Happy Sunday, everyone. We’re sure everyone is aware now that Dolly Parton is no longer with us. But man, we were all lucky to have lived in the same time she was here. Her talent, generosity, and humor are what made her so special and something that all of us will take with us, and hopefully carry on in our own lives. She truly was a one-of-one.

This week’s house tour is the home of Lela Becker, cofounder of Mother….yep, that Mother! Her and her family’s home is an architectural treasure filled with so much soul and nature. It’s truly spectacular.

From Emily: I’m happily re-binging one of Brian’s and my favorite shows ever, Veronica Mars with our kids, which is streaming now on Prime. At first you’ll be like “woah this is dated” because it was shot with filters and sometimes odd lenses, but it actually really creates a very specific vibe that made that show so unique (amongst other things). It takes 2-3 episodes to get hooked, and then you can’t stop thinking about it. Kirsten Bell plays a snarky and hilariously written Nancy Drew-style detective. Every season solves one huge mystery (the first episode starts with her best friend’s murder), and every episode has mini contained mysteries that are lighter and entertaining. It’s set in the OC in the early aughts, positioning the haves versus the have-nots. The writing is so good. The acting is awesome. The cast is ridiculously good. The music and vibe and the easter eggs! So many easter eggs! Some going from season to season where you see that the writers knew all along they were going to button it up a certain way. It’s such a vibe!!! Elliot gets a little spooked at times because it’s slightly unsettling (but she can’t stop watching it). It’s not scary, I swear, but oddly addictive. I know this myself because in 2011 when Brian and I discovered it, we once watched 18 episodes IN A ROW (pre-kids obviously and likely after a big night out). Like we couldn’t stop. It’s a weird earworm of a show that infiltrates your dreams. Rob Thomas is a genius, and this show is so special, so rewatching it with my tweens has been incredibly fun. So happy this is our new family rewatch TV show:)

Also From Emily: I put this on stories, but I didn’t want to neglect it here – I found the world’s most comfortable no-wire bra that still lifts and separates!!! You ladies with larger ladies know what I’m talking about. I don’t want padding or to push them together or have massive cleavage or to add volume. But I want them higher and two separate nice shapes that don’t flop around. So I tried on this bra in person (I would never have been drawn to it online), and I was like “woah, OK!”. I bought 3 (one peach to wear under white shirts), and I don’t feel like I’m wearing a metal cage all day that I tear off in desperation at night, and yet my ladies are so much more supported than most wire-free bras that just don’t hold them good enough for work.

From Caitlin: Chiming in today with a sentimental request: will you consider becoming a blood donor? Shamefully, this is one of those “I didn’t realize how important this was until it happened to me” situations – my mom suffered from a lot of internal bleeding last year, and her life was saved by 10 transfusions, donated from regular people like you and me. After she passed in December, I finally started giving blood in January – my goal was to replenish the units she’d used – but it turns out that it’s a super fast and easy process that genuinely makes a difference in the world, and I’m going to keep up with it long-term. The Red Cross just declared its second-ever blood supply crisis, and it’s scary to imagine what would have happened if there hadn’t been blood available for Brenda. It’s shockingly comfortable (I’ve donated in vans and in centers!), and the techs are incredible at keeping the process quick and painless – I have rolling, hard-to-prick veins, and they’ve gotten them on the first try EVERY TIME. It takes about 30 minutes from check-in to snack time, and your local Blood Bank might offer some cool perks, too! (My next donation is in September, and if I do another one during the winter, I’ll get an all-seasons donor tote bag, which is very compelling to me, a tote bag-hoarding freak.) Please think about trying it, even once:)

From Jess: I don’t think I’ve watched a new TV show in months, but boy did I make up for it with Sterling Point and The 5-Star Weekend. I binged both of them hard. The casts are incredible, and the storylines and acting will warm and break your heart. If you are looking for good shows and/or have been interested in checking these out, DO IT!

From Gretchen: We recently styled out a fun fridge for an upcoming kitchen reveal, and for the shoot I picked up a few of these drink dispensers from IKEA. For someone who loves a “fridge cig” as much as I do (Diet Coke, for those not in the know), this is a really nice way to store and display them (or any other canned beverage). Is it necessary? Definitely not. But it sure looks pretty, and the slow release is very satisfying. Plus, you can adjust the holder to fit different can widths and connect the dispensers side by side so you can store your skinny and squatty cans alike!

From Arlyn: Well over a year ago, before Schoolhouse shut down (prior to being acquired by Hudson Valley Lighting and then reopening), I had a crush on this metal catch-all bowl/plate, designed in collaboration with Clare V. Around gifting season, it showed up on many a gift guide and sold out in every color. Then Schoolhouse shuttered. I forgot all about the decor piece until I got an email from them to check it out again. I started perusing and was happy to see that most of the steady favorites from the past were still around; better yet, my catch-all was back, baby! I was hesitant at first because it was a fairly unnecessary purchase—we’re saving for a house, after all—but I knew that if it were to go away again, I’d be super bummed. I grabbed one in the raisin gloss, though I also wish I had purchased the cobalt one for a punch of blue in my living room. It’s heavy, shiny, and perfect for styling just about any surface. Right now, it’s sitting on my desk, but I’ll likely move it around the house until it feels just right.

From Marlee: A few weeks ago I went to an awesome Portland sale hosted by Pigeon Toe Ceramics, a great Portland ceramicist and maker – you’ve probably seen their pieces in vignettes around the blog here and there! I scored a gorgeous tablecloth, a lamp, a butter dish, and a spoon rest for incredible prices. They’re currently running a discontinued sale on her site to make room for fall inventory and are offering 30-40% off items. I highly recommend checking out the sale because there are a TON of cute items that would make great gifts for yourself or others. Make sure to check out their full price section too;)

From Mallory: I’m a huge Apple Watch lover and have worn this band for almost a year now. I absolutely love how it dresses up the look of the watch, and it’s adjustable so you can make it fit on your wrist wherever is more comfortable. If you too love your Apple Watch but don’t love the band, I highly recommend this one:)

Have a great last August weekend and see you tomorrow! xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: My “Kitchen Kid Clutter Drop Zone” Problem, SOLVED (ish)