Planning Ahead for Christmas: Wreaths on Windows, Snack Center for Delivery Personnel & Lots of Holiday Inspiration
Welcome to the 613th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! When my son was small, I worked in his elementary school library as a Media Parapro for five years. Unfortunately, I pretty much stayed sick with a cold or virus the entire five years since I spent my days interacting with young children all day long--handling the books they checked out and returned, reading to them, etc... Back then, I would catch 4-5 colds per year. I … [Continue Reading...]
11 Beautiful Advent Calendars for Grown-Ups, Including One Just for the Guys
Every year around Christmastime, my son and daughter-in-law give my grandsons a chocolate Advent Calendar. They may forget to do a lot of things during the day, but they never forget to ask to open another little door on the calendar. lol Did you know there are Advent Calendars out there for the grown-ups? I don't know how I've missed it all these years but I just discovered this when I got an email from Dior with an image of their amazing calendar this year. … [Continue Reading...]
7 Tables for Autumn and Halloween
Welcome to the 631st Tablescape Thursday, a blog party sharing beautiful table settings for all occasions. For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I'm sharing 7 tables for a bit of autumn-Halloween inspiration. Many of these would be very easy to recreate. Click on the title of any table setting to see more of that table in detail. Happy Autumn! Blue Willow and Floral Pumpkin Centerpiece for an Autumn Table A Cozy, Woodland, Candlelight … [Continue Reading...]
A Cute Retro-Style Refrigerator for My Home Office
Often when sharing an update here in my bedroom, I end up sharing this view of the room. But just around the corner and out of view is another room. Previously this was a 4th bedroom, or 5th if counting the Bonus/Frog room, but the first owners of my home closed off the entrance to this room from the upstairs hallway, cut a big opening in the wall to connect it to the Master Bedroom and added two large closets in addition to the walk-in closet … [Continue Reading...]
It’s Been a Whirlwind Month: Lots of Cleaning, Painting and the Doors Arrived!
Welcome to the 612th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you probably know I spent much of summer and the start of the school year helping with my grandchildren in Ohio. School is still just 3 hours a day there so it definitely makes it challenging for working Moms and Dads. Once I returned back home, it was full steam ahead! I had just been diagnosed with pneumonia 5 days before I … [Continue Reading...]
Halloween Table Craft Featuring Edgar Allan Poe’s Poem, The Raven
Several years ago I shared this wonderfully creative Halloween table craft by Stephanie at the blog, Brooklyn Limestone. After seeing this idea on her blog, I really wanted to do this for a Halloween table setting. I even went as far as buying the plain white plates to create it. Unfortunately, I never got around to making this clever Halloween design featuring Edgar Allan Poe's poem, The Raven, because I had the same issue Stephanie did: I was unable to find … [Continue Reading...]
Breakfast with Villeroy & Boch’s Melina & A Yummy Fruit Tart
Welcome to the 630th Tablescape Thursday, a blog party sharing beautiful table settings for all occasions. Many, many years ago, actually, it's probably been around 35 years now, I got the itch for some new everyday china. I don't remember now how I came across Villeroy & Boch's Melina pattern, but it was love at first sight. I think I came across it one day while shopping in either Macy's or Rich's. V & B Melina was definitely out of my budget back … [Continue Reading...]
When Hope Is Not Enough & My September Favorites
A few weeks back when I was visiting with family, I mentioned to my daughter-in-law that I was super annoyed that as I have gotten older, the pores on my face seem to be more visible. I had heard women complain of having big pores or visible pores all my life, but I had never really understood what that meant. As I've gotten older, I've noticed that I have pores on my face, too! lol I know that sounds crazy, but they were never really visible until the last couple … [Continue Reading...]
Decorate for a Spooky Halloween Dinner Party: Cobwebs, Catacombs and a Model Train Village
Welcome to the 611th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! For this past week's Tablescape Thursday, Jackie welcomed us into her beautiful home. There was a big surprise waiting just inside the front door! Yikes! Jackie will be having a small Halloween dinner party this year instead of the big Halloween party she normally hosts. I love how she has still gone all out in decorating for the gathering. Her guests … [Continue Reading...]
How An Air Fryer Has Changed My Life & Some of my Favorite Air-Fried Foods
A couple of weeks ago I shared a new addition to my kitchen, my Air Fryer. Adding an air fryer to my kitchen has been one of the most transformative experiences in how I cook. The only thing I can't think of that comes close to being as life-changing would be the invention of the microwave. Seriously, if right now you said I had to give up either my microwave or my air fryer, I'd say, "Bye-bye Microwave!" I realized the other day that since I've had my air fryer, … [Continue Reading...]
