All the best things to eat, see, and do in Charlotte, North Carolina—curated for family outings, date nights, and nearby day trips from a local perspective. The Duke Mansion Bed & Breakfast I’ll be honest: I’m a little biased, but I truly believe the Charlotte area is one of the best places to raise a … Read more

Free botanical printable art for spring and summer and a simple wall hanging hack to make hanging frames quick and easy It’s been quiet here lately because life has been full. Between buying a house, traveling for work, and repainting several rooms, keeping up with blog posts has been a challenge. Some weeks you have … Read more

The best tools, resources, and tips from a full-time blogger to help you start a blog and build a sustainable blogging career. Last week I invited readers to ask their blogging questions, and the most common one was: “How do I start a blog?” That’s a big topic, so here’s a clear, practical guide with … Read more

Quick and Simple Tutorial: Transform Furniture with Marble-Effect Contact Paper I found this idea in the IKEA As-Is section — one of those tempting spots where you always hope to score a great find. On a recent trip I spotted a small Vittsjo glass coffee table marked down and immediately pictured a marble-topped version. It … Read more

Simple, high-impact decorating ideas and DIY tips you can use to instantly make a small hallway feel more spacious. After months of living through water mitigation and construction tarps upstairs, we finally focused on finishing our narrow hallway. It felt like a scene from a TV drama for a while, and I didn’t realize how … Read more

When it comes to our backyard, the last three summers have followed the same simple philosophy: waste not, want not. If something can be refreshed rather than replaced, we give it a little TLC and keep it out of the landfill. If a shabby patio table left by the previous owners needs a good scrub, … Read more

We’re pausing our usual decorating and DIY adventures to share a personal update. If you’ve been following along for a few months, you might already know we’re expecting—and we couldn’t be more excited to expand our family. Photo Credit: Alisha Rudd Photography From the moment we discovered this new little person was on the way, … Read more

A curated collection of easy-listening acoustic and classical tracks to create a warm, unplugged evening at home by candlelight. One quiet evening while Robert and I were settling into the living room after the kids went to bed, I realized how much a thoughtfully chosen playlist changes the mood of a house as the days … Read more

An easy way to build a DIY plaster fireplace on a small budget using an electric fireplace insert and Venetian Glaze plaster paint. Have you ever dreamed for years about a home improvement project for a particular spot in your house? One of those long-held ideas for us was a porch fireplace. Our back porch … Read more

How to build a traditional-style board-and-batten grid molding focal wall to add character and depth to any room. We love celebrating finished room reveals, but there’s something special about celebrating progress. Big projects can feel messy and overwhelming at times, but stepping back and recognizing the work you’ve done is incredibly satisfying. Today we’re sharing … Read more