During our book tour stop in Palo Alto someone gave us a gift that made us laugh out loud. It wasn’t a ceramic animal, cupcakes, or stickers for Clara. It was a thin stapled booklet of kids’ writing that looked like this: Inside was this note: “Dear Sherry & John (And Clara & Burger), I … Read more

*** This giveaway is now closed – see who won below! *** And our randomly selected winner of $500 to FinnStyle is… Erika (who just finished with all four of her kids having the stomach flu and is praying it never comes back). Congratulations on your prize! FinnStyle (yes, with two Ns) features sleek, colorful … Read more

Ding dong — the bare spot above the TV is finally fixed. For a while it looked like this: Then we upgraded to a larger TV and spent nearly a year hunting for the perfect media cabinet. Eventually we scored a $59 cabinet at a thrift store and things started coming together. Whew. It’s NNM … Read more

We painted our house—well, we painted a few small test swatches. The creamy color that’s currently on the siding isn’t terrible, but we admired several nearby homes with gray hardboard siding and brick and wanted to see how a more neutral, mid-tone gray would look on our ranch. The current light cream blends the siding … Read more

Choosing the ideal white paint can feel overwhelming. After testing many options, our top pick is Sherwin-Williams Pure White (SW 7005). It delivers a crisp, clean white without common drawbacks like appearing too bright, gray, or yellow. Pure White is versatile enough for walls, trim, doors, ceilings, and cabinets, making it a reliable choice for … Read more

This week’s first project for my self-imposed “Dude Get On That Already” challenge is small, and — surprise — not animal-related. It started with a fifty-cent wooden box I found at Goodwill a few months ago and then tucked into the playroom, where it promptly vanished. I did take one early photo when I briefly … Read more

We recently picked up a recycled glass soap pump at Target for $9 and couldn’t be more pleased with the look and quality. The design feels both industrial and classic, giving an understated, Restoration Hardware–inspired touch to our sink area. Beyond the aesthetic, the pump is refillable and made from recycled glass, which makes it … Read more

Eek! That’s my dolphin squeal — my kids say my impression is impressive when I’m really excited. I’m thrilled to take you on a tour of our new Florida house as it looked the first time we saw it in February. That was, as it happens, the last time we saw it in person before … Read more

It’s Wednesday the 2nd, and that means it’s time to share this season’s (completely unofficial) Pinterest Challenge — a friendly push to stop pinning and start making. This quick craft challenge was dreamed up by Katie to get everyone crafting, and I decided to tackle ornaments early so I’d be prepared for the holidays. I … Read more

Alternate post title: The Vow (Not The One With Channing Tatum). Okay, now it’s the one with him in the title because I mentioned him, but he has nothing to do with this post. He’s not my type anyway — I like ’em tall, lanky, and bookish, not from a male dancing background. This year … Read more