Can you believe it’s been three weeks since our last tour update? Even though we haven’t posted much, we’ve been traveling extensively. Nearing the end of our book tour, we finally made it all the way across the country to the West Coast. Here’s a recap of our stops in Washington, Oregon, and California.

We kicked things off in Tacoma, Washington at the Tacoma Home & Garden Show on Friday, January 25th. The organizers did a fantastic job promoting our visit, including a local newspaper feature that used a funny illustration of us. The caricature was spot-on enough to make us laugh and set a relaxed tone for the day.

The show took place at the Tacoma Dome, a large arena that normally hosts concerts and sporting events. Seeing the Dome transformed for a home and garden show was surprising and delightful—vendor booths and temporary garden displays turned the industrial space into something warm and inviting. I was particularly taken with an indoor water feature that looked convincingly like an outdoor installation.

One of our favorite areas was the “Vintage Market,” a flea market-style section packed with antiques and quirky finds. A vintage classroom map of the United States caught our eye; at $50 it was tempting, but logistics kept us from buying it. Sherry loved a set of powder-blue metal chairs while I lingered over vintage letters and signage. Traveling with only carry-on luggage kept our impulse purchases in check, which was probably for the best.

After some press activities and a private meet-and-greet, the main event began: our presentation and book signing. The organizers even announced us over the PA system, which was a first for us and a little intimidating—especially when I started with an awkward “Hello? Is anyone listening?” The stage setup and sound made us feel surprisingly professional, and the view of the crowd was really heartwarming, complete with smiling faces and baby strollers.

After the talk and a short Q&A, we signed books and a handful of unusual items. People asked us to autograph everything from a gold spray-painted rhino to a plunger (there was a booth giving them away nearby). Tacoma attendees were incredibly thoughtful: Claire and Tina from hello, cupcake sent personalized cupcakes that were a huge hit with the event staff, and one attendee gifted Sherry her first pair of novelty underwear emblazoned with playful gold lettering—an unexpected highlight that had us all laughing.

We also had a sweet encounter with baby Ruby, who was fascinated with my mouth and gave me an impromptu baby dental exam. Her mom later posted about it on her blog, but I was happy to oblige—how could anyone resist that little face?

The following morning we drove to Portland. The two-hour drive felt more like a road trip than a travel hassle, so renting a car made sense. In Portland we held a signing at Rejuvenation, a store we’d missed finding on our previous visit. This time we explored both their new production items and the architectural salvage section, which was a treasure trove of inspiration. Again, time and travel constraints kept our browsing short.

We began the Portland event with a short talk from a small stage by the stairs. Fans greeted us with more cupcakes—this time from Undercover Cupcake—and the crowd brought creative requests, including having us sign the inside of a blazer and drawing speech bubbles over our photos in the books. It’s always fun to see the imaginative ways people involve us in their keepsakes.

Signings give us a chance to meet readers we already know online and to connect names with faces. We bumped into familiar friends and new fans alike, and delighted in their energy and quirky photo ideas. One memorable attendee rescheduled her fiancé’s proposal so she could get engaged and have her book signed on the same day—definitely a story that stuck with us.

After the signing we planned to sightsee, but I accidentally locked the car trunk with the keys inside, which cost us about 90 minutes while we waited for roadside assistance. Still, it was worth it to spend a few hours in Portland’s lively scene; the city has so many great food spots and neighborhoods to enjoy.

From Portland we flew to Northern California the same evening. We stayed in Palo Alto and spent a morning with family before our signing in the area. Fans traveled long distances to attend, some even driving several hours on the day of the event. We met readers who made homemade shirts, brought thoughtful gifts, and introduced us to handmade toys dressed up like our dog—gestures that were both charming and touching.

We also enjoyed catching up with friends who’ve moved to the Bay Area and getting a quick look around before an early morning flight home. The West Coast leg of the tour was busy, sometimes chaotic, but full of warm interactions and memorable moments. We loved meeting so many of you in person and appreciate everyone who took the time to come out. We hope to return to the West Coast again—maybe next time with an LA stop and a celebrity sighting to top it off.