joe peters | Wit & Delight | Designing a Life Well-Lived

Mother’s Day Gifts for All the Moms in My Life

Joe Peters — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 15:00:00 +0000

For someone who eschews birthday celebrations, I look forward to Mother’s Day. Maybe it’s selfish, but I do enjoy recognizing I’m doing a pretty okay job of raising tiny humans. To me, Mother’s Day is about recognizing that person who had a massive part in shaping who you are today: your mom (and sometimes “mom” […]

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Kate’s Picks: 6 of My Favorite Outfits From February, Paired with “Mom” Jeans

Kate Arends — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +0000

I'm sharing 6 of my favorite recent outfits, ALL styled with the same pair of "mom" jeans.

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W&D 2020 Holiday Gift Guide: Joe’s Holiday Wish List

Joe Peters — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: Longtime Wit & Delight readers (and adept newer readers too) will recognize the name in the byline as that of Kate’s husband, aka Mr. Wit & Delight. For the second year in a row, we asked Joe to share his insight on gifting to the men in your life and he, as per […]

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How to Build the Best BLT… Ever

Kate Arends — Sat, 23 May 2020 15:00:00 +0000

I'm sharing a family recipe for the best BLT I've ever had. It's perfect for the summer months and beyond. I hope you enjoy!

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Making the Most of Our Current Backyard

Kate Arends — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 15:00:00 +0000

I’ve been dreaming about dining alfresco since the first snow fell last year. It’s been a long winter, friends, and an even longer spring (understatement of the century). I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the warmer weather and the opportunity to get outside. With the inside of the house slowly transforming […]

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Joe's Advice on Dating, Compromise, Effective Communication, and More

Joe Peters — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 16:00:00 +0000

If you haven't already, meet Kate's husband, Joe. The guy is one of the best in the biz when it comes to giving advice, which is why we tapped him to answer six of your relationship and dating questions on this, the Monday before Valentine's Day. We hope you enjoy.

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W&D Holiday Gift Guide: Joe’s Picks for Men

Joe Peters — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:00:54 +0000

Wit & Delight readers, allow me to introduce (or reintroduce!) you to my husband, Joe. He makes occasional stops by the site (and the studio some days, too) to share his signature writing and dry humor with us all. Today he's sharing some of his most highly recommended gifts for men (and, I mean, the guy's got style...I trust his opinion on the topic). Hope you enjoy!

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W&D Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Gifts for Tired Parents

Kate Arends — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:00:50 +0000

We see them at the grocery store or in our office break room, grabbing coffee in the morning (and in the afternoon). We see them at our holiday gatherings. Heck, we see them in *ourselves.* We're the tired parents, doing our best day by day, and we're in need of a pick-me-up every once in a while.

Today we're sharing 10 gift ideas for the parents in our lives. From grocery delivery to soft bedding to the coziest slippers in the game, these items will give the parents we know and love a bit of respite amid the swirl that is life.

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Yoga, Hiking, and a Shift in Perspective: Joe’s Experience at the Caldera Retreat

Joe Peters — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 15:00:00 +0000

"My name is Joe Peters. I’ve participated in three organized yoga sessions in my entire life. I’ve had chronic spine issues since I turned thirty years old. A few weeks ago, I threw my back out tying my own shoe. My attempt at meditation has started and quickly concluded with downloading a meditation soundtrack on Spotify, lying on my back, and falling asleep on a yoga mat."

Today we're sharing the other side of the story: Joe's experience at the Caldera Retreat. While he came into the weekend a bit of a skeptic (see above), he left a bit more flexible, a bit less stressed, and with a whole different perspective on what it means to practice wellness.

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So…Do You Have Life Insurance Yet?

Kate Arends — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 15:05:00 +0000

I look back on my twenties fondly. A time where I was flat broke and could make $50 stretch for a mile, and yet always had enough money for weeknight drinks and cheap pizza. A time where the term Roth IRA meant nothing, and I was still under my parent’s health insurance plan. Ah. The […]

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W&D Father’s Day Gift Guide

Team Wit & Delight — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 15:10:32 +0000

Every June, as the days get warmer and the nights shorter, we're faced with the same challenge year after year: finding the perfect gift to give our dads. Today we're rounding up a few of our favorite Father's Day gift ideas.

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WD Renovates: The Sunroom That Inspired Our Home Purchase

Kate Arends — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 15:00:51 +0000

My love affair with our house started like most great romances do— devoid of all logic and rational thought. Something happens to our brains when they are flooded with dopamine and I’ve heard that if your partner makes you feel like a foggier, even dumber version of yourself, then you are in fact, doing the […]

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It Takes a Village: A Nursery Reveal Story for Birdie

Kate Arends — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:00:39 +0000

It wasn’t until I had my first baby that I truly understood why we “feather the nest” before baby arrives. Logically, it makes sense, since there’s a lot to prepare and plan. Emotionally though, the process of building a nursery is as much about preparing the parents for the tsunami of change as it is […]

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Taking Your Best Friend to Work

Kate Arends — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:00:51 +0000

I need to start off this post by explaining just how hard it was to not write in Winnie’s “voice.” You know that voice, the one people use when providing their dog’s inner monologue or when you carry on a conversation with your dog throughout the day. Or maybe you don’t. If you couldn’t tell, […]

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I Didn’t Understand My Dad Until I Became a Dad

Joe Peters — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:00:34 +0000

I didn’t understand my dad until I became a dad. See my dad still kisses me on the cheek and tells me he loves me every time I talk to him on the phone, or via text, e-mail, or Facebook message. My dad asks me if I’m okay a lot; he tells me […]

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Babyproofing without Sacrificing Style

Kate Arends — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:00:31 +0000

At what point do you start to babyproof your home? For us, it was about a month after he began to “crawl.” The Peters define “crawling” very loosely because while our baby is on the move, he’s opted for a bizarre barrel-roll style of transport around the house, which is both inventive and dangerous. I’m […]

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Love After Baby: It’s Nothing Like What I Expected

Kate Arends — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 15:00:04 +0000

I’m dating again. I’ve met someone who’s funny and charming. He’s in his 30s and has a kid, but so do I, so it works out just fine. He travels quite a bit, but never leaves without a text to let me know when he’s taking off, and when he’s landed. He is transparent about […]

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A Letter to my Wife on Mother’s Day

Joe Peters — Sun, 14 May 2017 15:00:54 +0000

Dear Kate, My goodness, Mother’s Day is here – a special day for our moms, right? Well, yes. But this year, it’s for you. Mother’s day is meant for the most incredible people on planet Earth. On this day you join the ranks of your mom, my mom, and their moms too. You’ve had a […]

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W&D Renovates: Upstairs Bathroom Makeover

Kate Arends — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 17:45:17 +0000

Most of our renovation projects didn’t involve much drama. I was beginning to think all those HGTV shows were designed to freak people into thinking they would open the walls of a new home and subsequently empty their bank account. We found McDonald Remodeling and felt so much more at ease. I should have remembered this […]

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My Mom Raised Me a Feminist

Joe Peters — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 16:00:12 +0000

“I don’t want to give the world a guy that can’t iron his own shirt,” she said. “I won’t give your future wife a husband who won’t do the dishes,” she said. My mom took extreme pride in raising my sister and me to be independent. We grew up unaware of traditional gender roles […]

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Tornadoes to Tablescapes: Life Inside the Lifestyle Blog

Joe Peters — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:00:05 +0000

For those of you who might not know me, I’m Joe, Kate’s husband. A few things I’d like to get out there before going any further… No, I didn’t anticipate a stranger ever coming up to me and confessing her love for my wife, and the kitchen we make our toast in each morning, but […]

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Great Expectations

Kate Arends — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 16:50:36 +0000

It feels as if a lifetime has gone by since I sat down to write to you all. August is two months old and in the past week he has transitioned from a scrunchy-faced newborn to a bright-eyed baby boy! Everything changed after that first cry. My god! How sweet. Those emotions could move mountains. Happiness so pure I […]

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W&D Renovates – A Pattern Happy Basement Bathroom

Kate Arends — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 15:00:32 +0000

Editor’s Note: This renovation and blog post was sponsored by brand partners Cambria, Delta Faucets, Hygge & West, and McDonald Remodeling . The compensation and product received in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight is used to write/edit the blog post and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight. As always, all thoughts and opinions are […]

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August is Here

Kate Arends — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 17:44:04 +0000

Our son, August Joseph Peters is here! Auggie arrived on 7/16/16 at 11:52am. He was 7lbs, 14oz and as sweet as can be. We’re two weeks into this transformative adventure and both Joe and myself are fully steeped in baby haze. Who knew you could be so tired and so full of joy at the […]

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W&D Renovates: Our Plan for the Kitchen

Kate Arends — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 13:00:45 +0000

This post is part of a series called W&D Renovates. We’ll walk you through the ups and downs of our First Floor & Basement renovation project with McDonald Remodeling. Look for the series to continue through the end summer and into fall! Hello, from our future kitchen! We’re excited to give you a tour of […]

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Love, Marriage, and Second Chances

Kate Arends — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 05:22:36 +0000

If you would have told me a year ago I’d be writing a blog post about my wedding day, I would have thought you were insane. Not because there wouldn’t be the opportunity, but because I was very much afraid to give it a try (and risk failure) once again. At this time, the “game […]

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About W&D

Kate Arends — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 04:21:54 +0000

Wit & Delight is an ongoing project created by Kate Arends. Founded in 2009, the lifestyle website has evolved into a brand that celebrates a combination of veracious expression and simple elegance with an approachable, yet edited point of view. Above all, Wit & Delight is dedicated to the development of it’s readers, promoting self discovery, […]

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