Oh man, we were busy little yard bunnies this Sunday. We spent roughly four hours in the backyard—starting while Clara napped (which turned into a glorious three-hour nap) and then swapping watching duties so each of us could finish up tasks. The mission: reclaim more usable grassy space. A huge, weedy-looking planting bed had been … Read more

First, thank you for the incredible outpouring of kindness and support you showed our family yesterday. Your encouragement and shared stories mean so much to us. Now, let’s shift gears and take a long-overdue photo tour of our yard (inspired by Katie B’s style). You’ve already seen a few glimpses in posts about our carport/driveway, … Read more

When Jamie and Carmen sent us photos of their charming table and chair makeover, we were excited to share their fresh, cheerful update. Their project turned a tired, decades-old card table into a bright, eye-catching piece perfect for outdoor events and craft shows. They were kind enough to include a note describing their process and … Read more

After nine and a half hours in holiday traffic, we’re finally home from a whirlwind Thanksgiving weekend in New York. We spent Thanksgiving Day with family on Long Island, joined another family meal on Friday in New Jersey, and then spent Saturday exploring the city we once called home. Between us we lived in New … Read more

Three cheers for a quick $12 project that took only fifteen minutes and left us grinning. Sometimes a small, inexpensive change is all you need to lift the mood and refresh a room. We swapped out the old knobs on our dining room built-ins, and the result feels like a tiny, joyful makeover. There was … Read more

We finally found dining chairs at a price we couldn’t pass up, thanks to a Craigslist tip from our friend Sandra. She emailed the listing and it turned out to be exactly what we had in mind: Parsons chairs with simple lines and sturdy construction. The upholstery was a loud green and blue swirl that … Read more

And now a post about saving money—because the groceries we save on mean more budget for paint and projects. Since I recently shared my 2011 goal to learn coupons and save more this year, here’s a practical update for anyone else trying to turn paper clippings into real savings. I saved $53 at the grocery … Read more

What fun is a house without a little bit of weird? If your home could use a dose of character, charm, or just a few conversation starters, this week’s $250 gift card to UncommonGoods could be exactly what you need. UncommonGoods specializes in home decor that leans toward the unexpected: creative servingware, clever organizing solutions, … Read more

We took a short day trip last weekend to Farmville, a small town about an hour from Richmond that sits deep in rural Central Virginia. The main reason for our outing was to take a family bike ride on the newly opened rails-to-trails corridor called High Bridge Trail State Park, which has quickly become a … Read more

We’re in the middle of a big move right now. Boxes are everywhere, furniture is in flux, and our schedule is a little uncertain — we don’t yet know exactly when we’ll be able to check in with updates. The closing time for this afternoon could still shift, and there’s a chance the final move … Read more