Enjoy these last days of October when the Earth becomes ablaze with color and gorgeous sunsets. It’s a good time to head outside and savor the calm before the storm. And by storm, I mean the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I decided to host Thanksgiving this year and have already started planning for it,…
This might sound a little morbid, but tomorrow hubby and I are visiting our memorial tree. We purchased our plot under a shagbark hickory tree during Covid. We go back to visit our tree once a year – usually during the fall season. The tree is located in Rock River Better Place Forest. There are…
The past couple days I’ve been busy cleaning and organizing because 1) the house really needs it and 2) the family is coming over tomorrow! It’ll be a full house, but we plan to get outside after grabbing coffee from the cafe that’s just three blocks from my home. I’m hoping it’s windy enough to…
Our week has been pretty rainy so far but I’m hoping to get outdoors at some point this weekend. When fall rolls around, I feel like I need to make the most of each moment to take in all the beauty that surrounds us outside before Old Man Winter strolls into town! Since it’s raining…
Another week has gone by and there was no lack of inspiration to share with you. When I come across home and garden ideas that I think will be of interest to you, I add them to my list. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever run out of content to share but there’s enough creativity…
Finally things are cooling off here in Chicagoland and it’s starting to feel like the beginning of fall. There are so many things I want to do in the last few months of 2026, like take a Chicago architecture boat tour, visit Abe Lincoln’s home in Springfield, and explore neighborhoods I haven’t discovered yet. We’ll…
Not only is it Friday, but it’s Labor Day weekend which means a little extra me-time to enjoy doing whatever. My weekend will be uneventful, which makes me happy. I love having a weekend with no plans so I’m free to just putz around the house and garden, get a little cleaning or organizing done,…
Can you believe August is almost over? I know many of you are celebrating the return of fall and cooler days. I’m trying to get some day trips planned to take advantage of the beauty of autumn. Visiting Hyde Park in Chicago is definitely on the list. It’s been years since I’ve wandered those streets…
Happy Friday! This weekend I plan to do some cleaning and decluttering. Lately I’ve been feeling the need to simplify life. One of the best ways I can think to do that is by getting rid of stuff I haven’t used in the last year. It’s amazing how quickly things can start to pile up…
Football pre-season games have started, kids are back at school, and days are getting slightly shorter. This is a favorite time of year for most people as summer’s heat begins to fade to cooler breezes. Our summer has been so humid this year that I won’t be that sad to see it go. I may…
School starts in a couple of weeks and it’s hard to believe the summer is coming to an end. Although technically, we’ve still got until September 21st before fall arrives. But it always feels like kids heading off to catch the bus is the signal of the start of another season. In the next month…
When it comes to today’s trending styles in interior design, you can easily see the English influence that’s gaining popularity. From cottagecore to wallpaper to mixing prints and colors, the English have done it all! Today’s Friday Finds starts out in the UK, but we also travel to Texas, Tennessee, and Wisconsin for additional decorating…
This summer has been busy and I’m struggling to keep up with my blog schedule, but so far I’m managing. But I’m going to get even busier in the not-too-distant future. My daughter Bridget is pregnant again (baby number five!!) and needs a larger home. You might remember her first house, a charming bungalow that…
Summer decorating has always been one of my favorite times of year to freshen the home. There’s something about light rooms accented with fresh pops of color that instantly makes a home feel brighter and more inviting. This week’s Friday Finds is filled with inspiring summer cottage decorating ideas, the season’s prettiest kitchen colors, and…
We’re heading into another hot and humid week and while I don’t mind a little heat, my hair could do without the humidity. You step out the door and immediately feel the thick air that feels a bit stifling. I love summer but sometimes even I get a little tired of it. But enough of…
Happy Friday! It’s time for another collection of beautiful homes, inspiring gardens, and can’t-miss ideas I’ve discovered around the web this week. From a magical barn party setting and a colorful Victorian home in the English countryside to a fresh take on the European summer decorating trend, there’s plenty of inspiration to enjoy. And before…
