Looking for an easy way to meal plan for the week? This DIY Chalkboard Menu Planner is simple to use and keeps everything organized. This is the kitchen at our […] The post Meal Planning 101: DIY Chalkboard Menu Planner appeared first on Thistlewood Farm ..read more

Right here where the ocean meets the sky is my yearly summer view of the Cape Cod bay. It’s a bittersweet view. So many stories of life and love and joy and family have happened right there on the ocean sand between low and high tide. And then? There’s the story from that beach that I’ve never really shared before. A story of loss. A story full of sadness. A story that brings me such pain that I tear up every time I try and write it down. Even now—as my hands hover over the keyboard—I want to pull them away. I want to tell them not to type the words. I want to tell them it’s too hard and I d ..read more

Looking for tips and ideas for organizing a small closet? Here’s how to transform a small closet in an afternoon. // blue and white dress (on sale right now) // There’s a little stretch of beach on Cape Cod I’ve been visiting my entire life. You wind around through the back roads and crest the hill and smell the ocean and see the waves crashing against the shore and you know it’s the beginning of another summer at the ocean. I have one of the bedrooms at the front of our family beach house with a view of the ocean. It’s been my bedroom since I was little. I love the sound of the waves outsid ..read more

Random thoughts on a Saturday morning with the sun hopping up over the ocean: 1. It’s official. Our virtual summer reading challenge book is…. …SWAN SONG by Elin Hilderbrand. If you’d like to participate in the virtual summer reading challenge you can read all about how it works here. And you can see “Swan Song” here. 2. Have you ever made cucumbers with vinegar and lemon pepper seasoning? It’s the perfect cool treat for a hot summer day. 3. It was an amazing week on the blog. We talked about 9 simple storage hacks that work how to build a giant abacus lessons from a painted stool these fun ..read more

Want a fun DIY project to try out? This step-by-step guide on how to make a giant abacus is easy to follow and comes together fast. Okay—I know what you are thinking. You just saw this room last week. If you missed it, you can see it here. But in all my rush to share the new quilt I found and how I’m all about house baskets and simple ideas to make your room look lighter and brighter for summer, I overlooked something. See that giant something on the wall in the back? The thing hanging over the dresser? In case saw the pictures and emailed me or messaged me asking what it is? It’s a GIANT ab ..read more

Not to be dramatic… …but books have changed my life. They’ve changed the way I write. They’ve changed the way I talk. They’ve helped me with the SAT and the GRE and a zillion other tests. They’ve introduced me to plethora and facsimile and myriad and unwieldy and a zillion other words that you don’t find a lot in conversation but you can find between the cover of a really good book. There’s just something about a book. You know—the ones that you hold in your hand and they make you smile and laugh and cry and feel all the emotions as the words leap off the page into your heart. Sigh. Books ar ..read more

Random thoughts on a potentially amazing yard saling Saturday morning: 1. There are so many yard sale signs in our neighborhood. My pockets are full of optimism and $10 bills. Here’s hoping. I’ll keep you posted. 2. Has anyone tried cotton candy grapes? I love a fruit that tastes better than candy. 3. It was an amazing week on the blog. We talked about the outfit that understood the assignment 9 simple storage hacks that actually work 9 easy ideas to update bedroom 17 affordable blue and white pillow covers 4. I just realized that football season is five weeks away. My heart is already bea ..read more

//blue and white planters// Random thoughts on a sunny Saturday morning: 1. We are in the middle of potentially wallpapering the downstairs bathroom. I say potentially because I’m a little scared of wallpaper. I’ve taken more wallpaper off from rooms than I can even count. And now? I’m contemplating putting some back up. I think I need prayer. 2. I can’t get over my nails. They are so long and shiny. And it’s all thanks to this. 3. I just finished my next Elin Hilderbrand book (I’m kind of on an Elin Hilderbrand roll). Since we are heading to Nantucket this month, I just finished The Hotel N ..read more

I hope you had an amazing Fourth. Around here it was kind of next level. We had the entire family over for hamburgers and hotdogs and relay races. We had the bandana race and the egg toss and the doughnut eating contest and the water balloon toss filled with giggles and laughter and family. And then? Whitney created these red white and blue drinks for us. We layered white lemonade, blue gatorade and cranberry juice. The layers stay in place because of the different sugar content. And it was tasty. The Fourth was definitely amazing–but you know what’s even more amazing? The Fifth of July. Why ..read more

Looking for last minute Fourth of July desserts? Here are 5 simple and easy recipes that are perfect for the Fourth. Maybe it was all those summers I spent on the Cape and celebrating the Fourth at the heart of where our nation was born. Maybe it was the fireworks over the ocean and the bicycle parade and the streamers and the wheelbarrow races and egg toss and the fifty-yard dash. Or maybe it was the sense of accomplishment I felt with my incredible flag-making skills. I may have mentioned it once or twice, but a long time ago in a star-spangled parade, I was Betsy Ross. I spent the two mil ..read more