TThis year I wrote a new book called Dwelling. Due for release in April, Dwelling grew from my wish to shape a home that genuinely cares for the people who live there. It explores how you feel in your dwellings—both in your home and in your body—and invites thoughtful, practical steps to make those places more nourishing.
At its heart, Dwelling is about crafting a sanctuary that supports well-being, calm, comfort, and belonging. Feeling well where you live comes from noticing what you do and don’t need around you, then choosing small intentional changes that better support your daily life. It’s a gentle approach—practical, reflective, and rooted in the ordinary moments of home.
Even with the holidays approaching, I find myself quietly letting go of what feels expected so I can focus on the things that truly matter.
For example: there are seven days until Christmas. I have a lit tree, but my ornaments are still in a bin. No garland or stockings are on the mantel. We do have paper snowflakes hanging in the kitchen, while a pumpkin wreath still hangs on the front door—and I just realized there are gourds on the porch I haven’t removed yet.
There’s still time to take down the pumpkins. I’m letting the house shift slowly from season to season, which feels fine. I may share a mini-Christmas tour here on the blog because I enjoy that tradition, but I’m not promising anything.
After a dozen Christmases blogging about home, I’ve noticed a pattern: I gravitate toward a gentle blend of simplicity, imperfection, and a little bit of magic. That combination feels right to me each year. It’s how I decorate and how I celebrate—slow, lived-in, and full of small meaningful details.
Slipcovered Sofa Source / Specific Sofa Details / Rug / Battery Candles
Endless scrolling through perfectly staged images can make home seem like an unattainable ideal. For me, that often sparks a desire to slow down and appreciate the real, usable things already in my home—the worn edges, the comfortable sofa, the familiar corners that hold our life.
Right now, reflecting on what this season means feels especially important. This is my son’s last Christmas living at home before he heads to college next fall. Milestones like this make time feel fleeting and remind me why I choose to slow down and focus on what truly matters to our family.
I’m excited to share Dwelling with you. The book is a hardcover filled with inspiration, practical tips, action steps, and journal prompts, accompanied by simple illustrations and hand-lettered quotes. I’ll share more about it after the holidays.
Dwelling will be released on April 2 and is available for preorder now. Preordering helps authors and also locks in the best price through the preorder price guarantee.
If you plan to preorder, there’s a limited-time Amazon promo to save $5 on books when you spend $20 or more. Details were available for the promotion at the time of posting.
- Use the promo code noted at checkout to save $5 on qualifying book purchases. Offer details and expiration applied at the time the promotion was active.
- Pre-order Price Guarantee: if the price decreases between your order and the release date, you receive the lowest price available on the release day.
How are you savoring what matters most this season and letting go of the rest?