This week we help a listener whose home flooded during Hurricane Harvey by offering practical advice on finding trustworthy professionals to repair her kitchen and get her life back on track. We also share a new intelligent platform for buying and selling secondhand items that we’ve been enjoying, show off some recent faux-plant wins, and reveal a free tool John is using to stop one of his worst habits.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio—or listen using the player on the original post. Use this page to find the links, notes, and photos we mentioned. Note: if you’re reading in a feed reader you may need to open the full post to access the audio.
What’s New
- The photo doesn’t fully capture how shocking it was to find a steady stream of water erupting from the middle of the yard. It was a surprise compared to what a normal sprinkler spray looks like. I wrote about installing our irrigation system and the reasons why it might not be the right DIY project for everyone.
- We later discovered a small nick in the pipe caused the geyser. The damage happened where an aerator passed over a low spot in the lawn created by a mole tunnel. It was a chain of unlucky events, but we know we’ll look back and laugh about it someday—once the cleanup is done.
- We’ve also been using a smart secondhand marketplace that learns your tastes. On desktop or in the mobile app you’ll see a mix of items based on your local area. Since I don’t use it as often as Sherry, my feed shows very random listings; hers is tuned by the things she clicks and searches for, which is how we scored a marble-topped dresser for the beach house.
What’s Not
- On the topic of guest rooms, there’s a helpful infographic outlining 15 essentials every guest room should include. It’s a concise checklist if you’re preparing a comfortable space for visitors.
Listener Question
- If you’d like to help Hurricane Harvey survivors, consider donating to reputable relief organizations. It’s worth checking a trusted roundup of charities to find a reliable group.
- We also reference an earlier show where we discussed a negative experience hiring a contractor. That episode dives into lessons learned and how to protect yourself when you call in professionals.
We’re Digging
- Sherry has been unabashedly in love with faux plants lately. Here are some of the artificial greenery pieces that have worked well for us:
- Ginkgo leaf branches we use in the foyer and kitchen
- Evergreen shrubs staged on the front porch
- A magnolia garland bought alongside the ginkgo branches—we can’t wait to use it at Christmas
- Faux fiddle-leaf figs we previously purchased are no longer available, though there are other popular options on the market
- Eucalyptus branches that many bloggers recommend for their realistic look
- A potted succulent that’s perfect for a tabletop or bookcase
- Another well-reviewed fiddle-leaf-fig alternative that gets good feedback
- Paper flowers made by a local friend—light pink ones are lovely and she updates her collection frequently (they’re delightfully addictive)
- For iPhone users, we included screenshots showing how to enable the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature. It’s a straightforward way to reduce distractions and keep yourself focused behind the wheel.
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in older episodes but don’t remember which show notes to open, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging across past shows. It’s a useful reference when you want to revisit a product or resource we’ve discussed.
Thanks to Cardboard Safari for sponsoring this episode. They offered a discount for first-time customers and their whimsical cardboard decor makes for fun, unexpected accents. We also mentioned a Portlandia clip in the show that features a memorable cardboard-related gag.
Thanks for listening, everyone. We appreciate your questions and the stories you share. If you’re repairing storm damage or refreshing a room, take small steps, gather a few estimates, and trust your instincts when hiring help.
*This post contains affiliate links*