White and Blue Christmas Dining Room Decorating Tour

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9 white and blue Christmas decor ideas for dinner tables, Christmas trees, gift wrap, and holiday accents. Most years when I plan our Christmas decor, I let Robert pick the color scheme — he’s basically Buddy the Elf at heart. This year he didn’t hesitate: “BLUE!” So I leaned into a white-and-blue holiday palette that … Read more

DIY Christmas Decorations for 2025: Affordable, Stylish Ideas

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40+ easy ideas for DIY Christmas decorations using thrifted finds, items from around your home, and simple homemade holiday decor solutions. Recently I sorted through old photos and realized how many thrifted and repurposed Christmas projects we’ve used over the years. If you look closely when thrifting or rethink everyday objects at home, you can … Read more

Where to Buy Furniture and Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

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Where to buy beautiful and unique furniture hardware and kitchen cabinet knobs for any budget — my favorite sources and designer-look-for-less picks to elevate your cabinets and furnishings. Small details like brass pulls or nickel knobs can be the finishing touch that transforms kitchen cabinets and furniture. The right hardware acts like jewelry for an … Read more

Arbor Wall Art Printables: Instant Download Set

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A free downloadable printable set of vintage arbor art — perfect for summer wall decor or year-round display. True story: one of the biggest reasons we fell in love with our current home was the trees. When you move from a neighborhood where yards have been flattened and landscaped with only a single crepe myrtle, … Read more

Photograph Christmas Tree Lights at Night: Candlelight Tour Tips

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A step-by-step tutorial to photograph Christmas tree lights and candlelight at night, so you can beautifully capture your home and holiday decor. Each year when I share our home’s candlelit Christmas tour, readers often ask how I photograph Christmas tree lights and candlelight at night. I’m not a professional photographer, but over the years I’ve … Read more

My ADHD Routine That Helped Me Lose 50+ Pounds and Keep It Off

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For most of my adult life I believed weight loss and “healthy living” required a level of consistency my mind couldn’t sustain. As a busy mom with diagnosed ADHD, my days were often reactive instead of intentional. I’d wake up already behind, forget to eat until I was ravenous, scroll until I felt anxious, and … Read more

Transform Sofas and Chairs with DIY Fringe Trim

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I finally tackled a DIY project I’ve been wanting to try for years: adding bullion fringe to a sofa. This look isn’t for everyone, but if you love grandmillennial style or have a soft spot for “Grandma core,” it’s an easy, high-impact update worth trying. Fringe instantly changes the character of a sofa. I recently … Read more

How to Decorate Around Your TV Without Sacrificing Style

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We have a bit of a love/hate, frenemy relationship with our TV. After our latest rearrange and DIY project, I think we’re finally on speaking terms again — which is a relief, since we still enjoy our New Girl and Parks and Rec marathons. Last time you saw this space, the TV was dominating our … Read more

Guest Bedroom Amenities: What Your Visitors Really Need

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A complete checklist of the best amenities and essentials to turn your guest bedroom into a hotel-like suite so visitors feel comfortable, relaxed, and pampered. Best Guest Room Essentials After refreshing our spare bedroom for holiday guests, I made a comprehensive list of thoughtful amenities and practical essentials to make visitors feel at home. Whether … Read more

How to Make Candles from Repurposed Candy Dishes

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A basic, beginner’s step-by-step tutorial for making soy wax candles from repurposed secondhand candy dishes, tea cups, bowls, and jars. Yesterday it was a balmy 94 degrees here in the Charlotte area, and somehow I found myself in a cozy sweater making DIY candles—blogger life is delightfully strange like that. On a recent antiquing “day … Read more