Hi – I’m Melissa. I’m a 29 30-year-old girl who loves my birthday, attending conferences, and sustainable farming, to name a few things.

I started this blog in 2010 after my partner Mark and I bought a 1930’s home in the suburbs of Burlington, Vermont. For over a year and a half I shared stories about our adventures in home ownership: from our attempts at eco-friendly life-improving renovations, to our growing interest in gardening and homesteading, to our ongoing journey turning our house into a home.

Our biggest renovation project to date was our master suite remodel, which started with us on TV and ended with big smiles all around and a lot of “after” photos. Our love of diy renovations extends outdoors as well: we converted our front lawn into a garden, because really, who needs grass anyway?

We’re now spending our days in Charlottesville, Virginia, where we love the friendly people, fresh air, and daily adventures of life.