Whether you completely love your home or it’s a work in progress, practicing gratitude for what you have—and what you can do—can make a big difference. What are five things you love about your home? If you’re not sure, keep reading for ideas to help you answer this question. NOTE: we’re sharing responses this week … Read more

I’m sharing five practical steps to help you declutter and refresh your bathroom. These simple, actionable ideas make it easy to create a cleaner, more organized, and more inviting space without spending a lot of time or money. 1. Clear the Counters Start by removing everything from your countertops. Only return essentials you use daily, … Read more

Shabby Creek Cottage (DIY) Working on getting more organized this year? Below are a variety of command center ideas—from simple DIY projects to styled solutions—to inspire your own setup. Each example highlights practical ways to corral calendars, notes, mail, school items and everyday supplies so family life runs smoother. The Handmade Home (DIY) One practical … Read more

HHello, it’s Courtney! I’ve moved out of my apartment and into my parents’ lower level. I wanted to share how we’re laying out the new space and what our plans are. First, can we agree moving is always far more exhausting than you expect? And you always seem to have way more stuff than you … Read more

There are so many ways to build or enhance curb appeal. One of my favorite additions is window and porch railing planter boxes. They add character, can be updated through the seasons, and bring life to a home’s exterior. I’ve always wanted them, even though I never had them in previous houses—it’s never too late … Read more

Give Thanks: Country Living Sorry for the delay in announcing the winners of the all-day giveaway. A site glitch prevented viewing comments beyond the first 100, which made it difficult to reach winners chosen by a random generator in the 200s, 300s, and even 600s. Thanks to Darcy for finding a workaround so I could … Read more

If you ever feel a little discouraged, like everyone else is doing bigger things than you, here’s a reminder: You are likely a bigger deal than you realize. Every day we do small, ordinary things for our family. Those thousands of tiny, consistent acts build a childhood that seems to pass in a flash yet … Read more

Yesterday felt like an ordinary day until a photographer and photo stylist from Better Homes & Gardens arrived at our home to shoot a full feature on our kitchen remodel. Having a team from such a well-known magazine photograph our kitchen was surreal and incredibly exciting. The visit was a highlight after all the work … Read more

When our children were small, we owned a family beach house on the Oregon coast where we spent many weekends and holidays. We no longer keep a separate vacation property to visit, but now we live in a home with a view of the sea. Returning to our own “beach house” every day feels special … Read more

How to make garland extra full and festive! This year we updated our faux cedar garland to make it look fuller and more festive with just a few simple additions. I love the clean look of cedar or pine garland by itself, but layering and embellishing a strand can make it feel more custom, luxurious, … Read more