January was the longest month, maybe ever!!! There were a lot of days–so many days–that just blend together, but I love to take a minute at the ended of every month to pull out a few highlights of the month.
We just got back from a wonderful work trip to Las Vegas where we shared with a bunch of designers how to grow an authentic audience online (after which my girlfriends flew out to spend a few fun days together!)
A few other highlights–I got a call at work that the girls wanted to go ice skating, and it was *just* cold enough in North Carolina to make it happen.
Lately, I feel like my nightstand has been a catch-all, and it’s maddening. I couldn’t sleep one more night with all that STUFF out. Shockingly, it took only four minutes to clean up. Isn’t that always the way with chores that plague us? Here, you can see only the essentials: my lip mask and my nightly (protein) hot chocolate.
Speaking of drinks, I went through the drive-thru at Sonic more than once this month for a large water with fresh strawberries and lemon water. I get thirsty just *looking* at this image.
You guys know I’m big on listening to audiobooks while doing chores around the house. This month, I finished “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett, and every last article of clothing was cleaned, folded, and put away. I give the book four stars. I give the laundry room five stars :)
Our girls have chores to do every day after school. My favorite is when they unload the dishwashers — because Chris is also in the kitchen, making dinner, and I love this everyday moment with my family.
My snuggle buddy waits every night for couch time — and I happily oblige.
I had a bit of a health scare this month: After a stomach ache that lasted too long, I was officially diagnosed with Celiac disease. Because I also have Hashimoto’s, I haven’t eaten gluten in years! However, we discovered that there were traces of gluten in my thyroid medication and other things, We changed it up, and I’m feeling much better.
I borrowed this camera when I shot Freddy’s nursery last June, and this month, I bought it for myself. It’s been too long since I got behind a real camera and I’m excited to brush up on my skills.
We get a lot of questions about our dinner bell, and it isn’t available anymore. But this is the one I’d get if I had to buy one today. A couple other options here.
I’m romanticizing my life this year by stocking ribbon for every occasion. I bought these black hearts for Valentine’s Day, but I think moody love is good all year round. (I bought the I Love You ribbon as well.)
Chris uses these gloves to break up brisket, but you could use them for anything that’s too hot to handle.
I added Her to my vase collection this month. Isn’t she lovely?
I bought this bed for my parents this month. Can you believe that they’ve been married for 43 years and they’ve never slept in a king-size bed?! This is sturdy and handsome and affordable. They’re loving it.
This brush was so good at de-tangling Polly’s hair that I bought one for myself!
I added this stately lamp to the study this month, and it looks so good over the club chair that I just want to curl up with a stack of magazines and zone out.
Chris has been buzzing up everything in this express chop this month! My favorite: the toppings for nachos.
These are my all-time favorite sunglasses! I thought I lost them forever, and then I found them in an old purse! Reunited, and it feels so good…
Chris got this for my for my birthday in November, and I love all of the health info I’m getting on the daily, including blood oxygen level, hours slept, resting heart rate, skin temperature, and steps taken.
I’ve been filling this out every night, and I’ve felt such a change in my mood and my mindfulness.
We added curtains to the living room this month, and I love how homey and comfortable it feels in there now. If you’re not sure what your room is missing: It’s curtains.
I bought this silky little number, and a matching sweater to go with it. Butter yellow is my color of the year.
This month, we refreshed and restocked all of our dinner plates, salad plates, low bowls, and cereal bowls — with enough place settings to host our big families when they come over :)
Oops. I think I wore this hoodie every day this month.
Our wood grain Shaker cabinet fronts were designed for busy, high-traffic homes like ours. Clad with durable textured thermofoils, this line is compatible with Sektion, Akurum, Godmorgon, and Besta cabinets from IKEA. It's the perfect, practical way to add the warmth of wood to all the rooms of your home.
We have teamed up with Loloi to create a line of rugs that are as affordable as they are beautiful. This collection houses a great mix of traditional and modern rugs, in cottage-y colorways, as well as vintage-inspired beauties that you’ll want to roll out in every room.
We partnered with Stuga on a line of hardwood floors — The Ingrid is really livable, and the color is very neutral. It doesn’t lean warm or cool, it’s that just right in-between. We have really loved putting it everywhere in our house. It’s the best jumping-off point for design, no matter your interior style. In addition to being beautiful, Ingrid is really durable — we have three kids, and we always have a home construction project going on. Ingrid stands up to it all.
SHop all
Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop.
Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
It’s been over a year since we started designing our bathroom. We were working with Unique Kitchens and Baths for the cabinetry, and they came up with two different layouts. We selected one, tweaked it a bit and chose a lot of the finishes…annnnnd honestly we could never quite give the final “go ahead.” This […]
We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?
Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
Links
Get Around
Make yourself right at home
Portfolio
Design
Casual Friday
Projects
Lifestyle
Gift Guides
All Posts
Shop
RivrLinks
Links
Get Around
Make yourself right at home
Portfolio
Design
Casual Friday
Projects
Lifestyle
Gift Guides
All Posts
Shop
RivrLinks
Sonic ice is the best!!! Every day I get a Diet Coke with extra ice.
When my husband and I were shopping for a king-sized bed (after years on a double and then queen) another customer in the store heard our conversation and told us: This purchase will change your life. Owning a king-sized bed is AMAZING.
I ordered one of those Un-brushes this week and I am SO excited for it to arrive. Our brush situation is dire with our existing Wet Brushes breaking down after years of hard work. I love the venting which should make it easier to dry my hair (as in faster?)