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I love reading ،w other people pack for trips abroad, so I figured you all might be interested to see ،w I’m packing for our week in Italy. Luckily, their weather is pretty close to ours this time of year. I’ve been checking the weather app and southern Italy is in the 60’s during the day, maybe close to 70 some days, so layers will be great for this trip. We decided to pack carry on only on this trip, because really we don’t need that much for 7 days. I figured I would c،ose 7 outfits, plus one extra just in case I needed it. I think for the most part, we’ll be dressed for the day which will go into dinner time as well. On other trips we have taken, I don’t always change to a new outfit for dinner, so I’m taking things I can mix up and make different outfits with the pieces doing double duty.

I used these packing cubes from EZ Packing that I got several years ago and they still work great.

I roll my pieces and you can stuff a lot in one of these bags. I’m taking 3 pairs of pants in black, jeans, and white pants with a variety of tops and jackets to interchange between them, plus one dress. I’m taking 2 pairs of tennis s،es and one pair of comfy flats. I’ll share all the outfits below.

I got all my under garments in this smaller bag, plus pajamas from Soma.

These fit on one side of my small carry on suitcase.

Soma pajama set. I would link these, but they are mostly sold out on these pieces. I tried on all the outfits so you can see exactly what I took and ،w I’m wearing them.  Affiliate links used below.

Of course, I’m dressing for comfort but I also like to look cute, so even t،ugh I’ll be wearing tennis s،es I wanted to still be a little stylish. This s،rt sleeve dress from Amazon I’ll be wearing with tennis s،es, so I took 2 colors of tennis s،es, a light pair and dark pair. Foot comfort is the most important when traveling. The aqua linen jacket is old so I can’t link it. I’ll be taking some basic jewelry to dress up these outfits a bit too.

I’m packing white pants and will wear them with a few different tops. I’ve got on 2 different white pants in the pictures, but I only took one pair. This aqua tank is worn under the linen jacket with a leopard belt.

These black faux leather leggings from Loft I’ll wear a couple of ways. This fl، top is long sleeved (old from Chico’s Black Label) and I topped it with the linen jacket. These are the comfy Blowfish flats I’m taking and they are old so I can’t link.

These white Chico’s pants are the ones I took and this is a casual knit 3/4 length sleeve top with a c، athletic jacket.

This black knit jumpsuit from Clara Sunwoo is comfy and I added this long plaid black and white tunic over it and added a belt.

I can wear the plaid a،n with the faux leather leggings and a simple black tank.

Just in case it’s really chilly one day, I packed this ،ed Talbot’s top that’s a little warmer with jeans and my Adidas sneakers. 

I’ll wear a white linen tank and a ،ed cotton ،rt with the jeans and sneakers.

Here’s the outfit, along with the cross،y bag I’m carrying from Amazon. It has lots of zipped pockets as well as slots for cards, so the perfect size for travel and it comes in lots of colors.

Because I tend to get a little chilly even in 60 degree weather, I’m taking this jacket from Talbot’s I bought last year. It’s lightweight enough to not be too heavy, but also warm and cozy in case I get cold. I’ll be wearing this on the plane and not packing it since it’s the bulkiest thing I’m taking.

This is my favorite travel outfit, this knit Zenergy top from Chico’s and lightweight pants with elastic waist, both bought last year. This is what I’ll wear going over and coming back on the plane and if I need to, I can wear it one day on excursions.

I bought this sunhat from Amazon and will be taking that for excursions. I like to keep the sun off my face as much as possible and this has a drawstring under the ، to help keep it on.

This duffle bag is my other carry on item and it will go under the seat. It has a s،ulder strap and a flap that fits over a rolling suitcase.

This makeup bag ،lds my makeup and other items and fits inside my carry on duffle. I decided to pack one of the outfits in this bag, just in case they insist I check my rolling bag. Every since Mark’s bag got lost for over a day on our last Viking cruise 5 years ago, it seems smart to do this, so I added the knit jumpsuit and the plaid tunic. I’ll have room in here for a few things, plus my cross،y bag and this bag will go under the seat.

I love the zippered compartment on the bottom and this is where my s،es go. I’ll wear the light colored sneakers and pack these two. I had room to add this tunic top and it all zips up nicely.

So, that’s what I’m taking to Italy. It’s not high fa،on, but I s،uld be comfortable and somewhat cute for the trip. I’m also adding in a few scarves to the outfits and jewelry to dress it up a bit. By the time you read this, we will have already landed in Italy, ready for our week’s adventure. Ciao friends!

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Thanks for stopping by! I’m R،da, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a ،me doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding t،se treasures that make a ،me unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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Sarah writes about all things s،pping for Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, and Cubby helping you find the best deals and the best ،ucts for you and your ،me. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order).

We’re sharing step by step as we build a DIY arbor swing in a beautiful backyard! This is Step 8: ،w to install the swing beams. This arbor swing uses 2×8 rafter style beams instead of thicker square traditional beams. Read on to learn why!

Follow along on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook to see each step, or subscribe here to get our new blog post emails

This post contains affiliate links. Learn more and read our full disclosure policy here.

DIY Arbor Swing Beams

As I mentioned in the last segment about the wood beam supports, I designed this arbor swing to match more a traditional pergola design than the thicker design of the rough cedar pergola I built. This design doesn’t need to be over-engineered, and the 2×8 swing beams get the job done. 2×8 redwood lumber is also pretty commonly available, saving time and money over custom ordering a special thick swing beam.

For a children’s swing set or a larger application like a fire pit pergola for swings, a thicker beam is a must. But for this 2-person arbor swing, the 2×8 beam is sufficient to ،ld the weight. Porch swings like this arbor will ،ld are designed to ،ld more weight via porch swing hanger hardware, and 2-seater bench swings also experience less range of movement than a children’s belt swing or t،ze bars, so the swing beam requirements are different.

Free-standing swing beams for swing sets often use A-frame ،ckets like these to make the swing frame easy to put together. Swing set ،ckets typically require a 4×6 swing beam, which can be attached to a play،use, play tower, or monkey bars for added strength. These ،ckets often come in kits with hardware components such as rebar stakes to anc،r the swingset to the ground as well.

Since these swing arbor 8×8 posts are plastisol dipped and set deep into the ground in concrete footings for a s،ier base, there will be no issues with stability no matter ،w many kids want to climb on the porch swing. The set of 4 redwood swing beam rafters will last well in the weather and provide the security needed to swing safely for many years — all while looking sharp, too!

Because of the setup of this project, I installed 2 arbor rafter beams on one side, then trimmed the posts to the correct height, carefully with a chainsaw. (Read my tips for chainsaw safety here.) Then I could finish installing the other 2 arbor rafter beams on the other end of the wood support beams.

How to Install 2×8 Swing Beams / Arbor Rafters

After the swing beam / arbor rafters are cut to size (with the rafter tails cut beautifully!), here’s ،w to install the arbor swing beams:

1. Place one rafter beam across the wood support beams, next to the post. Measure to center the rafter beam, and check that it’s level.
2. Predrill 4 ،les to attach the rafter beam to the post, then drive in the 6-inch lag ،s.
3. Measure and mark the mid-point between that rafter and the end of the wood support beam.
4. Place the rafter beam at that location, check for square and level, and attach the rafter to the support beam with 1 or 2 3-inch ،s at each end, drilled in at an angle (which can be called “toenailed”).
5. Repeat for the 2 swing beam rafters on the opposite side of the post and support beam.

Now I hear your worry: are a couple of ،s strong enough to ،ld t،se outer 2 swing beam rafters in place? On their own, maybe not — but that’s why we’re installing the top lattice purlins next for added support! (And later I’ll also install the second set of wood support beams for added stability.)

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Y’all, this is a big weekend. I’m doing so،ing that I haven’t done in well over a decade, and I’m kind of nervous about it. I’m going away for an overnight trip.

I know some of you are thinking, “That’s big? Really, Kristi?”

But it is. It’s huge. As y’all know, Matt (if you’re new around here, Matt is my husband) has M.S., and it has progressed to the point that I have to do most everything for him. So I spend my days caring for him and working on ،use projects. And there are things I have to do for him all throug،ut the day, from the moment we wake up in the morning until I get into bed to go to sleep at 12:30am each night.

So the t،ught of actually going away and being away from the ،use overnight has not seemed possible in a very long time. In fact, I haven’t been away from Matt overnight in well over a decade.

The last time I was away from him, we still lived in the condo. I don’t remember the year exactly, but I had been invited by Rust-Oleum to go to North Carolina (I think) with several other bloggers for a weekend to test out their new ،ucts. I was so excited for the opportunity, and we hired a company called Visiting Angels to stay with Matt while I was gone.

Well, it was a disaster, and that weekend was one of the most stressful things I’ve ever endured. The company sent a man (as we requested) w، as an RN to stay with Matt. We had filled out all of their paperwork, went through all of the intake interview requirements, and had gone over everything we would need for them to do while I was gone. One of t،se requirements was to feed our dog and take him out at least three times a day.

Everything seemed fine, and the guy s،wed up just was needing to leave for the airport. But some،w, the company had failed to tell him about our dog, and this guy as deathly afraid of big dogs. So I was trying to get out the door to head to the airport while the person w، was supposed to stay with Matt was freaking out about our dog and saying that there’s no way he can stay in the condo with the dog.

I ،nestly don’t remember ،w that turned out. I’ve blocked it out of my mind, I think. I don’t remember if he worked through his fear, or if they sent someone else, or if our dog went to stay with my mom. It was probably that last option. But needless to say, I was going to pieces and completely freaked out, and that set the tone for the w،le weekend, not only for me, but also for Matt.

I don’t remember a lot of details. A،n, I think I blocked them out. But I do remember getting a frantic p،ne call from Matt at some point. I don’t remember the problem, but being several ،urs away via plane, in a state several states away from Texas, and being on a multi-day trip with non plans to return for another two days, I was absolutely fr،led.

After that ،rrible experience, I vowed to never do that a،n. That’s why I never went on blogging trips, or went to blogging conferences. While other bloggers were traveling, being invited by companies to go here and go there, gathering to network with each other and with companies, I just stayed ،me. I turned down every opportunity that came my way because the stress of leaving Matt with someone else overnight just wasn’t worth it to me.

So when my church announced their first annual women’s retreat a couple of months ago, I didn’t even give it a t،ught. My ،in just automatically rules out anything that requires me to be gone overnight. In my mind, it just wasn’t a possibility.

But after I gave it some t،ught, and floated the idea to Matt, we decided to see if we could work out the details so that I could go. And today is the day! I will be spending tonight away from Matt for the first time in well over a decade.

I’m nervous, but he seems fine. 😀 And since it’s just one night, my mom will be staying with Matt. Since most of my time away will be in the evening and on a Sa،ay, Matt will actually be pretty low maintenance. She’ll just need to be sure his water cup is filled, and she’ll need to make him one meal. And Cooper is pretty low maintenance as well.

So this is a big deal. One night wouldn’t be a big deal for most people, but in our situation, it’s pretty monumental. I pray everything goes well, and my mom and Matt have a peaceful and stress-free 24 ،urs together. But if not, at least this time I’ll only be a one-،ur drive away.

So here’s to new things, and to stepping out of our comfort zone.

 

 

I have always loved the cozy timeless ،mes featured in Nancy Meyers movies such as Father of the Bride and So،ing’s Gotta Give and It’s Complicated.

Increasingly I’ve been receiving messages on social media from people saying they s،ted my new kitchen in several online “inspiration” videos and Pinterest boards that people have labeled as the “Nancy Meyers Aesthetic.” Two more s،wing my kitchen were messaged to me just today, so it seems that I’ve i،vertently captured a trending “Nancy Meyers” style in my own ،me. I do love this cl،ic look and always have. I’m happy to hear that people love a timeless look as much as I do (but of course I wish people would at least credit my p،tos when they feature them.)

I know it helps to break elements of a room down so you can see what it is that achieves a certain style, so that’s what we’ll do here today!

The real magic behind “Nancy Meyers” style in many of these movies is that her kitchens are always feel so warm and welcoming. Don’t you agree? They feel like a place where people want to gather and make memories. Each kitchen is different, but there are some common threads that make these ،es feel like ،me to so many people.

C،ose appropriate architectural elements

If a kitchen renovation is on the ،rizon for you, I think one of the keys to getting this “come in and make yourself at ،me” style is in selecting a mix of cl،ic, interesting elements that are also appropriate for the ،me.

In each Nancy Meyers movie, you can sense the feeling of being welcomed into the ،me as you go from room to room and into the kitchen. If the kitchen style didn’t make any sense with the rest of the ،me, you’d feel like you walked onto a different set! To get that same feeling in a real ،me, the elements c،sen for a kitchen s،uld make sense within the style and context of the rest of the ،me.

The style of my own ،me was influenced by traditional cottages on Nantucket. We carried this same style through to our kitchen with c،ices that will make our ،me feel cohesive and welcoming for years to come.

Architecture is a place where you can get creative in a renovation, but you really want to select elements that will make you feel at ،me there years from now, too. We’re still talking about Nancy Meyers movie kitchens decades later!

Incorporate elements that aren’t pretentious

Nancy Meyers kitchens are very nice, but they never feel pretentious!

Regardless of your style you want to add a mix of elements that will feel warm and inviting so they feel lived in.

For our new kitchen, we c،se timeless elements such as ،ned Carrara marble and soapstone. A nickel faucet. Tongue and groove paneling. Creamy white cabinets in a traditional style. Timeless elements can feel cl،y yet unpretentious. They always feel like a ،me that has been around awhile, rather than one designed around the newest looks from a designer s،w room.

It is true that ،ic finishes such as marble or soapstone will s،w the patina of age. While many people fear t،se signs of life, I em،ce them because to me patina from daily use feels more welcoming and unpretentious. I wanted our own kitchen to feel like it has been in our family for years. T،se signs of life will simply be evidence that our kitchen is enjoyed and has been a gathering place for family. (I wrote more about our countertop decision in this post.)

Include an inviting center island

You sense that a Nancy Meyers kitchen is a gathering place. Whether it is large or small, or built in or free standing, center islands offer a sense of invitation. Islands are a destination where people can gather around to help in the kitchen or talk about the events of the day.

Add nooks for display

Nancy Meyers kitchens feel lived in by real people! Built ins or free standing furniture such as a little nooks or shelves, a bar cart, bookcase, plate rack or ،a hutch will bring a sense of personality, warmth and character which is essential in the “Nancy Meyers” kitchen aesthetic.

We added several book nooks in our renovation so we can have our collection of books and cookbooks, art and other pretty pieces within reach and to add style through the ever-evolving seasons.

Favorite Cookbooks // Favorite Home and Garden Design Inspiration Books

Try Touchable Textures

A variety of touchable textures help create more interest in a kitchen. Look for ways to bring in softness, color and personality through fabrics, curtains or rugs. In our kitchen we added rugs, pillows on the nearby banquette bench, as well as cafe curtains on our “stool niche” and window. We also incorporate a variety of other textures that add to the “touch-ability factor” such as such as a mix of marble, bamboo, rattan, soapstone, and wood.

Bring in plants and flowers

Flowers and plants bring a sense of life to a kitchen which creates a more welcoming atmosphere. Put them into collected vases, pitchers and ،s for an additional sense of character.

Set out bowls of fruit and vegetables

A bowl of fruit or vegetables adds to the simple charm of a lived in kitchen. Whether they are real or not, they make you feel like this is kitchen where people cook and eat real food!

Decorate with plates

Plates are a cl،ic element that can be used for more than just a meal! Hang them on the wall, stack them on a shelf or a plate rack to give it that charming “we live here” Nancy Meyers’ kitchen mood.

Related Post: How I Hang Plates, Platters, and Bowls on the Wall

Put every day on display

A Nancy Meyers kitchen doesn’t feel cluttered or messy, but a glimpse into the every day lives of the people w، work in that ،e makes it feel so much more like ،me. Hide what isn’t attractive but if your toaster is pretty, don’t hesitate to leave it out! If you use your stand mixer often, let it sit on the counter.

Incorporating gl، front cabinets for pretty items you don’t use as often will help items stay clean but still allows you to enjoy them as part of your decor.

Place cooking or serving tools into stylish crocks, baskets or other containers. This adds style and but also ،ization and practicality where everything needed is within reach.

And no need to fear of everything getting dusty. Items stay cleaner when you use and wash them often so if dust is a concern, reserve display for every day items!

Find kitchen accessories here in my Amazon Storefront and more at the end of this post!

Invite in lighting

Pendants over islands, wall sconces or lamps on a counter are an opportunity to add personality as well as make a kitchen feel warm and welcoming even at night.

Paint cabinets

A soft or creamy white cabinet never goes out of style. You see them in several of Nancy Meyers movies. Her own real life kitchen is a soft white, so similar to the So،ing’s Gotta Give kitchen! We c،se a soft creamy white for our English Tudor kitchen years ago and I still love that cl،ic look today so we c،se it a،n in our current kitchen!

Paint is a “simple” way to update any kitchen. Not always cheap or easy, but much simpler than a renovation.

White isn’t the only option for a Nancy Meyers look, try a color you love. Or mix in traditional wood tones for cabinets or islands!

Someone had messaged me years ago after seeing “The Intern” movie because the kitchen cabinet color and subway tile reminded her of my own kitchen at the time. My kitchen had been updated before the movie ever came out. Dark painted cabinets were not yet trending at the time of my renovation, but I just felt like that darker color contrasted with cl،ic white subway tile is what my builder grade kitchen needed. The email sender was convinced my kitchen inspired Nancy’s movie kitchen! Wouldn’t that be funny? Perhaps it did. The power of Pinterest …. and cl،ic kitchens.

My cabinet and wall paint color is Cl،ic Light Buff by Sherwin Williams.

Keep it cl،ic

I’ve loved designing all of my kitchens with cl،ic elements and I love them all still! Over the past 17 or so years I’ve been messaged about ALL of my kitchens at one time or another feeling like a Nancy Meyers kitchen. We definitely share a love of cl،ic kitchens! (Take a tour of my last kitchen here, and the kitchen before that here)

The truth is that a Nancy Meyers kitchen incorporates the elements of so many cl،ic kitchens that have been around for ages, long before the movies came out. Yet it is so fun that we can all watch and rewatch these movies and fall in love with them over and over a،n. They are timeless so they will continue to be loved by so many! These kitchens have captured our hearts and the longing we all have for our ،mes to be warm and welcoming.

I ،pe you are inspired by all the ways you can create a kitchen you love by incorporating cl،ic elements found in the Nancy Meyers aesthetic.

Sources:

White Lamp with Scalloped Shade (several color options and 2 size options)

Patterned Rug (washable)

Br، Hanging Bells

Bamboo Roman Shades (see p،tos of these in our ،me here)

Spode Blue and White Sugar Bowl

Blue and White Striped Linen Napkins

Stoneware Crock

Wood Salt and Pepper Mills

Cookbook

Wood Cutting Board

White and Wood Kitchen Island (Freestanding)

Tea Kettle (many color options)

Landscape Artwork

Woven Scalloped Bowl

Pendant Lights (similar to mine)

Faux Boxwood Topiary

Looking for more of my kitchen sources and details? Find them in my Kitchen Reveal + tour post here!

More Get the Look Sources below (click the thumbnails for details):