EverAfter Blueprint

EverAfter Blueprint Finding a way to live creativly after we tie the knot Living with someone can be life changing. Hopefully you got to choose your significant other.

But you don’t always get to choose your roommate. Second semester, junior year, Andrea Schmidt had a double room and a roommate studying abroad. Laura McDonald’s roommate decided to get a cat and she was allergic. We didn’t plan on being roommates and best friends, but when you’re living in a 10×17 dorm room you learn pretty quickly to love or hate each other. I don’t remember the design being any

thing special in that dorm room (there’s not much you can do with standard issue beds, desks, and dressers against white walls and non-descript carpet), but I do remember the green loveseat Laura brought with her. I’ll admit, I was probably a little stressed in general at this point in my life and that probably affected my reaction to the sudden change. But I do remember that it wasn’t pretty. I may have said something along the lines of “What is that ugly piece of furniture doing in our room?” Luckily Laura has thick skin, and a great eye for design. I now wish I had that vintage loveseat in my house, but alas, it has been recovered now lives in another friend’s home in San Francisco. I don’t claim that the loveseat solidified our friendship, though it was the backdrop for countless naps, laughing fits, and conversations. Since then Laura’s worked in LA on movie sets and as an interior designer/producer and I’ve worked for home design magazines including the now defunct Country Home. We like to think we have an eye for good design. Fast forward five years and we’re both married (now Laura Johnson and Andrea Cooley), still living in different time zones, and trying to figure out how to live with boys. We love them-that’s why we married them-but navigating the ins and outs of creating a home with two very different opinions can be a challenge. From choosing paint colors and furniture to buying houses and cars we hope we can ease some of your angst or at least entertain you as we try to figure it out. We hope you enjoy our adventures as much as we do!

End of summer adventure to the Omaha Zoo! ⭐️ Elephants⭐️ Sharks ⭐️ Orangutans ⭐️ Jellyfish ⭐️ Sea lions ⭐️ Goats ⭐️ Butt...
08/13/2024

End of summer adventure to the Omaha Zoo!
⭐️ Elephants
⭐️ Sharks
⭐️ Orangutans
⭐️ Jellyfish
⭐️ Sea lions
⭐️ Goats
⭐️ Butterflies
and so much more!

08/11/2024
Country girls have more fun ✨Grateful for time to relax and recharge. Here’s to choosing to appreciate the little things...
08/04/2024

Country girls have more fun ✨

Grateful for time to relax and recharge. Here’s to choosing to appreciate the little things and chasing beauty every chance you get.

EIGHT ✨Your future is bright! You exude confidence and joy and make room for everyone. Some days I can’t help but think ...
08/01/2024

EIGHT ✨
Your future is bright! You exude confidence and joy and make room for everyone. Some days I can’t help but think I want to be like you when I grow up!

You are my girl through and through, always ready to snuggle, giggle, and tell me exactly what you think. I want to bottle up this age but it just keeps getting better!

The beach is my happy place and getting to enjoy it with my kids was a delight! We’ve been before, but this year was the...
07/19/2024

The beach is my happy place and getting to enjoy it with my kids was a delight! We’ve been before, but this year was the best yet. They are all comfortable in the water and I was able to enjoy it (although it was still exhausting!) Sand, shells, snorkels, sunset. It truly doesn’t get much better! My dad joined us and he had as much fun as the kids, but no sand castles this year, it was too hot to not be in the water!

Savoring these simple summer days.
07/05/2024

Savoring these simple summer days.

I jump at any chance I get to eat outside. Is it just me, or does everything tastes better when you share it with friend...
06/27/2024

I jump at any chance I get to eat outside. Is it just me, or does everything tastes better when you share it with friends at an impromptu summer gathering.

The food doesn’t have to be fancy, the simpler, the better. Cheese, meat, veggies, and crackers. As an Iowa girl, of course I reach for Midwest Dairy products from . Sargento and Sartori brands are two of my favorites.

POV: Sometimes a change of scenery is what I need to tackle a day of editing. I love working from home, but I also love ...
06/26/2024

POV: Sometimes a change of scenery is what I need to tackle a day of editing. I love working from home, but I also love being able to work from a coffee shop!

Vibrant Coffeehouse + Kitchen in Des Moines has a great vibe, good coffee, and a tasty menu! The breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon, and cheese hit the spot. Have you tried it?



I didn’t plan on getting my hair wet at the pool. (Kids will never understand why anyone would go to the pool and not ge...
06/25/2024

I didn’t plan on getting my hair wet at the pool. (Kids will never understand why anyone would go to the pool and not get your hair wet, but IYKYK)

But when my almost 12 year old asked if I’d go off the high dive with him I didn’t hesitate. Yes, I said!

And it was so fun! I only planned to go off the high dive once, and then watch him, but after I went off one time, I went off again. And again.

He gave me pointers while he watched me from the side and then followed after me. It was just me and him, cycling from the ladder, down the board, into the pool, over to the side and back again.

I loved the anticipation of climbing each rung of the ladder, pulling your body up, up, up, until you’re at the top. Daring a peek at the ground before slowly walking out to the edge of the board, feeling the grippy surface so many others have walked before me beneath my feet. The clear blue water sparkles below, but it’s a long way down! Before I can second guess myself, I step off the edge, and fall, grabbing my nose to hold my breath before I hit the water.

I splash below the surface and for a moment I float. Suspended below the water. Sounds muffled, the sunlight filtered and the coolness wrapping around me before my head pops to the top and I can’t help but grin.

I get why he spends most of his time at the pool by the boards and as long as he asks his mom to join him, I’ll say yes. Wet hair be damned!

June nights are made for wild flowers, sweet treats, and summer skies, and live music with my man.
06/22/2024

June nights are made for wild flowers, sweet treats, and summer skies, and live music with my man.

CLOSET CLEAN OUT! I’m cleaning out my closet. Priced to sell. Madewell, J Crew, Zyia, and boutiques. DM with questions. ...
06/19/2024

CLOSET CLEAN OUT!

I’m cleaning out my closet. Priced to sell. Madewell, J Crew, Zyia, and boutiques.

DM with questions. I’ll share details and pricing in stories.

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