I’ve always loved a good Cinderella story — the underdog who surprises everyone and comes out on top. Lately that theme has been real in our lives: a childhood friend of Robert’s, who grew up in the same rural town and learned to cook on the job, is now competing in a high-stakes culinary contest. … Read more

A step-by-step tutorial for building a DIY backyard fire pit and the best tools to make the project faster and easier. One of the best projects my husband and I gave ourselves was a backyard fire pit. Rather than wrapping a typical gift, we invested in a DIY fire pit that keeps giving—warmth, ambiance, and … Read more

A full step-by-step tutorial to paint a concrete pool deck and patio so it lasts for years — save thousands by doing it yourself. Painting our concrete pool deck and patio was the best money-saving backyard project we completed. After a contractor quoted several thousand dollars—well over our budget—we decided to handle it ourselves. The … Read more

Oh my stars, we did it — and I’m convinced this is the cutest kids’ bathroom on the planet. I may be a little biased, but this transformation really feels like a small miracle. This room has come a long way from the beige shell we inherited when we first moved in. After a quick … Read more

After an intense week of work, the conference room makeover is complete! This project began when Amber, the coordinator at The Cottage at Pathways Community Center, in partnership with The Life House Women’s Shelter, asked for help making their office and meeting room feel more like home. We feel honored to contribute to a space … Read more

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. Do you know what happens when you combine working from home with kids out of school for the summer? You get joyful, sometimes stressful chaos. With our girls home until August, I needed to reorganize our home office so I could work efficiently and have more quality … Read more

This post is sponsored by ProCore Floors. A corner breakfast nook and kitchen refresh featuring herringbone LVP flooring that transformed the space on a budget. Today’s reveal of our corner breakfast nook and the kitchen is finally here—and after a no-demo makeover, the difference is unbelievable. I’ll share full budget and timeline details in another … Read more

Every time I pick up a piece of furniture from a thrift store, flea market, or yard sale, I wonder about the life it’s already lived. We always say, “if walls could talk,” but furniture has stories to tell too. A few months ago I rescued a Duncan Phyfe dining chair at a yard sale … Read more

This post is sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement. Whew — it’s that time of year again. Pollen is in the air, lawns are waking up from winter, and I’m already picturing slow mornings on the patio with a fresh cup of coffee. (You know how it goes before the temperature soars.) I went on a … Read more

A shopping guide with 15 gorgeous industrial farmhouse chandeliers for a tight budget under $200. Wait a second… I feel a Sia impersonation coming on. Iiiii wanna swiiiiiing from the chandelieeeeeeeer! Okay, joke out of the way — let’s talk about lighting. If you imagine me as someone who finishes DIY projects in a neat, … Read more