A Joyous Spring and Sunday Morning Coffee

This week has been a whirlwind of travel, family time, and some very fun surprises. What a joyous Spring it has been!

We spent a few wonderful days in Marin County with our kids and THREE grandkids, then Dave and I headed to Indian Wells to meet Matt and Polina for an incredible weekend at the BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament. I came away with a huge smile about our growing family, lots of inspiration, and some exciting news about filming.

So grab your coffee and join me for this week’s Sunday Morning Coffee as I share all of the details.

An older couple sits on a window seat holding two infants, with a young child seated between them. All are smiling, enjoying the gentle light of a spring afternoon.

Season 6 Volume 9

A collage with a house exterior, a kitchen, a door with a wreath, text "Sunday Morning Coffee," and a Christmas ornament labeled "The Santa Family.

About Me

This month has been filled with travel, family time, and some very special moments that I will never forget. We just spent four wonderful days in Marin County celebrating the arrival of our second granddaughter, Sophie.

Watching our family grow is one of life’s greatest joys. Andrew and Charlotte now officially have their hands full with two little ones, and they are doing such a wonderful job stepping into this new chapter with grace and patience.

Three adults sit together on a window seat indoors; one woman is smiling, while two men are seated closely, with one partially blocked behind the other. — Our oldest son, Andrew, who is 6’7″ tall, and father of our two grandkids on the right, tried to re-enact the photo above. Ouch!

While we were there, we stayed with Michael and Ellie and spent lots of time with Clarke, who is already four months old. She is already smiling, observing her surroundings, and showing hints of her personality.

Seeing these two little girls together was such a sweet glimpse into the future. I cannot help but imagine the adventures they will have as they grow up together. And of course, I am already picturing them teaming up to terrorize their cousin/brother Graham in the years ahead.

Something tells me he is already outnumbered.

An older couple stands smiling in front of an arched entrance decorated with spring flowers; people are visible in the background on a sunny day.

After leaving Marin County, Dave and I headed to Indian Wells (in Palm Springs) to meet Matt and Polina for a weekend at the BNP Paribas Open. If you love tennis, you know this tournament is something truly special. Every top player in the world competes there, and the atmosphere is incredible.

The matches were fantastic, and we loved spending time watching some of the best athletes in the sport. The energy of the crowd, the beautiful setting, and the chance to see such talented players up close made it an unforgettable weekend.

Two tennis players are on a hard court at Indian Wells during a match, with spectators watching and sponsorship banners visible around the court. — We loved watching Jannik Sinner play!

And the weather did not hurt either. Indian Wells was absolutely glorious. Warm sunshine, blue skies, and that perfect desert air made it feel like the ultimate spring getaway. It was the kind of weather that makes you want to stay outside all day long.

Promotional graphic for The Inspired Home Show in Chicago, March 10-12, featuring Leslie Saeta as #TIHS26 Ambassador, with her portrait on a blue background.

Now it is time for the next adventure. Tomorrow I leave for Chicago to attend the Inspired Home Show. The weather there may not be quite as glorious, but the show itself is always incredibly exciting.

The Inspired Home Show is where the newest trends, products, and innovations in housewares are unveiled, and it is one of my favorite places to discover what is coming next for our homes and kitchens.

I will be sharing everything new and exciting that I find while I am there, so be sure to follow my Instagram stories on Tuesday and Wednesday as I highlight the hottest new products and ideas from the show floor. I cannot wait to see what inspires me this year.

After that, I will finally be heading back home on Thursday. And honestly, after all of this travel, all I want to do is spend a few quiet days in my craft room. There is nothing better than being surrounded by projects, supplies, and ideas waiting to come to life. It truly is my favorite place to relax and recharge after a busy stretch of travel.

My Latest Project

A collection of embroidered white fabric coasters, each featuring different monogrammed initials in colored thread within decorative borders.

One of the unexpected highlights of my recent trip was spending time with Charlotte talking about embroidery. As many of you know, I recently brought out my embroidery machine again, and I have been diving back into learning everything it can do. Charlotte is incredibly creative and has spent a lot of time working with embroidery, so sitting down with her and talking through projects was both inspiring and incredibly helpful.

Four wine glasses with white, scalloped fabric tags on the stems, each embroidered with different colored initials: LS, EC, ES, and PS.

What started as a casual conversation quickly turned into a brainstorming session filled with ideas. Charlotte shared so many fun embroidery projects that she loves making, and by the end of our conversation, I had a whole list of things I cannot wait to try.

Three round, fabric keychains with embroidered initials (SSB, GSS, CSA) in pink and blue, each with a matching ribbon, are displayed on a woven surface.

At the top of the list are appliqué bag tags, which are such a clever idea. They are small, colorful, and perfect for personalizing backpacks, travel bags, or even gift bags. We also talked about making wine stem tags, which would be such a fun addition to dinner parties or gatherings with friends. Imagine embroidered tags that slip onto a wine glass so everyone knows which glass to use.

Another idea I loved was a Favorite Things shirt, where you embroider little icons or words representing things you love. It is such a personal project and a fun way to wear something completely unique. I have already made my list!

A rectangular pink pillow with white trim features the name "SOPHIA" embroidered in large white letters.

Charlotte also suggested an appliqué girls pillow, which would be adorable for a child’s room or nursery, and embroidered wine totes, which instantly turn a bottle of wine into a thoughtful handmade gift.

Beyond the project ideas, Charlotte also helped me with a software program called Embrilliance. I use it to organize and prepare embroidery designs before sending them to my Brother Dream Machine. I had been slowly figuring it out on my own, but with just a few tips from Charlotte, everything suddenly made much more sense.

It is amazing how much you can learn in a short amount of time when someone shares their knowledge. I left our conversation feeling inspired, excited, and ready to start stitching. I have a feeling my embroidery machine is going to be very busy this year.

I may sometimes use affiliate links on this blog, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.

Brother embroidery and sewing machine with digital display, surrounded by various accessories, attachments, a pink bow, thread, software, and instruction materials arranged neatly around it.

Brother NQ3550W Sewing & Embroidery Machine, 6″ x 10″ Field Size, 291 Sewing Stitches

A collection of 100 spools of thread arranged in rows, displaying a wide variety of colors from white and yellow to blue, green, purple, pink, brown, and black.

New brothread 80 Spools Polyester Embroidery Machine Thread

Brother sewing and embroidery machine with a digital display, surrounded by colorful thread spools, bobbins, scissors, needles, and various sewing accessories.

Brother SE700 Embroidery & Sewing Machine with 90 Spools & Accessories

Brother SE2000 sewing and embroidery machine set, shown with loaded embroidery design, various thread spools, bobbins, presser feet, tools, instruction manual, and accessories.

Brother SE2000 5″ x 7″ Combo Embroidery & Sewing Machine

A pair of black-handled scissors with a gold pivot screw next to a rolled white measuring tape.

Fabric Scissors

Six round embroidery hoops of increasing size are arranged concentrically with a set of sewing needles displayed in the center.

Embroidery Hoop Set

What Worked This Week

A large white truck and film equipment are set up in front of a house, indicating a film production taking place on a residential street.

Something unexpected happened this week that made me smile every single time the phone rang. I received four separate calls from location companies asking if our home might be available for filming.

My answer every single time?

Yes!

If you have been following my blog for a while, you probably know that our home has been used for filming many times over the years. Movies, television shows, and commercials have all been filmed here, and it is always such an interesting and fun experience.

How-to-Rent-your-Home-for-the-Movies-3-768x1024-1

In fact, our home has been part of filming projects for more than twenty years. Living in a very “film-friendly” city definitely helps, and production companies often look for homes with character and good natural light.

Filming in your home can be surprisingly rewarding. Not only is it fun to watch the transformation that happens when a crew arrives, but it can also be very lucrative. One of the best parts is that income from filming is tax-free if you film for fewer than 14 days in a year.

That is something many people do not realize. When you stay under that limit, the income from filming is considered tax-free rental income. It is a pretty wonderful bonus for simply sharing your home for a short period of time.

Of course, there are a few things you need to understand before opening your home for filming. I actually wrote an entire post about it called The Basics of Filming in Your Home and Sunday Morning Coffee, where I shared some of the most important things I have learned from our years of hosting film crews.

The biggest tip is to learn the filming rules in your city. Some cities make filming very easy, and others have strict limitations. It is important to understand permits, scheduling, and the length of time filming can take place in residential areas.

Another important lesson is that preparation is everything. Filming days are long, there are a lot of people involved, and your home will look very different once a production crew arrives. Furniture may be moved, lighting equipment will appear everywhere, and your home becomes a working set.

But despite the chaos, it is always fascinating.

Seeing how scenes are created, how lighting changes a space, and how directors transform a room into something entirely different is an experience I never get tired of.

So when those four calls came this week, I was thrilled. We love the excitement that filming brings and the stories that come with it. Who knows which project might end up being filmed here next?

One thing is certain, though. If the cameras are coming, we will definitely be ready.

Have a fabulous time in Chicago at The Inspired Home Show. I know I will!
Create more projects with my embroidery machine.

Three bunny-shaped sugar cookies, two frosted with pink sprinkles and one with green sprinkles, are displayed on a white cake stand.

You are going to love this Peeps Cookie Recipe.

Whole wheat chicken wraps filled with lettuce and diced chicken, sliced and secured with picks, served on a white platter with one wrap portion on a striped plate in the foreground.

These Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps – Easy and Delicious are a must try!

A hand turning the cycle selector knob on a washing machine, with settings for cottons, stains, easy-care, mixed load, delicate/silk, wool, and rinse/freshen up.

Everything You Need to Know About the Delicate Cycle on Your Washer

A modern living room with white walls, abstract art, a beige sofa, a potted plant, and wooden accents, illuminated by natural light from skylights.

This Bright Terrace Transformation from Desire to Inspire is wonderful.

A living room with dark walls, a teal sofa, a coffee table, large windows with hanging plants, a fireplace, and a TV on a white console.

How to Soundproof an Apartment: 9 Tips for a More Peaceful Space

Bunny Cake Stand

Hobnail Style 4 Piece Mixing Bowl Set

Mud Pie Salt & Pepper Cellar

And what a week it was!

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