Who could use a dinner idea that’s easy (like super easy), hearty, and delicious? How about the easiest lasagna recipe in the world?

Can I just start by saying this: frozen ravioli is a freezer must-have. It’s not like you can make that many meals with frozen ravioli, but it does make a pretty awesome weeknight lasagna. We’ve done a few variations over the years, but a good, marinara-sauced Ravioli Lasagna seems to be the favorite. And really, this is just baked ravioli, but saying lasagna makes it feel a little fancier, right? And it has all the basic components of lasagna — layers of noodles, sauce, and cheese. See? Lasagna it is. :)

Easiest Lasagna Ever! Make this recipe with Frozen RavioliRead More »

I can’t wait to introduce you today to Janice and her charming family of people and animals who live in Perth, Australia. She’s an artist, so are her children, and her husband is a musician — you can feel the creativity flowing through their home with the ongoing art projects, bright colors, and texture upon texture. And because the summers are mostly sunny and warm in Perth they have beautiful gardens and livable outdoor spaces. It’s also so interesting to hear about a totally different experience with COVID and the shutdown. Welcome, Janice!

Living With Kids: Janice GrantRead More »

Hello! I’m back in France and waving at you from the Tall House. I just got back yesterday afternoon — I was in the U.S. for two weeks. Mostly I was there to help my daughter Maude get settled in Charlotte, North Carolina. But I also spent a couple of days in New York on the way back to France. I received a ton of questions about what Maude is doing in Charlotte, and what I was doing to help her get settled, so I thought it would be fun to answer some FAQs.

I’ve also made some updates to the new Design Mom Office Hours program — I’ve held about 20 meetings so far, and I’ve loved every single one. I’ve also learned a ton and have made adjustments accordingly.

Click here to find the full newsletter (it’s free!) and link list.

Here’s a fast and easy project to try this week. It’s a project that will let your kids shine, and once you master the simple technique, you’ll want to use it in a million ways (Thanksgiving napkins! A Christmas tablecloth! A custom laundry bag!).

The technique is called glue-resist. You may be familiar with it because once, long ago, I shared a glue-resist project in my book. But this time we’ve made a big improvement. The basic idea is that you draw or write something with glue on a cotton fabric. Then you dye the fabric. Then you wash the fabric. And when you wash it, the glue rinses away, leaving your un-dyed design. The problem is, that when you put in the glued-fabric in a hot dye bath, it can make the glue dissolve. Tricky.

Then I had a Duh! moment. Why don’t I use cold dye? And why haven’t I thought of that before? So I tried it and it’s awesome.

Wanna try? Get your glue and let’s get started!

Make it! Kid-Designed Halloween DishtowelsRead More »

Chenay has been here once before, about a year ago when she talked about her and her then husband moving into a much smaller space. Well, since then she and her husband have divorced and while he stayed in the home they shared, she has downsized yet again and is now in a 400 sq ft studio apartment that she shares part time with her kids and full time with her two older cats. Chenay has great advice about moving on, living in a smaller space, and readjusting when life throws curve balls. Welcome back, Chenay!

Living With Kids: Chenay PointerRead More »

This week’s newsletter is about my new Design Mom Office Hours program (which you may have seen announced here on the blog yesterday). I also included a compelling link list if you’re in the mood for some weekend links. Enjoy!

Click here to read the full newsletter (it’s free!) and find my weekend link list.

Sheet Pan Dinner: Salmon with Curried Yogurt SauceRead More »

After a slow summer, work on the Tall House has started up again. I’ve got so much to tell you about! If you’ve been missing out on the Instagram highlights, this post will catch you up on several recent projects.

Tall House Updates: The Original Doorbell, Bathroom & Kitchen Updates, and an Upcycled WindowRead More »

Tomorrow marks 20 years since September 11th. Earlier this week, in discussions about that day, I saw someone ask: Wait… there were no baggage fees before 9/11?!?!?! 

Remember what air travel was like back then? The last flight I took before 9/11 was on August 2, 2001. I had a long flight to New York with my 2-year-old, Maude, and 4 year old, Ralph. I was also 8 months pregnant. Here’s what happened…

Click here to read the full newsletter (it’s free!) and find my weekend link list.

At first glance, I would’ve sworn Meta’s home was somewhere in Sweden. Denmark, possibly. Or Norway. It’s got all the markings of a home from that corner of the world, with its crisp white walls, heady bursts of brights, and edited knickknacks that look like they traveled a long way to get there. But, no…the Coleman home can be found in Utah!

This home tour isn’t all about pretty things and fresh decor. The Colemans endured a devastating loss earlier this year, and part of what inspired me most about Meta is the way she’s finding her way through the sadness to happy again. I wanted to share her story with you because I know there are many others trying to find that way, too. I hope this helps. And I truly hope you enjoy this tour. Friends, please welcome the Coleman family!

Living With Kids: Meta ColemanRead More »

Last week, we randomly met an American family who bought a chateau a few minutes from our little town in France! We couldn’t believe it — we so rarely see Americans around here, and if we do see them, they are typically just passing through on the way to the D-Day Beaches or Mont St. Michel. So it was really fun to realize we had new American “neighbors”.

The family is from San Francisco and they have two kids who match up age-wise with two of ours. They bought the chateau in 2019 and spent the summer there, but then the pandemic hit and they couldn’t come back till this summer.

They invited us over to take a tour of the property and I shared it all on Instagram Stories (Chateau Tour highlight). They were actually heading back to San Francisco just a few days after we met them, and it was such a happy accident that we found each other and were able to connect before they left town.

Would you like to see the tour?

Chateau Tour & Another American FamilyRead More »

It’s official: a new school year is upon us! And it’s time for a fun + desk-related project. This DIY incorporates two of my favorite things — fresh school supplies, and cement. Best of all, it’s not just for pens and pencils. This handsome + utilitarian item can be designed to hold any number and any size of desk accessories. The style and layout is all up to you.

Don’t be anxious about working with cement for this project. Yes, it requires concentration, a bit of muscle (which surely you have in spades), and an odd combination of working fast and waiting. But the end product is worth it. These heavy duty holders would look handsome on any desk.

Ready to get to work? Let’s go.

Easy DIY: Make This Industrial-Chic Cement Pencil HolderRead More »

I just saw an ad for an upcoming documentary about LuLaRoe, and now I want to talk about MLMs. What are your experiences with MLMs? Have you ever bought an MLM product? Have you ever sold MLM products? Have you ever seen relationships damaged from MLMs? Will you be watching the documentary?

I grew up in a community that embraced MLMs, and in the newsletter, I share some of my experiences. I’d love to hear yours too.

Click here to read the newsletter (it’s free!) and find the link list.

Don’t these Chicken Kabobs look amazing? At our house, we ADORE anything that even hints at Greek food (if a recipe includes feta, it counts!). Bookmark this recipe. You’ll want it the next time it’s too hot to cook in your kitchen — which might be tonight! Full recipe and notes straight ahead.

Dinner on the Grill: Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Kabobs with Whipped Feta SauceRead More »

Austin! I think of Austin the same way I think of all those other cities where the locals love life in it so much that they hate the thought of ever leaving. Right, Portland-New York-San Francisco-Asheville-wherever you live, too? Miranda loves it there, and from the way she describes it, I think we all might!

Have you met Miranda? If you’re a crafty one who likes to sew, throw parties, eat yummy treats, or get your DIY on, you may have already met her. If not, please allow me to introduce our sweet tour guide today. She is lovely, as are her home and thoughts she’s sharing with us. Welcome, Miranda!

Living With Kids: Miranda AndersonRead More »

Hey there. So much to talk about these days! How much I don’t know about Afghanistan. A new family portrait. More natural disasters than I can keep track of. Lots of LDS church drama. Big house projects. Family vacations. And so much more.

Click here to read the full newsletter (it’s free!).

When I was in fifth grade, my name written in bubble letters was how I personalized my notebooks. When I was in high school, I covered my textbooks in plain paper and filled them in with doodles — favorite band names and not-so-secret crushes. At the start of the school year, the clean surfaces of brand new school supplies offer such an inviting blank slate. For a sleek, modern twist on notebook personalization, create a DIY embossing plate from recycled cardboard. It’s a lovely way to add your mark to your school supplies.

Making your own embossing plate out of cereal boxes offers so much variation and freedom. The sky is the limit on shapes and initials. And once the plate is made, you can emboss to your heart’s content — the cardboard form will last a long time!

Chances are you have everything you need in your home already  — just pull that cereal box out of your recycling bin and let’s get started!

Make it! Embossed Folders Using Recycled Cereal BoxesRead More »

Stasia is a bright ball of enthusiasm and infectious energy. She tells a story with all-caps words highlighted to make sure you’re getting it, to make sure you’re feeling it. I did and do. You will, too.

Come meet her, please. Welcome, Stasia!

Living With Kids: Stasia SavasukRead More »

We finished the bricks in the dining room! The whole family helped and it was such a good and satisfying project. You may remember our brick adventure began with bricks in the powder room, and then we extended those to fill in the bricks in the entry, and the dining room was the last section we needed to fill in. It feels great to have the brick work completed.

Come see how they turned out.

Tall House Updates: More BricksRead More »

Dutch oven cooking is one of life’s pleasures. It’s hard to duplicate the feeling of cooking outdoors in a big, cast-iron pot over hot coals. It’s hard to duplicate that flavor too — a cross between cooking over a fire and using a slow cooker.

Dutch oven cooking has been around for years and years and years. Now that most of us do our daily cooking indoors on and in modern stoves and ovens, it seems like Dutch oven cooking is more for hobbyists and campers. If you haven’t enjoyed Dutch oven cooking as the cook or the eater, you’ve been missing out! It’s a lot of fun.

Dutch oven cooking might seem a little intimidating or complicated. I totally get that! But what you put into the Dutch oven is pretty simple and uncomplicated; the cooking part is where it can get a little tricky. There’s a bit of a learning curve to get the timing and temperature just right, but once those two things are covered, you’ll be set.

You can cook or bake practically anything in a Dutch oven — they are incredibly versatile. Over the years we’ve modified old family favorites for use in a Dutch oven as well as finding new ones. Keep reading for recipes, notes, and everything you need to know to get started.

Ultimate Guide to Dutch Oven CookingRead More »