Dining Seaside: A Beachy, Nautical-Themed Tablescape & 2 Adorable Shorebirds

April 20, 2023 by 31 Comments

Welcome to the 760th Tablescape Thursday! It was in the 70s yesterday so I couldn't resist setting a table here on the porch. There was a fresh, light layer of pollen on the surface of the table that had to be cleaned away first. Be glad when pollen season is over. I think we're on the tail end of it now.   I started out with plans to use these sunflower napkins I shared recently. In the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beachy Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , , , ,

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An Appliance Slider Tray For My Kitchen, Love How It Works!

April 17, 2023 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 742nd Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope it was a great one! Last Monday I shared a full, down-to-the-studs kitchen renovation my son and daughter-in-law just recently completed in their home. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: This 1970s Kitchen Just Got a Dramatic, Down-to-the-Studs Renovation.   As part of a yay-we-have-a-new-kitchen and early, joint … [Read more...]

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Successful Bird Rescue & Finally Finding That Perfect Beachy, Aqua-Blue Top

April 15, 2023 by 27 Comments

Oh my goodness, what a day! I spent almost two hours today rescuing a baby Wren that somehow managed to find his way into my chimney/fireplace. That rarely happens, like once every 10 years. Instead of going out the wide open door onto the porch, a door he hopped right by several times, he kept hopping behind various furniture pieces. He was so cute talking to his Mom who was chirping for him outside. When … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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Ma Maison, My Favorite Dinnerware For Porch Dining

April 13, 2023 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 759th Tablescape Thursday! It's been ages since I've flown anywhere, so a long time since I've been through the Atlanta Airport. Instead of taking the Plane Train, I decided to walk to the baggage claim/pickup area and was surprised to come across this beautiful scene!   I felt like I was in a tropical forest. I wish more of the ceilings throughout the airport were done this … [Read more...]

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Pull-out Appliance Tray/Stand, Protects Kitchen Cabinets & Undercabinet Lighting

April 12, 2023 by 18 Comments

Thanks so much for all the lovely comments left on Monday's post where I shared a dramatic, long-awaited kitchen renovation my son and daughter-in-law just completed in their home. Just as their renovation was coming to a close, I came across an awesome coffee maker that I was pretty sure they would love, especially my son who has been literally searching for years for the perfect coffee maker. I am … [Read more...]

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This 1970s Kitchen Just Got a Dramatic, Down-to-the-Studs, Beautiful Renovation!

April 10, 2023 by 39 Comments

Welcome to the 741st Metamorphosis Monday! If you love a dramatic Before and After, you're going to love today's reveal! My son and daughter-in-law live in an older neighborhood where many of the homes were built in the early 1900s. I think their home was built in the early 1920s, if I'm remembering correctly. The previous owners did a kitchen update at some point, we're guessing in the 1970s based on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes

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A Ray of Sunshine On A Beautiful Spring Day!

April 6, 2023 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 758th Tablescape Thursday! I'm currently visiting family and it has turned cold again! I jokingly told my son and DIL that their weather hates me because it was in the 70s just before I arrived and goes back up to the 70s the day after I leave. Hope you are seeing some sunshine and warmer temps where you live! Recently I heard from Norma, who lives in the south of France. Norma said, "I am … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Easter Crafts, Easter Decorating, Easter Table Settings, Easter Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , , ,

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A Spring Table Setting With The Most Adorable Bunny-Themed Dinnerware

April 4, 2023 by 25 Comments

I have a wonderful spring table setting to share with you today! Brenda, a lovely BNOTP reader, set a beautiful table for Easter and I found myself wanting to collect everything I saw on her table. lol I know you're going to love it as much as I do!     In this photo, we get a glimpse of the dinnerware Brenda chose for her table--do you see the adorable bunny … [Read more...]

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2 Before And Afters: 1 For Plant Lovers And 1 For The Puzzlers

April 3, 2023 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 740th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was great! I have two little updates to share for this week's Met Monday. You may remember last winter, I attempted to winter over the geraniums I usually have out on one of my decks during the spring/summer instead of just letting them freeze and purchasing more the next spring. Last year was so successful, I decided to try it … [Read more...]

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My Go-To Style For Easy Summer Outfits

April 1, 2023 by 8 Comments

A few days ago I purchased two more pairs of white jeggings from Talbots. I really love their jeggings because they don't fit super snug, they are a bit more of a relaxed jegging fit. They have a good sale going on right now: Buy 1, get 1 50% off, so I purchased two more pairs here: Regular Fit White Jeggings.   If your waist is a good bit smaller as compared to your hips, I really recommend … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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Beautiful Tables–So Much Inspiration From Aris

March 30, 2023 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 757th Tablescape Thursday! Aris, a lovely BNOTP reader, enjoys entertaining. She has a wonderful group of friends who love gathering for her fabulous dinner parties! Recently, I heard from Aris and she wrote: Dear Susan, I thoroughly enjoy your tablescapes blogging, but I don’t do any social media myself. I thought you might enjoy seeing a bit of what I’ve done with inspiration from you and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Tablescape Thursday

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Still Dreaming About A Mountain-Top Home, Where Do You See Your Dream Home?

March 28, 2023 by 37 Comments

If you could live in any place in the world, where would that be and why? A few months back I mentioned how I'd love to live in the mountains. I've been giving that a lot of thought over the past year and I think I'd love to live so high up that when I looked out the windows or stood on my deck, I would find myself surrounded by clouds. Okay, maybe not all the time since it would be nice to have beautiful, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspire

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All My Favorite Cleaning Products, Including One That’s Great For Polishing Jewelry

March 27, 2023 by 17 Comments

Welcome to the 739th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was a great one! We've been having the nicest weather lately and I've so enjoyed all the sunshine! This weekend it was so nice, I backed my car out of the garage, blew out the few leaves that had blown in, and gave the garage floor its first official mopping since it was installed last summer. There were just a few spots here and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , ,

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How I Store/Organize My Napkins + Some New Additions For Spring and Summer

March 23, 2023 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 756th Tablescape Thursday! If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you know that I store a lot of the goodies I use in table settings in these cabinets here in my garage. I've been doing this for quite a few years now and it has worked out really well. It's super convenient having so many things grouped in one place and so close to the three areas where I normally set tables in my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fall Tablescapes, Napkin Folding Tutorials, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: ,

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This One Is For The Coffee Lovers

March 22, 2023 by 31 Comments

My son and daughter-in-law are on the tail end of a full-blown, down-to-the-studs, kitchen renovation. They've been so close to having it complete but the countertops were very delayed. Those finally arrived and were installed on Monday. The appliances and plumbing stuff go in next, so they may have a functioning kitchen again by this weekend! Yipee! Recently, I was shopping in Williams Sonoma and I saw … [Read more...]

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I Found A Solution, But You May Not Want To Read This Post! Spoiler Alert!

March 20, 2023 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 738th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, I mentioned I had purchased The Happy Isles puzzle from the Magic Puzzle Company. I didn't know a lot about their puzzles, or this particular puzzle, when I purchased it, only that there's a bit of a magic trick at the end that reveals a surprise twist to the story of  The Happy Isles. Before we go any further into today's post, if you've purchased … [Read more...]

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The Sale Just Got Better–But I Was Too Slow & Missed Out On My Favorite

March 18, 2023 by 12 Comments

Happy Weekend! Just hopping on to share that Talbots has turned up the volume on their spring sale--it just got a lot better! In addition to everything being 25% off, the sale includes 40% off any one item. So that's 40% off one item, then 25% off everything else. If there was something you were eyeing in the sale, SPRING is the code to use at checkout. Sadly, this jacket I had in my cart has sold out. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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A Colorful Saint Patrick’s Day Table Setting, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

March 16, 2023 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 755th Tablescape Thursday! Happy Saint Patrick's Day--it's almost here!   Usually, when I put together a Saint Patrick's Day table setting, it's almost always just in the colors green and white. Not sure why, but when I started thinking about a Saint Patrick's Day table this morning, I was craving color, lots of bright springtime color!   This is definitely the … [Read more...]

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Wish I Had Discovered These 2 Years Ago–Such A Time and Labor Saver!

March 15, 2023 by 37 Comments

Thanks so much for all your comments, advice, and input in the comments of Monday's post! From reading your comments, I can see so many of us have had similar experiences. I've heard from several BNOTP readers who've said that reading about your experiences has helped them so much! So thank you for sharing those--you've definitely helped others by doing that! ♥ If you've been reading BNOTP for a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Recipes

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Trust Your Intuition, Don’t Hesitate To Get A Second Opinion

March 13, 2023 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 737th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I had a situation come up that truly brought home how important it is to trust your instincts and that little voice inside that tells you when something doesn't seem quite right. I wanted to share an experience I had recently, in case you find it helpful in a similar situation in the future. I've been going to the same dental practice for approximately … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Inspire

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Retail Therapy After A Nightmare Week, Plus, An Intriguing Find!

March 11, 2023 by 24 Comments

Oh my gosh, this has been a week and a half. I had a very stressful situation come up that I will share more about on Monday, but I'm happy to say that it has all worked out okay. At least, I hope it has--only time will tell. After an absolute nightmare week, today I was craving anything that was positive and happy. It was really beautiful out, so I decided to do a bit of shopping to try and put myself back … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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12 Table Settings for Saint Patrick’s Day + A Fun 4-Leaf Clover Napkin Fold

March 9, 2023 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 754th Tablescape Thursday! I had planned to set a table this week in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, but I had such disappointing news at my dental appointment yesterday, it zapped all the creativity right out of me. I'm getting a "second opinion" on Friday, but I'm sure it will probably be the same. With Saint Patrick's Day just a little over a week away, I hope you enjoy this … [Read more...]

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Spring Porch Dreaming

March 5, 2023 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 736th Metamorphosis Monday! I was super toying with the idea of giving my screen porch a good scrub down this weekend, but pollen season is ahead so I'm trying to decide if I should just wait. Knowing me, I won't be able to stand not cleaning it, especially since today it was 71° out, and over the next two days, the temps will hit 78 degrees.   I had a dental issue pop up this … [Read more...]

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My February Favorites Including a Purchase I Wish I’d Made Ages Ago

March 4, 2023 by 10 Comments

Happy Weekend! Instead of waiting so far into the new month, I'm sharing my favorites for last month (February) now. As you know, I've been on a huge puzzle kick for the last few months. One of the most challenging puzzles I've done in a very long time was this LEGO mini-figure faces puzzle. I could never work on it for longer than 30-45 minutes without taking a break--it made my brain hurt! Fortunately, it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Monthly Favorites, Puzzles

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All My Favorites for Spring and Easter This Year

March 2, 2023 by 13 Comments

Welcome to the 753rd Tablescape Thursday! Spring is my favorite time of year! I love seeing all the flowers and trees waking back up after their wintertime slumber. Spring is also the time of year when I find the most adorable table-setting goodies online and in the stores. The last few years, the pickings have been kinda slim, but I'm excited to see what's out there for this spring and summer. I was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday

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Have You Ever Been Inspired By The Decor You Saw In A Great Movie House?

March 1, 2023 by 44 Comments

Not sure what got me thinking about this, but a few days ago I was thinking again about how much I loved the home in the movie, Home Alone, and how it had made such an impression on me when I first began buying furniture and decorating my own home. That sent me down another rabbit trail wondering what else have I done in my home that was the direct influence of something I had noticed in a movie … [Read more...]

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A Puzzling Before & After For Lovers Of Classic Fiction

February 26, 2023 by 10 Comments

Welcome to the 735th Metamorphosis Monday! If you're a lover of classic fiction like the novels of Jane Austen or the wonderful books written by the Bronte sisters, you will love working these puzzles! The first puzzle I came across in this collection was The World of Shakespeare. I enjoyed it so much, I couldn't wait to do more.   I don't think I ever took a photo of The World of Shakespeare … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Puzzles

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Celebrating Our Early Spring Weather With A Bee-Themed Table Setting

February 23, 2023 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 752nd Tablescape Thursday! The daffodils are blooming their little hearts out right now, so I couldn't resist cutting a few to use in today's table setting.   I probably should be fertilizing them each year but I've never done that. I think I'll try to remember to do that this fall.   Another variety...love the colorful centers.   The first day of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday

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January Favorites and Send Help Because I’m Losing My Mind! Ha!

February 21, 2023 by 37 Comments

So, I really, really worry about myself sometimes. Usually at some point during the day, I'll fix myself a big Tervis mug of iced coffee with a good helping of milk mixed in. If I'm not in a coffee/milk mood, the other drink I'll sometimes enjoy during the day is a mug of unsweetened iced tea mixed with a small amount of cranberry juice. Just now, I went to the fridge, poured iced coffee into my Tervis mug, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Monthly Favorites

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Changing Up My Lipstick Game–Had No Idea These Even Existed!

February 19, 2023 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 734th Metamorphosis Monday! I wish I was a make-up kinda girl sometimes. About half the time I run around completely bare-faced. I never wear foundation because it literally makes any wrinkles I have a million times more noticeable. Mostly I just use a bit of mascara (so I actually look like I have eyelashes) and lipstick. Lipstick is my favorite thing to wear on a daily basis, well, behind … [Read more...]

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Planning a Bee-Themed Table Setting & This Is What I Purchased

February 16, 2023 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 751st Tablescape Thursday! Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments on yesterday's post! I love that so many of us have held onto our older traditional decorating magazines and I loved reading which ones were your favorite. I wasn't surprised to see some great cooking/recipe magazines mentioned, as well! So happy to hear so many of you have held onto those older publications and still … [Read more...]

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When Is It A Collection, Or Is It Just Hoarding? ;)

February 15, 2023 by 77 Comments

Do you remember when your interest in decorating first began? I have the worst memory in general, especially when it comes to dates, but I definitely remember what kicked off my borderline obsession with home decor. My love for decorating really took off when I discovered two magazines: Colonial Homes and Traditional Home. I could hardly wait for each issue to arrive in my mailbox! I poured over those … [Read more...]

Filed Under: BNOTP Library, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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Something Amazing Happened–A Very Odd & Wonderful Before and After!

February 13, 2023 by 40 Comments

Welcome to the 733rd Metamorphosis Monday! No major Before and After happening around here this past week, at least construction-wise, but I do have two interesting, fun things to share. If you're looking for a challenging puzzle to do during the cold month of February, here it is! lol I always think of working a 1,000-piece puzzle as experiencing 1,000 little wins. Each time you place another piece, it's a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspire

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My Top 10 Favorite Amazon Finds In 2022

February 11, 2023 by 14 Comments

Happy Weekend! It's raining here. Again. It's been raining here so much, I actually did an online search today to see if we were breaking any precipitation records. I didn't find the answer to that, but I did learn that Georgia is in the top 10 states for rainfall, ranking #7. I never realized we were in the top 10, we even get more rainfall each year than Seattle! Wow! I guess that's why everything is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Lighting

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A Woodland-Themed Valentine’s Day Table With A Touch Of Spring

February 9, 2023 by 30 Comments

Welcome to the 750th Tablescape Thursday! Happy (almost) Valentine's Day! I put this table together very late last night and it was super cloudy out as I took these photos. I long for sunny days! Spring is coming, we just have to hang in there a little while longer.   My Australian friends are winding down their summer. I've always wondered what it would be like to experience Christmas in a … [Read more...]

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A Sneaky, Hidden Sale For Spring, 25% Off All The New Spring Fashions!

February 7, 2023 by

I must confess, this is my absolute favorite time of year to shop for clothes. I love it when all the vibrant, fun spring fashions start hitting the stores. The only downside is normally, the spring fashions are not on sale when they first start hitting the stores. But there's a sneaky way around that problem! I just realized yesterday when I got a little brochure in the mail, Talbots has a little hidden … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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Epoxy Flooring In The Garage: Would I Do It Again? A 6-Month Update!

February 6, 2023 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 732nd Metamorphosis Monday! A few months back, my garage got a really substantial makeover. The walls, ceiling and the garage door badly needed painting, the original builder-grade lighting was not the greatest, and the garage floor was your typical concrete floor and very stained after 40+ years of use.   Here's how the garage looked after its makeover, definitely an … [Read more...]

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5 Whimsical Ways to Spice Up Your Valentine’s Day Table

February 2, 2023 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 749th Tablescape Thursday! With Valentine's Day just a couple of weeks away, here are a few fun ideas to spice up your Valentine's Day table. I am definitely not the most experienced baker but these heart cakes were super easy to make.   The hearts can be filled with raspberry jam or whatever you wish. (Find the cake recipe I used here: Make Raspberry Heart Cakes for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Valentine's Day Table Settings, Valentine's Day Tablescapes

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Ditching the Eyeglasses When I’m Out and About + New Workspace Glasses!

January 30, 2023 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 731st Metamorphosis Monday! Do you wear glasses or contacts? Back in May 2017, the progressive glasses I had been wearing for quite a few years, broke apart right in the center. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it led me to a local eyeglass retailer/optometrist where for the first time ever I learned about "workstation" glasses.   To say my workstation (or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty

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Beautiful Puzzles That Have Me Dreaming of Spring

January 28, 2023 by 13 Comments

I just finished this "houseplants" puzzle that I shared with you in a recent post.   It was so much fun, one that I'm sure I'll do it again one day. I really appreciated that they included a picture of the puzzle with the names of all the plants listed on the back. (Houseplants puzzle is available here: Houseplants Puzzle.)   Cold weather really puts me in the mood for puzzling … [Read more...]

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These Plates Are Almost Too Beautiful For Dining!

January 26, 2023 by 56 Comments

Welcome to the 748th Tablescape Thursday! I was so in the mood this week for a winter-themed table setting. One of my favorite dinnerware patterns that I love to use during the winter months is Lenox, Winter Greetings. It works beautifully for the holidays but is wonderful to use right through winter. Back in the day, Lenox made some stunningly beautiful accent plates to go with this pattern. I once shared … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For the Love of Birds, Gardening & Birding, Tablescape Thursday, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

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All My December Favorites

January 24, 2023 by 21 Comments

Where has January gone? Has this month flown by for you, too? This has been such a fun, exciting morning. My son and daughter-in-law are in the middle of a full, down-to-the-studs kitchen renovation and they shared photos with me today of how the kitchen looks after it was completely demoed yesterday. I get so excited for renovations like that and this one is well overdue. My DIL said it hasn't been … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Monthly Favorites

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A Great Way to Store Your Beautiful Headbands

January 22, 2023 by 11 Comments

Welcome to the 730th Metamorphosis Monday! I have become enamored with wearing headbands lately. I used to wear them many years ago but hadn't thought about wearing them again in ages. I noticed a YouTuber/Instagramer I sometimes follow began promoting a brand of handmade headbands made in the UK where she lives, and they look so nice on her, it revived my interest in trying them again. Unfortunately, … [Read more...]

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This Will Have You Dreaming Of Spring–Guaranteed!

January 19, 2023 by 13 Comments

Welcome to the 747th Tablescape Thursday! I've been working on a table but it's not ready for prime time, so yesterday I decided to take a little trip to my nearby Pottery Barn to scope out the new Valentine's Day, Easter/spring goodies. Currently, we are in a yucky, never-ending rain pattern here, so PB was the only store I visited. There was just 1 table set in PB and I didn't take any photos of it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Easter Table Settings, Easter Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Valentine's Day Table Settings, Valentine's Day Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , , ,

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2 Electrical Updates: A Practical One For The Basement & A Bit Of Luxury For The Bath

January 17, 2023 by 19 Comments

This would make a great Metamorphosis Monday post, but I'm eager to share how the electrical work I had done yesterday turned out so let's just dive right on in. It was a good day for getting stuff done! So, remember when the unfinished side of the basement looked like this with insulation visible in the walls between the finished and unfinished side?   When I had the whole house surge … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baths, Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds

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Have You Ever Tried Freezing Eggs?

January 16, 2023 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 729th Metamorphosis Monday! A few months back, I had the electrician who added lights to my basement stairway, install a whole-house surge protector. Unfortunately, when a drywall guy gave me a quote for drywall a few weeks ago, he told me that the surge protector had to be moved, otherwise, it would get covered up by the drywall. When I first had the surge protector installed, I told my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After

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My Yearly Winter Survival Favorites + Something New I’ll Be Purchasing This Week

January 14, 2023 by 18 Comments

I'm a tad late this year, but each winter I like to share my favorites with you--those things that help get me through the winter in comfort. I am not a fan of cold weather, but I have to admit that I do like some of the goodies that I pull out this time of year. It's all about staying cozy and comfortable as possible when it comes to winter. I know I've mentioned these several times over the past few … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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A Cozy Valentine’s Day Table by Lamplight

January 12, 2023 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 746th Tablescape Thursday! I'm starting to think ahead to Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day dinners are usually romantic affairs for two, but I couldn't resist setting a full table.   Yesterday was busy around here with appointments. The storage room in the basement was measured for its door and other repairs were being made, so it was kind of late before I had an opportunity to … [Read more...]

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Stalking Mode Activated: Hunting Down Two Items That Sold Out During Christmas

January 11, 2023 by 28 Comments

So, do you know the worst time to discover something really awesome that you didn't previously know about, but would now love to acquire? Answer: Right after Christmas! Ha! That's because everybody and their sister have already purchased or been gifted the item, so it's sold out everywhere! Argggh. I'm persistent, though--it's almost like it becomes a challenge, an exciting quest to hunt the item … [Read more...]

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A Happy, Bright Update for the Basement and Storage Room!

January 9, 2023 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 728th Metamorphosis Monday! How is 2023 treating you so far? I hope it's going well! I'm feeling a lot better now after having caught a bug at Christmastime. I have a basement update for this week's Met Monday. Here's a quick recap if you're new to the basement updates I've been making--I added stair lighting along the right side of the stairway going down.   I also added … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After

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50% Off The Sale Price & Some Of These Would Work Great For Spring!

January 7, 2023 by 4 Comments

It has been a crazy few days around here. Looking forward to sharing an important update on Monday for Metamorphosis Monday! In the meantime, you guys have been sharing all your wonderful after Christmas sale finds and you've given me FOMO! Audrey messaged me on Instragram about the big Talbots sale that's going on right now that's 50% off the already on sale winter styles! On top of that, there's another … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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A Winter Holiday Birthday Celebration in Purple and Gold

January 5, 2023 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 745th Tablescape Thursday! Happy New Year to you! Thanks for all your well-wishes on my previous post. I'm not quite 100% yet, but getting there! I have one last holiday table to share with you. Though this table definitely works for Christmas, I think it would be wonderful to enjoy anytime during the winter months. Warren has always wanted to set a purple table during the holiday season. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Birthday Tablescapes, Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: , ,

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Sometimes It’s The Little Tweaks That Make Life Better

January 2, 2023 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 727th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Year to you! I hope your 2023 is off to an awesome start! Apparently, I'm trying to repeat the start of 2018 as I began the year with a yucky virus. I came down sick on Saturday and I think I'm finally past the body ache and fever stage. Unfortunately, I had to postpone the drywall work that was supposed to start in the basement tomorrow. So I don't have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds

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Whimsical Lenox Nutcrackers In An Elegant Christmas Table Setting

December 29, 2022 by 10 Comments

Welcome to the 744th Tablescape Thursday! Do you ever shop for Christmas collectibles or Christmas decorations in the after-Christmas sales? I never think to do that but after hearing about the amazing find Warren and his wife, Kathie, came across last year, I think I need to start! Warren said, "Kathie and I prowl the stores after Christmas looking for decorating bargains. Last year, The Christmas Shop … [Read more...]

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2 Awesome Sales from 2 Awesome Stores–And The One That Got Away

December 27, 2022 by 27 Comments

I've been checking out the sales this week now that Christmas is behind us. I had a feeling there would be some great sales and there are--including from a store I always loved shopping in before they closed the location near me. Talbots is having a killer sale--it's a sale-on-sale-on-sale type sale. This beautiful 83% wool, camel and ivory coat is on sale from $369 to $279, plus another 40% off of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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Touring 2 Homes Beautifully Decorated For The Christmas Holidays

December 26, 2022 by 10 Comments

Welcome to the 726th Metamorphosis Monday! I hope as I write this, you are enjoying a warm, relaxing, cozy time wherever you are. It's been super cold here in Ohio over the past few days. I've never lived where I saw negative temps! Notice the "feels like" temp: -31°! That's scary cold! As I type this, it's 17° outside and feels like 8° per the weather app on my phone, plus, more snow is expected today. … [Read more...]

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Jackie’s Beautiful Dining Room Is Dressed And Ready For Christmas

December 22, 2022 by 14 Comments

Welcome to the 743rd Tablescape Thursday! Oh, I have such a treat for you today! I had planned to drive up to see family for the holidays this Friday. Well, Mother Nature had different plans! A big winter storm was predicted to hit Ohio this Friday so I had to leave two days earlier than planned which disrupted my plans for setting a table this week. Now the weather has changed again and it looks like the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday

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My November Favorites + A Few Extras

December 20, 2022 by 6 Comments

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you! I just realized yesterday that I had never gotten around to sharing my November favorites. This time of year, Cutemol always makes the list as I'm using it at least once a day to avoid having my fingertips crack in the dry cold weather. Cutemol is a life-saver. My daughter-in-love loves it so much, she subscribes to it for monthly deliveries. It's also a miracle … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Gift Ideas, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Monthly Favorites

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Planning for More Storage in the Basement, Do You Recognize This Ikea Cabinet?

December 19, 2022 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 725th Metamorphosis Monday! A couple of months ago I shared this photo of the semi-finished side of my basement prior to having it painted. Everything seen in the photo below was moved over to the unfinished side during the painting process.   In January, the walls on the unfinished side will be dry-walled/sheetrocked.   After talking with several drywall … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After

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It’s Finished! Welcome to My Cozy Bookstore Book Nook

December 16, 2022 by 31 Comments

I should have known when I purchased a book nook kit I wouldn't be able to leave it alone until it was finished. I'm the same way when doing a puzzle. I'm always so eager to see it completed, it calls my name and haunts me until it's done. When I last shared this Bookstore Book Nook that I had just started, it was only this far along: a few pictures and a couple of shelves on one side wall, and a cute … [Read more...]

Filed Under: BNOTP Library, Christmas Crafts, DIY Crafts & Sewing Tagged With: , , , ,

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7 Centerpiece Ideas for Your Christmas Holiday Table

December 15, 2022 by 10 Comments

Welcome to the 742nd Tablescape Thursday! Over the past few weeks, my internet has been cutting in and out. With all the rain we've had recently, it's gotten 10x worse. The cable company is supposed to arrive any time now so this post will be short on words, but hopefully, you'll find it helpful as you prepare your holiday tables this year. Sometimes the toughest part of setting the table is coming up … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday

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3 Fun, Unique Gift Ideas, Including One for the Person Who Already Has Everything

December 14, 2022 by 15 Comments

I'm always trying to think of fun gifts for my friends and family. I usually try to give them something from their wish list, but I also like to sneak in something they weren't expecting--a little surprise, or maybe even a BIG one. Ha! Explosion Gift Boxes: If you have someone on your gift list who is impossible to buy for, one idea is an Explosion Gift Box. I purchased two of their Halloween Explosion … [Read more...]

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Building An Enchanting Book Nook

December 12, 2022 by 26 Comments

Welcome to the 724th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! I got a bit of disappointing news on Friday--the drywall company that was supposed to start the drywall process in the unfinished side of the basement this week is putting me off for a couple of weeks. At the last minute, he had a huge job come in, a customer who is having him smooth out all the ceilings throughout her whole home. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, BNOTP Library, DIY Crafts & Sewing

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Caught Some Amazing Sales Today & Finished My Christmas Gift Shopping

December 10, 2022 by 6 Comments

I've been shopping for Christmas gifts over the past week and I've found some wonderful treasures. If you've got a few friends and loved ones still on your list, I hope some of these suggestions will be helpful. So when you're shopping for gifts, you have to buy a little something for yourself, right? Hee, hee. I have been wanting one of these adorable book nooks for a long time, but the ones I always … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Gift Ideas, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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Cozy Candlelit Dinner with Lenox Winter Greetings

December 8, 2022 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 741st Tablescape Thursday! We're dining by candlelight in the dining room this week. Why do I have the sudden urge to insert "with Colonel Mustard" into that sentence? ;)   Most of these photos were taken by candlelight or the early morning light coming in through the windows, along with a little bit of light from the lamps on the sideboard. One great thing about taking these … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , ,

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Am I Skipping Christmas This Year?

December 7, 2022 by 44 Comments

Have you ever read the book, Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham--THE John Grisham who normally writes exciting mystery/adventure novels? It's a good one if you haven't read it. It was eventually made into a movie that was similar but not exactly like the book. So am I skipping Christmas? Well, not exactly, I did get my favorite Christmas decoration up--the wreaths. Those are always an absolute must, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home

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A Few Updates For The Guest Room

December 5, 2022 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 723rd Metamorphosis Monday! It's dark and rainy out so I had a tough time getting some decent photos this morning. Yellow walls seem to completely freak out my camera. The walls in my guest room are a pale yellow, not the dark yellow they appear below.   This photo is a bit more accurate, but still too dark. The yellow you see above the secretary is a bit more accurate. I am … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Before & After

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Sharing Two New Purchases That Would Make Great Gifts or Stocking Stuffers

December 4, 2022 by 3 Comments

When I shop for Christmas presents each year, I always try to shop for those things that I already know the recipient wants or has on their wish list. If I don't have that information to go on, then I look to those things that I enjoy and know to be wonderful or add value to my life. One of those "add-value-to-my-life" things is this Hagerty Jewelry Keeper that's designed where we can actually see our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Gift Ideas, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds

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Can You Guess What Robin Used To Create This Charming Christmas Village For Her Holiday Mantel?

December 2, 2022 by 5 Comments

My son was always a huge Lego fan growing up and he often received a Lego set for birthdays and Christmas, but I never expected to buy a Lego set for myself. Then Lego produced the Home Alone house and they had my full, undivided attention. Ha! I was so influenced by that home when I saw the movie, I know it subconsciously influenced my choice of home--including the one I've lived in for the past 33 years. … [Read more...]

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My 4 Favorite Christmas-Winter China Designs & What I’m Adding To My Collection From The Sale

December 1, 2022 by 18 Comments

Welcome to the 740th Tablescape Thursday! If you've ever wanted to purchase a beautiful, classic, never-going-out-of-style Christmas china, this is definitely the time! The sales are excellent right now for all my absolute favorite Christmas and Winter designs! Are you a fan of Lenox Holiday? It doesn't get much more classic than this gorgeous pattern. I chose it for this whimsical Christmas table … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

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Kinda Late On This One, But the Sale is a Great One!

November 29, 2022 by 5 Comments

A while back Alda left this comment on a post. Will be watching too for your favorite Christmas shirts for your grands. I purchased the Dino shirts last year you shared, and my littles LOVED them . Can’t wait to see what you find for boys are hard to find cute shirts that are classics. Alda, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to pull this post together, but it's finally here. Here are just a few of the fun … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds

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Lots of Fun Updates from Decorating to Organizing to Filling Up a New Freezer

November 28, 2022 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 722nd Metamorphosis Monday! Have you started or completed your holiday decorating? I got my wreaths up a few days before Thanksgiving, but that's about as far as I've gotten. If you would like more info about how I hang my wreaths each year, you'll find a post where I share the details here: How to Hang Wreaths on Exterior Windows.     So, it took me a while but I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , ,

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All My Black Friday Favorites, Gift Ideas–Plus Some Beautiful Holiday Party Outfit Ideas

November 25, 2022 by 9 Comments

I'm just starting to scope out some of the Black Friday deals and wanted to share a few that I thought were noteworthy. I've mentioned before how much I adore my DeWalt drill. They have an amazing deal on the drill set that comes with a battery and the charger plus, the drill bit set. I just recently purchased the drill bit set and I used it last night to hang my Dyson Cordless Vacuum on the wall in my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspire

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Thanksgiving Table with Spode Woodland, Waterford Araglin & Towle King Richard

November 24, 2022 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 739th Tablescape Thursday! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! I'm not hosting Thanksgiving this year, but after the freezer was delivered yesterday, I put together a small table for four late last night that I hope you'll enjoy. This post is a mix of photos taken last night in low lighting and a few taken this morning in the natural light coming in through the breakfast room … [Read more...]

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Buying My First Freezer, Crazy About This Rail-Basket Organizing System!

November 21, 2022 by 61 Comments

Welcome to the 721st Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you had a fabulous fall weekend! I was busy making the most out of my recently updated storage room. I brought down more centerpieces/decorative pieces that had been stored in my laundry room cabinets so they would all be together in one spot.   I still had so much available space on the floor below the shelves, the … [Read more...]

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Obsessed! These Are My Favorite For Errand Running & Daily Wear, So Warm, Too!

November 20, 2022 by 4 Comments

Just a quick Sunday post to share these wonderful joggers I found recently. After ordering one pair, I loved them so much, I ordered two more pairs. I just ordered a 4th pair today because I know they'll eventually sell out and I'll still want to have them available next winter. They have become my "uniform" for every day and they look so much nicer in person than they appear in this photo online. They are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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26 Festive, Beautiful Ways to Decorate & Prepare Your Home for the Holidays!

November 18, 2022 by 7 Comments

I'm so ready and excited to add wreaths to the front of my home! I hope to get that done this weekend. I know a lot of you have started your decorating, many are already done!  It's exciting and fun to have our homes all decorated and festive for the holidays, especially when family we rarely get to see visits us for Thanksgiving. In today's post, I've rounded up 26 ideas that I hope you'll find helpful … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor

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A Special Halloween Birthday Tea Party

November 17, 2022 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 738th Tablescape Thursday! Selma throws the most amazing tea parties! In a recent email, Selma wrote, "I wanted to do something special for my granddaughter for her birthday, and my first thought was a Princess Tea, but when her mom mentioned how much Gia loves Halloween, I asked (Gia) if she wanted a Halloween Birthday Tea. The answer was, YES! So, you know how it goes with the grandbabies-- … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Table Settings, Halloween Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tea Party Tablescapes

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A Basement-Terrace Level Reveal, Sharing All 3 Spaces and How They Look Now!

November 14, 2022 by 50 Comments

Welcome to the 720th Metamorphosis Monday! I am so excited to give you an update reveal on the basement area. As you look at these pictures, please keep in mind that the basement is still not complete--I have many more plans for this space! You may remember when I first started this process a few weeks ago, the basement stairs looked like this. Not sure why, but when this home was built in 1982-83, the … [Read more...]

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Gift Ideas for the Holidays & Sharing a Special Love of Mine That I’ve Never Shared Before

November 12, 2022 by 12 Comments

With Christmas just 43 days away, I'm sharing some of my absolute favorites that I know from personal experience make great gifts--either for you or for someone else. Before we go holiday shopping, if you plan to hang wreaths this year, especially outdoors, the shop where I purchased mine when I replaced all mine a few years ago, has them back in stock again this year.   The bows with the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Gift Ideas, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds

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Not Your Usual Tablescape Thursday Post, Lantern-Centerpiece Storage

November 10, 2022 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 737th Tablescape Thursday! Lots going on here today, I have an electrician here installing a second outlet on the unfinished side of the basement. I moved my workbench from the semi-finished side of the basement to the unfinished side. The unfinished part of the basement only has one outlet. I may eventually add a smallish chest freezer to that space, so I needed an additional outlet for my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Tablescape Thursday

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My October Favorites & A Sneak-Peek Look at the Basement Paint Colors

November 9, 2022 by 4 Comments

There's no such thing as sleeping-in a single day around here. Ha! With all that's been going on this week, even if I wanted to sleep in an extra hour for some painting-muscle-recovery, my mind is wide awake before dawn every day. That's the way it works with my brain when there's so much going on. Does that happen to you too when you have renovations going on? Yesterday the painters finished in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Monthly Favorites

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Painting Starts Today! Also, Progress Has Been Made in the Crawl Space Storage

November 7, 2022 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 719th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was great! I spent it working here in the crawl space area of the basement. My muscles are spent! When I last shared this area, I had just started priming shelves in this space for painting. I also planned to use Drylock on the walls since it's what I found recommended when I did a search for the best paint for basement … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After

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Cozy Autumn Table With a Nandina & Pumpkin Centerpiece

November 3, 2022 by 45 Comments

Welcome to the 736th Tablescape Thursday! After my long 8-9 hour drive back home on Tuesday, I was pretty tired yesterday, but I was itching to set a table with one of my favorite fall dinnerware patterns. It was getting dark by the time I finished this table, so the lighting is not the natural lighting I would have preferred.   This morning I took a few photos in lower lighting and I … [Read more...]

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A Sassy GPS, Renaissance Fun and Some Adorable Shopping Finds

November 2, 2022 by 34 Comments

I've just returned from spending time with family in Ohio. It was a fun visit with football games, great food, Halloween shenanigans, and a visit to the Renaissance festival. It has been many years since I visited a Renaissance festival--we used to go almost every year when my son was growing up. After spending a fun day going through mazes, eating barbeque, and watching full-armored combat that went from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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Entering Into the World of James Bond for Halloween This Year, Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2022 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 718th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Halloween! Did you go to any great Halloween parties this year? Jackie, a lovely BNOTP reader who has become a friend over the years, hosts an amazing Halloween party each year! She always chooses a theme for the party, then completely transforms her home around that theme. You may remember last year's theme which was Star Trek.     If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Halloween Crafts, Halloween Decor, Halloween Movies, TV & Movie House Fun Tagged With: , , , , ,

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Gifted Stemware Sets The Theme For This Halloween Tablescape

October 28, 2022 by 13 Comments

Gina, a lovely BNOTP reader, received some fun stemware this year as a gift, and it was just in time for Halloween!   I love the color scheme of this Halloween table setting! The orange really pops again the black and white.   Gina included her ravens from Hobby Lobby in her centerpiece. I need to do a search to see how to tell Ravens from Crows. Anyone … [Read more...]

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A Spooky, Fun Halloween Dinner Party, Plus, Some Clever Ideas for Your Halloween Decor

October 27, 2022 by 11 Comments

Welcome to the 735th Tablescape Thursday! Norma, a lovely BNOTP reader whose tables I've shared before, recently had friends over dinner. She created a whimsical table setting with a fun Halloween theme.   Norma always finds the neatest things in her local charity shops in France, so many of the items she used in her decorations were thrifted.   Norma said, "I made the napkins … [Read more...]

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Autumn Foliage, Sunshine Puddles & Last Minute Inspiration for Your Halloween Porch

October 26, 2022 by 10 Comments

Happy Autumn! It's definitely looking like fall here in Ohio. Our unseasonably warm temps have vanished and we're back to cooler weather now. The trees are so beautiful, they take my breath away!   I love driving down the tree-lined neighborhood streets and soaking in all this glorious autumn color!   Speaking of autumn colors, Hobbes, one of my son's kitties, is dressed for … [Read more...]

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Take a Tour of This Beautiful Home Decorated with Lots of Halloween Whimsy!

October 24, 2022 by 11 Comments

Welcome to the 717th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, my friend, Teresa, who lives in the great state of Texas, was invited to tour a beautiful home that was all decked out for Halloween. Teresa asked the lovely homeowner, Ann, if she could take photos of her fun decorations and Ann graciously agreed. Thanks so much to Teresa and Ann for sharing this wonderful tour!   Ohhh, I think I see a … [Read more...]

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