Below is a practical list of the things we typically skip, along with short explanations so you can decide what might work for you. These choices let us reallocate spending to things we value more—project materials, organic produce, cable TV, or simply saving for the future—without any dramatic lifestyle upheaval.

• Meat only three or four nights a week: We cook vegetarian or simple meals on many nights—spaghetti, bean burritos, veggie stir-fries, homemade pizza, nachos, baked sweet potatoes with salad. These meals are satisfying, inexpensive, and easy to prepare.
• Fabric softener: We usually skip commercial fabric softeners. Sometimes we use a splash of vinegar in the rinse cycle, but most of the time we just tumble dry or hang clothes. We don’t notice a drop in comfort or softness.
• Dusting spray: Instead of aerosol sprays or polishes, we rely on microfiber cloths and a little water. It’s effective, chemical-free, and cheaper.
• Regular dry cleaning: We avoid routine trips to the dry cleaner by buying mostly machine- or hand-washable clothes. Once a year we take a few coats or blazers in, but not monthly.
• Professional dog grooming: Our dog has a short coat, so we bathe him at home and trim nails ourselves. At-home grooming works well for us and cuts recurring costs.
• Printed newspaper: We get news online and from public radio. Most publications offer digital formats, and streaming news or podcasts cover what we need without a paper subscription.
• Bottled water: We use a home water filter and refill reusable bottles like Klean Kanteens. It’s better for the environment and far less expensive than buying single-use bottles.
• Daily coffee shop visits: Instead of buying a daily latte, we make beverages at home. For example, chai made from a grocery-store mix yields multiple cups for the price of one café drink. We reserve café purchases for special occasions.
• Checked baggage fees: We aim to pack light and travel with carry-on only. Even with a dog or child we’ve managed to avoid checked bag fees, which saves money and time at the airport.
• Styling products like gel or mousse: I haven’t used those products since college. A simple wash-and-wear routine is cheaper and gentler on skin and scalp.
• Excess makeup: I keep a compact makeup kit and avoid collecting many shades of lipstick or eyeshadow. A smaller selection reduces impulse purchases and clutter.
• Creams and self-tanners: I’m comfortable with a natural, pale complexion, so expensive lotions or tanning products aren’t part of our routine. Simple sunscreen and gentle care are enough.
• Perfume or cologne: I prefer the clean scent of shampoo; John doesn’t wear cologne either. Skipping fragrances avoids an extra recurring purchase.
• Frequent haircuts and color treatments: We keep salon visits minimal. I trim my hair at home most of the time and get a professional cut only occasionally; John’s haircuts at home save us money too.
• Salon manicures and pedicures: I do my toes and usually leave my fingernails natural. Once or twice a year I’ll treat myself to a salon visit, but it’s not a regular expense.
• Personal gym membership for me: Gym time isn’t my preference, though John enjoys his membership. I walk, do bodyweight exercises, or use free resources instead.
• Frequent alcohol purchases: Alcohol is not a regular purchase in our household. John rarely drinks, and I might open a bottle of wine once or twice a year—often as a gift—so buying alcohol isn’t an ongoing cost.
• Disposable diapers: We use cloth diapers in many situations, which reduces the cost of disposables and generates less waste. It takes an upfront investment but pays off over time.
• Dedicated diaper bag: Instead of buying a separate designer diaper bag, I used a regular purse and kept a small stash of essentials in the car. It’s practical and saves money.
• Incandescent light bulbs: We’ve switched most fixtures to CFLs and LEDs. The bulbs cost more initially but save energy and money over time. We’re gradually replacing bulbs across the house as budgets allow.
• A second vehicle: For households where it’s possible, keeping one car can yield substantial savings on purchase costs, insurance, maintenance, and fuel. In our case, working from home makes one car feasible.

Choosing not to buy certain things allows us to spend more intentionally on what matters most to our family. It’s a balance: skip the small recurring costs and fund the big, meaningful purchases. What’s on your “skip it” list? Share your practical hacks—no judgment, just useful ideas.

Psst—this kind of content lives among many other money-saving posts on our blog category dedicated to saving money.

The post Smart Ways to Save Money Every Month first appeared on Objectales.

And the random winner who’s about to get their read and their DIY on is… Julie Smith (who said we’d see her at her desk in the office daydreaming about going home to finish painting her half-completed bathroom). Congratulations, Julie!

If you like stories about a young couple tackling their first home renovation, then Jen Lancaster’s latest paperback, If You Were Here, should be on your reading list. Jen’s voice is consistently hilarious and relatable, and her take on home improvement misadventures is both entertaining and unexpectedly poignant. We were thrilled when she mentioned us on her blog last year, and now that the book is out in paperback, we thought it was the perfect time to celebrate with a giveaway.

This giveaway included a signed-feel prize pack designed for readers who love DIY tales and practical treats: a copy of If You Were Here paired with a $100 Home Depot gift card — more useful than a simple bookmark, and perfect for anyone mid-project or planning a weekend refresh.

• PRIZE: A copy of “If You Were Here” by Jen Lancaster and a $100 Home Depot gift card
• HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post containing the phrase “IF YOU WERE HERE” and answer the bonus question below.
• BONUS QUESTION: Tell us what we might see if we were with you right now. Would it be the latest home project you’re tackling? The crowded subway you commute on? Or the sandwich you’re enjoying at your desk? Share a brief snapshot of your current scene.
• GIVEAWAY DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 7th at 8pm EST, or when entries reach 10,000 — whichever comes first.
• NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
• ELIGIBILITY: Prize ships to the 48 contiguous United States. We try to offer international giveaways when possible.
• RULES: One entry per email address. The winner will be chosen at random and announced in an update to this post the following Thursday. Be sure to check back here for the winner announcement. Good luck!

Note: We’re not paid or otherwise compensated to host this giveaway — we do these events simply to thank our readers for stopping by. See our Giveaway FAQ for more information. Images courtesy of Penguin Books.

Why this giveaway felt right for our community: so many readers here enjoy the messy, funny, and heartwarming parts of renovating a home. Whether you’re mid-demo or just dreaming about the perfect paint color, Jen Lancaster’s novel captures those small domestic dramas with humor and warmth. Pairing the book with a Home Depot gift card felt like a natural fit — a little reading pleasure plus a practical nudge toward finishing that next project.

Even if you missed this giveaway, there are plenty of ways to stay involved. Keep an eye on our regular posts for future book features, product recommendations, and giveaways that cater to readers and DIYers alike. We love hearing about your own projects and daily scenes, and the “IF YOU WERE HERE” responses painted a vivid picture of life across kitchens, commuter trains, and cozy corners where readers unwind with a good book.

Thanks again to everyone who entered and shared a slice of their day with us. We appreciate your enthusiasm and the community you help build here — from renovation triumphs to lunchtime confessions, your stories make this space feel lively and inspiring. Stay tuned for more chances to win and more reads to enjoy.

The post Free Download of If You Were Here first appeared on Objectales.

Below is an overview of what’s currently on the wall, along with quick notes about what each framed piece is and why we chose it:

• John’s baby picture and my baby picture — a playful side-by-side for comparison and a sweet way to show Clara where she came from.
• A doodle of our dog Burger that a friend created on Facebook using the Graffiti tool. We printed it and framed it because it felt personal and fun.
• An Etsy print of a girl and her dog that reminded us of Clara and Burger; it has a warm, nostalgic feel that suits the nursery.
• A personalized canvas with Clara’s name, which adds a custom touch and anchors the gallery as hers.
• A stylized photo of Burger that I edited to create a bright, graphic image of him in a field of flowers — it adds color and personality.
• Two faux butterflies arranged in a small shadowbox backed with patterned paper for a whimsical, dimensional accent.
• A handmade silhouette of Clara cut out and mounted on striped paper — a simple, meaningful piece that’s very personal.
• A giraffe print; Clara loves giraffes (and dogs), so this is one of her favorites to look at during playtime or diaper changes.
• A framed magazine ad with a giraffe — we enjoy framing interesting magazine pages we’ve bought for personal enjoyment.
• A large letter P that we decoupaged with colorful paper to keep things playful and tie into the nursery palette.
• A typographic print of peas in a pod made entirely from repeating the letter P — a cheeky nod to our family name and to Clara’s initials.
• A silhouette of Burger that John had made years ago; we backed it with patterned paper to blend it into the nursery theme.
• Clara’s hospital bracelet mounted on pink paper and placed in a chunky frame — a tiny keepsake that means a lot.
• A framed magazine ad featuring an owl — another small, quirky piece that contributes to the overall collage feel.

We love that several of these pieces cost nothing extra to add to the wall. A number of them were items we already owned or prints we made at home and printed on cardstock, so they were essentially free. That’s one of the great things about gallery walls: you can mix sentimental, DIY pieces with purchased art to create something that feels curated and personal without breaking the bank. Plus, the collage provides a lot of visual interest and keeps Clara entertained while we change her or play with her.

Many of the frames originally hung in Clara’s first nursery as well, though in a slightly different arrangement. It’s fun to reuse favorites and tweak their placement over time instead of starting from scratch. The continuity helps the room feel familiar while the new arrangement gives it a fresh look.

One of the details we love most is having both of our baby pictures on the wall. Clara enjoys pointing at them and saying “Daddy baby!” and “Mommy baby!” It’s been a sweet way to encourage recognition and connection, and we find ourselves comparing features and guessing which of us she resembles. We get asked a lot who she looks like more — some family members insist she looks like John, others see more of me — but part of the joy is in the debate, not the answer.

Finally, a little community note: one of the finalists in a recent design-related contest is a reader named Melissa Matthews. She entered after we mentioned the opportunity and ended up among the finalists, which we were excited to learn about. The contest supports charitable giving: each vote results in a donation to a children’s charity, so it’s a nice way to support a good cause while celebrating creative projects.

The post How to Hang a Gallery Wall in Your Nursery first appeared on Objectales.

If you remember, we used leftover paver sand to fill the joints between the stones instead of paying the stoneyard’s $95 delivery for polymeric sand. Polymeric sand contains binders that act a bit like cement to lock the joints in place and reduce weed growth, so it’s designed to hold up better over time.

At first the ordinary paver sand looked perfectly fine in the gaps.

But after several weeks and a few rains, the sand washed out in many spots. The joints started to look patchy and uneven, and empty gaps made the patio feel unfinished. I was disappointed with how quickly the sand moved around.

So we bit the bullet and bought a bucket of polymeric sand at Lowe’s for about $30. The bag was supposed to cover only a third of the patio, but because there was still some regular sand packed in the bottom of the joints, the polymeric product went much further than expected. One bucket ended up doing the job and left plenty leftover for touch-ups later. While we still didn’t spend the full $95 quoted by the stoneyard, we did learn that the more suitable product would have been worth it up front.

Applying the polymeric sand was tedious. Following the directions, I used a Ziploc bag with the tip snipped off to funnel sand directly into each joint. It’s a slow, repetitive process—there are a lot of cracks to fill—but it’s straightforward.

I initially applied too much sand, which isn’t ideal because once the material gets wet it sets up and becomes cement-like. You want to avoid getting sand on the faces of the pavers where it will harden and be difficult to remove, so it’s important to keep the material only in the joints.

Section by section I swept away the excess until the joints looked neat and the surface of the stones was clean. After filling and sweeping, I went over the whole patio with an electric leaf blower on its lowest setting to remove any remaining sand from the paver faces. Then I misted the area with a hose exactly as the instructions suggested—enough to activate the binder without washing the sand out of the joints.

In hindsight, I should have blown or swept a little more sand off the surface before wetting it so the seams would be slightly thinner and cleaner. That’s a lesson learned, filed right under “Use polymeric sand in the first place.” Even so, the finished look feels pleasantly settled—almost like the patio has been there for a while. When the joints are too clean and bright it reads as brand-new in an awkward way, so the slightly aged look is actually nicer.

Although we saved about $60 compared to the stoneyard quote, I wish we’d chosen polymeric sand during the initial installation. It would have saved time: with the regular paver sand it took me several passes to get an acceptable result, while the polymeric product required only one proper application. More importantly, the polymeric sand should perform better over time at preventing weeds, ant hills, and other nuisances.

Here’s a photo I took about a month after finishing the new sand. We waited to post until we saw how it stood up to a few heavy storms. So far it’s held its place and looks just as good as the day it was installed, which was a relief—I’m not sure I had another reapplication in me if this one hadn’t worked out.

Anyone else learn the hard way and end up redoing something you tried to save on? Or times when you wish you’d spent a little more to get it right the first time? Share your stories—I’d love to hear them so I don’t feel like the only one making these kinds of mistakes.

Psst—If you want to revisit the patio journey from the start, the project posts cover planning, prepping, budget surprises, laying gravel and sand, and the final reveal.

The post Stop Weeds in Your Paver Patio with Polymeric Sand first appeared on Objectales.

Most Destructive: Demoing the fridge cabinet, which officially launched the kitchen makeover and kicked off a long series of renovations.

Best Timing: Finally buying appliances at just the right moment, saving nearly $1,400 and keeping the renovation momentum moving.

Smartest Move: Swapping the locations of the fridge and pantry to improve kitchen flow—proof that thoughtful layout changes can make a big difference.

Biggest Removals: Removing our wall oven, its cabinet, some countertops, and the cooktop to make way for new appliances and a more functional kitchen layout.

Thriftiest Find: Great secondhand discoveries during our road trip to Brevard, NC, where we combined family time with bargain hunting.

Cutest Pair: Clara and her stuffed BFF “Gee,” all packed up and ready for the weekend trip—because every adventure needs a tiny travel companion.

Most Entertaining Cameo (Runner Up): A tie between Sherry & Katie’s infectious giggles and our quick Sprite-tastic cameo in the Q&A video from the Bowers’ visit to Richmond.

Most Unattractive Moment: The kitchen midway through electrical work, when wires and open walls made everything look messier than usual as we prepared for new appliances (see the update).

Most Labor-Intensive: Stenciling our office walls, which took Sherry several long sessions but delivered a dramatic, custom look that was worth the effort.

Most Likely to Feature Ceramic Animals: Our curated selection for Joss & Main, where we got a little giddy about dog lamps, quirky map art, and other decorative oddities.

Cheekiest Makeover: The office chairs, refreshed with green paint and bold new upholstery, bringing a playful pop of color to the workspace.

“Gone to the Dark Side” Award: Painting the bottom half of our office walls a darker grey to anchor the room and create a more grounded feel (more on that).

Most Playful Art: Our bright, sentimental DIY art for the office—a low-cost way to add personality and a visual break from work for just about $13 (details here).

Most Delightfully Messy: Clara’s finger-painting adventures that produced colorful, kid-friendly Halloween pumpkins in all the best messy ways (see them).

Spookiest Décor: Our mildly creepy Halloween touches—bloody candles, white wooden snakes, and green apples and gourds—that added eerie charm to the porch and home (photos and ideas).

Most Hair-Raising: A giant spider that momentarily disrupted our quick mum upgrade on the front porch—reminder that nature sometimes insists on starring roles (the story).

Most Open: The view of our front yard after removing the bush fence—suddenly the space feels brighter and more connected to the street (before and after).

Most Open (Runner Up): Sharing some of our kitchen decision-making, including plans for open shelving and other choices that helped clarify the vision (read more).

Most Grounded: Choosing new dark cork flooring for the kitchen—an affordable, warm option we found on sale (the full update).

Most Well-Rounded: Selecting penny tile for the backsplash, a classic choice that Clara wholeheartedly approved of (see the tile).

“The White Stuff” Award: Deciding against granite and opting for white Corian countertops for a clean, seamless look in the kitchen (counter choices).

Deal of the Month: Saving over $300 by buying cabinets from the ReStore instead of a big box retailer—a smart, budget-friendly move (how we did it).

Most Likely to Catch Flies: KB & SP announcing the return of the Pinterest Challenge, complete with exaggerated expressions and open mouths.

That wraps up our October highlights. Can you believe it’s already November? What did you accomplish last month? If you haven’t kept a running list of completed projects, use the comments to share what you finished—taking a moment to celebrate progress feels good before diving back into the next big task. As for us, the kitchen work continues: by this time next week we’re planning a large opening into the dining room, so stay tuned.

Psst—You can check July’s superlatives here, August’s here, and September’s here.

Pssst—We also announced this week’s giveaway winners. Check the original post to see if you’re one of them.

The post October Highlights: Top Moments, Trends & Winners first appeared on Objectales.

That very night I signed up for a free WordPress account, selected a ready-made template that I liked, and wrote a short introductory post announcing the start of the blog. You can still find that first post under the title “The Blog Begins” on the Young House Love archives. What began as a quick, honest update for family and friends soon turned into a place where we documented paint choices, cabinet decisions, flooring dilemmas, and the small wins that come with renovating a home.

That steely blue theme we used in the first months looks almost quaint now, but it was our pride and joy during the earliest phase of the blog. The simple template let us focus on photos and stories from the kitchen renovation without getting bogged down in site design. Over the first five months we posted progress updates, shared lessons learned, and described the little decisions that make a renovation feel personal. As more people began to read, comment, and offer advice, it became clear the site deserved an identity that matched our evolving aesthetic.

Once the dust settled in the kitchen and the major work was done, we felt ready to give Young House Love a proper refresh. I took the opportunity to learn some basic web coding so we could design a homepage that reflected the home we were shaping. Instead of sticking with an off-the-shelf template, we created a cleaner, more neutral design that echoed the palette and lines appearing throughout our actual spaces. The goal was to make the site feel like an extension of the house: warm, practical, and approachable.

On February 16 we launched the new design. The revised layout emphasized photography, clearer navigation, and a balance of visual calm and welcoming content. We organized posts so readers could more easily find renovation timelines, project tutorials, and the design choices behind each room. We also added features to help new visitors understand the blog’s purpose: a clear “about” description, prominent project archives, and a logical flow from inspiration to finished space. The update wasn’t just cosmetic; it was an intentional step toward making the content more useful for people tackling their own home projects.

Running a renovation blog taught us a lot about the relationship between process and presentation. Writing daily updates encouraged us to think more intentionally about each decision, photograph progress stages, and document setbacks alongside successes. That documentation has been valuable not only for readers who want to replicate a project, but for us as a record of how the house evolved over time.

We’re still learning and iterating. If you follow the site, you may notice subtle changes over time as we tweak layout, experiment with content formats, or respond to reader suggestions. Given how fast tastes and technology change, don’t be surprised if you one day see a Young House Love v3.0. For now, though, we’re enjoying our refreshed homepage and the way it mirrors the home we’ve built. We hope it feels welcoming and useful to you, and we always appreciate thoughtful feedback and ideas for future updates.

The post Young House Love: A Look at Their Early Home Renovations first appeared on Objectales.

You can download the podcast episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify. Use this post to find links, notes, and photos we referenced. If you’re reading in a feed reader you may need to open the post in a browser to see the player.

What’s New

• If you missed the full story about what held us back from going full steam on the duplex, check the detailed blog post we published explaining the entire ordeal.
• That brown pile on the left side of the porch roof in the photo above is part of a squirrel nest they pulled out of the HVAC system.
• Below is a preview of the demolition progress. It was wild to see both staircases exposed (one for each side of the duplex) after they had been separated by a solid wall for so long. We’ll rebuild that dividing wall because the property will remain a duplex, but it was fun to see the interior opened up. During demo we also uncovered some concerning issues with the house’s condition; we’re working on a full post about what we found and our future floor plans.

• If you want more details about the tax incentive program we’re using in Cape Charles, we covered it in an earlier podcast episode that dives deeper into the program and how it benefits this renovation.

Updates

• The photo above shows our 2017 Family Yearbook that we made using Blurb — it’s the book with the yellow spine. I’m putting together a blog post with more on the process, interior spreads, and a comparison to the now-defunct MyPublisher.
• I realized after recording that Blurb does include a trim area guide like MyPublisher’s, but you must enable it manually under the View menu, which is how I missed it initially.
• We first mentioned the weighted blanket I bought Sherry for Christmas in an earlier episode; if you’re curious about our original thoughts, that episode covers it in more depth.

Listener Question

• The glass shower pane we ordered online for the beach house en-suite is probably the boldest thing we’ve had the nerve to buy sight-unseen recently. The basket in the photo came from World Market (in-store) and the marble-and-wood table is the accent table we used nearby.
• Another item we bought online out of our comfort zone was the Haier refrigerator for the beach house pantry; it fit well and worked out fine after installation.

• If you want our experience buying a mattress online, we published a thorough review covering delivery, off-gassing, comfort, and long-term impressions.
• We’ve shared before why we hesitated to buy a couch online after a prior bad experience, and in time we found a couch we liked from a national retailer and documented that process and results.
• Below are two photos from the product listing of our beach house nightstand that illustrate how product photos can show very different undertones of wood. One image looked orange, the other almost peachy, even though both were from the same listing. Seeing the piece in a blogger’s room gave us the confidence to buy.

• Here’s a photo we took of that nightstand at the beach house this weekend, trying to show the true color as we see it in person: a medium wood tone that doesn’t read strongly orange or peach.

Headboard / Nightstand / Lamp / Rug / Blue blanket (products shown in the photo)

We’re Digging

• The downstairs bathroom at the beach house has 9-foot ceilings. We ordered an extra-long 8-foot shower curtain and a matching long liner (96″ x 72″) and have been pleased with how they look and perform.
• The upstairs hall bath has standard 8-foot ceilings, so we used a 7-foot shower curtain and liner instead of the typical 6-foot options. That extra foot makes the room feel noticeably taller — a simple trick we’ve used in our own home for nearly a decade. Wash curtains before hanging to allow for any shrinkage.

• For the upstairs curtain we used a standard tension rod successfully, but the downstairs shower was a bit wider so we opted for a heavier-duty tension rod with extra hold. Both rods have been reliable with no falls, even under heavy steam and long showers.
• The sink vanity we installed has a smooth tiled marble top and plenty of counter space, plus two fully usable drawers for storage. The accent tile in the shower looks more expensive in person than it did online.
• For runners, the Nike+ Run Club app remains my favorite — the Guided Runs feature has been motivating, and a few of the speed workouts stand out as favorites.
• And, because it’s important: Chocolate Hazelnut Oreos are a current obsession.

If you’re hunting for something we’ve recommended in a past episode but can’t remember where, we keep a master list of everything we’ve featured across previous shows so it’s easy to find past “we’re digging” items.

Finally, thanks to HANDy Paint Products for sponsoring this episode. For painting projects we like the HANDy Paint Cup (with the brush magnet) and the HANDy Paint Tray, both of which make moving a roller around the room much easier. HANDy Paint Products are available wherever you buy paint.

Thanks for listening, everyone!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post Hidden Loophole That Delayed Our Duplex Construction first appeared on Objectales.

This round was the largest project we’ve attempted for the challenge so far. We installed board and batten along the lower portion of our hallway walls to introduce architectural character and depth where there used to be none.

Now, a week after finishing, the hallway looks completely refreshed. It feels more finished and thoughtfully designed — a simple addition that makes a daily high-traffic area feel more special.

I keep finding myself sitting on the floor just staring at it.

Photos don’t capture the full effect. Several people who previously installed board and batten warned us that pictures would flatten it out, and they were right: in person the panels cast subtle shadows and create real dimension. The white lower panels now provide a crisp contrast to the soft painted walls above, and the hallway feels more polished and intentional overall.

We followed techniques and tips from a handful of trusted home-improvement bloggers and then adapted the process to our space. We still have some artwork to hang and a bit of trim painting to finish, but the core installation is complete and already makes a huge difference.

Before we started, we reviewed several tutorials to learn common approaches and helpful tricks. The posts that inspired us provided guidance on measuring, spacing, and finishing details, and gave us confidence that this project is achievable for DIYers.

1. A thorough DIY board and batten guide with detailed measurements and layout tips
2. A step-by-step installation walkthrough that emphasized careful leveling and consistent spacing
3. An illustrated project guide covering priming, caulking, and painting for a professional finish
4. A progress-focused post showing real-time adjustments and helpful shortcuts

We’ll post a complete tutorial soon, including video of our full process and a detailed budget breakdown. For this post we hurried to take after photos, so we didn’t have time to finish the video editing or compile all receipts yet. The good news: while the whole project took almost a week, each individual step was manageable. If you break it down and work one phase at a time, anyone comfortable with basic tools can tackle this.

Here is the general order of steps we followed:

• Measure the space and gather materials
• Mark reference lines, use a level, and attach the top rail
• Nail and glue the vertical battens in place
• Fill nail holes and caulk seams
• Sand patched areas and prime all wood
• Paint the wood and the area below the top rail white
• Paint the walls above the rail your chosen color (it can be easier to paint the wall color first)

For our wall color we chose a soft platinum gray (Moonshine by Benjamin Moore) to create a cohesive, airy feel with the adjacent framed hallway. We wanted to avoid anything too dark that might close in the narrow space. The light gray complements the white trim and helps the board and batten stand out without high contrast — a subtle, tone-on-tone look that’s elegant and restrained. Note: we still need to paint the trim in the adjoining frame hallway to match the pure white of the board and batten.

We’ll share a full budget breakdown and the video tomorrow once everything is edited and organized. The paint was still drying when we took these after photos, so we couldn’t capture every finished detail yet. But the takeaways are simple: this project takes time and patience, but not advanced skills. With careful measuring and a methodical approach, it’s a very doable upgrade that delivers big visual impact.

Also, other participants in the challenge have shared their projects this week. Check their blogs and posts to see different takes on seasonal Pinterest Challenge ideas and to gather more creative inspiration.

Finally, we’d love to see what you tackled for this Pinterest Challenge. If you’ve posted about your project, add a link to your specific post or leave a link in the comments. If you don’t have a blog, consider sharing photos on a public image gallery so others can view your work. We’re excited to see the variety of projects people completed — it’s motivating and fun to share the results of actually doing the things we pin.

The post We Are Tackling Board and Batten Siding first appeared on Objectales.

On a recent trip to JoAnn Fabrics I found a handful of faux gourds on clearance. They were marked down from $2.99 each to half price, so I picked up all five for $7.45. They were made of dense foam, heavier than I expected for craft items, which made them feel more substantial and convincing than typical foam pieces.

Once home, I decided to keep the styling simple and consistent with my love for white, ceramic-like décor. I sprayed each gourd with glossy white paint, applying several thin coats to build up a smooth, even finish. The spray process is quick and forgiving; I allowed a few minutes between coats and let them dry thoroughly for a couple of hours. The result was remarkably realistic—glossy, ceramic-like surfaces that also feel surprisingly solid to the touch.

After the paint dried, I arranged the gourds together on a ceramic cake stand. Grouping them this way creates a small vignette that can easily transition between autumn celebrations. The neutral white finish gives the display a modern, understated vibe that complements other seasonal touches, whether the rest of the décor is spooky and playful for Halloween or warm and cozy for Thanksgiving.

One of the advantages of using faux gourds is durability and reusability. Unlike real squash that will eventually soften and decay, these painted foam gourds can be stored and reused for years. If you prefer a different aesthetic, you can adapt this project by choosing metallic paints, matte finishes, or even subtle hand-painted patterns. But for my home, the glossy white look blends well with the ceramic and neutral accents I already use.

This project is budget-friendly and low-effort. Buying on sale and using items you already have—like spray paint and a cake stand—keeps costs down while delivering a polished result. It’s a great option for anyone who likes to refresh seasonal décor without a big investment or a lot of time. The finished gourds are lightweight enough to move around easily, yet heavy enough to stay stable on a pedestal or tabletop arrangement.

I plan to incorporate these gourds into multiple displays this season. For Halloween, they’ll sit among black taper candles and a few textured linens to add contrast without being overtly thematic. For Thanksgiving, they’ll pair nicely with natural materials—wooden platters, woven runners, and soft candlelight—to create a calm, elegant centerpiece that still feels autumnal.

What are you doing to welcome the changing season and the upcoming holidays? Small touches make a big difference: swapping throw pillows, adding a few seasonal objects to a shelf, or creating a simple centerpiece can make your home feel refreshed. For me, painting these faux gourds was an enjoyable and effective way to update my décor with minimal time and expense. Plus, it satisfied the small thrill of finding a good craft sale score.

As a final note, if you come across inexpensive faux gourds on clearance, give this spray-paint approach a try. The transformation is quick, the materials are inexpensive, and the result is a crisp, wearable accent for both Halloween and Thanksgiving displays.

The post DIY Gourd Projects for Fall Home Decor first appeared on Objectales.

You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen to the embedded player below. Use this page to find any links, notes, or photos we referenced. If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may need to open the post to see the player.

Help For Puerto Rico

We’re honored to have raised $12,000 for direct relief efforts in Puerto Rico, thanks to the generous brands that partnered with us. Their support made it possible to send meaningful assistance to the island at a critical time. We’re deeply grateful for their help and for everyone who contributed.

If you’d like to help as well, you can donate to United for Puerto Rico.

What’s New

• We tried vegetarian meals from two meal kit services and photographed the results. The first image is from one service and the second shows a meal from another. We paid for these boxes ourselves and wanted to evaluate whether meal kits are worth it.
• All of the meals pictured were adapted to be vegan for Sherry. For example, I added feta to my pasta serving while Sherry skipped it, and she also omitted aioli from the paella. We’ve already remade the avocado pasta using our own ingredients, and the paella is a Blue Apron dish we’ll likely make again.
• Sherry shared favorite vegan staples and substitutes she reaches for:
  • A ready-made roasted vegetable pizza she likes for convenience.
  • Earth Balance buttery spread as a butter substitute that tastes very similar to butter.
  • Vegenaise as a mayonnaise alternative with a tang that works well in many recipes.
  • Unsweetened coconut milk for cereal and baking where a milk substitute is needed.
  • Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream for when a sour cream substitute is called for.
  • Pre-made guacamole like Wholly Guacamole Avocado Verde for quick dips.
  • Single-serve hummus snack packs for easy portioned snacks.
  • Extra-firm tofu as our preferred tofu texture for most dishes.
• If you have vegan recipes or reliable substitutes you love, please share them — we’re always collecting ideas. And if a meal kit service offers more vegetarian options than the ones we tried, tell us so we can test it next.

Updates

• If you missed our earlier discussion about light color temperature, that topic appears in a previous episode of the podcast. We also linked our favorite soft white LED bulbs used around the house.
• We’ve been testing budgeting tools, including Mint and YNAB (You Need A Budget), after many enthusiastic recommendations. We’re learning the ropes and would welcome any tips or workflow suggestions from listeners who use YNAB regularly.
• We’ll be speaking in Bristol, Virginia on Thursday, November 9 at House Dressing. Tickets are limited, so plan ahead if you want to attend.

Listener Question

• On the stainless steel topic: trends include new finishes like black stainless, graphite tones, and colorful retro offerings. Each finish has pros and cons depending on your kitchen style, maintenance preferences, and how it pairs with cabinets and countertops.
• For reference, the stainless appliances we used in our kitchen include a counter-depth refrigerator, a slide-in gas range, a dishwasher, and an over-the-range microwave. We also experimented with a “White Ice” finish but found that shade didn’t match our cabinets in practice.
• Manufacturers are offering a wider variety of finishes now — from darker metal tones to bold color options — which makes it easier to mix finishes or choose something outside traditional stainless.

• We also looked at other finish options on ranges and refrigerators to see how different metals and colors read in real kitchens. The goal was to find a finish that complements our beach house design without forcing us into a trend we might regret.

We’re Digging

• We organized our fridge using clear bins to keep snacks like guacamole and hummus tidy and upright. The bins come in multiple sizes; we use the medium size to keep things visible and accessible.
• If a bin style is out of stock, there are comparable alternatives that work just as well for fridge organization.
• IFTTT (If This Then That) is an app we’re enjoying for automating small tasks, like sending Instagram photos to Twitter automatically. It connects web services and smart devices in useful ways and has many free recipes to try.
• If you’re seeking items we’ve mentioned in past episodes, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging across shows so you can find past recommendations easily.

Finally, thank you to The Annie Selke Companies for sponsoring this episode. They offer bedding, furniture, rugs, and more, and provided a discount code for listeners. Thanks for listening!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post Are Meal Kit Delivery Services Worth It? first appeared on Objectales.