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I spent most of the 2020 and 2021 lockdowns painting our house. It developed into something of a hobby – reading painting blogs, collecting fan decks, literally watching paint dry. The excitement never ends around here. My go-to brand is Farrow & Ball. I had a whole lengthy post on the old website called ‘Is …
Style Profile: Tracy McElfresh, Tracy’s Sewing Studio
If you’re local to the Dayton area, there’s a 900% chance you know Tracy McElfresh, owner of Tracy’s Sewing Studio. If you’re not local, I’m delighted to introduce you! I met Tracy in 2013, when she co-owned the pop-up shop Sew Dayton. At that point, I was newly engaged and asked for her help with …
Outfit Post: Chaotic Neutral
Coastal Grandmother has been trending all summer, and I’m generally the least trendy person you’ll ever meet. Since I was somewhat doing this trend all along, I figured I might as well jump in. I wear a lot of neutrals and love a good fabric. This outfit is a little less coastal and a little …
A summer soiree on the deck
This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. All images courtesy of Brazilian Wood Depot As I’ve mentioned a few times before, since finishing our deck last year, we now basically live outside from May through September. A deck is the perfect place to relax – if you don’t currently have one, I …
Five tips for finding a quality garment
Although I love new clothes, I also wear many of the same pieces over and over. I try very hard not to mindlessly shop, particularly for clothing. I want my clothes to last a minimum of ten years – it’s not only more sustainable, it’s easier on the wallet in the long run not to …
Save or Spend: Home Renovations
Budget is an unfortunate reality when doing any type of home project. No matter what your budget is, there are always going to be places where you weigh the budget option versus the pricier option. We’ve managed to complete a number of home projects on fairly tight budgets. If you’re wondering how to blend less …
Style Profile: Mariah Grumet, Old Soul Etiquette
I’ve been so excited this spring and summer to have the blog and Instagram account really begin to take shape. Something I’ve been wanting to start for quite some time is a series of style profiles. As a former journalist, I’m all about the interviews! I’m thrilled to welcome Mariah Grumet, founder and instructor at …
July, July!
It’s strange to think of July as ‘halfway through the summer,’ since summer technically started on June 21. We’re halfway through white pants season, at any rate, and I haven’t worn my summer whites nearly enough. Do you wear your summer whites before Memorial Day and/or after Labor Day? As a boring and old-fashioned soul, …
Effortless Summer Style
I’m the weirdo who doesn’t prefer shorts. Unless I can pair them with a sweater, and then it’s magical. I’m also the weirdo who doesn’t prefer summer. It has its charms, of course. No need to drag a jacket everywhere. Long evenings on the porch. Croquet. The downside is sweltering humid misery. I’m crabby when …
Book Chat: Does ‘The Date’ need an update?
It’s been quite some time since I posted about my novel series, Pedigree. At some point, I may need to rebrand or re-title Book 1, which is currently published as The Date. I chose that title because a particular date (as in mm/dd/yyyy, not a romantic outing) plays a key role in the story. The cover …