It Took A While, But At Last It’s Done!

February 12, 2018 by 45 Comments

Welcome to the 472nd Metamorphosis Monday! Last September I shared some information I had gathered regarding the process of having VHS and 8mm Tapes transferred over to DVD. If you have the right equipment, you could probably do it yourself, but since the tapes I wanted to have converted over contained irreplaceable, precious memories of my son and other family members, some who are no longer here, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspire

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Online Shopping for End-of-Winter Deals & Loving the New Spring Fashions

February 11, 2018 by 21 Comments

L.L. Bean is having an End-of-Season sale, just wanted to share this in case you're looking for some last minute goodies to get you through the winter. I just ordered this coat for my son. With the sale, plus an additional 25% off at checkout, it ended up being half off. Awesome sale! They have gotten a lot of snow this winter so I thought he would enjoy it when playing outdoors in the snow with his … [Read more...]

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

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Beautiful Inspiration for Your Spring and Easter Tables

February 8, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 489th Tablescape Thursday! I always love to stop by Pottery Barn this time of year to see what they have available for Easter and spring table settings. It appears they have a Friends and Family 20% off sale going right now with the code FAMILY at checkout. I'm happy to see they brought back the bunny bowl I purchased last year. I love this bowl! I keep mine out all through spring and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Easter Holiday Home, Easter Table Settings, Easter Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , , ,

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A Great Way to Carry Your Favorite Perfume In Your Handbag & When Traveling

February 7, 2018 by 37 Comments

This post is for the perfume lovers. I know some folks don't care for perfume or may even be allergic to it. If that's you, please feel free to skip this post and come back tomorrow when you'll find a new post on a different topic. If you love perfume as much as I do, read on! Hope you enjoy! :) Perfume is a passion of mine and I'm always up for trying new scents. Lately I'm really enjoying some of the … [Read more...]

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Easy Way to Remove Pills and Fuzz from Cashmere & Wool Sweaters

February 5, 2018 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 471st Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope you had an awesome weekend! For this week's Met Monday, I have a great little tool to share, something I've been meaning to share all winter. At the start of fall this past year, I noticed a lot of my sweaters were covered with little pills here and there, especially my light-weight cashmere sweaters. I have a battery-operated pill-remover … [Read more...]

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Inside Ballynahinch Castle: Take a Tour of this Romantic Irish Castle

February 2, 2018 by 22 Comments

I've been dying to take you inside Ballynahinch Castle ever since I returned from Ireland, but it has taken a while to get through all the photos I took. Pictures could never do this beautiful castle justice, but at least they will give you a little idea of how magical it feels to stay there. In this post I'm sharing a mix of photos, some taken by me and some from the Ballynahinch Castle website. Those … [Read more...]

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Valentine’s Day Table Setting with a Guest Appearance by the Easter Bunny

February 1, 2018 by 73 Comments

Welcome to the 488th Tablescape Thursday! We are in the dining room for this week's Tablescape Thursday.   It was quite late when I took these photos, so please excuse some of the darker pics.   Update: Adding a photo taken this morning with a bit of natural light coming in through the windows.   Have you ever wondered what the Easter Bunny does during the off … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Valentine's Day Table Settings, Valentine's Day Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , ,

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Hiking the Grounds of Beautiful Ballynahinch Castle, Galway, Ireland

January 30, 2018 by 35 Comments

Ireland is a magical, beautiful place. I would love to go back again someday. The tour I took last summer was a "Castle" tour, so in addition to touring Ireland during the day, the nights were just as magical because they were spent sleeping in fairy tale castles and manor homes along the way. I loved all the homes and castles we stayed in, but my favorite of all was Ballynahinch Castle located in a … [Read more...]

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Denim Transfer, The Bane of Handbag Lovers Everywhere

January 29, 2018 by 114 Comments

Welcome to the 470th Metamorphosis Monday! Update: I found a much better product that has worked for removing denim transfer from my car's leather seats and from my office chair. I've linked to it at the very end of this post. I fell in love with wearing denim jeggings this past fall, those and the "ankle-slim" pants have become my faves. Unfortunately, having never worn really dark denim jeans in the … [Read more...]

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My 10 Favorite Home & Home-Making Related Purchases of 2017

January 27, 2018 by 37 Comments

Happy weekend! How's your weekend going? If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you probably know I'm not a fan of scary movies, but I may try watching Winchester (starring Helen Mirren) with my hands over my eyes. lol The movie is hitting theaters in early February, but  I'll most likely wait until it comes to Amazon since I can't imagine seeing a scary movie on the wide-screen! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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A Cozy, Woodland, Candlelight Dinner for Cold, Winter Nights

January 25, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 487th Tablescape Thursday! During the winter months, I love surrounding myself with plaid as much as possible, be it a plaid throw at night when I'm reading, a plaid scarf to keep me warm when I run errands or colorful, plaid plates for cozy dining.   This winter table has a woodland-deer theme. I kept the centerpiece simple, using two cute deer I've had for several years … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fall Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: , , ,

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Hall Tree Decision, A Missing Bag, A Delightful Book, My Fave Winter Lotion & A Scrumptious Scarf

January 24, 2018 by 31 Comments

Can you believe I'm just now storing away all my Christmas wreaths? I took the wreaths off the windows after I returned from Germany, but due to being sick and then going out of town for 8-9 days, I'm just now getting everything put away. And you know what, I feel zero guilt about it. lol Getting well and visiting family were all way more important than putting the wreaths back in storage and taking down … [Read more...]

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The Perfect Mudroom Hall Tree with Bench, Drawers & Cubbies

January 22, 2018 by 57 Comments

Welcome to the 469th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your input on which bag to go with in yesterday's post! I need to tally up the votes but reading through all the comments, I'm pretty sure the Prada bag came out the favorite, followed by the Chloe Drew. Based on your comments, I went ahead and ordered the Prada bag that night. I will compare it with Chloe bag that I had already ordered … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, Laundry Room, My Nest

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Help Me Choose: 3 Beautiful Pink-Nude Bags for Spring and Summer

January 20, 2018 by 128 Comments

Happy Saturday! I am back home now, made the long drive yesterday from Ohio to Georgia and fortunately, the roads were great. The sun was out the whole way. I think that's the first time I've ever made that drive in sunshine, usually it's raining. I didn't even have any slow downs due to accidents or construction, definitely a first on that, too! So, my obsession with pink seems to be continuing. I'm … [Read more...]

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A Playful Dinner for Two

January 18, 2018 by 58 Comments

Welcome to the 486th Tablescape Thursday! I had expected to be home by now and was planning on creating a table for this week's Tablescape Thursday. With all the snow and ice moving in across the southern states yesterday, I decided to delay my return by a couple of days. Getting stuck on the interstate or a side road somewhere didn't sound too appealing! The temps are supposed to start rising today … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children's Tablescapes, Tables for Two Tagged With: , , , ,

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Preventing & Healing Split Fingertips In Winter

January 17, 2018 by 88 Comments

The snow has decided to stay a while here in Ohio. It snowed every day for 3-4 days in a row and the temps have stayed quite low. I'm not used to seeing this view out my windshield when driving.   All the neighborhoods look like this one. The snow plows have been coming through several times a day, so the roads are in pretty good shape.   I was amazed how quickly my car started … [Read more...]

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Nature-Themed Woodland Makeover for a Beautiful Paneled Study

January 15, 2018 by 38 Comments

Welcome to the 468th Metamorphosis Monday! The last few days I've been away visiting family. A week or so ago, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make this trip since I was still quite sick. But the antibiotic worked so well, I was fine to make the drive to see family and celebrate a late Christmas with my grandchildren since we weren't able to be together at Christmastime. The weather turned snowy so I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor

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A Peppermint-Candy Fantasy Table & Kitchen

January 11, 2018 by 40 Comments

Welcome to the 485th Tablescape Thursday! Before I left for Germany, I visited with my friend Marie and took photos of the beautiful tables she had created for family and friends. Marie had all her tables set for an upcoming Christmas dinner party. Marie hosts a lot of events in her home throughout the year, so it's always so much fun to see her decorations. I was afraid I wouldn't get the chance to … [Read more...]

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

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Making Progress & A Favorite Sweater Is On Sale

January 8, 2018 by 96 Comments

Welcome to the 467th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm still sick, but getting better. When I visited Urgent Care last week, the doctor said to call her if I wasn't better by Thursday and she would call in an antibiotic. I was still not getting any better when Thursday came around, so I called the next day on Friday. My breathing has been terrible and all I have wanted to do is sleep--all day and all … [Read more...]

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

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Green, White, Silver and Crystal for an Elegant Table Setting

January 4, 2018 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 484th Tablescape Thursday! Just before I left for the Christmas Markets trip to Germany, I visited with my friend Marie and snapped some photos of her beautiful Christmas tables. The dining room has the perfect spot for a Christmas tree.   For her main dining table, Marie created a stunningly elegant table setting. Notice the greenery around the very top of the chandelier. I … [Read more...]

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

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Test Results and 4,000 Missing Bags

January 2, 2018 by 182 Comments

Just a quick post to say Thank-you for all the well-wishes and all the helpful information you left in the comments of yesterday's post. I've heard from several folks who said they have also benefited from the information you shared. The Flight Home: The flight home yesterday was brutal, only way to describe it. As soon as we got airborne it was much harder to breathe. I never watch movies on airplanes, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Germany, Travel

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A Very Rough End to 2017

December 31, 2017 by 193 Comments

Welcome to the 466th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Year to you! As I write this from the Sheraton Hotel in the Charles de Gaulle airport, it's 5:00 AM here in Paris. Sounds glamorous--spending New Year's Eve in Paris, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's not as wonderful as it sounds since I've never left the airport. One of these days I'm going to see more of France than just its airport! I had to miss my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Germany, Travel

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Mixing Plaids and Tartans for a Festive Holiday Table

December 28, 2017 by 23 Comments

Welcome to the 483rd Tablescape Thursday! Recently Martha had friends over for "Dinner and Dominos." Doesn't that sound like fun! I haven't played Dominos in so long, I'm not sure I remember how.   Like so many of us, Martha loves tartans and plaids. I think they are so festive and not just for Christmas. They add so much color and happiness to any room, creating a perfect winter … [Read more...]

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

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Christmas in Cologne, Germany

December 24, 2017 by 38 Comments

Welcome to the 465th Metamorphosis Monday! Merry Christmas! Since Met Monday falls on Christmas Day this year, I'm putting this post up a bit early. I guess my Before and After this week is a travel one since I'm spending Christmas in a way I've never done before: floating down the Rhine River stopping every so often to visit the Christmas Markets and historic sites we find along the way. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Germany, Travel Tagged With: , , ,

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Christmas in Heaven

December 21, 2017 by 39 Comments

Welcome to the 482nd Tablescape Thursday! Elena always creates the most magical table settings. Earlier this year she experienced a tremendous loss when her sister, Anna, passed away at the age of 62. This Christmas will be the first Christmas since Anna's passing. Elena shared some photos with me of the beautiful table she created for Christmas this year. Elena said, "My idea of a different kind of … [Read more...]

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

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Packing for The Netherlands, Germany & France at Christmastime

December 19, 2017 by 59 Comments

I've received a few comments asking if I would share what I will be wearing during my upcoming trip to Germany. I'll be packing the usual suspects: pants, sweaters, turtlenecks, scarves and boots, but I'm finding packing for this trip a lot more challenging. The problem is sweaters are really fat and fluffy, so they take up a lot of space. But I love sweaters so I'm determined to take several, even if I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Germany, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,

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A Whimsically Decorated, Fantasy Porch for Christmas

December 18, 2017 by 63 Comments

Welcome to the 464th Metamorphosis Monday! I'll be leaving soon to visit the Christmas Markets in The Netherlands, Germany and France. I plan to post some while I'm away provided the ship has WiFi that will let me upload photos to a post. The biggest issue I've found when traveling in the past is that it seems everyone on the ship tries to access the wi-fi at once, which pretty much brings it to a crawl. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,

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Last Minute Christmas Deals & The Coat I’ll Be Wearing In Germany for Christmas

December 15, 2017 by 52 Comments

A lot of stores are having last minute sales with free shipping for the holiday season. Here are a few that caught my eye. Sundance is offering 20% off this weekend, along with free shipping. I'm eyeing this beautiful cardigan here: Cardigan.   Frye has a great sale going on, 25% off with the code: CHILLY at Checkout. So if you've been lusting after a pair of Frye shoes or boots, this is a … [Read more...]

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

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Woodland Christmas Table Setting with Magnolia Centerpiece

December 14, 2017 by 40 Comments

Welcome to the 481st Tablescape Thursday! Remember that crazy snow storm we had recently...   ...the one that left an epic 8 inches of snow in my yard?   The magnolia tree in my front yard lost more branches than I've ever seen it lose during a snow or ice storm. Once the storm was over, I found branches laying on the ground all the way around the tree. There were so many in … [Read more...]

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

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A Christmas Markets Trip Along the Rhine & Soup to Warm You On This Cold Day

December 12, 2017 by 68 Comments

I had a big decision to make today. So what did I do? I procrastinated and started cutting up vegetables, instead.   This is the best vegetable beef soup! It smells so insanely good while cooking...makes the whole house smell that way, too.  It's made from a recipe I found in an old Southern Living magazine, if I'm remembering correctly. I always change the recipe a bit by adding some stew … [Read more...]

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Goodbye Shoulder Bumps: Hangers Designed for Holding Cardigan Sweaters

December 11, 2017 by 39 Comments

Welcome to the 463rd Metamorphosis Monday! This has been such a wacky morning. When I "woke-up" my computer today to complete my post for Met Monday, the "Caps Lock" button was stuck in the "on" position. The key itself wasn't physically stuck down, but it was showing a little green light indicating the caps lock was on, and no matter what I did, it wouldn't turn off. Can you imagine me typing out and … [Read more...]

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A Few Winter Wardrobe Additions and Gift Ideas

December 10, 2017 by 38 Comments

This fall/winter I've been on a quest to completely overhaul my winter wardrobe, focusing on two things: comfort and warmth. I added a few more pieces this past week and thought I'd share those in this post in case you're looking to update your winter wardrobe, or just looking for some additional gift ideas. Before this fall I didn't own a single Fair Isle sweater. A lot of the ones I've found over the … [Read more...]

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

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Winter Wonderland

December 8, 2017 by 80 Comments

Snow: some people love it. Some, not so much. I'm afraid I fall into the "not-so-much" category. Wish I could send it all to my son, dil and grandchildren...they love this cold, white stuff.   It snowed off and on all throughout the day.   Earlier in the day I came out long enough to get the snow off the boxwood shrubs and to snap a few pics.   Notice the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home Tagged With: ,

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A Christmas Table Setting for Cat Lovers

December 7, 2017 by 79 Comments

Welcome to the 480th Tablescape Thursday! We're back in the breakfast room for this week's Tablescape Thursday, only there's no sunshine today. It was a rainy, dreary day out, so I decided to make my own sunshine inside. My centerpiece is a bit tall for this spot, so had to slide the table over slightly due to the chandelier.   If you are a cat lover, you're going to love the dishware … [Read more...]

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

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Making Progress and Visiting Bluebirds

December 6, 2017 by 44 Comments

Happy Days! I'm sooo much better! Yesterday was the turning point. I'm way behind on my decorating from being sick for the last ten days, but I got a tremendous amount done today. I purchased a wreath, hung garland around the door, added more ornaments to the tree, wrapped all the presents except two, set a table for Tablescape Thursday, photographed it and had a repairman out to make a few minor repairs. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home

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First Day Results for My Little Impromptu Snack Bar

December 5, 2017 by 51 Comments

A few days ago in THIS post, I shared this really neat idea I saw on Instagram, a way to say "thanks" during the holiday season to those hard-working folks who deliver packages to our door so frequently during this time of year. I'm not sure who started this idea, but I think it may have been Linette at the Instagram account shown below. I order a lot of items online to avoid getting out into the Atlanta … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Gift Ideas, Christmas Holiday Home, Inspire

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Christmas Decorating & Gift Wrapping Update

December 4, 2017 by 49 Comments

Welcome to the 462nd Metamorphosis Monday! In a previous post here at BNOTP, I shared how I'll be wrapping my Christmas gifts this year. This adorable wrapping paper was my inspiration. (Wrapping paper is available here: Wrapping Paper.) I love this cute design so much, I ended up purchasing four rolls. Each roll comes with a lot of paper, love that!   For my present topper this year, each … [Read more...]

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Answering Your Questions & A Christmas Home Tour

December 3, 2017 by 26 Comments

Still haven't turned the corner on this cold, or whatever it is. When I talk, I sound like a man, or maybe a frog--or maybe a man with a croaking frog in his pocket. lol It's embarrassing! When I go someplace like the grocery store, or have to call someone on the phone, I sound ridiculous. Oh well, not much I can do about that. Spent much of the day in bed, just sleeping and trying to get over this yucky … [Read more...]

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12 Days of Christmas Holiday Table Setting

November 30, 2017 by 93 Comments

Welcome to the 479th Tablescape Thursday! I was out of town until late Tuesday night, so didn't get to put a table together until last night. Unfortunately, I was too sick to stay up last night to take photos and create a post. This cold I have is absolutely evil! I'm supposed to go on a Christmas home tour on Saturday, but I'm not sure that will happen. Christmas sure is an inconvenient time to get … [Read more...]

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

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Shopping In an L.L. Bean Store & A Little Treat For Your Delivery Person This Season

November 29, 2017 by 38 Comments

I've been out of town this past week for Thanksgiving. Just got back in late last night around 11 PM. It was a bit of a rough drive since I'm still sick with a yucky cold, but at least the weather was perfect for the trip home. On the way home and just 45 minutes into my trip, I got a wild hair and did something completely unplanned. It was totally a spur of the moment decision. This past week a friend … [Read more...]

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

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My Favorites for Cyber Monday, Love This Time of Year!

November 27, 2017 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 461st Metamorphosis Monday! I couldn't let Cyber Monday go by without sharing my favorites. Many of these things I already have and love, others are on my wish list. A few of the items I had hoped to share today, sold out overnight, like some amazing boots I've been drooling over at Talbots. So if you see something today that you love, don't wait like I did. The best stuff is going fast! I … [Read more...]

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One Dish, Many Celebrations

November 23, 2017 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 478th Tablescape Thursday! Hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends this week. I'm away enjoying visiting with family, so don't have a table to share, but I have something table related that I hope you'll enjoy. Recently I purchased something as a Christmas gift for a family member and loved it so much, I purchased one for myself, as well. You may remember … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Table Settings, Easter Holiday Home, Easter Table Settings, Halloween Table Settings, Independence Day Table Settings, New Year's Table Settings, St. Patrick's Day Table Settings, Tablescape Thursday, Thanksgiving Table Settings, The Holiday Home, Valentine's Day Table Settings Tagged With: , , ,

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A Decorated Tree & Whimsical, Fun Gift Wrapping Idea

November 20, 2017 by 65 Comments

Welcome to the 460th Metamorphosis Monday! The tree is decorated, all except for a pretty topper. The star that I've been using is literally falling apart, plus it has always been a pain to position since it's so heavy. I know the tree probably looks rather simply done, compared to the way trees are decorated in magazines these days. I just prefer a simpler look that let's you see more of the tree. It … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,

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My Favorite Christmas Decoration of All

November 18, 2017 by 29 Comments

Yesterday I finished decorating the tree and hung all the wreaths up on the windows. Seeing the wreaths on the windows is my favorite Christmas decoration of all. Just love the look of wreaths in windows so much! It will be after Thanksgiving before I'll hang garland since I always like to use fresh garland around the door. I'm looking forward to sharing the porch all decorated for Christmas real … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home

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They’re Back, and They’ve Brought 12 New Friends!

November 16, 2017 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the  477th Tablescape Thursday! This past week has been a super busy one, and a tad stressful. It was filled with major updates being made to the blog/site, which thankfully went well, Christmas tree shopping and dentist/doctors appointments. Remind me to never schedule both of those in the same week! Too crazy! Life definitely got in the way of me putting together a new tablescape for this … [Read more...]

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

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It Was Worth the Hunt, Love This Christmas Tree!

November 15, 2017 by 126 Comments

Thanks again for all your suggestions on where to look for a great Christmas tree. Over the past week, I have visited Home Depot, Lowe's, Hobby Lobby, Old Time Pottery and a semi-local place (it was an hour away) called M.C. Twinklins. In the end, the tree that stole my heart was the GE Canadian Just Cut Tree with Easy Light Technology. The Easy Light Technology is the new technology where each section … [Read more...]

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25 Ideas & Tips for Decorating & Preparing for the Holidays

November 14, 2017 by 25 Comments

Today I've pulled together some of my favorite ideas for decorating and entertaining for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. Hope you find this helpful as you decorate, craft, cook and prepare for your festive holiday parties and gatherings. Click on the BLUE title below to access that post for more details. Follow Between Naps On The Porch on Instagram for more of my holiday posts: BNOTP … [Read more...]

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Bears in Sweaters and A Winter Sweater Wardrobe Metamorphosis!

November 13, 2017 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 459th Metamorphosis Monday! I've been on a major flannel shirt and sweater kick this fall. Actually it started last fall when I went through all my sweaters and donated those that were too big or just not my taste anymore. I hadn't realized it until lately, but in the past I've had a tendency to buy sweaters that were really about a size or two, too big for me, thinking that was necessary … [Read more...]

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

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10 Unique Gift Ideas and An Awesome Sale!

November 11, 2017 by 32 Comments

Yesterday I bought a Christmas tree. It's still in its box in the back of my SUV. I have a couple of more places I want to check before I unbox it and put it up. I like it much better than the Balsam Hill tree I purchased recently, and it was half the price! I'm not sure I'll ever buy another tree without first seeing it in person. Hope to share it with you all decorated real soon. 10 Unique Gift … [Read more...]

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Clark Griswold Is At It Again! Get Your Back-up Power Source Ready!

November 9, 2017 by 103 Comments

Welcome to the 476th Tablescape Thursday! Thanks so much for all the wonderful suggestions yesterday regarding where to shop for a Christmas tree. I am going to check them all out over the next few days. I'll be sure to let you know what tree I end up buying. All this talk of Christmas trees has me dreaming of Christmas. Years ago, we used to collect Department 56 houses. I still have them all, though … [Read more...]

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This Fraser Fir Christmas Tree Isn’t What I Expected

November 7, 2017 by 236 Comments

Update, December 3, 2019:  I'm adding an update to this post today, two years after I first published this post. I just looked at the 1-star reviews at the Balsam Hill website, and two years later they've still never posted my 1-star review. If you look at the 1-star reviews there, you'll see a big gap between the years/dates of the negative reviews. Since they've never published my review, I am highly … [Read more...]

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Closet & Door Updates: Small Storage Bench for Putting on Boots and Shoes

November 6, 2017 by 44 Comments

Welcome to the 458th Metamorphosis Monday! So what do you think? This door was a struggle! I'll spare you all the details, but here's the final finish.   This was the "Before" with a cat door that was no longer needed and the other side badly scratched up by a previous home-owners dog.   The new door was installed, and unfortunately cut too short by the installer. So sadly, … [Read more...]

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Finally Chose a Christmas Tree and We’re Shopping in Sundance!

November 4, 2017 by 37 Comments

Happy Weekend! Well, I finally did it! I finally pulled the trigger and ordered my very first Balsam Hill Christmas tree. It arrived yesterday and is currently setting on the floor of my entry, awaiting its unboxing. I'll do that today to make sure everything works. Not sure when I'll decorate it, there's plenty of time for that still.   After much angst, this was the one I chose, the … [Read more...]

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3 Wonderful Halloween Tables & Tips for Creating a Spooky Mist with Dry Ice

November 2, 2017 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 475th Tablescape Thursday! Over the last few days I've received some wonderful photos from BNOTP readers, sharing the amazing tables they put together for Halloween this year. Norma's Spooky but Elegant Halloween Table Norma created an elegant black and white table with beautiful silver accents.   Notice how she used simple, white dinnerware. If you've got a basic set … [Read more...]

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A Time Saver, A Comfort Addition & A Bit of Whimsy for the Christmas Holidays

November 1, 2017 by 40 Comments

Hope you had a fun Halloween evening! I had a lot of Trick or Treaters, as usual. I think it grows every year. I had over 75 last year so I purchased even more candy this year. I lost count, but I think I exceeded last year's numbers. The ones who are trick or treating for the first time are so adorable! Halloween has always been one of my most favorite holidays because I have such good memories of Trick … [Read more...]

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How to Get a Sample of Any Paint Color, Even Older Colors No Longer Available

October 30, 2017 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 457th Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever come across a great paint color online, perhaps on a blog or on Pinterest, only to discover it's an older color that's no longer available? I often get emails or messages from BNOTP readers asking how they can get the color formula for the yellow paint I've used in so many rooms of my home.   This yellow is an older Duron color … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Dining Room, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Entry/Foyer, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs), My Nest Tagged With: , , , ,

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Cozy Inside this Rainy, Blustery Weekend

October 29, 2017 by 30 Comments

It's been a cold, blustery, rainy weekend, definitely feels like winter has arrived, even though it's still just fall. After putting out suet for the birds and making sure the feeders were all filled, I've been doing a bit of online shopping for myself and for Christmas.   I always like to get a head start because Christmas gift shopping and wrapping is the one thing I can always get done … [Read more...]

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

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Noritake Xavier Gold: Perfect for an Autumn or Holiday Table

October 26, 2017 by 78 Comments

Welcome to the 474th Tablescape Thursday! Too cold to create a table setting on the porch this week...   ...or, on the new seating area on the deck.   Since we're inside in the dining room for this week's Tablescape Thursday, it's the perfect time to share a candlelit table with a cozy, autumn feel.   This table wanted to become everything. It wanted to be a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Fall Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Thanksgiving Table Settings, Thanksgiving Tablescapes, Winter Tablescapes

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Critters on My Feet, Part II

October 25, 2017 by 35 Comments

Recently I shared a photo of some adorable scuffs I had purchased for my daughter-in-law and for myself. I got the raccoon version for myself and the kitty version for her.   I've enjoyed these scuffs so much, I couldn't resist buying one more pair. This time I went for the moose! I took this photo outside because they are a subtle forest green that's hard to capture inside. I love wearing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, In the Garden, Nature

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Deck “Before And After” with “Lodge Brown” Solid Stain for the Deck and Railings

October 23, 2017 by 76 Comments

Welcome to the 456th Metamorphosis Monday! Sorry this is going up a bit late. The painters are here finishing the staining of the basement door so I've been downstairs working with them this morning. The makeover of the two decks on the back of my home is complete. I like the brown railing a lot more than I ever thought I would. The stain color is Sherwin Williams, Lodge Brown.   Before, when … [Read more...]

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A Closet Update: Hacking Shelves for Boot & Shoe Storage

October 20, 2017 by 34 Comments

Years ago, shortly after my home was built in the early 1980's, the first owners turned the bedroom that's beside the master bedroom, into a dressing room/closet area. (Read more about that in this post: If These Walls Could Talk: A Mystery Alcove. The bedroom was around 12 x 13 feet and they closed off the door/entrance from the upstairs hallway and cut a large double opening from the master bedroom, … [Read more...]

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3 Halloween Table Settings & A Halloween Craft

October 19, 2017 by 31 Comments

Welcome to the 473rd Tablescape Thursday! Things are still a bit crazy around here with furniture still piled into the breakfast room and the deck furniture piled onto the porch. Fortunately, they are coming today to put everything back onto the deck now that it's dry. Looking forward to getting everything back to normal! Update: Sorry this post is going up a bit late...painters arrived while I was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Crafts, Halloween Holiday Home, Halloween Table Settings, Halloween Tablescapes

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A Visit to Marie’s on All Hallows’ Eve

October 18, 2017 by 42 Comments

I'm working on a little project inside one of the closets in my bedroom, and as usual, I've run into a little snag. It wouldn't be one of my projects without at least one complication popping up involving a need for a mere 1/4 inch. It's always those little quarter inches that get me! lol Looking forward to sharing this little update soon.   In the meantime, let's go visit my friend, Marie! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Decor, Halloween Holiday Home

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Door & Deck Progress

October 16, 2017 by 69 Comments

Welcome to the 455th Metamorphosis Monday. My porch is still a storage area for much of the deck furniture.   I think they will be doing a final coat of stain in some areas either today or tomorrow. After that dries, life can return to normal. I'll be really happy to get all this furniture out of the porch and back onto the decks. lol   Before I share how the deck handrail … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest, Porches & Decks

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Wardrobe Additions & How to Keep Boots from Losing Their Shape and Falling Over

October 14, 2017 by 24 Comments

Work continues on the decks but they are getting close now to being done. The basement door-staining project inside has been a nail biter. I gave my painters a stained piece of trim (left over from when the hardwood flooring was installed in the living room) so they would have something for matching the door stain to the surrounding judges paneling. The first stain they tried on the door wasn't remotely … [Read more...]

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

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Blue Willow & Floral Pumpkin Centerpiece for an Autumn Table

October 12, 2017 by 73 Comments

Welcome to the 472nd Tablescape Thursday! We've decided to skip fall and winter here in Georgia this year. As you can see, the trees are still green and leafy in my back yard, and yesterday was in the 80's. Today we'll reach 85! I'm really not complaining, though. I love summer and love the heat. I wonder when fall arrives, if it will just hit all at once and all the leaves will change and fall off the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blue & White Design & Decor, Fall Tablescapes, Halloween Holiday Home, Halloween Table Settings, Halloween Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , ,

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Critters On My Feet!

October 11, 2017 by 19 Comments

Just a quick post as I take a break from working on tomorrow's post for Tablescape Thursday. Remember these adorable scuffs I shared recently? I purchased a pair for my daughter-in-law since she's a kitty lover, too. I also thought my grandsons would get a kick out of them.   She texted this photo last night saying that my oldest grandson who is 3 years old now, thinks they are hilarious. … [Read more...]

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Antiquing at A Classy Flea

October 10, 2017 by 41 Comments

Thanks for all the input yesterday on the new finial I was trying out. I had seen the brass shamrock several folks mentioned, but I really had my heart set on a dragon or something a bit fanciful and fairy-tale-like. I think I'll just stick with the two finials I have already for now, but will keep an eye out in case something better comes along. Appreciate all your helpful input! Today while out running … [Read more...]

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A New Door & Which Finial Do You Like Best

October 9, 2017 by 79 Comments

Welcome to the 454th Metamorphosis Monday! A few weeks ago I had the door to my  lower level replaced. Sadly, I no longer had a need for a pet door and the door had been scratched rather badly on the other side by the previous owner's dog. It has only taken me 27 years to replace it. I move at a glacial pace as Miranda Priestly would say of Andy in the movie, The Devil Wears Prada. That was on TV last … [Read more...]

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Catching the Sales for Some Fall Wardrobe Additions

October 8, 2017 by 18 Comments

Raining up a storm outside today thanks to tropical storm Nate, so I'm inside catching up on mail and doing a bit of online shopping at my favorite stores. Talbots is having a killer sale right now, ends tomorrow so thought I'd share it now in case  you are interested. It's 40% off any regular priced item with the code OCT40 and 25% off everything else. Here are a few of the items I'm eyeing to use the … [Read more...]

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

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Found: The Perfect Bark-Edged, Wood Chargers for Woodsy Holiday Tables

October 7, 2017 by 41 Comments

I love using chargers in a table setting. They add so much to a table, another lovely layer that beautifully highlights the other plates in the place setting.   Over the past 10 years I've gradually added to my charger collection whenever I've found them on sale or greatly discounted. I've also enjoyed making them when a design I wanted wasn't available anymore, or was more than I wanted to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fall Tablescapes, Seasonal Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , , ,

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3 Whimsical Halloween Table Settings

October 5, 2017 by 44 Comments

Welcome to the 471st Tablescape Thursday! I attended a fun Low-Country Boil at Marie's earlier in the week. Marie often hosts gatherings for civic organizations in the community. This event was being held for the YMCA. The weather was perfect for the evening, I never even needed a sweater. We had the usual you would expect for a low-country boil: shrimp, corn on the cob, potatoes and sausage. Dessert … [Read more...]

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Running Away From Home & A Dragon Finial

October 3, 2017 by 122 Comments

Stain decisions...Ugg. I'm running away from home. Today. How I dislike making these type of decisions, but it's time and it has to be done. I visited a Sherwin-Williams store today near my home to choose a stain color. Shockingly, they didn't have a single stain chart brochure that I could take back home. They told me they were all out and so were all their other stores. Not one Super Deck sample stain … [Read more...]

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A Belleek Castle Lamp Gets a Major Makeover: The Before & After

October 2, 2017 by 112 Comments

Welcome to the 453rd Metamorphosis Monday! When I was in Ireland the last week of August, I visited the Belleek Pottery Factory. After a tour of the factory (see that tour HERE) we shopped inside the gift shop where I fell in love with this castle lamp and placed an order for one. The lamp would be built and delivered to my home in approximately 6-8 weeks. While I was still in Irleand, I shared the … [Read more...]

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The Sales Have Begun! Tablescape Shopping for the Upcoming Holiday Season

September 28, 2017 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 470th Tablescape Thursday! As we head into the holiday season with Halloween only a month away, one of my favorite things to do this time of year is to visit my nearby Pottery Barn. I always love their displays and it totally gets me in the holiday mood. I was surprised to see so many things are already on sale!   These adorable pumpkin plates are currently on sale here: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fall Tablescapes, Halloween Tablescapes, Seasonal Tablescapes, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, Thanksgiving Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , , , ,

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A Special Delivery

September 27, 2017 by 81 Comments

This is turning into a busy week. My main desktop computer was rebuilt and got a brand new hard drive. I picked it up yesterday and it's wicked fast! So happy to have that done and to have my computer back! I'll be getting a quote this week on having part of my backyard fence rebuilt and the hall/basement staircase door is being replaced again on Friday. The deck cleaning, staining, and rail painting is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ireland, St. Patrick's Day Decor, St. Patrick's Day Holiday Home, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , ,

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Plant Stand Makeover, Forever-Dirty Deck Railings and a Mopnado Update

September 25, 2017 by 63 Comments

Welcome to the 452nd Metamorphosis Monday! I've made a decision about which company I'll be using for cleaning and staining the decks. They will also be pressure washing the exterior of the house and staining the door that was recently replaced inside. (Read more about that HERE.) Unfortunately, the door may hold up the deck cleaning since the replacement door was cut too short and will have to be … [Read more...]

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My Favorite L. L. Bean Boots Are Finally Back & What I’m Loving for Fall

September 22, 2017 by 28 Comments

Years ago I was trying very hard to track down a pair of L.L. Bean boots. I had seen them on their website, but they were showing out of stock for months and months. Not one to easily give up when I really want something (but then you knew that already from my cabinet extravaganza, right? lol) I pondered this little boot dilemma, then I got an idea! I reasoned that surely some of the physical L.L. Bean … [Read more...]

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Dinner in a Country Lodge

September 21, 2017 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 469th Tablescape Thursday! It's still warm here in Georgia, but some David Carter Brown plates I purchased recently have put me in the mood for a bit of fall fun.   I almost placed this table setting in the dining room since it has more of an autumn feel with its red walls.   But in the end I decided to stay on the porch since it was so nice out with temps in … [Read more...]

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How Much Does It Cost To Have VHS & 8 mm Tapes Transferred Over to DVD?

September 20, 2017 by 43 Comments

Thanks so much for all your input on Saturday's post about the hall/basement door I recently had replaced. After reading all the comments, I was leaning toward having the door installation redone. (Read the comments here: Is This Door Too Short?)   I've had such mixed feelings about this situation and that's not normal for me. Normally when work is done in my home and there's a problem, I … [Read more...]

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Laundry Room Renovation: Workroom Becomes a Beautiful Laundry Room

September 18, 2017 by 40 Comments

Welcome to the 451st Metamorphosis Monday! Martha had always dreamed of a new laundry room. Her existing laundry was cramped and tiny. Space was super tight so her cookbooks had to go across the very top of the cabinets where they were difficult to reach when needed.   Martha said, "Our washer and dryer used to be in a tiny little spot with two double cabinets and one single cabinet. I … [Read more...]

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My New Mopping System and Is This Door Too Short?

September 16, 2017 by 104 Comments

How is your weekend going? I've been working on a lot of things around here and I thought I'd share some of them with you in case they are helpful. Remember this door that I shared recently in a post? It's located in a small hallway...   ...that's right off my living room.   The door leads down to my partially-finished-in basement...just needs paint and flooring. I had the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods

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A Shopping Trip Inside the Belleek Pottery Factory Store

September 14, 2017 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 468th Tablescape Thursday! I didn't get a chance to put a table together this week, in fact my porch is still not put back together since I took it apart in anticipation of Irma's arrival. I want to mop the floor and give it a good end-of-summer cleaning before I put everything back in place. But I do have a treat for you! I took quite a few photos when I was shopping inside the Belleek … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Tablescape Thursday

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A Tour of Lough Eske Castle, County Donegal, Ireland

September 13, 2017 by 31 Comments

Thanks so much for all your well-wishes over the last few days. I can't speak for all of Atlanta, but my immediate area seems to have fared quite well. Hurricane Irma was mostly a tropical storm when she arrived here, so though we got plenty of wind and rain and the lights flickered a few times, we never lost power. My biggest concern was that a tree would come down, but thankfully that did not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours, Ireland, Storybook Cottages, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,

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Update for A Frye Campus Tote Organizer & Irma’s Knocking On My Door

September 10, 2017 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 450th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm putting this post up early (Sunday evening) in case we lose power in the morning, compliments of Hurricane Irma. The bathtub is full of water, have plenty of bottled water, groceries, lanterns, batteries, phone back-up batteries and other supplies. The latest forecast for Atlanta shows tropical storm force winds of 30-45 mph with gusts to 55 mph starting … [Read more...]

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How I’ve Prepared for Hurricane Irma

September 8, 2017 by 96 Comments

It's been over 20 years since Hurricane Opal blew through Atlanta. That was the first (and only) time I've ever experienced a hurricane in all my years of living in Georgia. From what I've gathered listening to the news, some of Irma will probably make its way to the Atlanta area. I remember we lost power for a while with Opal, so I've been stocking up on some things in preparation. I already had plenty … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds

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Inspired By Our Cooler Weather, But Not Quite Ready to Say Goodbye to Summer

September 7, 2017 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 467th Tablescape Thursday! Yesterday: Awoke at 5:00 am--body still on Ireland time. Decided to make the most of it and headed down to the garage to start replacing the bowed shelves.   Took a while to unload and reload all the shelves since several had to be removed at once to get them out. Afterwards: much better---no more bowed shelves!   Ditto for all the … [Read more...]

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A Gazillion Little Tweaks

September 4, 2017 by 52 Comments

Welcome to the 449th Metamorphosis Monday! I really didn't know what to name today's post because I've been like a frantic little bee ever since returning from Ireland. I've been buzzing all over this house, working to tie lots of little loose ends together. You would think it was spring...this urgency to get things spiffied up around here. Maybe it's the early morning waking hours that has me so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Living Room (Downstairs), Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs)

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Answering Your Questions & What I Brought Home From Ireland

September 2, 2017 by 46 Comments

It's 5:30 AM as I write this, I've been up since 3 AM. The previous two mornings, I awoke at 4 am. This pretty much happens every time I travel to Europe. I'm not sure when my body will get back on Georgia time, but for now I'm enjoying the peace and quiet you experience when you get up before the birds even open their eyes.   It's amazing all the stuff you can get done when you awaken at 4 … [Read more...]

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Tour the Belleek Pottery Factory, Beautiful Pottery Still Hand-Crafted in Ireland

August 31, 2017 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 466th Tablescape Thursday! While away in Ireland, I created a post sharing a few pics inside the Belleek Pottery Gift Shoppe located inside the Belleek Pottery Factory in County Fermanagh. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Shopping in Belleek Pottery.   Today, I thought we would go back inside to tour the "factory." I put factory in quotes because it's not very … [Read more...]

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