Welcome to The Journal

A cozy collection of stories, reflections, and inspiration for creating a life (and space) you love — one quiet moment at a time. Brew a cup, get comfortable, and stay awhile.

Why We've Decided To Buy A House

Why We've Decided To Buy A House

Admittedly I had a home on my vision board for the new year — our home buying conversations were becoming a thing and we found ourselves wondering about “what’s next” for our family…stay in Washington? …move back East? We weren’t sure but we knew renting in perpetuity was no longer an option. By the second quarter of 2020, personally, I was juggling being a “single mom” with my husband deployed, the beginnings of my second new job in a year, COVID-19 forcing us all into quarantine, and witnessing a modern day civil rights movement. One or two of these events may not have done much for changing my mind, but all of em together… well I quickly went from, “it’d be nice to own my home” — hence the vision board — — to “I want to own a home!”

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsOctober 11, 2020my home, home buying, the hygge ranch

Fall 2020 One Room Challenge x High Point Market: Week 1

Fall 2020 One Room Challenge x High Point Market: Week 1

Alongside 19 other amazing creators and designers, ya girl is an ORC featured designer!

In true 2020 fashion, this event will be virtual so we’ll be bringing you along as we work with and source vendors as we would in any design project — from the ideating and planning all the way through the final virtual reveal…which you know is my jam!

Look BookAlbie KnowsOctober 7, 2020one room challenge, high point market, my home, edesign

Capsule Decorating: Home Decor Must Haves feat. H&M Home

Capsule Decorating: Home Decor Must Haves feat. H&M Home

I'm a creature of habit, especially when it comes to shopping, which is precisely why a at the top of the year I decided to create a capsule wardrobe for myself - I was no longer going to be working from home as an entrepreneur and was truly tired of staring at a full closet yet saying, "I have nothing to wear". Why was this happening? Because I had a BUNCH of pieces that didn't play well together. I was purchasing in a vacuum, instead of thinking of my wardrobe holistically, so getting dressed each day became this daunting, arduous task for no. damn. reason!

The way I shop for my closet now is, for quite some time, how I've shopped for my home - capsule shopping. Yes, I've created a decorating capsule.

The EditAlbie KnowsSeptember 7, 2020h&m home, hygge, capsule decorating, shopping

Brass vs Bronze vs Gold

Brass vs Bronze vs Gold

Although I'm not against mixing metals, as they've grown in popularity, I've noticed people using them haphazardly without any regard for how they'll play off of one another. This has been especially the case when it comes to rose gold, copper, and gold. Albeit similar, these are all very distinct metals, and when used in decor, these distinctions can make or break a design. Use correctly, they can absolutely elevate a design to something elegant and timeless; however, done incorrectly, and it'll be a piping hot mess!

The EditAlbie KnowsAugust 30, 2020national kitchen & bath month, metals, design therapy, color

House Beautiful Magazine Advisory Board 2020-21

House Beautiful Magazine Advisory Board 2020-21

Two months again when I decided to adopt the #sharethemicnow initiative for the home industry, I knew what I wanted to see happen, but I had no actual idea of what would happen. There are certain things you can anticipate but other things you can never see coming...and that's precisely what happened to me.

StudioAlbie KnowsAugust 28, 2020house beautiful, black lives matter

Shop With Me: What's In My H&M Home Cart?

Shop With Me: What's In My H&M Home Cart?

It's been a while since I've done an H&M Home haul and that's definitely not for lack of shopping; but with the recent decision to make some changes around the house, now seemed like a great time to do some window shopping, especially with so many of their new releases giving me all the hygge vibes my little heart can handle.

The EditAlbie KnowsAugust 23, 2020h&m home, hygge, my home, shopping

Award Nominated Blog Announcement

Award Nominated Blog Announcement

As I sat down to write an entirely different blog post, it dawned on me that I do a really poor job at sharing when pretty amazing things happen, especially here on the blog. Some times I am so bad at celebrating myself but when I do remember, it's usually just on Instagram. Yet for whatever, at this moment I realized I hadn't shared some pretty epic news about the blog — Albie Knows was nominated for an Amara Interior Blog Award in the Best Company Blog category!

StudioAlbie KnowsAugust 21, 2020amara ibas, design bloggers tour

Living Room Refresh: Summer Hygge

Living Room Refresh: Summer Hygge

Earlier this year, I'd made the decision to stop messing with my house — I literally decided to stop doing home projects, choosing to just focus on the day to day styling and organizing, but also (mostly) enjoying the home I'd created thus far. Paired with my husband being on deployment and not knowing where we'd be a year from now...yeah it was time to just chill.

But then 'rona came to town and, like everyone else, I was forced to appreciate but also reevaluate our home.

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsAugust 9, 2020hygge, my home, living room, design therapy

Books About Diversity & Racism For Adults

Books About Diversity & Racism For Adults

While an important conversation, it isn't always an easy one to have. Yep, we're talking about diversity & racism. Imagine, if adults can't bring themselves to have these difficult conversations, then it'll be even more difficult with a child. If your child is at the age where you're still reading to them and/or they're reading on their own, there are a countless number of books available — past and present — that make having the conversation of diversity and racism just a tad bit easier.

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsJuly 27, 2020books, diversity & inclusion

Amazon Fresh 120 Day Review

Amazon Fresh 120 Day Review

I'm sitting here, as we head into the fifth month of quarantines and stay-at-home orders from COVID-19, awaiting my 19th Amazon Fresh order this year. Yes, in the past 5 months I have placed 19 Amazon Fresh orders for groceries, but let's just go ahead and round up to 20. While a lot of states have been opening up and loosening up their restrictions, I am in no rush to go outside, so after having used it for most of the year, I am pretty confident in whatever comes next because at least I know we'll be fed.

So what has it been like doing my grocery shopping almost* exclusively on Amazon Fresh for the past 4 months?

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsJuly 26, 2020amazon, covid19, shopping

Apartment Must-Haves: Essentials For Every Room In Your New Home

Apartment Must-Haves: Essentials For Every Room In Your New Home

After countless moves, I like to think I know a thing or two about apartment readiness. I’ve learned what to prioritize, what’s a necessity, and what can totally wait when it comes to making our rental feel like a home. Not to be confused with moving essentials, whether I was starting from scratch or bringing things with me, there were some things that I found myself always needing in my apartment.

The EditAlbie KnowsJuly 25, 2020moving, design therapy, shopping, reversible design

Mood Board Inspiration: June + July 2020

Mood Board Inspiration: June + July 2020

The only thing that inspired me recently is Black people.

Black culture.

Look BookAlbie KnowsJuly 20, 2020mood board, color, hygge, cost plus world market, target, horchow, serena & lily, the container store, shopping

Books About Diversity & Racism For Children

Books About Diversity & Racism For Children

While an important conversation, it isn't always an easy one to have. Yep, we're talking about diversity & racism. Imagine, if adults can't bring themselves to have these difficult conversations, then it'll be even more difficult with a child. If your child is at the age where you're still reading to them and/or they're reading on their own, there are a countless number of books available — past and present — that make having the conversation of diversity and racism just a tad bit easier.

Vibe Check, The EditAlbie KnowsJuly 19, 2020books, diversity & inclusion

Wayfair Alternatives: 10 Major Retailers For All Things Home

Wayfair Alternatives: 10 Major Retailers For All Things Home

When it comes to social causes and political matters, I do my best — by choice — to keep that off public radar. I prefer to keep those types of conversations at the dinner table or in my text messages, not on my timeline and certainly not on the blog. But earlier this week, a retailer I’d shopped for years — for myself and for clients — did something some really stopped me dead in my tracks and forced me to reevaluate my relationship with them.

The EditAlbie KnowsJuly 11, 2020amazon, cost plus world market, the home depot, ikea, overstock, target, design therapy, shoppingComment

How I Purged Using The Home Market On Poshmark

How I Purged Using The Home Market On Poshmark

Last summer I found myself in the middle of probably my biggest purge since moving — except we weren’t moving. I got to a point where I got tired of seeing “stuff” at every turn — from the clothes in my closet to the decor in my mantle — so I started pulling things out to trash, sell, or donate…

Enter Poshmark!

I was able to list small kitchen appliances, dinnerware, and decorative accents and I felt so much better about being able to pass these items onto someone who wanted em but could now get them at a fraction of the cost; and while I love being able to donate, it didn’t hurt that I could make a little play money in the process.

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsMay 14, 2020poshmark, organization, my home, shopping

Stay At Home Order: Comfort Essentials

Stay At Home Order: Comfort Essentials

For the past month (maybe longer?), I have been blessed and fortunate enough to have been working from home as we try to protect ourselves and prevent the ongoing spread of COVID-19...aka flattening the curve. Yes, “working from home” sounds fun & easy, but being at home for both work and home life isn’t exactly a pleasure picnic. I also know, firsthand, that working from home as an employee versus working from home as an entrepreneur are two similar, but different experiences; and I had to make adjustments to my mindset and home accordingly.

I had to invest in making sure I was both comfortable and productive.

The EditAlbie KnowsMay 12, 2020covid19, work life balance, workspace, mompreneur

Mood Board Inspiration: May 2020

Mood Board Inspiration: May 2020

How is it already May?!

And yet here we are…

About halfway through the second quarter of the year and nearly 3 months into a global pandemic that has all but crippled our “normal” way of life. Now for me, I am thankful that COVID-19 and the stay-at-home order hasn’t too much impacted my day to day — changes have happened but nothing drastic — but I also couldn’t think about all the changes happening in nature that we can’t see… and possibly all the changes happening because we aren’t out in the world messing with things.

I remember reading about reports that indicated a decrease in air pollution across the world because factories were closed, cars weren’t on the road, and just overall how our being home was giving Mother Nature a much-needed reset of her home. Imagine that!

I thought about how clear skies and vibrant colors, and my may mood board inspiration came into bloom…

Look BookAlbie KnowsMay 11, 2020mood board, color, hygge, cost plus world market, target, horchow, serena & lily, the container store, shopping

How My Anxiety May Have Prepared Me For COVID-19

How My Anxiety May Have Prepared Me For COVID-19

It’s not easy for me to admit that my character isn’t naturally a “calm” one and I don’t know anyone that would use the word calm to describe me either. I have always danced on the edge of worry and even occasionally tangoed with straight-up paranoia, and yet in the midst of a pandemic, I find myself probably the calmest person in my circle. Why is that?

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsMay 10, 2020covid19, mental health, mompreneur

5 Year Old Girl Birthday Wishlist

5 Year Old Girl Birthday Wishlist

If you’re a parent, then you’re likely used to your kid telling you they want something new & shiny...

24/7/365

While my baby girl doesn’t ask for things often, when she fixates on a new activity or toy, you better believe she wants everything that’s in its orbit.

So what does my soon to be five year old have her eyes on these days? American Girl (Wellie Wishers) | Lego | Melissa & Doug | Disney

The EditAlbie KnowsApril 23, 2020mompreneur, toddler bedroom, shopping