those suitcases emptied, we take them (and our traveling dog carriers) to our storage unit so that they’re out of the way until the end of the season.
And those are just a few ways we “open” up the house for the summer season 🙂 .
Speaking of the summer season, if you have any yummy summer blueberries handy, you might want to try my BLUEBERRY PROTEIN WAFFLES. They’re so good and perfect for summertime!
Have the BEST Wednesday! I’ll see you back here tomorrow. xx
Mary Brown says
Love these details! You’ve got the process down to a t! Do you use a cleaning service throughout the summer while your family is in Nantucket or only before you arrive?
Mix and Match Mama says
We use them throughout as needed.
Elspeth Mizner says
I love learning and reading about little life hacks! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Jennibell says
This is a good “reset” post for any season! Thanks for the rundown – hope your summer on Nantucket is FABULOUS 🙂
Faith Pierce says
Edit number 11 stat! lol
love,
a former English teacher!
Mix and Match Mama says
Bahahaha! Thank YOU!
Cheila Martins says
Omg read #11 again 🤣
Mix and Match Mama says
Just trying to keep everyone on their toes this morning. Bahahaha!
Cheila Martins says
Giving us business ideas too 🤣🫣
Karen in VA says
What did #11 say that needed to be edited?
Mix and Match Mama says
I misspelled public 😉
Arika says
Just wanted to compliment the piece of art hanging behind your couch. It’s beautiful!
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s from a local artist. Isn’t it so pretty?
Paula Hobbs says
I love these posts! So neat to see the tips and tricks. Charlie has such a hard life, LOL 🙂
Beth says
Fun post! I enjoy organizing & reading how others keep their lives organized as well.
Happy summering☀️🍉⛵️🇺🇸
Laci Murray says
love the red-white-and blue!!
Susan P Fitzpatrick says
My parents had a lake cabin when I was growing up and we did many of the same things you do in Nantucket. Those tasks always meant the start of summer!
Bren says
Love these little glimpses into your life there, how you manage things and all the bits and pieces that come along with that. As always, thank you so much for sharing your life with us!
Allison says
The art with the whale fin in front of the USA flag is gorgeous!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Our friend Pete creates these in his shop here on Nantucket!
Andrea says
Nantucket seems so magical and peaceful! Definitely adding to my travel bucket list!
Gail Young says
Can you elaborate on ‘pull the storm windows up’? I dont live in an area of the country that needs to do this. Like is it plywood the covers your windows and it fits in a slot? Once you pull them up, where does the cover go? Just being a little house nerd here!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s not a Texas thing either…but they are the third pane in the window that you pull down during the stormy/wintery months for extra insulation. That is my very uneducated answer 😉 .
Heather Green says
What is your wall and trim color in the home? Just beautiful and Charlie looks quite comfortable too!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s Sherwin Williams High Reflective White 🙂
Sheaffer says
I love a clean and fresh house!
Debra says
Love how organized you are with everything. This makes me want to go through my closets and drawers right now!
Linda Labuda says
Hello,
This has nothing to do with your current post, however your home is beautiful. You had a post with friends wearing “MERRY” baseball hats. I’m looking to buy for a group and starting early. Would you have a link or name of who you bought through.
Mix and Match Mama says
Of course! My friend Kim makes those. You can find her on IG @youaremysunshineboutique 🙂
Connie says
I hope to visit Nantucket one day! 😊 Can you please share how you clean your outdoor cushions? Thanks! Have the best summer!
Mix and Match Mama says
We remove the covers and wash them in the washing machine and then let them air dry. Works like a charm!
Dana P says
Sorry, I’m a day behind on this post. We recently got some wonderful outdoor chairs with thick cushions. I can unzip and wash the covers, but I hate that the cushions get wet when it rains (often) here. Does that happen in Nantucket? If so, do you keep waterproof covers on them or let them just dry out each time?
Mix and Match Mama says
I just let them get wet and dry out. Way back when, I used to bring in our cushions in McKinney every time it rained, but it was just one more thing to babysit. They always seem to dry out and do just fine though!
TGK says
Which pups made the trek up to ACK and which pups are with Andrew’s parents!? 🤍
Mix and Match Mama says
Charlie is the only one here right now 🙂 .
Michelle says
Hi Shay!
I have been following you for years!
I love all of your content and watching your kids grow! I’m from Rhode Island and have a girls trip coming up at the end of June we are headed to Nantucket.
We are all from RI and MASS and have never been to Nantucket , wondering if you could give some advice on must do places/ dining and what to pack for clothing .
Mix and Match Mama says
Of course! If you click on the Nantucket tab on the sidebar or across the top of my blog, I have many many posts on what to do/where to eat/coastal style/etc. Please please feel free to email me too, and we can connect! I’m happy to answer more specific questions for you ladies. mixandmatchmama@yahoo.com 🙂
Kristin Lyngaas says
I hope you have a fabulous summer! 🙏💙❤️🇺🇸
Mix and Match Mama says
And YOU TOO!! xx
Alisha says
I love your Nantucket posts so much, it just radiates happiness and sunshine there!! I am sure you have answered this (and I probably read it back when you did lol!) but how is the adjustment from your large Texas home to the Nantucket home that is much smaller. My husband is wanting to move to Denver from KC and we have a large home in KC with a pool and we would not be committing to the same size home in Denver. I worry about my kiddos and going from a large home, extra playroom/space/pool (8 and 2 year old) to them each only having a bedroom. I was wondering if that was a factor for you guys? Obviously, in Nantucket you guys are spending a lot of time outdoors and your kiddos are older. Just thought you might have some feedback! Thanks in advance!
Mix and Match Mama says
The honest answer is that we get to have “fun summer/off season life” here and not “real life”. It would be very different if we had allllll of our things and were doing homework and playing sports and all the “other” things that come with year around life. I do think there are a lot of joys and blessings with less space. I bet there would be many blessing from living in Denver too.
Connie says
Oh okay. We have chair weather covers but its a pain to take off and put back on each day. Ha! That’s what we do is bring the cushions back out from the garage each time we sit outside. It annoys me at times! 😄