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My son was recently assigned a paper about a childhood memory. While he was brainstorming on what memory to write about, I couldn’t help but think about a funny childhood camp memory. When I was about 7, I went to a camp close to home that was located at the mouth of the Neuse River where it meets the Pamlico Sound. If you aren’t familiar with this area, it is a fairly wide body of water and is notorious for being as rough as the ocean, especially during storms and wind. On this particular day at camp, a large group of us were going on a sailing adventure. We had lunch packed and were sailing the little Sunfish sailboats over to an island. There were 2-3 of us per sailboat and a dozen or so sailboats. It was a beautiful morning and the weather forecast for the day was light winds and no chance of rain or storms. Perfect for kids to take the little sailboats across the sound. However, I was quick to tell the counselors that it was going to storm. They assured all of us that the weather forecast was perfect for the trip and that there was nothing to worry about with the weather. So we all loaded up in the little sailboats and began our trek. It wasn’t a short jaunt, more like a couple hour sail. We made it over to the island, ate lunch, and explored around. The sky began to cloud up so the counselors decided we should go ahead and sail back and beat any potential weather. Remember this is the mid 80’s so there was no communication with camp as to any changes in the weather forecast. As we sailed towards the mainland, the skies became more ominous by the minute. Then, the wind greatly picked up and the bottom fell out. The sound quickly turned into a rough ocean and the 13 foot sailboats were no match for the waves. All of the sailboats capsized and quickly sank. The counselors were trying to get all the kids in a circle holding hands in the water but it was nearly impossible to stay connected. I can still vividly remember lying on my back floating in the water. I had my feet out of the water because I was wearing brand new water shoes and I didn’t want to lose them. Priorities I guess. At the peak of the waves I could see the others floating in the water but in the valleys of the waves I couldn’t see anyone. The rain physically hurt it was coming down so hard. Some kids were screaming and crying. It seemed like the storm was never going to stop. To this day I don’t know if we were rescued by the Coast Guard or NC Wildlife Officers or someone else. I just remember some power boats showing up and the men were wearing red life jackets. The waves were crashing over the sides of the power boats. They were about 25 foot boats but they were still struggling in the conditions. Eventually, they had us all in the power boats and we slowly headed back to the camp. People from the camp were waiting for us at the dock with towels and drinks. I was one of the last off the boats. For some reason, I was never scared so I just waited while the scared kids hurried off the boat. Once everyone was on the dock, they did a headcount to make sure all of us had made it back safely. Once they did that, I looked at the lady in charge and I said, “I told you it was going to storm.” Then I walked away to the cabin. And I never enjoyed sailing again.

This week is all about the family hang out spot! I know some people are moving away from the open concept but I wanted an open space where I could be in the kitchen and my boys could be watching a game and we were all together! I wanted it to be comfortable and casual and be friendly to sandy paws. I continued the neutral, coastal palette in this space. We opted for a leather sectional because we have found that they tend to hold up better with dogs. This custom one from Lee Industries was perfect because it isn't too masculine. Barrel chairs in a navy ticking stripe and X benches in a navy patterned fabric soften the space and evoke classic, coastal vibes. The coffee table has a driftwood look and the glass top keeps it light and airy. The navy Annie Selke rug grounds the space. It is an outdoor rug so it stands up to dogs really well. The wood burning fireplace makes the space extra cozy! It is topped with a custom teak mantle (my hubs made it) and it is flanked on each side by burl wood consoles that are great storage for blankets, games, and paper bags for starting a fire. While summer is my favorite time of the year, chilly days by the fire are a huge win in my book too! To get the neutral, coastal look, I have rounded up some similar pieces HERE! Read Part 8 HERE This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

It's time for my happy place! THE KITCHEN!!!! When I planned this kitchen, I truly thought about how I use my kitchen space when I am cooking. Since I have more down time when we are here, I am able to do a lot more cooking and baking. I knew I wanted a white kitchen. It's classic and timeless and perfect for a coastal home. The dark stained hardwood floors give a great contrast while the tongue and groove vaulted ceiling keeps the space light and bright! We used a local cabinet maker, The Cabinet Shop, and they brought it all to life perfectly! They also made the walnut countertop for the eat at bar. I did two islands so that one is dedicated to food prep and the other is for people to eat and hang out. Both islands are very spacious and have tons of storage for all my kitchen must haves. The 60 inch Wolf range is centered up on the prep island which creates a wonderful work station for both cooking and baking. The microwave is in the island along with a prep sink. The only thing I added was a Wellness Mat since I spend a lot of time standing there! The 48 inch Sub Zero refrigerator flanks one end of the island. The main sink and dishwashers flank the other end. It's a very functional working space and allows for others to be in the kitchen but not be in the way. The white washed rattan lighting over the island gives a coastal vibe while also creating great ambience once the kitchen is closed for the evening. The brass arm lighting over the copper sink is great task lighting when the sunshine isn't bright coming through the large windows. The white subway tile has the finish of a Capiz shell so it creates texture amongst all the white while also reflecting a lot of light. I am definitely in my element in this space. I think it's time to create some more cooking videos! Read Part 7 HERE

The master bedroom!! Your bedroom should always be your sanctuary! Since this is a weekend/ vacation home, I wanted the space to give me vacation vibes while also being a sanctuary. The walls are painted in SW Alabaster and the trim is SW Quench Blue. The space makes me feel like I am in a bedroom in the Caribbean somewhere! Plus, the bed looks out French doors directly to Core Sound. I wasn't worried about getting a good night's sleep here but I still wanted to make it an oasis. Since we spend roughly 1/3 of our lives sleeping, and since the quality of that sleep can determine a lot about our waking hours, I am a firm believer in getting a high quality mattress and bedding. We chose a Tempurpedic mattress with the cooling top. We have the same one at home and it truly changed our lives. The bedding is from Matouk and even my husband says that quality bedding creates a better night's sleep! I did white sheets and white coverlet and a neutral print duvet and shams. The beautiful artwork by Sue Scoggins is the perfect pop of color. To round out the room, I chose a neutral Annie Selke rug that has the look of jute but is soft underfoot. The rattan headboard, shagreen nightstands, and shell lamps are from one of my favorite local stores, Beaufort Linen Company. I have rounded up a collection of similar looks HERE. The paint scheme carries into the master bath. I chose classic and timeless Carrera marble for the floor and countertop. The vanity is from a local cabinet maker, also painted in SW Quench Blue. Chrome light fixtures, faucets, and hardware keep the classic feel. The Serena and Lily rattan mirrors keep the coastal vibe flowing! I can't forget my favorite plush towels in bright white! The space is crisp, clean, and happy. Plus, my husband finally got a waterfall shower head in the ceiling! He's in heaven! Read Part 6 HERE This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The guest room was a really fun space to put together. I knew I wanted it to be a soothing space but with all the coastal vibes! The walls are painted SW Retiring Blue. It's a neutral enough blue that it gave me options with the rug, bedding, and drapery. The rattan bed paired with linen sheets and a seersucker duvet cover are the perfect mix of coastal and southern! The striped rug gave me Bahamian water vibes without being too bright. I kept the color scheme of blue and coral going on the drapes. I made the drapes myself with fabric from designer Viv Designs on Spoonflower. The shell pattern is soft without feeling too "beachy." Making drapes and throw pillows is one of my favorite things to do and an easy way to change the look of a room with simple fabric. I buy most of my fabrics on Spoonflower. There so many choices and it directly supports the artist! Win Win! Here are some of my favorite designers: Viv Design Danika Herrick Willow Lane Domesticate The Artwerks To complete the guest room is a private bath. It's classic and simple with Carrera marble floors and vanity top, subway tile bath surround, and crisp white cabinetry. The vanity is from Restoration Hardware. They have a lot of great options for vanities and countertops. I love that this bath is timeless while keeping with the simple, coastal theme of the home. Looking forward to hosting lots of friends here! You can shop the room at the link HERE Read Part 5 HERE This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

This week we are moving inside the cottage to one of the most important places of any vacation home, The Wet Bar! For the wet bar we wanted to create a simple yet functional space that had everything we needed but nothing we didn't. Our goal was for a low maintenance interior just like the exterior. I did want to evoke a coastal vibe and incorporated a bit of a nautical vibe for this space as well. Our plan was to only have the bare basics for barware but a well stocked wine fridge and other beverages so that we weren't having to bring items each time we came down. The cabinetry is custom from a local cabinet maker, The Cabinet Shop, based in Morehead City. Paul is wonderful to work with and delivered exactly what I had envisioned! The cabinets are painted Sherwin Williams In the Navy! It is a great navy without having a purple hue to it. Perfect for a coastal look. The light fixture and mirror are from a favorite local store, Beaufort Linen Company. The wine fridge and beverage fridge are both by Sub Zero and the ice maker by Hoshizaki. We ordered these appliances very early in the process due to long lead times but they arrived at exactly the right time! The cabinets roll out for easy access bottle storage. The countertop is my favorite part! I wanted the feel of a countertop in an old yacht so my husband made this using teak and holly. It turned into a labor of love for him but the end result was well worth it! The hammered brass sink and the Rohl faucet complete the look. The brass bamboo hardware is by Modern Matter Hardware and coordinates with the brass bamboo shelf brackets from Ballard Designs and the bamboo tray, ice bucket, and pineapple shaker from Mark and Graham. I wanted a very cohesive look with minimal display pieces. A few of my favorite everyday wines are: Rombauer Chardonnay Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc Whispering Angel Rose La Marca Prosecco Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon Mumm Napa Brut Prestige Rose Granit Sparkling Rose and, of course, Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne! From my home to yours, CHEERS to summertime! Read Part 4 HERE This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I am so excited to share Part 2 of Creating our Cottage! Today is all about outdoor living! When we were designing the house, I knew I wanted a large covered porch to take in the beautiful Core Sound views! The deep porch spreads the entire width of the house, creating a great outdoor living space. For the porch columns, we used a synthetic material to prevent a rot problem. The ceiling is synthetic beadboard painted in Sherwin Williams Retiring Blue, which is a fabulous shade of haint blue! We had intended to do the porch flooring in Ipe but due to material shortages we went with sustainably sourced Denya instead. It has the same great natural wood tones and withstands the elements similarly. The porch has 3 sets of French doors leading onto it from the house so I created zones on the porch off of each door. One set of French doors leads out of the master bedroom so I set up our lounge zone there. It is outfitted with 3 teak chaise lounges and all weather cushions. Neutral cushions allow me to change up throw pillows with the season. The other two sets of French doors lead out from the family room. Off the center doors, we have created our outdoor living room. It is grounded by an Annie Selke outdoor rug in a fabulous french blue. The sofa and side chairs are the Caroline Collection from Pottery Barn. I chose this furniture because of its all weather rattan over an aluminum frame. Perfect for the harsh salt air elements. A teak coffee and side table keep a coastal feel. I made the throw pillows in fabric from Spoonflower by designers Danika Herrick and Viv Designs. I have linked the look HERE. Off the third set of French doors is the dining zone. A 5 foot round teak dining table from Frontgate anchors the space surrounded by pale blue and white aluminum bistro dining chairs from Serena and Lily. All of this was chosen for it's coastal feel and it's low maintenance yet durable materials. An XL Big Green Egg set in an Acacia table gives my hubs a great place to grill out while the family hangs out together. Of course the porch would not be complete without an American and a North Carolina flag anchoring the steps. It is a very welcoming space that the whole family has been enjoying immensely. The live oaks keep the porch shady while the breezes off the sound keep it cool and comfortable. It is truly the best spot for morning coffee and a devotional, an afternoon nap and a good book, and al fresco dining with a glass of wine! The dogs love the porch too! The yard is fenced in so they have been enjoying lots of outdoor time! Read Part 3 HERE where I share the beautiful wet bar with a custom countertop made by my husband! Missed Part 1? Read it HERE This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Creating our weekend cottage has been a joy filled, labor of love! I am so excited to bring it to you and tell you all the details! But first, the story behind it! In the spring of 2009, I am embarked on a journey to find us a weekend place that would be perfect for our family and boating. At the time, we lived in Morehead City but we weren't on the water and it wasn't a conducive time to sell that house due to the housing crisis. However, it was a conducive time to get a "deal" on something. So, my search began. My agent took me to numerous properties but none of them screamed "this is the one!" Then, we went a little further east (which almost wasn't possible without falling into the Atlantic Ocean). We drove down a gravel road with a canopy of live oak trees (my favorite). We pulled into the driveway. I was so mesmerized by the beautiful trees covering the yard that I almost missed the little yellow 1950's ranch house. I was instantly in love with the lot; the house not so much. We walked inside and I was pleasantly surprised to see the home had been updated, especially the kitchen and it looked straight out over Core Sound and Drum Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean (that I was worried we would fall into). I had found the place! Plus, it was being sold furnished! So on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend 2009, we loaded up my husband's truck with boxes of towels, bed linens, and coolers of food and hooked the boat up behind it. We loaded up my Suburban with our 2 year old son and our dogs and a few bags of clothes. We drove to the attorney's office, closed on the house, and drove straight there! We spent many a weekend down there in the coming years, enjoying immense boat time and the sand bars. Then, shortly after Christmas 2017, we experienced record cold for a few days. A pipe burst in the ceiling over the kitchen island. We were on a family trip through early January and didn't know about the pipe until it had been burst for about 10 days. The kitchen island had floated to the back door and the entire house was full of standing water, about 6 inches deep. Insurance came in and ripped out all the flooring, cabinets, and the sheetrock about halfway up the walls. It was a huge mess! We got quotes to fix the house but they were about double what insurance was paying us plus the house needed a new roof and the siding was pretty long in the tooth as well. We made the heartbreaking decision to tear it down. And it just remained a vacant lot for a few years. I had a lot going on personally and we just didn't have the time to even address what to do with our now vacant lot in our happy place. I truly just tried to put it out of mind. But, as 2020 was drawing to a close and the world was trying to get back to "normal," I decided it was time to rebuild in our happy place! I had always wanted to be an architect when I was a kid so I immediately began sketching some ideas. The beloved trees were a constraint though. They dictated the footprint we could build on and keeping the house one story but I was determined we weren't cutting any of the trees down! We wanted a simple layout with a large and open kitchen and family room, a spacious porch, the master bedroom on the water side, two additional bedrooms, and a garage. Once I had the floorplan nailed down, I got the plans digitized and engineered. Then building plans were created so we could get a permit and get started. My hubs was a General Contractor when we first got married so he decided we would build the house ourselves. He was so organized and proactive getting stuff ordered because of the shortages that we were able to stay on schedule. (We ordered the appliances in March and they arrived in December!) Framing began the third week of April 2021 and we spent our first night in the house the following February. Not too bad! We ran into a few bumps and changes along the way but all in all it was a blast of a project! Since the home sits right on an inlet in a hurricane prone area, we wanted to make the house as hurricane ready as possible. We also wanted the house to be built with low maintenance materials. Things tend to rot and rust when you live on the coast. We did a raised slab foundation rather than a crawlspace to help with moisture control. A standing seem metal roof is both low maintenance and ideal for storms. We opted for Hardi siding for it's low maintenance but in a shake style to really evoke a cottage feel. The paint color is Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray; it's the perfect color nestled under the live oaks. The windows and doors (except the front entry) are all by Anderson and are impact rated, which means we don't need hurricane shutters. The windows and doors are always hurricane ready. For the front door, we chose a custom mahoghany door (also impact). I am in love with this door. It is simple yet gorgeous and is such a welcoming feature! We added copper gutters and downspouts to finish off the cottage style but keeping with low maintenance and long-lasting materials. And the finishing touch for hurricane preparedness is a 30KW generator to keep the whole house running in the event of a power outage! We've already used it twice during some bad storms and so thankful to have it! I had originally wanted to do a crushed oyster or pea gravel driveway and I know it would have looked great! But, due to the shade from the trees the ground can stay wet and cause a mosquito problem. Plus, my son wanted to have a basketball goal, so we ended up doing concrete with a gray stain to match the house. My husband and son have already gotten in countless hours of basketball bonding! We are enjoying our new happy place so much! Read Part 2 HERE

When I was a kid, I dreaded the words "summer reading list." I didn't like to read and I especially didn't like to read books that weren't about horses. I pushed through with a little help from my friend Cliff and his notes. Over time I developed a love for books, especially since I get to choose what I am going to read. While "beach reads" tend to take center stage during the summer, I like to mix things up a little because non-fiction tends to be my preference. So, here is the list of books I want to read this summer. It's a realistic list of about a book a week until school starts. I have curated the list into one easy shopping link HERE. I am going to begin the list with the 90 day devotional I am going to do this summer. It is written by a fabulous NC author and my hope is to continue to grow my faith while also staying rooted in what matters this summer. 1. Be Still by Cleere Cherry Reaves Next up is a couple of personal development books. I don't like to read too many of these but I do like to throw one in the rotation every month or two. The two I have chosen have come highly recommend and both have great reviews. 2. The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins 3. What Confident Women Do by Kate Richardson Three classics from my youth (I even loved these back when I didn't like to read) that I plan to re-read this summer. 4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 5. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 6. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier On to my non-fiction! I have just started the first one so stay tuned for a review coming soon but so far I can not put it down! 7. I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy 8. 6 Miles to Charleston by Bruce Orr 9. The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland And last but certainly not least, my fiction list! While I have already read the first one on my list, it is the perfect summer read! 10. The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey 11. Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier 12. The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham 13. The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry 14. It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover 15. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover I hope your summer is filled with lots of quiet afternoons on the porch, sunny days with toes in the sand, and poolside relaxing. All with a book in hand. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Listen to the podcast HERE I love to cook so I love kitchens. I could look at kitchen pictures all day long. Whether you prefer a pretty kitchen or a functional kitchen, we all want a kitchen we love because it is the heart of the home. A kitchen remodel can be a huge undertaking. Whether it is just a cosmetic facelift or a full blown gut job, there is so much to consider from layout to materials to finishes and of course: THE BUDGET!! The budget often dictates the scope that your remodel can be. Creating a plan that considers all factors and knowing the costs for your remodel are key. What are the best ways to pay for the remodel? As with most things, paying cash is ideal. Saving up to pay for the project in cash is great but you want to know the scope of your project and how much you will need. Another common way to pay for a kitchen remodel is with a home equity loan. If you have enough equity in your home these loans can be fairly straightforward to obtain. However, you do want the equity to still be strong after the remodel. Don't let the remodel make you equity poor. Of course interest rates make a huge difference in your payment so this method is more ideal when interest rates are low. Plus, the interest will most likely qualify as an itemized deduction for tax purposes. Putting a remodel on a credit card and maxing it out is usually not ideal. I know some will say "I have 0% for 12 months and I am going to pay it off in that time." That may be the plan but it isn't the norm for how putting it on a credit card usually turns out. And then the interest rate is outrageous. And not tax deductible. Once you choose the payment option you want to go with, you need to nail down how much that is going to be. Always make sure your budget includes a buffer because most projects end up costing more than estimated. Remember, just because you have a large budget available doesn't mean spending the whole thing is the best investment. The scope of your remodel can dictate your return on investment. According to Zillow, the national average ROI on a minor remodel is 81% with an average cost of a little over $21,000. A midrange remodel has an ROI of about 59% with an average cost of almost $64,000. An upscale remodel has an ROI of nearly 54% with an average cost of over $125,000. While budget often dictates the scope of a remodel, you need to factor in the ROI as well as some other factors before making your plan. First, how long do you expect to be in the house? If you are only going to be in the home a few years, then a minor remodel most likely makes the most sense so that you get the biggest return on your investment while also creating a kitchen you can live with in the meantime. On the flip side, if you have been in your home for say 20 years and you have a large amount of equity in the home, maybe the mortgage is even paid off, and you plan to stay in the home long term, then an upscale remodel to create your dream kitchen could be the way to go. Second, consider the location and value of your home. Will a remodel put the value of your home in line with neighboring homes or will it out price the neighborhood? My professor for the first finance class I ever took made a statement I will never forget. He said, "Buy the least expensive house in the most expensive neighborhood you can afford." If you already own the most expensive house in the neighborhood then the ROI on your remodel may be even lower than average. However, if you own the least expensive house in the neighborhood then a remodel could create a bigger return than average. Third, what can you do yourself to save money and create sweat equity? Things like painting the cabinets or walls, changing faucets and hardware, and hanging wallpaper are great weekend projects that can immensely change the aesthetic of your kitchen with very little cost. If the dated oak cabinets make your kitchen feel drab, a few cans of paint and on trend cabinet hardware will immediately change the feel of your kitchen. Sometimes the layout becomes more workable when you create the visual environment you want. Fourth, what are you trying to achieve with your remodel? Are you a gourmet cook that needs more functionality or do you eat take out every night but want your kitchen to be an inviting space to gather? If you are the gourmet cook, you want to invest in higher end appliances and storage for all of your pots, pans, and gadgets. If you are just wanting an inviting space, you can focus on pretty finishes. Maybe your splurge is the countertops instead of the appliances. Fifth, consider your materials. This one goes a bit hand in hand with what you are trying to achieve. If you need custom cabinets to create your desired layout, look for other materials you can save on. Light fixtures can be very expensive but there are also great options for less expensive look alikes these days. Countertops can vary greatly in price but they don't always have a huge aesthetic difference to most people. Marble is beautiful but expensive and due to its porous nature isn't always an ideal option. Maybe quartz achieves the look you want at a much less expensive price. Materials should also be considered based on your neighborhood and what potential buyers would expect in your area. Remember you don't want to out price your neighborhood. My husband and I have done several kitchens together. Here are some things we did on different ones to save money and achieve our goals. Our first was a 1950's home in Raleigh that we renovated in 2003 right before we got married. Our budget was limited so we did most of the work ourselves. My husband is very handy and is great at woodwork. Additionally, we were able to buy high end appliances that were deeply discounted. The fridge was a Sub Zero scratch and dent deal but the dent was easily covered up by adding a piece of cabinetry around the side of the fridge. The 60 inch Viking range had been a floor display for a couple years. We were able to get both for about 25% of retail. That allowed us to do granite countertops which were a pretty big deal back in 2003. Our intention with the house was to flip it after a few years which we did in 2005 shortly before the housing crisis and made a handsome profit. The next house we purchased was perfect for starting a family but the kitchen was not my ideal. We knew this house was not long term and since the housing crisis had brought the value down after we purchased it, we didn't want to spend much. We did some small upgrades like cabinet hardware and light fixtures ourselves and then added basic granite countertops to achieve a better look but without breaking the bank. Our next home was one we planned to be our forever home and we knew it needed work when we bought it. The home was about 100 years old so the kitchen was separated from the rest of the home and had not been updated since the late 80's (and it was now 2012). This remodel became a much bigger project as we knocked out a wall and turned a guest room that was right off the family room into the kitchen. Custom cabinets, high end appliances, and high end granite. We created our (well my) dream kitchen because this was going to be our forever home. Hurricane Florence would change that several years later. The home was basically uninhabitable due to water damage and mold. However, the kitchen was completely fine. More on what we did with the kitchen in just a minute. We moved in early 2020. I was in love with everything about the new house except the kitchen. It had great appliances but the aesthetic was not my style. Creamy yellow cabinets, faux stucco walls, and a yellowy granite to match the cabinets. I could deal with the layout so we decided to do a cosmetic update and paint the cabinets, change the wallpaper, and update hardware. All of those were fairly inexpensive. Our splurge on this one was new countertops. Back to what we did with the dream kitchen. We had a little weekend cottage that was a total loss and torn down due to water damage from a burst pipe in the ceiling that we didn't know about for weeks. The lot sat vacant for several years but we finally decided to rebuild after we had moved in 2020. So in 2021, we broke ground and built a footprint that could use the dream kitchen. We simply moved it. A few upper cabinets had to be redone due to ceiling height but that was about it! We saved so much money on the cottage rebuild by completely repurposing our dream kitchen. I tell you this so that you evaluate what can be re-used or re-purposed in your kitchen remodel. Sometimes you may not need all new cabinets, just new cabinet doors. A concrete plan is the key to making a kitchen remodel come out as close to budget as possible and fulfilling your design dreams! All this kitchen talk has me wanting to go get in mine and do some cooking!

Well, I am currently sitting on my porch but I was supposed to be in Texas right now. If you read last week's email newsletter I told you all about The Brimm Retreat I was going to and I was really excited to learn and connect with new people. I was really excited about it BUT my son's first prom was Saturday and I was going to have to leave on Saturday so I was going to miss prom. The closer the day came, the more my heart hurt at the thought of missing prom. And I did what momma's do, I canceled my trip. When I was laid up about a month ago with my neck and headache issues, I had a lot of time to think and I thought long and hard about what is important to me, what I want to spend my days doing, as well as things I want to do and accomplish. The thing is, my son will be graduating in two short years and right now soaking up every minute of family time is my priority. There are lots of things on my to do list but several of them are going to have to wait for their time. Things always happen for a reason and I am convinced I was laid up so that I would slow down and get my perspective back on track. (Stay tuned for more on all of that in a later blog) Now that the weekend has come to a close, I can promise you that I have no regrets about staying! Instead of spending Friday evening packing, we cooked crab cakes and hung out on the porch. On Saturday morning, I went out to do the pick up at the florist and grabbed breakfast. It was a beautiful day so we had some more coffee on the porch and just did outdoor chores until it was time to get ready for prom. Daddy dug out his nice cuff links and cute pink elephant bow tie and we had him looking all dapper! And I did pretty well tying the bow tie if I do say so myself! He went and picked up some friends and we did pictures at home on the dock. It was sunny and not too windy so the girls didn't get their hair messed up. Then they loaded up and headed out to the Dunes Club over in Atlantic Beach for dinner and dancing! He must have cut quite the rug because he arrived home in ripped pants. I didn't realize that tux was rent to own. LOL He was grateful for that Christmas stocking full of cute boxers! I was thankful to see him and his friends arrive home safely so I could go to bed! Especially since the bad storms started shortly after they walked in the door. I got up the next morning and did what makes my heart so happy: I started cooking. Bacon, chocolate chip pancakes, ham biscuits, fresh strawberries and whipped cream. I was in my favorite place and was so thankful I had stayed home so I didn't miss a minute of this! And guess what? My flight from Charlotte to Austin ended up being majorly delayed due to weather. I definitely would have had major regrets spending my Saturday evening missing prom AND being stuck in an airport. I trusted what my heart was telling me to do and I told my brain that I can go to the next conference but I can't get my baby's first prom back! Family first!

Listen to the podcast HERE The real estate market has been quite interesting the last few years. A lot of people have seen large increases in the value of investment real estate they own. Many have sold to take advantage of those increases and make a big profit! But the downside of profit means taxes. What if there was a way to defer or avoid those taxes? In comes the 1031 Exchange (also called a Like Kind Exchange). You need to know about this BEFORE you sell so that you can plan it all out correctly! First and foremost, the 1031 Exchange does not apply to your primary home (mainly because your primary residence has it's own set of rules for taxes and gains). The 1031 Exchange applies to investment real estate or real property used in a business. The term real property here refers to land and any permanent structures attached to it. So what exactly is a 1031 Exchange? In a nutshell, a 1031 Exchange is a swap of one property for another that allows capital gains taxes to be deferred. The properties must be like-kind meaning they have a similar nature. It doesn't mean they have to be the same size or type though. For example, you could exchange an apartment building for a shopping center. How does the 1031 Exchange work? Let's walk through an example using the apartment building for a shopping center just mentioned. Sally owns an apartment building that rents apartments to tenants. She no longer wants to be involved in this operation and instead wants to own a shopping center that rents to small business tenants. Sally wants to do a 1031 Exchange so she begins making her plan before she even lists the apartment building for sale. It is important to note that you have to do the steps of the 1031 Exchange exactly right or it will be disallowed. In a perfect world, Sally would know someone with a shopping center that also wanted to get rid of it and get an apartment building and they would literally exchange the properties. However, we all know the likelihood of that type of exchange is very slim. Therefore, delayed or three party exchanges are much more common. Basically what happens here is that Sally would sell the apartment building and the money from that sale would be held by a qualified intermediary that acts as a middleman. Then the money that the middleman is holding would be used to buy the new shopping center. Sally can not receive the money and hold it or it would void the 1031 status of the exchange. That sounds pretty simple but there are some very specific timing rules that must be followed. The first one is the 45 day rule. This states that within 45 days of selling the old property, in this case the apartment building, Sally must designate, in writing to the middleman, a replacement property. She can designate up to 3 but must close on one of those three. The second is the 180 day rule. This states that within 180 days of selling the old property (Sally's apartment building) that you must close on the new property, the shopping center. So if Sally sold her apartment building on April 1, she would have to designate the replacement property by May 15 and close on the new shopping center no later than September 28 (which would be 180 days). If Sally sells the apartment building for more than the cost of the new shopping center then that overage is subject to taxes. Generally, people use the 1031 exchange to upgrade to more expensive properties but in the case they go to a less expensive property then there will be some tax involved. There can also be some tax implications if there is a loan on the properties and a decrease in the total loan amount occurs from the old property to the new. That gets more complicated so we are not going to dive into the weeds of that here. Continuing with Sally's example, let's examine how the deferment of the capital gains tax works. Let's say Sally originally purchased her apartment building for $500,000 (we are going to ignore depreciation in an effort to keep this example straightforward). When she decides to sell her apartment building, it is worth $750,000. So, if she sold it in a standard transaction for $750,000 then she would have capital gains of $250,000 to pay tax on. Say the new shopping center she acquires in the 1031 exchange has a purchase price of $750,000. Generally, Sally's basis (essentially her cost) in the shopping center would be the $750,000. However, in the 1031 exchange her basis in the shopping center will be the $500,000; the original basis of the apartment building (remember we are ignoring depreciation to keep this example simple). That is how the capital gains is deferred. Sally could continue doing 1031 exchanges or she could outright sell the shopping center. If she decided to outright sell the shopping center 5 years later and sold it for $1,000,000 then her capital gains would be $500,000 ($1,000,000 sell price less the $500,000 basis from the 1031 exchange). Had she not bought the shopping center in the 1031 exchange and had the $750,000 basis then her capital gains would be $250,000. You may be asking, does this work with a vacation home? The short answer is no, not anymore. There are some technicalities still lingering but generally speaking, that ship has sailed. However, if you have a home that is an Air BnB and generates income then that would most likely qualify. It's important to note that a 1031 exchange doesn't eliminate tax it just defers it until a later sell. However, if you are using 1031 exchanges as an estate planning tool you can even get around that. Let's continue with Sally's example above. Sally had an apartment building with a cost basis of $500,000, she sells it for $750,000 and in a 1031 exchange acquires a shopping center for $750,000. She deferred $250,000 of capital gains in the exchange. Today the shopping center is worth $1,000,000 so if she outright sold it there would be the $500,000 of capital gains that we mentioned above. If Sally dies today and her will leaves the shopping center to her son Ben then Ben will avoid the capital gains. How you may ask? Because Ben will receive what is called a step up in basis when he inherits the shopping center. That means Ben's basis will be the market value at the time of Sally's death, the $1,000,000. If Ben sold it for $1,000,000 then he would have no tax liability on the sale. How about that? That is surely food for thought! With the large increases in market values over the last few years, 1031 exchanges are becoming more of a main stream topic so that people can defer the capital gains or create an estate plan for their heirs around appreciating real estate. If you are considering doing a 1031 exchange, you want your "middleman" to be very qualified to handle the transaction. It would be a very bad day if the IRS decided to disallow your 1031 exchange because a small technicality was missed. Information contained in this post is for educational purposes only and is not considered financial advice.

Nothing quite says cookouts and picnics like a big bowl of potato salad to go along with your burgers and dogs! This recipe is a great make ahead because it's actually even better if it gets to set up in the fridge overnight! Ingredients: 3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes 1 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish 1 tbsp yellow mustard 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1/2 tbsp celery seeds 1/2 tsp paprika 3 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped 1-2 stalks celery, diced 1/2 cup sweet onion, diced 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped 1/2 tbsp salt 3 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled pepper to taste 1. In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover with water to about 1-2 inches above the potatoes. Bring water to a boil and boil for 12-15 minutes, until fork tender. Strain. 2. While the potatoes are hot, peel the skins. The skins will easily peel off at this point. Then cube the peeled potatoes into bite sized chunks. 3. In a large bowl, combine all of the other ingredients and mix thoroughly. 4. Add the potatoes to the creamy mixture and fold them in making sure to evenly coat the potatoes. 5. Cover and refrigerate at least 4-6 hours but preferably overnight.

Listen to the podcast HERE There are a lot of opinions on credit cards and credit scores. Different financial gurus have different perspectives on the needs and use of both. So, before we dive into talking about adding your child to your credit card, I am going to give you an overview of my perspective. Do I think credit cards are good or bad? My answer is that credit cards in themselves aren't either good or bad but our behavior with them is either good or bad, thus creating good or bad results. If you are someone that can't control your spending with a credit card then by all means use cash or a debit card. If you are a disciplined spender and only use your credit card for expenses within your monthly budget and pay the balance in full every month then using a credit card can be a good thing. I personally use the same credit card for almost all of my purchases from gas and groceries to vet bills for our dogs. At the end of each month, I apply any points or rewards directly back to the balance and then payoff the remaining full balance. I never carry a balance that would be subjected to interest charges and putting myself into credit card debt. Plus, it is generally easier to dispute fraudulent charges on a credit card rather than a debit card. And I also prefer a credit card when traveling because, for example, if you check into a hotel with a debit card they generally charge your card for significantly more than your actual charges will be and it is oftentimes up to a week before you have that overage back in your account. But again, if you can't control your spending with a credit card use a debit card or cash. Credit scores have also been called an "I love debt" score and I don't disagree with that statement. Credit scores are often negatively impacted when you pay off debt but we all know that paying off debt is generally a good thing. Credit scores are also negatively impacted when you miss payments so you want to make sure to make payments on time. Having a credit score, specifically a good credit score, makes the approval process of acquiring debt a lot simpler. But credit scores extend to a lot more these days than just acquiring debt. Credit scores are routinely checked for leasing an apartment, setting up utilities, acquiring insurance, and by prospective employers. A poor credit score or not having a credit score or credit history can create a situation of higher deposits, higher premiums, and potentially not getting a certain job. So for these reasons, having some credit history can make a big difference. It's not just for acquiring debt these days. It can be difficult for young adults just starting out when they don't have a credit score or credit history, even if they aren't trying to acquire debt. Back to your child and your credit card. You can add your child to your existing credit card account as an authorized user. Different card types have different age requirements but generally a child 15 or older can be added to your account. When you add your child to your account as an authorized user, the history of that account attaches to your child's credit history and can help your child create a credit history before they turn 18. One thing to think about though is if your account doesn't have a good history then adding your child may actually hurt them so you want to add them to an account with a good history and be sure to maintain good history on the account. This can also be a great time to teach your child about debt and credit and making a spending budget and adhering to it. When I was 14, I went away to boarding school so my parents added me as an authorized user on their account and I had a credit card to pay for my expenses. When I turned 18, I was able to open up an account on my own. I chose an American Express card that required monthly payment in full and did not allow you to carry a balance and put yourself in credit card debt. It was a great option for a college kid and I was mindful about my spending and paying the bill in full each month and on time. I opened that account in 1995 and I still use an American Express today and my card says "account holder since 1995." Needless to say, that is a good bit of account history. My son is 16 and I have added him to my account. He also has his own checking account and debit card that he uses for most of his personal purchases. He earns money, deposits it into his account, then pays for things out of that account with the debit card. He also is an authorized user on my American Express and has a card from that account. He uses that card when he is running errands for me such as picking up some groceries. He is a responsible kid and I trust him not to go on a spending spree with it. LOL This is a win win situation for both of us. He is able to pick up items for me without me needing to reimburse him, the charges reflect on my account when I login so I can easily account for them in my budget, and he is a building credit history from a solid account with a long (and positive) track record. When he is ready to lease an apartment or establish utilities, he will have some history attached to his social security number which will make the process simpler and most likely require smaller deposits. A few years ago I began teaching a high school personal finance class and I can attest to the need for kids to understand how money works. When your child has a credit card it is a great time to teach them how that cycle works, when the balance needs to be paid in full to avoid interest charges, late fees, and going into debt. It is also a great time to teach your child about creating a budget, adhering to it, and tracking their spending. Not every teen is ready to be turned loose with their parent's credit card, after all you are liable for any charges they put on the card. But once you feel your teen is responsible enough to have a card, it can be a great learning tool and a great way to get them started on the right path to a positive credit history. It is important to note that different card issuers have different age requirements and report differently to the credit bureaus so be sure to get the details before adding your child. It sure is nice being able to have my son help with household errands and not have to constantly reimburse him. If your child isn't quite old enough for this yet, don't worry it will be here before you know it!

Listen to the podcast HERE Did you hear the news? The Federal Housing Administration has approved offering 40 year mortgages. Is this a good or bad thing? Well, that depends on who you ask. As with most things, there are differing opinions on the 40 year mortgage. Before we dive into that, let's recap some mortgage basics first. Your monthly mortgage payment amount is determined by 3 main factors: the amount of the mortgage the interest rate the term of the mortgage (the length of time) Mortgages have typically been a term of 15 or 30 years. Mortgages are either fixed rate or variable rate. Fixed rate is the same rate for the life of the mortgage and variable is when the rate changes, usually based on market interest rates. It may have a fixed rate for a few years and then the variable kicks in. Mortgages generally require a down payment with 20% being the standard. If you do a lower down payment then you will most likely have to pay PMI (private mortgage insurance). Mortgages are amortized. This means that at the beginning of the mortgage, the majority of the payment is going towards interest not principal. As you get further into the term of the mortgage the amount towards principal increases and the amount towards interest decreases. So, what are the pros and cons of the shorter term versus the longer term? Pros of a shorter term, such as a 15 year fixed-rate mortgage: lower total interest paid over the life of the mortgage builds equity quicker generally have a lower interest rate than the longer 30 year option and the obvious, the mortgage is paid off quicker Cons of a shorter term, such as a 15 year fixed-rate mortgage: higher monthly payment usually results in the purchase of a less expensive home than the 30 year option meaning you may be giving up location, space, amenities, etc The pros and cons of the longer option, such as the 30 year or even 40 year, are basically the opposite of the shorter term. Pros of a longer term, such as a 30 year fixed-rate mortgage: lower monthly payment usually allows you to purchase a more expensive home Cons of a longer term, such as a 30 year fixed-rate mortgage: more interest paid over the life of the mortgage slower growth in equity generally have a higher interest rate than the shorter 15 year option Extending the loan term out to 40 years exacerbates the cons of the longer term. There is even more interest paid over the life of the mortgage, the equity is growing even slower, and the interest rate will generally be higher. Proponents of the 40 year term argue that it allows for an even lower payment so that more people can afford to purchase homes. But, it can also create a situation where people are buying a more expensive home than they should just because they can afford the payment at the 40 year term. Let's compare the total costs of the same mortgage amount but with differing terms. We will even use the same interest rate for all term lengths, even though the longer terms generally have a higher rate which means even more spent on the interest portion. Take a $200,000 mortgage at a 5% rate (not including taxes or insurance in the payment): 15 year term: Payment is $1582/ month and total interest paid is $84,686 30 year term: Payment is $1074/ month and total interest paid is $186,512 40 year term: Payment is $964/ month and total interest paid is $262,909 As you can see the longer term results in a much lower monthly payment but it also results in a much larger amount of money spent on interest over the life of the loan. While I do agree there is a need for more affordable housing and that real estate prices have gotten to a point that home ownership is out of reach for a lot of Americans, I am still a big proponent of the shorter term, 15 year mortgage. The two main reasons are the equity growth and the lower interest paid over the life of the mortgage. That additional money going to interest in the longer term mortgage could be money being invested! I am going to tell you a quick personal story. Shortly after I graduated from college, I bought my first home. It was a small house but a perfect little starter home. I had some savings for my down payment and I took out a mortgage for the rest. I decided to do a 15 year mortgage even though the larger payment meant less discretionary income in my budget. 3 years after I purchased that home, my plans changed and I moved to another city and sold the home. Because I had chosen the 15 year mortgage, I had already paid down close to 20% of the mortgage amount which gave me a great deal of equity. That meant at selling time, a much larger check coming back to me! If I had chosen the 30 year I would have only paid about 6% of the mortgage amount. That equity made a huge difference in my financial options going forward! Back to my thoughts on the 40 year option. While the longer term does create a lower, more affordable payment so that more people can afford to buy a home, it doesn't mean that is the best long term financial decision for them. Owning your own home is part of the American dream. Owning your own home evokes a sense of pride and security in most people. But owning your own home can come at a huge cost in interest when you take the longer term. A huge cost that could have been saved for retirement. Plus, if you take on that 40 year mortgage at say age 35, then you will still be paying on that mortgage until age 75, most likely well into when you want to be retired. Most people do not figure they will still be making a mortgage payment in retirement. Worse yet, the mortgage payment may push your retirement age much later. Always consider the long term! We live in a world where most want instant gratification but sometimes saving and waiting yields the best outcome! Information contained in this post is for educational purposes only and is not considered financial advice.