Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe how fast 2019 flew by — one moment we had a tiny newborn who barely moved, and before we knew it she was crawling and exploring nonstop. It was a busy, joyful year full of projects, lessons, and a few surprises, and I’m so grateful you were along … Read more

Every Christmas we frame our foyer doorway with garland — a simple, cheerful “welcome home” that greets us every time we walk through the front door. Over the years I’ve tried a few approaches, and this no-damage method is my favorite because it holds securely all season long and removes easily after the holidays. This … Read more

Our favorite budget-friendly Better Homes & Gardens patio furniture from Walmart and a refreshed DIY pool cabana reveal. Five years ago, Robert won a trip through his old job for the two of us to stay at the Delano Hotel in South Beach, Miami. The trip was incredibly luxurious and felt worlds away from our … Read more

Tips and techniques for building, planting, and maintaining a high-yield raised bed vegetable garden. A master gardener shares his best advice. No, you didn’t get the wrong page — this is a gardening post. I’ve written about my family’s raised bed garden before because my dad, Hank, is a master at getting high yields from … Read more

One simple, thrifty trick to make a fake tree look realistic indoors or outside in just 5 minutes + the best artificial trees. A recent thrift store find inspired this post. I picked up a sweet vintage brass planter and immediately knew it would be perfect for making a store-bought faux tree look authentic in … Read more

A roundup of the best preserved flowers and dried stems for autumn or any season, plus simple, reliable methods for drying flowers and leaves yourself. Every autumn I hang bunches of hydrangeas to dry, and that little ritual always nudges me into admiring the wide variety of dried flowers and preserved stems available. They add … Read more

Tips and tricks for making your bed look full, fluffy, and magazine-ready without expensive bedding and without sacrificing comfort. We all know that perfectly plush, pillowy bed you see in magazines — the kind you want to dive into after a long day. Achieving that look doesn’t require a fortune. With a few practical techniques … Read more

Today’s project: painting upholstery — a simple way to refresh an upholstered headboard without reupholstering. You might remember the debate about whether to change the fabric on our upholstered headboard. I went ahead and painted it, and I’ll walk you through exactly how I did it so you can decide if it’s right for your … Read more

Make fragrant stovetop potpourri from leftover fruit peels and cores to naturally freshen your home. After school, our kids head straight for fruit—an easy, healthy snack that I’m always grateful for. We often end up with a pile of orange peels, apple cores, and other fruit scraps, and I started using those leftovers to simmer … Read more

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. full disclosure I was installing a small brass “no soliciting” sign on our front door this week when it dawned on me: I’m officially on a brass kick. I hadn’t planned it, but brass accents have quietly multiplied around the house, bringing warmth and vintage character … Read more