Have you heard of the Furniture-Free movement? It caught our attention, so we decided to try a seven-day challenge (Sherry agreed, though somewhat reluctantly). What does the movement involve, and how might it change our daily routines, homes, or mood? Will it make us feel lighter and more energetic or simply frustrated? We also share our experience with Hurricane Florence: we were fortunate to avoid major damage, but the storm put us through a cycle of panic, relief, and renewed anxiety that left a lasting impression and a valuable reminder. Plus, we describe how we handled an odd issue with multiple holes in the duplex doors, and why Sherry is planning to get a tattoo.
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WHAT’S NEW
- If you want to help people affected by Hurricane Florence, there are several reputable organizations collecting donations. We chose to give to the Foundation for the Carolinas relief fund.
- For context on our past hurricane experience, you can read about Hurricane Irene in Richmond (2011), when we lost power for several days and a neighbor’s house was damaged by a fallen tree.
- The photo above was taken last Saturday in Cape Charles. It was overcast but calm, with slightly higher-than-normal water that likely washed over portions of the beach the day before — you can see the darker, damp sand on the right side of the image.
- We observed the storm’s track looping around our area while largely missing us. Aside from the path, the storm did bring tornadoes on its way out, which affected parts of the region.
- On a lighter note, we noticed an increase in house-themed tattoos. There’s an article about the trend that highlights a range of examples.
- Below are some small tattoo styles Sherry has been pinning. Not every image has a clear source, but they served as inspiration — feel free to tell Sherry which design you like best.
Furniture-Free Living
- We learned about this trend from Apartment Therapy’s piece “I Tried Furniture-Free Living for a Week to See if I Felt Healthier.” The author’s findings were intriguing, and Scary Mommy also published a thoughtful take on the idea.
- The concept isn’t entirely new; a 2016 Good Housekeeping profile followed a family who embraced minimal furniture and alternative sleeping and play arrangements.
- For our one-week, lighter version of furniture-free living, we set a few practical rules:
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- Work standing up — no desk chairs for the week
- Avoid sitting on living room furniture while the children are awake (we can still relax on the couch at the end of the day, but during the day it’s standing, floor-sitting, squatting, or kneeling)
- Try to eat most meals standing when it makes sense (not at restaurants) — this is Sherry’s least favorite rule
- Our children are still allowed to use furniture normally
- We’ll update you next week with our results and how the experiment felt day-to-day.
We’re Digging
- The photo above shows the inexplicable pattern of multiple holes in the duplex front doors. It was baffling to see so many drilled openings — why so many?
- We ordered a handleset that covers and evens out the old holes, giving the doors a clean, uniform look. We chose a dark bronze finish for a classic appearance. (We didn’t have our own installation photo in time, so we included a representative image.)
- We also recommend checking out the Slow Burn podcast if you enjoy deep-dive history series. We recently finished Season 1 about Nixon’s resignation and are listening to Season 2 on Clinton’s impeachment; both seasons provide engaging perspectives on major political moments.
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in an earlier episode but don’t recall which show notes to open, there’s a master list of our “We’re Digging” picks from past episodes. You can also browse all book recommendations on our Book Club page.
Finally, thank you to Annie Selke for sponsoring this episode. Their Labor Day sale offered 20% off across the site, and you can preview their new fall collection on their site.
Thanks for listening!
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