Social media has a funny way of making us believe that everyone else has the perfectly organized pantry, the spotless living room, and a home that’s somehow always “finished.” But behind every beautiful home is still… life. Laundry that needs folding. Toys that somehow multiply overnight. Please explain how they do that 😂 donation bin that’s been sitting in the same spot for weeks. Projects that take longer than expected. Dishes that occasionally wait until tomorrow. Ours is no different. We moved into this house almost five months ago, and the list is never ending on what we’ve got going. Some days, that means choosing the park over folding the laundry. letting the kids build forts in the living room. It means leaving the dishes until after bedtime stories. It means remembering that homes are meant to be lived in, and we need to steward them together. I hope this is your reminder that you don’t have to have it all together to be building something you are proud of. Your life doesn’t have to look perfect to be a good one. 🤍 What’s one “imperfect” thing in your home that actually makes your life work better?

If I could go back to 22 with everything I know now, here’s the playbook I’d follow. 1. I’d spend as much time learning about my own money habits as I did learning about investing. What makes me spend? What emotions trigger purchases? What am I hoping buying something will fix? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that most money problems are actually behavior problems, not math problems. 2. Open a Roth IRA as soon as I had earned income. Honestly, even before 22 if possible. Time is one of the few things you can’t get back, and compound growth rewards people who start early. 3. Find a stable job with a 401(k) and an employer match. That’s part of your compensation, and I wouldn’t leave it on the table. 4. Increase my retirement contributions every time I got a raise or had extra income. I’d treat investing like a bill so the money was invested before I ever had the chance to spend it. 5. Spend a few years intentionally increasing my income. Learn valuable skills. Apply them to earn an extra income in some way. Change jobs if it meaningfully increased my earning potential. Doesn’t have to be radical numbers, but enough to create extra cushion. 6. Keep my lifestyle smaller than my paycheck for longer than everyone expects. Lifestyle inflation is a sneaky B, and one of the biggest reasons people stay stuck. Then, after years of consistently investing and building a solid financial foundation, I’d slowly loosen the reins and enjoy more of my income, because my money would finally be working alongside me. This certainly isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Personal finance is personal, and everyone’s circumstances are different. But if I had the chance to start over, this is the roadmap I’d follow without all the messy middle I experienced 😅 What’s one piece of money advice you wish you had learned in your twenties?

When I first started working out years ago, it was mostly because I wanted to be smaller, skinnier, fitter, leaner, or whatever other buzzword the fitness gurus wanted you to buy into. After becoming a mom, movement stopped being about changing my body and started being about protecting my mind. Reasons went from skinny to sane, real quick 😅 Some form of intentional movement > clears the mental fog. > gives me more patience. > reminds me I’m capable of doing hard things. > helps me show up as a better wife, mom, employee, and creator. Am I perfect? Absolutely not. I still have my fair share of nights where you’ll find me standing over the kitchen counter eating Oreos. 😂 But I’ve learned that taking care of myself isn’t about getting it right every single time, but rather about doing the things that make you feel good, consistently. Sometimes it’s an intense bike ride, other times it’s a walk around the yard. This year a goal for me is to make one other investment in my health, and see a dermatologist because I’m a little embarrassed to admit I’ve never seen one in my entire lifetime 🙈 Not everything that makes you wealthy shows up in your bank account. Sometimes it’s simply being grateful you get to move your body today. that’s a kind of wealth I’ll keep investing in 🫶

Maybe it’s just my algorithm… but lately it feels like the only version of a “dream life” I see online starts with quitting your job. 🙈 And if that’s your path, I’m genuinely cheering you on.👏 But I also think there’s another way. One where you keep the stable job while slowly building the life you want outside of it. Where financial freedom matters more than looking successful. Where your home is collected over time instead of finished overnight. Where you’re encouraged to spend less, buy better, and find joy in ordinary Tuesdays. If you’ve been looking for that corner of the internet… I think you just found it. 🤍

I think I’m finally at a place where my brain can think about decorating and designing our home, but I need your help. Budget is obviously a factor and none of these projects will happen overnight, but I’m trying to decide if I’m on the right track with my ideas or if your brilliant mind has others I should consider! This is a long one, but you get a mini to house tour in the process. 😂 Also we love our @threegirlscurtains in the dining room - they pull the entire space together, don’t underestimate what curtains can do! House tour, design input, DIY design, design help

TBH this coop build felt like a reality tv show sometimes 😆 Approximately 847 trips to Menards, the “this is our last day building” that somehow turned into five more, and the many moments we questioned our life decisions thinking getting chickens two weeks into moving in was a good idea. Delulu I tell you what ☠️ But, against all odds… we finished the coop and somehow still like each other 😂 and if you follow me, you know that the coop has been finished for almost two months now (and she’s beautiful!!) I’m V behind on editing, but you can fully expect a part 2, 3, and 4 coming your way - just don’t hold your breath lollllll

If you ask me what I’m going to do when I retire early, I’ll tell you I’ve got no f*cking clue 😆☠️ because do I want to retire early??? Absolutely yes. But do I actually want to retire? Not really. Our FI goals are all about creating optionality in our lives. Retiring early, retirement takes, early retirement, work optional

One of my favorite parts of creating a home is watching it come together one thoughtful decision at a time. From unboxing to hanging the final panel, this was one of those projects that felt immediately worth it. 🙌 I spent a long time deciding on fabric, color, and style because I wanted something timeless that would grow with our home, not something I’d want to replace in a few years. One detail I thought was especially thoughtful is that @threegirlscurtains washes every panel before shipping, so they arrive clean and ready to hang. Safe to say... I already can’t imagine this room without them. Curtain Style: Lucy Color: Light Khaki Unlined, Memory Trained, pre-washed

I feel like I could do this trend a billion times over, I’ve already got a home building edition one coming your way too. 😂 Any you agree with? worth the money trend, worth it, expensive but worth it