September 26, 2019

What in the World is Going On With My Kitchen Remodel? + How I Make Decisions

September 26, 2019/ Ashley

I’ve been talking about renovating my kitchen for years. And I’ve been talking about it on and off for a few months as the renovation is starting to pick up. But then I’ve been silent lately, and I owe you some explanations. A few of you commented on my reader survey that you want to see more frequent blog posts and you want to see this kitchen renovation get going. Believe you me - I do, too!

September 24, 2019

Will You Share Your Feedback in My Reader Survey, Please?

September 24, 2019/ Ashley

It’s time I hear from you! I’ve been writing this blog for over two years now and I’ve never done a reader survey - until now. Please take just five minutes to give me your feedback - it would really help out a lot!

September 20, 2019

Weekly Roundup

September 20, 2019/ Ashley

The things on my mind this week including ten years of room transformations, today’s climate strike, a favorite shoe turned rain boot, a rustic home makeover, my feelings on fall, a basement laundry room makeover, the show I can’t stop watching, my beetle saga, what I look forward to every year this weekend, and more.

September 18, 2019

Learned Something New: Sustainable Straw Bale Home Construction

September 18, 2019/ Ashley

Over the weekend I attended an event to learn about straw bale home construction - a sustainable building material that benefits the planet instead of hurting it. The organizers also talked about regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and ethically sourced mezcal. It was really cool, and I want to share just a little bit of what I learned about a unique construction material with you!

September 13, 2019

Weekly Roundup

September 13, 2019/ Ashley

The things on my mind this week including: spotting Instagrammers IRL, a kitchen I can’t stop starring at, new menswear, a sale on my favorite leggings, books I’m reading, a marble sink with soapstone counters, a mural that feels familiar, and more!

September 10, 2019

A Q&A Video + Making A Pie

September 10, 2019/ Ashley

I asked folks on Instagram to submit questions you had for me, and today’s the day I answer them!

I had a deadline for making a pie the day that I wanted to film, so I baked a lemon meringue treat while answering your Qs. The vid is 20 minutes, so maybe watch it on your lunch break? Or maybe while eating a pie?

September 07, 2019

Weekly Roundup

September 07, 2019/ Ashley

The things on my mind this week including my trip to Chicago, the 25 things I do before leaving for vacation, my tips for traveling sustainably, the effects our travel has on the planet, an amazing living room transformation, daily action to take on flighting the climate crisis, a favorite TV show is back, a movie I’m itching to see, my home’s before tour, book recommendations, and my monthly playlist!

September 03, 2019

How To Get a Building Construction Permit and My Experience With A Historic Home

September 03, 2019/ Ashley

We FINALLY have a construction permit to do our kitchen renovation. FIN.AL.LY. Whew. It’s taken awhile to get here for a number of reasons that I’ll share here. I’ll break down the steps we took, the costs we’ve incurred, and some of the story behind everything.

August 23, 2019

Weekly Roundup

August 23, 2019/ Ashley

A living room with a gorgeous archway, my blog award nomination, why we should turn our lawns into farms, a print I need for checking my email, what you can do about the Amazon rainforest fire, a pink kitchen, my favorite baby gift, a new bra, preventing mosquitos, energy consumption of smart speakers, and more!

August 21, 2019

Everything We Wish We Registered for When We Got Married Five Years Ago - And The Things We're Glad We Asked For!

August 21, 2019/ Ashley

When we got married five years ago we asked for power tools and utilitarian things. Here's a list of the things I'd put on my list now that we've been married for five years. Spoiler - it's even more utilitarian things like tools, kitchenware, and home tech. No gravy boats here!

August 19, 2019

Hunting for Salvaged Windows + A Vlog!

August 19, 2019/ Ashley

Guess what! We’re about to start talking about my kitchen renovation. Can you even believe it? I can’t. In the first edition of my kitchen renovation story, we’re talking salvaged windows and loving old house plus old house parts.

August 16, 2019

Weekly Roundup

August 16, 2019/ Ashley

The things on my mind this week including a new shop I can’t wait to visit, two shows I’m in love with, a guide to eco-friendly car washing, a quick-fix DIY project report card, the history of the American lawn, environmental privilege, a summertime PSA, last month’s playlist, and more!

Free Kids Cardigan Knitting Pattern: A Quick Top-Down Raglan Knit

My daughter wanted to dress as Little Witch Hazel for Halloween, so I got to work crafting a sweater that looks just like the one worn on the cover. What’s great is it’s a super fast knit on chunky needles! I’m not a pro knitter but I finished this in about a week while watching TV after my girls went to bed and at the playground a few times.

Backyard Renovation Report Card: Four Years of Tree Growth (Wins) and Decomposed Granite (Losers)

Welcome to a new series: Report Card. I'm going through (nearly) everything in a space and telling you how it's actually held up. The backyard's first up, and spoiler, I did not ace this one.

How We Live Here Now, Vol. 2: The Backyard

The plants finally filled in, the veggie beds are in the wrong spot, and I've learned that the yard you design and the yard your kids actually use are two very different things.

How We Live Here Now - Volume 1: Introduction

Hi. It's been a while. I've missed this. I took a longer break than I planned. Life has gotten full. I've been developing film and knitting at soccer practice, attempting to garden with the girls and fussing around with furniture layouts. I’ve also been scheduling summer camps, refilling the watercolors multiple times a day, and trying to keep the toys tidied. Around the house, I’m adding color wherever it fits and making some changes to the overall function and feel.

How We Turned a Garage into a Living Room, Laundry Room, Office, and Storage Space

My friend Martha had a vision for this garage conversion: to turn her unfinished catch-all garage into a beautiful, hard-working space that could function as a living room, media room, playroom, laundry room, home office, and storage zone. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely convinced all of that could fit. But somehow(?!), it absolutely does and it turned out even better than I imagined.