I recently got a question from a commenter who asked me how I entertain at home to make guests feel at ease. This question came at a great time since fall can be a natural hosting season from watch parties (there's football...or The Bach) to Thanksgiving. The truth is — Chris and I really *enjoy* […]
Everyone gets excited to decorate for fall (same!) but an often overlooked element of decorating is how a home smells. Scent is such a powerful tool in making your home feel warm, welcoming, and seasonal. When I think about fall scents I definitely want some spicy or woodsy notes in there like cardamom, amber and […]
Faux Oak Branch | Vase | Serving Bowl | Candle | Dining Table | Chairs (vintage) (similar) | Wallpaper | Gallery Wall | Edie Two-Tier Chandelier After the busyness of summer, fall feels like a chance to really return to my roots of being a homebody. And yet, that doesn't mean I'm home alone just with my family! I love to have people over as well! There are […]
Last year, Chris wanted to do a fall low-country boil outside, and he wanted to invite 15 people over. He said, "I’m just going to send out a text." I said, "Wait, let me make an invitation!" When someone receives an invitation, they get the feeling that this event means something to you. I think […]
This post is sponsored by Neighborly, Your Hub for Home Services As we’ve grown older and busier with kids and life, I’ve gotten smarter about what projects we want to tackle at home ourselves and which ones we like to hire out. And there are some tasks I’ve never even thought to tackle myself and […]
There's something so satisfying about a rapid fire clean-up round. If someone is coming over in less than 20 minutes, I've got a formula for speed cleaning that helps me feel like my space is welcoming, yet I'm not going to be hustling at the last minute. (Generally, I'm only focusing on the first floor […]
We're ready to have people over in our backyard space now that it's so nice out in North Carolina, and it reminded me of the elements that I think really create that perfect outdoor setting for guests. Outdoor entertaining, to me, is really about making people feel comfortable and special. Here are a few things […]
Are you hosting anyone for Easter this year? We almost always host an Easter dinner with extended family, and it's just so much fun to have everyone around the table for a special occasion. Drum Pendant | Dining Chairs | Sconces | Candlesticks | White Bowls | Flatware (similar) What I've found is that with […]
Sometimes I think ahead enough to plan a trip over spring break. Sometimes I just feel more like a homebody and want to enjoy time at home with my family. But how do you still make the most of a spring break home with the kids or a long weekend with no big plans? My […]
Chris and I like to get each other a little gift for Valentine's Day, but my favorite gift to give is an experience gift — and I'm always scheming. Read on for 10 ideas for things to do together to celebrate your romance, and drop your best ideas for memorable dates in the comments, you […]
A friend of mine recently called me for ideas for hosting her in-laws, who will be in town for the holidays for four days. Together, we brainstormed what works when it comes to entertaining out-of-towners (aka it's fun but low stress for you and not too tiring). We came up with a comprehensive list for […]
Setting the table for the holidays can be an exciting endeavor that adds a special touch to your festive gatherings. Whether you're looking for a simple, straightforward setup or an all-out holiday wonderland, there are options for every style and budget. Here's how you can set your holiday table at three different levels: essential, next […]
We are planning to host a big Halloween party this year, and Chris will be overseeing the menu. Now, normally, he sticks to cooking exclusively dairy-free, gluten-free, and whole foods as much as possible, but Halloween is the perfect time to have a little fun with your food. In other words, this isn't your typical […]
Chris and I are passionate entertainers. We love to spontaneously invite friends over for dinner, like tonight. Chris loves to host eager eaters with his new recipes, and I love to set the table. As the air turns crisp and leaves begin to blanket the streets, our focus naturally drifts to a tablescape more fit […]
Over the weekend, I threw a baby shower for Brooke, our longest-held employee who's more like family than anything. It's been years since I've attended a baby shower, and much to my excitement, this was the first shower I've ever personally thrown!–Couldn't think of anybody else I'd rather throw my "first" shower for than Brooke. If you're someone […]
Recently, my four best friends flew to North Carolina for my birthday, and I set up a little “blow-up” sleepover room so that we could have a good old-fashioned slumber party. I shared a little bit about this sleepover room when I tested and ranked the best air mattresses on Amazon, and so many of […]
Every night for dinner, we sit around the round table in the dining room. For breakfast, the girls usually sit at the island. And when we have company over, it's usually a combination of both or we eat outside. But I really wanted another overflow option for a formal dinner. Nothing permanent (we don't have […]
This post was written by my lovely sister and brand manager, Victoria. My love of dinner parties started early. I remember an abundant bowl of fruit on my family’s Thanksgiving table when I was little. It was morning, and there were still HOURS until dinner. Still, I asked my mom if I could have an […]
We've been focusing on outdoor spaces on the blog this month (if you haven't noticed!) and today is a fun one–all about lawn games! You're never too old for a lawn game! Both Chris and I grew up playing games outside and so of course we love doing that with our friends and family. Growing […]
As we're getting ready to start using our backyard space, I can't help but picture all the entertaining we plan to do. It's going to take years for this outdoor space to fully mature and grow into what we envision, but I'm not waiting for things to be perfect before we invite our friends and […]
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