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

Planning to propose soon? Congratulations on finding "the one!" This is such an exciting time of life--and nerve-wracking too. Right now you're probably brainstorming ways to make your proposal special and perfect. After all, getting engaged is a very important life event, and one that you'll remember forever. You'll be telling friends and family your proposal story the next day, and you'll be telling your children and grandchildren the same story years from now. No pressure! Luckily, you've done the hardest part already...you've found your person. Now, you just need a few more things before you're ready to get down on one knee and make it official.

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1. The Place & The Plan

Where are you going to pop the question? Will it be a private moment, in a quiet location with just the two of you? Or in public, at a crowded concert or a nice restaurant? Do you want friends and family there, to take pictures and congratulate you right away? Or do you want to savor the moment by yourselves first? No matter what you choose, make sure it's what your fiancee-to-be will enjoy. This moment is not about you and what you think would be fun...it should be all about her and what she wants. If she's a private person, then don't propose in a surprise party full of people you know.

I think you can't go wrong with proposing in a beautiful or meaningful place. If you like to hike, then maybe propose at the top of a mountain...or if your first date was at the beach, then maybe write something in the sand and go for a walk to that spot. If you have a favorite bakery, it could be as simple as having the baker write "will u marry me" in frosting on her favorite type of donut. Think about the activities and places you enjoy together. If you can incorporate some things she loves into the proposal, that will show her that you put lots of thought into it.

2. The Ring

Some couples like to pick out the ring together after they're already engaged, but I'm old fashioned. I think it's sweet and shows more forethought if you propose with a ring you've lovingly, carefully, painstakingly selected (and paid for) by yourself. There's something special about that moment when you open the ring box, which will make her realize this is really happening.

But there are so many different styles of engagement rings, it can be an overwhelming task to choose the perfect one. You need your partner's input, but you have to draw it out secretly without her realizing what is going on. Check to see if she has a Pinterest board with inspiration, or see if you can get her opinion on various rings the next time you walk past a jeweler. Try to figure out what she likes and dislikes, taking mental notes.

Of course you don't want to go wrong with the ring, but you also don't want to be super obvious and ruin the surprise. If you're worried that she'll be suspicious of a "casual" jewelry store drop-in, try having one of her friends find out what she wants and report back to you.

Happy Friday! This beautifully remodeled house is by Spokane interior designer Shaleesa Mize of Little Pacific Design. Shaleesa is so talented and has a great ability to blend trends with traditional elements for a look that is current and fresh, yet classic and timeless. I featured this house yesterday on @insidespokane but I love it so much, I couldn't resist sharing here too. It's a 1936 house that started with a dark, closed-off kitchen which didn't fit the family's aesthetic--and didn't allow them to keep an eye on their young kids while cooking. Shaleesa headed up the full gut renovation of the kitchen, which involved knocking down a wall to open up the kitchen to the rest of the house. She also updated the front entry, which went from a closed in closet to a bench with a more functional storage solution. I also love the wallpaper she added...it makes for such a cheery "welcome!" Photos are by Kayleen Michelle. Hope you enjoy!

Here's what the entry looked like before.

Annnnd after--so cute.

Shaleesa also styled the house with decor from her new shop, Pacific Design Co. which she launched this year. It features a high quality selection of products including pillows, art, and tabletop accessories in a modern, natural aesthetic. Shaleesa curated and carefully selected pieces that are handmade, sustainable, organic, and local or fair trade. It's all online, so everything is shoppable whether you're a Spokane local or not!

Ok, and that kitchen! HEART EYES. It's hard to pick favorites when the whole thing is this good, but I really love that they went green with the cabinets. Yes it IS kind of trendy right now...but in this perfect muted shade, mixed with wood cabinetry and balanced by neutral tile, I think it'll stand the test of time. Plus, the owners loved this color, which is really all that matters.

My other favorite part? The tile backsplash! I love that it's simple and understated like classic subway tile, but has variations in texture and tone that give it a lot more character. The stacked installation is also more unexpected, adding a little modern edge to the room.

Ok, and one more favorite detail. The appliances! Have you seen these yet? They're the Café line and I keep seeing them in the kitchen remodels of bloggers and designers I follow. They're gorgeous, aren't they?? Love the matte white with brass handles as a beautiful alternative to stainless steel. Who knew white fridges would ever come back as the cool new kid?

Because before & afters are always so fun, let's end with a before of the kitchen...

...and the after. Ahhh, so much more open and bright!

If you want to see more, check out Shaleesa's reveal and my interview with her on Inside Spokane.

Have a great Father's Day weekend!!!

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

We're coming up on our nine year wedding anniversary (July 31st) which is just crazy to me! Time has flown, and I can't believe next year we'll have been married for a whole decade!?! Thinking back on when we were young and dreaming of getting married, I remember the engagement ring was a point of stress. We didn't have money (we were still in college), but I still wanted a nice ring I could show off when we announced our engagement. AND I wanted it to be a surprise so I left it up to Ben to choose the ring by himself. Poor Ben, I think I probably put too much pressure on him to get it right. Luckily, he did good. But looking back, with the wisdom of a few more years under my belt, I wish I could tell him that the ring doesn't matter that much! It's something other people only notice for that very short period of time when you're engaged and newly married. I still love my ring, but in the grand scheme of things it's not that important to me anymore (except as a symbol of our love and commitment, of course).

So my number one advice for anyone thinking of buying an engagement ring, is to know your budget. And don't feel pressured to spend more than what you feel comfortable with. This guide gives some advice on how much you should spend on an engagement ring. The main thing I hope you get? Don't feel obligated to go by the old "three months of your salary" rule. It dates back to the 1950s and usually doesn't makes sense for today. The new standard is to figure out what makes sense for your finances, keeping in mind that you'll still have other wedding expenses and a honeymoon to pay for...not to mention starting your life together. It's always best if you can pay for the ring outright instead of financing it. Money troubles are a huge cause of fights within marriages, so starting out with as little debt as possible will be hugely beneficial to your relationship.

Nowadays, with the internet and so many different retailers, there is a massive selection of engagement rings to choose from--and a huge differentiation in price too. Do your research, look into different options, and make sure the ring is a purchase you can comfortably afford!

After you've nailed down your budget, the next thing to do is figure out the style your partner likes. Start paying attention to the type of jewelry she wears most often...is it flashy or simple? Gold or silver? If she wears a lot of silver, then go for a white gold or platinum ring to ensure it'll match with her style. You can also talk to some of her close friends or family members. They will be able to give you a good idea of what to go for. She may have even mentioned her ideal engagement ring to those who are close to her!

The setting

A center stone on a simple band will always be classic and stylish, but if your girlfriend tends to like more sparkly, flashy jewelry, then consider a halo style ring. This popular style incorporates a main center diamond with lots of smaller diamonds encircling it. It's beautiful and attention grabbing, and will certainly get noticed by her friends. By getting a ring with lots of little diamonds contributing to the overall effect, you can also get a smaller center stone and still have a ring that's gorgeous and full of sparkle.

The shape

The most popular shapes are round or square (princess) cut diamonds. But they're not your only options! If your girlfriend has a feminine and pretty style, consider going for a more unique shape, like an oval, marquise (football shaped), emerald (rounded rectangle), or pear. All of these styles have a delicate and dainty look, and they're more intriguing than the classic round or square cut diamond.

The gemstones

Most people go for clear white diamonds when buying an engagement ring. But if your girlfriend has a quirky style and tends to wear more colored gemstones, then you could consider the possibility of something more unique. This is something you might want to ask one of her friends about. Choosing a colored alternative to a clear diamond makes a statement and looks really bold and striking. If you want some examples, Kate Middleton and Penelope Cruz have gorgeous sapphire rings, Carrie Underwood wears a yellow engagement ring, and Halle Berry has an emerald ring. Going for an alternative to diamond can also be a good way to save money.

Once you've narrowed down the style, the next thing to know is the basics regarding diamonds. All diamonds are different and therefore they have various levels of quality. You will need to receive the proper GIA certification from the jeweler. This will assess the diamond based on color, carat, cut and clarity. The best diamonds are colorless, free of inclusions, and cut to perfection so that the light reflects beautifully and creates a stunning glistening effect...but slight imperfections are honestly invisible to the untrained eye and a good way to save money on a bigger stone.

Lastly, before you make a purchase, of course you'll need to know her ring size so that it actually fits. If there's a ring she wears on her ring finger already, see if you can take it on the sly so that you can use it for reference.

There is no doubt that proposing to your girlfriend requires a lot of consideration on your part. After all, you want the occasion to be a memorable one, and more importantly you want her to say yes. My advice is to choose a ring you feel confident that she'll love--at a price point you feel confident that you can afford.

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

It's just a fact that we are living in a tech generation. There are constant upgrades on the market and new gadgets that claim to make life easier or solve problems that we didn’t even know we had. In the household, there are tons of home tech devices that didn't exist when I was a kid--or even five years ago. Are they necessary? No, of course not...we existed just fine without them. But can they make life easier, safer, more enjoyable and exciting? Maybe! I'm curious how many home tech devices you have in your home. Are you a fully tech integrated "smart" household? Are you still resisting? Or have you dipped your toe in a little bit? We don't have an Amazon Echo or a Google Home so I kind of feel like our house is still somewhat tech-free...but as I thought about it I realized that we actually do have a number of various smart devices that we like.

1. Home entertainment

If you're still using old-fashioned cable, this is one category where you can probably drastically reduce your monthly bills, while improving your experience overall. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, a combination of those may be all that you need to stay up-to-date with your favorite shows and gain access to new ones. There are also cable alternatives like Sling TV where you can still watch live, just like with cable.

Entertainment isn't just TV, of course. We've resisted getting an Amazon Echo or Google Home because they are always listening in, which kind of creeps us out. BUT they can do a lot of things to make life more convenient and entertaining. They can play music on your command, order your shopping, check the weather, and even tell you jokes!

2. Making housework easier

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun"...or so Mary Poppins tells us. But when you’re vacuuming for the second time in a day or ironing tricky shirts, then it doesn’t exactly scream fun. Thankfully, there are some tech and gadgets that can make the task of cleaning simpler and easier for you. We use a steamer instead of an iron, which makes it so much easier and quicker to get rid of wrinkles. With vacuuming, today there are robot vacuum cleaners, which you can set it up to do their thing while you get on with other tasks.

3. Improving security

Having a gadget clean the house or play music easily is all well and good, but being able to make your home a safer place is far more important. A smart home reduces the risk of things like break-ins and package thefts. So it makes sense to be looking for ways to integrate tech to make your home safer. CCTV and cameras near the door can act as a deterrent, as well as using timers on lights and remote systems to keep an eye on your home when you’re not there. They can be pricey to get installed but are an excellent way to protect your home. If someone is caught on camera, it can put them off before even attempting anything.

We have a Ring doorbell, which shows us video footage when someone is at our front door and allows us to talk to them through the doorbell if we don't want to open the door. We can do this from anywhere--even if we're at a friend's house or out of town. I think we got a deal on Black Friday so it wasn't too expensive, and I do find it helpful and reassuring.

4. Controlling lighting

Another way that tech can make your home safer is by controlling your lights. It can be very obvious to a burglar that no one is home if the lighting doesn't change throughout the day. With smart tech, you can set your lights up to a timer so that you can arrange them to turn on and off whenever you like, so from the outside looking in, it will seem like the house is being lived in.

I also like dusk to dawn lights that automatically turn on at night. This way you save energy and keep your house safer. You never forget to turn your exterior lights on in the evening, and you never forget to turn them off during the day.

5. Mobile apps to connect everything in your home

These days, there’s an app for almost everything...including apps to link all your smart home devices to your smartphone. We have a LUX Geo thermostat, which connects to our phones. It's convenient and saves us energy--an upgrade that was totally worth it in my opinion. Through the app, we can adjust the thermostat from upstairs in bed (lazy!), and more importantly we can leave the heat or AC off (or very low) while we're on vacation, and turn it on when we're heading home so we still arrive to a comfortable house. The app also gives us visibility into the energy and cost savings.

Our phones are something we're already carrying around and checking frequently, so it makes sense to make them the hub for other tasks. Apps are much more convenient and easy than having many separate devices to keep track of. And with deals such as https://smarty.co.uk/sim-only, you can make significant cost savings on data and minutes, so you don’t have to worry about using your apps without WiFi.

These are just some of the areas that tech can be used around your home to make life a little easier. How many of these categories have you jumped into already?? What other ways do you use smart tech in your home?

As technology develops and innovates, I know our lives will only get more and more integrated with tech. It's crazy how much things have changed during my lifetime (30 years) and they're accelerating too. I'm sure our lives will be even more wrapped up in tech in the next 30 years. It blows my mind (and scares me a little) to think about it!