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Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway for pleasure or a weekend away full of sports for the kids, the return home can feel anything but relaxing. Monday morning always arrive quicker than expected. As much as we’d like for it to, the world doesn’t stop so that we can get organized for the week. So, I always get prepared for the week before we go away for the weekend. Here are my top things to do BEFORE heading away for the weekend to make your Monday morning as low stress and “normal” as possible. Do the laundry and put it away. The kids will have what they need for school on Monday and that will be one less thing staring you in the face on Monday morning. Plus, if you are away for sports, the weekend will create plenty of laundry on it's own! Bonus tip: Pack a laundry bag (especially if it's a sports weekend away) so that the dirty clothes arrive home separately and can be dropped in the laundry room on the way in. Clean the kitchen and have dishes put away. A messy kitchen makes my stress meter sky rocket. Clean counters are a welcome site when you walk in from the weekend. Put clean sheets on the bed and have it made turned down style so it’s ready to get in. Unpack right when you get home. If you are getting home really late on Sunday night this one may wait until Monday but at least unpack your cosmetic bag. Your Monday morning self will thank you that your tooth brush is accessible. Last but certainly not least (this just may be the most important one), make a grocery order to pick up Sunday on your way back home. If you will get in really late, pick it up Friday before you leave. I try to go ahead and do the whole week's meal plan but the key here is to at least have Sunday dinner covered and Monday morning breakfast and lunch box packing.

As you can imagine, this recipe is for the dogs! Version #1: Banana Peanut Butter 32 ounce plain Greek yogurt 6 overripe bananas 1 1/2 cups peanut butter, creamy In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, peeled bananas, and peanut butter. Use a handheld mixer and blend thoroughly. (You can blend by hand but it's much easier with the mixer). Scoop into lidded paper containers and freeze for at least 3 hours. Depending on how full you make the cups, this recipe will make 10-15 cups. You can get the cups HERE Version #2: Pumpkin Spice 32 ounce plain Greek yogurt 30 ounce can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon (not cinnamon sugar) 16 ounce apple sauce In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Scoop into the lidded paper containers and freeze. This recipe makes about 10-15 cups.

I was overwhelmed by the response I received to my Summer Reading List. So, I decided to create a fall one as well. The older I get, the more I love to curl up with a good book. My fall list is less fiction and a little more non-fiction and personal development books. They are more aligned with my mindset this time of year. You can shop my entire list HERE I am going to begin the list with the another devotional. However, this one is intended to carry you through a year with a "word a week." My intention with this is for it to be an extended devotional time on Saturday morning. 1. Focus by Cleere Cherry Reaves Next, my personal development books. As my coaching and consulting business has expanded, so has my opportunities for speaking engagements. I enjoy personal growth books to help me gain perspective to not only be my best self but to help others on their best self journey as well. 2. Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend 3. Rising Strong by Brent Brown 4. Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath 5. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho I only have one "classic" on the list but it is one I never read but have always intended to. 6. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf My non-fiction list is a bit different than the ones on my summer list! I have already finished "Tangled Vines." If you followed the Murdaugh trial, you will devour this one. More detail and history about the family and their fall from grace. 7. Tangled Vines by John Glatt 8. French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano 9. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann 10. Wastelands by Corban Addison 11. Wizard of Lies by Diana B. Henriques And, my fiction list! I need a little fun and easier reading on the list! 12. Endless Summer by Elin Hilderbrand 13. Where the Grass Grows Blue by Hope Gibbs 14. Trust by Hernan Diaz 15. The Paris Daughter by Kristen Harmel As the days get shorter and the temperatures get cooler, evenings by the fire with a book are the place to be! 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 get asked all the time about my morning routine. What exactly I do to start the day off on the right foot. Here's the thing, a morning routine is not one size fits all. I like to approach a morning routine much in the same way I would a budget. It's a plan that holds you accountable so that you reach your goals. A routine is nothing more than a culmination of habits that you dedicate yourself to. Routines change with the different seasons of life. Mine even changes with summer versus the school year. When I approach the task of creating a morning routine, I like to back into it. If you work outside the home then you most likely have a time that you must leave the house by in order to get to work on time. Start with that time and back into the rest of the morning and what you want to accomplish. If you are self employed or work from home you are actually going to have to be more self-disciplined because you are the boss holding yourself accountable. Once you have your "time" set, then make a list of everything you need to do each morning: shower and get ready, make breakfast, pack lunch boxes, devotional time, workout, etc. A morning routine can greatly reduce the stress of getting out the door which in turn leads to a better mindset for the day. And make sure your morning routine includes making the bed! (Read my blog, Top 5 Daily Habits) When my son was little, I worked outside the home. I needed to be out the door no later than 7:40 to get him to school on time and get myself to work on time (I had an hour commute once I dropped him off). I started with that time and backed into my routine. My schedule looked like this: 5:00 Get up and throw workout clothes on and walk out the door 5:15-6:10 Workout class and drive home 6:10-6:45 Shower and get ready 6:45 Wake up my son and get him ready 7:00-7:30 Make breakfast and pack lunch boxes 7:30 Load up and head out This routine gave us time each morning as a family over breakfast while I packed lunches. Mornings were calm and not hurried. I am not a morning person and I did not enjoy getting up at 5:00 am but it made for a more joyful day. Now my son is a junior in high school, drives himself to school, and I am self employed and work from home. The routine looks different now but it is what works for this season of my life. There are plenty of people out there saying you should always get up at 5 am. I am not one of those people. I got up at 5 am when it was what worked for me. Here is what my routine looks like now: 6:15 Get up and go on a short walk with the dogs and coffee 6:40-7:10 Make breakfast and pack lunch box (my son has to leave by 7:10) 7:10-8:00 Devotional time, journal, work on blog ideas 8:00-9:00 Workout: 2-3 mile power walk and weight session 9:00-9:30 Shower and get ready As you can see, my morning routine looks a lot different now. I greatly enjoy my mornings. We live on about 15 acres now so the walk with the dogs is just a stroll around the yard but they love all the new sniffs each morning from wildlife and it is such a peaceful way to start the day. I gained two hours to my day when my commute went away and that makes a huge difference for being able to workout at a time other than 5:00 am. I do a pilates or yoga class about once a week as my workout mainly just to get out and do something other than a walk and weights. Side note: if you have a long commute to work, find some podcasts and e-books to listen to. I wish podcasts had been a thing when I was commuting. Just another way to be productive and learn rather than zoning out to Journey or Dave Matthews. My weekend routines revolve around recharging and refocusing. I would like to say I sleep in on Saturdays but Trout doesn't really allow much sleeping in. He's happily a member of the 5 am club. So, I am up by 7:00-7:30. I enjoy multiple cups of coffee sitting on the porch. I journal, sit with my thoughts, and often do some blog or podcast writing. My mind is refreshed yet relaxed. I usually spend a couple hours doing this on Saturdays before I make a big breakfast. On Sundays, we tend to go to early church so it's a get up about 7:00 and get ready. We almost always go out for breakfast after church and just have good quality family time. Routines often get a bad wrap of being boring but I think they are anything but that. Routines give comfort. Routines prioritize what is important to you. Routines help you accomplish your daily goals while reducing stress and hecticness (is that a word?). A routine that works often takes discipline to establish but it is worth it.

Listen to the podcast HERE Moms seem to be evenly divided on whether or not they love or loathe packing the lunch box. But, I don’t think there is any division in wanting to save money while packing the lunch box! School mornings are hectic and the name of the game when packing lunch boxes is CONVENIENCE! The food companies all know this and they have capitalized on it big time! As you probably know, I am a big advocate of meal planning and prepping (I have linked some of my resources in the show notes). I know from years of experience that it not only saves money but it also reduces stress around meals and also cuts down on food waste and packaging waste. Planning and prepping with the lunch box can do the same! Grocery prices are at their highest levels ever! I have read some recent statistics that grocery prices are up over 20% in the last 4 years; much higher than the average rate of inflation. Keeping the grocery costs down is a great way to keep your overall budget in line. And if you have a teenage boy like me, they eat a lot so the savings potential can be huge! If you’ve never compared your options, I highly recommend you do! While all of our kiddos prefer different things in their lunch boxes, I did a comparison of some of the usual things I pack for my son and here is what I found: My son loves a turkey sandwich. One pound of deli turkey is now $14.99 per pound and I need at least a pound a week just for him, not including any sandwiches or salads my husband and I make for lunch. On the flip side, I bought a whole frozen turkey breast for just $3.99 a pound and it made enough for the whole family for the week! An $11 difference per pound is HUGE! Even if you don’t need the whole turkey breast for sandwiches, you can cook it for Sunday supper and then use the leftovers for the sandwiches. Several options for big savings! Next up, Goldfish! I don’t think I’ve ever met a kid that didn’t like goldfish. Just talking about them makes me want some. This is another one that can add up really fast. While the individual bags are super convenient to grab and toss in the lunch box, they are 87 cents per one ounce bag. However, the bulk box of goldfish is only 42 cents for one ounce. My son could easily eat several of the bags a day. With 180 school days a year, I am easily saving $200 a year using the bulk box. Now for the healthy snack. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? My son loves a sliced apple in his lunch box. I cut them fresh each morning and put in an airtight container. A good thing about whole apples is that they last in the refrigerator for a long time so you can stock up on them when they are on special. While the pre-sliced bags of apples are convenient, they don’t keep nearly as long so you are more likely to throw them out. Plus, the pre-sliced bags are about $1 per pack and slicing an apple yourself is about 42 cents for the same amount. That’s over 50 cents savings. My son and I both eat an apple everyday so again I am saving about $200 a year just slicing the apples myself. Last but not least, let’s look at chips. We love the Kettle brand of chips at our house, especially Salt and Vinegar or the Jalapeno flavor. They now package snack bags of these chips. They are 65 cents per one ounce bag. If you purchase their family size bag then they are 51 cents per ounce. Not as drastic of savings as the apple or goldfish but given the late night chip raids my son does, this one is going to add up as well! The bottom line is that CONVENIENCE is EXPENSIVE! Whether you only have one child or you have four, there are some big savings to be found. These changes could save anywhere from $500 to a few thousand dollars a year. That money could be your Christmas budget or go straight to college savings. Next time you do your grocery shopping, look at the price per ounce. If you go in person, the price labels on the shelves generally have this broken out for you in a smaller font. If you shop online, you may have to do a little math for your comparison but it will be worth it in the end. I hope this has encouraged you to do a little comparison the next time you grocery shop! Let those dollars be utilized elsewhere in your budget while your kid’s lunch boxes won’t miss a beat! I would love to hear from you with some of the savings you find! Happy lunch box packing and best wishes for an amazing school year! Information contained in this post is for educational purposes only and is not considered financial advice.

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!