Practical Cloth Diapering Guide: Tips for New Parents

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Here’s a peek behind the scenes at our home: cloth diapers drying on a sunny windowsill and an eccentric little chihuahua who insists on making himself comfortable right on top of them. He’ll pause for a bit of birdwatching… …then stretch out and lounge on the laundry. He’s a funny little weirdo, but we love … Read more

Conceal a Water Heater Using an IKEA Cabinet: Step-by-Step Guide

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If you’re trying to hide unattractive elements in your laundry room or you want to see photos of a laundry room with a top-loading washer (most online images show front-loaders with counters), this post should help. After months of planning, the beach house laundry room/mudroom finally came together over the weekend. It’s a simple space … Read more

Starting Your Laundry Room Makeover: Practical Steps & Ideas

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After much deliberation, our laundry area is finally getting a proper makeover. Well hello there, washer… shall we take this to the bedroom? Yes — literally, we moved the washer into the bedroom. Jealous? It’s been a hectic week here, mostly because of unrelated book projects, but we’ve also managed to make real progress upstairs. … Read more

Florida Renovation Begins—Unexpected Plumbing Problem Delays Start

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We knew our new Florida house would need major repairs, but we didn’t expect an old plumbing surprise waiting for us — though, given our history, maybe we should have. This week we’re sharing how the issue surfaced, why fixing it cost thousands, and what we’re doing to resolve it. With so many people suddenly … Read more

Creative Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas for a Memorable Holiday

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I’m a last-minute kind of person, and I couldn’t resist playing with a few quick and simple Thanksgiving table settings—48 hours before the holiday and counting. Normally I do a bunch of Christmas table designs, but a new doorway between the kitchen and dining area has me eager to try out some early fall arrangements. … Read more

DIY Wedding Week Meals: How We Cooked All Our Own Food

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All this wedding week talk must have worked up an appetite, so please enjoy a taste of the dishes we served on our wedding day. Perhaps our boldest DIY choice was skipping a caterer entirely and preparing the entire menu ourselves. It may sound crazy, but there were practical reasons behind it. Many caterers require … Read more

Fab Freebie: Honest Reviews of Must-Have Beauty Finds

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*** This giveaway is closed – see who won below!*** The randomly selected and very lucky winner of this week’s giveaway is… BeccaK (who commented, “I could trust the lube & oil folks when I go for an oil change – is a radiator flush REALLY necessary?”). Congratulations, BeccaK! We love a beautiful home, but … Read more

How to Install Penny Tile Flooring: Step-by-Step Guide

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We did it: we tiled the entire back wall of our kitchen from counter to ceiling. We call it Project Crazy, and we survived to tell the tale. We still need to grout, mount a large industrial range hood, and install chunky open shelves (which will be screwed through the tile using a special drill … Read more

Freebie Alert: Something Fishy Giveaway

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***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!*** Our random winner of a full house window cleaning is… Christy U (who would also love to outsource getting her car detailed this spring cleaning season). Congrats! Spring brings sunshine, blooming flowers, and the annual urge to deep clean. I don’t mind some … Read more

Episode 163: Our Massive New Project Revealed

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Curious about our next big renovation? It’s a project we’ve thought about for years and finally feel ready to take on—partly because we sold our duplex. This week we explain why we’re moving forward now, what’s motivating us, and why the whole idea makes us excited, nostalgic, and inspired at once. It’s also going to … Read more