Over Memorial Day weekend, we rented a beach house with family, and although we would have loved to spend our days soaking up the sun on the sandy beach, the rainy weather kept us inside. Luckily, we packed some of our favorite games, which kept us more than occupied. We're big game people, and over […]
I took an International Foods course in college where each week we would make a big feast of foods from a different region of the world. It was the biggest face-roll course I've ever taken (ie, could not have been easier and more enjoyable) and many of the dishes I learned to make are still […]
We started this month off with the greatly anticipated launch of our Pottery Barn Kids collection, which felt so monumental, and we're grateful you could all be a part of it. I'm so excited to include some selections from the collection in Faye's room, and although we shared three layout options for her room, we're […]
Once upon a time, I made an ebook called "Chris Loves Burgers" because it's true – I do! You can find a link for it, along with 3 of my favorite burger recipes, in this post here, but one thing the eBook fails to have a recipe for is smash burgers. The smash burger is […]
During all three of my pregnancies, I would drive to Sonic and purchase their perfectly-sized, crunchy ice because I had to have it! Whether you prefer to call them pebble ice, nugget ice, or even the infamous "sonic ice," there's something so satisfying about those crunchy little ice pellets. In our quest to satisfy the […]
The best flavors are the ones on sale, and yellow mangos are everywhere right now. I'm a big fan of chicken wings so this week I went a little tropical for Chris Cooks and it paid off in a big way. Because these wings are incredible. Blender | Tongs | Cutting Board | Lantern Pendants […]
Chris is a t-shirt guy through and through, but more than that, Chris is a guy who prioritizes quality and comfort when it comes to everything in his wardrobe. So since I shared my favorite women's t-shirts, it only made sense to pass the baton to the collector himself and spotlight some of the best […]
This year for Mother's Day, I wanted to share with you some delicious dishes you can make for your mom, your wife, or any mother figure in your life to show some love and gratitude. Now, since I do 90% of the cooking in our house, Mother's Day is just a regular day of cooking, […]
I don't know about your local climate, but North Carolina is warming up!! And as the weather is shifting, my wardrobe is following suit. Enter in all of the classic and graphic tees! I've collected a few favorites over the years, but I think my tried and true is something loose, boxy, and always a […]
I'm going to make a claim right now. And it's a claim you hear over and over from food bloggers. So much so, that it feels trite and meaningless, so I hesitate to say it. But please, read these words with the same spirit that I write them: this is my favorite recipe ever. glass […]
When I started Chris Loves Julia 14 years ago, Instagram wasn't around. There wasn't a social media handbook, and the term "influencer" was still in its infancy. Yet, here we are, 1 million Instagram followers later, and we've been able to turn our love of DIY and renovating into a full-time business with a team […]
I continue to work on my southeast Asian cooking, and the process has me very quickly falling in love with lemongrass. The flavor is so vibrant and it works so well with every type of meat out there. But right now, beef is my favorite and specifically skirt steak. Skirt steak, cut into strips against […]
My brain is struggling to comprehend the blur of events that took place in April because WOW–what a month. We revealed the high gloss built-ins in the study (spoiler alert, the whole room needs repainting now), featured my two sisters, Andi and Victoria, on the blog, conducted a very important test, threw a baby shower […]
Something that surprised me when Julia cut out grains was how much "crunch" we lost. That texture experience took a big back seat and I missed it. Of course there are a lot of options being made now, but 8 years ago we had no croutons, no cereal, no crackers. I was desperate for that […]
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 […]
I've been dying to do this test for quite some time now! Out of my own curiosity sure, but also to give some answers to all of the home renovators and DIYers out there wondering, "Which brass cabinet knob is the best?" I'll tell you right now that while on this hunt to find the […]
I grew up eating 7-layer salad most Sundays in the Spring and Summer. It's crisp, full of flavor, and stays fresh even when made the day before (just hold off on the dressing). Unfortunately, the version I had as a child had cheese, bacon, and Miracle Whip (eggs) as the base. Not friendly to dietary […]
Here's the thing. Ever since I can remember, my daily uniform consists of jeans and sneakers. Generally, I mix them with simple T-shirts, but almost every day, you can find me wearing jeans and sneakers. I realized years ago that if I'm getting a bunch of things done around the house without the proper foot […]
Unlike February, this month has flown by, and we're already well into April, but I wanted to highlight some of the best moments and products from a memorable March. Things are budding and coming to life here in North Carolina, but that won't ever stop me from buying fake plants, and I may or may […]
A few weeks ago, I went full ham in the kitchen, tackling some much-needed organization in a few desperate areas. Shortly after moving in, we had professional organizers come and give us a jump start in a season of overwhelm. But as you know, as life goes on, cupboards and drawers need consistent maintenance and […]
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Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations