Thought it was high time to share some dining room inspiration! The photo above shows the “before” for reference. If you follow along on Instagram you may have seen a few sneak peeks, but here’s the full update on the pieces we’re considering and the design questions we’re still solving. The room is small, almost … Read more

We’re thinking stripes this week, so let’s talk striped cakes. Our baking pro, Theresa, showed a simple way to create clean, even buttercream stripes — and with the right tools it’s much easier than it looks. You can make a classic cabana-style cake or go bold with a rainbow version, perfect for summer birthdays and … Read more

This post is sponsored by Bing. I was in Palm Springs for Meet/Make/Do surrounded by oversized balloons (thanks, Shop Sweet Lulu!) and a huge helium tank — pure party paradise. Naturally, a balloon project was in order. After some inspiration and a whole lot of helium, I created pop-up message balloons that spell out fun … Read more

Nicknames are one of my favorite topics. Choosing a name that offers both a formal version and a shorter, gender-neutral nickname gives a child options as they grow. For this baby-name feature we’re focusing on girl names that come with gender-neutral nicknames, plus a handful of short names and nicknames that stand on their own. … Read more

Over the past two months I attended two small gatherings of women in business. At both events the opening question was the same: “What is something you’ve done lately that you’re proud of?” It seems straightforward, but it made me stop and think. When was the last time you paused to acknowledge yourself and say, … Read more

Each year West Elm partners with Etsy and local bloggers to stage curated Etsy pop-up shops inside West Elm stores. This year I was honored to curate the Los Angeles pop-up, and I’m thrilled with how it’s coming together. I selected a dozen talented local Etsy makers who create thoughtful, original goods, and they’ll be … Read more

June always feels like a major birthday month—so many friends, family, and even me! I’m turning a quarter century this Saturday, and to celebrate I made a playful birthday cake confetti popper with my Cricut Explore. These poppers are filled with sprinkle confetti alongside tiny balloons and cake shapes for a festive surprise. They make … Read more

I teased this two-part series on Instagram and so many of you responded — excited about taxes, which is honestly kind of delightful. For freelancers and entrepreneurs, taxes can feel like the great unknown. Most of us aren’t taught about self-employment taxes in school, and once you add the variables of freelance income and deductible … Read more

As the first week of school winds down for many families, this simple DIY apple piñata is a charming, last-minute idea for a teacher gift or a back-to-school surprise. It’s playful, budget-friendly and can be filled with practical goodies—mini stationery, erasers, stickers, or sweet treats—so it’s both decorative and useful. Best of all, the project … Read more