Five Things on a Friday -3/13/26

Happy Friday, friends! We’ve made it through the week and that calls for a big mug of a something cozy and a little chat. Here’s what we’ve been up to around here.

Shop my living room (above): Rug | Coffee Table | Sconces | Greyhound Print | Full list of living room sources here

The past few weeks have been a bit of a blur, honestly. Although this is usually a calm, quiet time of year, there have just been so many little things going on to fill our days, and those little things really add up. Last-minute schedule additions for work, school basketball season, extra soccer games, and several projects that I can’t seem to find time to finish no matter what I do. All these little things kind of leave me feeling like I’ve been so busy and I’m so behind, and yet, I don’t really feel like I’ve been doing much of anything that could be considered particularly notable. Do you know what I mean? Sometimes the logistics of getting everyone to where they need to be on time, keeping everyone fed, and keeping the house somewhat clean is enough to keep you busy without really feeling like you’ve accomplished anything at all. Anyway, if your days are looking like this, too, lately, I see you!

Kennedy came home for reading week a couple of weeks ago and we had the best time. We hit the ground running and ended up thrifting and antiquing for four days straight. We came away with so many good finds from all our favorite little local thrifting spots, and it was just so much fun. I hadn’t been out of the house for much other than work or soccer over the past couple of months, and I think I really needed that. We even found time to sit down for tea and a treat at a local cafe, which is something else I never seem to find the time to do. Love having an excuse to take a little time off when she comes home from university. It’s important to do fun things every once in awhile.

Some favorite antique markets in our area: Cobbletog in London, The Dusty Loft in Amherstberg, Van Zelst’s Market in Chatham

I have SO many little projects around the house that I’m just dying to get to. Again, I’m feeling completely baffled at why I can’t seem to find time to really accomplish anything, but I’m hopeful I’ll figure it out soon. I’ve been working away all day, every day putting together styling plans, working on shoots, writing blog posts, and trying to keep up with social media and I feel like I’m not really “here” at all during the week. On the weekends, I’ve been doing aaaall the cleaning and maintenance things around the house to try to keep things in order, but I think I may just need to let that slide one week and have some fun instead. I have walls and a cabinet I want to paint, art and plates to hang, and some staining and painting outside that I need to start preparing for so I can tackle that as soon as the weather warms up. Basically, I think it’s just been too long since I painted something and I’m really craving a good paint project. I’ll keep you posted if I manage to check anything off my list!

Shop my fitness gear: Rug | Leggings | Modular resistance bands with handles | Mini bands (both in pretty colors, obviously :))

I’m still going strong with my new training program with Oakman Coaching! At the beginning of January, I started working with a trainer to help build routines that would help me gain strength and fight stress, and this program has helped me more than I imagined possible. I’ve always been a healthy eater, but I’ve learned so much about balancing my macros, how many calories I actually need (way more than I was getting), and eating enough protein. I’ve also been working to increase my daily steps, which has always been such a big stress buster for me, so I love having an excuse to go for a daily walk now. My workouts have been 30 minutes long, three times a week, and although they’ve been really fun, I can’t believe how much stronger I’ve gotten in just a few weeks. I reluctantly took progress photos a couple of weeks ago, thinking that there would be no change (because visible physical changes were never my goal) and I was absolutely shocked to see that there was a real, visible difference, and even some actual muscles starting to show in just a few weeks! Beyond all this, I think the part I’m most excited about is that all these new habits and healthy routines are just kind of built in to my days now. I don’t even have to think about it. I’m kind of on autopilot most weeks, and I still get my steps in, eat my protein, and get my strength training done because it’s just what I do. Having kind, encouraging people to hold me accountable has been the biggest difference maker, and I’d definitely recommend working with a coach for a little extra support no matter who you are.

Gardening season is on the horizon and I have no big plans. Well, I do have plans, but they mostly involve maintaining, repairing, and caring for what I already have in place outside rather than any big, new projects. Our porches need some attention, we have a grape support that was knocked down in a winter wind storm, and I have a little overgrown section that I’d really like to get under control this spring. Other than that, I’ll just be going wherever inspiration takes me and I feel like that’s always a recipe for good things when it comes to gardens.

NEWS AND FINDS

-Our “elevated peasant room” (what Kennedy calls it) was featured in the March issue of British Vogue magazine! I haven’t picked up a physical copy yet, but I really should hunt one down. I always try to get a physical copy of any magazine that my work appears in. These are the curtains pictured in the photos. You can use my code CH12 for 20% off!

-I added these super soft runners to either side of our bed, and they really have made getting out of bed in the morning just a little bit easier. The price point is incredible and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they’re so beautiful, thick, and soft and I’m so impressed with them. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option!

-I was recently sent a couple of really beautiful flatware sets and I just love them both. It’s so fun to bring a little extra fanciness to everyday meals or special holiday dinners (or breakfasts in our case) and I’ll be using these to make things feel a little extra special every chance I get. Vintage-inspired set here. Walnut-handled set here.

-I always get so many questions about my robin mug whenever it shows up in stories. Emma Bridgewater mugs are the best and they have so many beautiful designs to choose from. I’m so thrilled that they brought this robin design back for spring this year. It reminds me of The Secret Garden every time I use it.

-I have such a hard time finding wide-leg jeans that look polished on me and not like I’m swimming in extra fabric since I’m so short. I keep getting served ads for these best-selling Quince jeans and I’m intrigued. They look like they’re fitted enough at the top and a soft enough material that they might actually work for me. I love that they come in a wide range of sizes and washes. The reviews are amazing so I might just give them a try and hope these are finally the ones!

-Loving this wood Windsor bench and this floral loveseat/bench situation. If you’re in need of a bench in a mudroom or along a bedroom wall, please buy one of these and send me photos so I can live vicariously through you. You have to see all the fabric options for the love seat. Each one is more lovely than the last!

-I just ordered these Amazon stems and I hope they’re as good as I think they’re going to be. I was on the hunt for faux daisies, inspired by the Ralph Lauren Home spring campaign that I was talking about over on Instagram recently. I didn’t find daisies that I loved, but these faux cosmos look amazing, and have a similar vibe.

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