Sweet-inspired costumes are always fun, and this year I wanted to be a birthday cake. Jeff prefers dressing as a person, so we compromised: I became the cake and he became the birthday boy. The idea grew out of a birthday cake piñata I made previously, and this costume is basically a larger, wearable version … Read more

During college, Jeff’s parents relocated from our New Jersey hometown to South Florida. For our first Christmas as a married couple we traveled to visit them and took a day trip to Miami with one goal in mind: Wynwood Walls. I had seen this vibrant destination all over Instagram and felt it was essential to … Read more

I’ve been eager to make conversation heart cakes for months, and when Valentine’s Day finally arrived I couldn’t wait to try them. These cakes are surprisingly simple—the letters are cut from Cherry-flavored Airheads. If you can use a cake pan and a small cookie cutter, you can make these. I prefer giant conversation hearts to … Read more

This is the story of how we taught our toddler to shower while renovating our home—and how a few careful steps made the transition calm and successful. When our son was about 18 months old, we removed the only bathtub in the house during a bathroom remodel. We planned to add a tub to the … Read more

Last year, Food Network Magazine contacted us to contribute an Easter feature highlighting eggs inspired by all 50 states. They asked if we’d create a California-inspired design, and Palm Springs immediately came to mind. We recreated iconic mid-century doors on craft eggs, and the results were so fun we wanted to share a step-by-step tutorial. … Read more

I love a good food-themed prank, and this DIY ice cream April Fools prank is an easy, playful idea anyone can recreate. Inspired by a childhood fake ice cream spill, this version uses ordinary white school glue to create a realistic-looking “spilled” scoop. It’s ideal for surprising a neat-freak partner, a tech-obsessed friend, a coworker, … Read more

I’ve been saving this DIY for a while after finding gem-shaped ice cube molds and knowing I wanted to make oversized gem rings. Inspired by a gem-decorated mug I received, I finally tried a method that creates striking faux gems using a surprising material: hot glue. These translucent, chunky gems are fun, inexpensive, and surprisingly … Read more

Before I begin, a quick note: we don’t follow a strict Montessori method in our home. That said, I designed these toy shelves inspired by the Montessori approach — low, open, and simple — so children can easily see, reach, and return their toys. The result is greater independence and less parental prompting, which is … Read more

If you love candy, now’s a great time to try making homemade gummy bears. These are simple to prepare, flavorful, and much better than most store-bought versions. I flavored mine with a line of all-natural juices that gave the gummies bright, clean taste. With just four main ingredients, they’re quick to make and perfect for … Read more

A few weeks ago I shared some of my biggest design regrets in our current home. Today I want to flip the script and highlight the design choices I’m most glad we made—the things I’d happily repeat in this house or in a future one. These are the ideas that have brought the most joy, … Read more