Functional Decor FTW
In my pursuit of minimizing the amount of stuff in my home while stopping short of stripping it bare, I am always on the lookout for functional decor ideas. It’s all well and good to display art and things I like to look at on my walls and my horizontal surfaces (which I do!) but it’s even better if they serve a function besides eye candy.
The Day Has Finally Come: We're Home Rentowners!
After many years of waiting for the right time, we have purchased our first home (which is more like a glorified rental TBH) through Stanford’s extensive faculty housing programs.
Making The Cut: Moving Edition
I usually take my time deliberating what to add or remove from my home, tweaking rather than overhauling, but a move is the exception. A lot of things are coming in and out at once as I prep for our new home, and only time will tell if I miscalculated or missed something.
The Kids’ Collage Corner
Despite not planning to retain any of the kids’ artwork, I’ve recently started to keep a few pieces to tape up in a growing gallery wall. Idk if this is here to stay or a passing fancy, but the process has been fun and not too onerous yet.
Mix and Match Recipes: Lazy Linguiça Leftovers
So much sausage, so little time to finish it all, but we made it (har har, get it?)
Why I Redesigned Our Living Area
I planned the layout and decor of our current home far in advance of moving, and while I largely liked it, I realized after a few months that a couple things could be improved. In a small, multifunctional space, rearranging furniture can feel like playing Tetris, but every tweak brings greater functionality and enjoyment.
Picky Palate Problems
Raising kids is difficult in so many ways, and ours certainly don’t make our lives easier with their picky eating. While I can blame nature (genetics) all I want, I still have to nurture (feed) the kids as best I can within a very limiting set of constraints.
A Simultaneous Stroller Switch
We’ve made some changes to our fleet of kids’ wheels as our old strollers are getting rickety but the kids still aren’t ready to go everywhere on their own feet yet.
Making the Cut: No TV, No Problem (Yet)
Between the laptop, tablet, and 2 smartphones, our family of 4 rotates screens depending on what each person is doing. We haven’t felt the need to have a TV since we said goodbye to ours 5 years ago.
Toddler Bed Transition
Our toddler abruptly decided one day that she’s done with her crib, and thankfully it’s been a smooth (if sudden) transition both routine-wise and furniture-wise.
Faux Tassel Chandelier: A Renter-Friendly Decor Hack That Requires No Wires
A chandelier adds instant definition and personality to a space, IMO. I decided to make my own faux “chandelier” for our dining area, so I could get just what I wanted within the constraints of apartment living.
Toodle-oo, Textiles
I periodically unearth pain points in our home as my life, needs, and pet peeves change and evolve. Some can be easily remedied while others are out of our control. This time, it’s the former category — we are waving toodle-oo to our textiled wall decor.
Two Years Out, 100% In
Two years after going on mat leave for the second time and then deciding not to return to work, I find myself happy with my choice to leave the corporate world. There has been a lot keeping our family busy, and it’s refreshing to finally have the bandwidth to manage the chaos.
Family Planning Flubs: Our Birthday Blunders
In my mind, there is an ideal time of year to have a birthday, and I’m afraid I flubbed it with both of my kids. Flippancy follows, you have been forewarned!
Our Summer “Micro Trips” This Year
With a 1.5yo and a 5yo, we are decidedly unadventurous when it comes to travel. But we do our best to find close(ish) destinations that still offer a change of scenery. Our summer this year was bookended by two trips: Pasadena in June and Santa Barbara in August.
Mix and Match Recipes: Summer Salad Season
What have we been eating every week this summer? Bean salads + BBQ, it turns out.
Half a Lifetime, A Whole Life
Happy “Christmas Eve in July” to my one and only. I was on this earth for 6,529 days before we officially started dating, and today marks 6,529 days together since then.
Return of the Professor
We have made a decision as a family for my husband to return to academia (he will be a professor at Stanford starting fall 2025), and we are ready to put down roots after 18 years of repeatedly moving around. Academia comes with a set of challenges, but also holds many advantages for our family. We are so excited and grateful to begin this new chapter together!
A Tailored Toddler Timetable
Even though I’m no longer in a corporate role, I still keep a busy daily schedule, one that’s now tailored to my family’s needs. A full-time parent’s job can be exhausting and all-consuming, but for the time being, I’m letting it consume me and feeling grateful to have the option.
Two Adults, One Family Laptop — The Verdict So Far
After years of each having our own personal laptop (and in my case, also a company-issued work laptop), I decided to move us onto one family computer for my husband and me to share. It’s not perfect, but if it works 80% of the time, I consider it worth it to get rid of unsightly devices and cords!