This Friday post is a little bit of everything: a quick weekend project, some cute family moments, a few house details worth noting, and an unexpected brush with a celebrity—yes, the singer Jewel. Ready?
The trip started with a weekend in Washington, DC to visit my best friend Cat. John and I originally set her up with his cousin Travis years ago, and they ended up marrying and having two kids—so yes, my best friend is now family. Cat, Travis, and their kids Elsa and Edison live in Arlington, and they took us into the city to visit the National Aquarium. John’s sister Katie and her family came along, so it was a full, fun crew.
The aquarium was a hit with the kids. Baby alligators were fascinating, but the highlight for Clara and Elsa was the pair of fish that looked exactly like Nemo and Dory. The girls were completely spellbound, and their excitement was contagious.
While walking a block or two from the aquarium we spotted Jewel doing a book signing. We all did a double take—there she was, unexpectedly in the middle of our stroll. I fought the urge to burst into song and instead snapped a quick photo. She seemed sweet and low-key, and the moment felt delightfully random.
Later we went to Gravely Point, a great spot for watching planes land at the nearby airport. The jets fly incredibly low right overhead, which made the kids go absolutely nuts—in the best way. They cheered, pumped their fists, and stared up in awe every time a plane roared by.
Watching Elsa and Clara together was especially touching. They’re already best friends, and it’s heartwarming to see how close they are. It’s funny how life connects people: we set John’s cousin up with my best friend, I met another true friend through blogging, and now our kids have their own little circle of pals. Life feels small and wonderfully unpredictable sometimes.
On a quieter note, it was lovely to appreciate the ordinary things—like the fact that Clara is here with us, and that John and I met in New York years ago despite him almost leaving the city to go back to school. Little twists of fate make the sweetest stories.
Back to house stuff: Cat has a great chalkboard wall in the playroom. She painted magnetic primer under the chalkboard paint so magnets work there too, and Clara had a blast with the animal magnets. It’s both practical and playful—a perfect combination for a kid space.
Cat also scored a nearly new book rack on Craigslist for Edison’s room—one of those pricey Pottery Barn styles, but secondhand and much more affordable. Good finds like that make thrifting feel like a small victory.
I loved the original chandelier in their dining room, even though Cat says she’s not attached to it and plans to replace it. I may have done a tiny, gleeful rub of the hands imagining getting it once she swaps it out. It’s always fun to think about what would work next in a space.
Cat’s photo albums are another standout. Her system is simple but effective: buy several matching albums, gather photos from mismatched piles and old albums, and arrange them roughly chronologically without getting bogged down in perfection. The result is tidy and much more enjoyable to look through—definitely inspiring if you want to organize family photos.
Now for the mini project: Cat called me a few weeks earlier to complain—half jokingly—that she’d found the perfect candle sconces online but they were sold out. As it happened, we had the exact sconces sitting in a pile at our house because we hadn’t found a place for them yet. So we packed anchors, screws, and a drill, drove them over, and installed the sconces above her fireplace during our visit. I forgot to bring two matching candles, so the heights don’t match perfectly in the photo, but the effect is lovely, especially when lit.
Cat also made a sweet little leaf wreath and used some soft, glowing leftover wrapping paper to cover stacks of books on the mantel—small touches that make the room feel curated and cozy. It’s the kind of decorating that’s approachable and charming.
After a weekend filled with fish-watching, plane-spotting, a cameo from Jewel, and a successful sconce installation, we drove back to Richmond with two tired, happy kids. It was one of those random, full weekends that feel indulgent and ordinary all at once.
So that’s this Friday’s mix of stories—family, home, a tiny DIY, and a surprise celebrity sighting. Do you have any weekend trips coming up? Have you ever recognized a famous person while out walking and wanted to serenade them? Or packed tools in your car hoping to fix or hang something in someone else’s house? It’s a little nerve-wracking to drill into someone else’s wall, but also kind of thrilling—like borrowing a bit of their life for a moment.