Two Months In: Life at the Beach

I can hardly believe it’s been almost two months since we moved into our dream beach house. In some ways, it feels like we’ve only just arrived. In other ways, it feels like we’ve lived a thousand lifetimes since crossing the threshold for the very first time.

Moving with a one-year-old is a different kind of endurance challenge and if we ever do this again (and I sincerely hope we don’t anytime soon), we are 100% hiring movers. Doing it ourselves and working during nap times, snack breaks, bedtime routines, and while trying to keep a crawling toddler from scaling furniture, felt borderline impossible. Every night, Matt and I would collapse onto whatever surface was closest and high-five each other just for surviving another day (if we had the energy).

Despite the chaos, we were riding the high of new homeownership. That is, until we left the country.

Just two weeks after moving in, we packed our bags (again!) and headed off to the UK for a testimonial hockey game. For those who don’t know, a testimonial is a special match played in honour of a player who’s dedicated ten years to their team. This one was for Joey, a Cardiff Devil and one of Matt’s former teammates. Matt was invited to play, and for him, it was more than just lacing up his skates again, it was a homecoming and a way to really close out his career because his last season had been quashed by the pandemic.

I had never seen Matt play professionally before. We met after he retired. So watching him take the ice, suited up with his old teammates, was emotional in the best way. He also wanted Griffin to be there — to see his dad in action, even if he won’t remember it. (Luckily, we’ve got the photos and videos to prove it happened!)

We turned the trip into a whirlwind mini-tour. We visited a dear friend of mine in the Cotswolds, soaked in the stunning countryside, and then spent a few days in London. But let me tell you — travelling internationally with a one-year-old during a heat wave is not for the faint of heart. Between the 2-hour ferry, 9.5-hour flight and a 3-hour drive to Cardiff… we were absolutely running on fumes. I swear, somewhere over the Atlantic, Griffin had a full-blown existential crisis. We all did.

When we got home, we were exhausted. Jet-lagged. Emotionally tapped. And, of course…the moving process was still not done.

Because, surprise! While we were away, we finalized the private sale of our old house in Nanaimo. Which meant more U-Haul trips, more heavy lifting, and more of the good ol’ “just toss it in the garage and we’ll deal with it later” game plan. Our new house looked like the inside of a storage unit for weeks. There were days I couldn’t find a single pair of matching socks or a coffee mug. Still, we kept inching forward, one box at a time.

And here’s the thing no one prepares you for: moving really shines a harsh spotlight on how much stuff you own. Like, how? How did we accumulate so many things?

Matt spent most of his adult life living out of suitcases while traveling the world for hockey. He never really put down roots for long enough to gather clutter. And when I moved across the country nearly five years ago, I did a massive purge. I sold or gave away almost everything that didn’t fit in the back of my truck and I only really shipped my tools out here (because this girl could never part from her tools!). So where did all this stuff come from?

We kept finding boxes labeled with things like “cables,” “random decor,” or my personal favourite: “probably junk.” I found two crockpots. TWO. We are a family of three humans — we do not need two crockpots.

Only in the past few weeks have we started to feel a shift from surviving to settling. Little routines are forming. We’re starting to see the floor again. Griffin’s toys have found semi-permanent homes (until he relocates them). The boxes are slowly disappearing.

But even in the chaos, one feeling has stayed constant: awe.

Every single day, one of us says it: “Can you believe we live here?” Because the magic of this place? It’s not just in the view. It’s in the way it showed up for us the moment we arrived.

We got possession at 3:30 p.m. on a sunny afternoon. We pulled up, unloaded the truck just enough to find the essentials, and made a beeline to the water. That’s when we saw them: at least twenty bald eagles lining the shoreline. Perched quietly, watching us. Welcoming us. We stood there in silence, completely mesmerized.

Later that evening, after Griffin had gone to bed, Matt and I sat outside on our deck. Champagne in hand, gifted by our realtor, watching the sky begin to turn that soft golden-pink you only get near the ocean. And then I saw it. A movement in the water. Far out. Big.

“No way,” I whispered and pointed. Then Matt saw it too. Humpback whales. Breaching. Putting on a full performance. Right in front of us. Right there.

In the five years I’ve lived on Vancouver Island, I’ve only seen whales breach like that once before. And here they were, on our very first night. In our very own back yard.

As if that wasn’t enough, the sky began to shift again. What we thought at first was light pollution turned into something far more magical: the northern lights.

Bald eagles. Breaching whales. The aurora borealis. On our first night in our new home.

It felt like nature itself was wrapping us in a warm, wild welcome. Like the universe was saying, “You’re in the right place.”

And in that moment, I felt my Dad with me.

He would’ve loved this house. This view. This feeling. He would’ve wandered around with Griffin on his hip, pointing at his favourite trees and building us our first beach fire (which he would have tended to all night). He would’ve poured us each a glass of wine and said, “Well, Katie — this is UNNNN-believable.”

I sat out on the deck long after Matt had gone to bed. Staring up at the sky. Listening to the quiet. Feeling the ache of grief and the warmth of love all at once. I miss him. I always will. But in that moment, I felt him. His energy. His joy. His pride.

He’s here. In the trees. In the waves. In the light.

This house needs work. A lot of it. We’re still living in the mess. Still trying to figure out where everything goes, how to manage renovations around toddler naps, and how to give ourselves grace on the days it all feels too big.

But this is home.

And we are exactly where we’re meant to be.

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From Chaos to Calm: DIY Custom Shelving for a Perfectly Organized Space

Transforming My Furnace Room with Custom Shelving

If you’re like me, the furnace room in your home might be the place where everything you don’t know what to do with ends up. It’s the space that’s often forgotten, full of mismatched bins and piles that just don’t seem to stay organized. Recently, I decided it was time to take control and create a system that not only looks tidy but makes accessing stored items a breeze. Here’s how I built custom shelving to store my bins and transformed the furnace room into a functional and organized space.

Step 1: Assessing the Space and Planning

The first step in any organizational project is understanding the space you’re working with. I measured the dimensions of the furnace room and took note of all the potential obstacles, like the furnace, water heater, and any exposed pipes or vents. My goal was to maximize storage without compromising access to these utilities.

Once I had my measurements, I turned my attention to the bins. I decided to stick with these sturdy black bins with yellow lids (that I already had about 20 of from moving across the country a couple of years ago) for a uniform look. Knowing the dimensions of my bins, I sketched out a shelving design that would perfectly fit them—both in width and height—allowing easy access and minimizing wasted space. My design allowed for 25 bins in total (five across and five high.)

Step 2: Gathering Materials and Tools

With my plan in hand, I gathered the necessary materials:

  • 2×4 lumber for the frame and supports
  • Plywood or an OSB sheet for added stability or for a top shelf (optional, depending on your design – I added one for extra storage up top)
  • Wood screws
  • A drill, saw (both a table saw and either mitre saw or circular saw), and measuring tape
  • Level (I used my laser level but any 4′ level should do) and square for ensuring everything was straight and aligned
  • I also made sure to have safety equipment like gloves, hearing protection and goggles, because power tools and wood dust can be unforgiving.

Step 3: Building the Shelves

This is where the fun began! I started by constructing the frame for the shelves. Using my 2x4s, I laid down bottom plates and installed vertical supports, connecting them with horizontal braces at the appropriate heights to fit my bins. Here are the key steps:

Cutting the Lumber: I cut all the wood to the appropriate lengths based on my design and the spacing needed for the bins. I also ripped down my horizontal support pieces on a table saw to 1-3/4 inch so I was able to get double the amount of supports out of one piece of lumber.

Assembling the Frame: I used wood screws to secure the vertical supports to the horizontal braces. A level was my best friend to make sure everything was straight.


Adding Stability: To prevent wobbling, I secured the entire structure to the wall studs. Building the shelves took a couple of evenings, but seeing the frame come together was incredibly satisfying. And yes, I wore my trusty overalls for the job—they’re basically my DIY uniform now and are the most comfortable for this postpartum mama!

Step 4: Organizing the Bins

Once the shelves were built and secured, I brought in the bins. Each bin was labeled with its contents using blue painter’s tape and a permanent marker (maybe it’s time to invest in a label maker and bring my organizational game up a notch!)

Some of the labels include:

Tickle Trunk (Costumes)
Baby Clothes (Open Feb 2025)
Seasonal Decor
Books

This labeling system allows me to find what I need at a glance without having to dig through piles. I was careful to place heavier items on the lower shelves for safety and ease of access. Lighter items like holiday decorations went higher up.

Step 5: The Finished Product

The transformation is incredible! The furnace room went from chaotic to clean and functional. The uniform bins look fantastic, and the sturdy custom shelving gives me peace of mind knowing everything is securely in place. Now, when I need to grab something, it takes seconds instead of a frustrating search.

Tips for Building Your Own Custom Shelving

Plan Before You Start: Take the time to measure your space and design your shelving around the items you’ll be storing.
Use Sturdy Materials: Invest in quality lumber and screws to ensure your shelves can hold up over time.
Label Everything: A clear labeling system is key to maintaining your organization.
Keep Safety in Mind: Secure the shelving to the wall and distribute weight evenly.

Building custom shelves for my furnace room was one of the most rewarding DIY projects I’ve done in this house. Not only is the space now functional, but it also brings me joy every time I walk in and see the organized bins neatly lined up. If you’ve been putting off tackling your storage areas, I hope this inspires you to dive in and create a system that works for you!

Want ALL of the details? See below for a material list and approximate cost of this project!

Cheers, Kate 🙂


Material List:

(4) 2”x4”x10’ SPF Select 2Btr Grade Lumber ($7.83 each)

(21) 2”x4”x8’ SPF Select 2Btr Grade Lumber ($4.58 each) (or substitute with 92-5/8” if they’re available in your region – they’re about $1 cheaper per piece)

(1) 3/8 4X8 OSB Sheathing (for the top) ($21.12 each)

(25) HDX 102L Stackable Tough Strong Storage Tote Bin, Plastic Organizer Box, Black Base & Yellow Snap-on Lid ($12.00 each)

(1) Paulin #8 x 3-inch Flat Head Square Drive Construction Screws in Yellow Zinc – 1000pcs ($50.00) – you’ll have lots extra but nice to have more than enough than not enough

Cut List:

This cut list is for a configuration that will fit five bins across and five bins tall (25 bins total)

4 Horizontal bottom and top plates cut at 112″ (cut from the 2″x4″10′ pieces)

12 Vertical pieces cut at 84″ (cut from 2″x4″x8′)

9 – 2″x4″x8′ ripped in half (1-3/4″) and cut to 28.5″ – you will need 50 pieces for the horizontal supports under the bins

For installation, I installed the ripped 1-3/4 pieces along the 84″ vertical pieces at these specific measurements: first piece was installed at 14″ (to the top of the horizontal piece). The second piece was installed 16.5″ from the top of the first. The third was installed 16.5″ from the top second. The fourth was installed 16.5″ from the top of the third and so on.

Repeat for every vertical piece.

The spacing I left for the bins was 20.5″ between the vertical pieces.


Total cost of project should be around $560 for all materials including taxes (in Canada)

I had most of the bins, about twelve 2”x4”s and a box of screws left over from a project so in total this project cost me just over $150 dollars.

Happy building and organizing!

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