My baby is two! Time’s flying… we wish we could slow down these years… I can’t believe she’s two… and all those other cliché things to say. We celebrated her second trip around the sun in our backyard with a small gathering of friends.
Read MoreMy baby girl turned one year old this summer!! We celebrated her with a simple outdoor bash with a few friends and family. We had colorful decor, a custom felt crown, a pile of berries, and the sweetest one-year-old!
Read MoreIf you’re like me, you have thousands of photos on your phone or computer. I had close to 50,000! For years, I’ve wanted to make printed annual photo albums, but it was too overwhelming to organize them, so I didn’t. Now, with Margot in our lives (and significantly increasing the quality of the subject matter), I’m determined to make her a baby book and print annual family photo books. I needed a way to narrow down the 4,000 photos I’ve taken in the last 6 months without me spending days of my life doing so. I’ve figured it out and I’m here to share.
Read MoreLife is completely different with Margot and our home has evolved, too. She’s nearly 7 months old so I’m sharing how our house has shifted during this phase of her life.
Read MoreMargot is a plump little 4-month-old and I love comparing her growth to just mere weeks earlier. I take oodles of photos every day, but I’ve been snapping monthly photos with a consistent theme to really see how much she’s growing and changing. I treasure the photos and the little calendar I’ve been building each month.
Read MoreLife after birthing a baby is wild! The new little human is a lot to handle, and on top of it, my body was all out of sorts. There have been a few items and resources that I can’t imagine living without during these first few months after birth, so I’ve rounded them up here.
Read MoreIt’s been nearly three months since Margot was born! Over two whole months since this little nugget came into our lives. Here’s her birth story.
Read MoreI’m a music fan, and I like sharing the new tracks I discover. You may have noticed listening to my Instagram Story videos that I like some sweet tunes and funky jams. My style is pretty eclectic ranging from Sam Cooke to Childish Gambino and Fleetwood Mac to Sylvan Esso. I’m all across the board but I like a good melody, a nice head-bopping rhythm, and some strong vocals. All this to say, if you like some of the music I share, you just might like the other songs. So, you can listen to the tunes I’m digging on Spotify!
Read MoreWith concerns for our planet and the folks that experience climate injustices, we’re all making purchasing decisions with ethics in mind. Appliances are no different. Electric and induction cooktops are becoming a popular environmentally friendly option, but I'm taking a hard look at all of the considerations to make the most conscious choice.
Read MoreI’m a music fan, and I like sharing the new tracks I discover. You may have noticed listening to my Instagram Story videos that I like some sweet tunes and funky jams. My style is pretty eclectic ranging from Sam Cooke to Childish Gambino and Fleetwood Mac to Sylvan Esso. I’m all across the board but I like a good melody, a nice head-bopping rhythm, and some strong vocals. All this to say, if you like some of the music I share, you just might like the other songs. So, you can listen to the tunes I’m digging on Spotify!
Read MoreHi. 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.
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.
Margot is getting an upgraded room to make space for baby sister in the nursery.
What I’ve been up to - from gardening, to film photography, and the books and shows we’re enjoying. Plus a house tour that requires a closer look, grass seed to always have on hand, cedar shake excitement, historic window screens, and the privilege I’m reminded of daily.
Hammocks, cookbooks, gardening, sewing, and the other things I’ve been up to on my impromptu break, and more.
Where I’ve been, shooting on film, my dream house, retro costume inspiration, energy rebates, a magic cake, textiles I don’t need but want, a lampshade DIY, my best defense against mosquitos, a new podcast, what’s killing home remodelers, best decision-making advice, overheard parenting, Little Women on acid home tour, best marble etch remover, and more.
If you like florals and color, this bathroom is for you. If you don’t, well, maybe scroll through and you’ll be converted? Or not? Either way, here’s the reveal of a bathroom addition that’s finally here - after a whole three years of construction.
Ashley’s restoring her historic home at a snail’s pace in California. She shares home improvement DIYs, tips for sustainable living, and renovation stories - all while aiming to add more color and present real, lived-in, family friendly spaces.
I'm Ashley, a deeply systematic homebody restoring my 1915 Craftsman bungalow in California, slowly and on purpose. I don't make a single decision without first opening 100 tabs. Renovation, DIY, color, and what it actually looks like to live in an old house with two young kids.
© 2026 The Gold Hive. All Rights Reserved.
This site contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Sponsored content and gifted products are disclosed as such. All opinions are my own.
All images are copyright The Gold Hive. Reproduction or use without credit is not permitted. · Photo Licensing Policy
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.