Writing to you all from the Lake House! I have some great progress photos to share with you all today and I’m SO excited about seeing it all come together. We are hoping to be DONE with the project sometime in mid to late May. The things we will be waiting on – countertops followed by appliance installation as soon as countertops are installed. We had a slight hiccup last week when the wrong carpet was almost installed at the … Read More
The Backyard Work House
Friends! I’m FINALLY getting around to posting photos and a little “tour” of our backyard work house. Before I dive in, a little background for you on why we decided to build a work house and what it’s being used for! A year ago when COVID began, Joe started working from home. Joe has worked from home in the past and HATED it (he likes separation, structure, etc.) so I got to thinking about how to create that same sense … Read More
Perfect Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
Can I make an honest confession? I don’t LOVE slow cooker meals. Gah, it’s true. While I love the convenience of a slow cooker, sometimes a meal that is made in the slow cooker can taste a little, well, bland in the texture department, especially when it comes to meat. Sometimes it’s just a little TOO soft and mushy for my liking. When it comes to slow cooking meat such as this barbecue chicken, I learned a trick years ago … Read More
Instant Pot Black Bean and Rice Bowls
Over the last couple years I’ve added both an Instant Pot and Air Fryer to my kitchen appliance round-up. I’ve slowly been searching for uses for both tools that make sense for our family. I was a FAST convert to the air fryer. And a bit slower to share the Instant Pot love. But over time I’m finding my groove in terms of what I enjoy making in the Instant Pot and what makes sense to make in the instant … Read More
Favorite White Paint Colors
Hi Friends! Checking in today with a blog post that’s been a long time in coming. I’m frequently asked for the paint colors used in our house. We used all white, and a lot of different shades of white! So, today I’m rounding up my favorite white paint colors along with photos of where we used each color and how it reads in our home. Color: White Dove by Benjamin Moore (above – our kitchen photographed by Jessica Bonestroo for … Read More
My Current Fave Non-Skinny Jean
Madewell Jeans // Target Mules // Loft Blouse (old!) Hi friends! It’s getting to that point of winter here in the Midwest where I’m not sure how much longer I can handle the clothes in my wardrobe and the chilly temps. Anyone else? While I may be dreaming about shorts and tank tops, we are definitely in the “jeans wearing” weather game. After the recent internet buzz about how skinny jeans are OUT (along with side parts) I thought I … Read More
Happy Birthday, Ainsley! Reflections on six years of motherhood…
As of last week, I’ve been a mom for SIX years. What? It’s definitely one of those “longest shortest time” moments where I feel like I’ve been a mom forever and yet it seems to have vanished in the blink of an eye. When I sat down to write a few thoughts about the last six years of motherhood I got a little stuck. How do you put something so all-consuming into words? A nearly impossible task, for sure, but … Read More
Top Old Navy Active Picks
For years I’ve been a fan of Old Navy Active’s clothing for working out. I’ve worn their run shorts since I was in high school (?!) and continue to love some of their basics for everyday workout gear. While I’ll be the first to say that not ALL of their clothing is a home run, there are some real gems to be found at Old Navy. I’m rounding up some of my favorites that I’ve worn, washed and dried (so … Read More
Our LOVE Sweatshirt Presale is LIVE!
Hi Friends! Happy Monday! It’s a cold and chilly day here (-24 overnight!) but we are thankful to be warm and toasty inside. I’m so excited to share with you that our LOVE Sweatshirt Presale is now live and ready for orders. I shared a little bit on Instagram about the presale yesterday and I’ve already been blown away by the response from you amazing people. My not-so-secret goal? To raise $4,000 this month for Congenital Heart Defect research. As … Read More
Trip Planning in 2021 with Heather Christopher Travel
This post is not sponsored in any way. I simply adore Heather Christopher Travel and asked her if she would share with you all today! Read down to the bottom for a deal Heather graciously offered on her trip planning services! I first “met” Heather of Heather Christopher Travel a couple years ago. She planned a few trips for internet friends of mine and reached out to me about her travel planning services when we were planning our trip to … Read More
How to Use Cream Blush for a Dewy Winter Makeup Look
Products Used // Dew Skin (light) // Skin Twin Creamy Concealer (Fair 2) // Brow Gel (medium) // Cream Blush (caramel) // Cream Highlighter (rose glow) // The Better Blender // Volumizing Mascara Hi, friends! Since we are deep into winter, I’ve been reaching for all my tricks to keep my skin looking good and feeling hydrated. It starts with my skincare (like my favorite Essence and go-to Night Cream) and extends into the makeup I use. My favorite routine … Read More
It’s Heart Month!
Two years ago, February was a month dedicated to candy and Valentine’s Day and Ainsley’s birthday, but now it’s even more special to our family. February is heart month and February 7-14 is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. For some very obvious reasons it’s a month close to my heart and a topic I’m super passionate about. What I didn’t know before having a heart baby was that 1 in every 100 kiddos is born with a heart defect. Not … Read More