Unlock Joy at Home: Decor, Tattoos, and Podcast Adventures!

Welcome to a truly special episode where we dive deep into making our homes and lives more joyful, tackle exciting personal milestones, and unveil a significant change to our beloved podcast! This week, we’re thrilled to host Ingrid Fetell Lee, the brilliant author and expert behind the bestselling book Joyful. Ingrid shares incredibly simple yet profound strategies for injecting tangible joy into your living space, all without straining your budget. She expertly articulates the crucial distinction between fleeting happiness and enduring joy, revealing how actively seeking joy in your home can surprisingly lead you to discover and refine your unique decor style.

Beyond home aesthetics, we celebrate a momentous occasion for Sherry, who recently marked her birthday by finally getting a long-awaited tattoo (or rather, two!). She opens up about the heartfelt meaning behind her new ink, candidly discusses the pain involved, and reveals what finally gave her the courage to take the plunge. As always, we also share snippets from our daily lives, including our latest attempt at an escape room, our ongoing battle against car clutter, and an announcement about a HUGE change to the podcast that you absolutely won’t want to miss. So, settle in, get comfortable, and prepare to be inspired to find more joy, tackle new adventures, and simplify your surroundings.

You can easily tune into this transformative episode on your favorite podcast listening app. Find us on popular platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Podcast Updates & Nostalgia: A New Intro and Our Musical Journey

The Much-Anticipated Debut: Our New Intro Song!

Get ready for an exciting new chapter! This episode marks the highly anticipated debut of our brand-new podcast intro song. We poured a lot of love and creativity into this, and we truly believe it captures the evolving spirit of our show. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve even put together a special video that accompanies the song. This is an absolute must-watch, especially if you’ve been a long-time listener and followed our journey over the years. We can’t wait for you to experience it!

You can watch the official video for our new podcast intro song here on YouTube. Prepare for a treat!

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Our Musical Past

For those who appreciate a good throwback, or if you’re new to our world, you might be surprised to learn that this isn’t our first foray into musical expression. We’ve had a few memorable “hip hop stardom” moments throughout our podcast history. It’s always fun to revisit these creative endeavors and see how far we’ve come!

• Take a trip back to 2013 and enjoy our original rap. This was a wild ride and definitely set a precedent for our playful side. You can also watch this classic on YouTube: Original Rap on YouTube.
• The following year, we premiered a follow-up, cleverly disguised as a “DIY Craft Challenge.” This video holds a special place in our hearts, as it was filmed when Sherry was just weeks away from giving birth to our son in 2014. It’s a testament to our dedication (and perhaps a little bit of craziness!) even during significant life changes. You can watch this fun challenge on YouTube: DIY Craft Challenge on YouTube.

Our Decade of Delightful Deception: April Fool’s Day Traditions

Speaking of our playful side, we’ve cultivated a beloved tradition of non-musical April Fool’s posts over the years. For a full decade, we’ve embraced the spirit of lighthearted mischief and shared some truly memorable (and sometimes unbelievable!) stories. If you enjoy a good chuckle and want to see our creative take on April Fool’s humor, explore our past ten years of foolishness:

• 2018 – Our beach house workout video: Get ready to sweat (or laugh) at our beach house fitness routine.
• 2017 – The launch of our novelty sock line: Because who doesn’t need stylish socks inspired by home decor?
• 2016 – An app for swapping out decor items: Imagine instantly changing your decor with a tap!
• 2015 – Alexa for home decorating: Predicting the future of smart home design before it was cool.
• 2014 – A household crafting challenge (or is it?): A crafty challenge that might have been more than it seemed.
• 2013 – “Hush” – our debut music video: The original rap that started it all!
• 2012 –A totally reasonable toilet purchase: Questioning what constitutes a “reasonable” bathroom upgrade.
• 2011 – Burger’s very own playroom: Our beloved dog getting the ultimate luxury.
• 2010 – A super classy curb appeal upgrade: Adding some unexpected flair to our home’s exterior.
• 2009 – The purrfect light fixtures: A feline-inspired lighting solution for our home.

Personal Milestones & Adventures: Birthdays, Tattoos, and Escape Rooms

Sherry’s 37th Birthday & Our Latest Escape Room Escapade

Last month, we celebrated Sherry turning 37! It’s always a fun moment when we’re the same age again for a bit. The kids and I loved surprising her with some festive birthday decor, making her day extra special. While we couldn’t capture our escape room adventures with photos (we’re strict rule-followers!), we can certainly share the thrill and excitement. For those curious about our initial dive into the world of escape rooms, you can hear all about our very first experience in Episode #43. These immersive games are fantastic for team building and a great way to challenge your mind.

For our local listeners in the Richmond, VA area, we highly recommend Escape Room RVA. They offer a variety of thrilling scenarios, including a unique VR version where you might find yourself “kidnapped” to Warehouse 29. For families with younger adventurers, their kid-friendly version at Stony Point, called Gnome & Raven, provides a fantastic introduction to puzzle-solving fun.

Sherry’s Meaningful New Tattoos

The biggest personal reveal this episode is undoubtedly Sherry’s new tattoos! After much thought and anticipation, she finally took the plunge for her birthday. If you missed the exciting “unveiling” on Instagram, we’re sharing a closer look here. A huge thank you to the incredibly talented artist, Amy Black, for bringing these beautiful, meaningful designs to life.

As Sherry eloquently described in the episode, each tattoo carries deep personal significance. The elegant 7-leaf laurel represents the number seven, which holds immense importance in our relationship and family journey. It’s a subtle nod to moments and milestones that have shaped us. The letter “V” is a heartfelt tribute to two extraordinary women who have profoundly impacted her life: her beloved grandma Victoria and her great-grandma Vincenza. These tattoos are not just art; they are permanent reminders of love, legacy, and the special connections that enrich our lives.

For even more photos and intricate details about the process and symbolism, you can explore in these archived Instagram Stories. They offer a wonderful visual journey into the making of these personal masterpieces.

Discovering Joy in Your Home: Insights from Ingrid Fetell Lee’s Joyful

The Transformative Power of Joyful Design

We are absolutely thrilled to continue our conversation with Ingrid Fetell Lee, the visionary author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness. If you missed our initial deep dive into Ingrid’s groundbreaking book, we highly recommend listening to Episode #130, where we first explored her philosophy. Ingrid’s work is a breath of fresh air, challenging us to look beyond conventional aesthetics and focus on how our surroundings genuinely make us feel.

Her core message is that joy, unlike happiness, is more accessible and often sparked by tangible, ordinary things. By consciously incorporating elements that evoke joy into our homes, we don’t just decorate; we create spaces that uplift our spirits, reduce stress, and foster a sense of well-being. This isn’t about expensive renovations or chasing trends; it’s about thoughtful choices—like the right colors, playful patterns, or simple arrangements—that resonate deeply with us on an emotional level. Embracing joy in design can be a powerful pathway to unlocking your true decor style, as it encourages you to trust your instincts and surround yourself with what genuinely brings you delight.

Resources from the Aesthetics of Joy

Ingrid’s dedication to helping people find joy extends beyond her book. Her website, Aesthetics of Joy, is an incredible treasure trove of information and practical tools. We encourage everyone to visit it, especially the comprehensive Resources section. There, you’ll discover insightful videos, engaging worksheets, and additional content designed to help you identify and cultivate sources of joy in your own life and home. It’s a fantastic guide for applying her principles day-to-day.

During our conversation, Ingrid vividly described a charming cottage, illustrating how intentional design can manifest pure joy. You can see this inspiring space for yourself and draw inspiration from its vibrant details on RealSimple.com. It’s a perfect example of how thoughtful choices can transform a space into a haven of delight.

Decorating with Personality: Books and Beyond

Speaking of colorful and personal touches, we’ve often discussed how to incorporate books into your decor in ways that express your personality. Whether it’s the controversial topic of color-coding your shelves, or even facing books backward for a minimalist look, there are many ways to make your library a statement. We explored these ideas further in Episode #127 and Episode #85, offering tips for integrating your book collection beautifully into your home. This approach aligns perfectly with Ingrid’s philosophy of creating spaces that truly reflect who you are and what brings you joy.

Another area where personal style and joyful organization converge is in our wardrobes. You can get an exclusive peek into Sherry’s minimalist yet functional closet and hear about her approach to maintaining a curated wardrobe in this closet tour post and again in Episode #115. It’s a prime example of how thoughtful organization can reduce stress and add a quiet sense of calm and joy to daily routines.

Practical Tips for Daily Life: Organization and Digital Wellness

Combatting Car Clutter with a Simple Solution

Let’s be honest: keeping a car tidy can feel like an endless battle, especially with kids or a busy lifestyle. While we won’t subject you to a picture of our car on its messiest day, we’re thrilled to share a small but mighty tool that’s made a big difference for us: this ingenious mini trashcan. For under $10, we invested in the sleek all-black version (no surprise there!) and keep it tucked away in the passenger side door’s cup holder. It’s discreet, convenient, and truly helps us maintain a cleaner interior. The key to lasting organization is having a system that’s easy to stick to, and this little trashcan has proven to be a simple, effective solution for minimizing everyday clutter in our vehicle.

Embracing Digital Calm: Mastering “Do Not Disturb”

In our increasingly connected world, finding moments of peace and focus is more important than ever. That’s why we’re big proponents of leveraging your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” features. If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll find these powerful options right at the top of your Settings. We’ve set ours to automatically activate during nighttime hours, ensuring uninterrupted rest. The beauty of this feature is its flexibility: you can customize it to still allow calls from your “Favorite” contacts to break through, so you never miss an urgent message from loved ones. Furthermore, the “Repeated Calls” setting acts as a safety net, allowing anyone to get through if they call you twice within a three-minute window, indicating a potential emergency. Taking control of your notifications can significantly enhance your digital well-being and help you carve out valuable moments of calm in your day.

Deep Dives and Literary Adventures

If you’re ever curious about past recommendations or products we’ve enthusiastically endorsed, but can’t quite recall which episode mentioned them, we’ve got you covered! Explore our comprehensive master list of everything we’ve been digging from all our previous episodes. It’s a fantastic resource for discovering new favorites. Additionally, for all our fellow bookworms, you can find every single book we’ve recommended and discussed on our dedicated Book Club page. Happy exploring!

Sponsor Spotlight: Illuminating Your Home with Cree LED Light Bulbs

We’re incredibly grateful to Cree LED Light Bulbs for sponsoring this episode and helping us shed light on the importance of quality lighting in our homes. Good lighting can profoundly impact the mood and functionality of any space, contributing directly to that sense of joy Ingrid Fetell Lee talks about. Energy-efficient LED bulbs are not just good for your wallet; they’re also fantastic for creating a comfortable, inviting atmosphere in every room.

To learn more about how better lighting can transform your home, visit CreeBulb.com. We’ve personally integrated Cree LEDs throughout our home and have been consistently impressed by their performance, longevity, and the quality of light they emit. For an even deeper dive into why they’ve become our trusted go-to bulb, check out our detailed light bulb resource post, where we share all our insights and tips for choosing the best lighting solutions for your space.

Thank you so much for tuning in, engaging with us, and being a wonderful part of our community. We hope this episode has brought a little extra joy and inspiration into your week!

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