You might be surprised to hear from me since you’ve either a) never received an email after joining this list or b) last heard from me on September 6, 2023 when I sent an email about lamps and promptly turned the lights out on this account. Totally wasn’t going for that level of irony, but what a way to ghost a Substack.

First of all, I want to apologize to my subscribers for ghosting this Substack. We had a nice thing going, and then I disappeared. Frankly, The Ghosting might have been the longest Toiles to the Wall hiatus, but it wasn’t the first one. I started Toiles to the Wall as a creative outlet during the pandemic and a way to promote the novel series I published on Amazon KDP, the Pedigree series (which still exists there as a digital exclusive).

What happened was that I outgrew Toiles to the Wall. It happens. Lacking bandwidth for a blog and Instagram entirely during a busy career transition, I took a break, which dragged on longer and longer. Finally, I had to face the fact that Toiles to the Wall just didn’t ‘spark joy’ for me anymore.

After a near-total Instagram break, I’ve slowly dipped a toe back into it. As a career social media manager, I’ve learned the hard way to be careful about spending an eight-plus-hour workday on social and then spending my off-the-clock hours (haha, as if they exist!) scrolling yet more social. But it’s a hard boundary to keep because I love my career field and love the social media landscape (at least 60% of the time).

All this to say, my Toiles to the Wall era is officially over. But wait, there’s more! During my long hiatus, I came back to a historical novel I wrote in 2014/2015 and put in a drawer because that was an extremely hectic season of life. No exaggeration, the week I finished this manuscript, I found out I was expecting my now soon-to-be ten-year-old daughter. So, no editing got done, no more writing got done until 2017, when I started working on what would become Pedigree. And I’m proud of Pedigree, but I never forgot my earlier work. (Ok, I kind of forgot it; there were 2 a.m. feedings happening here.)

But now, at the right time for it to happen- Drumroll please…

My historical novel, Even the Faithful, is being published in Feb. 2026! All has not been quiet behind the hiatus scenes. I’m truly very excited and humbled that this is happening and literally cannot wait to share this book with everyone. I say literally because I’ve already started sharing more about it on Pinterest and am going to do so on Instagram as well, albeit at a more sustainable pace for me. The story takes place in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio in 1946, right after the end of World War II. It follows a couple in a lavender marriage, an earnest young priest, and the impossible choices that come to define their lives.

If you like historical fiction (or me), please consider continuing to follow along. I’ve genuinely enjoyed connecting with my subscribers over the years. If you’ve been around since this was an ugly MailChimp newsletter that went out at 9:30 p.m., special shoutout. I love you, man. If you’re a newer subscriber who’s getting a letter from me for the first time, sorry again, and I promise not to do any more ghosting.

To stay in touch, please sign up for my new newsletter - as an added bonus, you’ll get a free 1940s Book Club Hosting Guide. It’s beautiful and full of vintage cocktail/mocktail recipes, snack and dessert recipes, and general hosting tips. Plus, you’ll get a first look at the prologue for Even the Faithful. Just note that you will need to complete the sign-up process (it’s quick). To be respectful of everyone’s privacy and email preferences, I’m not going to import this list into my new email platform.

If this isn’t your thing and you’re wondering why I’m here crashing your inbox two years after you Googled ‘Farrow and Ball review,’ you don’t need to take any action. This is the last time you’ll hear from me. No hard feelings. You can always change your mind later and sign up for emails on my new website.

Thank you again for being here and for all of your support during my Toiles to the Wall era. I hope we stay in touch, and I look forward to connecting again soon!

Warmly,

Sara

I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend, if you’re here in the U.S. For once, we were mostly unscheduled and enjoyed relaxing, getting some things done around the house, and ice cream.

The house projects are finally picking up some steam again. Depending on the backorder situation, I’m hoping to finally post a master bedroom reveal by the end of the year. I have moodboards created for some other, smaller projects - by far one of my favorite parts of the renovation process. The hideous bathroom situation is also becoming untenable, so after the we-got-too-ambitious-during-lockdown projects are finally, finally checked off the list, that remaining untouched bastion of ugliness ascends the chopping block.

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As I wrote in my splurge vs. save guide a few months back, one of the areas I don’t recommend choosing the budget option is lighting. Why? Because it draws the eye. Like most homeowners, we need to replace all the lighting that came with our home due to it being outdated or just not our style.

I wanted to share five lighting options that have drawn my eye (some for quite some time) for our upcoming projects! None of these are affiliate links, just eye-drawing suggestions from me to you.

Scully & Scully Porcelain Floral Lamp

This is indeed coming to a master bedroom near me; it’s unfortunately just backordered until the holiday season. I love that it’s the perfect size for a bedside table and look forward to reading by this lamp.

Scully & Scully Multicolor Birds & Florals Scalloped Temple Jar Lamp

Another Scully & Scully pick because they have the best lamps. It can be hard to find painted lamps that don’t look 90’s or like they’re from a Kmart in the 90’s. I’m planning to snag a pair of these lamps for the living room beneath the gallery wall. Scully & Scully is a decor favorite of mine overall, despite the fact that they have the most aggressive digital marketing on the entire Internet. That email retargeting. Those relevant banner ads. That paid social media placement. I’ve had a Herend Peregrine Falcon stalking me for three years. I’m either going to buy it or take up falconry.

Rejuvenation Knowles Triple Sconce

My pick for the heinous bathroom as it ceases to be heinous. Our current over-mirror light is circa 1988 and also probably from Kmart. And actually, there are hideous sconces on either side of the mirror as well. Or okay, fine, one hideous sconce and one gaping hole with (not live) wires clawing outward from the wall like we’ve uncovered the tomb of Fortunato. The before pictures are going to be incredible. I actually liked the idea of having sconces on the side of the mirror, but the space just isn’t conducive to that. Overhead lighting it is. I like the simplicity and clean lines of the Knowles. Since it’s going to be juxtaposed to a busy wallpaper, I’m definitely keeping the lighting simple.

Rejuvenation Berkshire Double Sconce with White Linen Shades

Another one from Rejuvenation, although their digital marketing manager will give up after 15 or so paid Instagram Stories and not chase me down a dark alley with a Baccarat switchblade. Like many old houses, ours was retrofitted with electricity and in weird places to boot. The former residents were just happy to have power and didn’t mind having an outlet in one awkward location per room. Most of the bedrooms only have a wall sconce as fixed lighting. This setup is fine with me - overhead lighting is mostly awful, right? - but the 70’s sconces are not fine. I’m looking at adding the double sconces and their single cousins to these bedrooms.

Visual Comfort Kenyon Picture Light

Although I’m not sure by what sorcery we could run power to the space above our mantel, I’d love to ditch the Amazon picture light that sulks over the fireplace looking all cheap and broken. The painting over the mantel is fairly large, so an 18-inch light wouldn’t overwhelm it. I love the look of picture lights, especially nice ones that actually work.

I’m off to hide from Scully & Scully’s digital marketing team (just kidding - you can’t). Do you have a source for lighting you love or are you similarly beset by targeted ads? Reply back and let’s chat!

Look at us making it through the week. For LDW 2022, we traveled to see friends and family and enjoyed the shore. This year, we have zero plans. After the summer we’ve had, I’m nearly as excited for zero plans as I was to visit the beach last year.

My ‘plans’ consist of making s’mores and digging into the final two books on my summer to-read list. It also might be time to pick up my quill (laptop) and get fiction-ing again. One thing at a time.

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Today, I’m recommending five more favorites from my summer reading list. Pick one up if you, too, are lucky enough to have few to no plans. If you’re local, you can find all of these via my friendly content partner, Dayton Metro Library!

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

This was recommended to me by a friend, and I’m glad I ended up reading it. This is a very powerful story of five siblings kidnapped by the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. It’s based on true events, which makes it even more compelling. The narrative flips back and forth between the 1930s and the present day, and I really enjoyed seeing the two narratives come together. I always love a plot twist I haven’t quite predicted, and the plot twist did throw me.

I read this book a month or two ago and am still thinking about it.

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

This is a thought-provoking read about the judgmental world of modern parenting. My IRL book club read this for our summer meeting, as it was on several of our individual to-read lists. We all managed to love the book while disliking the main character. I don’t want to give spoilers in these mini reviews, but the plot doesn’t quite match the book jacket description. That honestly made for a more interesting discussion. I wouldn’t say anyone deserves to be sent to a near-future dystopian parenting reform school, but the characters aren’t exactly sympathetic souls either.

The Little French Bistro by Nina George

A few of these books sound lighthearted, but actually aren’t. This book is certainly charming, and I loved the detailed setting in Brittany, France. However, (trigger warning) it starts out with the main character attempting suicide in order to escape her emotionally abusive and controlling husband. The narrative went places I wasn’t expecting from a book with ‘little’ and ‘bistro’ in the title, but I appreciated its lack of fluffiness or its just enough fluffiness. The ensemble cast of characters was really well-drawn.

The Curiosities by Susan Gloss

The cover of this book is a flatlay of flowers, and to be honest, that’s why I picked it up. It’s the story of a woman who becomes the director of a nonprofit foundation and has to oversee an artists’ colony. Clearly right up my alley. The colony is full of the requisite eccentric personalities, etc. It’s more character driven than some of my other recs. (Trigger warning for this one, too, there is a pretty intense and graphic scene of infant loss.)

This book is on the shorter side. I think I finished it in a weekend. It’s definitely relatable content if you’re in the art world or the nonprofit sector or both.

Two Wars and a Wedding by Lauren Willig

The other ‘breezy title for a meaty book’ selection. I’m not sure why they threw ‘wedding’ in the title; probably to sell more books. This is far more about war and is decidedly not a romance novel. The main character is an aspiring classicist trying to make it in male-dominated late-nineteenth-century academia when she gets drawn into serving as a nurse during the Greek revolution and then the Spanish-American War.

I was surprised to learn it was based on a real person and a true story. The author is one of the co-authors of The Lost Summers of Newport, which I reviewed in a previous Five Recent Reads. If you’ve read that one (literally everyone has, right?), this author wrote the historical fiction portion of the program.

I leave you with this gem:

Child: When is your book club coming?
Me: In about an hour.
Child: Good, I was scared they would come when you looked like that [indicates my workout attire].
Me: No, I’m going to change before they come over.
Child: And put on some new makeup.

Have a relaxing weekend! No makeup required.

We’ve been enjoying some cooler weather this week. Ohio likes to tantalize us at the end of August with a brisk nip of pumpkin spice weather before cranking the heat back up for the foreseeable future.

We at least haven’t had a repeat of last year’s heat wave. Perhaps that’s the reason why the most low-effort garden of my life has been such a pleasant surprise.

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My expectations going into spring and summer were very low. As some of you might remember, I had surgery two weeks before peak planting time. This rendered me not allowed to do anything strenuous until the end of May.

Before it transpired that I needed surgery (it was ear surgery and went very well!), I had bought a handful of seed packets. My grand plans for the garden usually involve color-coded grids and $$$ trunkfuls of plants, and then none of these things actually come to literal fruition.

One thing I’ve learned from the flowerbeds in my city lot is patience. A garden won’t look like an Instagram garden in a year or even in two years. There’s no real rushing this process without wasting a lot of time, money, energy, and plants.

The previous homeowner left a massive jungle for us to tame, but the bright side was that I was able to transplant a few perennials to the front bed for $0. I salvaged quite a few Asiatic lilies and one solitary Black-Eyed Susan, which has since flourished. A hardy geranium and a Coreopsis are also leftover from the previous owner.

Cheating on my post-op orders, I did plant the seeds in late May. Is planting seeds strenuous? The child was actually very helpful here. We planted zinnias, Bachelor’s Buttons, larkspur, and hollyhocks. I figured if something sprouted, great. If not, oh well.

The total cost of all these seed packets was around $10. Thank you, Ace Hardware. We also have a snapdragon that has self-seeded into immortality. I usually thin the snap seedlings, but let them go wild this year.

Shockingly, three months later, the garden looks like the picture above. It doesn’t always take a grid and a trunkful of money. The only thing that didn’t really take off was the larkspur, and even it finally produced a solitary blossom. See below, shining through thicket of weeds we have since removed. (The blog isn’t the only thing that fell by the wayside during the work and family events crush.)

My plans for seeds had always involved starting them indoors in February and a lot of unnecessary equipment. Another idea that was too much work to ever get off the ground. I made massive and ultimately unused to-grow lists when we moved here almost six years ago.

The one thing I will say is that we didn’t just grab these seed packets at random and dump the seeds into the ground. Do take the time to monitor how much light your garden receives and assess how healthy the soil is. We’re lucky to have good, useable, well-draining soil here when most of this area has awful clay soil. The weeds certainly love it here, which, though annoying, is also a good sign.

It’s also critical to read the directions on the seed packet to determine how far to space the plants, how deep to plant the seeds, and the ideal time to plant them. That said, I planted the Bachelor’s Buttons well after the last frost, and they’re doing swimmingly. They did bloom very late, but they bloomed.

The garden was a low-effort startup this year, but certainly not a no-effort space to maintain. A lot of watering, weeding, thinning, and deadheading has gone into this. Especially if you’re new to gardening or if you’re busy with work/kids/life, it’s important to limit the varieties of plants. Each plant type has different needs, and it’s much easier to learn the needs of a few.

My effort and my $10 have certainly paid off. The flowers are now coming indoors as cut flowers, which means they’ve paid for themselves. In the backyard, the herbs and flowers are also having an excellent year. It’s the time of year when the weird hornet things stake out the mint blossoms, and I cede that space to them. This is their time. No reason to go within ten feet of the scary insects, right? The much more prepossessing bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds have been flocking to the front garden. They’re much friendlier and have cross-pollinated the snapdragons.

Although I’m not opposed to loading up the trunk with garden center plants, this year’s success has driven home the fact that it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive to enjoy a beautiful garden. Time and patience are the greater assets here.

Did you plant a garden this year? How did everything turn out?

If you’re receiving this newsletter for the first time, welcome. If you’re receiving this newsletter for the first time in a long time, it’s great to connect with you again. For my new Substack friends - this newsletter was a super consistent content experience, and then I got a new job.

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I’m officially a month into my new role, and the necessary head space to create a Substack newsletter is slowly but surely returning. Speaking of the workplace, with even Zoom now asking employees to return to the office, I’m suddenly feeling vindicated in my workwear and office essentials content. (That’s not to say I don’t feel for you if you were hired as a remote worker and are suddenly being dragged into a cube farm.)

My previous job was 100% onsite, aside from during COVID and for two days during an ice storm. One single ice storm one time. Now, I have remote flexibility and am working a hybrid schedule starting Labor Day week - yay! - but will primarily be onsite.

If you’re ever in the office at all, be sure to stash the following in your top drawer. I keep the travel sizes of these products at work with me, and that’s what I’ve linked below.

1. Evian Facial Spray - Was skeptical about this product. Tried it so I could earn free shipping (on sale, it is less expensive than Ulta shipping charge). It refreshes both makeup and bare skin - spray it on midday. I also love Caudalie Beauty Elixr, but at $8.50, the Evian spray is a better one to keep in a desk drawer. Save the pricier options for home.

2. Aveda Hand Relief - Most of this list is moisturizing products. Those fluorescent lights, though. This is a favorite and very effective hand cream, plus I love that it’s cruelty free/clean/green/responsibly shipped.

3. Typology Lip Oil - I discovered this brand via TikTok and have slowly been switching most of my makeup products to Typology. More on that in a forthcoming post. The lip oil shades are all very subtle, but the one I keep at work with me is the Untinted Shade 3. It’s nourishing for the lips and adds just enough sheen.

4. Oribe Hair Refresher - If you ever go to lunch and return with gyro-scented hair, this one’s for you. The product description claims to reduce static, which I haven’t found to be the case, but it does remove unwelcome restaurant odors. It’s not a dry shampoo, but it does freshen up the hair for that afternoon stretch.

5. Chapstick - Does anyone else just use the lip balm from the grocery store checkout? It gets the job done, and I’ve never felt the need to switch. This has earned its place the drawer beside me. It makes a nice base layer for the lip oil.

I hope you have a great week! Have you tried any of these products? Let me know what your favorites are. I’ll be back in your inbox on Wednesday.

Thanks for your patience as I dropped off the radar this past week and a half. That wasn’t my plan, but, wow, transitioning into a new workplace is a wild ride. More about that on Friday - that’s Life Edit talk. Also, a warm welcome to those of you who’ve subscribed in the meantime!

It’s back to school season already, and after a stressful summer, I welcome its return. For those of you with school-age kids, does school start mid-August for your family, too, or is that a weird Ohio thing? Back in my day, we always started closer to Labor Day.

Seems like one year, we’re shopping for mostly back-to-school gear, and the next, we’re on the hook for summer items instead. At least this system has the decency to swap from year to year. This year is a ‘buy all the back-to-school things’ year.

Although kids outgrow things and need new supplies each year, I do try to limit unnecessary buying and waste as much as possible. I see the fast fashion version of backpacks and lunchboxes lining store shelves and want no part of discarding a backpack every single year. Today, I’m sharing my favorite, time-tested back-to-school picks.

Hunter backpack

I bought this to send my daughter off to preschool, and it’s about to head to second grade bearing few signs of wear. This backpack also accompanies her on the punishing day camp circuit during the summer, a true testament to its fortitude. I was happy to pay a bit more for a backpack knowing/hoping it would get us through at least elementary school, if not longer. Hunter’s website is currently undergoing a redesign, but you can purchase the packs via Zappos.

Hunter rain boots

Look at this brand loyalty! But seriously, we’ve been through several pairs of these boots. The only reason they leave our house is because the child outgrows them. They’re an A+ for quality, comfort, and durability. The only thing I would caution is that I’ve noticed the lighter colored boots can sometimes show weird discoloration spots. It doesn’t affect the function, but I’d recommend purchasing the darker shades.

Land’s End polos and skirts

Unlike a lot of schools, ours doesn’t specifically require students to purchase uniforms through Land’s End. We do anyhow because I love the quality of the uniform pieces and the consistency of the colors.

I’ve tried a few other brands and haven’t been as impressed. The polos from Primary shrank, and the skirt from Brooks Brothers faded pretty badly starting with the first wash. This hasn’t been an issue for us with LE.

Primary has honestly been hit or miss for us, although I do like their fleece-lined leggings. The adorable coat pictured below is from Brooks Brothers, although she generally refuses to wear it. Alas. It’s really cute. It makes her look like a tiny lawyer, but apparently, the kids don’t want to look like tiny lawyers these days?! That’s not an attitude that will make partner.

Pottery Barn Kids water bottle, lunch box, and bento box

I just bought our second PBK water bottle. Someone wanted a Frozen water bottle, and I’m fine with having a spare. The only caveat is that the spout can be tricky to clean and is prone to build up - PBK does sell replacement kits for $6, which is helpful. Otherwise, like the above backpack, the bottle has been rolling off to school and camp since preschool without becoming dented or springing a leak.

The lunch box (we have the cold pack version) and bento box don’t get used terribly frequently, but they have held up well for a few years with no signs of slowing down. The bento box is recycled/BPA-free/proceeds go toward charity, and is dishwasher safe, thank God. It’s also on sale right now.

Keds sneakers

I find a lot of children’s sneaker designs to be just a little too garish. Some have even made it under our roof - not everyone is opposed to glittery rainbows or recognizes the value of a mostly navy capsule wardrobe. I’m not worried; the next generation will come around eventually. In the meantime, we compromise with classic sneaker designs mixed with the odd rose gold sequined pair.

I wouldn’t say the Keds hold up entirely without signs of wear, but you can’t ask for such miracles from a child’s daily footwear. Considering what they’re up against, these hold up well until they’re all too quickly outgrown.

The Beaufort Bonnet Company duck head umbrella

In the area of Pennsylvania where I went to high school, back-to-school season was also the rainy season. I graduated from high school over twenty years ago, but it’s still ingrained in me that stocking up on rain gear is an integral part of BTS shopping.

The duck head umbrella actually pre-dates our school shopping days. It’s really easy to operate and sturdy for windy days. Since it’s fairly compact, I often throw it in my own tote back if rain is threatening and always get compliments on the duck head design that’s meant for children’s use. If your household is child free and you’ve stuck with the post this long, you might love this umbrella, too!

As I head into my last week at my current job, it’s crazy to think that a week from now, I’ll be somewhere else. The ‘somewhere else’ has what looks like a similar office dress code. All of my current work clothes will transfer with no issue - good news for my newly built workwear capsule - and no one at my new job has seen me wear the same five outfits on repeat. Despite that, I’m on the lookout for a few things to round out the workwear capsule. The office I’m leaving behind is a tundra even in the dead of August, and it was quite a bit balmier at my new workplace during the interviews. If nothing else, I need more workwear options with short sleeves!

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With some shopping to be done in the near future, I’ve revised and updated my series on finding a quality garment into one big garment quality extravaganza.

How to Recognize a Quality Garment

Here are the key markers to look for when purchasing a new piece. It’s important to note that higher price does not always equal better quality. I’ve found some long-lasting, high-quality pieces in unexpected places. A K-Mart cashmere sweater I impulse bought in grad school is gone now, but it did manage to outlive K-Mart by several years. I’ve also had higher-priced finds bite the dust within two years. Give garments a good once-over, no matter the price point!

1. Proper seam and hem finishing: If the garment is thrown together with loose serger stitches, it’s not a keeper. Likewise, if the hem is tacked up with a stitch here and there. One of my favorite and longest-lasting skirts is hand-hemmed with hem tape. Pro-tip: if you stretch out the seams and see daylight between the stitches, put down that cheap garment.

2. Garment is made from a quality fabric. How can you tell if it’s a quality fabric?

   1. First, do the light test - Hold the garment up to the light. Can you clearly see the room in front of you? Unless the fabric is intentionally sheer, this gets a hard pass. Something else I do is hold my hand inside the garment and see how much of my skin shows through.

   2. Next, check the fiber weave - We all know about high thread count sheets, right? You want high thread count clothes, too! Of course, you’re not going to see a rack of button-downs with a ‘600 count’ label. The light/hand test above can help determine the weave density. The higher the weave density, the less daylight/skin you’ll see. This is even true for lighter materials like silk.

      *A quick note about fabric types - ‘knits’ aren’t just sweaters - these include any T-shirt type material, too. ‘Wovens’ are linen, cotton, etc. Generally speaking, you’ll be able to pull knits on and will need buttons or zippers for garments made of woven fabrics.

   3. Now, search the label to find the fiber type - At least 80% natural fibers are best. Natural fibers breathe better, last longer, and require less washing. Linen, cotton, cashmere, silk, and wool are some examples. Synthetics to avoid include polyester and acrylic. Acrylic is commonly used in sweaters, and there’s a popular ‘preppy’ brand of higher-priced sweaters that are 70% acrylic! Read those labels or click that ‘details’ tab when you’re shopping online. Those 30-70 wool-acrylic blends are ITCHY, btw.

   4. Finally, rub the garment between your fingers - This is such a basic test, yet very important. A quality fabric will have heft to it, feel smooth, and feel weighty (see weave density above). If you rub the fabric of a couple of cheaply made garments in your fingers and then find some better-made pieces for compare, you’ll learn the difference quickly.

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3. Was the garment made with attention to detail? For example, are the buttons attached securely? I’ve read that fast fashion factories don’t tie off buttons after attaching, which sounds true enough. You want your buttons to stay on and spare you either extra sewing or trips to the tailor. Some other marks of quality are metal, wooden or self-fabric buttons and metal zippers - all as opposed to plastic, of course. If the garment has beadwork, be sure they’re sewn on securely, never glued! Embroidery such as monograms should be tight against the fabric and never pull loose when rubbed with a fingertip.

4. Check for quality stitch work! Here’s how:

   1. Stitches should be close together and tight. More stitches per inch = better quality. Fast fashion cuts corners and keeps prices low by using less thread. More thread means a garment that won't fall apart. Stretch the seam to make sure you can't see through it.

   2. Pattern matching. A surefire way to tell a garment was cheaply made is the attention paid to pattern matching. For example, did the manufacturer take the time to align the lines of the plaid on the front and back of the skirt? This not only looks better, but is a good indicator of the care taken in creating it.

   3. Correct treatment of seams/hems. Seams should be straight, even, and pressed flat. Seams that aren't pressed open are uncomfortable, too, because they rub against the skin. Note: I'm talking about woven fabrics here (linen, Oxford cloth) and not knits (stretchy fabrics like T-shirt cotton). The seams on knits can unravel easily, so make sure they're secure at the ends and taut.

   4. Seams should contour correctly on the body. This is assuming you're wearing the correct size, of course, so be sure you are. I could do a whole post about vanity sizing (maybe I will someday), but please read the size charts of the brands you're buying. I’ve also found those True Fit calculators on various retailers’ websites to be fairly accurate. Focus on measurements and not the highly subjective dress size number. If a few simple tweaks by the tailor won't make a correctly sized garment a perfect fit, there may be something wrong with how it's made. Major red flags are a size chart that doesn't match the actual garments’ measurements and/or no two garments from the same maker fitting the same way.

5. No imperfections: Ensure the garment is put together well, with no mistakes in the sewing, such as bunching on the hem. My personal pet peeve with clothing and table linens is having to clip dangling threads on a brand-new item. There shouldn’t be stray threads on your investment pieces.

Are there any other markers you look for when shopping for garments? Let me know!

The weekend is upon us. The cat is out of the bag IRL. It’s been a crazy, very stressful summer, but I’m excited to report that I got a new job!

I don’t post much about my professional life, mostly because this is the internet and people can be crazy. (You all seem very nice, by the way.) But I’ve spent 98% of my career in the public sector and am now hopping over to the nonprofit world! It’s also a leap forward in my overall career trajectory, so that’s exciting, too.

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I’ll be able to post a few more details once I actually get started. Right now, I’m wrapping up things at my current job. It’s a bittersweet time. Leaving a place after ten years (TEN. YEARS.) is a surreal thing to do. Things are slowly starting to feel final and like this is all actually happening. Farewell lunches. Multiple emails with the subject heading ‘nooooo.’ I thought the two weeks’ notice period would drag, but time is whipping by.

It seemed wise not to take any downtime between jobs, so I’m finishing Job A on a Friday and starting Job B on a Monday. Does anyone actually relax while taking a week off before a new job? That sounds like a week to spend worrying about what the new job will be like. Might as well just jump in. After a decade with the same agency, it can be a little daunting to think of starting fresh.

Not only do I have a new job, but my husband does, too, albeit with the same employer. He’s in a different department after having been in the same area for 16 years. Apparently, we’re loyal employees over here. This is now being termed ‘the lost summer’ as school starts in exactly one month, and we’ve done nothing but stress ourselves out since May. These changes are all for the best, and if we have to sacrifice Summer ‘23 to the cause, well, fine.

There’s always those last few weeks for squeezing in some summer fun, although I’m not going to lie, I won’t miss the daily day camp run. From the golf club to the ballet studio to the nature parks, my Kroger Fuel Points and I have traversed a mighty swathe of the county for the sheer enrichment opportunity of it all.

All that to say, I’m happy to see the beginning of the end of the Summer of Stress. Other personal/family things have been going on alongside the big career shakeups. And yet, here I am in your inbox with unprecedented consistency!

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That’s a weird segue, but in case you haven’t seen, I’m running a giveaway on Instagram! You have until Sunday evening at 7 p.m. EDT to enter to win a $25 gift card to BibiBop Asian Grill. Substack subscribers automatically receive an extra entry, so the odds are in your favor. I had never tried BibiBop, as the location closest to us is always swarmed with UD students, and was thrilled to be asked to join the media preview party. I really enjoyed my meal and the various options for building a bowl. The restaurant is 100% gluten free - I’m not GF, but I know many of you are. It’s also vegetarian/vegan friendly.

Let me tie these weird threads together by saying that I started eating clean to lose my last stubborn pandemic pounds, but have continued because it’s made a tremendous impact on my mental health. I’ve really struggled with depression/anxiety in the past and haven’t been able to stay consistent on the blog and Instagram because of that. Combined with daily exercise, the clean eating/Mediterranean diet has really worked to manage those symptoms where a lot of other options have failed. Without a doubt, I would not have felt confident enough to take a leap forward in my career if I wasn’t feeling the best health of my adult life.

Not that a vegan bowl will get you a new job necessarily. But I’m glad to have a nice lunch option nearby that supports a clean diet. Anyhow. Go win the gift card.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! It looks like we’ll be getting rain, which should hopefully finish reviving my transplanted zinnias.

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If you enjoy gardening (or just love looking at gardens), definitely give her a follow. I’ve found so many new and interesting plants to try through this account! Recently, I caught up with Tasha-Jane to chat about her account, get some tips and see what’s next for her. Check out our interview below:

How long have you lived in your home and when did you start your garden?

We moved into our home a few days before Christmas in 2017! I started on the garden the following Spring. I was already a keen gardener, so it was my domain, and I had a vision as to what it could be for us as a family. The garden was beautiful as it was. It was full of wildlife and looked magical in the hard frosts that winter, but it was full of lots of overgrown mature shrubs and conifers. We soon found out that a lot of the shrubs were competing for space and omitting a lot of light from the garden, so I started by removing the conifers and some larger shrubs and replacing them with fruit trees whilst my husband worked on the interior.

How do you choose what to grow?

Our last garden backed onto woodland so we had to grow a lot of shade loving plants, but I absolutely loved visiting gardens planted up in a cottage garden style, and those that had fruit and vegetables that owners could just walk around and help themselves to. My childhood home had a reasonably large garden with a dedicated vegetable patch so I already had an appreciation as to how much fresher ‘home grown’ could taste, compared with shop bought. What could be better for supper than completely fresh fruit and veg from a tree or the ground?! 

Our current garden is south facing and has an old damson tree, so I began thinking about putting some fruit trees in to keep it company before we’d even moved in! The specific perennials and cottage garden style has sort of evolved as I’ve learned more about what suits our garden environment, what colour schemes I prefer, and what flowers the rest of my family like. (It’s amazing watching the children especially, as they are drawn to specific colours and shapes / textures!) It is always being edited and is slowly becoming more ‘designed’.

I love how your garden always seems to have something new in bloom. What advice would you give someone who's interested in having their garden in bloom most of the year?

Thank you so much! 

Perennial plants (plants that grow back every year) are key. You can pretty much find a perennial to suit every situation and season these days!! The essential thing is to choose plants that will be happy in the place they are to be homed. First look at how much sun the area gets. Next assess the soil type (is it acidic or alkaline, and is it cloggy or free draining). You can buy little kits for this, or just ask a neighbour who is a keen gardener what the soil is like and what plants seem to like it there!

Once you’ve got a list of plants that will be happy you can then work out when each flowers.  Most online plant shops list the plants for certain situations and allow you to filter them according to what month they’re in bloom. Once you have a shortlist, you can then draw a little map to see where different perennials could go, and you could even colour code the plants for, say, the month they are in bloom in order to check you’ve covered each month. If you would like a cottage garden look you could then leave gaps to either direct sow or plant the annuals in. Ideally it’s good to then purchase the plants from a local garden centre as they will be experts in what plants will suit the area. Of course the above advice could be easily adapted for anyone who’s gardening in containers!

Tell us a bit about how you've designed the interior of your home. It looks like such a welcoming space!

A lot of people on Instagram assume our house is old as we’re in a hamlet and there are sometimes old cottages in the bokeh of my photos. We are indeed surrounded by characterful old village homes and the area and land our house is built on is steeped in history, but our house was in-fact a self build. Built around 40 years ago so quite modern. It has a definite farmhouse feel to it though. The original builders gave it character by adding quirky arches and a large fireplace, a few interesting windows etc. and that is what drew us to it when we were searching, as I usually prefer older houses! When designing the interior I didn’t deliberately go for a specific style, but guests almost always comment on how it feels like a farmhouse / country house.

I love furniture and accessories to have a bit of history and character to them, so tend to go for older items, such as the dresser that features a lot on our grid! We are currently working on our master bedroom and ensuite and that’s the first time I’ve deliberately chosen a style (Instagram is to blame for it as since joining a few years ago I’ve seen so many beautiful and inspirational grids from houses in a similar style) - it’s sort of a Victorian monochrome tiled bathroom which will be accessorised with an antique mirror (I’m still on the hunt for the perfect one) with an ‘arts and crafts’ feel in the bedroom, again giving the house a ‘country’ feel! We will likely continue that style as we work on the rest of the house now that I’ve seen so many beautiful and inspirational grids in a similar style on Instagram!

What is your favorite season for gardening and what's next for House with Two Chimneys?

Am I allowed more than one? Ha! 

I absolutely love early Spring as the hellebores and daffodils especially are just so welcoming after the dark winter months. But right now (Summer) is wonderful as everything is planted (I grow a lot of things from seed), so many new flowers keep appearing and you can see fruit and veg beginning to grow everywhere too!

It’s a new chapter for us with our youngest starting school in September. I’m really emotional about it as have loved spending the majority of the time together with both children during their early years.

My ultimate goal with the exterior of our house is to get it rendered or painted as there are a couple of houses (old and new) in the village that have this, and we’ve noticed that it’s helped to give them character and ‘tie them in’ with the village! (Not that ours sticks out - the brick is not offensive, just indicative of the building’s true age). Parts of our house are in desperate need of updating so I am going to throw myself into that for a few months and also look into somehow turning my passion for gardening / floristry into a little business. I’m not sure how just yet, but I’m hoping Instagram could one day help play some part as I love being creative through there!

All images appear courtesy of House with Two Chimneys and may not be reproduced elsewhere.

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When I do make a larger-than-average purchase, I try to look at it as an actual investment. The many J. Peterman pieces I bought between 2006 and 2008 have not only lasted until 2023, but were also purchased to mark my transition from college student to fully fledged working adult. Looking more professional and mature is obviously a tremendous benefit for a twenty-two-year-old.

If you’re at the stage of life where you’re considering purchasing investment pieces for your wardrobe, chances are good you already know the basics. If not, they’re already splashed all over the internet. Don’t ‘invest’ in trendy things. Know the markers of a high-quality piece. Beyond the usual tips, here are a few other things to consider when making an investment wardrobe purchase.

1. Your size

We all fluctuate, and this can be difficult to project. It’s also a major consideration. No one wants to buy a pricey blazer that won’t fit in two years. It’s best to be at a stable size when making a purchase like this. Have you recently hit a goal weight or size and need to adjust to maintaining it? Have you been meaning to lose or gain weight and are waiting for a sign from the universe? Hold off on your purchase until you’re sure you’ll be in the same size range for the long haul. Definitely don’t buy an investment piece in an ‘aspirational’ size!

2. What will happen to it next?

Another thing that’s hard to control, but worth some thought. I wear an abnormally small shoe size in my family. As the odd 7.5 out, it makes me wonder what will happen if my daughter ends up being a size 10 like everyone else. She’ll have to invest in her own investment shoes.

At the end of the day, you’re buying this item for you and not for the people inheriting your stuff, but it’s a good reminder to stick with timeless pieces that will age well. Even if your children or grandchildren can’t wear the items, hopefully the piece will help them remember you fondly!

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3. How will the piece age with you?

Let’s say you’ve found a great piece that checks all the boxes - it will fit long-term, it’s made well, it’s not a passing trend. Think ahead to sixty-year-old you. Will they be comfortable wearing this? That’s also hard to predict, but stay with me.

I’m at the tail end of my thirties, and anything low-cut, aside from swimwear, makes me super uncomfortable at this point in my life. In my twenties, I was a big fan of the low-cut dresses and tops, and now I cringe at the thought. Going back to the story above, twenty-three-year-old me did not think about this point while relentlessly purchasing all of J. Peterman’s available stock. I’ve ended up letting go of the more revealing items via eBay within the past five or so years.

My advice would be to look at people 10 - 15 years older than you whose style you admire. How much skin are they showing? What do you like about their wardrobes? You don’t have to ‘dress like a granny’ (although I can think of many a chic granny), but keep your investment pieces on the conservative side.

What’s on your investment wishlist right now? I’ve been eyeing up the Wincanton tweed suit from Cordings for quite a while and am really hoping to add that to my cart (and then actually complete the checkout process) for this fall. I also keep thinking about this Dahlia gown from Molly Moorkamp, and my size is one of the three left in stock. That’s a sign, right?

Have a wonderful week! See you back here on Wednesday for the return of ‘At Home With’ and a very special guest.

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It’s been a wild short week, as most short weeks turn out to be. Not to be one of those obnoxious oblique hinters running around the Internet, but some we’ve had some big changes happen in our household this summer. I’ll be able to share more soon, but at the moment, I haven’t had a spare second to sit down and Life Edit these past few days.

I’ve been enjoying reading and following several other authors on Substack in the past few months. Here are a few newsletters I’ve been enjoying lately:

Almost Scarlett by Tara Smith

Laura’s Substack by Laura Brown

The Lost Arrow by Orlando Soria

INDIA HICKS. An Unexpected Journey by India Hicks

MM Weekly by Molly Moorkamp

Traditional Rogue

Do you have any Substack recs? Let me know below! Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead.

I hope all of my U.S. readers had a wonderful Fourth of July. My parents live nearby one of our area’s big Fourth of July festivals, so we enjoyed browsing the vendors in the morning and went back to their house for a cookout afterwards.

Although it poured sheets of rain in between bursts of sunshine on Monday, the weather did finally clear before the Dayton fireworks kicked off. Our cold, rainy June is over, and the weather seems to be shifting to summertime in earnest. We might be able to think about hosting a gathering in the near future. I love the ease and casual elegance of an outdoor gathering, and have polished up a post from the old WordPress site with a few tips below.

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A deck or patio is the perfect gathering space when the weather cooperates. We have our deck set up with three different sections for entertaining – a bar area, a dining area, and a conversation area. This setup works well for seamlessly moving from cocktails to dinner to an evening of chatting and relaxing.

1. The guest list

Keep it on the smaller side. Three or four couples is a good size for mingling and still getting enough quality time with every guest. Plus, you want to be sure everyone fits comfortably in the space!

2. Cocktails

I wrote last week about our favorite cocktails/mocktails for summer 2023. I often just serve one signature offering at parties to avoid bringing out our entire liquor stash. The seltzer cocktails would be a great option for a casual get together - offer a few flavors of water, one or two liquor choices, and a variety of garnishes such as fruit and mint. Your guests can take it from there.

A bottle of rosé and a case of summer shandy are also a nice touch, as well as plain, unadulterated lemonade.

3. What to serve

You could always fire up the grill and make all the traditional picnic sides. Otherwise, I’m all about charcuterie boards and sometimes like to make a heavier one as a meal. One of our favorites is a Caprese board.

Here’s what you need to create the Caprese board (quantities depend on how many you’re serving, err on the side of extra because this goes quickly!): sliced Italian bread, sliced vine-ripened tomatoes, basil leaves, salami, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella cheese, assorted olives, and dipping oil for the bread. Simply arrange as you would any charcuterie board and enjoy.

If you go the Caprese board for dinner route, you’ll want to supplement with a salad and another heavy hors d’oeuvre or two. One of my favorite summer salads is spring mix with grilled peaches, crumbled Boursin cheese, chopped walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette. This Old Bay crab dip with Ritz crackers obviously needs a spot on your table and mine. If you make this crab dip, please add me to #1 above.

For dessert, keep it simple. Pick up a pound cake at the bakery and serve with sliced berries or peaches and fresh whipped cream.

4. Ambience

Unfortunately, you can only control so much of the ambience outdoors. Our neighborhood is big on randomly setting off fireworks throughout the summer. They’re not just for the Fourth of July! East Dayton also loves additional holidays like Bastille Day and Wednesday. Perhaps you have noisy next-door neighbors. Someone nearby usually chooses to mow their lawn the second my outdoor gathering guests arrive. All you and your guests can really do is laugh about those things. The neighbors will go indoors, and the mowing will stop eventually. If you’re a guest at someone else’s outdoor party, please don’t complain about these things. Your host can’t control them.

A bigger problem than ill-timed lawn mowing are mosquitoes. For the past several summers, we’ve had a lawn service spray our lawn, and it has worked wonders. We hesitated over using chemicals, but previously couldn’t even cross the threshold without being devoured. If you’d rather not use chemicals, make sure to set out citronella candles and torches.

5. Table setting

Another good reason to go the heavy hors d’oeuvre route for dinner is to minimize bringing a lot of your tabletop items outdoors. Although I love seeing a long outdoor table set with block prints and candlelight, for a casual gathering, you don’t need much. Set out cocktail and full-size napkins, use melamine plates to avoid shattered glass on your deck, and place a few jelly jars of flowers around your table, coffee table and bar.

I hope you found these tips helpful – wishing you fun summer parties and a good rest of the week!

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In the spirit of America’s birthday, I wanted to share a handful of pieces I own and love that were made in the U.S.A. It’s so difficult to find items that were made in America, and I strongly prefer to buy things that are U.S. or U.K. made. If you have a U.S.-made item you love, please share! I would love to add to this short list.

Molly Moorkamp Palma Swimsuit

This is one of my favorite clothing brands in general. The fact that all of the items are made in the U.S.A. is a major selling point for me. The quality is excellent and shows a lot of care in manufacturing/design. I have multiple pieces from MM, but am sharing the swimsuits today because a new batch just came available for pre-order!

I have the Palma style linked above (mine, pictured, is a print that isn’t offered anymore, but that solid navy Palma currently on sale is so tempting!). You can’t really go wrong with any style of these suits - they’re all fully lined and full coverage. I was nervous about ordering swimwear online, especially spendy swimwear. I’ve been burned every single time I’ve tried to do so. I reached out to MM on Instagram with a sizing question, and the advice was spot on. Finally, a swim order that wasn’t a massive fail. With being made in the U.S. to rigorous standards, the MM sizing is very consistent. I was tempted to size up due to being pear-shaped, but my usual size ended up being a great fit. The suits really are full coverage in the back. Highly recommend running to the site if you’re a lady in the market for swimwear.

Patsy Kane Earrings

This is one of my favorite small brands and is based in one of my favorite towns, Marblehead, MA! I especially love the Monkey Fist yachting earrings, although I think that specific style is designed in the U.S. and manufactured elsewhere. The metal pieces like the cuff bracelets are manufactured completely in the U.S. I always get compliments on this jewelry IRL and have never posted a photo because it turns out I’m terrible at taking photos of jewelry. That aside, these are fun, well-made pieces that are very affordable. The Monkey Fist earrings are only $15!

LL Bean Boat and Tote and Duck Boots

Not everything by LL Bean is made in the U.S. anymore, of course, but a handful of items are still manufactured at their facility in Maine. They’re doing better than Brooks Brothers, who did away with U.S.-based manufacturing during the pandemic. LL Bean’s clothing is primarily imported, but the totes and a few shoe styles are made in America.

I’m not sure what I could say about the Boat and Tote that hasn’t already been said in a thousand other preppy-leaning blogs. The quality is fantastic, and I love knowing that someone named Cheryl made the bag I carry to work every day. The bags are a bit addictive. Once you buy one, you’ll buy more. I have the matching lunch tote (imported), which I’m really happy with as well. The monogram and its irony (or lack thereof) are up to the individual.

The Women’s 8-inch Duck Boots, among other boot styles, are also U.S.-made. I have the vintage Maine Duck Hunting Shoe version, which goes to show how well these hold up. They’re honestly not the most comfortable boots I’ve ever owned, but adding insoles does help. The durability is the real selling point with these, plus the fact that they keep my feet dry every fall and winter without fail.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Independence Day, if you’re here in the U.S.! I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and I’ll see you back here on Wednesday.

Speaking of summer holidays and…er…mouths, I wanted share a few of our favorite summer sips for 2023 so far. During the summer, we tend to find a cocktail early on in the season, and it becomes our cocktail of the summer. Last year, the frozen lemonade/champagne/Chambord concoction. This year, something much lighter and quicker to whip up.

Back in the spring, I saw a cocktail idea on the Pantry Hill Instagram and gave it a spin despite some skepticism. It’s based on flavored seltzer water, and we haven’t had much luck with that. Do you know the recipe for envelope glue? Add gin to Cran-Raspberry La Croix and stir.

The post was a list of ingredient suggestions, not a recipe, and was in their Stories, so there’s nothing to link to, unfortunately. I’ll write down how we’ve adapted it, but full credit to that account for the idea.

The original adaptation:

5-6 frozen blueberries

1.5 oz. gin

Blackberry-citrus seltzer*

1 spring catmint or spearmint

Add blueberries and ice to a double old-fashioned glass. Add gin and stir. Top with seltzer and garnish with mint.

*The Kroger brand of seltzer waters seems to be the key to making drinkable cocktails with flavored seltzer. I think the slight sodium content in the Kroger water adds the depth of flavor the envelope glue fails were lacking. If they don’t have Kroger in your area, anything but La Croix would probably work well.

There are several flavors of the seltzer to be had. Now our task is to determine which liquors pair best with which seltzers.

A promising new adaptation:

1.5 oz. Bacardi

Cranberry-lime seltzer

Lime wedge

Mix as above, garnish with lime wedge.

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Pivoting from flavored seltzer, we’ve also slightly reinvented the Pimm’s Cup. I started eating clean back in April and have resisted talking about it online for fear of becoming that annoying wellness person. (Do we want to hear about clean Mediterranean diet eating in a future post? I feel amazing, honestly. My health is better than it’s ever been. Just say the word. I’ll write it all down.)

In keeping with this clean-eating philosophy, we haven’t wanted to bring soda into the house. I don’t want to drink it. The child will whine for it. So, the adults have come up with what we’re calling home-brewed 7-Up. The home-brewed version actually makes for a much more refreshing cocktail, perfect for a hot summer’s day.

The home-brewed 7-Up version of the Pimm’s Cup is really easy to make:

1.5 tsp simple syrup

Squeeze of lemon juice

Squeeze of lime juice

1.5 oz. Pimm’s No. 1

Plain sparkling water (we used our SodaStream)

Frozen strawberries

Cucumber slice

Spring of mint

Mix first four ingredients in a double old-fashioned glass, stir and add ice. Fill with sparkling water. Add last three ingredients to garnish.

Don’t skip the garnish. I admit, until this summer, I had always skipped the garnish in a Pimm’s Cup. Don’t be a me. That garnish is amazing.

The home-brewed Pimm’s Cup is a lot lighter than the lemon-lime soda version and a lot less cloying. You might need to play around with the proportions of simple syrup, lime and lemon until it’s to your liking.

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Along with the clean eating and since the subject heading does include ‘mocktails,’ the seltzer cocktails are also excellent without alcohol. The seltzer cocktail pictured above is actually a mocktail version of the blackberry-citrus recipe. Not pictured: gin. (Pictured below, no trickery, the home-brewed Pimm’s Cup complete with Pimm’s.) Perhaps I’ve written a cocktail post, but I don’t drink very often these days. The gin-free seltzer mocktails are a nice change of pace from plain water and are a quick way to make a can of sparkling water a bit more elegant.

How’s your week going? The wildfire smoke haze has descended upon us here once again, marking the return of air quality alerts and keeping ourselves primarily indoors. On the plus side, what we feared was going to be a major car repair (or possibly a car replacement) for my husband’s car turned out to be something small. That rarely happens with car repairs. At least, it rarely happens to us.

Without a stressful and expensive car-shopping weekend in our near future, we’re thinking about picking up the loose ends of some of our unfinished home reno projects. For those who are new here, we bit off more than we could chew during the COVID lockdown and have been slowly trying to finish the many home projects we started.

If we’re listing stressful and expensive things, surely a home reno ought to be on the list. Being without a kitchen sink for two weeks (or longer) is nothing if not stressful. And if renovations were inexpensive, we’d be finished by now.

Budget is an unfortunate reality when doing any type of home project. No matter what your budget is, there are always going to be areas 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 expensive items with investment items and keep the look elevated, check out my list below to see where we usually save or spend.

Save

Curtain rods - No one ever sees your curtain rods if they’re hidden inside draperies. $18.99 Target rods, please. If the rod is properly supported by the correct number of brackets, you’re not going to encounter any sagging. As far as finials go, this might be an area where you choose to spend a bit more, especially if you’ve saved money by buying less expensive rods. There are also lovely finial options for $50-60 at Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel.

Picture frames - I think every single blogger and IRL friend I’ve ever spoken to about picture frames uses the budget option. Of course I’d like to have things professionally framed - I remember going to the framers as a kid with my mom - but there are plenty of good picture frames out there for under $100. Unless the picture is large and a major focal point in your room, using less expensive picture frames is a great way to save some of your budget.

Rugs* - *This is only in the ‘Save’ column for now. Down the line, the plan is to invest in genuine Turkish or Persian rugs, but investment rugs are not practical right now with a young child and two young, claw-happy cats. In addition to figuring out when to splurge and when to save, I think it can be hard to decide when to buy an item that’s a ‘placeholder.’ I try very hard to be sustainable and waste as little as possible, and buying something with the intent to replace it doesn’t really fit that ethos. That said, my go-to store for rugs for the past few years has actually been Wal-Mart! Four of the rugs in the house are Wal-Mart rugs. They’ve held up extremely well, especially considering that they were under $200 each. Even the six-year-old dining room rug, which is vacuumed frequently and clawed daily and has heavy wooden chairs pushed and pulled over it multiple times per day is doing just fine.

Artwork - We’re fortunate to live in a community with a tremendous local arts scene. It’s been easy for me to find affordable and beautiful work at galleries, art shows, and arts festivals. Etsy and Unsplash also have an amazing range of high-quality digital images. You can buy (on Etsy) or download for free (on Unsplash) a high-resolution image file or pack of files for less than $7 and have the image(s) professionally printed on archival paper or canvas. Mostly, I try to support local artists, but for specific projects like a botanical print gallery wall, the digital images are a great resource.

Spend

Paint - My topic for last week’s home edit! Just put down the big box store brand paint. Don’t color match your favorite high-end paint at Lowe’s. You will never regret buying Farrow & Ball, Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, etc. The colors are more vibrant and resist fading. The paints don’t chip as easily. They hide the brushstrokes. I could go on for days.

Lighting - This is actually part of the reason I leapt into the fray with a ‘Save vs. Spend’ post. So many posts of this kind feature Amazon knockoffs of Serena & Lily lighting. This is such a bad idea for so many reasons. The Amazon lights look much prettier online - in reality, they are gold-toned plastic. I fell into the trap of buying an Amazon picture light for over our fireplace. It definitely looks like plastic up close and no longer actually works. Toward the end of our kitchen reno, with very little budget left, we ended up buying a $30 light from a big box hardware store. Like the Amazon picture light, the cheapie kitchen light didn’t last a year (thank you, warranty!). Lighting is also a major focal point in a room and naturally draws the eye. Don’t draw anyone’s eye to gold-toned plastic.

Building materials (decking, wood, etc.) - Higher quality materials will raise your home’s value. Make sure you (or your contractor) source lumber from a lumber yard and not a big-box store. We’ve also found that composite decking and vinyl for outdoor elements are well worth the extra investment. These materials make a tremendous impact on the visual feel of your home and the lifespan of your project, so this is not the place to save.

Pillows - Our downstairs furniture was neither a save nor a spend, so the right accessories are pretty critical to elevating it. I took forever to add throw pillows to our living room because I didn’t want anything that looked like a cheap, stiff throw pillow. I’m still planning to add a few more pillows, but am excited to finally have something on the sofas - I went with dupioni silk pillow covers over down inserts. Down (or down alternative for the allergy prone) really does work wonders for making a space feel more luxurious.

Where do you spend and save when decorating your home?

A warm welcome to my new subscribers! I’m so glad you’re here. Thanks for joining me.

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If you’re newer to the site, check out my previous posts on how I finally streamlined my wardrobe by reorganizing my closet to create micro capsule collections. Today’s topic is the Evening Events capsule, a small-but-mighty collection. This is the type of event I attend least frequently, but of course requires the most expensive pieces of any capsule. It also has the least amount of crossover to other capsules. A hand-beaded satin skirt is not going to the office or to a children’s birthday party. (Although, my particular child might well insist on a hand-beaded-skirt party at some point.)

Here are the pieces that made it into the capsule:

J. Peterman hand-beaded cocktail-length skirt

J. Peterman hand-beaded maxi skirt

J. Peterman black silk maxi skirt

Vintage one-shoulder sheath ballgown 

Banana Republic satin camisole

J. Peterman V-neck cashmere sweater

Tahari black square-neck top

Vintage black velvet handbag

Black Ferragamo pumps (2 pairs)

Vintage silver open-toe pumps

Nina navy satin heels

I was surprised by the good quality of the Banana Republic cami and plan to add one or two more to this capsule. They work very well with formal skirts and wraps. I bought all of those Peterman skirts right after undergrad in my early career years with incredible foresight and organization for a twenty-two-year-old. I love having the ability to mix and match eveningwear instead of being tied to a handful of dresses. Most of these pieces are black, deep pink or cream, which makes it easy to play around with various combinations.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing similar to the beaded skirts on the Peterman site right now, but targeted ads would really love for me to have this Ann Mashburn skirt join the capsule. I want the same thing, targeted ads; I really do.

My Peterman little black dress from the post-undergrad era has finally given up on me, so I’m on the hunt for a LBD to add to this capsule. I’m hoping the black version of this Molly Moorkamp dress comes back in stock someday. If you have a LBD you love, please let me know.

Something I’ve found extremely useful for evening events is renting pieces via Rent the Runway. It’s a cost-effective way to try out new styles without committing to spending hundreds of dollars. All of those extra shoes in the capsule are to wear with RTR rentals. If you go this route, be sure your extra shoes are neutral and will work with a range of dress styles.

Events can pop up without having time to rent something or a rental might otherwise not be practical. I find the logistics of traveling with rented pieces to be a tremendous hassle. That’s where having a small collection of versatile evening staples comes in very handy.

Today, I’ve rounded up a few novels I’ve read recently and enjoyed. Leave a comment if you’ve read any of these or if you have a recommendation!

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The Lost Summers of Newport by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

I read this on the recommendation of everyone on Instagram. It was the first of my official ‘summer reads’ this year. Getting back into reading novels is sometimes challenging for me. I’m the worst at nitpicking, which makes it hard to relax and enjoy a book.

Once I turned off the part of my brain that runs in edit mode, I really did get pulled in by the plot and the way three separate authors wove together the three separate plot threads. Plus, I didn’t see part of the plot twist coming, which was enough to shut off my naysaying edit-y brain.

Personally, I liked Lucky’s story the most. It reminded me a bit of my own book series, and I also liked the tension created by it being in the middle of three plot threads.

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber

My in-person, IRL book club’s early summer pick. A review on Goodreads said this book was ‘like reading a Hallmark movie,’ which is very true. I wouldn’t say that’s a downside, although the small town bakery setting did make me crave pie. Fortunately, a fellow club member brought a pie to our meeting.

The book is billed as ‘magical realism,’ and I don’t really enjoy fantasy. I might not have picked this up if not for book club, which is a handy thing about being part of a book club. The magical element was fairly subtle with family connections and friendship taking center stage. It’s more a modern take on Southern Gothic than a fantasy novel, and I do love a Gothic setting.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry

This was a wonderful read! One of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. It’s the story of author Joy Davidman, who eventually married C.S. Lewis. Speaking of not being into fantasy, I never read Narnia growing up and haven’t read much of C.S. Lewis’s work. And this was the first I’d ever heard of Joy Davidman. That didn’t at all stop me from loving this novel. I even ended up checking The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe out of the library to read with my daughter this summer.

This book is a slow burn, but it’s not at all boring. Even without looking up the real story on Wikipedia (guilty), it’s a bit obvious what’s going to happen, but it’s fascinating how the author develops the characters both individually and within their relationship. The writing itself is beautiful and vivid. The book takes place in the 1940s-1950s, but highlights themes any female creative in any era knows all too well - putting her creative work last, trying to balance a family on top of a burning need to produce creative work, being underrated for dealing with ‘women’s’ topics.

I’m sure I’ll re-read this book in future and am also looking forward to exploring more of this author’s work.

Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri

A short (157 page) novel written as a collection of snapshots of the life of the narrator. All of the snapshots deal with themes of connection and isolation. Feeling alone while surrounded by others was a frequent topic in the book, which really hit home for me.

This was a novel that Lahiri originally wrote in Italian and translated into English. It takes place in Italy, and it’s fascinating how she treats the setting. A lot of U.S.-based authors romanticize European settings, but Lahiri described a beautiful setting while keeping a realistic and pragmatic eye on it. For being a short book, it took me a little while to get through.There’s a lot of food for thought in each snapshot chapter.

The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine

I read this on the recommendation of Suzanne, who was featured here a few weeks ago! It reminded me a bit of The Lost Summers of Newport above, except it’s set off the coast of Scotland.

This book is very long - I’m a fast reader and had to renew it twice - but I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the island and the intricate mystery that’s drawn between two separate plots. The story switches back and forth between 1910 and 2010 with clues to the mystery woven through both narratives. Like the book above, I didn’t see the plot twist coming. If I fail to predict the ending, that generally esteems a book in my eyes.

We’re also full speed ahead on the summer reading challenge with the Dayton Metro Library. Our house has already grown by a new book and a rainbow unicorn pop-it, which means DML has clearly done their due demographic research on the intended audience.

I hope you get the chance to enjoy a book this weekend!

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. I got very tired of painting by the end of this, although now I’m itching to pick up the paint roller again. Believe it or not, we still have a handful of paint jobs left to do.

Farrow & Ball is my go-to paint. Back during the pandemic when I was on Zoom all day and painting all evening, my poor coworkers had to hear me wax poetic about a premium British paint brand. I became this SNL sketch.

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In all seriousness, it’s my go-to for a reason. Painting is one of the home renovation instances when I’ll never use the budget option. Paint quality makes a tremendous difference to the overall look and feel of a home. F&B paint is more vibrant and livelier than anything else out there. Plus, I find the color selection is more sophisticated and more curated than other brands.

Back before I started using F&B, of course I was searching the Internet for things like ‘is farrow and ball worth it.’ It’s twice the price of Sherwin-Williams. That’s worth doing a little homework. I stumbled across some common caveats - the same ones were turning up in every search. Fortunately, all or most of them are untrue.

You can’t touch it up - Yes, you can, and I do it all the time. We’ve dinged the walls moving furniture and throwing toys and hanging paintings. Spackle, primer, and a touch of leftover paint is not at all noticeable. One thing they tell you never to do is use a sample pot for touch ups. This is also a myth. I’ve made plenty of seamless touch ups with a wallet friendly $8.50 sample pot. (Note that sample pots only come in the Estate Emulsion finish, so it will only work if you’ve used Estate Emulsion on your walls.)

It’s a disaster around kids/pets - Estate Emulsion (their signature chalky finish) is not the best choice for certain areas of the house. That’s true. I painted a room that was earmarked as a quiet adult sitting room using Estate Emulsion. Through the child’s right of eminent domain, that space is now a playroom. The Estate is holding up well, but I wouldn’t have done that on purpose. This very afternoon, said child accidentally splashed a full 16 oz of water across the Estate Emulsion wall as I was working out, and I think the paint has survived.

Modern Emulsion is key for high-traffic areas - our daughter’s room and the sun parlor which serves as a family room/kid art room/mudroom are painted with Modern Emulsion. F&B also has a newer finish - Dead Flat - which is both scrubbable and low sheen. I’m tempted to try it in the upstairs hallway and will post the results if I do.

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You can just color match with cheaper paint - Yes and no. The real thing has more pigmentation and is made with natural ingredients, not synthetic ones. I never color match when painting large surfaces or statement pieces like our china cupboard (F&B Pitch Blue in Modern Eggshell). However, I’ve gotten excellent color matches from Sherwin-Williams. Since this is F&B, every paint on the market is technically a ‘cheaper paint.’ The key is not to use a cheap paint. S-W Emerald is a great option for woodwork, and PPG Break-Through 250 is gold for ultra-high-traffic surfaces like mudrooms and kitchen cabinets.

The coverage is terrible and you have to do a million coats - The coverage is amazing, especially if you use good quality painting equipment. I have plenty of leftover paint every time - perfect for the touch ups described above! As long as you follow the directions and use primer, you’ll only need to do two coats.

Here’s a list of the F&B colors I’ve used in my home so far - if you’re planning to use any of these and have questions, I’d be happy to help!

-Dimity (Estate Emulsion, formal living room walls) -Pink Ground (Modern Emulsion, sun parlor walls) -Pitch Blue (Modern Eggshell, china cupboard) -Yeabridge Green (Estate Emulsion, guest room walls) -Clunch (Color matched Emerald Satin, guest room woodwork) -Dayroom Yellow (Estate Emulsion, master bedroom/sitting room walls) -Wimborne White (Color matched Emerald Satin, master bedroom/sitting room woodwork) -Cinder Rose (Modern Emulsion, Child’s bedroom walls) -Great White (Estate Eggshell, Child’s bedroom woodwork) -Cabbage White (Color matched Emerald Satin, hallway woodwork)

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I love the bright colors and fun patterns you wear - both in your store-bought and self-designed clothes. What inspired your love of pattern and color?

Ah what a great question! Since I was little, I’ve always been drawn towards bright colors and florals. I’m not sure what it is…but certain combinations just bring me so much joy. I can’t help but smile! But then, as I got older, I was socialized more into “how” I should dress. Like a sponge, you almost automatically start dressing like your peers, and for various “ perceived “ standards and codes. 

If I’m being honest, it wasn’t until the Pandemic when I fully reconnected with my love of color and patterns. All of that time alone really forced me to reassess how I was dressing and who I was dressing for. The answer should always be myself! 

If I like a piece of clothing or a fabric, my heart sings a little. No joke! So that is my process now for determining what I want to wear and create.

How did you get started creating your own clothing? What would be your advice to someone who's interested in learning to sew their own clothing?

When I was younger, I took a few sewing classes over the summer, and a fashion design class in high school. However, after that my sewing machine went untouched until the Pandemic! I remember being at home in 2020 and in search of some fun new dresses. The options were so limited, that I finally was like “I know I can do this!” 

I had this great pink and white striped fabric from Rifle Paper Co stashed away, and within a few hours I made a basic shift dress with it. Let me tell you, there is nothing more satisfying than making a piece of clothing that you love. And then I was hooked! I haven’t stopped sewing since. 

For new sewers, the most difficult part is learning how to use your machine. Threading the needle, the bobbin etc. takes some getting used to. If you have a machine (or even if you don’t !), I’d see if your local sewing store offers classes. Once you have a few classes under your belt and you feel comfortable, you’ll be good to go! And always start with an easy project - like making napkins or a table runner. Etsy also has lots of fun patterns for clothes, and is such a good resource!

What's your favorite garment you've ever made and why?

This is a hard one! I feel like each year I make a few dresses that I love and wear them all the time until I can’t wear them anymore.

However, if I had to choose, I think it would be the blue and white dress I made for my engagement party. Originally I’d sewn a completely different dress for the party…but when I put it on, it just didn’t feel like me. So I scrapped it and started again! The final dress has the most beautiful blue and white floral pattern, with a v neck, slightly puffed sleeves and a tiered skirt. It’s timeless, and I find myself wearing it again and again! 

Moral of the story is always go with your gut. You know what feels most authentic to you, and when you wear that item of clothing, you’ll be unstoppable!

You post such beautiful illustrations/paintings, floral arrangements and garments! What have been your biggest influences as an artist and what type of work do you enjoy creating most?

Well thank you so much for that compliment- it means a lot! I find inspiration from all over, whether it be from a book from the library, an image I find on Pinterest, a beautiful flower I see on a walk, or a little detail on an antique chair at a museum! I am constantly snapping photos on my phone (don’t ask me how many!) of anything that catches my eye. And travel! Travel is so inspiring and helps get me out of my routine, which I think is important. 

Currently, I am really enjoying creating custom paintings for clients. Recently, I’ve done a few animal portraits and graduation gifts, which are so fun. I’m a big believer in celebrating special occasions, so I love being able to help the gifter make a really meaningful and one-of-a-kind gift. 

But I’d also like to figure out how to offer some sewn items as well. Sewing for me is very personal and each item I create is a little piece of art. Due to fast fashion (and fast everything), it’s a bit hard to convey this concept of fashion as art to clients. However…I’m willing to try! 

Your creative work and your clothing/accessories really seem to echo and complement each other. How would you define your style - both your fashion style and your style as an artist? 

I would consider my style to be feminine maximalism with a touch of whimsy. More is more! 

After I was in Greece last summer, I also understood why I love blue and white so much. It’s literally in my blood! The blue of the sea and sky contrasted by the white washed buildings is a perfect anchor for my style. When I don’t know what to wear, I’ll oftentimes find myself reaching for one of my blue and white dresses. 

All images appear courtesy of With Love by Bug and may not be reproduced elsewhere.

I wrote the ‘Summertime Musings’ post below as last summer was getting underway. Writing a similar post this summer has been hard to come by. I don’t want The Life Edit to be the ‘ranting about technology edit.’ I happen to enjoy technology, but it seems more like an intruder during the summertime than any other time of year. Who can sit in a grey cubicle under fluorescent lights and talk about Chat GPT when there’s a thunderstorm ripening, strawberries turning deep red, flowerbeds in full bloom?

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So much emphasis now seems to be on perfecting artificiality. Better chat bots. A perfectly curated social presence. Strawberry flavoring ripe with Red 40. In the season when everything in nature is fully alive, it’s a jarring contrast.

We’ve been trying to spend as much time offline as possible this summer, so we can just get out and enjoy. Last weekend, we managed to turn a public sculpture into a playground. (It was totally legal and no artwork was harmed.) It was a simple thing, followed by a walk around the nearby pond, but I keep thinking about it. My daughter already watches more YouTube Kids than I’d really prefer, and as she goes through school, her life and career are going to be shaped by things like fake chat bots in ways we can’t yet imagine.

My hope is to be more intentional this summer about providing moments like our summertime sculpture walk. Time that’s only about connection with each other and with the tangible.

Summertime Musings (repost from May 2022)

It’s unofficially officially summer. I have to be honest - summer is not my favorite season. It’s only been within the last few years that summer’s charms have grown on me. As a small Type A that grew up into a bigger Type A, being off school was nice, but not the end-all, be-all of life. Although my husband and I both work year round, as our daughter has entered elementary school, it’s been more fun to have her off school for the summer than it was to have been off school myself.

Experiencing summer with my daughter is a great deal like giving a gift. Despite it not being my favorite season growing up, I have thousands of memories of wonderful summers. My family traveled quite a bit in the summertime. On Hilton Head Island, we ate fresh mussels at a paper-covered table overlooking the sea. I learned the art of dressing for tennis much better than I learned the actual game of tennis. My brother and I were allowed to ride our bikes to the general store for tiny cups of Ben and Jerry’s. In Vermont, we enjoyed exploring a Waitsfield free of the skiing tourists that usually crowded the shops and lunch spots. The town held a flea market in an open field, and Green Mountain Coffee was still just a local place to get lattes!

At home, we grew strawberries and roses and herbs. Living toward the western edge of the Eastern time zone, we sometimes had light until almost 10 p.m., the perfect thing for late evenings swinging and catching fireflies.

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I keep thinking that my daughter will grow up and sit at a computer one day and write about all the things we’re doing now. Considering how frequently I hear ‘now take a picture of me,’ she’ll probably have a blog or a social media presence of some kind. It’s exciting to think that everything that’s happening now - school and her friends and the adventures we embark on together - will be part of the life story she tells her own children.

It’s also a bit daunting to think that she’ll always remember these things. As an aforementioned Type A, I’m fighting my impulse to try to make everything perfect. The real magic is not in staging everything. I’m shoving Type A aside to let the summertime unfold into its golden evenings and blueberry fingers and firefly jars.

And sleeping in. Even the Type A is always happy to sleep in.