It’s been noted a few times in these tours that a homeowner’s true nature appears during a renovation. A worrier worries even more, someone who has a hard time making decisions will probably be on the phone (or maybe Pinterest!) a lot, and a procrastinator will get to that project tomorrow. Or next Wednesday. I’m intimidated by Jillian‘s reno-style: She had a home water birth at 11:00 am, and renovations were back on by two that afternoon! So remarkable. As is this tour, especially for those of you interested in eco-friendly renovating and decorating. Enjoy, Friends! Hello! I make this home w ..read more

Rachael Weesjes is an esthetician, and she generously offered to share her fabulous at-home concoctions to solve our skin concerns. These are natural, food-based, creams and cleansers — I’m betting you’ve got all the ingredients you’ll need in your kitchen right now. So let’s get started! Glowing skin, straight ahead! Here’s what Rachel says: ACNE-PRONE AND OILY SKINA lot of people avoid the word oil when it comes to buying products for their skin. They think they have oily skin already and that’s a bad thing, so adding more oil to it will make it worse. But I wish everyone would throw that mi ..read more

Something we miss when we’re in France is American ice cream. There’s no question France is very good at desserts, in fact, France is very possibly the reigning dessert country in the world. But I confess, I much prefer American ice cream to French ice cream. This is mysterious to me, especially since I live in Normandy, the famed dairy region of the country. The dairy products here are insanely good. The cheese is legendary. The yogurt aisle is epic. But oddly, I find the cartons of ice cream in the grocery store freezer ho-hum (and even more oddly, they don’t really do chocolate milk — but t ..read more

It’s finally happening! You’ve been craving a retreat experience in Normandy for years — a chance to experience France with someone you trust — and now it’s a reality. Here are all the details: Come spend a week in France and experience Normandy like a local. Gabrielle Blair — designer, best-selling author, mother-of-six, and 7-year resident of a small-town in Normandy — has thoughtfully planned an exclusive itinerary, with beautiful details at every turn. And Gabrielle will join you each day on your adventures. During your week in Normandy you’ll experience what it’s like to live there, with ..read more

Question: Do you own a cast iron pan? And if yes, how often do you use it? I have been thinking about cast iron pans since this recipe post. I realized at the time that the only cast iron cookware we own are Dutch Ovens — the kind used for outdoor cooking or camping. And we rarely use them. A quick search on cast iron pans led me to this video, and now I’m dying to get my hands on one. I love the idea that they can go seamlessly from stovetop to oven. And I think I love even more that in the video, the voiceover mentions they get better with age. That is so appealing to me! Also, I had no ide ..read more

I smiled all the way through Heather‘s tour, but especially so when I read her clean house philosophy: “Our house will become a mess every single day. I accept that. I feel like we’re succeeding if at least once a day, the house is as neat as I want it to be, and at least once a day it’s as crazy as they want it to be.” It’s a refreshing compromise, don’t you think? Everyone seems to win, at least for a few hours! Friends, this is clearly a home where the children’s informal preferences have merged with the adults’ decidedly more formal leanings in every room, which must be a dream for th ..read more

My internet friend, Anette, sent me this chunky knit project, and I immediately wanted to share it with you. I continue to find big knit everything hugely appealing. This project is a thick wool cushion for your chairs, and it looks so cozy and easy to make — Anette knits these with her fingers! I want to make 8 of these for our kitchen chairs. Or maybe to use as a stack of floor cushions! Before we jump to the how-to, I’d love to know, have you ever knit something with your fingers? And do you know how to follow knitting instructions — chains, rows, casting on, etc.? I have experimented a bi ..read more

There are few parts of doing laundry quite as exasperating as folding fitted sheets. Not even missing socks can compare with the frustration of not being able to fold it just right so it sits nicely on the linen cupboard shelf. Fold and refold. Repeat. Get frustrated, roll the sheet into a ball, shove into cupboard, close door, walk away and find chocolate. Today’s the day you can toss all that frustration to the side. Your linen cupboard has never been quite so tidy and organized. For this how-to we show a crib sheet because it’s easier to demonstrate in the photographs, but this works just t ..read more

These brownies are chewy and moist, fudgy and thick. The caramel layer is soft and the sea salt just takes these over the top. Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat to end a date night or something to share with your roommate while you count the weeks to spring break, these salted caramel brownies are the perfect treat to share with someone at the end of the day! Salted Caramel Brownies Ingredients Brownie Batter: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces 1 ½ ounces unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped ½ cup + 2 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar 1 egg ⅛ teaspoon table salt ½ teas ..read more

I’ve always thought of Los Angeles as one of those cities where anything can happen. Scripts are pitched and sold and made into movies. Waiters turn into actors over lunch. You could round the corner and bump into a celebrity. You could round the corner and become a celebrity! Or. You could live out your own entertaining reality show, working and playing and coming home every day to the smiling stars you call your own. That’s exactly how Deborah and her family are living in L.A. Which is definitely a worthwhile paparazzi moment, in my opinion. Welcome, Deborah! We are so excited to be her ..read more