The Easiest Kitchen Upgrade I Never Thought Of
A backsplash is not the only way to add color and pattern to the kitchen. A far more simple but similarly impactful project is to deck out the kitchen island instead!
Traveling Light with Tykes
Kids are accompanied by so much gear that traveling with them feels practically like a cross-country move, even for a self-proclaimed minimalist who tried to not acquire too many things to begin with. At least much of what we do own is lightweight and portable, even for items that we solely use at home.
Slurping Up Scallion Sauce
I have been making heaps of this ginger scallion sauce in the past few weeks, as it’s so simple but receives such a welcome reception from my 6yo, who otherwise would not touch ginger or scallion (or anything nearly so “spicy”) with a 100-foot pole.
Spring Siesta in Spain
After being grounded for seven years, we have finally taken an international trip after securing childcare for the kids so that we adults could get a chance to travel unencumbered. Hola, Madrid!
Finagling Our Fifteen Year Photoshoot
Hubby and I are celebrating our 15-year marriage anniversary this summer, which we managed to commemorate with a photoshoot on Stanford campus, despite the kids being, well, kids.
Welcome Home … Again
We’ve made a concerted effort to get everything done and our new home is ready for show-and-tell!
High Ceiling Headaches and Hacks
I made the mistake of not measuring the height of the ceilings in the new condo before going out to buy curtains, meaning that my purchases ended up being too short! But I employed three easy fixes that were quick to pull off and hopefully look intentional rather than accidental …
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.