New Windows, Who Dis?

We realized the dining room windows were problematic while having the house painted. Norman, our painter, went to crank out the window to allow himself more room to work on the trim, and the crank fell off. These were floor to ceiling windows, meaning a floor to ceiling gap in our house. The sellers had crowed over the Pella windows, so I had Pella send an employee out to take measurements of the rotting windows so we could replace them. Eight months and two Better Business Bureau complaints later, they were not Pella windows, and I would not have replaced them with Pella even if they were given our customer service experience.

In the meantime, another window had fallen off the house when cranked open, so we called Andersen. They’re on track to replace an entire floors’ worth of windows in a single day, with the exception of the bay window we’ll have installed in April once they’ve completed its copper roof. I’ve been laying fairly low this winter, but seizing the momentum of this project (albeit an unwanted one) to regain momentum on updating this home and business to be all they can be. For the kitchen, that means treating the gorgeous but well-worn butcher block counter tops. For Last Stop, figuring out when we can host some shopping events to bring our products to the people. We’re happy to hear your thoughts on either, reach out at laststopantiquesshop@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram @laststopantiques!

2026 Resolutions

Well, we made it to 2026. Doing less, and in some ways more. We didn’t send holiday cards. We did host a New Year’s Eve Tea. The kids received too many gifts, but it pushed us to finally address the bookshelf situation in the living room.

We spent winter break ‘23 installing floor to ceiling shelves to finally house all of our children’s toys and books. The townhome was mostly open concept, and we were tired of seeing endless bins of magnatiles, growing stacks of stuffed animals, books, and so, so many trucks. We bought shelves from IKEA, bolted them in, and had my contractor father in law visit from Minnesota to finish them with trim and paint for a gorgeous built-in look. They complemented our mid-century home perfectly, and it seemed like the first time in parenting we had a handle on the clutter that children bring (also, we were finally able to graduate from having a changing table in the living room - major win).

I swore I’d never move again, but life happens, sometimes repeating itself as our new living room was filled with ever-accumulating plastic bins amidst IKEA couches that looked downright depressing in this older, more classic home. There was nowhere to tuck in shelves as we’d had at the old place, and we were loathe to disturb some of the thoughtful touches from the previous artist owners, including wooden paneling surrounding the (non-functioning) fireplace.

But my dresser didn’t quite fit right in our new bedroom, not for aesthetic reasons as it was a beautiful American piece acquired in the Southampton museum barn which hosted Sunday sales pre-Covid. It fit perfectly in the living room corner, and could hold our entire collection of magna tiles and Brio train sets. Our focus largely shifted to painting, replacing the gas fireplace, and upgrading our seating situation from warped love seats to comfortable yet attractive pieces. A bookshelf my dad had re-finished for us sat in the front room, increasingly overburdened with anything the dresser couldn’t hold - puzzles, books, balls, and of course, more trucks. It was surrounded by more toy bins at best, straight up mess at worst. But it wasn’t a large space, and needed the right piece.

Enter our new hutch. Part of a bedroom set, we happily left the matching dressers behind and, with only a slight shoulder tear, carried it into our home to replace the bookshelf. The hutch fits puzzles, barbie houses, hot wheels tracks, painting kits, makeup sets, a lite bright, and counting. There are less accessible drawers up top where I can tuck the paint pens our daughter once blacked out her body with, as well as the game our son always wants to play at the worst possible time. It’s not a toy chest, it’s not built in, but it works for the space and we are clutter-free, at least until the kids’ birthdays in the spring.

Less is more, but in 2026 we’re resolving to work with what we have, and to appreciate how a small change can make a huge difference. The bookshelf looks great in the dining room, loaded with books. Funny how that works.

Doing Less This Holiday Season

It’s December 10, 2025, and we are alive and that is enough. So this holiday season, I am imploring you to do less. Let go of something that’s not bringing you joy this year. For me, it’s holiday cards. We’d meant to do pictures in October to celebrate the new house, but we didn’t. Then we were scheduled to do pictures at P.S. 81’s Winterfest, but then half the family was in a thankfully injury free fender bender so those didn’t pan out. I could do a last minute timed portrait and still get out some New Years cards, but I’m not going to. Instead, I’m baking cookies for my kids’ teachers. Grabbing dinner with visiting friends. Using the limited free time we all have to do more things that energize me, versus feeling beholden to traditions.

Last year, I still got the cards out, or at least half of them. I think they were full of pictures of the kids, I truly don’t remember but know I have about 50 copies somewhere from when I finally ran out of steam sending them. Last year, it seemed really important.

Our decor’s a little more low-key this year too, and that’s ok. We have a tradition of decorating the house on Christmas Eve after the kids go to bed, and I even managed to continue it in our AirBnB in Seattle where Santa wrapped the stair bannister, built a cardboard tree, and threw up twinkly lights. This year, we’re lucky enough to have a tree up in our new home, and a good amount of decorations to be certain, but nothing like what I’m seeing in my Instagram feed. I know we have more lights and decor, but maybe saving it all for Christmas Eve will mean more to them than living out December in a Hallmark movie set.

Or not, kids can be unappreciative assholes. But this feels right for me, and it’s nice to listen to my internal compass instead of what’s been marketed to me as the right way to be. So, if you were feeling guilty about doing less this holiday season, not having the energy for Elf on a Shelf or holiday cards or hosting a big gathering, please take this as your sign to let that shit go. Do less. Live better. Happy Holidays.

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.