13+ Tree Swings For Kids Under $100: The Ultimate List of Outdoor Swing Ideas!

Read more about the article 13+ Tree Swings For Kids Under $100: The Ultimate List of Outdoor Swing Ideas!

We've found over a dozen of the best tree swings for kids (as well as some tree swings for adults too!) and are sharing them all below! It's no secret that I (Jess) am still very much in touch with my childhood. I've done everything from wanting to create a Swiss Family Robinson-esque treehouse to convincing Matt to help install a zipline in our backyard. I love being outside—and providing as many opportunities for my…

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DIY Wood Cutting Board: 3 Simple Steps to Make Your Own!

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Today we're sharing how we did our easy (and free!) DIY cutting board project (and we did it with two children, ages 4 and 7), plus an even easier bonus option! (And no, that option isn't "Just go to Target and buy one.") The "Even Easier Bonus Option" is... ...(I'll wait while you drumroll)... ...doing it without kids! 😂 Bahahaha! I know. We're full of brilliant ideas today. No one can stop us. But really,…

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Tour Our House’s Outdoor Spaces (Before We Go to Town On Them!)

Read more about the article Tour Our House’s Outdoor Spaces (Before We Go to Town On Them!)

The backyard space of this property—while poorly maintained—was one of the top reasons we put in an offer! Want to see what we liked so much? Let's go! Don't worry, we repainted the exterior of our home! We'll start in the front yard before heading to the backyard... ...because the front is quick! THE FRONT YARD To the right of the yellow front door (which you'll have seen if you took our downstairs tour), are…

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Expert Tip: Flexibility In Design.

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Today, let's talk about flexibility in design. Given that this mudroom entryway is superduper small (click HERE to see what it was before!), we’ve packed a lot in for the space:✅ Bench✅ Hooks✅ Shoe storage✅ Cubbies✅ A hidden trash can✅ Shelving✅ Storage for alllllll the things—from hiking gear to beach stuff! ooks & rail / similar baskets / hat (And that’s just on this side...there's still a second wall in this room!)Creating 100% built-in, permanent…

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What’s Your Perfect Kind of “Success”?

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A few months ago, I read the Studio McGee book “Make Life Beautiful.” After finishing it, I told a friend I experienced a surprising emotion: Anger. Why on earth was I angry? It was an easy read, nothing heavy. I wasn’t angry at the McGees—I felt happy for their success. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I told a friend about it and started talking it through out loud. As I talked and…

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Some (but Not All!) Before & Afters of Our Kitchen Remodel.

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This post showing you a few before & afters of our kitchen remodel is going to be brief as far as words go. Not because there isn't enough to say, but because there is so much to say! So we'll be breaking EVERYTHING about the kitchen down later, into a series of simpler articles. Why were we forced to remodel our kitchen? This was a surprise remodel that got sprung on us and had to…

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Raised Patio Edging Ideas: 10 Tricks to Edge a Raised Patio!

Read more about the article Raised Patio Edging Ideas: 10 Tricks to Edge a Raised Patio!

Looking for raised patio edging ideas? Well here's a high five for ya, because you're in the right place!🤗 We're not only sharing 10 tricks for edging a raised patio, but most of these 10 contain more than one option, so you're sure to find at least one (if not several!) options that work for you! First, decide on the function of your edging. Is a railing needed? Are caps or edges needed on retaining…

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The 3 Smartest Ways to Build a Raised Patio Yourself!

Read more about the article The 3 Smartest Ways to Build a Raised Patio Yourself!

We're sharing all the tips, tricks & details of building a raised patio with retaining wall—along with our raised stone patio design and cost! Do you have a sloped area in your yard that seems unusable? Or perhaps you want to avoid a deck off the back of your house and have started envisioning your own way of building a raised patio with retaining walls? Whatever your need, you're in the right place, my friend!…

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What Influences Your Design Style?

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We all like something. Even those who are the hardest to please, who claim they don't care about design, still have preferences. At the very least, we all know what we don't like. And when you don't like something, that means you do like something else. What we do like is either based on a part of our personality and who we are, or circumstances and memories we have of things that impacted us, or—which…

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Vintage Pieces.

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I turn 40 this week. How do I feel about it? Well, let’s first acknowledge that the culture around us seems to give 39.9-yr-olds the message that we should be flipping out in some way. (Or completely ignoring it and pretending we’re still 27. :) ) Growing up, 40 was the age I’d hear talked about as “the big one.” You know, when mid-life crises hit & you were now going downhill. 40 wasn’t just…

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