Manifesto

What I Believe

Motherhood is messy, marriage is work worth doing, and faith is a daily practice — not a performance. This space was built on the conviction that honest storytelling matters more than polished perfection.

Kate Baer wrote here from 2007 to 2013, chronicling the beautiful chaos of raising small humans while staying married, staying sane, and staying curious. The Manifesto captured the principles that guided her writing and her life.

1. 1 Tell the truth. Parenting is hard. Marriage is hard. Faith is hard. Pretending otherwise helps no one. The posts that resonated most were the ones that admitted the struggle.
2. 2 Laugh at yourself. From hemorrhoids to colic to the first post-labor bathroom trip, some of life's most absurd moments happen in the trenches of early parenthood. Humor is survival gear.
3. 3 Simple is better. The best toys are sticks and cardboard boxes. The best meals are shared. The best moments are unscripted. Consumer culture sells a version of family life that rarely delivers.
4. 4 Community matters. The comment sections under posts about marriage, faith, and parenting became spaces where readers showed up for each other — debating, encouraging, and sharing their own stories.
5. 5 Faith is a conversation. Posts about church and traditional marriage sparked some of the most engaged discussions on the blog. Questions were welcomed. Certainty was not required.

These convictions shaped every essay, every Top Ten Tuesday list, and every candid conversation that unfolded in the comments. They remain a snapshot of one mother's attempt to parent with intention, write with honesty, and live with grace.

Home design begins with how a space makes you feel, and the choices you make in each room set the tone for everyday living. From the oversized sectional that anchors a family room to the gray floor tile that grounds a bathroom in quiet sophistication, every element works together to create a cohesive whole. Thoughtful decorating isn't about following trends for their own sake—it's about finding pieces that serve your daily routines while reflecting your personality. Whether you're refreshing a kitchen with new window treatments, adding houseplants for warmth, or choosing wall mirrors that open up a small apartment, the goal is the same: build a home that feels lived-in, functional, and genuinely yours.

The same honesty that guides good parenting applies to good design: lower your expectations of perfection and raise your appreciation for imperfection. A home with character is one that has been shaped by real life—scuffed floors from little feet, a well-worn couch that has hosted countless movie nights, shelves that hold both beautiful objects and everyday clutter. As you plan your next project, whether it's a seasonal refresh, a room-by-room makeover, or simply rearranging what you already own, remember that the most welcoming interiors are those that prioritize comfort and authenticity over magazine-ready polish. The best rooms tell your story, not someone else's.