New House Update: This and That!

 

Our move went so smoothly and we got settled in here right out of the gate I think it gave us a false sense of security we are now in the danger zone. 

You know the zone where you tell yourself you have all the time in the world to get the rest of the, “Stuff,” unpacked.  

When I say “Stuff,” I mean the things still in boxes that you don’t need in your everyday life.

I seem to have a shed full of that kind of stuff. 

Oh My!! 

Everything is packed neatly in boxes with my writing on them to tell me what the box contains.

THE CRUEL REALITY

Let’s face it, they have to be brought here ,and I need to decide if I am keeping, giving away, or donating them.

Then there is the Holiday season which I feel we are officially in, with Thanksgiving only 16 days away, and Christmas is only 44 days away. 

I don’t know about you all, but when I write those number of days down, I realize just how quickly all this is going to be happening and then the mental list starts going off like a ticker tape!!

With that being said, my mind goes from new home projects, landscaping, menu planning, to Christmas shopping for gifts and décor. 

So you can see why I don’t want to dive into the boxes just quite now. So much to do, but some of it will just have to wait until January.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG………..

Some decisions have been made!!

 

We did order our window treatments for the house so that is exciting, however they will take 6-8 weeks to get here so that will be after the Holidays.

Before we moved in I was pretty sure I was going to get bamboo shades for the great room, however after living here just a few days and studying how the sun moved throughout the day I realized I needed light control. 

With the bamboo shades they are either up or down and this girl loves light so having them down for half the day just would not do. Plus, I can not live with that much brown in my life.

The other thing I discovered while living here is this home has a slight elegant feel to it. I had great plans of going more casual, but the house spoke and she wants a classic look with a slight casual vibe.

There are two treatments that will let you control light in your rooms and that is blinds or shutters.

Since this house is calling for a certain look, and feel, along with function, the shutters seemed to be the way to go.

All our windows except for one will have plantation shutters. (that will be changing before I even finish writing this post.) 

I have never had shutters, but have always admired them so we are excited to see them installed.

The one exception is the dining room window at the end of our kitchen. I wanted something a bit different there.

In my minds eye a white roman shade with black trim would be absolutely perfect. I took the plunge and ordered some from Pottery barn….

I just knew this would work. They arrived and guess what I was WRONG!!!

First the white is not white at all, a very creamy white, which I usually like, but with my swiss coffee walls it just did not work. 

The other surprise, too casual of a look for this room as well.

Hmmmmm? so what is a girl to do?

Stop the Process until she makes up her mind!!!

After thinking about it long and hard, and going over all scenarios in my mind I am going to get the shutters like I have in the Great room. 

I had to consider what would be on each side of the window and also the furnishings in the room, table and chairs style and the low boy server.

If I choose later to add some side panels to soften the look, I can do that, but for now we will have a very sharp looking base with all shutters.

ANOTHER DECISION WAS MADE!!

The other thing we got for our new house is a door mat! Aren’t you excited for me? Okay, maybe not, but I was really excited to get it!!

I ordered it from Grandinroad, and it came yesterday.

 It looks perfect on our front porch.

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Of course ours has a letter, “P” on it!

I highly recommend this mat, it is so thick, and well made. It makes a beautiful statement at the front door. This would also make a great Christmas gift as well.

With Christmas on my mind, I have done a little shopping online, and also I have been pinning images for inspiration. More on that later.

My Mom came and stayed with us this weekend, so she was our first over night guest. We had a wonderful visit and she loved the new house and felt quite comfy here. 

Having family here is what makes it feel more like home to us than anything else.

Basically this has been my week in a nutshell, but there are more decisions to make and more project to be done, so come back to see how I am going to.........

 

 

What To Wear For Thanksgiving Day!

 

 

Does your family dress up for Thanksgiving dinner, or do they keep it casual and comfy? I know personally, I like to dress somewhere in between. Maybe, a casual outfit with a special accessory to take it up a notch.

With the Holiday season about to open up we all need a few options. We women like our options. So today I am going to show you outfits I would wear for a casual/comfy look……….

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This first outfit is casual and comfy. The earrings and the cute cobalt shoes take it up a notch. You know everyone is going to be asking you where did you get those earrings!!

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Easy to wear and comfortable. I would add some pearls and pearl earrings to this classic/casual look.

 

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A uniform for many, jeans, sweater, boots = cute outfit.

The earrings and the scarf jazz it up a bit. You can wear basics and then add a little something extra in your accessories and it really can take the whole look up  a notch. 

So comfort doesn’t always have to just be worn on an every day basis, you can wear it on special days as well.

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I don’t know if you are like me or not, but when I wear a skirt I feel as if I dressed up a bit, even in a jean skirt.

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I have used this outfit in other post before, but it is just too classic to not use again. 

A pop of a color that you look great in with basics and then add some cute leopard flats and you are good to go!

This grouping is pretty casual but mostly because of the shoes, they are dictating the casualness of each outfit. 

Instead try a cute black ballet slipper or some leopard flats, or even an unexpected color in a shoe, like cobalt or red and it will change the entire feel of the two outfits. 

Personally I love the combination of the navy and the mustard so I would wear both outfits easily.

 FORMULA:

Casual basics + Standout jewelry + eye catching shoes= Casual Special Day Outfit!

I hope this gives you a little bit of inspiration for your casual Thanksgiving day outfit. I know it has my mind spinning with the possibilities.

 

 

Multitasking Holiday Decorating Thoughts

 

You all know my byline for my blog is..

“Enjoy The Process!” 

Trust me when I say I strive to do just that. As soon as Halloween is over it feels like the Holiday season is officially open to me.  

I know most of the stores over lap Christmas and Halloween and poor Thanksgiving gets a small window of opportunity.

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It seems to be the way of the world, but I try not to succumb to the rush and, “get ‘er done!” attitude. I want to enjoy it ALL.

When I start looking for inspiration for my Thanksgiving table my  travels will almost always take me into Christmas as well so I go back, and forth with both Holidays in mind, and thoroughly enjoy looking and don’t feel guilty one bit.

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Personally I don’t think it needs to be a race, or the different camps formed. One camp refusing to venture into the wonderland of Christmas thoughts until a designated date, vs. the lets get Christmas done early so we can enjoy it for the whole season.

Let’s just set our own personal time lines and Enjoy the Process, all of it!!!

Today I am going to show you some Thanksgiving AND Christmas inspiration all in one post! YES! you heard that right.

Lately I have been looking at the simpler side of things and enjoying the look very much, so that is what I will show you all today. 

I hope you get as excited and inspired as I do just by looking at pretty images!!!

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The idea of one unadorned tree is very appealing to me this year. I have the basket, I have the corner, this just might appear in my home this year!!

Of course the family, "memory tree," will have it's important center stage place in the great room. You can read about our, "memory tree" HERE!

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How simple is this!? Easy to do as well.

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Everything you see here can be purchased at the grocery store or a tree lot.

Of course the vase and urns would have to be something you already have. 

Just look at how elegant and simple this is. By keeping the elements limited, to greenery, bosc pears and white roses, it is elegant. 

It also helps to keep the color scheme tight. By using only green and white it gives a sense of calm and peace. 

Also please notice the nice loosely tied ribbon on the wreath. I am a big fan of beautiful ribbons and loosely tied large loopy bows, if you have to have a bow at all, sometimes just a knot is sufficient when using lovely ribbons. 

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You can not get any more simple than this. You can purchase wheat stacks already formed a the craft store. 

Get some beautiful double faced satin ribbon in a soft hue and you are set. 

You will notice another simple, tight color scheme. The colors chosen here are muted, grayed and neutral, making it elegant and sophisticated. Martha Stewart always does amazing table settings.

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Pinecones, moss and a few sparkly stones make this an easy Christmas arrangement.

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If you have 3-5 glass hurricanes down the center of your table and add the candle and a leaf from outside, you have a Thanksgiving arrangement, simple, classic and elegant. Easy-Peasy!!

Decorating tips:

1. Keep your decorating to three or less elements.

2. Use a tight color scheme, two to three colors max.

3. Using natural elements always feels more simple
    and elegant.

4. Repeat elements throughout your home, or on the 
    tablesetting.

5. Keep it simple and uncluttered

6. Above all relax and “Enjoy the Process!”

These are just a few of the multitude idea and inspiration that can be found. Keep an open mind and explore bot Holidays if that is what you like to do and don’t worry about what order you think of first, second, or third, just …….

“Enjoy The Process!”

BTW: Go HERE to see the simple side of Christmas for some inspiration!