You ready for a looong post? It's time for a house update! A lot has changed since the last time I wrote about our plans to open up the kitchen and lay new flooring. There have been some exciting updates, like the wall coming down and our new flooring getting (mostly) installed...aaaand a few new developments that have thrown us into chaos and made our plans for the kitchen completely shift. You know, we were just planning to do a simple phase one update at this time. The main goal was to open up the layout, get new floors, and make it work with our old kitchen. Then, we thought, we'd take our time planning and saving up for the next phase of the kitchen remodel. Multiple people told me that "as long as you're messing with the kitchen, you might as well do the whole thing" but I arrogantly ignored their advice. I wanted to be "smart" and save more money so we could do it "right." Ahahaha.

Well, things were going well. Ben took down the wall I hated, and he and his brother rerouted our electrical wiring and the plumbing for our fridge. Ben patched the drywall where the wall had been, and we were happy with how everything was turning out. We were almost done; onto flooring! We disassembled the guest bed, rolled up our rugs, moved every piece of furniture into the garage, and took up all the old flooring and baseboards. We even moved out the stove, dishwasher, and fridge so the new flooring could be laid underneath them.

Thennnn we discovered that the back of our house slopes, almost an inch and a half where the dishwasher goes. The new flooring couldn't be laid with that kind of slope, so we had to pause the installation. The floors are complete in the rest of the house, and they are beautiful (I'll show you in another post) but we couldn't finish this main living area of our house. Kind of a big deal!! Knowing we'd need to get this taken care of asap, we had some contractors come and take a look. It didn't seem to be a foundation problem (thankfully) but in order to get the house level, we'd have to remove the rest of the lower cabinets, take up the subfloor, and fix the sagging joist. At this point, with the appliances already out of the kitchen, we just felt like, why are we trying so hard to keep these old lower cabinets that we don't even like? There were only five of them left, including the sink cabinet...and suddenly a full kitchen remodel started to seem a lot smarter than this piecemeal plan I had come up with. Especially since we were going to have to remove those last few cabinets anyways, and who knew if they'd get damaged in the process? Plus, once the floor was level, we were going to have to do some major shimming to get the dishwasher to fit where it used to. All in all, I had to eat some humble pie and realize that everyone else might have been right after all.

SOOOOO we are doing it! The whole thing! We are demoing every last bit of the original kitchen (it's 2003 builder grade oak, so nothing to be sad about). And we are starting fresh with all new kitchen cabinets and countertops. On the one hand, I'm really excited to have the kitchen completed sooner than we thought!!! On the other hand, I wish I had a little more time to plan out all the details in the obsessive way that I like to. With the kitchen barely usable right now, we're eager to get this project done, and so I'm rushing to choose all the necessary pieces to move forward instead of hemming and hawing over every little decision. But I'm not complaining! The kitchen is the room I've been the MOST excited to update since we first bought the house, and I feel really lucky to be tackling it now--almost exactly two years from the day we moved in! I've also been thinking about it for the last two years, so although I didn't have exact products and finishes picked out, I have a good sense of what I want.

Want to see our new kitchen plans??

Here are some of my inspiration kitchens. Images sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

I want the overall feel to be warm and welcoming, and a mix of modern and traditional. I'm planning to do white cabinets topped with a marble-look quartz, a dusty blue island topped with butcher block, neutral tile (maybe subway, still haven't decided), stainless steel appliances, and open shelves on one side of the kitchen.

The open shelves were a last minute decision to save money. Skipping some upper cabinets saved us over $1000! Even though they weren't in our original plan, I'm excited about them. This is a rendering of our kitchen layout that is pretty similar to what we landed on. We did decide to add upper cabinets back in on the range side. We have a vaulted ceiling on that side, so we thought the metal range might look weird if it just ended in the middle of our wall. And though I know over the range microwaves aren't very pretty, they are practical. Our counter space and storage are both limited so we didn't want to waste any on a microwave.

In order to get this project done quickly and smoothly, we decided to hire some local contractors. We're going to finish all the demo ourselves, and they'll take over with leveling the floor, installing the cabinets, and tiling the backsplash. I know we probably could DIY some of that, but we really want our kitchen back to normal as soon as possible, and we want it done well. 

I am super excited to see our new kitchen come to life and I can't wait show it to you all! Lesson learned: phase one remodels are smart in theory, but they also open "the can of worms." Once you start messing with your house, you never know what you'll find (even in a relatively new house like ours!). I guess this is what they call scope creep, right? Oh well, I can't be too mad about it...I'm getting a new kitchen soon!

This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.

I have several friends who have DIY'd major house projects and I follow a lot of bloggers who do their own home renovations. At the same time, I know a lot of people who hire out every little thing from demo to painting. We fall somewhere in between. We'd always prefer to save money, but sometimes the time and effort to DIY something (with uncertain results) is not worth it to us. So if it's a task we've never done before, we are always trying to figure out whether to hire a professional. Hopefully, choosing correctly will save us money in the long run and keep our home safe. If you're inexperienced like us, certain home repairs will be fine to tackle, and others will be way out of your wheelhouse. So how do you know when to hire help on your house projects?

If You’re Not Finding A Helpful YouTube Tutorial Or Article Online

It's amazing what you can learn with the internet. Always start with research. A helpful YouTube tutorial or article can guide you, and provide enough information for you to feel safe and confident going ahead. However, if you doubt the information you find or it seems complicated, it’s probably better to hire a professional just to be safe. If this goes wrong, you will end up hiring a professional anyways and will have to spend even more money to fix it (not to mention your wasted time).

If You Can’t Find The Materials You Need To Complete The Task

If it's your first time tackling a project, it's likely that you'll need to buy a couple tools. That's to be expected. You might even be able to borrow those tools or rent them, if you don't think you'll need them again. But if you can't even find the tools you need, or you're struggling to source the right materials, then it could be time to call in a pro. They will have the tools, knowledge and contacts to get the right materials and supplies. They can also advise you if it's not even worth repairing something old in your house, and if you're better off replacing it with a new one. 

If The Task Has The Potential To Be Dangerous

What's the worst thing that can happen if you do this task incorrectly? If the answer is "fire" or something equally dangerous, then it’s not worth risking it. Electrical repairs, for example, are usually worth hiring professional help. Repairs on your roof are also better left to someone with experience like Mr Roof, as it can be dangerous up there if you’re not 100% sure what you’re doing.

If You’re Trying To Increase The Value Of Your Home

If you're planning to sell your home soon, you might think saving money by doing repairs yourself is a good idea. But actually, you’re probably better off hiring a pro. They will use the right techniques and materials to do the job correctly and add value to your home. If buyers notice something that doesn't look totally professional, it could be a red flag that turns them off altogether. If you don’t do a proper job, you might inadvertently lower the value of your home--the exact opposite of your intention.

If You Just Don't Have the Time

As a blogger and a budget-conscious person, I sometimes feel like hiring help is the lazy, weak choice. But just because I could do something myself doesn't mean that I should do it. Everything takes time, and time is precious. Time spent learning, practicing, and executing a new skill is time away from your kids, hobbies, and other tasks. That might be a trade-off you're not willing to make--especially if the cost of hiring it out really isn't that bad.

Finding the right professional to help you is just as important as deciding whether to get help in the first place. Ask for recommendations from friends and family, look at websites and reviews, and always get multiple quotes. Don't necessarily go for the cheapest quote though, as it could be worth spending a little more for somebody with more experience and better reviews.

What house projects have you tackled yourself, and which ones have you left to the professionals? 

This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.

80 years. It's an impressive amount of time, isn't it? Sconza Chocolates is celebrating their 80th anniversary, and as part of that I am sharing their story AND giving away some of their delicious candies! Writing this post and learning more about the Sconza family has me thinking about my family and what our legacy will be in 80 years. What lessons and traditions can I instill into my kids now? 80 years from now, will those live on in future generations? I'm inspired to set an example of working hard and following my dreams, just like the founder of Sconza Chocolates did for his family 80 years ago.

Vincenzo Sconza landed at Ellis Island as a 17-year-old, with $20 in his pocket and a dream of becoming a candymaker (he had learned the craft back in Italy). He made his way across America to the Bay Area and got a job at a pasta factory...but he never let go of his dream. He and his wife Maria started making candy in their kitchen as a way to supplement their income. By day, he would work at the factory, and by night he would test out new candy recipes at home. His peanut brittle made him the most popular man in the neighborhood, and word of mouth spread. Soon he and Maria were working every night and weekend to fill orders. By 1939, they had enough business that Vincenzo could quit his day job and open a storefront in Oakland. Sconza Candy was born!

Over the years, the company evolved and became one of the largest hard candy companies on the West Coast. In 1960, Vincenzo wanted to go back to Italy for a year, and convinced his son Jim to run Sconza Candy in his absence. He came back, but Jim stayed on, adding his inventive sweet tooth to the mix. Now, 80 years later, the company is in their third generation as a family-run business. They are still thriving, evolving, and just as passionate about creating delicious candy with the highest standards. An amazing legacy and a testament to Vincenzo!

Sconza sent me a variety pack of their chocolates to try, and I loved them all, but I was especially obsessed with the lemoncello chocolate almonds!! They are so delicious and unique: roasted almonds covered in white chocolate and lemon cream. YUM! I learned that Ron, the current president and grandson of Vincenzo, created that flavor in 2008 to honor his grandfather's Italian roots and celebrate his father's 50th wedding anniversary. What a cool story!

Needless to say, I'm inspired thinking about the legacy that Vincenzo created by pursuing his dream with tenacity and courage. It's amazing to see how that choice is still supporting and benefiting his family so many decades later. When I look at my own kids, I'm struck by the honor and responsibility I have as their mom. I want to set a good example and teach them to dream big and put in the work to make those dreams a reality. My dream may not be to start up a candy company, but I do have other ideas! It would be amazing to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren that still lasts 80 years from now. One thing I'm pretty sure I will pass on to them, for better or worse? A love for chocolate.

To celebrate Vincenzo's legacy and 80 years of business, Sconza Chocolates is giving away a variety pack ($50 value) like the one I received. You guys, these chocolates are all SOOO amazingly good! If you win, you have to tell me what you think, and which flavor is your favorite!

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. You can also earn extra entries over on Instagram. Giveaway ends Thursday at midnight (Pacific time) and I'll announce the winner on Friday! Good luck, my fellow chocolate lovers!

This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.

Working from home is awesome in so many ways: the freedom to wear what you want, eat when you want, play your own music, and skip the drama from workplace colleagues. But carving out a workspace at home can be tough, especially if you don't exactly have an entire extra room that you can dedicate as a home office. Without the physical separation of a door that you can close, the separation between family and work life can be blurred...especially if you’re a mother also caring for your kids as you work. Still, I personally don't think that it's necessary to have an official "office." This post is being written on my laptop from my bed, but I don't always blog from here. Sometimes you'll find me at the sofa, at the dining table, or sitting outside on one of our deck chairs, typing away while my kids play in the backyard. Some days, my office might even be a coffee shop.  For me, it's ideal to have a portable "office" instead of one specific place. I actually feel like the flexibility and change of scenery makes me generally enjoy working from home more. But still, whether you like having a dedicated workplace or you enjoy moving around, there are a few things anyone needs in order to stay focused while working from home.

1. A Clean Space with Fresh Air

If your home is chaotic and messy, it's hard to work without feeling distracted and overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done. Clearing off surfaces and vacuuming the floors will go a long ways towards an environment that's conducive to getting work done. But that's not all. Air quality also plays a big role in keeping us alert, focused, and happy. Ideally, you could open a window and let some fresh air in. But if that's not possible, consider buying an air purifier. This is especially helpful if your home office is in a basement or closet where the air is stuffy or musty. Look for one with a high-efficiency HEPA filter to collect dust and a negative ioniser to counter the positive ions created by the digital equipment you use during the day. Fresher air will help you relax and feel comfortable during the day, even in the most humble home office.

2. A Clutter-free Desktop

If you don't have the luxury of a big room and a sprawling desktop, it’s important to only keep out what you actually need and use. Otherwise, the little space you've carved out will quickly get cluttered. For me, a laptop, a notepad, a pen, and a cup of coffee is all I truly need to work efficiently. I don't have a desktop computer or a landline phone. I keep my printer in a closet, for the few times when I need it. I use a scanner app instead of a bulky machine. And if I ever needed to fax something, I could use fax online services--no need for an actual fax machine.

3. A Reliable Environment

If there's something you absolutely need for your work to go well, then prioritize that. For me, I need a good and reliable WiFi connection and the ability to keep an eye on my kids while I work. Since I normally try to write during their naptimes, a baby monitor helps me feel confident that they're ok, so I can focus whether I'm in my bedroom across the hall or downstairs in the dining room.

4. Comfortable Ergonomics

I already admitted that I sometimes write while I'm in bed or lounging on the sofa. But I have to admit, this probably isn't the best setup for my body. Proper ergonomics is something that most of us who work from home can probably improve. Ideally, your monitor should be around two feet in front of your face, with the top of the monitor around eye level. It should feel as though you don't have to crane or bend your neck in order to get a good viewing position. Your arms should lay on your desk and keyboard with around 90 degrees at your elbows, resting comfortably. Your chair should support your lumbar and keep you supported. Heavily padded chairs--like my sofa--aren't actually the most comfortable after a long time. That’s why most ergonomic chairs have relatively sturdy bases. A standing desk can also be a great option if you have the space.

5. Elements that Signal "Work"

It's worth setting up some elements that make your "office" (whatever that is) feel more like a professional zone within your home. Little routines can signal to your brain and your body that this is work time, which will help you be more productive and less distracted. Change out of your PJs. Play a certain playlist that helps you focus. Set "work hours" and stick to your schedule. Invest in a really great coffee machine. Close out of all the other tabs on your computer that are unrelated to work, like your Netflix show from last night or the shoes you were contemplating buying. Separating work and play in this manner can help you better divide them.

I've never had a "real" dedicated home office, but honestly, I don't even want one. There's no reason that a humble home office can't be just as good--or better.