Every year, back to school feels like turning a page — exciting, a little chaotic, and always bittersweet. As a mom, I’m juggling the usual: new shoes, lunchbox ideas, earlier bedtimes… all while trying not to cry over how fast they’re growing.

As July fades and school supply lists start appearing on the fridge, I find myself holding onto summer nights a little tighter.

I feel like every time I sit down to write my monthly recap, I say the same thing, “How is it the end of the month already?” July was a fast one full of design moments, major project progress on our (2!) full home remodels, styled moments that I can’t wait to share, and softball - lots and lots of softball.

“Hey Catherine! It’s so nice to meet you.” is the phrase I hear on a daily basis. In the past two-and-a-half years, my name has gone from Alison to Catherine and back to Alison in the matter of minutes of meeting vendors, potential clients, and everyone in between.

As both an interior designer and a mom, the Fourth of July holds a special place in my heart—it’s the perfect blend of celebration, creativity, and cherished family time.

The end of June always gets me super emotional. Another school year comes to an end, the season shifts and the craziness that surrounds these last few weeks all seem to blend into each other. It’s the time of year I wish we could slow down just a bit.

School’s out, the kids are home, and summer is officially here — which means life just got a whole lot louder, messier, and somehow even busier.

As the school year wraps up, I always find myself asking the same question: "How is it already the last week of school?" With the chaos of end-of-year events, sports, and summer plans ramping up, remembering to put together a thoughtful teacher gift sometimes falls to the bottom of the list.

Is it me or do the spring months just blend into one big cluster? As a mom, the days are so chaotic and it seems like 2:30 pm appears out of nowhere. May was full of a lot of late night office moments to hit deadlines, play catch up, and check things off my to-do list.

Summer always sneaks up on me — but as both an interior designer and a mom, I’ve learned that a little early prep can make the season smoother, more beautiful, and a lot more fun.

As MDW quickly approaches (How is the unofficial start to summer next week?!), I am thinking about the endless possibilities of summer snacks and apps I’ll whip up for a backyard BBQ or to bring along to a friend's pool party. My favorite dish to indulge in over the summer is my “go-to-pasta-salad!”

As an interior designer, I love finding ways to celebrate the seasons — and patriotic holidays are some of my favorites. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and even Labor Day give me a chance to play with bold colors and nostalgic details, all while creating spaces that feel festive and thoughtfully styled.

That’s amore! Life works in ways that fill your bucket - in more ways than one. My latest living room full project filled all the buckets.

April always feels like a bit of a deep breath. The days start to stretch just a little longer, the light softens, and the craziness falls into place. This month was such a perfect mix of cozy downtime and meaningful moments, and looking back, I’m feeling so full.

The seasonal shift is always a favorite of mine. I think that’s one of the reasons why I do truly love living in New Jersey - every new season brings a freshness. Spring time is the best and there is something about stepping outside and feeling that first warm breeze - it just resets my mindset!

March was a crazy busy month but I guess that’s what I get for taking off half of February. I was in full cheer-mom mode and we got hit with a spring sports schedule like never before. Hello, three softball teams, five cheer competitions, the largest PTA fundraiser of the year and of course, client installs, photoshoots, and elevating the business. March was wild but here is a glimpse at the moments that made me the happiest - even if I looked like I was drowning!

Welcome to my new blog series: Everything I loved! Each month will bring a curated list of my favorite things. You never know what you’re going to see!