best dresses for travel

What I Packed For Our Trip Abroad + Favorite Travel Essentials

May 22, 2026

This was the first trip where I actually used ever single thing I packed – nothing more and nothing less. I tend to overpack, but I had to fit into one checked back + one carry on for our trip to Italy. It required a lot of pre-planning and over thinking to pack exactly what I would need.

Red floral dress // Eyelet skirt // Yellow smocked dress // Green and white floral dress

Dresses
Since we traveled along coastal towns I packed mainly dresses + two pairs of comfortable flats. There are churches and sites in Italy have dress codes as well, so we just chose to dress up like many Europeans! I pulled some old favorites from my closet, and found a few new ones as well that were so comfortable!

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French provincial bedroom design - Jane Austen

A Jane Austen Inspired Room for our Daughter

January 15, 2026

dorset cream-farrow and ball - IHOD - french provincial

For those of you not on social media (applause!), a little backstory of this Jane Austen inspired room design! I wanted my daughter Veronica to have a peaceful and happy escape from all the hard days she has experienced medically recently. I also really wanted her to have a space to create in. I consulted her on the bigger pieces, and the colors, so this was the first room we designed together! She chose the paint color, wallpaper, and the bedding. I helped with the finishing details. It was a dream project to bring to life with her and for her, and surprising her with the outcome was one of the happiest days of the year.

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15 Gift Ideas for the Men that are Hard to Buy for!

December 8, 2025

Back by popular request! Gabe is rounding 15 gift guide ideas for the all the gentlemen. Especially the ones that are hard to buy for!

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Black Friday Shopping Guide (+Discount Codes!)

November 25, 2025

Since every shop under the sun seems to be running a sale this week, I thought I would round up what I would consider worthy of note!

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paint like a pro tips and tricks

Paint Like a Pro: Simple Tips & Tricks for Every Homeowner

September 17, 2025

how to paint like a pro - tips and tricks

Gabe used to paint for a side job during summers off from teaching. He’s also been the front man for our past adn current home renovations, and has tried many paint brands and products over the years. When we asked if you had any questions for him to help with interior painting, you delivered some great questions! We decided to put them all here as an easy reference point. We hope it can be helpful for any upcoming home painting projects you may have.

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living room design - traditional living room

Our 1860s Living Room Renovation

August 5, 2025

living room design-historical mantel-blue gray farrow and ball

We finished our complete 1860s living room renovation this year, and I am finally sharing all the details! It was a slow and steady renovation that took many months, and it is now the number one hang spot in our family!

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Prime Day Guide 2025

July 8, 2025

prime day guide

For our annual Prime Day guide we were able to go through the deals lists a little early to share our top picks in every category. We are only sharing things we personally love and use or what we consider a deal worth a look! We will be updating this throughout the day, as well as our amazon store front. I hope it can be helpful!

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