Happy Thanksgiving to all! Each year I style a table and try to make it both elaborate and fun. This year at my house, Thanksgiving looks a lot different. Some of you know that I welcomed a second child this summer, and life has been beautiful. Free time is scarce, though, so being thankful has been all about little moments of joy. On a day when my older daughter was home sick and my parents were kind enough to watch the baby, I set up a casual Thanksgiving picnic in my living room, and this photo shoot is the result. We’d painted the pumpkins weeks earlier. Mine was inspired by ’80s fabrics ..read more

We all want to be loved. Love My Way  by The Psychedelic Furs (1982) is one of the few songs I relish listening to from the very start to the very end. I’d like to think it’s because I’ve held my share of mallets as a former percussionist, but let’s get real–the song is simply gorgeous. From start to finish. It wasn’t until this year that I learned lead singer Richard Butler wrote it for a friend of his who was struggling to come out as gay. If you didn’t know that either, I highly suggest giving it a deeper listen while savoring the lyrics: When it comes to this song and enjoying it ..read more

Today’s post is about pasta. And unpredictability. Scroll down to revisit the beauty of one of the ’80s most beloved carbs. Keep reading if you’re feeling stuck these days... The new year is a fresh start. Like the ingredients in a pasta bar, the possibilities are endless. While this may be true during predictable phases of life, this hasn’t been my reality in years. I look back at countless “new year” posts I’ve written, and a good many of them begin with something along the lines of “this was supposed to be a new beginning, but life has dealt more than its share of challenges lately…” This ..read more

Fall is a magical time of the year. There’s finally some relief from the heat of summer. The nights are breezy and cool, and everything seems more vivid. To me, the moon and stars even appear brighter! There are amazing things happening all around us, but taking note of them is a conscious choice. This year has been incredibly busy, and instead of having time to savor a fall moment or two each day, I’ve had to dive head-first into some “reality check” projects and obligations that have consumed the majority of my spare time. But I’m determined not to let autumn pass me by. This post is a cata ..read more

Happy October! Today’s frosted pumpkin project is what happens when you take a mini pumpkin and try to turn it into a sugar cereal from the ’80s! While this year’s pumpkins were actually inspired by 1980s pottery, the end result was definitely more in the “looks good enough to eat” category than the fine art realm, thanks to a dusting of thick paint and glitter. Ready to get frosting?… Frosted Pumpkin Supplies The secret ingredient for this project isn’t sugar, and it isn’t glitter. It’s actually wall paint, which added a certain thickness and texture to the final product. However, any thi ..read more

Anyone else watch Season 2 of Physical this summer?! While it may be tempting to look at this Apple TV+ dramedy series as a depiction of how the 1980s made womanhood a unique challenge, the show has been surprisingly relevant amid the pandemic disruptions of today, especially for women trying to balance motherhood with any level of employment. In fact, viewing Physical as an ’80s fitness romp that celebrates the benefits of working out is a mistake. Disordered eating, infidelity and disconnection from oneself are a few of the series’ complicated themes. While Physical explores what it means t ..read more

Long time no talk!! I wanted to share a dining room makeover update with you–you can see a dramatic “before” and “after” pics at the bottom of the post, but trust me when I say that this space needed some brightening up. I also wanted to say that there’s no perfect time for a makeover. I’ve spent a LOT of time watching Architectural Digest home tours on YouTube, as well as reading design blogs where writers get a lot of free products in exchange for coverage. It can feel discouraging when your turn for a room makeover rolls around and you can’t gut everything, purchase all-new furniture and ..read more

When the holidays ended, my daughter and I weren’t ready to pack up the tree. The worst of the winter weather was still to come. Not to mention, the beginning of a new year isn’t always the clean slate that we hope for. Sometimes it comes with its share of challenges. Why have a dark corner in the living room when the warmth of lights is needed more than ever?! I got the idea to leave the tree up and cover it with a different type of holiday decor: hearts. When I looked online for inspiration, I discovered that the Valentine’s Day tree is a legit trend, rapidly gaining popularity. While our ..read more

If you celebrated Christmas in the ’80s, chances are your tree was a hodgepodge of various elements, from tinsel and colorful glass bulb lights to handmade ornaments crafted at school. On the other hand, some ’80s trees reflected a more sleek, modern approach, featuring flocked limbs and a deliberate color scheme. However you let your tree shine, today’s post takes a look back at some of the most memorable ’80s Christmas tree trends of the time. [photo above of A Very Brady Christmas, from Everett Collection via Decider] Tinsel Tinsel is hardly an ’80s-specific trend. In fact, many associate ..read more

Happy November! Today’s post all about fall table inspiration. With a dash of ’80s style and a few of my current favorite finds, I was able to create a spread that’s easy to throw together (but also achieves an abundant look). Use what you have and sprinkle in some found items from nature, and you’re set. Keep reading for all of the design details… The Palette Does anyone else get a huge dose of ’80s inspiration from movies set in the fall, such as Baby Boom? Cue numerous shots of seasonal foliage… I have my daughter to thank for most of the items featured in the center of today’s tabl ..read more