Podcasts about House Beautiful

Professional Organizer Helps Declutter Organize and Beautify Your Home and Your Life an Interview with Nikki Boyd (Episode 299)   Ecclesiastes 5:13 AMP “There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being kept and hoarded by their owner to his own misery.”   *Transcription Below*   Nikki Boyd is a professional organizer, author of the Beautifully Organized series, and founder of the At Home With Nikki brand. Known for her elegant yet practical approach to organization, she inspires women to create homes that feel calm, beautiful, and intentionally lived in. Through her books, courses, and social media presence, Nikki shares simple, thoughtful systems that help people simplify their spaces and live more intentionally each day. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Real Simple, and House Beautiful.   LOOKING FOR HELP WITH YOUR LIFE? VISIT OUR WEBSITE | SUBSCRIBE OUR CHANNEL | JOIN OUR MASTER COURSE Ready to get organized? SCHEDULE A VIRTUAL SESSION Grab the books: The Beautifully Organized Series  Connect with Nikki on social: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok   Thank You to Our Sponsor: The Sue Neihouser Team   Questions and Topics We Cover: Where do your clients typically feel most overwhelmed and what is your process for eventually leading them to experience more peace?  Can you give us the best place to begin decluttering today? What is the best way to begin both decluttering and organizing kid spaces in our homes?    Related Savvy Sauce Episodes: Relationships and Opportunities that Arise from Using Your Gifts with Founder of Neighbor's Table, Sarah Harmeyer, Episode 47 Best Cleaning Tips from Clean Mama, Becky Rapinchuk, Episode 128 Experiencing Joy, Nourishment, and Connection at the Table with Abby Turner, Episode 168 Making Your Home a Place of Love and Peace: Special Patreon Re-Release with Devi Titus   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:49) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Thank you to the Sue Neihouser Team for sponsoring this episode. If you're looking to buy or sell a home this season, make sure you reach out to Sue at 309-229-8831. Sue would love to walk alongside you as you unlock new doors.   I am so excited to get to host my guest for today, Nikki Boyd. Nikki is a professional organizer and also a prolific author. If you can see all of these resources, this is part of the Beautifully Organized series. Nikki is also the founder of At Home with Nikki brand. She is known for her elegant yet practical approach to organization, and she inspires women especially to create homes where they feel calm, beautiful, and intentionally lived in. She's going to share more of that with us today. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Nikki.   Nikki Boyd: Hi, I'm so glad to be here. Excited to be here.   Laura Dugger: Well, I'm delighted to get a chat with you, and I have to say your career absolutely fascinates me. So, will you share your path to getting to do the work that you get to do today?   Nikki Boyd: (1:49 - 7:21) Absolutely. It was very unexpected because a little secret, well, it's not a secret because I've been talking about ever since I've written my books, but I was a very messy child. So, as a child, you would have thought I would be doing what I do now. And so, it really was unexpected in the fact that I was a military spouse, just traveling around the world, supporting my husband in his dreams of being in the military and doing what he does. And depending on where we were, I would work different jobs. So, I have a very colorful work history and oftentimes frustrated by the fact of not being able to have a career and feeling like I want a career.   But it's funny how God works, and that's why we have to be patient, and we have to have faith because every last job that he provided added to my career today. And it was a necessity, and I didn't see that back then. And so, when he retired, he was like you supported me all these years. Now, it's time for me to do that in whatever your dream is of what you wanted to do. I had no idea what it was. I didn't know. I was like, what? I mean, I think I was right at 40 at the time, and I was like, okay, what is it I'm supposed to do? I'm trying to find myself at 40.   And so, I remember when we lived in England, I had went over a lady's house, and I had met for the first time, and she was having like this crafting party. And we went into a room in her home, and I had the best day. And she had, I believe it was 10 kids. They were a family of 10, yes. But it was the most peaceful environment. We sat there all day and crafted, heard no kids, had a beautiful time. When she was there, she was telling me back, this was years ago when YouTube wasn't a thing. And she was telling me about how, yeah, I like to film my crafts, and I put them on YouTube. And I was like, what is YouTube? Never thought anymore about it.   When we moved back to the States, I remembered just that experience. And I remember her saying the YouTube thing. And so, when I was trying to figure out what I was going to do, I said, you know what? Let me look into this. And just, I started filming myself, just doing whatever I was doing around my house. And then, the only person watching was my mom. Then over time, she said, put that there, put it out there. And I did. No one watched for the longest time, but I just enjoyed the process of feeling like I had that friend girl by my side in my home, as I went and organized and did the different things. And by this point, my home was my everything as far as providing for my family, a beautiful environment when they came home, and just being able to have a home that served others. And so, it just started trickling from then. People started watching. I started building a brand. And then, 2017 opened the doors to my professional organizing business, then started writing the books, five books in now on a Beautifully Organized series.   And even during that journey, I questioned God about it, because I would say I was about three years in where I wasn't really doing anything but filming. And I was like, Lord, this is not what I'm supposed to be doing. This is not a career. This is not... And I was battling with that. And I remember one night, I was in my bed and I couldn't sleep. And so, I got up and I got on my computer, and I had an email from a lady overseas. And she said, I just want to let you know that I got out of my bed for the first time in two years, because I lost my husband. I have three little ones. And I was just laying in my bed for two years, just numb. And I started watching your videos. And today, I got... You can imagine, I was tears. She said, “I got out of my bed for the first time. I organized my fridge. I set spaces for my kids' lunch. And I went out and bought me a teacup just for myself. And that to me was the first sign that God gave me that, Nikki, this does have purpose.   And so, I went on from that, and I just kept trucking along. And then as human as I am, a few years later, I questioned God again. I wasn't satisfied. And I was like, okay, God, yeah, I know, but I don't feel... I'm not feeling it. And he sent me another sign. I used to love covering. I used to love covering my Bible, making Bible covers. And so, I made a Bible cover on my YouTube channel. I was like, okay, I'm going to give away a Bible. We're doing a giveaway for a Bible. And so, I did the giveaway, just randomly picking someone, doing the thing. And then I mailed off the Bible. And I got a message from a lady, and she said, my goal when I got off work was to come home and to commit suicide. When I came home, your Bible was... I cry every time I tell the story. When I came home, the Bible that was on my doorstep, and I knew that was a sign from God that, hold on, hold on, keep going. And then I told the Lord from there, okay, I'm not questioning you anymore. This is the journey that I'm supposed to be on. And from that point, I just settled into it and grew from there. And that's what I do now.   Laura Dugger: (7:22 - 7:44) Wow. We got tears in my eyes from that story as well. Praise the Lord that you waited on Him, and you were still faithful in that journey, even when He wasn't showing you the whole path. But as a Jesus follower, Nikki, why do you think it is a worthy goal to pursue having a beautifully organized home?   Nikki Boyd: (7:45 - 9:48) Because that's how we serve others. That's how we do His work. That's how, not only when I say serve others, it's serving our family, along with our church, our community. When we establish an environment where we can welcome people in, or even if they're not coming into our home, where we're able to be in a spirit to where we can serve others outside the home. My kitchen is not chaotic, so I can make those cupcakes that I can take to church on Sunday, or I feel motivated and rejuvenated. I always say our home is our rejuvenation space. It's a space we come to to rejuvenate, and so that we can do the work we need to do when we walk outside those doors. And so, it just feeds so many things, along with it saves us time, it saves us money, it saves us from stress. And our God's an orderly God, and so we look to Him for that inspiration.   I always share too, is the first time when we open the Bible, we look at creation, and we see how He's the ultimate designer, and how He's so meticulous, and He's so thoughtful. And so, when I'm organizing my home, or decorating my home, I'm thinking like God did when He was creating the earth. He really took time and thought, and He rested Him. It was very intentional. And so that's a lot of how I like to approach our home, and how we set up systems, and how we work through the space. Because when you have a home that is in chaos, and when you have a home that just is overwhelmed with stuff, you're really just taken away from your family, taken away for yourself. I know I bought a wooden spoon. I know I got a wooden spoon here. Where's that wooden spoon? But then you have to go out and buy another wooden spoon when it's already been provided. Mm-hmm.   Laura Dugger: (9:48 - 10:05) So well said. And so, from your years of experience, where do your clients typically feel most overwhelmed? And then what is your process for eventually leading them into a place where they're getting to experience more peace?   Nikki Boyd: (10:06 - 11:38) So, a lot of spaces that clients are overwhelmed by, garages are big. The shoes at the entryway door, I hear that a lot, especially with families. You come in and the first thing, I always say your entryway is your first impression space. That's the first experience someone has when they walk into your home. And so, a pile of shoes is not the most engaging. And so that's a lot in the kitchen. The kitchen is a big... I guess there's a lot of places. Closets are big. Closets for my ladies, they're big. And so how I usually advise people is we have to start small. If you look at everything, the whole thing, you can get overwhelmed and your motivation can just diminish. So, I say, get those small wins in. Okay. So, we're at the entryway. Maybe just start with one thing. I always say, I like to use my senses to put things together. And so, I say, okay, how can I incorporate my five senses into the entryway? What I see, what I feel, what I smell. And just start with one thing. It may be the entryway table, the top of it. Okay. I'm going to take everything off of that. And I'm going to reset that today. I have that small win and then build on it. Tomorrow, it may be the shoes. Okay. The shoes. I'm going to create a system for the shoes. And the small wins is what equals the big... You know the story of the tortoise and the hare where you run that... You don't run that fast race with organization. You run the small race. Take your time. Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (11:39 - 11:57) Okay. That's helpful. So, when we're taking our time, do you even have a specific time limit? If somebody is just an average person with the average amount of stuff, if they want it top to bottom, their ideal home, is there a regular amount of time that that takes?   Nikki Boyd: (11:57 - 13:50) So, what I like to do, and I do this in my home still to this day, is I assign every room has a month. And so that way I'm very intentional. I'm focused on the whole house. I'm able to be very intentional. So, say the... I always start with the home office in January because that's when we need to go through our home files. That's when it's getting tax season. And so that's a great home office month. And that way you have all month to focus only on the office. So, I usually say, let me take the first three days and just sit in the office and think, okay, what works in here? What doesn't work in here? What do I desire for the space? And just kind of give yourself a couple days for that. And then the next day it'll be, the next few days will be about decluttering. Let me get everything out of this room that does not serve me in my current lifestyle, current life, because we want our homes to represent our life today, not our life 10 years ago. And so, then it's about taking a week and just decluttering the space. And then the next week it's about cleaning. Okay, now that we got all this stuff out, let's spend a couple of days cleaning. So having a whole month for a room, it really allows you to really be intentional, take your time, not stress yourself out, incorporate the family. And it's a great way of maintenance plan ongoing. So even though my home feels organized all the way through, it's great for maintenance because organization is not something that you do and you never have to do it again. It's just like cleaning. I wish I could clean one time and it's clean for the rest of my life, but that's not the reality, especially not with family. And so, the same with organization. So, I would recommend that, just kind of assigning every room in your house a month. Laura Dugger: (13:52 - 18:01) I like that pace. And I guess it's initially surprising, but Jesus always seems to have a certain pace that is wise and sustainable, and it does often surprise us.   We'll come back shortly after a brief message from our sponsor.   With over 28 years of experience in real estate, Sue Neihouser of the Sue Neihouser team is a RE-MAX agent of Central Illinois, and she loves to walk alongside her clients as they unlock new doors. For anyone local, I highly recommend you call Sue today at 309-229-8831.   And you can ask her any real estate questions. Sue lives in Central Illinois and loves this community and all that it has to offer. When unlocking new doors with her clients, Sue works hard to gain a depth of understanding of their motivations and dreams and interests in buying and selling their home.   And then she commits to extensive market research that will give them confidence in their decision. Sue truly cares for each of her clients and the relationship she forms with each family along the entire home buying or selling process. This was absolutely our experience when we worked with Sue and her team.   The house that we desired at the time was actually not even on the market, but Sue had a connection and was able to ask those homeowners if they would be willing to sell. She was timely in her response as she walked us through this whole process, and she helped us sell our home with the right offer coming in hours after it was listed. We kept saying she's thought of everything, and Sue's continued generosity was astonishing.   I remember one afternoon after we had settled into our new home and she was knocking on the door dropping off a goodie bag for our family that came from the local bakery. Our daughters also loved getting to know Ms. Sue as she assisted us in finding truly our dream home. So, whether you're looking to buy a home for the first time or looking to upgrade or downsize or making the big decision to move to an assisted living from your home of many years, Sue will be there to help you navigate the big emotions and ensure the process is smooth and stress-free and that the new doors to be unlocked are ready and waiting for more memories to be made.   So, call her today at 309-229-8831 or visit her website at sueneihouser.com. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Nikki, I love choosing a theme for every episode with a scripture verse, and we always include it at the top of our show notes for each episode on our website. So, the one that I selected for today is found in Ecclesiastes 5:13, and it says, "There is a grievous evil, which I have seen under the sun, riches being kept and hoarded by their owner to his own misery." And that just stood out at me when we were planning this conversation. And it reminds me of something that I noticed about the book written, I think I'm saying her name right, by Shira Gill. And it's the one where you were featured. So, it, for anybody who hasn't read it, it highlights various organizers. But you all seem to share this similar conclusion that in America, the most common problem that leads to disorganization and chaos in all of our homes is simply holding onto too much stuff. So, will you share more of your experience with this, whether that's for yourself or with clients that you've worked with?   Nikki Boyd: (18:02 - 20:46) And it's hard because we live in a society where consumption is encouraged. We can't look, right? And so, it's a hard battle to fight. And then it's multiple people in the home a lot of times. So, you got multiple people bringing in stuff. And so, it's important to really have decluttering as a focus always in our home and having a system to just kind of move things out in a timely way, because it's a struggle because we build this attachment to stuff, you know, and we build it up for different ways. Either we paid a lot of money for it, so we can't, it doesn't fit, but I paid good money for this, so I got to keep it, even though it doesn't fit, you know, or someone gave it to us. I really don't like it, but so-and-so gave it to me. So, I have obligation, you know, that sentimental obligation.   But one tool that I have used over the years that has been really successful in helping me rid myself of clutter is to think about it in a way of, I'm being selfish. And so there, you know, I don't ever use this cup. I do, but I'm just saying, I don't ever use this cup. There's somebody out there that needs a cup that could be blessed by it, but it's sitting right here in my home. And I have the opportunity to move it on to be a blessing to someone else. So, when I look at things in my home that I'm not using, I would say, Nikki, stop. That can be right now blessing. And I pray, but I pray, God, please help this to get where it needs to get. Please help it to go where it needs to get. And so that has really, for me, been a way to really, and not only for myself, but for my family, to encourage my family to say, hey, there's somebody out here that could use this toy. There's a kid out there that really, they don't have any toys, but if we donate it, their parents can afford this toy, you know? So just, you know, really thinking outside of ourselves with the stuff and thinking on how we can really serve others with it. There might be even people in our community, young couples that are just starting out, you know, we have silver pieces that we never used. We might've got it 20 years ago and never used it, move it on to someone else, you know? So that's really helped me with decluttering.   And then having a system for it, you know, having a system in your home where you really, really are actively moving things away from your home, you know? And so, one system that I love to use is having a place where I can just drop things that, like a basket that every time I see something that, oh, yeah, that could bless someone, boom. And then that way you can just kind of put it, keep it in, take it to your trunk of your car. And the next time you pass in through a donation center, you can donate it. Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (20:47 - 21:00) That's good. And that gives us purpose in this process. I really like that. So, can you give us, do you even have a recommendation just for the very best place if we want to start decluttering today?   Nikki Boyd: (21:01 - 23:14) In your home, you mean like where to start? Yes. Okay. Remember I said, start small. So, one thing that I recommend is going in your kitchen because I have not met a person who has not had what they call a junk drawer. And I don't like calling anything in our homes junk because we don't have junk in our homes. We have beautiful homes, right? And so, I like to call it the utility drawer. So go in your kitchen. If all the listeners go in your kitchen today and open that utility drawer, and that is the starting point. And what you want to do is the first step you want to do is you want to give yourself an immediate boost by just taking everything out of that drawer and sitting it on the counter and looking at your beautiful empty drawer. That's that instant motivation that you get from seeing it clean and empty. And then the next step is just to give it a nice wipe down and clean so that you know that this is your new, not junk drawer, utility drawer. Rename it. It's important what we say, you know, how we speak, you know, what we come out of our tongue. So, utility drawer. And then from that point, you have all the stuff there. And the first way to start tackling it is because if you're looking at a big pile of stuff, you don't know what you have a lot of times. So, we have to get like items together so that we can realistically see what we have. And so just take a couple minutes and just at the counter sort like items together, pins, sticky notes, just get all those like items together. And then you have a clear visual of, okay, why do I have 20 lighters? I don't burn candles like that, you know. So, then you say, okay, so I'm going to keep two lighters and then everything else goes to donate and just work your way through each category. But what you've done is you've broken it down, something that's a big blob of clutter into something that's reasonable to assess and then deal with. And then from that point, what's left, you then start with the fun part of putting it in your drawer, creating your sections, and then saying, okay, you know what? How about I donate all these lighters and just keep the pretty green one that I love? So that's how I recommend. So, start with that one junk drawer. And once you have that success, you've built the motivation to then move to another part of your kitchen.   Laura Dugger: (23:15 - 23:31) Okay. That's so interesting too, just even how you say pausing to appreciate that beauty of an empty drawer. And it is true that I think even clearing things out, that is an automatic win that makes the space more beautiful.   Nikki Boyd: (23:32 - 24:42) Yes. It feels good. Because you're feeling lighter, right? You got all the junk and stuff, let's not call it stuff, over to the side and you feel lighter. And even as hard as it is to declutter for a lot of folks, they feel so good after it's done. It feels so good once you get that stuff away from you. So, it's the same, you're feeling lighter. It gives you just a kind of room to breathe a little bit, and you don't realize it because we go through our day just working and living around all this stuff that really is just kind of heavy.   Laura Dugger: (24:43 - 24:47) Absolutely. Yeah. Kind of open up the windows and air it out.   Nikki Boyd: (24:47 - 24:49) Open up the windows. Yes, yes.   Laura Dugger: (24:50 - 25:07) Well, maintaining home order and organization becomes a lot more complex when we add more people into our home. So, what's the best way to begin both decluttering and organizing the kids' spaces in our homes?   Nikki Boyd: (25:08 - 30:07) So, when I work with families, a lot of times they want to jump right in and say, okay, they want to talk about the stuff and all that. And I always kind of say, let's back up a little bit because we don't want to go in and create all these systems and then try to introduce it to the family because a lot of times that doesn't work. We have to get everybody kind of together. And one thing that's huge for me, my parents instilled it in us as family meetings, like weekly family meetings, because just like if you think about a company, a company, if they did not have their team meetings and everybody just came to work and did their own thing, they couldn't be successful. No one's on the same page. No one's communicating. No one understands the mission and the goals, and you can't be successful that way. So, it's the same with our family. If we don't talk about our goals, if we don't have a mission statement for our family, how do we know as a family that we're on the same accord and how do we move? We live in the same space. So, it's important to kind of establish a family meeting, whether you even do it every two weeks, even if it's once a month, but just having that time where you come together as a family so that you can all be on the same page.   And I talk about this in my home planner, Beautifully Organized Home Planner, is establishing that mission statement. And that's so important because, especially for our kids, so that they know kind of how we move within our family. And so, as a child, I actually didn't know this, but as a child, I got my mission statement for my family as a child. The very first scripture, Joshua 24:15, my mom, do you remember the little bread box that had all the scripture? You pick a scripture a day. And the very first scripture I ever learned was, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The very first, and it's always stuck with me. And so that was when I became an adult, that became our mission statement for our family. And so, it makes it easy to kind of set the tone. And when you have the family meetings, you always want to set the tone with your mission statement to kind of keep reiterating that.   But then you want to also move into having those check-ins. A family is always coming and going all the time, right? And so family meetings give you the time to say, everybody go around, kind of, how are you doing? What's your highlight of the week? And what did you struggle with this week? And that gives you that moment to really make sure everybody is okay. One, the family meetings, you're teaching your kids how to communicate, how to work out problems, how to manage things. Have you ever had that situation where your kid comes to you at nine o'clock at night and said, hey, I got a school project due the next. We need to go to Walmart. I got a school project due. I need a poster board. Family meetings solve that problem because in that meeting, you're talking about, okay, what are our needs for this week? You know, what's the schedule this week? A lot of times as women, we take on a lot of the home responsibilities that really we should be teaching our kids so that when they leave the home, they have it. How to load a dishwasher, how to fold a towel. You can incorporate these small teaching lessons in the family meetings, you know? So, there's so many just benefits from that one, implementing that one system in your home, family meetings. So that's, for your listeners, that's the first thing that I would do. Set a time for family meetings. You may get resistance in the beginning. Push through. Because I tell you, when they get older, they will remember that and they will appreciate the time that you took to really bring the family together and have those meetings, even if they're kind of not appreciating it as young teenagers or kids. But that sets the tone. And even if you're single and you live alone, have your family meeting. You're still a family. You know, have that meeting where you sit down and you look at your budget, you look at your schedule, you look at kind of check-ins with yourself. You know, what was the tough for me this week? What was, you know, so whether you're a family of one or a family of 10, you know, that's the first start in that.   The next start is to not create systems on your own. You want the family to be a part of the process. So, one of the issues, I'll share a real-life issue that I really had in my home was I had, we're empty nesters. And so, it's just my husband and I and our two Yorkies. And my husband, he is who he is. I'm not trying to change him. When he comes in, he's going to put the work shoes here and he's going to drop this. You can follow the trail. And so, I was like, okay, by the front door, we don't need these shoes, you know? And so, I was like, okay, what can I do about the shoes to make him comfortable and me comfortable? So, I came up with, we got family shoes. So, I got these family shoes. They're the same shoe. They look kind of like, what's the shoe? Like clogs, but they're waterproof. What's the ones everyone has?   Laura Dugger: (30:08 - 30:09) I'm blanking on the name.   Nikki Boyd: (30:09 - 31:39) I can't remember. But anyway, they're shoes that, you know, I said, okay, these are home shoes and they're color coded. I have yellow, he has blue, but the simplicity of it being the same shoe takes away the visual color when you, visual clutter when you walk in the house. And it's great because we put them on to go walk the dogs. We go in and out all the time. We put them on and that's the only shoes that stay by the door, but it works. So how I had the buy-in, because if I just bought those shoes and put them there, he would probably walk past the shoes, and you know. So, what I did was I was like, honey, can we make a beautiful tray? I got this idea for us having home shoes. Can we make a tray? So, we Saturday, him and I together, we built this tray. He got out there doing this and he was invested because he built the tray. I ordered beautiful gold labels with his name on it, metal labels and very intentional. And it's gorgeous sitting by the door. It's so cute. He's sitting by the door and he has buy-in now because he made that tray. He's proud of that tray and he uses those shoes. He loves those shoes. And so, when we create systems, we want to make, find ways to incorporate the family so that they have a connection to the system. You don't want to just go put a bin or a basket and they expect the family to all kind of have buy-in with it. So that's how I would kind of move forward with incorporating the family with that kind of thing.   Laura Dugger: (31:40 - 32:30) I love all of that. And really, I just absolutely adored your recommendation for the family home meetings. I loved reading about that in your books. And one of them, it was from the Beautifully Organized Home Planner. You laid out even these titles. I'll just read a few of them. Going over the family schedule, meal planning, home issues, successes and struggles, home needs, like you said, maybe a family need for a field trip or home products to purchase, and teaching time, such as how to budget or how to fold a towel. And I love those practical tips. So, are there any other success stories from your family or others or final tips that you want to share about that home meeting, that family meeting specifically?   Nikki Boyd: (32:31 - 33:40) One tip that I think could be very helpful is when it comes to the meal planning, because that's always a stressor for a lot of families, coming home, what are we going to have for dinner? I didn't meal plan. So, one thing you can do is create a list, a running list of all your ideal meals for your family. It may be spaghetti and meatballs or steak and potatoes, just different meal combinations. And that is your master list of meal combinations. Then in your family meetings, it's not necessarily about trying to figure out meal planning. You just have every family member, okay, pick your meal that you want for the week. So, everybody is kind of contributing. If you're cooking five days out of the week, everybody picks a meal from the list. So, it's like you don't have to kind of think up a combination. You just kind of pick and plug and play. You know what I'm saying? So, I would recommend that creating a master list of combination meals, and then everybody just kind of choose a meal or you can use it solo. You can say, okay, I'm just going to shop my list and put it on the calendar. So that solves a big problem. That's been very useful for a lot of families when it comes to meal planning.   Laura Dugger: (33:41 - 33:55) Okay. I literally am going to start that today. Usually, my husband and I will come together and sync up our calendars and everything for the week, but this is good motivation. I think it'll be so much more beneficial to include the whole family.   Nikki Boyd: (33:55 - 34:27) And also, what's great about that is all of these things have multiple benefits. The other benefit for that is you're teaching the kiddos how to kind of coordinate, how to come together and coordinate together our meal for the family. Also, if you have that picky eater, you can kind of get buy-in because they've had the opportunity to really choose what we're eating. And so, they'll have a little more buy-in because that was their selection. So, there's several benefits from having the family put the meal plan together.   Laura Dugger: (34:28 - 34:40) I love that so much. And Nikki, do you also have suggestions for the simplest ways to stay on top of all the paper that comes into our home?   Nikki Boyd: (34:41 - 39:27) When you asked me in the beginning, what's a big problem? I didn't mention that, but paper clutter is huge. In fact, before the podcast, I had a client session and that's what we dealt with was paper. And so, one thing is just figuring out how can I stop the paper from coming in? Let's stop the problem, try to kind of halt the problem, and then we'll deal with the backlog. So, one is with mail. So, I like to say treat mail like it has a disease, like it has COVID or something. You don't want COVID in your house. So okay, when I go to mail, as I'm walking from the mailbox, I'm kind of like pulling. And then another thing is to have a sorting station. So, if you have family members that multiple people that have mail, or even if you're single and you have mail that's like maybe bills, and then you have maybe magazines, you can have a sorting system right in your kitchen or wherever you tend to drop that mail. But instead of having a basket where it just kind of piles up, have more of a sorting system.   And so, I like recommending... In fact, can I grab it real quick? Because in my session, I was sharing this with my client. Because so say you have, I love something like a box like this. It's an acrylic box and it's multifunctional in the fact that you can put your family calendar down in the front. And because it's acrylic, you can use a dry erase to kind of put your calendar items on. So, it's double duty. So, on the counter in the kitchen, you have your family calendar, or you can use it for the meals or whatever you want. But then you have your hanging files, and you can have one for each family member. Because sometimes you have kids in college that live at home and they get mail or your husband or whatever, or however you want to set it up. Everybody has your phone. That way when you come in, it's easy to drop in there. And I would even have one for magazines. What I would not allow in here is junk mail. I would take junk mail directly to the trash. I would also try to kind of eliminate as much junk mail coming into my mailbox. So, if you can stop getting the advertisements and getting the things with your bills, doing more electronic statements versus having to mail the statements, that can always be a game changer too. But this could be a great system for the mail and it's neat and clean and it kind of minimizes the paper clutter when it comes to that.   Another way is paper clutter that outside of mail that a lot of folks have is just like their home files. So, they don't really have a system for keeping home files. And so, it just tends to create piles around the house. And so, I've always, and again, when I told you that, you know, I had all those jobs in the past. And so I was in England, I was a registrar at a school, and I learned about a binder system there. They kept all their files in binders. And that's what I use for my home files ever since, because it was just like a light bulb. It was my aha moment. And it's basically having a binder for kind of the different categories of things that you need to keep on file. So, your home mortgage paperwork. So, I have one file where all the homes that you bought, you keep all of that paperwork in there. You have one for vital records, you know, just different things that you keep, you have in a binder. And it just is a really efficient way to create that home management, you know, that home file system and not have the papers all over.   With that, one thing that, so with that, like even with the system that I showed with the mail coming in, you have to tack on that component of, okay, I have to address things. So even if you come in and you put the mail in there, you have magazines in one, you have your mail, you can't just leave it, or it starts to pile up and that will get crazy. So, what I do is I always say Fridays at 2 PM is my cutoff. So, every Friday at 2 PM, I have to, before I go into my weekend, I have to clear out. So, setting a, just a intentional time that you do a clear out. So that is the component that a lot of people miss. Some people are good about putting things in a system, but that follow-up. And so, with any mail system or any filing system, you have to have that, that component. And I like to tie it to my weekend, just like if you were working a job, you know, you have to, if you don't clock out, you might not get paid. Right. They need to see that timecard, you know, back in the day now. But the same with, with this, before I start my weekend, I gotta clean up the mail bin.   Laura Dugger: (39:29 - 40:49) By now, I hope you've checked out our updated website, thesavvysauce.com, so that you can have access to all the additional freebies we are offering, including all of our previous articles and all of our previous episodes, which now include transcriptions. You will be equipped to have your own practical chats for intentional living. When you read all the recommended questions in the articles or gain insight from expert guests and past episodes, as you read through the transcriptions, because many people have shared with us that they want to take notes on previous episodes, or maybe their spouse prefers to read our conversations rather than listen to them or watch them now that we're offering video rather than just audio. So, we heard all of that, and we now have provided transcripts for all our episodes. Just visit thesavvysauce.com. All of this is conveniently located under the tab show notes on our website. Happy reading.   You also teach that another crucial factor of maintaining a beautifully organized home is keeping it clean and tidy. So, what's a realistic cleaning schedule that we could try out?   Nikki Boyd: (40:52 - 43:11) So, the thing that is just a game changer is the 10-minute sweep before you go to bed. Taking 10 minutes and just walking around your house and in 10 minutes, everybody in the house stops and just do whatever you can do. Put the remote control back, clean up the dinner dishes. Because if you think about it, if you're a family of four, 10 minutes is 40 minutes. That's 10 minutes of work per person. So that's a 40 minutes of cleaning. So that's one thing is incorporate a 10-to-15-minute sweep every night before you go to bed. And that's just walking around doing whatever you can do to pick up. Not structured, just everybody just pick up for 10 minutes, play music, play a song and do it for five minutes.   The other thing that works for a lot of folks that I've shared is when you end your workday or end your day, add on an hour. So, what I used to do is when I worked outside the home, when I got home, I used to love watching Law and Order all the time. And so, I would get on and I would put Law and Order on and that was a one-hour episode. And I would not sit down, and I would do everything for that one hour. I would clean up, I would get my clothes ready for the next day, I would prep dinner. So, I always told myself, I don't get off work at four o'clock, I get off work at five o'clock. And so, I had Law and Order in the background, it made me feel like I wasn't just not miss cleaning. I've grown since then. Now I love my inspirational music more. That was back in my day. We grow. But that one doing it that way, adding, tacking on an extra hour, it was great because the rest of the evening I had for myself. I mean, clothes were picked out, dinner was done, house was clean, no pressure. And so sometimes what we do is we come in and then we get distracted by the kids asking for this or doing this. And then we sit down, let me sit down a minute from work. And it just is, it takes our time. It just, it takes our time. But if we're very intentional about, okay, no, I'm not off work yet. Let me do this. And then I have the rest of the evening.   Laura Dugger: (43:12 - 43:26) So that's good. And I feel like that's kind of low hanging fruit that we can apply right away. Are there also any tips you have for what we should be doing weekly or monthly or quarterly or even annually?   Nikki Boyd: (43:27 - 45:37) Yeah, there's different routine. I think there's there in my book, I have it broken down. I think when you think of cleaning, you want to think of it, you have daily cleaning, you have weekly cleaning, you have monthly cleaning, and then you have quarterly cleaning, seasonal cleaning. Because there's seasonal things that you want to do to, again, go back to saving that time, saving that stress. And it's things like cleaning out the vents and even having the air conditioner service so that when the summer hits, you're not dealing with an issue. So, if we have these systems in place to tackle our cleaning at certain points, then it really solves a problem from having issues.   And so, what I would do is I would sit down and I would say, okay, the sweep that I talked about 10 minutes, that's a daily. So that would be my daily thing. And then I would not create a system at this point for me, I don't like to have to think about outside of my 10-minute sweep cleaning every day. I just don't. And so, I would just say, create a routine where you could maybe have one day a week where that's where you're tackling kind of the bulk of your cleaning, such as if you're mopping floors and handling your floors, handling the deeper items, dusting, those are weekly. So, I would do those weekly. But daily, the sweep, that helps maintain all of the other stuff in dishes daily, you have to do that. I like doing a dishwasher system of my family know, don't put anything in the sink. When you wake up, my job is the dishwasher stays empty for them. And then that way they always know dishes don't touch a sink, dishes touch the dishwasher. And then I make sure to have it unloaded by the morning at the start of their day so that they can then always unload. So, there's little systems like that to help keep things maintained as far as cleaning up, but I just don't encourage having a routine where you feel like every day I have to just spend a lot of time cleaning. But that 10-minute sweep is the secret weapon guys, the 10-minute sweep.   Laura Dugger: (45:38 - 45:57) I love it. And even the dishes example, it really doesn't take more effort to put it into the dishwasher. So, I love time-saving tricks like that. Are there a few more helpful ways that you can share how we can maximize function throughout our home?   Nikki Boyd: (45:58 - 50:39) Yeah, sure. So, God has given us a beautiful thing in our senses and what we see, what we taste, what we smell. And so, I'm always, you hear me say that all the time, use that tool he gave us to implement the systems in your home. So, when you go in a space, say, okay, when I walk in this space, how can I engage what I hear? How can I engage what I see, what I taste? And use that to start implementing the system of organization. And then the first step that I always tell everyone outside of that is, if you have a home right now that you feel it's just overwhelming, you don't know where to start, the family's just all over, it's just, we got a lot going on and I don't have time even at night because I got to go somewhere tonight. So, what I'll say is one, give yourself grace, start there, breathe, it's going to be okay. And remember, you can do this. The next thing is give yourself a small win, just immediately go to the utility drawer and say, that's the first, for everybody, that's the first thing, give yourself, because it's a proof to you, you know you can do it.   And then next, when everybody goes to bed tonight, get you a cup of tea or your preferred drink and go sit in the first space that's frustrating you, the main space. And don't put pressure on yourself to try to figure it out. Don't run out to the store trying to buy things and say, I'm going to get this place in order, the worst thing you can do. Just go have a cup of tea and sit in that space and breathe. And I promise you, and I think it's the point of just letting God, let you relax and give you the information you need to do what you need to do. And I find that when I sit in the space, it saves me money, it saves me time because I'm not going on my own accord, going out, running the target. I'm sitting here and I'm thinking, okay, this is a lot, this is a lot, help me figure this out. And when, after I just sit there and be, I start the process of just trying to figure it out and say, okay, the first step I'm going to do is I'm going to go get a box and everything that's trash, I'm going to put in here and get rid of all the trash and just steps, incremental steps, trash, then things. Okay. I'm going to shop. And I like using that word shop. I'm going to shop my room, this room, this is the room of the month. I'm going to shop this room for help. Who can I bless? Who can I, what can I take and bless? You know what? I really don't, I don't use this. Let me send that off. And then you'll start lightening your load. So that's kind of the steps I would take. It's not the traditional step of walking in and it's just, let's declutter. Sometimes you got to sit back, and you got to be a little bit before you, you jump in so that you make smart decisions.   One thing, please don't ever, I never encourage anyone to just kind of get motivated and say, okay, run a target and buy a bunch of bins and baskets. And I'm going to come back and organize the pantry. It's a temporary fix because you haven't given yourself the opportunity to just really think out what you really need. And a lot of times you have what you need right in your home. It's about thinking outside of the box. For example, yeah, I could go out and buy an expensive jewelry box, but this is my jewelry box. I had this beautiful bowl in my kitchen. I was like, oh, this is the perfect jewelry. I love it. It's easy. It functions. I don't have to open anything when I want my bracelet. It has just my jewelry that I'm wearing in this life. It's gorgeous. No one knows what it is. It works. So, a lot of times in our home, things are multifunctional and we don't even think about it. For example, I like sitting out little games and cards in my office to remind me to do something fun before I start work. This is a soap dish I had. This is where I keep my little cards in my soap dish. It used to be a soap dish, but now it's a beautiful card rest and it looks so cute. So, I challenge you not to go out into the store and consume more, but think about how can the things that I do love, how can I bring new life to them and use them to incorporate in my home to help function? So, there's so many things, even that tray that I talked about for the shoes, you might have a tray that's sitting on your dining room table that you could use for a shoe tray. So that's another thing to think about when you're implementing systems in your home.   Laura Dugger: (50:40 - 50:50) I love that. Okay. So that answers some of the function, but you're also starting to tie in beauty. How can we level up our style in our home as well?   Nikki Boyd: (50:50 - 54:24) Yeah. So, the thing with style is everybody's style is different. And so, what I find a lot of times when I'm working with folks is they Pinterest and they'll see all of these things and that's what they feel they want, but they seem to never can achieve it. And it's actually because I find a lot is because they have their own style and they need to tap into that instead of tapping into everyone else's. I think it's good to use inspiration. I love inspiration but use it as that to bring you back to what you truly love, because you don't want to go paint your wall green and think, oh, I really don't like green. I forgot about that. So that's one thing is to really know that we all have our own, God's given us all our own. We're all different. We're all special. We all have a beautiful style about ourselves.   And I'm going to say it again, because it's such a powerful tool. Those senses, that is the secret weapon to incorporating style in your home. So, when you come in and you say, okay, let's take the entry way, for example, again, we go to the entry way, because that's such an important part. That's the first space that welcomes people. Okay. When someone comes into my home, how can I engage their sense of taste? Ah, I'm going to create a little drawer. I have these little bowls here. I'm going to put little bowls in the drawer and I'm going to put mints in different candies so that when guests come over, I can say, hey, before you leave, make your little candy bag or grab some candy taste. What can I do with the sense of touch? Now, so I always like to have a bench in my entryway because I love to sit and look out the door when I have my coffee in the morning. So, I put a nice cozy blanket there so that I can have that sense of touch. So just walk your way through and challenge yourself. Okay. What I see. Okay. Oh, flowers. We need something that... So, use those senses and then say, okay, I'm going to incorporate one for each one. And that's a great tool to use to help if you're... Because some folks are like, I don't have, I don't know how to incorporate beauty. That's a way, a tool you can use to help you kind of try to implement it.   And then challenge yourself to only shop your home. Don't go outside the home for it. I did that with my recently with my entryway. I was like getting bored with how it was looking and I was like, ah, okay, Nikki, challenge yourself. How can you totally redecorate your entryway and beautify your entryway without buying the thing? And so, I had in my attic, my old kitchen table and its white kitchen table from my previous home. I said, oh, let me use that. Instead of having a bench in my entryway, I have a center round table now. And it's just a whole different look. I went to my guest and then I was like, okay. And this is the other thing. I was like, oh, I want a different color in here. Well, I was like, hmm, I got yellow in my guest bedroom. So let me shop my guest bedroom and pull a few of those and I can add it into the entryway. I took some books. I took some things and I had a new entryway in no time. So that's a wonderful way to do it. And a lot of times too, if you have a lot of books in your home, take those covers off of your books. You would be surprised how they have beautiful linen and embossed gold and different colors. And that's just such a beautiful way to display, create beauty in your home. It's just kind of looking behind those covers and then displaying your books that way. Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (54:24 - 55:03) I'm a book lover. So that speaks to me for sure.   Nikki Boyd: (54:28 - 54:28) Yeah.   Laura Dugger: And so, speaking of books, then I loved your quote on page 15, where you talk about this process of decluttering and organizing that leads to a place where, here's your quote, where life becomes more meaningful and enjoyable and it all starts at home. So, Nikki, we've talked about how to start with our home, but if we consider our whole lifestyle as well, are there any other additional ways to elevate both our function and our delight?   Nikki Boyd: (55:04 - 57:46) Yes. So, when you are living within your home, you want to think about it being your vacation spot. You know, when we go on vacation, we have expectations, right? We want to feel good. We want to relax. We want the nice hotel room. But ideally the thought process should be, we want that at home because that's where we're at most of the time. That's, you know, where we, you know, our family nurturing, we nurture our family, all the things. So, step one is to think about how do you start your day. If you, for me, I can't do the alarm clock. You, you wake up to this banging. That's a stressful way to wake up. So, think about how can I wake myself up and make it on time without it being so stressful? And what I've come up with is I have a clock that is, it's a sunrise clock where it wakes you up slowly with the light. It kind of just eases you into your day like sunlight. And it has been a game changer for that. Even if you don't do that, does your spouse get up before you? Talk with your spouse and say, “Hey, I want to get away from the alarm clock. I know you get up before me. Can you just wake me up by kissing me on my cheek?” Just wake me up with a kiss. That's, you're going to be my alarm clock. Okay. You'll find those creative ways to have a better start to your day.   You know, even that night, my husband and I, we started a while ago where we sleep to inspirational Christian music. And it is a game changer for how you wake up. And it's just listening to that all night, not too loud, just softly on. It just, when you wake up, you are just in a whole different mood, you know? And so that's one simple thing to implement to have a great start to your day. And even playing instrumental worship music all day throughout your house, it changes the atmosphere. It changes the environment, you know? So again, going back to those senses, what do we see? What do we hear? So just your routine is so important. You know, we talk organization but incorporating that routine in our home is so important. You know, even when our kids come home from school, do they run into chaos? We're fussing. No, get that, get that. No, no, no, no. Say it's, no, don't get me wrong. It can be hard as a mom. It can be hard, but we have to, before we walk in the door, talk to ourselves and say, okay, I'm going to set the tone for my children when we come in. We're going to set the tone. And it may be sitting down and laughing before we get into homework and doing the things. And so, but being intentional about creating those routines. Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (57:47 - 58:04) So much wisdom packed in. And one other thing that I appreciate about you is the high value that you place on the hospitality. So, will you share all of your best practices and motivations as it relates to hospitality?   Nikki Boyd: (58:05 - 1:01:36) Yes. In fact, I just did this weekend at my, I'm the hospitality coordinator at church. And so, I just did a training with my hospitality team. So, I'm fresh off of this. So it was, we had a blast, but you know, it's hospitality. And I want to say this to anybody, anybody, we all have that ability to do it. And you don't have to have a big, beautiful home. You can live in a cardboard box and have a beautiful time. I've had my most beautiful experiences have been in small apartments where we're all sitting there and we're just having a great time. And that's the best memories. So, it's about, how can I create a beautiful experience for anyone who walks through this door? And so that's what you want to think about when you're trying to create a home that has a beautiful element of hospitality embedded in it.   And so, for me, again, simplicity. One thing I said in the training this weekend is I had a white serving bowl and I said, take two minutes and give me 20 uses for this bowl that does not pertain to food. And so, they thought about all kinds of things. A simple bowl with a little intention can do great things. So, something you have in your home, as simple as it is, it can have the opportunity to serve so many people, can be so hospitable to so many people. So, it's just about using that creativity with the things that we have and also about being present. When people come in our home, you want to be present. It's not about, you know, because I, whenever I'm asked, who do you, what woman in the Bible do you most connect with? And a lot of times I say Martha, because I can tend to be that person. I'm so busy trying to get everything right and doing, I'm missing the point. The point is to be with that person. The point is to sit down and be hospitable and to just create that memory. And so, I always tell people, I'm trying to get away from my Marthism and just really, really, when someone comes over, it's about really sitting down and being with them and creating that memory. And so just have fun with it, you know, and don't feel like, I always tell people, don't feel like you have to have the best or have to have the biggest menu. That's not, that's not what you need.   Now, one thing, a tip that a friend did share with me that is a good tip to share is always have something out small, like a bowl of nuts or a little charcuterie cheese, something on your table, because it's a good tool. If you see people grabbing for it, that means they're hungry. So, then that cues you, let me offer them something to eat. Or let me, you know, so if people are snacking, that means they're hungry. You know, if they're grabbing content, so it's a good little tool to see if you need to kind of just put something else out or offer something else. You know, also having water, just simple things, having water right in your entryway, having on a tray as they walk in. I always like to have a welcome beverage. So, when you come in, if it's winter, having hot chocolate, a craft with some hot chocolate, when people come in, giving them a, you know, a nice welcome gift that tells people that, you know, I'm happy you're here, you know, so just, you know, and be creative. There's so many things that you can do with what you have that can just really make people feel so special.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:37 - 1:01:42) I'm not surprised that you're the hospitality coordinator at your church. That's amazing.   Nikki Boyd: (1:01:43 - 1:01:44) I love it. I love it.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:44 - 1:01:57) And if we want to continue learning from you, can you share the places where we can go to follow you for more inspiration and more about the work that you offer that we could reach out or inquire about?   Nikki Boyd: (1:01:58 - 1:02:28) Yes, yes. I'm At Home with Nikki all online and it's, I spell my name N-I-K-K-I and my website is athomewithnikki.com and then social media and all the places At Home with Nikki is the brand. And I do virtual organizing sessions. So, I work with women all over the world in their homes every week. And so, on my website, you can learn more about that. And yes, I do YouTube over 900 videos of talking about all the stuff. So, you definitely check that out too.   Laura Dugger: (1:02:29 - 1:02:49) That is incredible. We will add links to all of those places in the show notes for today's episode. But Nikki, you may be familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Nikki Boyd: (1:02:50 - 1:03:23) I would say my savvy sauce, and you probably, Nikki, you've been talking about it the whole time, but it's just so, it just so is, is the senses. Like everything I do, I'm always like, how can I engage that? And I'm so thankful to God for that, because it's like, it helps me solve problems all of the time. So, whether I'm planning a meeting, okay, how do I engage their senses? If I'm entertaining, how do I engage their senses? If I'm organizing, okay. So that is my savvy sauce is those senses that God gave me. So, it's the tool that I use all the time.   Laura Dugger: (1:03:24 - 1:03:59) I love it. Even with you using the visual aids today that came alive, but Nikki, you are just an absolute joy. And I wish I lived closer and could come be a guest in your home and learn firsthand from you. And have a cup of coffee around the table. But this has just been a treasured conversation. And so, I just want to say thank you for boldly stepping into this calling that the Lord gave you. You're clearly blessing so many of us through exercising your gifts. So, I just want to say thank you for being my guest.   Nikki Boyd: (1:04:00 - 1:04:02) Oh, thank you for having me. I'm blessed to be here. Thank you.   Laura Dugger: (1:04:02 - 1:07:18) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his o

Today I am joined by Christina Kim! Christina is the founder of her namesake New Jersey-based interior design firm, specializing in the design of bespoke ground-up residences. Whether designing a chic city apartment or a breezy forever beach home, Christina brings her signature warm, soft, modern style to life—creating homes that feel effortlessly stylish, deeply personal, and rooted in laid-back luxury. Her work has been featured in the Kips Bay Show House, House Beautiful, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Elle Decor, Rue Magazine, and more.In this episode we talked about Christina's journey to becoming an interior designer, how she started her firm, her love of art, and so much more! Christina's InstagramChristina's WebsiteKips Bay Boys and Girls Club I'd like to thank this month's sponsor, Alexandra Kaval, owner of Grace Space Christian Coaching! Apply to work together through a clarity callGrowth Without Burnout Signature 1:1 ProgramFlourish Group Coaching ProgramInstant access to the How to Seek Your Next Right Step from God guide through joining our email listPodcastGSCC YouTubeGSCC Instagram

News; birthdays/events; how many loyalty programs do you belong to?; word of the day. News; tech terms to be aware of for parents/grandparents; besides important paperwork...what things should you never throw away (according to House Beautiful list); game: 5 second rule. News; has Oreo gone too far?; list: advice someone gave you that changed your life; game: minute mysteries. News; game:Getting to Know You; your kids might start using "Britishisms"; goodbye/fun facts....chocolate pecan pie day-- the only nuts native to North America. There is evidence that Native Americans were consuming pecans as far back as 10,000 years ago. The word 'pecan' is thought to have roots in the Algonquin word meaning 'hard nut to crack.' Chocolate itself is derived from the cacao plant that has a history dating back approximately 4000 years to Mesoamerica. While pecan pies were likely being eaten before the 1800s, the first official published recipe was in an issue of "Harper's Bazaar" magazine in 1886. The pecan capital of the United States is highly contested, but one place that calls themselves this is Albany, Georgia---and a 2013 Buzzfeed survey ranks pecan pie as the fourth most important pie of all-time. 

We are thrilled to welcome Richmond, Virginia-based interior designer Anne Hulcher Tollett to the podcast! As the founder and principal designer of Hanover Avenue, Anne's work has been featured in House Beautiful, Veranda, The Wall Street Journal, and Architectural Digest. She is known for designing spaces that feel deeply personal, honoring both the historic architecture of a home and the unique lifestyles of the families who live in them. Anne sits down with Caroline and Liz to talk about how she uncovers her clients' true personal style—even retiring fabrics after using them to prevent cookie-cutter designs. She shares her secrets for choosing long-term furniture investments with "good lines" that seamlessly move from house to house, how to break out of the Pinterest algorithm trap, and why you should look to your own closet for home color palette inspiration. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Reveal the Client's Aesthetic, Don't Impose Yours: Anne views her job as revealing her clients' personal style rather than leaving her own design stamp on a home. To ensure a custom, couture feel for every family, her firm intentionally retires fabrics once they've been used in a project. Break the Pinterest and Instagram Algorithm: Relying too heavily on social media can trap you in a "cookie-cutter" design loop because the algorithm feeds you more of what you've already looked at. To find fresh inspiration, look to fashion designers, historic home tours, local show houses, or museum exhibits instead. Invest in "Good Lines": When building a furniture collection that evolves with you, prioritize pieces with beautiful, timeless silhouettes and classic lines. A high-quality piece of furniture with good lines will naturally pair beautifully with other styles and can easily transition from your first small apartment to a larger family home. Look to Your Wardrobe for Color Palettes: If you're struggling to find a home color scheme, look at what you love to wear. Your closet naturally holds the tones, textures, and patterns you feel most confident and comfortable around. Lower Your Artwork: A common mistake is hanging art too high up on the wall. Bring your artwork down closer to eye level or anchor it closer to your furniture to create a more intimate and cohesive arrangement. What You'll Hear on This Episode: 00:34 Welcome to Anne Hulcher Tollett of Hanover Avenue 01:34 Why Anne loves working across varied design styles to avoid feeling bored 02:00 The methodology behind uncovering a client's aesthetic and why she retires fabrics 05:00 Breaking free from the social media algorithm trap to find authentic design inspiration 10:00 Pulling imagery and grouping ideas onto a physical or digital board to find common threads 15:00 Scale, traffic flow, and arranging furniture at comfortable, conversational heights 22:00 Why one good piece of furniture will always go with another good piece of furniture 27:00 Buying for longevity: Navigating small apartments, first sofas, and prioritizing beautiful lines 35:00 How to translate your personal wardrobe style into your interior design palette 42:00 Managing complex family dynamics and designing spaces that adapt to kids and lifestyle changes 48:00 Lighting lessons: Dealing with fixtures that look pretty but don't emit enough light 55:00 Hanging artwork at the correct visual height to anchor a room 01:00:00 Decorating Dilemma: Solving layout challenges, awkward dimensions, and hiding cords for off-the-wall floating furniture Also Mentioned: Hanover Avenue | Website Follow Anne on Instagram: @hanoveravenue Shop Ballard Designs Please send in your decorating dilemmas to podcast@ballarddesigns.net so we can help you with your space! Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. Happy decorating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to build a successful interior design business when no one is opening doors for you?If you've ever wondered whether you're talented enough, questioned your career transition, or felt discouraged because clients aren't calling, this conversation is one I want you to slow down and absorb. Too many aspiring interior designers believe success comes from luck, connections, or overnight visibility. Corey Damen Jenkins proves the opposite. His story reminds us that meaningful careers are built through relentless persistence, business discipline, and the courage to keep showing up—even when every door seems to close.In this episode, I sit down with internationally acclaimed interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins, who shares his journey behind his remarkable success. From leaving the automotive industry after the Great Recession to knocking on 779 doors before landing his first major client, Corey shares the mindset shifts, business lessons, and mentorship philosophy that helped him build one of the most respected brands in interior design.Whether you're navigating a career transition, building your client acquisition strategy, or wondering how AI will shape the future of our profession, this conversation will encourage you to build your career with confidence while choosing collaboration over competition.Featured GuestCorey Damen Jenkins is an internationally acclaimed interior designer, bestselling author, MasterClass instructor, television personality, and mentor. His work has been featured by Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, ELLE Decor, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and numerous leading design publications. He is the author of Design Remix and Design Reimagined, creator of the Design Reimagined YouTube series, and has developed celebrated brand partnerships spanning furniture, textiles, wallcoverings, and lighting. Corey is widely recognized not only for his colorful, timeless interiors but also for his passion for mentoring the next generation of interior designers.What You'll Learn in This Episode✳️ Why relentless grit outperforms natural talent.✳️ Turning career setbacks into business opportunities.✳️ Protecting your mindset from discouraging voices.✳️ Building business acumen beyond creative skills.✳️ Why mentorship strengthens the entire design community.Read the Blog >>> 5 Principles That Turned Rejection Into a Profitable Interior Design CareerNEXT STEPS:

In this episode of Classic & Curious, Anne welcomes celebrated interior designer and author Eric Ross, founder and principal of Eric Ross Interiors, for a thoughtful conversation about the enduring appeal of traditional design—and how to make it feel relevant, personal and entirely at home today.Eric shares why familiarity lies at the heart of timeless interiors, how collections bring soul and curiosity to a room, and why a beautifully designed home should reveal itself gradually rather than all at once. Drawing from nearly three decades in the industry, he also offers practical guidance for decorating with greater confidence: establish a clear story for your home, resist the urge to incorporate every beautiful idea, experience furniture and materials in person, and give yourself the freedom to bring pieces home, experiment and edit.The conversation also explores Eric's Southern roots, the designers who shaped his eye, the responsibility of guiding a client and the advice that continues to steady him: “Everything we do is fixable.” Plus, Eric shares a textile house he admires and the mountain retreat where he finds a rare sense of contentment.A warm and inspiring conversation about creating rooms with elegance, ease and enough intrigue to leave us wondering what awaits around the next corner.Eric's work has been featured in House Beautiful, Southern Home, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and FLOWER Magazine. He is the author of two design books, including his latest, Embracing Southern Homes.You can follow Eric on Instragram @ericrossinteriors and web at ericrossinteriors.comConnect with Anne: @classicandcuriouslife, classicandcurious.com and on Substack: Curiosities by Anne Kokoskie

My guest today is Marilyn Armand, founder and creative force behind Le point visible, a modern quilting studio based in Quebec's Eastern Townships.Raised by her grandmother and aunts, all talented seamstresses, Marilyn grew up surrounded by fabric, creativity, and the traditions of making by hand. Today she's one of the few quilters recognized as a Professional Artisan by the Quebec Crafts Council and she has built a thriving business creating contemporary quilts, wearable art, and custom textile pieces from reclaimed and sustainable materials. Her work has been featured in publications including House Beautiful, The Globe and Mail, Elle Canada, and more. Marilyn's Instagram caught my eye because she's taking an art form that has deep roots in women's history and bringing it into modern homes in a beautiful and meaningful way.Le point visible modern quilts website: https://lepointvisible.com/enQuilter on Fire Website - https://quilteronfire.com/Square One Textile Art WorkshopJoin Brandy's email listFree Quilter on Fire Holiday Table Runner VIDEOSUPPORT THE PODCAST by becoming a Quilter on Fire Podcast Angel for as little as $3 per week.Support the showThank you for listening to the Quilter on Fire Podcast. 

Lindsey McCord paints under the name Lindsay Crafter, a nickname a boss in New York gave her years ago when she was rigging marshmallows from ceilings for Target and L'Oréal events. She got there through fashion school, event production, ghostwriting, prop styling, basically every creative job that existed, and it wasn't until she had her daughter in 2020 that painting became the thing she actually built a business around, posting one piece at a time while the baby slept. This conversation goes deep on the parts of running an art business that don't show up on Instagram. Lindsey walks through what she believes was a full year of suppressed reach after opting into Instagram's paid views program, watching her income graph mirror her impressions graph almost exactly, and how a single interior design placement (a show house piece that got picked up by House Beautiful) pulled her back from the edge. She talks about the bathroom-mirror goal sheet that changed her income more than anything else she tried, why she stopped making tiny pieces and started painting larger canvases for the same amount of studio time, and why she quit discounting her work entirely after watching flash sales quietly train collectors to wait her out. We also get into Pinterest as her single biggest source of international sales, why she thinks chasing follower count actively works against you, a cautionary tale about a market booth that cost her thousands of dollars and taught her how to vet a show before committing, and a refreshingly honest conversation about money, shame, and why she thinks women artists in particular need to talk about income more openly. If you've ever wondered whether the artists you follow online have it as figured out as it looks, this one is a good reminder that nobody does, and that's fine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You've been chasing more followers, more content, more press. KJ Blattenbauer wants you to stop. Because none of that is your actual problem.Candy Motzek sits down with KJ Blattenbauer, founder of Hearsay PR, author of Pitchworthy, and creator of the Recognition Report and Roadmap. With nearly three decades in public relations and placements in Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, KJ has figured out why some coaches and experts take off while others work just as hard and stay stuck.It's not visibility. It's recognition.Visibility is being seen. Recognition is being known for the right thing, so clearly, so consistently, that when someone hears your name, they can say in one breath who you are and why someone else needs to talk to you.In this conversation, KJ shares the one question that causes every client to pause: if money were no object, what do you really want to be known for? She shares the story of an eight-figure founder who got three paid speaking gigs and two new clients within a week after fixing her messaging. And she shares the moment her friend called her hyperventilating after receiving her messaging kit because for the first time, she finally saw herself the way others already did.Visibility is not vanity. Your gifts are meant to be shared. This episode will help you figure out how to do that without burning yourself out.Grab the free course, Stop Guessing and Start Signing Clients, and start building a coaching business that's actually yours: https://candymotzek.lpages.co/vfo/Want to see what's actually working for coaches right now? Download the free Coaching Business Insights Report 2026: https://candymotzek.lpages.co/business-growth-survey/Ready to work with a coach? Book a free 30 minute call: https://stepintosuccessnow.com/

The Inside Stylists Podcast: Episode 170  How to Build a Career in Interior Styling: Lessons from Rebecca de Boehmler  Today's guest is a London-based interior stylist, creative consultant and art director with over 25 years' experience in the interiors industry. From an editorial start at Homes & Gardens to becoming commissioning style editor at Livingetc, she's worked with iconic brands like John Lewis, Dulux Heritage, Habitat and House Beautiful. Known for her refined use of colour and pattern, she shares invaluable insights into commercial styling, editorial strategy, dealing with unexpected location disasters, and staying creatively fulfilled as a freelancer. I'm delighted to be talking with Interior Stylist Rebecca de Boehmler. Show notes for today's episode are here The Inside Stylist's Interior Styling Course   Find us here InsideStylists.com Instagram: Instagram.com/InsideStylists  Facebook: Facebook.com/InsideStylists Podcasts : Insidestylists.com/podcast/ Blogs : Insidestylists.com/inside-stylists-blog/

In this episode, I sat down with Kara Mercer, whose career has taken her from photographing weddings to working with tourism boards, hotels, designers, and brands all over the world. We talk about what it looked like to make the jump into commercial photography, how she built a career beyond weddings, and the realities of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and reinventing yourself as a creative along the way.Meet Kara:Kara Mercer is a commercial photographer and creative director specializing in interior, architectural, lifestyle, and travel photography. With over 17 years of experience behind the camera, she's known for her refined editorial style, artful use of light, and ability to tell a story in a single frame.She graduated with a Speech Pathology degree, but wedding photography led her around the world ultimately working for tourism boards worldwide and fashion campaigns before expanding her focus to commercial work. This experience informs her editorial eye and the emotional resonance that runs through her photography.Kara is based in Seattle and regularly works in Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and beyond. Her work has been published worldwide in magazines such as House Beautiful, Arch Digest, Traditional Home, Dwell, and more.Connect with Me:Join us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@summergrace.photo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the_summerschool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop My Products:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pricing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*Summer School is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Narrative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above!Try Pic-Time for free using this link: ⁠⁠⁠summergracephoto.pic-time.com/referral⁠Connect with Kara:Website: ⁠www.karamercer.comInstagram: @_karamercerInstagram: @kararmercer

Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode!What does a 2007 issue of Domino have in common with a room you'd design today? More than you'd think.In this episode, I dig through a stack of old design magazines — Domino, Flea Market Style, House Beautiful, Veranda, and Country Living, spanning 2007 to 2019 — and ask the question I find myself returning to constantly: what still holds up?We talk suzanis, suzanis (yes, still), the case for painting all four walls instead of just one, why the humble breakfast nook deserves a comeback, and what the best white kitchens actually have in common. I share my ongoing plinth hunt, make a confession about Country Living being my Bible in the late '90s, and make a gentle but firm plea for the death of the accent wall.If you've got a pile of old tear sheets, a half-finished vignette, or a dining room that could use some bookshelves — this one's for you.In this episode:What Domino got right about sustainability back in 2007Minimalism vs. maximalism — and why neither is ever really "out"The case for the jewel box room (powder rooms, butler's pantries, and going all out in small spaces)Layered window treatments, bed canopies, and other things that keep coming back aroundWhy I think the accent wall's days are numberedTreating your kitchen and bathroom like actual rooms Support the showSubscribe to the show to access future episodes! Going forward, we'll continue to publish 1 free episode per month.  If you'd like to have access to the other 3-4 episodes each month, please click on the subscription link, above. Take the quiz: What's Your Style DNA?

Elizabeth Gordon was editor-in-chief of House Beautiful.  In April 1953 she published an influential and controversial editorial that rocked the architecture world, presenting Modernism as uncomfortable, impractical, and like communism a threat to American cultural values. We'll talk with author Monica Penick, author of the definitive book on Gordon, 2001's Tastemaker.  Next up, Alison Fisher just closed a wildly successful exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago on Bruce Goff, an architect who made Frank Lloyd Wright look restrained. Wrapping up, Naama Gheber is a jazz vocalist with four albums and a voice critics have compared to Peggy Lee. 

Brad Ramsey has built a remarkable career defined by integrity, creativity, and an uncompromising eye for detail. From his roots in Georgia to becoming one of Nashville's most sought-after interior designers, Brad shares how his artistic background and early wanderings through construction sites shaped his instinctual design philosophy. Starting his firm in 2013 from his basement and growing it into a boutique team of highly skilled creatives, Brad discusses the pivotal moments—from his first solo project to hiring his first employee—that taught him the true meaning of commitment and quality.In this episode, Brad reveals his core design philosophy: "Listen with intent and design with intuition." He explains how this approach requires more than hearing clients—it demands truly listening, asking poignant questions, and absorbing their lifestyle and personality before moving into the design process. Featured in House Beautiful's 2024 Emerging Designers and recently named to the Lux Gold List of 2026, Brad discusses how Nashville's growth and vibrant design culture have elevated not just his work, but the entire industry. His projects, which span two to three years, combine his signature aesthetic of elegance and comfort—proving that beautiful design doesn't require endless budgets, just thoughtfulness and intention.Brad emphasizes the importance of leading with kindness, both within his team and with clients, builders, and industry partners. He believes that design's future lies not in replacing human connection with technology, but in using smart tools to enhance personalized, human-centered work. As Nashville continues to evolve into a major design hub, Brad's approach to collaborative, client-inspired design serves as a model for the industry. He's creating spaces that are more than beautiful—they're healing environments where people can find peace and comfort amidst life's chaos.

Dana Small is a South Florida based interior designer and the founder of Dana Small Designs, a full service firm specializing in residential projects of all sizes, from a single room refresh to full renovations and new builds.Known for her thoughtful approach to space and style, Dana creates interiors that blend timeless tradition in with coastal charm. Her work feels elevated yet approachable, layered with color, texture, and personality. She often incorporates antique rattan, wicker, and bold hues to infuse warmth and character into every room.With projects across the country and the Caribbean, Dana's design perspective is shaped by travel, lifestyle, and a deep understanding of how people live in their homes. Her strong sense of space planning and keen eye for detail consistently result in inviting, livable interiors. Dana's work has been featured in Coastal Living, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, HGTV, and more.Learn more at https://danasmalldesigns.com/  Support the show

This week on Talk Shop, Ariel wraps up the season by welcoming fellow designer and friend Sarah Lederman in anticipation of the launch of her new textile and wallpaper line, Three Fates Textiles.A graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, Sarah began her career interning for Bunny Williams before joining Tom Scheerer. After her time under the two icons, Sarah developed a refined aesthetic that seamlessly blends classic elements with modern, unexpected touches, and branched out on her own to open her own firm.Sarah offers a collaborative, client-centered interior design experience rooted in creating spaces that are both beautiful and deeply functional. Her thoughtful approach, paired with extensive experience managing residential and commercial projects around the world, ensures no detail is overlooked. Her work has been featured in Domino, House Beautiful, Luxe Magazine, and more. She was recently named a featured designer by AD Pro for 2024 and included on The List by House & Garden.—Now available, discover Sarah's textile line, Three Fates TextilesLearn more about Sarah LedermanFollow on social @SarahLedermanInteriorsExplore Sarah's ShopMy storefront —To join Ariel and our Season 5 guests on ShopMy, download the ShopMy app, create a shopper account, and start building wishlists and shopping your favorite pieces, now at go.shopmy.us!—Join us for this year's Fenimore Lane Design Summit on June 6th and 7th!

Today, I am joined by my friend, John McClain. He and I met at High Point last October and immediately connected.  John McClain is a multi-faceted leader in the interior design industry and proudly serves in his field as an interior designer, product designer, author, speaker, business coach, and podcast host. As the CEO and Creative Director of his internationally acclaimed award-winning interior design firm, John McClain Design, his interior design and home furnishings creations have been featured by numerous shelter publications and television networks including Elle Décor, Traditional Home, HGTV, CBS, and NBC. John is also a contributor to outlets such as Martha Stewart Living, Interior Design magazine, The Wall Street Journal, & House Beautiful. As a product designer, John has created distinctive home furnishings that have not only garnered awards but have made numerous television appearances in their own right. John's coffee table book, The Designer Within: A Professional Guide to A Well-Styled Home, features homes designed in his signature "Comfortable Chic" aesthetic alongside helpful design tips and processes. John has now taken his 15+ years of design business experience and launched an online education & business coaching program, The McClain Method where he instructs and coaches interior designers on best business practices. He continues these lessons on his popular podcast, The McClain Method. So in today's conversation, he and I dive into the real mechanics of running a design business, from the software we love and the ones we hate to the systems that actually support growth. We talk honestly about leadership, profitability, and why the right back-end structure can make or break a design studio. Today's episode is equal parts practical and refreshing, the kind of behind-the-scenes discussions that designers don't get to hear enough. Connect with John McClain: Check out John's AI Brand Voice Kickstart: https://www.mcclainmethod.com/kickstart_prompt John's Website: https://www.instagram.com/johnmcclaindesign Follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcclainmethod   Mentioned in this episode: Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/john-mcclain-design-business-systems 

Welcome to our 50th episode, a milestone we are proud to celebrate with two designers whose work embodies the very spirit of thoughtful living. We're joined by Gary McBournie and Bill Richards of McBournie Richards, the award-winning residential interior design firm based in New York City and Boston with projects spanning the globe.Their work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Veranda, House Beautiful and Flower. Their first book, Living Color. A Designer Works Magic with Traditional Interiors, captured the early chapters of their creative partnership. Their forthcoming monograph set for Spring 2027 will highlight more recent projects and the continued evolution of their creative vision.In this episode, Gary and Bill share their perspective on creating a true sense of place - one rooted in history, layered storytelling, and an understanding of how spaces are meant to be lived in. They walk us through their approach while offering practical insight for those looking to thoughtfully bring this sensibility into their own home. Beyond their work, their warmth, wit, and genuine joy shine throughout the conversation. Prepare to be inspired not only by their design philosophy, but by the essence of their authentic spirit.Connect with McBournie Richards @mcbournierichards and michbournierichardshome.comConnect with Anne @styledbyark

This week on Talk Shop, Ariel sits down with Lilse McKenna for a thoughtful, personal conversation about designing homes that are meant to be lived in — and loved — over time.Lilse is known for creating spaces rooted in tradition and tailored to reflect each client's personality and lifestyle. Drawing on years of experience in residential design, she expertly layers pattern, color, and texture to create interiors that feel sophisticated yet deeply livable. Longevity sits at the heart of her work, as she brings together a wide range of stylistic influences to ensure her clients' homes can grow and evolve alongside them.In this episode, Lilse shares her path into design, from growing up surrounded by shelter magazines and strong opinions on furniture proportions, to training under esteemed designers Lindsey Coral Harper and Markham Roberts before launching her own firm in 2017. Today, she is based in New York and Connecticut, with projects spanning the East Coast and abroad.Lilse was recognized as one of House Beautiful's Next Wave 2022 designers, and her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Luxe Magazine, Domino, and more — but at its core, her work is about helping people build homes where memories, community, and everyday life can unfold.—Learn more about Lilse McKenna: https://www.lilsemckenna.com/Follow on social @lilsemckennaAnd subscribe to her Substack: https://lilsemckenna.substack.com/Explore Lilse's ShopMy storefront—To join Ariel and our Season 5 guests on ShopMy, download the ShopMy app, create a shopper account, and start building wishlists and shopping your favorite pieces, now at go.shopmy.us!

Send us a textDee and Carol talk about crocuses, hot peppers (Capsicum), a new book: The Continuous Vegetable Garden, and celery vases.For more info, check out their weekly newsletter.To watch this episode on YouTube, click here.Insect of the Week:Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live by Rob Dunn (Amazon link)Flowers:2026 is the Year of the Crocus per the National Garden Bureau.Great places to order bulbs from include Van Engelen for large orders and our friends Brent and Becky's Bulbs.Vegetables:The National Garden Bureau has proclaimed 2026 is the year of the hot pepper! Capsicum sp.On the Bookshelf:The Continuous Vegetable Garden: Create a Perpetual Food Garden that Sows and Grows Itself by Charlie Nardozzi (Amazon link)Dirt:Celery vases are making a big comeback!  Article in House Beautiful. Question for listeners… Do you have a celery vase?Rabbit Holes:  A new Lost Lady of Garden Writing, Peggie Schulz. Elizabeth Coatsworth's children's book, The Cat Who Went to Heaven (Amazon link)Check out our affiliate links here. Support the showOn Instagram: Carol: Indygardener, Dee: RedDirtRamblings, Our podcast: TheGardenangelists.On Facebook: The Gardenangelists' Garden Club.On YouTube.

Dolly Parton BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Dolly Parton, the indomitable country queen nearing her 80th birthday, shared a deeply personal reflection this weekend, telling Whiskey Riff her sole life goal now is to lift people up and glorify God, a heartfelt glimpse into her enduring spirit amid holiday buzz. Inside the Magic reports that her cherished Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge slashed operations on December 14, closing at 6 p.m. instead of the full day due to biting winter weather, disappointing fans eyeing the Smoky Mountain Christmas festivities and highlighting the parks seasonal vulnerabilities. No direct involvement from Dolly herself surfaced there, but it underscores her empires ongoing heartbeat. Meanwhile, her name sparkles across yuletide stages nationwide, with Concerts50 listing a tribute show Dolly Partons Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol set for December 21 at Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center in The Villages, Florida, tickets fetching up to 187 dollars, alongside Ticketmaster noting a Greensboro, North Carolina, performance on December 17 and JCCC announcing one December 11 in Yardley Hall. The Carson Center and Iowa State Center echo similar tour stops through mid-December, proving her holiday musical legacy thrives via these polished productions. Business whispers from AOL hint at Dolly resuming oversight of her 650 million dollar empire, including Dollywood, despite recent health setbacks, though details stay vague and unconfirmed. House Beautiful revisited her festive flair, recalling from The Ellen Show how she decks multiple homes with themed treeslike water motifs at her lake houseand a 2024 People interview affirming she never skips family Christmas traditions. The Drinks Business recapped celebrity booze launches but slotted Dolly in last years roundup, with no fresh 2025 pours confirmed. Farther out, JamBase notes her Las Vegas residency kicks off September 2026 at Caesars Palace Colosseum, her first in 32 years, postponed from earlier health hiccups. Tributes like The Dolly Show at Hitchin Town Hall on December 16 keep her sparkle alive, but these past days paint a quieter Dolly, letting her brand and beliefs shine bright.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

We're excited to welcome interior designer Sara Hillery to the show! Based in Richmond, Virginia, Sara's firm blends function with one-of-a-kind decorative pieces to create story-driven rooms. Named a "Next Wave Designer" by House Beautiful and featured in Veranda and The Wall Street Journal, Sara joins Caroline and Liz to demystify "transitional" design and share her spirited approach to holiday decorating. Sara explains how she balances antiques with clean lines to create timeless spaces, her method for editing a room like an onion, and how she reinvents her holiday decorating theme every single year. She also shares her secret for keeping Christmas trees alive and her favorite way to spark conversation at dinner parties. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Peel the Onion: When defining your style, pin up everything you love on a board, then "peel back the layers of the onion" by removing items until you reach a harmonious balance of favorite pieces. Create a "Thread" Between Rooms: You don't need to paint every room the same color, but rooms should have equal "tonal weight" and a unifying thread (like a specific welt or texture) so you can move a chair from one room to another without it looking out of place. Hydrate Your Holiday: To keep fresh greenery and trees from drying out, soak garlands in water overnight before hanging them, and add a little Miracle-Gro to your Christmas tree water to keep it fresh and prevent needle drop. What You'll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to the How to Decorate Podcast 01:00 Sara's background and defining "Transitional Design" 04:00 The art of mixing clean upholstery lines with antiques 07:00 The "Onion" method: How to edit a room and find your style 11:00 Using monochromatic palettes to play with texture and scale 14:00 Connecting open floor plans without matching every room 19:00 The story behind the "Hot Pink Chairs" and lacquered ceiling 22:00 Holiday Decorating: Why Sara changes her theme every year 27:00 Using ribbon and Christmas cards on the mantle 30:00 This year's theme: Pineapples and a nod to Bermuda 36:00 Hosting tips: Pre-planned questions and dinner party quizzes 44:00 Tips for fresh greenery and using Miracle-Gro on the tree 49:00 Closing notes & where to find Sara Also Mentioned: Sara Hillery Interior Design | Website  Follow Sara on Instagram: @sarahilleryinteriordesign  Maymont House (Victorian Christmas Inspiration)  Shop Ballard Designs  Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it'll automatically download to your phone. Happy Decorating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Classic & Curious—and to our Holiday Series.This week, as Thanksgiving invites us to gather and give thanks, the dinner table becomes more than a place to eat—it becomes a space to connect, to listen, and to cherish the people we love. Yet in our effort to make it beautiful, we often bring stress to the surface with layers of linens and the pressure to get every detail just right. Sometimes, we simply want things elevated… yet easy. Thankfully, we have options.Proper Table is one of them—a collection of acrylic placemats and coasters inspired by vintage fabrics with timeless appeal. Thoughtfully designed for both messy and stylish eaters, these pieces prove that style and simplicity can beautifully coexist.In this episode, we welcome Dana Lewis, founder of Proper Table. Dana shares how the brand came to life, the effortless care behind these clever textiles, and her exciting collaboration with LA-based interior designer Nate Turner. Proper Table has been featured in House Beautiful and Vogue for its sensibility and style—and it's no wonder the brand has become a beloved go-to for savvy entertainers who want to keep it easy and elevated.Dana embodies the very spirit of Proper Table: her timeless taste paired with an effortless sense of ease, she creates the very feeling that you want to bring to your own home.Connect with Proper Table at propertableco.com and @propertablecoConnect with Anne at @styledbyark, @classicandcuriouspodcast and styledbyark.com

Welcome back to Classic and Curious and our Holiday Series. The holiday season reminds us of the importance of creating experiences that linger longer within our hearts.In this episode, we welcome Amy Neunsinger and Lucinda Lent, the visionary co-founders of l.a. ROUGE — a brand whose very essence lets us light that magic all year long.Amy is a celebrated photographer, designer, and host of HBO's Capturing Home. Her photography and creative direction has supported the influential lifestyle brands and talents, including Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson, Leanne Ford, and Mark D. Sykes. Her work and personal style have appeared in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, the LA Times and countless other publications. Combine this strength with Lucinda's strategic mind, drive and creative business vision — shaped by her leadership as CEO of The Coop and Executive Director LA Dance Project,  you will begin to see why this beautiful brand is beginning to unfold into something truly special. l.a. ROUGE candles are not just candles. There are revolution in red — blended from essential oils, each candle is poured into a chic whiskey class designed to earn its place at the dinner table. In this episode, Amy and Lucinda share:The story behind l.a. ROUGECreating a responsible clean candleThe inspiration behind their beautiful scentsAnd the thoughtful role of each vesselAs you listen to this episode, you will discover the red wick is more than just a signature branding element.  It represents what happens to the heart when a connection is made. You'll feel that same connection with Amy and Lucinda who embody the spirit of l.a. ROUGE — they create moments of joy, intention, and beauty, each in their own unique way. You can connect with la Rouge @la_rouge_candle and larougecandle.com Connect with Anne @styledbyark.com and @classicandcuriouspodcast

From broken to beautiful, our guest believed finding new ways to appreciate your home is key to maintaining balance and peace in your everyday life. Sarah Trop is an award-winning interior designer, global travel blogger, and HGTV's Flea Market Flip champion, celebrated for her sustainable, biophilic, and small-space design solutions. Founder of FunCycled, Sarah blends soulful creativity with construction know-how, transforming historic homes and upcycled pieces into works of art. Her work has been featured in Country Living, House Beautiful, and Life at Home Magazine. Sarah inspires audiences to uncover beauty in the old, bring peace to their spaces, and live with greater purpose. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. A simple way to choose natural versus synthetic materials when designing a room 2. A few easy and affordable ways to bring that 'outdoors-in' feeling to any space, and what the research says about its health benefits 3. How using reclaimed or repurposed materials contributes to a more sustainable environment 4. How to balance creating gorgeous, Instagram-worthy spaces with prioritizing overall occupant wellness 5. Design choices—like soft textures or natural colors—that can promote emotional healing in a clinical or transitional environment 6. Sustainable design strategies—from material choices to multipurpose layouts—that are as good for the environment as they are for long-term health and happiness è Friends, to learn more about Sarah's services at FunCycled, head to à funcycled.com. You can also find them on Instagram at FunCycled and at TropofallTrades. è Grab your free interior design guide now: https://funcycled.com/free/ è As always – you can find the links in the show notes at Healthy Home Hacks.com. We appreciate you! Be sure to leave a review or rating – five stars are always appreciated. And, if you're not already subscribed…now is a great time!

Robbie Maynard, a seasoned interior designer with over three decades of experience in San Diego, California, joins us to reveal her remarkable transformation from PR novice to confidently landing features in House Beautiful, Forbes, and Martha Stewart Living.With refreshing candor, Robbie shares how she initially felt "petrified" when submitting her first pitch to editors. "I thought they wanted me to be a writer and make it sound wonderful," she admits, reflecting a common misconception among design professionals. Through consistent practice and expert guidance, she discovered that editors simply valued her design expertise, not her writing skills—a revelation that freed her to pursue major publication opportunities with confidence.The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Robbie discusses the evolution of her business strategy. After recognizing that her website showcased outdated Tuscan-style projects no longer aligned with current trends or her preferred design direction, she implemented strategic updates that transformed her client acquisition process. "I was getting a lot of people that wanted Tuscan... and I didn't really want that anymore," she explains, highlighting how targeted marketing attracts ideal clients.Perhaps most valuable is Robbie's perspective on client selection, gained through years of experience: "Every client is not your client." She now approaches initial consultations as mutual interviews rather than sales opportunities, ensuring better project outcomes and more satisfying professional relationships. This mindset shift represents a crucial evolution for designers looking to elevate their business.As the interior design industry continues to evolve, with traditional revenue streams disrupted by online retailers, Robbie shares her plans to adapt through specialized service packages focused on kitchen design and exploring alternative income sources like affiliate marketing. Her willingness to continuously reinvent her business approach offers inspiration for designers at any career stage.Ready to transform your own design business through strategic marketing and PR? Sign up for our Designer Discussions Academy at designerdiscussions.com and get personalized guidance from our team of experts.More on Robbie:https://www.robbieinteriors.com/https://www.instagram.com/robbieinterTransform your marketing with Designer Discussions Academy. In weekly face-to-face sessions, we equip busy business owners with cutting-edge PR strategies, marketing insights, and time-saving tools to not just work in your business, but on your business. Join us to outshine competitors and elevate your business.Join us for our weekly live sessions and workshops: https://www.designerdiscussionsmarketing.studio/pages/academyDesigner Discussions is an educational interior design podcast on marketing, PR and related business topics. We also provide in-depth, actionable products in the Marketing Studio including time-saving templates and guides to help design professionals grow their businesses. Download our FREE Client Avatar Guide https://designerdiscussionsmarketing.studio/store. Designer Discussions is a partnership of three experts: Jason Lockhart, CEO of KABMS; Maria Martin, founder of DesignAppy; and Mirjam Lippuner, founder of Get Ink DIY

The Inside Stylists Podcast: Episode 168  Behind the Scenes of Interior Styling with Maxine Brady & Gemma Gear  Show notes for today's episode are here   Today's guests are Maxine Brady and Gemma Gear -  the colourful duo behind the How to Home podcast. Maxine is an award‑winning interior stylist, creative director and TV presenter with over 20 years of styling for House Beautiful, Elle, Home Magazine and brands like IKEA, Dulux and Homesense and previous guest of The Inside Stylists Podcast. Gemma is a TV art director, shoot producer and interior stylist celebrated for her colourful DIY hacks, behind‑the‑scenes brilliance on shoots, and dynamic on-camera presence. Since February 2024, they've co- hosted ‘The How to Home Podcast', now in its fourth series, offering expert advice on design dilemmas, trends and home transformations to tens of thousands of listeners. I'm thrilled to be talking with Maxine Brady and Gemma Gear today, The Inside Stylist's Interior Styling Course     Find us here InsideStylists.com Instagram: Instagram.com/InsideStylists  Facebook: Facebook.com/InsideStylists Podcasts : Insidestylists.com/podcast/ Blogs : Insidestylists.com/inside-stylists-blog/

How do you build trust with clients before they even start the inquiry process? For designers, this foundation often determines whether a project becomes a smooth collaboration or a series of stressful negotiations. I'm joined by Melissa Oholendt, founder of Oho Interiors and one of House Beautiful's 2025 Next Wave designers.   Melissa has mastered creating client relationships that run deep. You'll discover how showing behind-the-scenes parts of your work on Instagram builds credibility, why documenting client preferences can transform project outcomes, and how taking full accountability for mistakes can strengthen relationships. Melissa also shares how thoughtful touches in design create lasting connections with clients.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/151   For the resources mentioned in this episode, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources

Send us a textDesigning Spaces: Healing The Home And The Heart#interiordesign #repurpose #spirituality #redesign #fleamarketflip #funcycledSarah Trop is an award-winning interior designer, global travel blogger, and HGTV's Flea Market Flip champion, celebrated for her sustainable, biophilic, and small-space design solutions. Founder of FunCycled, Sarah blends soulful creativity with construction know-how, transforming historic homes and upcycled pieces into works of art. Her work has been featured on Country Living, House Beautiful, and Life at Home Magazine. A dynamic speaker and advocate for trauma-informed, faith-guided design, Sarah inspires audiences to uncover beauty in the old, bring peace to their spaces, and live with greater purpose.Website: https://funcycled.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funcycled/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funcycled/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/funcycled/Thanks for tuning in, please be sure to click that subscribe button and give this a thumbs up!!Email: thevibesbroadcast@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/listen_to_the_vibes_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevibesbroadcastnetworkLinktree: https://linktr.ee/the_vibes_broadcastTikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeuTVRv2/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheVibesBrdcstTruth: https://truthsocial.com/@KoyoteFor all our social media and other links, go to: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/the_vibes_broadcastPlease subscribe, like, and share!

Are you drowning in design project chaos, juggling emails, texts, and scattered communication that's driving you crazy? You're not alone! Today's guest has been there too.I interview Erinn V, a luxury interior designer and the founder of StyleRow, a powerful platform made to help designers like you stay organized, save time, and run your business better.Erinn shares how she grew from decorating her apartment to designing homes for celebrities and creating a tool that solves the very problems she faced in her own business.StyleRow solves the biggest headaches designers face: scattered communication, complicated client presentations, and time-consuming administrative tasks. The software allows designers to centralize project communication, create easy-to-navigate client dashboards, and save up to two-thirds of their back-office time - all while providing a seamless experience for clients.If you're ready to get more done without the stress, tune in now and learn how StyleRow can help you work smarter, not harder.Featured Guest:⁠Erinn Valencich⁠ is an entrepreneur who began her career at a young age. She graduated from high school early, choosing to forgo college to enter the workforce immediately. At 24, she founded her design firm, ⁠Erinn V Design Group (EVDG)⁠. She later established a furniture brand, Erinn V, and most recently became a software visionary by creating ⁠StyleRow⁠, a platform designed to help designers communicate, present, and design, as well as discover the best offerings in the luxury design world.EVDG has designed projects worldwide, alongside a wide array of home and lifestyle products including door & cabinet hardware, Hollywood Hills by ERINN V. for Baldwin Hardware, furniture with Universal Furniture and Ambella Home, rugs with Creative Touch and Mehraban, lighting with Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting and window coverings with Hartmann & Forbes, alongside more collaborations to come.Her work has been featured in Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, Town & Country, and House Beautiful, among other publications.Erinn has four horses and resides with her husband in the Santa Rosa valley.Why you've got to check out today's episode:Learn how to reduce administrative stress and create a more profitable workflowDiscover a tool to save time and stay organized while managing multiple design projectsGet real advice from an industry leader to grow both creatively and professionally in the design fieldCheck out the show notes >>> The Tool That Helps Interior Designers Stay On Track and Save Time Links Mentioned:StyleRow, a project management tool for interior designersNEXT STEPS:Join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and launch your design business this summerGrab your freebies:Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my CareerConnect With Me:Email: podcast@rwarddesign.comInstagram: @rwarddesign Website at rwarddesign.comThanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...Timestamps:0:00 Introduction2:37 Erinn V's Background and Early Career06:44 Getting Her First Clients07:44 Transitioning to Luxury Design11:33 Developing a Furniture Brand15:55 The Birth of StyleRow21:05 Features and Benefits of StyleRow29:36 Erinn's DIY Courses30:57 Advice for Aspiring Designers

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with Charlene Pell, a burn survivor and the founder of Facing Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for individuals with visible differences. ✨ Charlene shares her journey, from surviving a burn injury to advocating for face equality.Rachel and Charlene also dive into Face Equality Week, this year's theme, “My Face is a Masterpiece,” and why shifting the perception of beauty and identity is so important.

Ever wondered how interior designers get featured in top magazines like Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, or House Beautiful? In this episode, we sit down with experienced publicist Sarah Alba to uncover the real steps to getting your work published in leading design publications.

Olga Naiman has been a New York City-based magazine editor, freelance stylist, and interior designer for the past twenty-five years. Her work has been featured extensively in publications such as House Beautiful, Domino Magazine, The Washington Post, Real Simple, and many more. Her unique approach to design is called Spatial Alchemy, and unites the spirit, psyche, body and home for the purpose of self-realization and transformation. Her new book Spatial Alchemy: Design Your Home to Transform Your Life is out now. Olga currently lives in the Hudson Valley with her partner, two children, and pet bunny.On this episode, Olga discusses why your home is the ultimate spell, how to design your space to attract your future self, and the magic of weaving the “energy of exquisite” throughout your life. Pam also talks about the power of spring cleaning, and answers a listener question about how to reengage with Spirit when feeling magically stagnant.Check out the video of this episode over on YouTube (and please like and subscribe to the channel while you're at it!)Our sponsors for this episode are Wheel of Fate, BetterHelp, Mithras Candle, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and TU·ET·AL soap

In this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Purvi Padia, Founder and Creative Director of REVELRY by Purvi Padia and Purvi Padia Interiors. Purvi is a celebrated interior designer known for blending modern and classic elements to create timeless luxury. Her work has been extensively featured in leading publications like Vogue, Elle Décor, and House Beautiful, as well as on TV shows such as Million Dollar Listing and Open House NY.Purvi shares her journey of launching REVELRY, a stunning tabletop collection designed to transform every dining moment into an unforgettable experience. From high-quality craftsmanship to versatile designs, REVELRY embodies casual elegance and modern luxury. We dive into how her interior design background influenced the collection, her hosting tips for elevating gatherings, and her perspective on sustainability in design.Beyond her work in design, Purvi is also the founder of PROJECT LION in partnership with UNICEF USA, an initiative that serves millions of vulnerable children in India. She opens up about balancing her entrepreneurial ventures with her philanthropic efforts and how she stays inspired to innovate.Whether you're a design enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with insights and ideas. Tune in to hear Purvi's incredible story and discover how REVELRY is redefining dining traditions. Now on The Kara Goldin Show! Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at karagoldin@gmail.com. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks. To learn more about Purvi Padia and REVELRY:https://www.revelryhome.com/https://www.instagram.com/revelryhome/https://www.instagram.com/purvipadiainteriors/https://www.revelryhome.com/ Sponsored By:ACORNS. Head to acorns.com/KARA or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today!DeleteMe - Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by texting GOLDIN to 64000 Check out our website to view this episode's show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/650

Before we get to our featured conversation this week, I feel compelled to share my annual grievance with you. Again. What is this annual grievance you may ask. It is the endless and ridiculous list of “trends”that many love to create and share at the end of and into the beginning of every new year. Did you see them this year? They looked a lot like last years didn't they? Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise. Monogram - It's the details that define Monogram ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it's just a bathroom. Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!  - Where service meets excellence TimberTech - Real wood beauty without the upkeep They did. They always do. Now listen, I'm not trying to call anyone out. Embarrass anyone. And, while I am going to point out a few of the ones that caught my attention, and post links in the show notes so you can see them for yourself, I am going to say this again so you understand why I am so non-plussed by the annual barrage of opinions and predictions. It's because they are based on no real data, only conjecture. Here are a few examples; House Beautiful and their Design Trends of 2025 article dated 12.30.2024.  Some things you will see in 2025 include… Kitchens Packed with Color Sculptural Lighting “Drenching” Dramatic Drapery Art Deco Era Antiques Moody Hues Cottage Core Gardens Immersive Bathrooms This all sounds fine, right? But keep in mind that what ends up happening is that clients who are new to this will now ask push designers for this because it came out in a well-respected magazine. The people who pick up on this are “influencers”, those with a large following and very little industry knowledge. Just to break this down a bit, “kitchens packed with color” sounds great until a skilled designer has to employ this strategy with a lifespan of 15-20 years. With a “color of the year”, promoted by 5-6 different companies, all with different ideas as to what that color of the year will be, this is not really feasible. And let's all just remember for a moment that Avocado Green and harvest Gold owned the 1970's and reviled in the 1980's. But, for every season, am I right? There was even an article written in May of 2021by the BBC touting the return of Avocado Green to contemporary interiors. The interesting thing about this, the article I'm referencing was incredibly well written, sourced and delves deep into the science and theory of color choices. But the headline… “Why ‘avocado green' is back for interiors” does imply that the color was back en vogue in 2021. I don't think is was and if it did pop up here and there, not many are still touting it today. And if a client says to their designer that they are going all-in on this and buy Avocado Green appliances, cabinetry or tile, they will be living with it for quite some time. This idea of “drenching” seems completely misaligned with the very nature of interior design. From a vernacular stand point, “drenching” means to get something completely wet, yet color drenching is described as painting every surface in the same shade. Sooooo, monochromatic. Why not just say that? It's funny really, monochromatic ideas have been in popular design styles for centuries and can be referenced back to the Greek word, monochromos, meaning, to have one color. While I have read articles that source the French word envelopper, or “to wrap” with the idea for color drenching. And yet, every year there are many who also tout the end of the white kitchen. But white kitchens also appear on many of the trends you will find for every coming year. The white kitchen is also a sort of “drenching”, is it not? Just to put a finer point on this idea, in November, 2023, an article appeared in Vogue entitled, “2023's Latest Interior Design Trend? Matchy-Matchy Rooms”.

This week in Episode 34 of That Greenwich Life, we're wrapping up our 2025 Glow-Up Series with an inspiring conversation about creating spaces that nurture, comfort, and reflect who you are – no matter the size or location of the place you call home. My guest, Andrea “Andi” Sinkin Jaffe, founder of Andrea Sinkin Design, (Also @Andrea_sinkin_design on Instagram) is a Greenwich-based interior designer whose work has been featured by House Beautiful, Martha Stewart, and New England Home.Andi shares her expertise on turning any home—whether it's a sprawling estate or a cozy studio—into a haven that feels both stylish and deeply personal. And she shares a few ways you can make your space feel like a safe space on every budget. We talk about the power of layering in design, why lighting is key to setting the mood, and how even the smallest updates can make a space feel new and alive. We also reflect on the emotional connection we have to our homes and how making intentional design choices can create a true sense of sanctuary, especially during life's most chaotic seasons. In This Episode:• Andi's journey to building a thriving design business—and why she took the nontraditional path.• Why layering is the secret to creating a cozy and inviting space.• How thoughtful lighting choices can transform a room (and why blue light is a no-go for most spaces!).• The importance of incorporating personal pieces, like a family heirloom or vintage rug, into your design.• Practical tips for reimagining your home without breaking the bank. Thank You to This Week's Sponsors:A heartfelt thank-you to our sponsors who make this podcast possible:• Illume Fertility: Offering compassionate, personalized fertility care. Illume Fertility provides expert guidance and support every step of the way. Learn more at IllumeFertility.com.• Steam Greenwich: A staple for fresh, homemade dim sum, noodles, and more. Whether you're dining in or ordering takeout, Steam brings delicious comfort food to your table. Order today at SteamGreenwich.com.• Podpopuli studio: Visit Podpopuli.com for more info. Stay Connected:Follow me on Instagram at @DorothyOnTV, shop That Greenwich Life merch at DorothyOnTV.com, and watch this episode on YouTube @DorothyTV.If you loved this episode, please leave a review and share it with friends. Together, let's continue to glow up in every part of life. And remember—don't just live your life, love it!

This week, we are delighted to chat with Gabriella Eisenhart, the visionary founder behind Silo Studios. Based in Atlanta, Gabriella has spent over a decade crafting breathtaking spaces that beautifully blend personal stories with comfort and connection. Known for her timeless yet unexpected style, Gabriella's designs masterfully marry traditional elements with modern flair, creating sophisticated and edgy interiors celebrated in Architectural Digest and House Beautiful. In this episode Gabriella introduces us to the philosophy of slow design, a thoughtful approach to curating a home over time. Instead of rushing to furnish every room, she encourages selecting pieces that resonate personally, ensuring your home evolves alongside your journey. Join us as we explore how to thoughtfully create a space that is both elegant and deeply personal, discovering how Gabriella's artistry in integrating family history and local culture brings each space to life. What You'll Hear On This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to Ballard Designs Podcast 00:45 Welcoming Gabriella Eisenhart: Founder of Silo Studios 02:30 Gabriella's Background and Design Journey 06:20 The Art of Timeless Design with a Modern Twist 09:15 Understanding Slow Design: Curating with Intention 12:00 Balancing Immediate Needs with Long-Term Vision 15:45 Blending Tradition and Innovation in Design 18:30 The Role of Personal Stories in Decorating 21:29 Case Study: Buckhead Condo and the Power of Art in Design 25:58 Integrating Art and Family Heritage into Spaces 28:10 Gabriella's Home: Melding East Meets West Influences 32:05 Crafting Kitchens: The Curve of Creativity and Functionality 36:04 Mastering the Mix of Patterns and Textures 39:20 Designing Children's Rooms: Growing with Grace 42:30 Decorating Dilemma: Wallpaper Wonders for a Cozy Apartment 47:50 Final Thoughts and Gabriella's Inspirations

Hey friend!  It's here - the most anticipated episode all year. The What's Hot & What's Not in home design in 2025. This year I gathered my insight from Better Homes and Garden, House Beautiful, Southern Living and Elle Decor. Surprisingly this year, more than any other years, most of these lists were in alignment and agreement with each other - not many outliers.  Of course, I added my personal opinion about some of them, where others I was in complete agreement and even some where I was in disagreement. :)  Trend or not, recommended design choices by fancy-pants designers or not, the ultimate goal here is for you to LOVE YOUR HOME. To release any expectations that your homes should be Pinterset perfect or Instagram worthy. Your home should be a reflection of you and if that means you put  carpet into your bathroom because you love the way if feels on your feet when you step out of the bath (you'll have to listen to the episode to know WHY in 2025 I'm talking about carpeted bathrooms), if it makes you happy - it's OK. ;)  Joking aside, I know that making decisions in your home is a big deal. It's frustrating, laborious and connected to a lot of things that have nothing to do with the ultimate goal of what it looks like: money spent, compromising styles, honoring grandma's heirlooms, etc. If you are ready for a bit of guidance and a lot of support as you balance it all in 2025 - I invite you to book a Decorating SOS Coaching Call. Together we'll create a plan that fits your needs while matching your personality, budget and timeline.  Book a Decorating SOS Coaching Call Happy styling!  dani    // Links mentioned in show: // Email: hello@figandfarmathome.com Website: https://figandfarmathome.com Join The Collective (monthly membership): https://www.figandfarmathome.com/thecollective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figandfarm/ FREE Facebook Community: https://www.bit.ly/design101group Quiet Luxury Podcast: https://figandfarmathome.podbean.com/e/169/  

Joining me for her third appearance on the show is organizing expert, Shira Gill. In today's conversation, we discuss topics from her latest book, 'Lifestyled: Your Guide to a More Organized and Intentional Life'. Shira shares her journey from feeling overwhelmed (despite being an organizing expert) to simplifying different areas of her life through actionable steps. With practical examples from her own life, Shira discusses strategies for creating systems and habits to manage volume and reduce stress. The conversation also touches on how to apply these principles during the holiday season!About Shira |Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Shira Gill is a globally recognized home organizing expert and author with a less-is-more philosophy. Over the past decade, she has helped thousands of people around the world reduce clutter and create more space for what matters. Shira's books center around the intimate relationship between people's homes and lives and how they inform and inspire each other. Her work and home have been featured in Vogue, Dwell, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Domino, Forbes, Goop, Harper's Bazaar, HGTV, InStyle, Parents, Real Simple, and The New York Times.Links Discussed in This Episode |Order a Copy of Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with SimplicityDiane's Resource: Blog Post: Thankful and Thoughtful: Cooking with Intention to Reduce Waste This Holiday SeasonPrevious Episode: EP203: Declutter, Then ElevatePrevious Episode: EP326: Let's Declutter: Your ClosetShira's Resource: Freedom appShira Can't Stop Talking About: Gold BellyConnect with Shira:WebsiteInstagramBook: Lifestyled by Shira GillEpisode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.Questions |You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Checkout the Minimalist Moms Podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Need help decluttering? I'm here to help! If you've been struggling with motivation to declutter, I'd love to help you achieve your goals in your home. We'll work together (locally or virtually) to discover what areas in your home are high priority to get you feeling less overwhelmed right away. For more info on my processes, fees, and availability please contact!Our Sponsors:* Check out Gobble: https://gobble.com/MINIMALIST* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code MINIMALIST for a great deal: happymammoth.com* Check out Ritual : https://ritual.com/MINSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/minimalist-moms-podcast2093/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kelly and celebrity decluttering expert and best-selling author, Tracy McCubbin, discuss the importance of working through our clutter blocks to help us let go and create clutter-free spaces for good! Tracy is the Founder and CEO of Los Angeles's premier organizing and decluttering firm called, dClutterfly, and she has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company, Inc., The Wall Street Journal, House Beautiful, Goop and more! You will learn about the connection between clutter and your emotional state, common clutter blocks that may be keeping you from letting go or causing you to acquire more, and practical tips on how to keep your home decluttered and organized. Plus, Tracy shares her responses to some of the most common questions including “how do I deal with living with a messy partner?” and “how do I let go of meaningful sentimental items?” and more! Be inspired to realize your own clutter obstacles and start adopting some of Tracy's practical systems to help you create a clutter-free home for good! Past Episode with Tracy: Ep.158 Solve Your Clutter Problems with Tracy McCubbin TracyMccubbin.comTracy's helpful ResourcesBooks by Tracy NYT Article: My Partner is Messy, Help!Forbes Article: Overwhelmed by Clutter? The Fix Can Be Simpler than you Think! Follow Millennial Minimalists: Instagram, Facebook, & YouTube Find a Simple Living Consult, The Closet Course, and Partner Discounts: Mastersimplicity.com!

 Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Shira Gill is a globally recognized home organizing expert, speaker, coach, and content creator with a less-is-more philosophy. Over the past decade, she has helped thousands of people around the world reduce clutter and create more space for what matters. Shira's books center around the intimate relationship between people's homes and lives and how they inform and inspire each other. Her work and home have been featured in Vogue, Dwell, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Domino, Forbes, goop, Harper's Bazaar, HGTV, InStyle, Parents, Real Simple, and The New York Times. She has also been a guest on Good Morning America.

Six Strangers. One Cursed Playlist. Ultimate Power—or Certain Death. Drawn by a mysterious letter promising the power to control the dead, six strangers arrive at a hidden location with one task: survive a binge-listening session. Their key to unlocking this dark magic? The Necronomicon iPod, a macabre piece of technology loaded with a supernatural playlist. Meet the crew: a die-hard podcast fan, quirky cat dad, skeptical ghost hunter, spiritual healer, unreliable flake, and dramatic entertainer. They must endure each eerie episode, but as secrets are revealed, not all may make it out alive. This horror-comedy event features exclusive segments from fan-favorite podcasts: And That's Why We Drink, Two Girls One Ghost, Creeps and Crimes, Ladies & Tangents, and Live, Laugh, Larceny. Will they unlock undead power—or will the playlist claim their souls? Tune in to this all-star podcast holiday event for a supernatural audio adventure like no other! Written and Produced by Trevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, Larceny Original art by Sadie Kern of PopGunFlo https://www.popgunflo.com Voice Cast: Alecia Watson of Twisted and Uncorked https://www.twistedanduncorked.com/ Cassie Hahn of PNW Haunts and Homicides https://www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com/ Kaydra Brannan of Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast https://perplexitymysteryp.wixsite.com/perplexity Trevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, Larceny Amanda Rose of Live, Laugh, Larceny Christine Schiefer of And That's Why We Drink and Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet Playlist Details: EP 1: Creeps and Crimes - The Halloween Massacre of 1962 https://www.creepsandcrimespodcast.com Dive into the chilling urban legend of the Halloween Massacre of 1962 with hosts Taylar Fetzner and Morgan Mounts. In this episode, Creeps and Crimes unearths haunting details of a massacre blending true crime and eerie folklore. Taylar and Morgan lighten the mood with a nostalgic debate over Halloween movies. Are you team Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown? Tune in for a mix of creepy thrills and nostalgic chills! EP 2: Two Girls One Ghost - Daruma-san: The Bath Game https://www.twogirlsoneghost.com Two Girls One Ghost hosts Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga explore paranormal games with Daruma-san: The Bath Game. Learn the eerie, step-by-step process of this ritual, where a simple bath can summon a vengeful Japanese ghost. Ghostly apparitions, sinister hair-washing rituals, and spooky folklore—what could go wrong? EP 3: Live, Laugh, Larceny: A True Petty Crime Podcast - The Monster Mash at Bootsy Bellows https://www.Livelaughlarceny.com Amanda and Trevin bring to life the chaotic incident at Bootsy Bellows, set against Bobby “Boris” Pickett's Halloween classic, “The Monster Mash.” This performance explores the events leading to a mass evacuation at the Aspen nightclub, turning Halloween into a night of chaos. With their comedic parody style, Amanda and Trevin show how fun quickly spirals into a petty crime caper, leaving you laughing and shivering. EP 4: Ladies & Tangents - Creepy Myths and Urban Legends https://www.ladiesandtangents.com Join Jeri and Ciara as they mix laughs and tangents while exploring creepy myths and urban legends. In this episode, the ladies uncover chilling truths behind tales like Anne Boleyn's beheading, King Tut's curse, and a local warlock. Get ready to navigate the line between fear and humor as they take you from terror to laughter. EP 5: And That's Why We Drink - Real Scary Stories https://www.Andthatswhywedrink.com Hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz discuss terrifying stories. Drawing from a House Beautiful article and chilling fan accounts, Christine shares tales of slithering villains, a spirit-sensing dog, and a mourning circle of cats. This blend of humor and horror will keep you questioning late-night strolls. Good luck sleeping after this one! Support all of these amazing shows and have a happy Halloween! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six Strangers. One Cursed Playlist. Ultimate Power—or Certain Death. Drawn by a mysterious letter promising the power to control an army of the dead, six strangers arrive at a hidden location with a single task: survive a binge-listening session unlike any other. Their key to unlocking this dark magic? The Necronomicon iPod, a macabre piece of technology loaded with a supernatural podcast playlist. Meet the crew: a die-hard podcast fan, a cat dad with a quirky side, a skeptical ghost hunter, a spiritual healer, an unreliable flake, and a professional entertainer with a flair for the dramatic. Together, they must endure each eerie episode—but as secrets are revealed and tensions rise, not everyone is guaranteed to make it out alive. This one-of-a-kind horror-comedy event features exclusive segments from fan-favorite podcasts: And That's Why We Drink, Two Girls One Ghost, Creeps and Crimes, Ladies & Tangents, and Live, Laugh, Larceny. Will they unlock the power of the undead—or will the cursed playlist claim their souls first? Tune in to this all-star podcast holiday event for a supernatural audio adventure like no other! Written and Produced by Trevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, Larceny  Original art by Sadie Kern of PopGunFlo  https://www.popgunflo.com  Voice cast: Alecia Watson of Twisted and Uncorked  https://www.twistedanduncorked.com/ Cassie Hahn of PNW Haunts and Homicides  https://www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com/ Kaydra Brannan of Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast https://perplexitymysteryp.wixsite.com/perplexity Trevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, Larceny Amanda Rose of Live, Laugh, Larceny Christine Schiefer of And That's Why We Drink and Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet PLAYLIST DETAILS: EP 1: Creeps and Crimes - The Halloween Massacre of 1962 https://www.creepsandcrimespodcast.com  Dive into the chilling urban legend of the Halloween Massacre of 1962 with hosts Taylar Fetzner and Morgan Mounts. In this spine-tingling episode, Creeps and Crimes unearths the haunting details of a massacre that has terrified generations, blending true crime and eerie folklore. But it's not all horror—Taylar and Morgan lighten the mood by diving into a nostalgic debate over classic Halloween movies. Are you team Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown? Tune in for a perfect mix of creepy thrills and nostalgic chills! EP 2: Two Girls One Ghost - Daruma-san: The Bath Game https://www.twogirlsoneghost.com  Two Girls One Ghost hosts Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga dive into the spine-chilling world of paranormal games with Daruma-san: The Bath Game. Learn the eerie, step-by-step process of this supernatural ritual, where a simple bath can summon a vengeful Japanese ghost. Discover the dark legend behind Daruma-san, the spirit you might encounter, and why it's best to avoid playing this terrifying game. Ghostly apparitions, sinister hair-washing rituals, and spooky traditions from Japanese folklore—what could go wrong? EP 3: Live, Laugh, Larceny: A True Petty Crime Podcast - The Monster Mash at Bootsy Bellows https://www.Livelaughlarceny.com  Amanda and Trevin deliver their original, dramatic take on the wild incident at Bootsy Bellows, all set against the backdrop of Bobby “Boris” Pickett's Halloween classic, “The Monster Mash.” This immersive performance brings to life the chaotic events that led to a mass evacuation at the Aspen nightclub, transforming a festive Halloween celebration into a memorable debacle into a night of utter crap. With their signature comedic parody style and captivating sound effects, Amanda and Trevin explore how a night of fun can quickly spiral into a petty crime caper, leaving you laughing and shivering at the same time. EP 4: Ladies & Tangents - Creepy Myths and Urban Legends https://www.ladiesandtangents.com   Join Jeri and Ciara as they serve up a delightful mix of laughs and tangents while exploring the eerie realm of creepy myths and urban legends. In this episode, the ladies uncover the chilling truths behind iconic tales like Anne Boleyn's beheading, King Tut's infamous curse, and a personal connection to a local warlock. Get ready to navigate the thin line between fear and humor as they take you off track from terror and into the world of laughter before the playlist concludes. EP 5: And That's Why We Drink - Real Scary Stories https://www.Andthatswhywedrink.com  The realest and scariest is saved for last as hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz sit down to discuss some truly terrifying stories. Drawing from a House Beautiful article and chilling accounts from Dark House podcast fans, Christine ignites the chills with tales of slithering villains, a dog that senses spirits, and a mourning circle of cats. This episode's blend of humor and horror will keep you questioning your late-night strolls. Good luck sleeping after this one! Support all of these amazing shows and have a happy Halloween!

Playlist of the Dead: An All-Star Halloween SpecialSix Strangers. One Cursed Playlist. Ultimate Power—or Certain Death.Drawn by a mysterious letter promising the power to control an army of the dead, six strangers arrive at a hidden location with a single task: survive a binge-listening session unlike any other. Their key to unlocking this dark magic? The Necronomicon iPod, a macabre piece of technology loaded with a supernatural podcast playlist.Meet the crew: a die-hard podcast fan, a cat dad with a quirky side, a skeptical ghost hunter, a spiritual healer, an unreliable flake, and a professional entertainer with a flair for the dramatic. Together, they must endure each eerie episode—but as secrets are revealed and tensions rise, not everyone is guaranteed to make it out alive.This one-of-a-kind horror-comedy event features exclusive segments from fan-favorite podcasts: And That's Why We Drink, Two Girls One Ghost, Creeps and Crimes, Ladies & Tangents, and Live, Laugh, Larceny.Will they unlock the power of the undead—or will the cursed playlist claim their souls first? Tune in to this all-star podcast holiday event for a supernatural audio adventure like no other!Written and Produced by Trevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, Larceny Original art by Sadie Kern of PopGunFlo https://www.popgunflo.comVoice cast:Alecia Watson of Twisted and Uncorked https://www.twistedanduncorked.com/Cassie Hahn of PNW Haunts and Homicides https://www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com/Kaydra Brannan of Perplexity: A Mystery Podcasthttps://perplexitymysteryp.wixsite.com/perplexityTrevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, LarcenyAmanda Rose of Live, Laugh, LarcenyChristine Schiefer of And That's Why We Drink and Beach Too Sandy, Water Too WetPlaylist Details:EP 1: Creeps and Crimes - The Halloween Massacre of 1962https://www.creepsandcrimespodcast.comDive into the chilling urban legend of the Halloween Massacre of 1962 with hosts Taylar Fetzner and Morgan Mounts. In this spine-tingling episode, Creeps and Crimes unearths the haunting details of a massacre that has terrified generations, blending true crime and eerie folklore. But it's not all horror—Taylar and Morgan lighten the mood by diving into a nostalgic debate over classic Halloween movies. Are you team Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown? Tune in for a perfect mix of creepy thrills and nostalgic chills!EP 2: Two Girls One Ghost - Daruma-san: The Bath Gamehttps://www.twogirlsoneghost.comTwo Girls One Ghost hosts Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga dive into the spine-chilling world of paranormal games with Daruma-san: The Bath Game. Learn the eerie, step-by-step process of this supernatural ritual, where a simple bath can summon a vengeful Japanese ghost. Discover the dark legend behind Daruma-san, the spirit you might encounter, and why it's best to avoid playing this terrifying game. Ghostly apparitions, sinister hair-washing rituals, and spooky traditions from Japanese folklore—what could go wrong?EP 3: Live, Laugh, Larceny: A True Petty Crime Podcast - The Monster Mash at Bootsy Bellowshttps://www.Livelaughlarceny.comAmanda and Trevin deliver their original, dramatic take on the wild incident at Bootsy Bellows, all set against the backdrop of Bobby “Boris” Pickett's Halloween classic, “The Monster Mash.” This immersive performance brings to life the chaotic events that led to a mass evacuation at the Aspen nightclub, transforming a festive Halloween celebration into a memorable debacle into a night of utter crap. With their signature comedic parody style and captivating sound effects, Amanda and Trevin explore how a night of fun can quickly spiral into a petty crime caper, leaving you laughing and shivering at the same time.EP 4: Ladies & Tangents - Creepy Myths and Urban Legendshttps://www.ladiesandtangents.com  Join Jeri and Ciara as they serve up a delightful mix of laughs and tangents while exploring the eerie realm of creepy myths and urban legends. In this episode, the ladies uncover the chilling truths behind iconic tales like Anne Boleyn's beheading, King Tut's infamous curse, and a personal connection to a local warlock. Get ready to navigate the thin line between fear and humor as they take you off track from terror and into the world of laughter before the playlist concludes.EP 5: And That's Why We Drink - Real Scary Storieshttps://www.Andthatswhywedrink.comThe realest and scariest is saved for last as hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz sit down to discuss some truly terrifying stories. Drawing from a House Beautiful article and chilling accounts from Dark House podcast fans, Christine ignites the chills with tales of slithering villains, a dog that senses spirits, and a mourning circle of cats. This episode's blend of humor and horror will keep you questioning your late-night strolls. Good luck sleeping after this one!Support all of these amazing shows and have a happy Halloween! WE'RE GOING ON TOUR - ladiesandtangents.comWE'RE ON PATREON - patreon.com/ladiesandtangentsMERCH - ladiesandtangents.com/lt-merch*NEW* SUBMIT YOUR STORIES - landtstories@gmail.comFOLLOW ALONG WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA - @ladiesandtangents GAZA/WEST BANK RESOURCES-https://medium.com/@scholarscoalition/for-immediate-release-u-s-4c2aecd11535https://irusa.org/middle-east/palestine/https://buildpalestine.com/2021/05/15/trusted-organizations-to-donate-to-palestine/https://www.vox.com/2015/5/14/18093732/israel-palestine-misconceptionshttps://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52045757

Playlist of the Dead: An All-Star Halloween SpecialSix Strangers. One Cursed Playlist. Ultimate Power—or Certain Death.Drawn by a mysterious letter promising the power to control an army of the dead, six strangers arrive at a hidden location with a single task: survive a binge-listening session unlike any other. Their key to unlocking this dark magic? The Necronomicon iPod, a macabre piece of technology loaded with a supernatural podcast playlist.Meet the crew: a die-hard podcast fan, a cat dad with a quirky side, a skeptical ghost hunter, a spiritual healer, an unreliable flake, and a professional entertainer with a flair for the dramatic. Together, they must endure each eerie episode—but as secrets are revealed and tensions rise, not everyone is guaranteed to make it out alive.This one-of-a-kind horror-comedy event features exclusive segments from fan-favorite podcasts: And That's Why We Drink, Two Girls One Ghost, Creeps and Crimes, Ladies & Tangents, and Live, Laugh, Larceny.Will they unlock the power of the undead—or will the cursed playlist claim their souls first? Tune in to this all-star podcast holiday event for a supernatural audio adventure like no other!Written and Produced by Trevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, Larceny Original art by Sadie Kern of PopGunFlo https://www.popgunflo.com Voice cast:Alecia Watson of Twisted and Uncorked https://www.twistedanduncorked.com/Cassie Hahn of PNW Haunts and Homicides https://www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com/Kaydra Brannan of Perplexity: A Mystery Podcasthttps://perplexitymysteryp.wixsite.com/perplexityTrevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, LarcenyAmanda Rose of Live, Laugh, LarcenyChristine Schiefer of And That's Why We Drink and Beach Too Sandy, Water Too WetPlaylist Details:EP 1: Creeps and Crimes - The Halloween Massacre of 1962https://www.creepsandcrimespodcast.com Dive into the chilling urban legend of the Halloween Massacre of 1962 with hosts Taylar Fetzner and Morgan Mounts. In this spine-tingling episode, Creeps and Crimes unearths the haunting details of a massacre that has terrified generations, blending true crime and eerie folklore. But it's not all horror—Taylar and Morgan lighten the mood by diving into a nostalgic debate over classic Halloween movies. Are you team Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown? Tune in for a perfect mix of creepy thrills and nostalgic chills!EP 2: Two Girls One Ghost - Daruma-san: The Bath Gamehttps://www.twogirlsoneghost.com Two Girls One Ghost hosts Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga dive into the spine-chilling world of paranormal games with Daruma-san: The Bath Game. Learn the eerie, step-by-step process of this supernatural ritual, where a simple bath can summon a vengeful Japanese ghost. Discover the dark legend behind Daruma-san, the spirit you might encounter, and why it's best to avoid playing this terrifying game. Ghostly apparitions, sinister hair-washing rituals, and spooky traditions from Japanese folklore—what could go wrong?EP 3: Live, Laugh, Larceny: A True Petty Crime Podcast - The Monster Mash at Bootsy Bellowshttps://www.Livelaughlarceny.com Amanda and Trevin deliver their original, dramatic take on the wild incident at Bootsy Bellows, all set against the backdrop of Bobby “Boris” Pickett's Halloween classic, “The Monster Mash.” This immersive performance brings to life the chaotic events that led to a mass evacuation at the Aspen nightclub, transforming a festive Halloween celebration into a memorable debacle into a night of utter crap. With their signature comedic parody style and captivating sound effects, Amanda and Trevin explore how a night of fun can quickly spiral into a petty crime caper, leaving you laughing and shivering at the same time.EP 4: Ladies & Tangents - Creepy Myths and Urban Legendshttps://www.ladiesandtangents.com Join Jeri and Ciara as they serve up a delightful mix of laughs and tangents while exploring the eerie realm of creepy myths and urban legends. In this episode, the ladies uncover the chilling truths behind iconic tales like Anne Boleyn's beheading, King Tut's infamous curse, and a personal connection to a local warlock. Get ready to navigate the thin line between fear and humor as they take you off track from terror and into the world of laughter before the playlist concludes.EP 5: And That's Why We Drink - Real Scary Storieshttps://www.Andthatswhywedrink.com The realest and scariest is saved for last as hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz sit down to discuss some truly terrifying stories. Drawing from a House Beautiful article and chilling accounts from Dark House podcast fans, Christine ignites the chills with tales of slithering villains, a dog that senses spirits, and a mourning circle of cats. This episode's blend of humor and horror will keep you questioning your late-night strolls. Good luck sleeping after this one!Support all of these amazing shows and have a happy Halloween!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Six Strangers. One Cursed Playlist. Ultimate Power—or Certain Death.Drawn by a mysterious letter promising the power to control an army of the dead, six strangers arrive at a hidden location with a single task: survive a binge-listening session unlike any other. Their key to unlocking this dark magic? The Necronomicon iPod, a macabre piece of technology loaded with a supernatural podcast playlist.Meet the crew: a die-hard podcast fan, a cat dad with a quirky side, a skeptical ghost hunter, a spiritual healer, an unreliable flake, and a professional entertainer with a flair for the dramatic. Together, they must endure each eerie episode—but as secrets are revealed and tensions rise, not everyone is guaranteed to make it out alive.This one-of-a-kind horror-comedy event features exclusive segments from fan-favorite podcasts: And That's Why We Drink, Two Girls One Ghost, Creeps and Crimes, Ladies & Tangents, and Live, Laugh, Larceny.Will they unlock the power of the undead—or will the cursed playlist claim their souls first? Tune in to this all-star podcast holiday event for a supernatural audio adventure like no other!Written and Produced by Trevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, Larceny Original art by Sadie Kern of PopGunFlo https://www.popgunflo.com/Voice cast:Alecia Watson of Twisted and Uncorked https://www.twistedanduncorked.com/Cassie Hahn of PNW Haunts and Homicides https://www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com/Kaydra Brannan of Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast https://perplexitymysteryp.wixsite.com/perplexityTrevin Bartee of Live, Laugh, LarcenyAmanda Rose of Live, Laugh, LarcenyChristine Schiefer of And That's Why We Drink and Beach Too Sandy, Water Too WetPlaylist Details:EP 1: Creeps and Crimes - The Halloween Massacre of 1962https://www.creepsandcrimespodcast.com Dive into the chilling urban legend of the Halloween Massacre of 1962 with hosts Taylar Fetzner and Morgan Mounts. In this spine-tingling episode, Creeps and Crimes unearths the haunting details of a massacre that has terrified generations, blending true crime and eerie folklore. But it's not all horror—Taylar and Morgan lighten the mood by diving into a nostalgic debate over classic Halloween movies. Are you team Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown? Tune in for a perfect mix of creepy thrills and nostalgic chills!EP 2: Two Girls One Ghost - Daruma-san: The Bath Gamehttps://www.twogirlsoneghost.com Two Girls One Ghost hosts Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga dive into the spine-chilling world of paranormal games with Daruma-san: The Bath Game. Learn the eerie, step-by-step process of this supernatural ritual, where a simple bath can summon a vengeful Japanese ghost. Discover the dark legend behind Daruma-san, the spirit you might encounter, and why it's best to avoid playing this terrifying game. Ghostly apparitions, sinister hair-washing rituals, and spooky traditions from Japanese folklore—what could go wrong?EP 3: Live, Laugh, Larceny: A True Petty Crime Podcast - The Monster Mash at Bootsy Bellowshttps://www.Livelaughlarceny.com Amanda and Trevin deliver their original, dramatic take on the wild incident at Bootsy Bellows, all set against the backdrop of Bobby “Boris” Pickett's Halloween classic, “The Monster Mash.” This immersive performance brings to life the chaotic events that led to a mass evacuation at the Aspen nightclub, transforming a festive Halloween celebration into a memorable debacle into a night of utter crap. With their signature comedic parody style and captivating sound effects, Amanda and Trevin explore how a night of fun can quickly spiral into a petty crime caper, leaving you laughing and shivering at the same time.EP 4: Ladies & Tangents - Creepy Myths and Urban Legendshttps://www.ladiesandtangents.com  Join Jeri and Ciara as they serve up a delightful mix of laughs and tangents while exploring the eerie realm of creepy myths and urban legends. In this episode, the ladies uncover the chilling truths behind iconic tales like Anne Boleyn's beheading, King Tut's infamous curse, and a personal connection to a local warlock. Get ready to navigate the thin line between fear and humor as they take you off track from terror and into the world of laughter before the playlist concludes.EP 5: And That's Why We Drink - Real Scary Storieshttps://www.Andthatswhywedrink.com The realest and scariest is saved for last as hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz sit down to discuss some truly terrifying stories. Drawing from a House Beautiful article and chilling accounts from Dark House podcast fans, Christine ignites the chills with tales of slithering villains, a dog that senses spirits, and a mourning circle of cats. This episode's blend of humor and horror will keep you questioning your late-night strolls. Good luck sleeping after this one!Support all of these amazing shows and have a happy Halloween!

It's already begun: that time of the year now known across the land as Decorative Gourd Season. Squash are everywhere—carved into jack o'lanterns on front porches, adorning our sideboards and porches with strange shapes and autumn colors, and of course, baked into pies for fall celebrations. But get ready to rethink squash, because despite their slightly cheesy House Beautiful vibe and family-friendly pumpkin patch associations, they are—and we quote—"the most interesting plants in the world." Join us this episode as we explore our surprisingly long entanglement with the cucurbit family, from its star role as the very first plant domesticated in the Americas to the can of Libby's behind nine out of every ten pumpkin pies. Along the way, we figure out what on Earth the difference actually is between a squash and a pumpkin, and we get a sneak peek into the weird and wonderful world of giant pumpkins, where growers compete to break the two-ton barrier with fruits the size of a compact car. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the latest episode in the ONE THING series, where I host conversations with interesting people and ask them the ONE THING they would tell you. You might know Joy Cho as the bright, stylish, happy face and founder of Oh Joy!, a lifestyle brand with millions of followers and whose products and designs have appeared in Target, Petco, House Beautiful (to name a few) and in collaborations with Keds, Casetify, Calpak (and more). But even with a soaring career, Joy experienced a midlife crisis after a hard season in her family and a series of professional setbacks. She tried all the things you're supposed to when you're struggling: therapy, a life coach, but there was really ONE THING that pulled her out of a long funk. In our conversation, Joy and I talk about how I fanned out on her not once but twice, how an outfit can change the way you move through the day, and why it helps to remember what we loved to do when we were kids. I knew Joy would bring wisdom and insight to the show, and of course she over delivered. Learn more about Joy Cho Follow Joy on Instagram Follow Oh Joy on Pinterest FULL SHOW NOTES HERE MENTIONED in this episode: Find all of Joy Cho's books here Creative, Inc. (published 2010) Blog, Inc. (published 2012) Joy's mental-health-focused Substack   SUBSCRIBE to 10 Things To Tell You so you never miss an episode! CLICK HERE for episode show notes FOLLOW @10ThingsToTellYou on Instagram FOLLOW @10ThingsToTellYou on Facebook JOIN the 10 Things To Tell You Connection Group SIGN UP for episode emails, links, and show notes JOIN the Secret Stuff Patreon BUY THE BOOK: Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First. by Laura Tremaine BUY THE BOOK: The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs by Laura Tremaine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the latest episode in the ONE THING series, where I host conversations with interesting people and ask them the ONE THING they would tell you. You might know Joy Cho as the bright, stylish, happy face and founder of Oh Joy!, a lifestyle brand with millions of followers and whose products and designs have appeared in Target, Petco, House Beautiful (to name a few) and in collaborations with Keds, Casetify, Calpak (and more).But even with a soaring career, Joy experienced a midlife crisis after a hard season in her family and a series of professional setbacks. She tried all the things you're supposed to when you're struggling: therapy, a life coach, but there was really ONE THING that pulled her out of a long funk.In our conversation, Joy and I talk about how I fanned out on her not once but twice, how an outfit can change the way you move through the day, and why it helps to remember what we loved to do when we were kids.I knew Joy would bring wisdom and insight to the show, and of course she over delivered.Learn more about Joy ChoFollow Joy on InstagramFollow Oh Joy on PinterestFULL SHOW NOTES HEREMENTIONED in this episode:Find all of Joy Cho's books hereCreative, Inc. (published 2010)Blog, Inc. (published 2012)Joy's mental-health-focused Substack SUBSCRIBE to 10 Things To Tell You so you never miss an episode!CLICK HERE for episode show notesFOLLOW @10ThingsToTellYou on InstagramFOLLOW @10ThingsToTellYou on FacebookJOIN the 10 Things To Tell You Connection GroupSIGN UP for episode emails, links, and show notesJOIN the Secret Stuff PatreonBUY THE BOOK: Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First. by Laura TremaineBUY THE BOOK: The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs by Laura Tremaine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have a really fun guest on the show. She is someone that is known for mixing vintage with contemporary and her name is Ariel Okin and we talk with her about how she balances the old with the new. She is the founder of Ariel Okin Interiors, a full service design firm based in New York City. Her work has been featured in Arch Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Domino, and Vogue, and she is the Editor and Chief of Fenimore Lane, an E-commerce and editorial website. Ariel hosts an amazing podcast called Talk Shop with Ariel Okin where she talks with some of the greats in our industry about design philosophies. Her style is feminine and traditional, grounded in historical elements while carrying a freshness that's inviting and comfortable.   Intro 0:00 Our signature moves that we look for as part of our work brand 0:45 Where she draws inspiration from 7:10 The origin of her love of vintage 10:45 Ariel's formula 12:00 How much old is too much 13:20 Where to shop for vintage 15:00 Knowing when a room is complete 20:20 Pieces to start with 21:30 Dipping into her portfolio 24:00 The mud hall 30:50 Her podcast 33:00   “You have to shop around with vintage and antique. You have to physically go in and see it. You have to go into the shops. I think one of the most valuable pieces of advice that I've learned from chatting on our podcast too is you have to go out and shop in person. You have to touch the things, the fabrics, you have to sit on the sofas, feel the upholstery. Physically doing it is really important, especially and particularly with vintage.” 14:20   www.arielokin.com Instagram: @arielokin   https://www.instagram.com/alicelaneinteriors/ https://www.instagram.com/alicelanehome/ https://alicelanehome.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AliceLaneHome https://www.pinterest.com/alicelanehome/ https://www.youtube.com/alicelanehomecollectionsaltlakecity https://www.alicelaneinteriordesign.com/interior-design-service-podcast-campaign https://alicelanehome.com/pages/home-furnishing-podcast-campaign News Letter:  https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=HZENWY&g=PFcqV5