DIY Hot Cocoa Sign for a Hot Chocolate Bar: A Tutorial

A couple of days ago I shared a Hot Cocoa bar I created out on my screened porch. The bar area included a sign I made that was inspired by a sign I had seen floating around blogland a few years back. After not having any success locating a similar sign, I decided it was time to head downstairs to my basement workshop and make my own. (Inspiration sign and detail views of the Hot Cocoa Bar can be seen in … [Read more...]




Toile Christmas Table Setting with Bon Jour Yuletide

Welcome to the 379th Tablescape Thursday! Recently Gina shared some wonderful photos of her Christmas table setting and I loved it! In her email Gina said, "You posted on your blog a year ago, to take a second look at ornaments that do double duty for other things.  Well I did!  I have used ornaments as napkin rings this year on my Christmas Table."  I immediately recognized the beautiful toile pattern. … [Read more...]




Create a Hot Cocoa Bar for Winter Entertaining

Happy Holidays to you, dear Friends! We're out on the porch today and I know it's a little chilly. Don't worry though, I have just the thing to warm us up. Step right over here and belly up to the bar--the Hot Cocoa Bar, that is. :)   I've been envisioning a Hot Cocoa Bar for years out here on the porch, but I could never quite gather together all the bits and pieces I needed to create it, … [Read more...]




Decorate the Porch in Tartan for Christmas

Welcome to the 360th Metamorphosis Monday! Last summer I shared Linda's beautiful porch as it looks during the summer in this post: Patio Becomes a Three-Season Porch   In October I shared how it looks during the fall months: Decorate a Porch for Autumn   Linda has transformed it again for the holidays and it's a winter wonderland with lots of great accent pieces pulled … [Read more...]




I’m Dreaming of a White Feather Christmas

Welcome to the 378th Tablescape Thursday! Have you ever tried to take a photo of a cloud or a ghost? That's a kinda how it felt this week as I tried to take pictures of this week's table setting. lol Feather centerpieces can be a challenge! I wish the chandelier didn't hang down in the way, try to imagine this table without it there. I wish I had placed this setting outside on the porch but I wasn't … [Read more...]




A Christmas Tree at Last

Several folks have asked when I was going to share my Christmas tree for this year. Well, I finally called "uncle." Where does that phrase come from anyway? lol   After spending 3 hours one night changing a million fuses, two hours another night examining a million bulbs, and an hour a third night fiddling and fussing, I finally gave up (for this year) on trying to get the lights to work on … [Read more...]




26 Holiday Gifts They’ll Never Return

How's your holiday shopping coming along? If you're like me, I usually get it about 95% done but get stuck on those last few gifts. There's always a few folks on my list for whom I struggle finding the right gift. I've put together a list of 26 wonderful gift ideas. The list includes gifts for men, women and children so there's something here for everyone. Many of these are products I currently use and … [Read more...]




Christmas Dinner in Toyland

Welcome to the 377th Tablescape Thursday! Have I mentioned how much I love this time of year? I have a wee obsession with Christmas dishware. I love how it can be whimsical, playful or just stunningly beautiful! The two patterns I'm using this week (really three if you count the charger) are all about the fun, playful side of Christmas.   This is a table setting that would appeal to both … [Read more...]




Decorating the Chariot for Christmas

Happy Friday! I'm sooo excited this evening because tomorrow I'll be doing one of the things I most love doing this time of year: I'll be heading out with friends for a nearby Christmas home tour. Each year when we attend this particular tour, we almost always buy their "combo" ticket which includes seeing three homes by daylight and three by candlelight. I love both types of tours but the candlelight … [Read more...]




A Thanksgiving Tablescape With a View

Welcome to the 376th Tablescape Thursday! Recently my friend Bonnie, shared some photos of the beautiful table setting she created for Thanksgiving this year. Her dining room overlooks this stunning view!   The gorgeous autumn foliage must have been the inspiration for this wonderful Thanksgiving tablescape.   The beautiful beaded, leaf placemats work so well with the fall … [Read more...]




A Red Christmas Door

Just popping in with a few photos of my front porch progress. I took these photos this evening after dark to give you an idea of how things look at night. The porch doesn't feel complete just yet; it needs a little greenery around the bottom of the urns and a little something else, but it's getting there.   In years past, I've alway hung the garland lower on the door as seen in this photo … [Read more...]




Looking For Some Christmas Decorating Inspiration

Greetings to you! How has your day been going? Before we get into today's post, I have a little update: I changed over to a new email service on November 12th, and I'm starting to hear from a few folks who aren't getting their email updates when a new post is up here at the blog. If you haven't been receiving those, please sign up again using the subscribe box at the end of this post. Or, e-mail me at … [Read more...]




Thanksgiving Table With Spode Woodland & A Whimsical Turkey Centerpiece

Welcome to the 375th Tablescape Thursday! Happy Thanksgiving! We'll be having our Thanksgiving feast here in the dining room today. I'm not planning on serving soup (wish I still had some of the roasted pumpkin soup I made recently) but just for fun I added the turkey soup tureens to see how they would look. Whenever I use Mr. Turkey in the center, I can't resist brining out the turkey tureens since … [Read more...]




Squash Casserole Recipe for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Anytime

Greetings this beautiful fall day! Are you busy preparing for Thanksgiving? I haven't had Thanksgiving here at my home in a while, so I'm excited to have family coming here this year. I picked up a Honey Baked Ham yesterday and bought a fresh turkey today to cook on Thanksgiving Day. I know they'll be lots of left overs but that's fine with me. Who doesn't love leftovers! I always prepare a squash casserole … [Read more...]




Tartan Christmas Table Setting, Vintage Style

Welcome to the 374th Tablescape Thursday! Before we get into this week's Tablescape Thursday, I think I have some good news. It appears the Tartan Chargers are back in stock again, at least they are as I'm writing this on Saturday evening. You'll find them here: Tartan Chargers Recently Jeri who reads BNOTP, shared some pictures of a tablescape she created for work. Jeri has the enviable job of … [Read more...]




Decking the Halls…and the Beds…and the Sofas

I've always loved pillows, have them all throughout my house. The last few years I've started collecting Christmas pillow and oh. my. gosh...there are some really cute ones out there. The "Love" pillow I purchased one year after Christmas is actually a Christmas pillow, but I think it's perfect to pull out again in February for Valentine's Day.   The Love pillow is currently on sale with free … [Read more...]




7 Christmas Porches

Welcome to the 355th Metamorphosis Monday! Ahoy Matey! As  you read this, I'm somewhere out floating in the Caribbean, hopefully NOT in the Bermuda Triangle!!! ;)  I'm off sailing with the The Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott on their "Sailing With The Scotts, Ultimate Design Cruise." I have lots of posts ready for you this week. If I can find a Wifi connection, I'll also share some photos … [Read more...]




20 Ways To Make Your Christmas Merry & Bright

Welcome to the 354th Metamorphosis Monday! Christmas is just 45 days away and I've noticed lots of folks are Pinning and Instagramming Christmas ideas for inspiration. At the top of BNOTP, you'll find a category called, Holiday Home. Under Holiday Home, you'll find a subcategory called, Christmas. Under Christmas you'll find lots of decorating ideas, house tours, crafts, movies, recipes, tablescapes … [Read more...]




A Roasted Pumpkin Soup For Cozy, Fall Dinners

Happy Friday! Yesterday I shared a fall table setting and my centerpiece for the table was the prettiest little pumpkin casserole from Martha Stewart. (Pumpkin Casserole is currently on sale here: Martha Stewart Pumpkin Casserole)   The pumpkin casserole came with a yummy recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Soup. This soup was very easy to make, the trickiest part was cutting apart the sugar pumpkins. Those … [Read more...]




Tartan Chargers for the Holiday Table

We dish lovers watch out for each other, have you noticed that? Recently, a reader of BNOTP alerted me that chargers are now available for the tartan dishware pattern I love and use so much in table settings for Christmas. What! How had I missed that? I immediately found them online and ordered eight. (Thanks Chloe for the heads up!) Update: The chargers had sold out but it appears they have restocked … [Read more...]




Awesome Deal for Preserved Boxwood Wreaths

I don't normally post on Sundays but I came across a deal this weekend that expires today, so I'm sharing it in a quick post just in case it's helpful in your upcoming holiday decorating. Update added 11-2-15: It looks like they still have the 10% off deal going on, which is great! Tip: If it shows the wreath is out of stock for your store, click in the box that looks like this one below and you'll be … [Read more...]




Halloween Craft: Mummy Candle Holders

Halloween is almost here and I have a super fun, easy craft to share. I've been itching to make some Mummy Candle Holders for Halloween for a while now. They always make me laugh when I see them in magazines around this time of year.   I didn't have a tutorial to go by, just gathered together the items that I thought I'd need: pint size mason jars from True Value, gauze, glue gun and some … [Read more...]




Get Ready for Holiday Entertaining & Dining, Everything Is On Sale!

Yesterday I ran a quick errand and while I was out, I stopped by Williams-Sonoma to see what was new for the holiday season. Oh my gosh, if you are in need of Autumn, Thanksgiving or Christmas dishware, they have some of the cutest patterns in that I've seen in a long time! I went online to see if I could find any good coupons and I noticed they are having a 20% off any item sale along with free shipping … [Read more...]




Decorate a Porch or Sunroom for Autumn

Welcome to the 351st Metamorphosis Monday! Earlier this year in June, I shared Linda's beautiful 3-season porch. You may remember that this space was once a concrete pad with just a pergola overhead. Linda and her hubby transformed it into a porch they now enjoy almost all year-long.   They kept this room and the adjoining living room light and bright by using a clear, acrylic roof … [Read more...]




7 Ways To Decorate Your Home for Autumn & Halloween

How did it get to be October so quickly?! With fall here and Halloween just a few weeks away, how about a little inspiration for your autumn and Halloween decorating. Thanks so much to Town and Country Magazine for sharing my Chinoiserie DIY pumpkin craft in their article titled, "Everyone is Turning Their Pumpkins Into Chinoiserie Pieces of Art." Also, thanks to House Beautiful for sharing that project … [Read more...]




A Patriotic Table For Two

Welcome to the 363rd  Tablescape Thursday! Thanks so much for all your great suggestions yesterday! Appreciate those so much! With Labor Day weekend upon us, I had fun putting a patriotic tablescape together out on the deck.   The whole time I was working on this table, the tree-form hydrangea on this end of the deck kept poking me in the head. :) Taking a photo behind the hydrangea … [Read more...]




What I’m Loving For Fall & Halloween

We've been having some really wonderful fall-like days here lately. It's hard to believe this is August because it has felt more like October. How has it been where you live?  I've been throwing the doors to the porch open every morning, letting all that cool morning air into the house, then I close them around 10:00 when it starts to warm up a little. With the cool temps, I'm starting to think about … [Read more...]




4th of July Nautical Table Setting

Welcome to the 355th Tablescape Thursday! So, remember that table setting I didn't get to post last week because a big storm came along and put an end to any thoughts of taking pictures for the day?   It's a week late, but better late than never, right?   I ended up setting this table with two different centerpieces.   The first centerpiece was a flag and … [Read more...]




Celebrating the Red, White and Blue

Welcome to the 354th Tablescape Thursday! Late yesterday afternoon, as I was just finishing my table for today, a big storm blew in. I quickly grabbed the food I had already placed on the table, along with a few other items I thought would get wet or blow away and made a hasty retreat inside. It stayed almost this dark out for the rest of the evening, even after the worst of the storm had passed. We … [Read more...]




5 Tabletop Crafts & Recipes for Independence Day

Welcome to the 352nd Tablescape Thursday! I'm working on a table I'll be sharing next week. With the 4th of July just a couple of weeks away, here are a few fun crafts, centerpieces and recipes you can make for your upcoming 4th of July table. Some of the centerpieces would work on a sideboard or buffet, too. Click on the TITLE to access each tabletop craft, tutorial or recipe below. Make a … [Read more...]




Watermelon Mojitos For A Summer Party

Welcome to the 351st Tablescape Thursday! I was out of town until Monday evening and since I wasn't able to create a table setting, for this week's Tablescape Thursday, I thought I'd share something I made last week while visiting my son and dil. It's at least table related, a yummy summertime drink I came across at Pottery Barn that can be made as an adult beverage with rum, or minus the rum for a … [Read more...]




Delphinium & Bunnies For Spring

Welcome to the 347th Tablescape Thursday! Today I'm sharing a tablescape I had hoped to share back around Easter but couldn't quite get it ready in time. It actually works great for spring or summer, too.   I kept the centerpiece simple with bunnies and a big pot of Delphinium.   I love Delphinium but whenever I've planted them in my garden, they never come back the next … [Read more...]




Spring Tablescape With Williams Sonoma Damask Bunny

Welcome to the 346th Tablescape Thursday! Elena put together the most adorable table for Easter this year. Though perfect for Easter, this tablescape would be great anytime during the spring and summer months. In her email, Elena said, "It all started with Williams Sonoma blue damask bunny plates that absolutely stole my heart."   Elena added, "I loved the bunny plates so much that I … [Read more...]




Patriotic Table Setting For Memorial Day & 4th of July

Welcome to the 345th Tablescape Thursday! One of my favorite tablescapes for summertime dining on the porch is one celebrating our patriotic holidays. Over the next few months we have three coming up: Memorial Day in May, Flag Day in June and Independence Day in July. Time to break out the red, white and blue!   It was a beautiful day as I played out on the porch. Love seeing the trees … [Read more...]




Spring Table Setting For Children

Welcome to the 344th Tablescape Thursday! Yesterday I put together a fun table that I'll be sharing with you very soon. In the meantime, I'm excited to share the adorable table my friend, Marie, created for her grandchildren to enjoy during their visits this spring and for Easter. Do you see the cute cupcakes down the center of the table? Marie found those at Pier 1. Have you ever seen Bunny crackers? … [Read more...]




Hopping Into Spring

Welcome to the 343rd Tablescape Thursday! One of the things I love so much about Marie's home is how it's both beautiful and very livable. You immediately feel the love she has for her family just in the way she decorates for the holidays and displays photos of loved ones throughout her home. In her large living room, Marie has a table behind one of the sofas that works great for impromptu meals or … [Read more...]




Make A Banner For Spring Decorating: A Tutorial

Welcome to the 324th Metamorphosis Monday! Though Easter is behind us, when Bonnie shared a picture of the wonderful Spring Easter banner she made by hand to transform her fireplace mantel for spring, I knew I had to share it with you! Is this not amazing?!   So many beautiful details!   I absolutely love all the color and pattern! See those cute rosettes along the bottom. … [Read more...]




Celebrate Spring With a Floral & Bunny Table Setting

Welcome to the 342nd Tablescape Thursday! Last week for Tablescape Thursday, I shared my friend, Marie's breakfast table that was set adorably for Easter.   Marie also prepared her table in the dining room and it's just as wonderful!   Notice how Marie used simple floral bouquets down the center of the table...perfect for spring!   The pierced dinner plates in … [Read more...]




Decorate Outdoors For Easter

Do you like to decorate outside for spring or Easter? My friend, Marie decorates for all the holidays and not only do her six grandchildren love it, the folks who pass by on the road in front of her home, look forward to it, too. When we are out and about in the community shopping or having lunch, folks will often stop her to tell her how much they love seeing the decorations each season. When we got … [Read more...]




Spring Easter Table Setting & An Easter Spring Tree

Welcome to the 341st Tablescape Thursday! Thank you so much for all the wonderful suggestions, tips and recommendations regarding traveling and touring Europe. I will be rereading your comments over and over because the information you shared is invaluable! So many great suggestions! If you have any plans for taking a trip to Europe in the future, be sure and check out all the comments on yesterday's … [Read more...]




A Spring Table Setting with the Easter Bunny

Welcome to the 340th Tablescape Thursday! It's been beautiful here, spring has arrived! The Redbud trees are through blooming and are pushing out leaves. The daffodils, forsythia and Bradford pears are blooming, too. I was so excited to see the Tardiva tree-form hydrangeas I planted in huge pots on the deck, survived the winter and are putting out new leaves. I love this time of year! Since it was … [Read more...]




Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Welcome to the 338th Tablescape Thursday! Hard to believe St. Patrick's Day is next Tuesday; this month is zooming by. It really feels like spring here now with the daffodils and redbud trees all blooming. Since the temps were in the upper 60's here yesterday, I spent some time on the porch putting together a little St. Patrick's Day table setting with dishes I've collected over the … [Read more...]




5 Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Welcome to the 336th Tablescape Thursday! With St. Patrick's Day a couple of weeks away, here are a few fun ideas for celebrating, including a shamrock cookie recipe and a 4-Leaf Clover Napkin Fold. Happy Tablescape Thursday!   Click on the title to access that post.   St. Patrick's Day Table Setting with Shamrock Centerpiece   4-Leaf Clover Napkin … [Read more...]




No More Faking It

Welcome to the 316th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks for sharing all the wonderful stories about your Barbour jackets in the comments on Friday's post. I had so much fun reading those. If there's one thing I've learned during the process of researching and finally buying a Barbour coat is that Barbour coat owners love and are passionate about their coats. They talk about them like you would a trusted and … [Read more...]




A Forever Coat

I've never been a serious fashionista, but last summer I began to catch the bug. I had come across a cute fashion blogger named Sarah, who blogs at Classy Girls Wear Pearls.  I subscribed to her blog posts and over the past year while reading her blog, I began to learn about so many clothing brands and stores I'd never heard of before. Finding Sarah's blog has put a bit of a dent in my wallet, but in a … [Read more...]




DIY Burlap Bunny-Ear Napkin Rings For Your Spring Table

Welcome to the 315th Metamorphosis Monday! Last year I saw these cute burlap bunny-ear napkin rings in a cataglog. Ummm, that started the wheels a-turning. I saved the picture to my computer thinking I might try to DIY them some day.   With spring just 5-6 weeks away, I decided to start working on them now so they will be ready for a spring or Easter tablescape.   I already … [Read more...]




Plaid, Paisley and Velvet For Valentine’s Day

Welcome to the 333rd Tablescape Thursday! This week I'm sharing a Valentine's Day table setting that's a little different. I experimented around with mixing different patterns including plaid, paisley and velvet-edged napkin sheaths with a burlap-like look. The overall result is a Valentine's Day table setting with a bit of a masculine feel.     A red lantern worked well as a … [Read more...]




A Christmas Present For Your Future Self

Have you ever started a project thinking you could knock it out in a few hours, only to find it took more like a few days? That's how the revamp of my Christmas storage went this year, but now that I'm done, it was totally worth it. My Christmas decorations, except for the Christmas trees, are all stored here in the upstairs family room.   This quirky F.R.O.G. (finished room over the … [Read more...]




Valentine’s Day Table Settings, Napkin Folds & Recipes

Welcome to the 332nd Tablescape Thursday! Before we get into this week's Tablescape Thursday, I just wanted to say you guys are GOOD! It didn't take long for you to name every single one of the books yesterday! Can you imagine being the person who designed the Quotes throw. I don't know how they ever decided what books to feature, that would have been torture! Saving At Checkout I also wanted to … [Read more...]




Has To Get Worse Before It Gets Better

Welcome to the 313th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope it was restful and fun! I been working the last few days in the upstairs family room.   When I put away all the Christmas decorations this year, I decided it was time to get better organized. Each year when it's time to pull out the Christmas decorations, I dread it. This is why. As you can see, it's jam-packed up under … [Read more...]




A New Year’s Winter Table Setting

Welcome to the 331st Tablescape Thursday! Recently, my friend Bonnie created a beautiful winter tablescape for a New Year's Eve dinner.   This table setting included a Santa centerpiece dressed all in white, so this table would also work great as a Christmas tablescape, too.   Take away the Santa and this table setting would work great any time during the winter … [Read more...]




Make A Snowman Spice Cake

Recently while shopping in Williams-Sonoma, I came across a Nordic Ware snowman cake pan. It was on sale, greatly reduced from $39.95 to $10.39 so I couldn't resist trying my hand at making this cute cake. Update: You can still find this pan here: Snowman Cake Pan   The cake ended up being a centerpiece for yesterday's winter table setting seen in this post: Winter Table Setting With Snowman … [Read more...]




A Winter Tablescape With Snowman Spice Cake Centerpiece

Welcome to the 330th Tablescape Thursday! My tablescape today is a winter themed table setting with a very special centerpiece. It's so special that it's practically invisible. What? You don't see it? It's right there--on the pedestal in the center of the table. ;) I knew by the time the centerpiece I planned to use was ready, it would already be getting dark out. Since table settings look so much … [Read more...]




A “Hair Of The Dog” New Year’s Day Party

This morning I shared a book from my decor library that offers us a peek into some pretty amazing parties held in private homes in New York. I must have parties on the brain since I've even been dreaming about them. Are you attending any New Year's parties this year? Will you be hosting one? I'm kind of glad I didn't plan one this year since I've come down with a nasty bug or something after all my … [Read more...]




Decorating The Porch For Christmas

One of my favorite places to decorate for Christmas is the front porch. It's the first "room" friends and family see when visiting , and at Christmastime it's so much fun to make it feel extra special and inviting.   When decorating, be it inside or out, I always love a mix of fresh greenery and faux. Fresh greenery gives you the scent while faux gives you the look you want while saving you … [Read more...]




Christmas Tablescape With A Fresh Magnolia and Nandina Berry Centerpiece

Welcome to the 326th Tablescape Thursday! How can it be December 11th already? Wow, this month is really flying by! I'm sharing a fun little Christmas table setting this week for Tablescape Thursday.     We're in the breakfast room since it's way too cold out for dining on the porch.   I'm still loving all things plaid so I chose tartan dishware for this week's … [Read more...]




Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Do you sometimes wish you had 10 homes to decorate? lol Okay, not really, but every now and then I do see something that makes my heart skip a beat and has me dreaming and thinking, what if? I love color and I know I wouldn't be happy if I wasn't surrounded by it in my home, especially at Christmastime. But oh my goodness, this home is so soft and beautiful, it does have me dreaming of decorating all in … [Read more...]




Inside “A Christmas Story” Movie Museum

This past summer while visiting family in Ohio, I took a day trip over to Cleveland to visit the home featured in the iconic Christmas move, A Christmas Story. I shared pictures of the exterior and interior over a series of posts that can all be found linked here:  A Christmas Story  Movie House Tour, Parts I-IV See the triple window there, just above the porch?   When you're standing in … [Read more...]




A Summer House On A Christmas Home Tour

Welcome to the 306th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Go on any Christmas home tours? Did you do a little Christmas decorating? I finished decorating the front porch and I'm looking forward to sharing that soon. This weekend I attended the Marietta Pilgrimage and though pictures weren't allowed inside the homes, I have a few to share of some of the outside spaces that were transformed for … [Read more...]




Decorating With Preserved Boxwood Wreaths

Welcome to the 305th Metamorphosis Monday! My kitchen cabinets saw a little transformation this weekend. Do you ever decorate with preserved boxwood wreaths? I love fresh greenery and use it a lot at Christmastime but I love the preserved wreaths here on the glass cabinet doors in the kitchen. I've been decorating the cabinets this way ever since I saw this done on a Christmas home tour in Madison, … [Read more...]




Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to the 324th Tablescape Thursday! Pssst: Putting this week's tablescape up early since tomorrow will be a busy day for so many. Since I'm not hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, for this week's Tablescape Thursday I'm linking back to previous table settings I've created over the years for Thanksgiving.     Hope you enjoy and hope your Thanksgiving Day is … [Read more...]




Christmas In The Bedroom

This morning I shared one of my favorite holiday books by Mary Carol Garrity, Christmas At Home. Looking through that book again put me in the mood to do a little Christmas decorating. The guest bed was warmed up and made festive with a strand of red mitten garland.   You may remember the garland from when I decorated the screened porch last Christmas. (Christmas Porch post can be viewed … [Read more...]




A Winter Table Setting & A $250 Giveaway From Noritake

Welcome to the 323rd Tablescape Thursday! It's too cold for tablescaping out on the porch this week so we're in the dining room for this week's Tablescape Thursday. Since I have an abundance of red tartan tablecloths right now :) (see Tuesday's post for an explanation) I decided to put one to use.   This table is all about winter with a snowflake centerpiece, frosty white Cher Blanc … [Read more...]




Warm, Cozy Escapes

It's cold out and I'm craving warmth. All I can think about these days are soft, merino-wool socks, cozy cable-knit sweaters, warm wool throws, libraries with fires blazing in the fireplace, flannel sheets, down duvets, hot chocolate by the fire and great books for reading on those way-too-cold nights. When fall comes around, I want to spend my days in rooms like Ralph Lauren's Bedford home library. I'm … [Read more...]




15 Ways To Make Your Christmas Festive & Beautiful

Every year I say I'm going to get my wreaths up on my exterior windows earlier in the season so I can enjoy them longer and this year I finally managed to get it done! Yipee!   I'm so excited to have them up early enough to really enjoy them for a nice long time. The days always pass so quickly this time of year, don't they?   My landscaping across the front is on hold as I … [Read more...]




Decorate Your Mantel For Fall and Thanksgiving

Welcome to the 302nd Metamorphosis Monday! This weekend I decided it was time to give the living room mantel a little makeover for fall and Thanksgiving. This can be a fun room to spruce up for autumn because the warms tones in the judges paneling and the jewel tone colors of the fabrics always make a great backdrop for fall decorating.   Normally the mantel has a few books and … [Read more...]




Tartan Dishware: Mix & Match Patterns To Create 17 Unique Tartan Place Settings

Welcome to the 321st Tablescape Thursday! It's 5 AM as I write this. My server had a glitch tonight and I couldn't load any photos. Thankfully my host company figured out what was wrong and fixed it but it really delayed things and I never got to go to sleep. So this post will be short on words as I head off to bed soon for a few hours sleep. With all things tartan on the brain this week, I though it … [Read more...]




They Only Look Like Ornaments…

Welcome to the 301st Metamorphosis Monday! Pssst...come over here a second, I want to show you something. We're in the Christmas section of Wal-mart...what do you see? Looks like ornaments, right?   I'm seeing something else. Those antlers, the ones in a circle shape there on the top row...   To me, those look like great napkin rings...   ...for a Christmas … [Read more...]




Thanksgiving & Christmas Tablescapes With Pottery Barn

Welcome to the 320th Tablescape Thursday! Yesterday I popped into Pottery Barn to get a look their tabletop goodies for the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. The PB near me was under construction last time I visited because they were expanding the size of the store. With construction complete, things looked very different on this trip. They had lots of pretty tablescapes set up throughout the … [Read more...]




Halloween Tablescape, Edgar Allan Poe Inspired

Welcome to the 319th Tablescape Thursday! Please do not link up more than 2 tables each week to the party. When Elena emailed and shared photos of her Halloween table and decor with me recently, she said, "My theme was Edgar Allan Poe Raven, cluttered elegant Gothic (LOL)—with your batty idea thrown in :0)"  That totally made me laugh...I love Elena's sense of humor!   Check out this … [Read more...]




Halloween Tablescape With Haunted House Centerpiece & Spiderweb Tablecloth

Welcome to the 318th Tablescape Thursday! It was a dark and stormy night....well, actually it was more like a dark and rainy day but dark and stormy night sounds a lot more fun and creepy for our Halloween table setting. It was a tad too chilly to set a table out on the porch this week so we're dining inside in the breakfast room for Tablescape Thursday.   We aren't dining alone, we have … [Read more...]




Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, Wool of Bat…

Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog... Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble. Macbeth (Act IV, Scene I) ~William Shakespeare Eeek! It's like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's movie, The Birds! Only, in this case it's The Bats! I've had this image saved on my computer for a year or two. I've always wanted to duplicate the look on my front porch for … [Read more...]




Frightfully Fun Tablescapes For Halloween!

Welcome to the 317th Tablescape Thursday! Ever since I met Marie a couple of years ago, Halloween has taken a huge leap forward in the FUN department. Marie lives life with tremendous joy and I have to tell you, it's contagious! Recently I took you on a tour of the outside of her home all decorated for Halloween. We're going inside this week for Tablescape Thursday and I can't wait to share the tables … [Read more...]




Hootin’ It Up For Halloween

Welcome to the 316th Tablescape Thursday! The owls hooting up a storm in my backyard recently must have been the inspiration behind this table setting. (Hear that recording here: Night Sounds From The Porch)   I found Mr. Owl in Wal-mart around this time last year. He's actually a cookie jar. I placed him atop two cake pedestals to give him some height in the center of the … [Read more...]




Halloween Fantasy In Lights

Do you have a friend who is a joy to be around...someone who truly loves life and when you're together, you always have a blast? When my friend, Marie and I get together, it's always non-stop fun and laughs. Marie's enthusiasm is contagious and everyone who meets her is better for having known her. Recently, Marie and I got together for one of our play dates which usually involves a little lunch, a bit … [Read more...]




A Spooky Halloween Hutch

Welcome to the 296th Metamorphosis Monday! Did you have a good weekend? I spent mine getting a few things done here around the house. I also played a little out on the porch, changing the hutch from its summertime look to something fun and just a tad spooky!   Postcards From The Porch Before I share the hutch update, I wanted to say a big thank you to all the lovely folks who took time to … [Read more...]




A Christmas Story Movie House, Part IV: The Upstairs

We're headed upstairs today, touring all the rooms upstairs in the home featured in the movie, A Christmas Story, including Ralphie and Randy's bedroom and the bathroom where one of the funniest scenes in the movie took place. During my visit to Cleveland, Ohio to tour the home, I also visited the A Christmas Story Museum, as well as the gift shop across the street. The pictures I took inside those two … [Read more...]




A Christmas Story House, Part III: The Living Room

Welcome to the 288th Metamorphosis Monday! Bob Clark, the Director and a co-writer of the movie, A Christmas Story, had trouble finding funding for this now iconic Christmas movie when he first set out to make it. He had an extensive history of making horror films so none of the production companies felt comfortable funding him in the making of a comedy/family oriented movie. His next movie was Porky's … [Read more...]




Inside The Kitchen of “A Christmas Story” Movie House

Welcome to the 306th Tablescape Thursday! A visit to the 19th-century Victorian home used in all the exterior scenes of the movie, A Christmas Story, is an interactive one. As we stepped inside the front door for the tour, our guide immediately invited us to have a seat in the living room. Whaaat? That's not something you normally get to do while touring a home! I knew right then this wasn't going to be … [Read more...]




Tour A Christmas Story Movie House: The House & Neighborhood

Recently I took a trip to Ohio to visit family and while there I decided to do something I've been wanting to do for ages. I hopped in the car one morning and struck out for Cleveland to tour the home featured in the movie, A Christmas Story.   This wonderful old Victorian home located at 3159 W. 11th Street in Cleveland Ohio, was used for all the exterior shots of the … [Read more...]




Where Am I?

I'm traveling today, headed back home. I can't wait to share pictures of where I've been the last few days. This photo is a big hint! Can you guess? :) Update: Check out THIS POST to see where I was when this picture was taken. … [Read more...]




How To Make A Tote Bag Centerpiece

Yesterday for Tablescape Thursday, I created a fun centerpiece using a freebie nautical tote I received recently with another purchase.   Today I thought I'd share how it's created in case you have a tote or bag you would like to incorporate into a centerpiece for a table or for any other decorative purpose. Depending on the type bag you use and what you decide to tuck inside, this … [Read more...]




4th of July Nautical-Themed Table Setting

Welcome to the 303rd Tablescape Thursday! The 4th of July is tomorrow! Got any big plans? Hope you have the day off and will be spending it relaxing and celebrating with friends and family. For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I put together a 4th of July tablescape with a nautical bent.   Inspiration for a table setting can come from the most unlikely places. After not buying any new … [Read more...]




6 Patriotic Wreaths You Can Make For the 4th of July

Email Delivery of Post Updates: Pssst: I just switched to a paid service for delivery of the  BNOTP e-mail updates and RSS feed. Apologize if you accidentally receive two e-mails for the same post during this transition moving from one service to another. 6 Patriotic Wreaths You Can Make For the 4th of July For the past couple of weeks I've been featuring some absolutely adorable patriotic wreath … [Read more...]




Moonlight & Magnolias, Romantic Table Setting for Two

Welcome to the 299th Tablescape Thursday! The magnolia trees are in bloom here in Georgia, I love their sweet "lemonade" scent.   It was warm out, but not too warm for a tablescape for two on the deck.   I cut a few magnolia blossoms for our centerpiece and tucked them down inside a white pitcher.   Rarely do I find two magnolia blossoms really close together … [Read more...]




Easter Spring Table Setting With Greenhouse Centerpiece

Welcome to the 291st Tablescape Thursday! It's been beautiful weather here although the pollen is raging! It was unbelievably thick on the porch table and required a good wipe down before I could create a table setting for this week's Tablescape Thursday.   Starting to see a little green out there now.   It's hard to be upset over the pollen when the spring breezes are so … [Read more...]




Peat Pot Spring Baskets, Perfect for Easter

Easter is only a few weeks away and I'm so excited to share a beautiful Easter craft from my friend Jane who blogs at Cottage at the Crossroads.  Here's Jane to explain just how she made these adorable Peat Pot Spring Baskets. Tutorial from Jane, Cottage at the Crossroads: Have you been noticing those pretty peat pots that people have been decorating? Well, I just had to make some, too, and I'm … [Read more...]




St. Patrick’s Day Spring Table Setting

Welcome to the 287th Tablescape Thursday! We've been having some early spring weather here in Georgia. It was 77 degrees outside the day I created this table setting. It started out as a St. Patrick's Day tablescape but somewhere along the way it morphed into a spring table setting, too.   When my son was in elementary school, he enjoyed reading a series of books that were super popular at … [Read more...]




St. Patrick’s Day Table Setting With Leprechaun Centerpiece

Welcome to the 286th Tablescape Thursday! I'm sharing a St. Patrick's Day table today. It was dark and gloomy out when I took the pictures for this post. Looking forward to some sunshine days and setting table out on the porch again, soon.   You probably recognized Mr. Leprechaun in the centerpiece. He asks to be included in at least one table each year. ;) The bowls are a new addition, I … [Read more...]




Spring Dessert Buffet for An Outdoor Party

Welcome to the 285th Tablescape Thursday! Yesterday I shared a Pottery Barn inspired potting table I built for my deck, an area where each year I do a lot of container gardening for summer. This was the inspiration table, the Abbott Island Buffet/Potting Table.   This was the version I created for around $1,050 less than the inspiration table. :)   One of the neat things … [Read more...]