A few weeks ago I shared our plans for a new pea gravel patio and some inspiring photos. With fall approaching, it felt like the perfect season to tackle a backyard project, and I’m excited to report we’ve already made a lot of progress. When we bought our house four years ago it was new … Read more

Today I get to give away something I adore! My friend Melissa from the blog Midwest Magnolia and her new Etsy shop designed and made this special pillow cover for me, and I absolutely love it. I also own one of Melissa’s laptop bags made from the same charming fabric. In fact, seeing that laptop … Read more

Hi friends! I’m happy to share that I have a new pre-Thanksgiving piece published at Proverbs 31 Ministries. In the article I talk about choosing gratitude over grumbling and practical ways to cultivate a more thankful heart as the holiday season approaches. If you’d like to read it, visit the Proverbs 31 Ministries site to … Read more

IIf you saw my post last week, you may have noticed I’ve been working on something exciting. I invited a group of adventurous readers to beta test our new community site, Home Love Stories, and more than 300 of you joined in. The community is off to a wonderful start and it’s been a joy … Read more

BHG II’ve encouraged my daughters over the years to pick a signature scent or a signature piece of jewelry as a way to express what makes them unique. Having one defining element — whether it’s a look, an accessory, or a scent — can make you feel put together and confident. The same idea applies … Read more

I know many people adore white slipcovered sofas, and I also know there are plenty of skeptics. Can white slipcovers really be as easy to maintain as some people claim? Can you really just toss them in the wash and they come out perfect? What about kids, dogs, partners, or eating on the couch—are white … Read more

When we first moved into this house, we pictured a cozy window seat or bench beneath the back window in our living room. The view of the mountains, water and sunsets was one of the home’s greatest features, so creating a place to sit and enjoy it felt natural. With so many other projects, however, … Read more

Just a quick update: my new book is currently available at a 50% discount for a limited time. UPDATE: Amazon is offering the book at 50% off for a short period. If you missed the earlier Barnes & Noble promotion, you can preorder a discounted copy on Amazon and it will be shipped when the … Read more

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 Merry Christmas, dear friends. P.S. If you missed our little Christmas video earlier, you can watch it below. … Read more

For years I kept two large dark wood bookcases in my office. They stored a lot of books, but after adding a couple of new bookcases elsewhere in the house, I realized I didn’t need so many books in this room. The heavy cabinets felt out of scale in my small office, so they were … Read more