Renovating our beach house has been rewarding, but it hasn’t been all perfect sunsets and pastel paint. This week we’re opening up about a few of the more stressful renovation tasks, sharing a simple ritual that helped calm our nerves and remind us why we started this project, and passing along practical tips for staying organized during a renovation. We also sit down with cleaning expert Becky from Clean Mama to collect time-saving cleaning and organization strategies that work well in busy homes. Plus: the Instagram account that surprised John, outdoor gear Sherry has been considering, and a little Ikea trivia as we test our knowledge of popular pieces.
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What’s New
- That photo was taken on a day trip to Cape Charles, VA. Getting away to a calm, shallow beach helped us de-stress from ongoing beach house renovation work. The shallow water makes it easy for the kids to explore tide pools and find snails and little sand crabs, which was a welcome, low-stress distraction.
Update (Sort Of)
- If you want background on our Family Yearbook tradition, we link to the original post with full details and examples. The yearbook tradition helps us document progress and remember why we renovate.
- We asked readers for recommendations after MyPublisher changed, and hundreds of you responded with suggestions. The two most common, well-liked options were Blurb and Mixbook; Shutterfly was frequently mentioned but opinions about it were mixed. We’re still deciding on the final service for our yearbook prints.
What’s Not
- We discussed IKEA’s popular items and how many of them have become staples in our home. Below are several IKEA pieces we mentioned during the episode and in past posts:
- Wood-wrapped Expedit (now Kallax) shelving used in our son’s room
- White planters we use for both real and faux plants
- Our bedroom’s white duvet that brightens the space
- Large metal shelving units in our office that double as storage and display
- A mega-sofa and cabinets in the bonus room that help create a cozy family zone
- Cabinets and built-ins in our laundry and bonus rooms that maximize organization
Clean Mama
- We sat down with Becky from Clean Mama to gather straightforward cleaning and organizing advice for busy households, especially useful during renovations when dust and clutter multiply. She recommends simple routines and approachable tools to keep a home feeling under control.
- Becky offers a range of free cleaning printables and DIY cleaning recipes that make routine maintenance easier. Her calendar-based systems and checklists help busy families stay on top of daily and weekly tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
- One of her top tips is to choose the right vacuum for your home. She recommends models that balance suction power, filtration, and maneuverability so you can clean faster and more effectively—especially helpful when renovation dust spreads from room to room.
- Becky prefers microfiber dusting tools instead of feather dusters because microfiber traps dust instead of just moving it around. She also shares mattress-care tips such as using baking soda and regular airing to keep linens fresh during long projects.
- If you missed our earlier cleaning-focused episode with Melissa Maker, we included it in the show notes; it pairs nicely with Becky’s practical strategies.
We’re Digging
- We highlighted outdoor items that encourage kids to play outside more—everything from classic swings to compact climbing gear. These outdoor play options are perfect for summer and help burn off energy during long renovation stretches.
- For securing swings and hanging equipment, look for reliable straps and hardware rated for tree use to ensure safety and durability over time.
- We revisited the book we’ve mentioned before—Simplicity Parenting—which offers helpful ideas about reducing toy clutter and simplifying routines so kids can focus on play rather than being overwhelmed by too many options.
- A neighbor’s Instagram slime account surprised John with viral videos that are oddly soothing to watch; those satisfying, calming clips are great for a quick mental break. We also shared several other satisfying and creative Instagram accounts and hashtags that inspire tactile and visual creativity, such as printmaking, kinetic sand, calligraphy, and paint-mixing videos. Watching a few of these can transform your explore feed into a surprisingly meditative collection.
- We keep a master list of things we’ve been “digging” from past episodes, helpful if you want to revisit products, books, or ideas we’ve discussed over the life of the podcast.
Finally, a note of thanks to our episode sponsor for supporting the show and helping us explore design options for our home office and living spaces. And thanks to everyone for listening—your comments and suggestions keep the renovation journey feeling collaborative and fun.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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