Hey friends—big news: this year we finally have a real dining room to use for Christmas Eve dinner. It might not sound dramatic, but after a long stretch of projects and unpacking, having a proper place to gather feels like a small miracle. It’s also a reminder to keep perspective—having food and a table to … Read more

All the best road trip essentials for traveling with kids, organizing the car, streamlining packing, plus the ultimate packing checklist. After a tense few weeks (really, it’s been a challenging year for many of us), getting out on the road this summer feels like a breath of fresh air. My husband Robert, the kids, and … Read more

I’ve lost track of how many small updates we’ve made to our living room over the years. It’s been a gradual process—more like adjusting a dimmer than flipping a switch—and that slow evolution has felt right for this house. On the day we moved in eight years ago, we started by repainting the yellow walls … Read more

A DIY pergola assembled in two days and styled like an affordable Serena & Lily–inspired backyard cabana to add shade by the pool. If you’ve ever wanted South Beach–style vibes at your own pool, this DIY poolside cabana is a simple, high-impact way to create that look and function. Technically, we installed a pergola kit … Read more

Have you ever had one of those moments when you thought, “My mom would totally laugh at me for this”? I had one recently. Growing up I was quirky — sketching first-day-of-school outfits, rearranging my room on a whim, and insisting the food on my plate not touch. Those little odd habits stuck with me, … Read more

A step-by-step tutorial on creating a weathered wood look using only paint and wax As usual on this blog, paint takes center stage. This time it rescued a piece that was a little too glossy and needed a softer, aged appearance. I picked up this black table at a consignment shop in Charlotte for $160. … Read more

DIY IKEA storage hacks to maximize function in the office, playroom, kitchen, closets, and throughout your home for less. It’s been a while since we shared a good DIY IKEA storage hack, and today we’re tackling a home office project at our pastor’s house using one of our favorite IKEA built-in shelving approaches. We’ll be … Read more

(Works with baskets, barrels, buckets, and more!) Every year I see Christmas trees styled in decorative planters and baskets online and tell myself I’ll try it—this year I finally did. I turned our artificial tree into a potted Christmas tree using a planter I already owned, and the result looks custom and elevated without a … Read more

A before-and-after home tour of our brick Colonial five years after moving in, with recaps of countless DIY projects and decorating tutorials. It’s hard to believe five years have already passed since we moved into this house. Some days progress feels slow—painting a door, swapping a light fixture, or finding a secondhand table—but those small … Read more

A curated collection of the best Christmas gift ideas for teens and pre-teens — toys, fashion, games, books, and room décor, with thoughtful options starting at $7. Shopping for tweens and teens can feel impossible once kids hit about 12 — tastes change fast and trends move even faster. To make holiday shopping easier, I … Read more