So much has happened since we last picked up the podcast mic, so this episode is a catch-up on everything. We talk house updates, renovation plans, and the awkward, funny moments that come with recording and life. We even tried to describe a few metaphorical diagrams (because describing charts you can’t see is always a treat on audio). We discuss why house projects have slowed down, which projects remain, and how our feelings about having fewer to-dos have shifted over the years. There’s an impromptu musical bit that captures our family’s contentment with a smaller home, a story about why Sherry can’t show her face in one Florida city anymore, a quick holiday game, and a TV show recommendation we’ve been eager to share.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- We explain why we’re not returning to weekly podcasting and share our plan to release occasional, in-depth catch-up episodes like this one. Above is our “extra fancy” recording setup from earlier this week (you may notice the Ikea cabinet boxes in the background).
- For a full list of house updates from the last year, visit our blog homepage. Specific highlights mentioned in the episode include our new pool, the pantry we added to the kitchen, the closet we added to the bedroom, the fenced-in firepit area, the hanging daybed, and the new kitchen porch—plus a peek at how the kitchen looks from the inside now.
- We also covered a holiday gift guide, an update on the family room, seven favorite storage pieces that make our house work harder, and a tribute to our dog Burger, who passed away in October. We never tire of looking at his photos, so here’s one for good measure:
- About that narrow drawer next to the stove: here’s a photo from an older kitchen organization post showing when it held just a bottle of olive oil and a jar of salt. The frames on those old cabinets use a lot of space, so switching to frameless cabinets and moving the stove slightly will gain us significant storage.
- We mentioned paving the front driveway eventually; right now it’s a pine-straw-over-sand setup (complete with tire marks). Our new favorite parking spot is around the side by the kitchen porch, so the front will mainly be for guests. We remain a one-car household with the same trusty 8-year-old Toyota Highlander (150,000 miles and still going strong!).
- If we build a “guest house” (basically a shed with a bed), it would sit behind the large tree by the green fence—the pool is on the other side. We’d need to reconfigure the fence, but the goal is to work around that gorgeous tree.
- Sherry mentioned that “circles make you happy,” a concept from Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee. We discussed the book in an earlier episode and later interviewed Ingrid on the podcast.
What’s Not Game: Holiday Towns
- We talked about a roundup of American towns with holiday-themed names—those places that feel like they embody the holiday spirit.
- We also mentioned Santa Claus, Arizona, the abandoned theme town, and shared that we looked at photos and articles about it during our research.
That’s Embarrassing
- Sherry had an embarrassing moment in St. Augustine that we thankfully didn’t capture on camera. It didn’t ruin our trip—we visited right after the city was lit up for the holidays and had a great time.
- Beyond the usual tourist spots, our favorite meals and treats in St. Augustine included Osprey Taco (the only spot we ate twice in three days), Mayday Ice Cream, and strolling around Castillo de San Marcos.
We’re Digging
- I recently enjoyed Home Before Dark by Riley Sager, one of the best reads I’ve had lately, which is why I included it in our holiday gift guide.
- We also recommend the Hulu show Only Murders in the Building—both of us enjoyed it a lot.
- Sherry sleeps with a weighted blanket she loves for its washable cover, softness, and breathable fabric. For a lighter option, we recently got a furry throw blanket for the downstairs sofa that the whole family adores (we have it in a neutral color).
- You can see the bed with Sherry’s weighted blanket tucked under the duvet on her side—yes, it can be kept fairly discreet.
If you want to revisit recommendations from past episodes, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging across previous shows. You can also find all the books we’ve recommended on our Book Club page.
Finally, thanks to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. Before December 31 you can use code YHL for 25% off any mattress plus your choice of free gifts (cooling pillows or sateen sheets). After December, the same code still gets you $300 off any mattress. Visit AgilityBed.com to redeem the offer.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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