Hurricane Isaias was the first major hurricane to threaten our area since we moved here 6.5 years ago. We followed our county’s mandatory evacuation orders and drove several hours inland to Ocala, Florida. While we sheltered at an Airbnb with friends, children, and pets, we watched the storm strengthen to Category 3 and track toward … Read more

As a former professional product namer, I’ve named everything from cheeseburgers to cell phones. I also love naming babies: brainstorming options, researching meanings, and trying out pairings. That said, the process can feel overwhelming. There are many factors to consider, countless possibilities to sort through, and even more opinions than you expect. Tip: avoid asking … Read more

For the past six years, one bathroom surprisingly served our family of four well. This year, as part of a larger renovation, we finally added a second bathroom—and it feels luxurious after so long. Below I’ll explain why we decided to add it, where we placed it, and how we solved the space and code … Read more

I’ve always loved helping people choose baby names. Over the years I’ve shared many name ideas and even pitched a pet-naming book before this blog began. Celebrity baby names are especially fascinating: they range from the unexpected (Surie, Apple, Blanket) to choices that ripple through naming trends. When a well-known parent picks a name, it … Read more

We’ve been podcast fans for more than a decade, sharing our recent listens in newsletters, social posts, and even on our own podcast (R.I.P.). Now we’ve collected our best podcast recommendations in one post. Whether you need a bingeable true crime series for a road trip, a concise news show for your commute, or an … Read more

We’re working on a longer post about our finished renovation, but I wanted to answer the many questions we’ve been getting about the new flooring we installed throughout the first floor (bathrooms are tiled). The floors were one of the most-asked details during the reno updates we shared on Instagram, so here’s a clear rundown … Read more

The annual Color of the Year announcements have started arriving unusually early again. One company has already revealed its pick even though it’s only August 2026, so we made our own predictions this morning. Sherry picked two colors she’s been secretly hoping to see for years. Below you’ll find our choices alongside the industry announcements … Read more

I was surprised by the interest in my photo digitization project, and I keep getting asked how we organized our family photos. Below I answer the most common questions about how we sorted, organized, and backed up our prints and digital files during the digitizing process. This is a practical, step-by-step guide based on what … Read more

When we received this lovely note along with some impressive before-and-after photos, we had to share them. Here’s Sarah’s message: My husband and I bought our first house in May 2007 and immediately set to work repainting every single room—the previous owners had four girls and favored various shades of pink and purple. This space, … Read more

A lot of you asked what I picked up from Target for Nate’s big weekend release. I’m a devoted fan (remember that almost-touching moment here), so I was the first one at the store Sunday morning when they opened. Even though we’d just returned from Cincinnati the night before, I was determined—so John and I … Read more