Summer salads are my go-to when the weather heats up — they’re quick, refreshing, and perfect for eating cold. On sweltering days, I’d much rather reach for a crisp salad than spend time over a hot stove.

This summer in Atlanta has been insanely hot, so I focused on quick, beautiful recipes you can serve for friends or enjoy on your own. I’m picky about salads — they must taste great and look inviting if I’m entertaining. With that in mind, I put together three easy, crowd-pleasing summer salad ideas that are simple to assemble and ideal for hot-weather meals.

Read more

Have you heard of reverse tie-dye before? Stay with me—I’m sharing a DIY you can try today.

A few years ago I posted a method for bleaching linen that can transform tired textiles into something fresh and beautiful. I decided it was time to revisit that idea and push it a little further.

This time I experimented with pattern-making using a reverse tie-dye technique: instead of adding dye, you remove color with bleach to create striking patterns on clothing and home textiles.

Yes—the tea towel pictured above was made with bleach, not fabric dye. Bleach is surprisingly effective and often simpler and cheaper than traditional dyeing. If you want to try it, this guide walks through everything you need to know.

To recreate these looks at home you’ll need a single-color fabric (cotton, linen, etc.) and household bleach. You can work on light or dark colors. Below I explain three different reverse tie-dye techniques—submerging, pouring, and spraying—so you can pick the effect you like. It’s straightforward and fun.

Read more

It’s incredibly hot in Atlanta right now. Even though summer technically begins in a week, the heat that greets me every time I step outside makes it clear: summer has arrived early. Maybe you’re feeling it where you live too.

To kick off the season a little ahead of schedule, I gathered some of my favorite mouthwatering summer recipes. These picks are guaranteed to get you excited for sunny days, backyard gatherings, tacos, popsicles, and pool parties. Ready to dig in?

Here are 24 summer recipes to make your mouth water:

1. Acai bowl served in a coconut and garnished with edible flowers (photo above)

2. Salted watermelon margarita popsicles from How Sweet Eats

3. Grilled tropical shrimp kabob tacos

4. Grilled pineapple dessert

5. Peach sweet tea granita — a favorite granita recipe, light and refreshing

6. Watermelon, cilantro, and cotija salad — crisp, bright, and perfect for hot days

Read more

I could have included 75 DIY headboard ideas here, but I didn’t want you to waste time scrolling past mediocre projects just to hit a big number. I hunted through Pinterest, my favorite DIY blogs, and every headboard roundup I could find, and selected only the very best — the most stylish, clever, and achievable headboard DIYs I could find. Hope you love them as much as I do.

More sleep, less Monday: I’m easing into the week with a roundup of my favorite DIY headboard ideas. If you can’t sneak in a nap, at least you can make your bedroom look amazing. Here are 21 headboard projects that might convince you to start a new DIY.

Read more

DIY leather drawer pulls are a stylish, simple swap for standard cabinet hardware.

I love making my own drawer and cabinet pulls—it’s one of the easiest, most rewarding home updates you can do. Leather handles are affordable, simple to install, and work well for DIYers at any skill level.

When I updated my studio kitchen I made a bunch of these. They were the finishing touch after I resurfaced laminate countertops and installed a bold DIY backsplash, and they completely changed the look of basic cabinets without a major renovation.

These leather pulls are perfect for renters because they’re affordable, reversible, and instantly elevate builder‑grade cabinets. It’s been about six months since I installed mine and they’ve held up really well—basically the same as the day I put them on.

Follow the steps below to make leather cabinet pulls in just a few minutes per handle.

Read more

Living a block away from a wholesale flower shop is dangerous for my wallet—especially in spring. Last week I couldn’t resist buying a few bundles to start preparing for Easter. I came home with garden roses, white hellebores, anemones, and a sprig of lavender, and I wanted to make something playful and unexpected.

While experimenting, I realized these flowers would pair perfectly with some leftover hanging air plant pods I had on hand. The pods resemble Easter eggs, so I turned them into small hanging arrangements that nod to the season without being overly themed. They’re simple, elegant, and work well anywhere you want a soft, upside-down floral display.

Below is a clear step-by-step guide to making your own upside-down hanging floral arrangements using air plant pods and a few common floral supplies.

Read more