We never tire of seeing clever makeovers like the one Sada and her husband Reagan shared with us. They turned an otherwise wasted wall in their entryway into a practical coat zone and a lovely display for art and personal mementos. Their choices—joyful prints and carefully placed keepsakes—make the space feel both functional and inviting. … Read more

A few years ago we started a design project with a local builder that had us excited — but it unexpectedly fell apart, which still bothers us. This week we share that story, plus the surprising way Sherry scored a terrific secondhand find for the beach house. We also respond to your feedback about houses … Read more

We were surprised to find ourselves officially cat owners. We jokingly named the stray that wandered our neighborhood “Jenny From The Block” — shortened to Jenny — partly because it rhymed with our dog Penny and partly because we couldn’t resist a silly name. We picked Jenny in about two seconds, and it stuck. She’s … Read more

Crank up “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” and pour some eggnog — here are our holiday photos and a tour of this year’s decorations. First up, the tree. You might remember that we set it up in the office the first year we lived here, but this year we moved it to a … Read more

One more nursery task can be crossed off the list: the changing table is done. Before Clara was born, a coworker told me changing tables were unnecessary because you often change a baby wherever is convenient — on the floor or the nearest piece of furniture. We had already bought and refinished Clara’s changing table/dresser … Read more

Happy Friday! A few quick updates: Book orders: If Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other retailers show the book as “sold out” or on a long backorder, don’t worry — thousands of copies are en route to warehouses right now. They should appear in the system in a few days and be available for immediate … Read more

By coincidence, our actual blogiversary (which was last Friday) landed just days before what we affectionately call a “dogiversary.” Burger’s birthday was this week (yesterday), and he turned four years old. Happy birthday, Burgmeister! Here’s the old man now, in tribute to his sister’s weekly photos: We celebrated his day the way we usually do—an … Read more

It’s been nearly four years since we last explained how we use smart home technology to make daily life easier. Since then we’ve moved homes, changed states, and updated much of our smart setup. Below I’ll outline what we’ve added, what we no longer use, and which devices still earn a permanent spot in our … Read more

Our Instagram post last night was a little cryptic. We were having an especially frustrating day after two discouraging setbacks with the duplex renovation hit us within ten hours. We try to share the good, the bad, and the ugly—like missing a timeline, busting a budget, or accidentally smashing a ceramic animal. Sometimes renovation life … Read more

Ocean Jasper is a striking and rare variety of jasper valued for its soothing energy and distinctive orb-like patterns. Collectors prize it not only for its multicolored, spherical markings but also because the primary deposit has been closed to future mining, making existing pieces increasingly scarce. Ocean Jasper appears in a wide range of colors … Read more