With My Own Two Hands w/ XO MaCenna

I was on the verge of burnout this past week and over the years I’ve learned the signs that my body or mind give me when it’s trying to tell me that I’m burning out and I need to slow down! In today’s episode, we are diving into how I’ve avoided burnout over the years with work, home renovations, life in general AND the tricks I’ve used to keep living a very productive lifestyle! Head to https://w...

If you have ever been overwhelmingly helped by men in a hardware store and looked at like you must be lost and in the wrong store … you know exactly what this episode is going to be about! If you’ve ever been dismissed by contractors because you aren’t going to know what they're talking about and they would rather wait for your “husband” we feel your frustration. Let’s chat about what it's really...

I’ve been reflecting a lot recently with my 35th birthday coming up and thinking about how I got to this place in life of pure happiness and peace. Let me tell you, it wasn’t an easy road to get here! I don’t talk about my past and jobs/careers that lead me to the life I have now, but it truly made me who I am today. It brought me to this place in life where I get to wake up everyday and do what I...

After renovating our 112-year-old cottage and building a 1000 sq ft NEW addition onto it, I’ve realized I made some great decisions and other not-so-great ones while building. In today’s episode I’m sitting down with my mom, who has built over 8 homes, to chat about the BEST & WORST decisions we’ve made while building. Follow MaCenna: @XOMaCenna To listen to the podcast on YouTube: bit.ly/WMOTHYou...

I come from a long line of women that love shopping for antiques and remember traveling to flea markets as a little girl (and hating it). NOW I love shopping and searching for vintage and antique decor for my home. In today’s episode mom and I chat about what vintage and antique decor we look for, where to find the best items and our favorite pieces we’ve found (and how we styled them).  Follow Ma...

I started up-cycling decor I would find at thrift shops years ago and was motivated by saving money. Shopping at thrift stores was much cheaper than buying new so I would browse the decor aisles to see what I could up-cycle to fit our home and style. Although I started up-cycling to save money, I quickly realized there were many benefits to shopping second-hand and salvage. In today’s episode I’m...

My long time friend Drew Michael Scott from Lone Fox and I chat about our experiences buying and renovating our first homes. Everything from things that surprised us during a home renovation to how we’ve grown as designers through the process. Follow MaCenna: @XOMaCenna To listen to the podcast on YouTube: bit.ly/WMOTHYouTube Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listen...

When we bought the cottage in 2021 we knew it needed A LOT of work and that everyone else would have torn it down, but we saw potential and I love to save and salvage. We didn’t realize the pandemic and location of the cottage would have a huge impact on how much it cost to renovate. In today’s episode I'm breaking it all down… how much we’ve spent on renovating the cottage, our unique POV on sett...

I’ve spent the last two years DIY renovating our home - everything from demo & floor restoration to tile & cabinetry. Today I wanted to dive into what I would DIY and would NOT DIY if I had the opportunity to renovate a home again. What was worth the sweat & tears and what I would never do again and definitely “hire out”! Think of this as a beginners guide to home renovation from a girl that was o...

After years of renovations and working with MANY contractors, as a family, on different homes, mom and I sit down to share our HORROR STORIES and the ups & downs of working with them. We also share our tips to finding quality contractors so hopefully what happened to us doesn’t happen to you! Follow MaCenna: @XOMaCenna To listen to the podcast on YouTube: bit.ly/WMOTHYouTube Don’t forget to subscr...

We purchased our first home in 2021 and our second in 2023 … and the experience was completely DIFFERENT! In this episode, I’m sharing what it was like buying our first home with CASH and our second with a LOAN, in different states and at different price points. Follow MaCenna: @XOMaCenna To listen to the podcast on YouTube: bit.ly/WMOTHYouTube Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free whe...

I don’t think I really figured out what my Interior design style was until I was about 25 … and moms style changes every few years! In this episode we take a look back at the MANY styles both mom and I have had throughout the years, why we think our style changes and what decor trends are going to be in & out for 2023. Follow MaCenna: @XOMaCenna To listen to the podcast on YouTube: bit.ly/WMOTHYou...

You could say DIY is in my blood! With my first words being “me do it” and growing up to renovate our first home with my own two hands, I’m definitely a DIYer to my core! In today’s episode we are starting from the beginning - growing up in a creative household and heading off the college to my many careers before DIYing our home and starting my YouTube channels.  Follow MaCenna: @XOMaCenna To lis...

What do you see when you look around your house, your apartment, that room or space that has never quite lived up to its full potential? We hope you see possibility, excitement, and your dream home coming to life. XO MaCenna (MaCenna Lee) has been disassembling and reassembling everything she can get her hands on since she was a little girl. After years of trial and error, she’s built a successful...