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The Art & Science Of Gift-Giving: The Home Hour, Episode 80 Jul 27, 2017

Show notes

We all give them, we all receive them, but what makes a good gift? There are wedding gifts, hostess gifts, baby shower gifts, and the endless parade of children’s birthday gifts. On this episode of the home hour we’re tackling a huge topic and sharing our favorite go-to gift ideas. We learn that Kirsten pretty much sticks to registries whenever possible, but Graham has some standard gifts she always gives.

Kirsten explains why her favorite way to package a gift is with a cute tote bag. And we offer one lucky listener the chance to win a $50 gift card to buy their own cute tote bag from one of our favorite online boutiques: Adornlee!See our Instagram account @thehomehour for details!

We talk about Kirlkland Wipes, the words most expensive spatula, and the amazing mailbox culture of Graham’s hometown.

Links we mentioned on this episode:

* Marye-Kelly Frames – Precious Frames. They make great wedding gifts & baby gifts.

* Tiffany’s Atlas Bowl – Graham’s favorite standard wedding gift

* Adornlee tote bags!- Cute tote bags with fun sayings

* Sharbat Recipes– One of Graham’s favorite homemade gift ideas

* Giant Spatula (The original William Sonoma one we mentioned is no longer available, but this looks just like it and is much less expensive… lucky you!!)

* Mountain Brook’s Mailbox Culture – Sweet article about community support

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Cleaning House with The Clean Mama: The Home Hour, Episode 79 Jul 20, 2017

Show notes

Whether we like it or not, cleaning our house is a job that must be done. Today on The Home Hour, we’re strategizing to figure out how to make it easier! On this episode Kirsten and Graham chat with the Clean Mama herself, Becky Rapinchuck, about how schedules and routines can help make keeping a clean home more manageable!

We discuss Becky’s approach to systematically laying out chores as well as her favorite time saving hacks, the best cleaning tools, and recipes to create your own all natural DIY cleansers.

We also learn a great tip to help our kids to make their beds and get into a meaty debate with Graham’s cable guy over sharing favorite family recipes!

Links we mention on this episode:

* Clean Mama Website!

* DIY Disinfecting Spray Recipe

* DIY Marble & Granite Spray Recipe

Visit the Clean Mama site for great resources and printables and be sure to check out her newest book SIMPLY CLEAN!

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Goal Setting for Families; The Home Hour, Episode 78 Jul 13, 2017

Show notes

No business could succeed without proper planning, strategizing, and goal setting. So what if we if we applied those same basic principles to the way we run our homes and families?

On this episode of the Home Hour, Graham is interviewing her co-host Kirsten about her tradition of taking an annual weekend away to focus solely on goal setting. We discuss how Kirsten and her spouse plan their yearly calendar, their one year goals for themselves and for their kids, their house goals, and their long term planning for the future. Think of this episode as a to-do list on steroids!

To help you get started on setting your own goals, here’s a sample template!

The Home Hour, Sample Goal Worksheet!

Also on this episode, we check in with our real life remodeler Jen to find out how things are going back at her house, while she’s halfway across the country on summer vacation!

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Making Entertaining Silly; The Home Hour, Episode 77 Jul 06, 2017

Show notes

We’re putting on our party hats and getting a bit silly! Kirsten & Graham have always believed that sophistication is overrated and that laughter beats stuffy every time…and now we’ve found fabulous two ladies who agree! On this episode of the Home Hour, we chat with the Slageter Sisters! Susan (Slageter) Palma, a decorator from Dallas, and Babs (Slageter) Horner, a cook from Connecticut, are sisters, best friends and two moms on a mission to bring the giggles back to entertaining!

Links we mentioned on the show:

* Sophistication is Overrated Book!

Susan and Babs grew up in a home filled with laughter, joy, and parents who taught them that no matter what challenges life brings, the party should never stop! They talk with Graham and Kirsten about how they were raised to smile at life and how they have tried to raise their children with the same sunny outlook.

On this episode we learn about some of their favorite tips and tricks to make entertaining a fun-filled experience for their guests and hear about their new book “Sophistication is Overrated”

Whether it’s a poolside BBQ, a formal holiday dinner, or a post-plastic surgery luncheon, these ladies bring delicious food, beautiful decorating ideas, and usually a blow-up doll in a crazy costume. We hope this episode inspires you to throw a party that makes you smile!

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DIY Tips & Domestic Imperfection: The Home Hour Episode 76 Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

It’s DIY Day on the Home Hour! Time to whip out the paint brushes and hammers as Kirsten & Graham are joined by Ashley of the popular Home Improvement & DIY Blog Domestic Imperfection.

On this episode, Ashley shares the behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most popular projects on her blog including how she made a countertop out of pennies, how she painted and raised her big-box-store cabinets to look custom, and the DIY butcher block countertop that looked so good online Kirsten copied it in her own kitchen!

Links we mentioned or should have mentioned on this episode:

* Domestic Imperfection: Ashley’s amazing blog!

* Butcher-Block Countertops: Ashley recommended, Kirsten copied, both loved!

* Waterlox: What Ashley and Kirsten used to seal their countertops

We also learn about Ashley’s most sought after project to date: the infamous “Paper Bag Floor!”

Ashley and her husband are currently in the process of building their dream home in Texas with their four little boys!

This new house is so unique and gorgeous… and they are truly building it themselves!

Also on this episode, we check in with Jen Brigham, our real life remodeler, to see the latest developments from her whole-house renovation.

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Healthy Foods the Sneaky Way: The Home Hour, Episode 75 Jun 22, 2017

Show notes

Move over green smoothies, we’re taking the art of hiding veggies and vitamins to a whole new level! We may have just found the ultimate kitchen hack for those of us who deal with picky eaters! Oh, and did we mention it’s perfect for summer?

Introducing “GLOW POPS!”

On this episode of The Home Hour, we’re talking to wellness writer, creator of the popular blog Sprouted Routes and author of Glow Pops, Liz Moody. Liz chats with Kirsten & Graham all about why popsicles may be the ultimate “healthy freezer food” and shares tips and insights into some of the hottest new trends in healthy eating.

Links we mentioned, or should have mentioned, on this episode:

* Our Instagram: (to enter to win a copy of Liz’s new book!)

* Sprouted Routes

* Glow Pops Book

* Adaptagens: Herbs that work with your body! They do things like balance your hormones and they adapt to your individual needs.

* Ashwaganda: good for anxiety

* Maca Maca a root from Peru which gets ground up. Ancient warriors used it to build up their stamina. *Note: this is not “matcha”,which is powdered green tea.

* Vitacost: One of Liz’s favorite online retailers for affordable health foods.

* Truffle Salt: Kirsten’s favorite way to trick herself into eating her veggies! (Crazy expensive but so delicious! Also, this little jar last as about 6 months)

While we loved hearing about the latest trends in healthy eating, Liz does caution us that all these fashionable foods, while cool and good for extra healing, aren’t as important as a diet full of greens, good fiber, healthy proteins and healthy fats! Liz also loves fresh fruits but warns that as soon as they are picked, they begin to loose their health benefits. She says frozen fruits are a great option!

Liz says popsicles are the perfect way to hide veggies and, because they can be pre-made, they may even be easier to grab in the morning than making a smoothie! All you need is a blender and a popsicle mold. Rather than pureeing and straining (as many popsicle recipes suggest) all the recipes in Glow Pops are simply blended and poured into molds, which keeps all the healthy fibers.

Liz also recommends an avocado a day. She says they are the perfect “brain food” and as a bonus, they help give popsicles creamy texture.

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Summer Vacations: The Home Hour, Episode 74 Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

It’s “The Home Hour away from Home!” On this episode of The Home Hour, Graham and Kirsten and talking about summer travels with families. We discuss our summer plans and how we like to travel…or not travel, with kids. We also talk about staying in VBRO’s, finding hotels for a family of 5, cooking while on vacation, and finding a balance between “cultural experience trips” and “beach & pina colada trips”. Graham tries to put Kirsten’s Disney anxiety to rest and shares a crazy story about the bizarre lengths her parents went to when they needed a vacation-babysitter in a pinch!

NEW SEGMENT! REAL LIFE REMODEL!

We also are meeting Jen Brigham as we begin a new series on the podcast! For the next 6 months (or maybe more!) we’ll be following Jen, a real life working mom of 3, as she embarks on a substantial home remodel.

This remodel has been six years in the making but she’s finally moved out of her house and torn it apart! Now, we get to watch the process of putting it back together!

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Kitchen Organization & The Neat Method: The Home Hour, Episode 73 Jun 08, 2017

Show notes

Kitchens are the most utilized room in the house and as every mom knows, they can also quickly turn into one of the most disorganized! From a practical pantry, to a mom kitchen office, to the ultimate black hole of the ” the junk drawer” we’re addressing the biggest kitchen challenges! On episode 73, Kirsten and Graham talk with Ashley Murphy, professional organizer, working mother, and co-founder of the Neat Method, a nationwide organizing company

Ashley and the Neat Method have been featured on Oprah, HGTV, Houzz.com, The New York Times, Vouge, and The Washington Post.

Ashley give us some great tips for setting up our kitchens to maximize efficiency, shares some standard rules for keeping the junk drawer in check, and teaches us what is really the heart of the kitchen.

We also have an honest talk about separating “Pinterest Perfect” kitchen organization from what works in real life!

The Neat Method can be found in more than 20 cities around the country and has online services available. To learn more about The Neat Method visit their website and follow them on Instagram, Pinterest, and Houzz.com.

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Getting That Vintage Look: The Home Hour, Episode 72 Jun 01, 2017

Show notes

Turn Trash into Treasure and create a unique home with vintage pieces! On this episode of The Home Hour, Kirsten & Graham learn how get that vintage look with Coley Arnold, the founder of Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market!

Coley explains how she uses vintage in her home to make a space feel special! She shares some of her favorite projects using repurposed vintage finds and gives us some great tips for navigating vintage markets. She also explains why taking a little extra effort to re-paint, re-finish, or re-upholster a vintage item not only results in you having a unique piece for your home, but can also be a wise use of time and money since vintage pieces were usually created with high quality craftsmanship.

Junk in the Trunk markets are held several times a year in Arizona and California. Check their website for dates and be sure to follow them on Instagram for some great inspiration!

Featured Sponsor:

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A Top Realtor’s Tips For Selling Your House: The Home Hour, Episode 71 May 25, 2017

Show notes

When should you put your house on the market, how much prep work do you really need, how to find a good realtor, and when it’s really better just to skip that “For Sale” Sign and stay put! On this episode, Kirsten & Graham learn the tips, tricks, and must-do checklists of selling a home. We speak with one of the Top Producing Realtors in Atlanta, Mary Stuart Iverson.

Links we mention on Episode 71:

Mary Stuart Iverson, Atlanta Realtor

Ballet Barre DIY Project:

Handrail $12.40

Handrail Brackets $4.97 each

Wall Mirror $52.98

Plus Fun “Extras” from the grandmothers:

Portable “Dance Floor”$68.99

Ikea Gymnastics Mat $34.99

Featured Sponsor:

Do you own a DSLR camera and are finally ready to really learn to use it? Shoot Along, an online photography community for parents, is here to help! Sign up now for their 8-week short course and get weekly photography lessons sent right to your email PLUS membership in a private Facebook group where you share your progress and connect with other participants. It’s the perfect mix of accountability and flexibility!

Visit shootalong.com/thehomehour or use promo code THEHOMEHOUR to save 10% ON SHOOT ALONG’s 8-WEEK COURSE! Registration is open now and the course begins June 12, 2017.

Episode 71:

To begin with, Mary Stuart advises us that moving is a big challenge so if you don’t have to move, then you really shouldn’t. She tells clients to look at their location (Location, Location, Location!) and think about whether or not they love it, whether or not they have room to expand, and whether or not they have the margin in their life to handle a remodel! However, if there is something REALLY great on the other side, then moving may be the right choice.

Mary Stuart says your first call should be to your agent….not your handman. A good agent will give you the full list things to do and save your handyman the extra trips.

She says that while it may be frustrating to spend the money on a home you’re planning to sell, it really is money well spent. The first impression is important to buyers. Additionally, because the internet has made it possible for buyers to tour your home in pictures before ever stepping foot inside, that has only become more true! The goal is to get them to look online and be excited to see it in person.

Graham and Kirsten both love the idea of a house that is a project, but the truth is, we are the exception! Mary Stuart tells us that most people want a house that is done and move-in ready!

Mary Stuart shares some great tips for selling a house:

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