This seafoam palette of light blues and deep greens has put me in the mood for a trip to the beach. Those who believe that vacation is a state of mind have clearly never been to an actual beach. Because I’m thinking hard about sunny beaches right now, but I’m still stuck in the state of New Mexico with snow falling outside my window. Perhaps if I closed my eyes and thought reeeeally hard about the beach, when I open my eyes I’ll be sitting on the deck of my beach house in Tampa. (Never mind that I don’t own a beach house in Tampa.) Let me try it… Nope…. Keep Reading
Control your Remodel Budget with this Simple Worksheet
Control your remodel budget or it will control you! Take back your power over your money with my free downloadable bathroom remodel budgeting worksheet. Why You Need a Remodel Budget Sticker shock. It comes with most large purchases, and takes some of the fun out of your new toy, car, or well, bathroom. If you’re planning a large purchase it’s wise to have a budget in mind before you talk to a salesperson because their job is to increase your budget. And if you don’t have one to start with, the sky’s the limit. If your purchase involves several smaller parts, such as a remodeling project that stretches out for… Keep Reading
A New Year and a New Bathroom Remodel
Happy New Year! January is the perfect time for new beginnings, and this year I’m starting a new bathroom remodel that I’ve been wanting to tackle for years. When we moved into our house four years ago, we loved the layout and how the space worked for our family. We didn’t so much love the 1981 style that infused every room of the house. Bathroom as Time Capsule Nowhere was this late-seventies/early-eighties style more troublesome than in our master bathroom. Back in its day, this thing was decked out. The green cultured marble countertops, and beigey-brown matching toilet and jetted bathtub just screamed custom 70’s master retreat. This place was… Keep Reading
Frosted Palette and the Winter Blues
This frosty blue palette is perfect for bringing a chill to the air, any time of year. Here in Albuquerque it sure is frosty but there are no jolly singing snowmen to be found anywhere. The sun is shining, and the only glimpse of winter that we get is the frost on our rooftops in the morning. Not that I’m complaining. I’ve lived in other, snowier, places and while winter weather can be fun and interesting, days on end of clouds and damp are not built into my DNA. We haven’t yet passed the winter solstice yet, and I’m already pining for warmer weather and barefoot days. I’m a Texas… Keep Reading
Ridiculously Chocolaty Easy Brownie Pie
This decadent brownie pie recipe combines Oreo pie crust, Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie dough, and Ghirardelli triple chocolate brownie mix for an over-the-top chocolate experience. And it only takes minutes to put together! If necessity is the mother of invention, then surely chocolate cravings are the mother of all things good and holy. This pie recipe came from the beautiful union of a family of picky eaters and a chocoholic mom, and resulted in a dessert that’s taking my little circle of friends by storm. Here’s how it all started. A Little Family History Our church does this event every fall called “The Feast of Pies” which is basically… Keep Reading
Simple Verses to Focus on The Meaning of Advent
Celebrate the meaning of Advent with these simple Bible verses you can print and put in your advent calendar. It’s the Christmas story in 24 verses!
Simple Table Setting & How to Make Hosting Holidays Easier
I’m all about simplifying the holidays this year, and today I’ve got a double dose of holiday hacks to make your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other holiday dinner warm, welcoming, and less hassle for the host! My mom loves to entertain guests and over the years she has taught me everything I know about entertaining as an art form and the gift of hospitality. Today I’d like to pass on some of her wisdom, mostly so I don’t forget to teach my own children someday. How to Set a Simple Elegant Table Before I get into the larger subject of entertaining, let’s start with a smaller piece of the pie… Keep Reading
The Ultimate Handmade Gift Guide for the 2019 Holiday Season
I’m a huge fan of handmade gifts. In this society where time is money and it’s too easy to click “buy now” and have something sent without ever touching it, handmade gifts are the language of love. I also love not stressing out during the holiday season. Which means getting an early start on projects. (My mother-in-law, who finishes her Christmas shopping in August would argue that it’s already too late.) I’m a born procrastinator, but this year I’m trying to stress less and enjoy the holidays more, which means getting organized now. To that end, I’ve put together 40 of my favorite handmade gift ideas to share with you…. Keep Reading
Muted Pumpkin Palette and Thoughts on Changing Seasons
I must confess I’m not a huge fan of orange. I mean, I love color. I love all the shades, hues, and tones. I love how it changes in the light and how it can change our outlook. I love each and every color. Except orange. Like having a favorite student in a class, or a least favorite pet, I felt a little bad about my attitude towards orange. I mean, it’s never done anything to hurt me. Except assault my corneas. But it’s not Orange’s fault; it can’t help that it’s so… orange. So I set out to create a fall color palette that even an orange-averse person like… Keep Reading
Affordable Kitchen Lighting Options
Recently one of my favorite readers (and best friends) asked if I could share some ideas for affordable kitchen lighting. Happy to oblige, I’ve put together a little roundup of my favorite modern industrial farmhouse lighting options. Picking the right lighting for a room can be one of those design challenges that you don’t think about until you find yourself overwhelmed with thousands of choices, wondering how you could have paid so little attention all your life to the lights you use every day in your home. Affordable kitchen lighting has been on my mind lately, because when we recently replaced the floor in our kitchen and breakfast nook, we… Keep Reading