Issue #13: Coffee Catch Up with Elizabeth White Cook

From Estate Sale Treasures to Kindergarten Joys!

** We know that Mother’s Day can bring up a lot of mixed emotions. If today’s post feels like too much, please know we’re sending you a big hug and encourage you to skip it. Take care of yourself in whatever way you need this weekend.

Liz and I (Amelia) are so excited to kick off our new series, and what better time to launch than Mother’s Day weekend?! Each month, we’ll be catching up over a figurative cup of coffee with a mom we admire and are eager to get to know better.

Funny story: years ago, a girlfriend mentioned that a childhood friend of ours was dating a super cool entrepreneur with impeccable style and an Instagram account she swore was worth following. I was instantly intrigued!

Elizabeth White Cook has a gift for finding beauty in the everyday—uncovering treasures at sample sales, creating a warm, lived in home, and making space for special moments in this busy season of motherhood.

I recently spent a lunch break immersed in the tours of Elizabeth’s former home in Columbus, GA and her current one in Atlanta. The stories behind each piece and the way she “reinvents, reuses, and repurposes” antique finds and sample sale gems left me feeling totally inspired.

It’s been so fun to follow Elizabeth’s journey, from her and Travis’s early dating days to now being a mom to two sweet little ones.

Without further ado, let’s catch up with Elizabeth!

Name: Elizabeth White Cook

IG handle: @elizabeth.w.cook

Substack: Elizabeth’s Substack

Website: https://www.elizabethwcook.com/

Children’s names and ages: Louisa (6) and Hayes (3)

Where do you reside: Atlanta, Georgia (take a peek inside Elizabeth’s beautiful home!)

Tell us a little about yourself and projects you are involved in:
I’m a mom of two, a creative consultant and the founder of a sales-focused newsletter that shares curated finds, promotions, and discount strategies — with a special eye for beauty, home, and design. Prior to this, I owned a public relations firm in Atlanta (Domino Media Group) and have always loved connecting people to brands, ideas, and products that add beauty or ease to their everyday lives.

Let’s visit your ideal Saturday morning…

What are you drinking? Coffee? Tea? Definitely coffee with sugar-free vanilla flavoring, enjoyed slowly in a giant estate sale mug—no rushing out the door, no kids screaming in the background.

What is your ideal Saturday morning - with kids: The Fernbank Museum in Atlanta and when it’s not so crowded. (Amelia: I haven’t been to this museum yet…it’s going straight on my list!)

What is your ideal Saturday morning - without kids: Browsing an estate sale with a latte in hand, no schedule or place to be.

What season of motherhood are you in, in your own words and description:
I’m in the beautiful, messy middle or trenches as I usually refer to it as — where independence is blooming but little hands still reach for mine. It's a season of nonstop movement and big emotions, but also so much sweetness.

What is the PEAK of this season for you: The conversations — hearing their thoughts, their humor, their wonder — and seeing their personalities unfold.

What is the PIT of this season for you: The exhaustion that comes with balancing everything — mentally, emotionally, and logistically.

How are you caring for yourself this season: Carving out small, consistent pockets of time for myself — whether that's sneaking away to an estate sale or simply putting my phone away when I need a mental reset. I’m also working on creating a healthier, more intentional home environment for our family. And total believer in therapy! (Amelia: I’m 100% with you on all of this! I’ve also been focusing more and more on living intentionally… not just for my family, but for myself too!)

How do you balance creating a space filled with antiques and charm while navigating life with young (possibly messy!) kids? I believe beautiful, storied spaces can absolutely coexist with family life — it just requires thoughtful choices. I look for pieces that are already a little imperfect or durable by nature, so every nick or scratch just adds to their story. I also balance antique finds with performance fabrics or laminate as on my breakfast chairs and practical layouts that allow for real, everyday living. I purchase my items at such a discount that if something happens, I am not that upset. It’s life and just shows all the living around the pieces! (Liz: Thank you for this dose of reality!)

Favorite room or piece of furniture that holds special meaning: My Lee Jofa Althea club chairs. I purchase the vast majority of pieces for our home second-hand, but after I sold my PR firm, I decided to splurge on this fabric as a special treat to myself. They hold such a meaningful memory for me, and to this day, I still absolutely love them.

Tips for those new to antique shopping and collecting: Buy what you love. Don't worry about matching or perfection — focus on pieces that speak to you. Estate sales, thrift stores, and even Facebook Marketplace can be treasure troves if you're patient and willing to dig a little. And don't be afraid to mix old and new — that’s what gives a space soul. (Liz: I’m so intimated by home decor and antiquing and this advice is what I needed to hear!)

Kindergarten Highlights (Louisa’s year): Watching Louisa grow in confidence has been the biggest joy — seeing her write full sentences, make new friends, and come home excited about what she's learned each day. Kindergarten has truly been a year of so much growth and pride. (Liz: Kindergarten truly is such a game-changing year! In so, so many ways! It’s amazing, kind of scary, wild, wonderful - such a mix of emotions.)

What are you currently looking forward to in motherhood and beyond: I’m looking forward to this next chapter of slightly more independence — family adventures where everyone can (mostly) carry their own bag! Personally, I'm also excited to continue growing my business and pursuing creative projects that fill my cup.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for joining us for our first Coffee Catch Up! You’re a wealth of knowledge, and we loved hearing your thoughtful reflections, helpful tips, and the intentionality you bring to family life.

In the spirit of Mother’s Day, we asked Elizabeth a few timely questions… then Liz and I joined in the fun of this rapid fire, Mama’s Day inspired round.

What’s the best Mother’s Day gift you’ve ever received?

Elizabeth White Cook: A ceramic handprint made by my two children!

Ideal way to spend Mother’s Day morning?

Elizabeth: Coffee in bed, no rush to be anywhere, and a snuggle pile with my kids. (Amelia: Sounds heavenly!)

What’s one thing you wish you could do alone on Mother’s Day?

Elizabeth: Wander aimlessly through a good estate sale with a latte in hand. (Liz: Can I join?)

Best advice your mom ever gave you?

Elizabeth: “Life is not fair – move on”

What’s one thing you won’t be doing this Mother’s Day?

Elizabeth: Packing anyone’s lunch. (Liz: I feel this in my soul.)

What’s the best Mother’s Day gift you’ve ever received?

Amelia: Hands down (pun intended!), the best gift was a Mother’s Day card with my kids’ painted handprints turned into flowers. I was genuinely impressed by my husband’s arts and crafts skills. Close runner-up: a beautiful pair of earrings!

Liz: The preschool all three of my boys have gone to has a special tradition every May, a Mother’s Day Tea. I absolutely adore it and just as much so, the gifts that they give me there, ones they have created at school. I still treasure the tote bag decorated with their handprints in the shape of a sun, a puzzle piece collage that says “I Love You To Pieces” from my puzzle obsessed middle boy, and the often hilarious “All About Mom” questionnaires they fill out. From my husband, the diamond eternity band he gifted me on the Mother’s Day right before the birth of our third son is really special. (Amelia: Those “All About Mom” questionnaires are always priceless… where do they come up with those hysterical answers?!)

Ideal way to spend Mother’s Day morning?

Amelia: Sleeping in, savoring a slow, quiet morning, followed by a walk through the Public Garden on my way to a massage…

Liz: Not rushing out the door, enjoying the smell of coffee brewing while wearing my comfiest pjs… and dare I dream of a pastry or cinnamon roll!? This year though will be different… we have a First Communion Mass to go to Mother’s Day morning for my oldest son! Different vibe but still very special :)

What’s one thing you wish you could do alone on Mother’s Day?

Amelia: A treadmill hike without being asked a million questions (mostly about snacks or screen time) sounds pretty great!

Liz: Reading a great book (currently enjoying Em Hen’s latest!) - I most likely will get that opportunity, but I’ll have to wait until the very end of the day ha!

Best advice your mom ever gave you?

Amelia: Whenever I had a bad day growing up, my mom would have me imagine it as a sheet of paper we’d crumple up and toss into the wastebasket like a basketball. It was her way of reminding me that tomorrow is a fresh start.

Liz: Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.

What’s one thing you won’t be doing this Mother’s Day?

Amelia: I won’t be managing the bedtime routine…for once!

Liz: I’d love to not clean up toys off the floor but that’s doubtful… could I tag out of bath time? Post-dinner kitchen clean up?

Wishing all the amazing moms in our community a very happy Mother’s Day! You deserve to be celebrated! XO Amelia & Liz

Want to read a bit more? Let us suggest these recent newsletter issues…

• Liz discovers the absolute joys of boyhood

• Travel tips just in time for Memorial Day

• Amelia says goodbye to motherhood martyrdom

Rose:

Amelia - Catching up earlier this week with a dear friend about our latest home design projects… sharing fabric samples, photos of recent art purchases, and even planning a possible trip to treasure hunt together (eeek!). There’s something so special about a shared passion that brings friends even closer!

Liz - I spent Wednesday afternoon with my middle son (he had a half day); we needed some 1-on-1 time. We stopped by our favorite bookstore, devoured milkshakes, and hit up the library for the math games on the computer that he loves. Such a simple afternoon, but so needed… for us both.

I also attended a “Stitches and Stories” event at that favorite bookstore of ours, where I gathered with women of all ages to work on whatever craft we wanted (knitting, needlepoint, etc) and chatted about books we were reading and more. It was SO, SO lovely and the perfect impetus for me to start in on the cross stitch kit I received at Christmas.

Thorn:

Amelia - Even though my husband’s work trip is short, having him in California for the second half of the week hasn’t been ideal…especially with end-of-year school chaos already in full swing!

Liz - Rain, rain, go away.

Bud:

Amelia - Two sweet buds this week: celebrating Mother’s Day with my mom in person at a family cookout, and chaperoning both kids’ school field trips next week. Woohoo! Fingers crossed for sunshine!

Liz - I have family coming into town this weekend for my son’s First Communion and we’re hosting a luncheon after the Mass in honor of it combined with Mother’s Day. Can’t wait to see my sister, nieces and nephew :) (Amelia: You’re a true superhero! Your family is lucky to have you!)

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