Content
that moves
people.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share things I've genuinely bought and love — always.

We just moved into our first home together and I have been on Amazon like it is literally my full-time job. Between nesting, decorating, and growing a baby at the same time, I needed things that looked good, worked well, and arrived fast. Here are the 10 things I actually ordered, actually received, and actually love.

Living Room & Common Areas

• Sage Green Throw Blanket That earthy green color I've been hunting for everywhere? Found it right here. Cozy, the right weight, and it photographs beautifully which honestly matters to me.
  Shop on Amazon →
• 10x14 Washable Boho Area Rug — Living Room A large area rug can make or break a living room and this one made ours. Neutral, soft, washable — I cannot stress how important washable is when you have kids and a dog.
  Shop on Amazon →
• Faux Leather U-Shaped Sectional Sofa with Storage Ottoman I was skeptical about a sectional from Amazon but this one is stunning in person. The brown color is rich and warm, the storage ottoman is actually functional, and it arrived easier to assemble than I expected.
  Shop on Amazon →
• Sweetcrispy Bar Stools Set of 4 Kitchen island seating was a bigger decision than I thought. These swivel bar stools in black are sleek, modern, and super comfortable for everyday use. Having four that match is *chef's kiss*.
  Shop on Amazon →
• 3x12 Long Hallway Runner Rug A hallway runner completely transforms a long corridor from cold and echoing to warm and intentional. This one is exactly the right length and the pattern is subtle enough to go with everything.
  Shop on Amazon →

Bedroom

• King Size Comforter Set — White I wanted that hotel bed feeling in our own bedroom and this delivered. Crisp, white, fluffy, and it washes and dries without losing its shape. Worth every penny.
  Shop on Amazon →

Bathroom

• Freestanding Toilet Paper Holder with Storage Shelf Small upgrade, big impact. This replaced a sad little wall holder and now that corner of our bathroom actually looks styled. The storage shelf on top is a bonus.
  Shop on Amazon →
• Chenille Bathroom Rug Set — 2 Piece Soft, thick, and they dry quickly which is important in a busy household. The two-piece set means the toilet area is covered too — something I didn't know I needed until I had it.
  Shop on Amazon →

Outdoor

• Melnor TurboTek Oscillating Sprinkler Covers up to 2,800 sq ft and has been running almost daily in my garden. If you're growing anything in Georgia heat you need a reliable sprinkler system and this one is genuinely solid.
  Shop on Amazon →
• GENIMO Outdoor Rug for Patio — 5'x8' Our back porch went from bare concrete to an actual outdoor room with this rug. Waterproof, reversible, and it has held up beautifully through rain and Georgia humidity.
  Shop on Amazon →

First home life is a lot but these finds have made it feel more like us. Follow along on TikTok and Instagram @theeonlytrace for more home content as we keep settling in! 🌿

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I have been getting this question nonstop since I posted my hydrangea bed on TikTok — "Trace, how did you grow those in Georgia?!" So here is the full breakdown, no steps left out.

I planted 6 Endless Summer The Original Reblooming Hydrangeas and they are absolutely thriving in zone 8a. Georgia clay is notoriously difficult to work with, but with the right prep it can absolutely be done.

Step 1: Till the Clay — Really Till It

This is the most important step and the one most people skip. Georgia clay is dense and compacted and if you just dig a hole and drop a plant in, it will struggle. We tilled the entire flower bed area deeply before doing anything else. Do not skip this.

Step 2: Spacing Matters More Than You Think

I spaced each hydrangea 4 to 5 feet apart. I know that feels like a lot when they're small, but hydrangeas need room to grow outward and air circulation helps prevent disease. Trust the spacing.

Step 3: Amend Your Soil Before Planting

When we dug each hole we mixed together the native clay, fresh garden soil, compost, and fertilizer all together before putting the plants in. You want that blend — not just fresh soil sitting in a clay hole.

The Fertilizer I'm Using

This one has made a noticeable difference in the blooms. I've been consistent with it throughout the season and the color and fullness of the flowers show it.

Step 4: Plant Marigolds Around the Perimeter

This is my favorite tip and the one that surprises people most. I planted marigolds all around the border of the flower bed to naturally deter bugs and pests. It works, it looks beautiful, and it adds another layer of color. Gardening with intention — that's always the goal.

Watering

Hydrangeas love consistent moisture especially in Georgia summers. I water deeply and regularly. The Melnor oscillating sprinkler I linked in my home post has been a game changer for keeping the bed evenly watered without me having to stand there with a hose every day.

More garden updates are coming — follow along at @theeonlytrace on TikTok and Pinterest where I share the day-to-day of what's growing! 🌸

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a commission on purchases made through my links at no extra cost to you. Always consult your doctor or dermatologist before adding new products during pregnancy — what works for me may not be right for your skin.

Pregnancy skin is its own whole thing. I've worked with brands like Tatcha, Kate Somerville, and Tower 28 so I know skincare — but pregnancy made me strip everything back and start simple. My skin became more sensitive than I've ever experienced and I had to re-learn what it needed.

Here's my current routine at 6.5 months. Simple ingredients, gentle formulas, and things that have genuinely worked for me.

Step 1: Face Wash

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel Gentle, hydrating, and doesn't strip my skin. I use this morning and night. It rinses clean without that tight uncomfortable feeling.
  Shop on Amazon →

Step 2: Toner

• CeraVe Hydrating Toner I wasn't a big toner person before pregnancy but this one has been a game changer. It preps my skin to absorb everything that comes after it. Fragrance free, ceramide rich, and my sensitive skin loves it.
  Shop on Amazon →

Step 3: Moisturizer

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream Lightweight enough for daytime but hydrating enough that I don't feel dry by noon. The gel texture works beautifully under SPF and doesn't pill.
  Shop on Amazon →

Step 4: Eye Cream

• U Beauty The RETURN Eye Concentrate This is my one splurge in the routine and it is worth it. The eye area is where I notice pregnancy fatigue the most and this concentrate visibly helps with puffiness and fine lines.
  Shop on Amazon →

Belly Routine

• Palmer's Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks I've been consistent with this every single night. The scent is comforting and it absorbs quickly — no greasy residue on my sheets.
  Shop on Amazon →
• Palmer's Cocoa Butter Body Oil with Vitamin E & Argan Oil I layer this over the lotion for extra moisture. The combination of both together has kept my bump skin incredibly soft and supple throughout this pregnancy.
  Shop on Amazon →

Body

• Vaseline Original Healing Jelly Elbows, heels, hands — pregnancy can make your skin so dry in the most random places. A thin layer of Vaseline at night takes care of all of it. Simple and it works.
  Shop on Amazon →

That's the whole routine — nothing complicated, nothing with a 12-step system. Just good ingredients that my skin and my baby are both happy with. If you're navigating pregnancy skin too, I hope this helps! 🤍

My body hurts, lmao. And I say that with the fullest love for this baby and this season of life. But nobody talks about what the fourth pregnancy actually feels like — so here I am, talking about it.

You Know Everything and Your Body Knows Nothing

I know exactly what's coming. I know the stages, the symptoms, the timeline. What I did not anticipate is how differently my body would respond this time around. I am older now. I feel it. The aches are real, the fatigue is a different kind of tired, and rest has become something I actually have to schedule rather than just fall into.

Rest Is Non-Negotiable Now

I find myself needing to stop and take more breaks than I ever have before. And I've had to make peace with that instead of fighting it. The business is still running, the content is still going out, the kids are still taken care of — but I am also sitting down more, and that is okay.

Staying Hydrated Is Everything

This one sounds simple but it genuinely changes how I feel day to day. When I am well hydrated everything is easier — energy, skin, mood. I keep water with me constantly now.

Consistent Movement Helps More Than Rest Alone

Light weight training, long walks, gentle cardio — these have been my saving grace. I also stay active by working in the garden and doing projects around the house. The nesting instinct is real and it keeps me moving in a way that feels purposeful rather than like exercise for the sake of it.

The Nesting Is On Another Level

I have been deep in the nursery. Picking out the crib, the sheets, the storage — all of it. Honestly this deserves its own post (stay tuned for my full nursery must-haves list coming soon). The joy of preparing a space for this baby is one of the most grounding things keeping me going right now.

If you're in a later pregnancy — especially if it's not your first — I see you. It is a lot. It is also so worth it. Follow along at @theeonlytrace for the real, unfiltered version of all of this. 🤍

Some days the creativity just isn't there. And as someone building a content business while pregnant, raising a family, and settling into a new home — I have those days more than people might expect from someone who just went viral.

Here's what actually helps me, honestly.

I Look Around My Home First

As a new homeowner there is always something to be inspired by. A corner that needs styling, a room that needs paint, a project I've been putting off. Starting something with my hands — even something small — unlocks something creative in my brain. The content usually follows naturally.

I Go Outside

The garden never fails me. Something is always growing, changing, or needing attention. Getting my hands in the soil for even fifteen minutes resets everything. I come back inside with ideas I didn't have when I walked out.

I Create Without the Camera

I love to paint. I love to draw. I love to listen to music and just be in a space without documenting it. A lot of my best ideas come from time alone where I'm not performing for anyone — just thinking deeply and letting my mind wander. Some of my most creative content has come from ideas that started in total silence.

I Lower the Bar on Purpose

Done is better than perfect — especially on hard days. A simple, honest video filmed in natural light with real words has outperformed my most produced content more times than I can count. The audience connects with authenticity, not production value.

Creativity isn't always flowing and that's human. Give yourself permission to refill before you pour. Follow along at @theeonlytrace — I share the real version of this life, not just the highlight reel. 🌿

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a commission on purchases made through my links at no extra cost to you. Everything listed here is something I personally chose for our nursery.

Fourth baby. You would think I have everything by now — and honestly I had a lot. But a new home means a new nursery, and some things just needed to be fresh and intentional for this baby's space. Here's what I actually bought and why.

The Nursery Essentials

• Crib The foundation of the whole room. I wanted something that felt timeless and sturdy — this one delivered on both.
  Shop the Crib →
• Baby Crib Mattress Do not cheap out on the mattress. This is where your baby sleeps — safety and comfort matter more than anything else in this room.
  Shop the Mattress →
• Waterproof Mattress Protector Goes on before the sheet, protects the mattress from everything. Non-negotiable with a newborn.
  Shop the Mattress Protector →
• Crib Sheets Soft, fitted, and they stay put. I ordered multiples because you always need more than you think you will.
  Shop the Crib Sheets →

Organization & Storage

• Storage Cube This is doing so much heavy lifting in the nursery. Versatile, clean-looking, and it can grow with the baby as their needs change.
  Shop the Storage Cube →
• Storage Bins for the Cube Matching bins make the whole thing look intentional and make grabbing things in the middle of the night actually possible.
  Shop the Storage Bins →

Bath & Grooming

• Baby Bath Tub Ergonomic, safe, and easy to drain. This is one of those things where you don't realize how much design matters until you're bathing a slippery newborn at 2am.
  Shop the Baby Bath →
• Baby Grooming Kit Nail file, comb, brush, thermometer — everything in one kit so it's all in one place when you need it.
  Shop the Grooming Kit →
• NoseFrida The Snot Sucker Fourth baby and I am still as obsessed with this as I was with my first. If you know, you know. If you don't — just trust me and buy it before the baby arrives.
  Shop NoseFrida →

Maternity Must-Haves for the Last Stretch

• Maternity Clothes Comfortable, flattering, and actually cute — which matters when you're still showing up on camera every day.
  Shop Maternity Clothes →
• Maternity Shorts Georgia summers + third trimester = these shorts are everything. Lived in them.
  Shop Maternity Shorts →
• Maternity Dresses For the days when you want to feel pretty and put together without any effort. These delivered.
  Shop Maternity Dresses →
• Maternity Tops The everyday workhorse of a third trimester wardrobe. Soft, stretchy, and long enough to actually cover the bump.
  Shop Maternity Tops →

The nursery is coming together beautifully and I cannot wait to share the full reveal. Follow along at @theeonlytrace on TikTok and Instagram! 🍼🤍