Curious about our next big renovation? It’s a project we’ve been talking about for years and finally feel ready to take on — partly made possible by selling our duplex. This week we share why we’re excited to move forward, why we think the timing is right, and how the idea brings up a mix of emotions: excitement, nostalgia, and inspiration. It will also push our commitment to simplifying our lives to a whole new level. Along the way, a few travel hiccups introduced us to some great books we’re enjoying, plus one that I’m eager to start — even if that sounds a little odd.
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What’s New
- If you prefer to read rather than listen, the full transcript of this episode is available.
- We’re holding off on sharing many photos of the new project until the deal is finalized, but the image above was taken in one of the neighborhoods we explored during a recent trip to Florida. We were both surprised by how lush and wooded some areas felt.
- We found plenty of style inspiration while walking around. This house we noticed wasn’t on the market, but we loved its minty color palette and overall charm.
- We also revisited memories from past spring break trips to Florida, including a 2018 trip we called our best spring break yet. Last year’s visit to the Fort Lauderdale area was just as enjoyable and informed how we thought about neighborhoods and local lifestyle.
- Earlier conversations on the podcast touched on our house feeling too big for our needs. We first shared those feelings a couple of years ago and have returned to the idea of downsizing several times since. Guests on past episodes have offered helpful perspectives about buying less and simplifying life.
- Sherry insisted I include this photo of one of the two seashell-shaped sinks that remain in our house — a funny reminder that even after seven years there are still projects on the list. Those sinks live in the upstairs hall bathroom and are emblematic of the quirks we’ve lived with and loved.
- Despite a complicated trip home, we had a delightful surprise: we ran into our friend Traci from Beneath My Heart during a layover in Charlotte. She arrived from Nashville and we from Richmond, yet we ended up standing three feet apart at the same gate — a small, joyful coincidence that made the travel chaos feel lighter.
We’re Digging
- Sherry recently enjoyed two romantic comedies by Sally Thorne: 99% Mine and The Hating Game. Both are engaging, fun reads with strong character work and witty dialogue — perfect if you’re looking for an entertaining, light escape.
- I’m looking forward to reading Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers after hearing an episode of his Revisionist History podcast that featured audio from an interview he did for Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. That episode intrigued me enough to add the book to my reading list.
- That Oprah clip is a fun piece of our story: a few years ago we had a brief feature filmed for Super Soul Sunday at our second house. It was one of those memorable mornings — filmed the same day Sherry hurt her back — and we like revisiting the clip because it captures a slice of our journey.
- We also made a short clip capturing Oprah saying our names during that segment — a little nerdy, perhaps, but a treasured moment for us. You can read more about that experience in a past blog post where we share the full story and photos.
If you ever want to find something we’ve mentioned on the show but can’t remember which episode it came from, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging across past episodes. We also have a Book Club page that lists every title we’ve recommended, which makes it easy to browse suggestions by theme or episode.
A quick thank-you to Rothy’s for sponsoring this episode. We appreciate support from brands that align with our values and help keep the podcast going. We’ve enjoyed trying their styles and sharing the things that feel useful and comfortable in everyday life.
Thanks for listening and reading — we’re grateful you’re along for the ride as we take on this next renovation and explore what simplifying our lives really looks like.
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