Nothing wakes you up faster than discovering an infestation in your home. In this episode we share the whole uncomfortable story: why we had to leave the house for a few days, how we handled the situation, and how the fix ended up being much simpler and less disruptive than we expected. We also vent a little about the sad state of in-stock front doors, borrow a clever idea from a luxury hotel to upgrade our beach house, and celebrate our 100th episode with a very special guest.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it below. Use this page to find any links, notes, or photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may have to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- This is our “quarantine” zone in the bonus room after we found the pest issue. The photo was taken after we returned from a quick trip out of town to let treatment take effect, so it looks calmer than it did when everything was thrown in there in a panicked rush.
- If you want more detail about my earlier bed bug experience in New York City that I mentioned on the episode, there’s a post where I wrote about how awful it was. Below are a few photos from that time, including clothes sealed in bags in my closet and the “sleep uniform” I wore (in the middle of summer) to reduce bites overnight. Exhibit A: those curtains made from black flat sheets — proof that Sherry married me for my design instincts.
Can We Just Talk About
- Front doors. The state of available, in-stock doors at big box stores is depressing. There are so many wildly ornate or overly trendy options, and so few classic, simple designs that actually fit most homes. In the episode you’ll hear Sherry silently judging all the options, and the photos show what we mean.
- We were hunting for a diamond-paned door that would be easy to buy and install at the duplex. Instead we kept finding incredibly detailed and ornate choices — one even featured a carved bear family. When a friend drove a perfect door down from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, it felt like a small miracle. You can see Amy and Sherry with that door in the photos.
We’re Digging
- We bought a compact sound machine for each bedroom at the beach house. It’s small, inexpensive, and has several soothing sounds — perfect for masking outside noise and helping everyone sleep better while we’re there.
- On the podcast we also recommend a true crime series we’ve been listening to recently. The storytelling kept us hooked and brought a local historical case to light in a way that was both compelling and respectfully handled.
If you’re trying to remember a recommendation from a past episode, we compiled a master list of everything we’ve been digging across earlier shows so you can quickly find any previous picks.
Finally, a note of thanks to our sponsor for this episode. There’s a special offer available for listeners who try the sponsor’s starter kit and membership deal — a practical way to stock up on essentials while trying a new service.
Thanks for listening and for supporting the show. We appreciate you tuning in and sharing the journey with us.
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