This Friday’s post is a mix of family snapshots, a small DIY project, and a few sweet surprises from a weekend in Washington, D.C. — plus a celebrity sighting that made us all laugh. Here’s what went down.
We drove up to D.C. to visit my best friend Cat, who lives in Arlington with her husband Travis and their two kids, Elsa and Edison. (Fun aside: John and I played matchmaker for Cat and Travis years ago — they got married and now we’re practically family.) Cat took us into the city to see the National Aquarium, and our nieces and nephews were completely captivated. The baby alligators were popular, but the Nemo-and-Dory-ish fish stole the show for Clara and Elsa.
While walking near the aquarium we happened upon a book-signing and — surprise — the singer Jewel was there. We did a double take, I fought the urge to burst into song, and snapped a quick photo. She was very sweet and it was a completely unexpected, funny moment.
We also stopped at Gravely Point, a spot where planes fly so low you can practically feel them overhead as they land. The kids went wild — fist-pumping, cheering and thrilled at each passing plane. It was one of those simple joys that kids remember forever.
One of the sweetest parts of the weekend was watching Clara and Elsa’s friendship. They’re already best friends, and it melts my heart to see them play together. Life keeps surprising us — from matchmaking to family connections through blogging — and it’s a reminder of how small the world can feel in the best possible way.
Back at Cat and Travis’s home, I admired little details that make their house warm and lived-in. Their playroom features a wonderful chalkboard wall painted over magnetic primer so magnets stick as well as chalk. Clara loved it — hours of creative play.
Cat scored a Pottery Barn-style book rack for Edison’s room on Craigslist — the perfect secondhand find. It’s a great reminder that thrifted pieces can look just as polished as new ones when you hunt a little.
In the dining room there’s an original chandelier they inherited. Cat isn’t attached to it, so she’ll likely replace it — and I may very well inherit it someday. I’m quietly excited for that possibility.
Cat’s photo albums also caught my eye — neatly matched spines lined up on a shelf. She organized a pile of mismatched photos into uniform albums by sorting chronologically, but not obsessively. She mentioned she bought the albums at Target, which just goes to show that simple tools and a bit of time can make family photo organization feel manageable and satisfying.
Now for the weekend mini-project: a set of candle sconces that Cat had admired in a photo I’d posted on our site. She had tracked down the image online and lamented that the sconces were sold out — so I surprised her. We had the sconces in our storage and decided to bring them along and hang them over her mantel while we were in town. We came prepared with anchors, screws and a drill, determined to get them up that afternoon.
They’re hung now — we skipped matching candles in the moment, so forgive the slightly uneven heights. The mantel details are lovely: Cat made a sweet little leaf wreath and used leftover wrapping paper to cover stacks of books for a soft, glowing look beneath the sconces. It felt so cozy and intentional.
After a long weekend of aquarium visits, plane spotting, a celebrity sighting, and sconce-hanging, we piled back into the car and headed home to Richmond with two very tired kids. It was one of those perfectly messy, full-of-moments weekends that remind you why you make the trips.
So that’s the roundup: family time, simple DIY, thoughtful home details, and a surprise sighting of Jewel. Any road trips on your calendar? Ever spot a celebrity on a stroll and want to serenade them? Ever pack tools in the car just in case a hanging moment arises? There’s something oddly thrilling — and a little nerve-wracking — about drilling into someone else’s wall, but the payoff is worth it when you see a room come together.