We’re wrapping up blogiversary week with one more post for anyone who’s starting a blog or trying to turn theirs into a business. We don’t claim to be formal blogging experts, but over four years of sharing home and DIY projects we’ve picked up a lot of lessons worth passing along. And of course there … Read more

We receive many emails asking for a simple tutorial on how to remove labels from wine and Pellegrino bottles. We first tried this for our wedding in 2007 to transform bottles into carafes for water, lemonade, and sweet tea for each table. We even asked a local wine shop to save bottles from tastings so … Read more

To make room for our DIY clothespin light, we first removed the existing ceiling fixture: Not literally tossed out—there was something charmingly retro about it, so we decided to reuse it elsewhere in the house instead of donating it. The obvious candidate was the hallway that leads to the guest room, hall bath, playroom, and … Read more

I can’t share a list of one-syllable girl names without offering one for boys too. Short boy names have been popular for centuries — from mythic figures like Zeus, to gospel writers such as Mark and Luke, to Founding Fathers like George and James, and on to modern TV characters like Ross and Zack. They … Read more

As we prepare to move into a house that’s less than half the size of our current one, we’re taking a thorough look at our belongings to decide what will come with us and what we should let go of. Today we’re sharing the clear, repeatable criteria we use to evaluate every item — yes, … Read more

We love the holidays, but all the extra stuff—gifts, decorations, and clutter on every surface—can start to feel overwhelming. In this episode we talk about how we’re approaching the season more simply so we can keep the joy alive. One frequent listener question is “help me pinpoint my style—I’m all over the place!” We walk … Read more

Our nursery closet used to be a cramped, awkward space — blocked on one side by ductwork and on the other by the fireplace — and it desperately needed a makeover. We didn’t want to spend much, though, so we tackled the project on a tight budget and managed to transform that tiny nook into … Read more

People have been asking what we did to stage our house. The short answer: not much. Aside from deep-cleaning every surface and temporarily tucking a few things in the car, we didn’t strip the home of personality. We didn’t move large furniture into storage, repaint walls or ceilings, or remove personal photos and artwork. While … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** We’ve been planning a refresh for our front porch as part of the BHG 48-Hour Challenge. A few years ago we did a basic stain-and-seal job, but the color had faded and the porch needed something more interesting. Just when we were brainstorming, Olympic Paint reached out to … Read more

Oops — we let our monthly budget-blooms tradition slide for a bit. But look what I found thriving in the wild patch that is our front lawn: Let me channel my best nature-show narrator: The air is still. No obvious predators. Something stirs in the brush. A buzzard circles above. Somewhere in the distance a … Read more