Traditional exterior design by Oklahoma City Architect Rick Hoge If I could, I would be reclining on the back patio, looking out over the water while my butler brings lunch on a silver platter. The calm of the view, the graceful lines of the house, and the thoughtful landscaping combine to create a sense of … Read more

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags Round Up 2023 Hello friends! I’m in the middle of wrapping last-minute presents and getting the house ready for family. I’m looking forward to slowing down, savoring time together, and making holiday memories. If you’re still wrapping too, this post gathers a large selection of pretty printable gift tags. Many … Read more

What a week — technology has not been on my side. Between a broken dryer that left laundry draped around the house and a blog meltdown that had me racing to rebuild things (with huge help from my patient tech person, Ted), I’m ready to focus on pretty and pleasant things. Shall we? Scroll through … Read more

Have you seen the new Studio McGee collection at Target? I finally had time to browse and I’m impressed — there are so many beautiful pieces at very reasonable prices. This isn’t sponsored; I just wanted to share some favorites in case you’re looking for fresh, stylish options for your home. If something catches your … Read more

One of my best decorating tips is to add practical, attractive kitchen items into daily routines. Below I share 12+ affordable, pretty and useful ways I incorporate attractive pieces into my kitchen, with sources where possible. Here are 12+ pretty and practical ways I use attractive kitchen items every day: 1. Wood cleaning tools. Doing … Read more

Raise your hand if you have dogs. Now raise it again if you want a clean home and dogs at the same time. We have four doodles in our family; two live with us full time and two visit when they can. That’s a lot of fluff, but we love them and have learned practical … Read more

As keepers of the home, many of us give endlessly for our families. We organize play areas for the kids, keep the laundry done, prepare nourishing meals, volunteer, clean, and host celebrations—often working around the clock. Amid all that care and responsibility, it’s important to remember your own value and worth. Your happiness and contentment … Read more

It’s a Christmas miracle — the kitchen has finally been painted. After nearly six months of work, this stage of the remodel is complete and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I was so eager to see the progress that my daughter Courtney and I snuck into the kitchen after dark to take a few photos. … Read more

AFTER: STAIRCASE At my old house we gave this staircase a much‑needed DIY makeover. The photo above shows the finished result. The stairwell started in pretty sad shape — our last home was a 1930s English‑style house that required a lot of cosmetic attention. I shared more about that house elsewhere on my site, but … Read more

I am hosting a relaxed, budget-friendly holiday gathering on Saturday morning for the women from my new church. To keep things simple and meaningful, I’ve asked everyone to bring a 4 x 5 card with their favorite holiday recipe or a treasured tradition written on it. I’ll photocopy the cards and share the collection with … Read more