Our deck project was briefly sidelined while we tackled party, dollhouse, and bedroom projects, but in that time we made one big decision: like both of our parents did growing up, we’re going with pressure-treated wood. That decision wasn’t immediate. We compared several options, collected a few quotes, and took the necessary “sleep on it” … Read more

Most years we’re racing the clock finishing Clara’s homemade Christmas present—sometimes literally with things drying in the garage on Christmas Eve—and this year was no different. The best part, though, is seeing her enjoy it afterward, so we love sharing photos of her with the finished gift. Meet Clara’s new figurine cubby. She absolutely loves … Read more

Tomorrow morning (Thursday, July 30) we’ll be on live TV, and we’re equal parts excited and nervous. Virginia This Morning on CBS6 is Central Virginia’s only live local talk show, and they invited us to share some stories about our home improvement adventures. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but we’re looking forward to dropping by and … Read more

Just when you might have thought we were done with painting after Monday, I’m back with another update. With our baby due in five weeks, I’m suddenly determined to “paint all the things.” Knowing a c-section recovery will leave me stuck for a while and likely fixated on unfinished projects, I wanted to tackle a … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** Describing this week’s giveaway from an online retailer with more than 2 million products — covering everything from tools and lighting to sporting equipment and furniture — proved tricky. I almost summed it up as “they even sell kitchen sinks,” which, it turns out, they do. ATG Stores … Read more

As many of you know, Hurricane Irene moved up the East Coast on Saturday afternoon and evening, bringing heavy rain and powerful winds. Our neighborhood took a serious hit: strong gusts brought down several large trees, knocking out power lines, blocking roads, and damaging houses. We were fortunate that our house escaped major damage, but … Read more

Did you know you can install a Ring Video Doorbell yourself without an electrician or any wiring? You don’t even need an existing doorbell. We recently added one to our front door and it was one of the simplest DIY projects we’ve done in a long time. Note: This is not a sponsored post. We … Read more

We’re leaving the mainland and heading to the islands for this week’s giveaway. Not literally, but the Hawaiian spirit comes to us courtesy of So’mace Lifestyle, a design boutique based in Honolulu that brings island-inspired style and sustainable design to your home. So’mace Lifestyle grew out of a design practice founded in 2004 by former … Read more

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 … Read more

Our house has a few spots that lack privacy — something we’ll be mentioning more than once. It’s not extreme, but after moving from a place where we could almost walk around naked in the backyard (we didn’t) to one where we feel exposed even inside (we don’t), we notice it. One of the most … Read more