Long before I was born, my mom began a tradition of turning our kitchen cabinets into Christmas presents. Each year she wrapped every cabinet with ribbon and added a themed ornament. I still laugh at the story of my brother asking, “But how are we going to USE the cabinets now?” When we bought our … Read more

When a close friend visits and loves to celebrate, a festive brunch is the perfect way to spend the day. Last week Ashley from Sugar & Cloth stopped by Los Angeles for work, and together with Lowe’s we hosted a lively Wednesday brunch for our favorite blogger and entrepreneur friends. Since Ashley and I both … Read more

Here we are — four days into a brand new year. Welcome back! That fresh-start energy in January never gets old for me. After a holiday break, I always return with new goals and plans, and 2016 already feels full of possibility. As I do every year, I wanted to share a review of 2015 … Read more

Ever wanted to send someone something that feels more special than a card but less formal than a full gift? I had that exact dilemma when a friend shared some very exciting news. The solution I landed on is simple, fun, and handmade: “Congrats… in a box!” It’s a small, unassuming package that reveals a … Read more

I wasn’t entirely honest yesterday when I said I had just one more ice cream project to share. I forgot about this playful ice cream caddy I made for eHow. It started life as a salt box, but since I’d rather serve up sweetness than salt, I repurposed it into a perfect container for toppings. … Read more

We’ve covered baby names that end in “a”, so now let’s look at names that begin with a particular letter. Many families and cultures choose a first letter to honor a relative or continue a tradition. Today’s focus: baby names that start with the letter J. Share your favorites in the comments below! Anna Lee … Read more

With a few balloons and a little creativity, you can transform everyday clothes into standout Halloween costumes. Below are nine easy, budget-friendly costume ideas that use balloons to add instant impact. Each concept can be adapted for kids or adults and most require only basic clothing you likely already own plus a small balloon supply. … Read more

Here’s the backstory for this project. Jeff and I drove to Palm Springs for a venue walk-through and, since the town is so photogenic, I decided we should shoot a quick DIY. I hadn’t prepared much—just tossed some cardstock in the car—planning to pick up what we needed once we arrived. It was 108 degrees, … Read more

Short baby names are always popular: they’re easy to learn, simple to spell, and pair beautifully with longer middle or last names. Today’s list focuses on distinctive 4-letter girl names and some lovely 5-letter options as well. While familiar short names like Mia and Ava are common, this selection highlights less typical choices that still … Read more

This collection showcases over 30 colorful, creative DIY Halloween costume ideas ideal for teachers. These suggestions are especially well suited for preschool, pre-K, and kindergarten educators since many of the themes are instantly recognizable to young students. Many ideas work well for individuals, small teams, or larger staff groups. They’re also easy to adapt as … Read more