After months of charts, spreadsheets, and late-night calls with my mother, I finally decided on the property that would become my new home—in Mexico. It wasn't an easy decision, but it came down to practicality. I faced three options: A poorly constructed property with a mandatory private club membership I'd have to pay for even when absent A beautifully designed home in a smaller community where if someone defaulted on maintenance, each owner would shoulder a larger financia

My decision-making process is just that--a process. Part of it is instinct and vibe, and part of it is old-fashioned pragmatism. Oh, and I’m cheap too, so there’s that. Case in point: the swanky country club. I ain’t gonna lie, there was something really cool about living within a country club community and that something was both good and bad. The good was the necessities were right within walking distance which was great because the community was a little isolated. The bad

My mother likes to say when I get a bee in my bonnet, I’m going to win at whatever it is. I hate to admit there’s more than a grain of truth to that. Some may say it’s a character flaw, but I think it’s an asset that has served me well…most of the time. When I am focused and determined to “win,” I usually get what I want. For better or worse, it’s how I’ve operated my entire life.  As a football fan, I like to think I have a little bit of Bill Belichick in me (get your nasty

Confession: I used to love HGTV. I could sit for hours with the television tuned to my second favorite station. Myles of Style  was my show because, yes, Myles  is Black, and I root for (almost) everybody Black, but she also taught us how to use our creative skills to level up on a budget. There was Color Splash  too, which stimulated my never-ending thirst for bright colors. Incidentally, that is where the idea for my red, back-painted backsplash originated.  After a while I