My May Favorites, Including Stylish & Very Affordable Polarized Sunglasses!

Happy Weekend! I have so many great May favorites to share with you today! I've been looking forward to doing this post all this month! If you were one of the folks who commented that you wanted to purchase the cabinet that I've been buying to use here in the garage...   ...and now in my basement, they are back in stock again. I just got a third one for the basement on Thursday and put it … [Read more...]


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Tabletop Shopping, A Yeti Mini-Drama, & More Renovations And Updates

Welcome to the 767th Tablescape Thursday! The last few days have been crazy busy with workmen here almost every day. I've been working on those last bits and pieces that I need to get done in the garage and basement before moving on to focusing on bathroom renovations. Also, I finally got up the nerve to get the roof washed/cleaned. Looking forward to sharing some of the updates that have been taking place … [Read more...]


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Easy Solution For “Fixing” & Hiding Beige Outlets In A Room With White Trim

Welcome to the 749th Metamorphosis Monday! Last year I had the "almost finished" side of the basement painted. The walls were painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove and the trim was painted in Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. Chantilly Lace is a bright white with an LRV of 92.2.   Though this basement is a daylight basement with 5 good-size windows and two French doors, I wanted to keep the room … [Read more...]


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I’ve Been Summer Party Shopping & I Caught Some Great Deals!

Last May, a couple of weeks before their birthdays that fall just 6 days apart, I bought my son and daughter-in-law this awesome frozen drink maker. We had a blast making drinks with it during the time I was visiting. I've made frozen smoothies for my grandsons with it on subsequent visits.   Yesterday, I stopped by Old Time Pottery on the way back home from another errand and found the … [Read more...]


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14 Beautiful, Whimsical Flatware Designs & A Strategy For Acquiring Them All! ;)

Welcome to the 766th Tablescape Thursday! Have you ever done an online search for unique flatware? Every so often I do that just to see what fun, whimsical flatware has been created. I love a beautiful elegant table setting, but my favorite tables are the fun ones, those tables that make you smile or feel a bit like a kid again. Sometimes it's the flatware that can really bring a bit of magic or fun to a … [Read more...]


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Some Fun Ideas for Summer: Crafts and Decor Ideas

Recently someone asked in the comments about this 3-tiered planter pictured here on the potting bench that I painted in the color, Dahlia. It made me realize that I really should occasionally link back to some of the hundreds of posts I've written over the past 15 years because many are still relevant. This post took me forever to put together this morning because I found myself rereading them all again and … [Read more...]


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So…How Do You Feel About Purple?

Welcome to the 748th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a restful Memorial Day weekend and are enjoying some additional time off today. When I last shared the basement storage/work room, the painting was mostly finished except for the windows and some areas that needed a bit of touch-up. Before I share how it looks now, here's a photo of where we started. This side of the basement was functional for storage … [Read more...]


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3 Special Father’s Day Gift Ideas

I just ordered a gift for my son, but not sure when I'll give it to him. He has a birthday coming up, but the special coffee maker I gave him recently was really an early B'day present.   My friend, Susan, shared a wonderful tote this morning that she had just purchased. While shopping the website I came across another tote (on sale for 10% off) that I thought would be great for the bi-annual … [Read more...]


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The Tablecloth Really Changes Everything

Welcome to the 765th Tablescape Thursday! How is your week going? It's been a busy one here. The painter finished painting the storage room yesterday, and on Tuesday, I started priming/painting the workbench in this room. I hope to finish it today or tomorrow. Look forward to sharing the finished space on Monday!   We are back out on the porch for this week's Tablescape Thursday. The weather … [Read more...]


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So Close Now–Almost Done!

Welcome to the 747th Metamorphosis Monday! The basement storage room is so close to being finished now. When I last shared this space, this is how it looked.   Here's a quick update on where things are as of this morning. Baseboard was installed and the walls and baseboard have been painted. I went with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for the walls and the trim--semi-gloss for the trim and … [Read more...]


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April Favorites, A Chairside Table I Really Want For My Bedroom + 2 Handbags I’m Eyeing For Summer

Happy Weekend! The new storage cabinet arrived yesterday. It's downstairs in the basement, awaiting its assembly. I have to admit, I'm a tad nervous after what happened last time I put one together. I just have to remind myself that was a fluke because I didn't have any issues all the other times I've put this cabinet together. Looking forward to sharing some updates with you on Monday!   I'm … [Read more...]


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2 Tables That Are A Work In Progress & I’m A Little Distracted This Week

Welcome to the 764th Tablescape Thursday! I've been working on a table the last couple of weeks, but I'm having trouble finding the right salad plates. These adorable flamingo napkins are my inspiration, but when shopping for flamingo-themed salad plates in the right color, I'm only finding the melamine version. I may end up having to buy those since that seems to be all that's available. Here's a little … [Read more...]


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I Bought A Forever Dress Last Night + A Great Double Sale!

This is a bold statement since it hasn't even arrived yet, but I think I purchased a "forever" dress last night. I've been searching for a long time for an all-cotton or cotton/linen blend maxi dress for summer. I didn't want a sundress style, wanted it to have sleeves since I sunburn so easily. It was love at first sight when I came across this dress last night. I love that it's a blend of cotton and … [Read more...]


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When Things Go Sideways–Literally! Never Had This Happen Before!

Welcome to the 746th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! I hope you had a fabulous weekend! Mine was great except for one mind-numbing incident. lol So you know how I've put together a gazillion of these white storage cabinets for use here in the garage? I have 9 here in the garage--five along the side wall and four on the front wall.   I decided to order two for the basement storage room … [Read more...]


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Porch Dining: A Spring-Summer Table Setting Out On The Porch

Welcome to the 763rd Tablescape Thursday! It's been so warm here this week and I am loving it! I couldn't resist a sunny, happy table out here on the porch.   I hope you are seeing warmer temps, too!   This has been a busy few days with an electrician here adding new lighting to the basement, crawl-space storage room, and the upstairs hallway. If you missed those posts, click … [Read more...]


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New Lighting For The Upstairs Hall & This Lighting Has A Surprise, Unique Feature

When I had an electrician here on Friday to add recessed lighting to the storage/utility room in the basement, I also had him change out the three lights in my upstairs hallway to recessed lighting, recessed lighting with a special, built-in feature. This was the lighting that was in the long, upstairs hallway.   Two of the three lights are visible in this previous photo from when I was … [Read more...]


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Wow! What a Difference New Lighting Can Make–The Basement Is Almost Done Now

Welcome to the 745th Metamorphosis Monday! One week ago I shared an update on the storage/workroom part of my basement. I had just had flooring installed...the same type of epoxy flooring seen here in the garage.   I was surprised and a little disappointed when I saw how it looked here in the basement. It seemed a lot darker in this room than it had in the garage.   Ummm. I … [Read more...]


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The Perfect Mother’s Day Sale & A Special Spring-Summer Dress

Time to spoil yourself for summer--Talbots is having a wonderful Mother's Day Sale and I found sooo many cute things! I'm in love with this skirt! It reminds me so much of my trip to Positano, Italy. It makes me want to travel there right now!   Here's a close up this beautiful skirt...love! It's on sale 40% off with the code MOM at checkout here: Beautiful Skirt.   I've always … [Read more...]


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3 Special Table Settings Featuring Beautiful Vintage Tablecloths!

Welcome to the 762nd Tablescape Thursday! Oh my gosh, it's been a wild week around here! I had planned to complete the work on the unfinished part of my basement at a gradual pace over the next couple of months, but I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to go full-steam ahead. I'm eager to get my workbench and freezer moved back into the room as soon as possible, so that means going ahead and scheduling to … [Read more...]


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Such a Big Improvement–Love This Spice Rack Organizer!

My spice organization left a lot to be desired. The only place I have near my stove to store spices is inside this relatively narrow cabinet next to the stove. To try and make it more functional, I have a lot of my spices on a little turntable. It's not a great system because when I need a particular spice, I have to spin it around and around searching for the one that I need. Often, the smaller spice … [Read more...]


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How The Epoxy Flooring In The Basement Turned Out & Lighting Is Next!

Welcome to the 744th Metamorphosis Monday! The flooring in the unfinished area of the basement is done and it looks a bit different from how I had imagined it would look. You may remember this is how it looked before its makeover.   A previous owner of my home had it painted white at some point. It was pretty scraped up and had some impossible-to-remove stains, so I decided to give it the … [Read more...]


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What Do You Think About This Shelving & A Sneak Peak At The New Flooring

Happy Weekend! I hope you are having a great one! Just wanted to pop in with a brief update. The guys from Granite Garage just finished up with the flooring in the unfinished part of the basement today. You may remember the floor in that part of the basement looked like this. (This photo was taken before I had the drywall added.)   A previous homeowner apparently had it painted at one time. … [Read more...]


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Did The Tables Inspire The Cakes, Or Did The Cakes Inspire The Tables?

Welcome to the 761st Tablescape Thursday! Recently Warren sent me an email sharing a dilemma he found himself in--his wife had placed him on a dish ban. ;) I'll let Warren explain below. "Recently, I had a problem. I love to create colorful, sometimes whimsical but also functional tablescapes for our frequent dinner parties, however, there are only so many different tablescapes one can set from a limited … [Read more...]


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A Wee Bit Of Luxury, These Make A Beautiful Gift For Mother’s Day

I purchased a new lipstick refill for a case I bought recently and it arrived today. As I admired the color, I thought about how a beautiful lipstick case would make a great Mother's Day gift, especially with a special engraving inside. Quite a few years back, I fell in love with the bow-shaped lipstick cases from House of Sillage and ended up purchasing quite a few as I caught them on sale over the next … [Read more...]


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How The Solar Fountain Is Working & An Exciting Basement Update Coming Soon

Welcome to the 743rd Metamorphosis Monday! A few days ago I shared an addition I had purchased for the heated bird bath I keep out year around on my deck.   I had ordered a solar fountain for the bird bath. This bird bath see a lot of visitors throughout the day so I thought it would be something the birds would enjoy.   The solar fountain arrived yesterday and I pretty quickly … [Read more...]


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My March Favorites + A New Purchase That’s Arriving Today

Happy Weekend! Hope you are having a great one! I didn't want to let April get totally gone without sharing my favorites from last month. Sooo, ya know how Legos can be a bit pricey...when I was shopping for something fun for my grandsons for spring/Easter, I came across this adorable Lego bunny set and was surprised by how reasonably it was priced. This set actually makes into three different animals. I … [Read more...]


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

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...]


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

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

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...]


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Ma Maison, My Favorite Dinnerware For Porch Dining

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

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!

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...]


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A Ray of Sunshine On A Beautiful Spring Day!

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...]


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

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

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

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...]


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Beautiful Tables–So Much Inspiration From Aris

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...]


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

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...]


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

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...]


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

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...]


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This One Is For The Coffee Lovers

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!

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

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...]


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

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!

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...]


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

Welcome to the 737th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I had a situation come up that truly brought back 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 … [Read more...]


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

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...]


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

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

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

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...]


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All My Favorites for Spring and Easter This Year

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...]


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

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

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...]


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

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...]


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

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...]


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

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

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? ;)

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...]


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

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...]


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My Top 10 Favorite Amazon Finds In 2022

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...]


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

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!

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...]


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

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

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...]


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

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...]


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Beautiful Puzzles That Have Me Dreaming of Spring

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!

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...]


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All My December Favorites

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...]


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A Great Way to Store Your Beautiful Headbands

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!

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...]


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

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...]


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Have You Ever Tried Freezing Eggs?

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...]


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

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...]


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A Cozy Valentine’s Day Table by Lamplight

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

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!

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...]


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

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...]


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A Winter Holiday Birthday Celebration in Purple and Gold

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...]


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Sometimes It’s The Little Tweaks That Make Life Better

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...]


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Whimsical Lenox Nutcrackers In An Elegant Christmas Table Setting

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

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...]


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Touring 2 Homes Beautifully Decorated For The Christmas Holidays

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

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...]


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My November Favorites + A Few Extras

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...]


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

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...]


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

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...]


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7 Centerpiece Ideas for Your Christmas Holiday Table

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...]


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

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

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...]