We've had a lot of requests for simpler dishes and sides, so here we go! This is a common one in our home - super delicious, easy to make, and only 6 total ingredients. And for anyone unfamiliar with Thai Sweet Chili sauce, it's not spicy, so this is a great dish for all palates and […]
Have you ever had a non-affectionate child? Polly is definitely our least affectionate child. She never gives kisses (to me or anyone--ever!), never wants to hug and rarely ever snuggles in to the crook of my neck, which is why I'm so glad Chris snapped this photo of us after her doctor's appointment the other […]
Today we have a very special tutorial by a special guest--this never happens! This tutorial was written by my amazingly talented sister, Andrea, who is a product stylist and commercial photographer living abroad in sunny Monterrey, Mexico for the past 10 years. She taught Digital Photography and Advanced Photoshop for five years at a private school before […]
Our cabinet line with Semihandmade was supposed to debut in the press and major magazines with photos of the completed cabin kitchen, that never saw completion. It's added another complex layer of sadness, even guilt (not that I had any control or could have predicted the fire) that I'm still trying to process. While there […]
When we finished our closet renovation last year, and many times since, I get asked, "But are these all of your clothes and shoes?" And I give an enthusiastic YES! There's no hidden dresser or extra clothes stashed anywhere. It's not a little bit of clothes by any means but I'm also not a fashion guru (I […]
I don't claim this taco salad to be authentically Mexican, but I do claim it to be genuinely delicious. Great for groups, kids, or even a weekday dinner at home, this dish was a favorite of mine all growing up, and is now a favorite of my own family. It takes less than 30 minutes […]
A little over a week ago, when we still felt pretty lost on what direction we wanted to go after the fire. When in our brains it felt like we could go any direction but my heart was still so fragile to commit to anything--someone suggested we needed a rebound. We needed a non-committal, just for fun, […]
Last week, in the midst of our 100th brainstorming session about what the heck we're doing with our lives in the immediate future--we had a crazy idea; what if we just moved somewhere completely different? During our brainstorming sessions, whether about life or work or upcoming renovations--there are no bad ideas or wrong answers or […]
Happy March and goodbye, February! This week, we washed the inside and outside of all the windows in our house and everything felt brighter. (There's definitely a lesson there) We looked at a few flip houses and watched The Parent Trap (the Lindsay Lohan version which is NOT as good as the Hayley Mills version, […]
The past few days, I got dressed and ate food and blow-dried my hair. I slept mostly without nightmares. In summary, we're all doing much better after the fire and loss of our cabin 10 days ago. There has been such an out-pouring of love and support over the past week and a half and it […]
Just over a week ago, Monday, February 11, 2019, our a-frame cabin that we have been renovating for the past year burned to the ground. It’s been a hard week and I thought if I stepped away from everything for a little bit, I would be able to come back with all the answers to […]
This roasted potato salad is one of the most unique, delicious, and versatile side dishes I make. It's perfect alongside a roasted chicken and green salad, or salmon and asparagus, or steak and Swiss chard. Whatever you decide to serve it with, this "salad" will definitely make the meal. Perfectly roasted potatoes dressed in a […]
flower art | charcoal art How do you cut out stress? Last weekend, I was hit with a Bell's Palsy flare up (I originally had it for the first time nearly nine years ago after having our first born). One side of my face started burning and aching and feeling like needles in every pore, […]
Did you know that most of the nice steak houses don't grill their steaks? It's all about a perfect sear in a hot, heavy-bottomed skillet; using only a few seasonings and herbs to build the perfect flavor. Whether you want to host a dinner for friends, have a quiet evening for two, or are just […]
Happy February! I am recovering from the flu that has hit our town hard. Half of the schools closed, not due to snow like the rest of the country (although we have plenty of that, too) but due to a big flu outbreak. Our family almost escaped without getting hit, but this week Polly and […]
Two years ago, there was a house for sale that we lovingly referred to as "dream house." It's on a large lot of mature trees with lots of windows and interesting architecture--all a rarity for our neck of the woods. It didn't look like...an Idaho house. At the time we weren't in a position to […]
We've been compensated by QVC for this post Jules loves creating a comfortable place for people to gather, and I love feeding those people once they've gathered. I also love adjusting classic, traditionally heavy party foods to be a little more healthy without people feeling like they're being cheated out of enjoyment. QVC has all […]
We are headed to Las Vegas Market tomorrow!!! We'll be launching our cabinet line with Semihandmade! We'll be at their booth all day on Sunday (pavilion 2 booth 8004) and speaking and answering questions on a panel at 4pm (pavilion 1, number 1 seminar room). If you're around, we'd love for you to stop by! […]
We are coming up on our 10 year anniversary of blogging in a couple weeks and while I didn't start this blog with any intention of it becoming a paid gig, let alone a full time job for both Chris and I, it has become just that. A full blown career that has become rather […]
A quick, light, delicious Thai coconut curry you can whip up in less than 30 minutes. We eat ours with riced cauliflower, but steamed jasmine rice is another great option as well. Easy to make, lots of flavor, and comforting. This dish can be completed, start to finish, in less than 30 minutes and will […]
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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