Happy Thanksgiving!

source unkown

When I count my many blessings tomorrow, I will

include all of you - I appreciate the time you take

to come here and read my nonsense and seek

my design advice.  This blog has given

me so many opportunities to indulge

in all my design dreams! YOU are helping

to make that happen.  I am so 

grateful for the support I find here

and in blogland.

I hope each of you is able to pause

and count your blessings in the 

company of those you love.

I will be back Monday with my usual

sporadic posting......

Christmas Ideas 2013 - What momma wants........

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

I learned long ago that it's best if I give my family
suggestions for what to give me for Christmas - makes
life easier and happier!  This year, as in past years,
I put together a collection of suggested gift items.
Obviously, I like monogrammed and cozy/warm items.
Oh, and I could use a new wallet.
Have you seen the Kontex towels
made in Japan? They had me at 'gingham'.
And I might want to show my love for my
beloved Oregon.

And lest you think I am spoiled - this collection is
sort of like the list my 11 year old creates to send to 'Santa' -
10 pages of items created as
the holiday catalogs arrive in the mail......
It's become her holiday tradition despite not really getting anything
off the list.  However, she is happy with anything she is given
and is one of the most generous and
enthusiastic gift givers.

A girl can dream, right?

Do you have an Ellen connection? Can ya help get this family to Sochi?

Ok, some facts about yours truly:

* I was born in Wisconsin

* I am half Swedish, half Norwegian

{with some other stuff thrown in for good measure}
{and yes, I know that makes me more than 100% a person}

* Curling is a legit sport among my 'people'

* Some of my 'people' may even be

Olympic curling athletes -

true story.

Actually, my cousin's sister-in-law has been a member

of the USA Women's Curling team the last three

Olympics.  AND, she just qualified

to go to Sochi and represent the United

States in her FOURTH Olympics!

{Michael Phelps has nothing on US Women's

Curler Debbie McCormick!}

My cousin is a school teacher and her husband has

his own lawn care business.  They would love to be able

to go to Sochi and cheer on Aunt Deb! However, flying to
Russia and staying there for two weeks for a family of
four is quite expensive. Soooo......they are
getting creative and humbly asking for help.

My cousin

has some cute kids and they made a video

trying to get the attention

of Ellen DeGeneres, cause she nice, and funny,

and generous, and nice, and funny, did I mention funny?

(did I mention generous?)

Well here is the cute video.........

So readers, if any of you happen to know Ellen, or Portia, or 

their gardner, housekeeper, chef, mailman etc....could you

pass this cute video on?  This family would love her help!

And wouldn't Carter make the cutest correspondent?

And this is Aunt Debbie, doing what she does best.

And just because I am Scandinavian, don't think, for one
second I know a thing about

curling....

And finally, dear readers, if you are so inclined and would
like to donate to get this sweet family to Sochi,
they have set up a site to accept donations.......

Here is the link! Just click on the image below:

I realize this is the time year we are all asked to
contribute to worthy causes, if you find it in your
heart to help this wonderful family fulfill a dream,
please accept my sincerest gratitude!

Go Team USA!!!!!

Tomato Basil Soup.....

We are heading into the holiday season which means lots

of rich foods and sweet treats.  And while I love to indulge as 

much as the next person, I also like to weave in some 

healthy, lighter dinners for my family during the season.

This tomato-basil soup recipe is a favorite!

I serve it with cheese toasts and a caesar salad.

Tomato-Basil Soup

{adapted from Portland's Palate - Junior League cookbook}

1/4 cup butter, plus 2 tablespoons, divided

5 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped and divided 

1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced and divided

3 {28 ounce} cans Italian plum tomatoes

Salt and Pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 cups chicken broth

In large saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup butter.  Add 3 

tablespoons basil, chopped onion and 4 cloves garlic.  Cook until tender,

about 15 minutes.  pour in tomatoes and their liquid.  Simmer

uncovered for 30 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

* Now - use either an immersion blender {THE best kitchen gadget}

or food processor to puree tomato mixture.  Return mixture

to saucepan {if you used a food processor}.

In small saucepan over medium heat, melt remaining 2 tablespoons

butter.  Add remaining 2 tablespoons basil, garlic and Italian seasonings

and saute for 5 minutes.  Combine sauteed herbs with chicken broth

and tomato mixture.  Simmer until heated through.

I am having a hard time getting my head around the fact

that next week is Thanksgiving! It really is my

favorite holiday.  I love the pause, the time

with family, the food........but geez, isn't it still September?

Happy Thursday!

Around my home....the November version....{aka} the holiday 'before'!

Almost 2 years ago, I dropped my good 50mm camera

lens and it broke.  I was so frustrated with myself, I put

the lens in a drawer and tried to forget it.  However, the 

photos of my home that I was taking and putting on the blog

were harsh reminders of how much I missed that 

sweet lens....the one lens that helped me take beautiful photos

despite my lack of camera knowledge.....

Last week I sucked it up and went and purchased a 

new 50mm lens and have since been enjoying

taking photos around my 'November' home.

Let's consider these the 'before' photos for the forthcoming

'after' holiday version photos, shall we?

My paperwhites are doing what they do best this month and

sprouting happily on my kitchen window sill.

See that pretty rusty metal olive bucket?  She's gonna have 

a skinny natural tree in her by mid-December....

Whenever I show a photo of this table I get lots of questions

about where it's from....It's a big vintage pedestal

table I bought at a Farm Chicks Show about 3 years

ago.  I bought it within the first 5 minutes of walking into

the show for $120 - I know a bargain when I see it.

This is EXACTLY how it looked when I bought it.

It's super hard to find good BIG round tables.

The photo in upper right corner of this collage outs my growing vintage cane collection.

For some things there is no explanation.  But this I do know -

when me and hubs are in need, we will be well stocked!

And this photo above is of my 'little fiddle leaf fig that could'.
I am proud this original Ikea plant is still going strong!
It has potential to be big and strong one day.

My pooches got haircuts {they are both mini-goldendoodles} and

momma has gone with a black and white pillow arrangement on the

couch - {alert the media, people!}

The French hatrack could use some attention, but I am enjoying the 

view of my new grain sack stockings that will make their 

debut on my mantel this year!

Paperwhites.....what can I say, their growth is MY advent calendar.....

I apologize for my lack of blogging lately....I felt bad enough that

I put together this one big, fat, juicy post.  I hope you enjoyed it.

Holiday Cards......a giveaway from Minted!

It's that time of year to clean up the kids, dust off

your husband, give the dog a bath etc.......

and take the perfect family photo for your holiday card!

If all of the above leaves you - not so 'merry' and 'bright' 

 Minted makes the rest EASY-PEASY!

Minted has the cutest, most beautiful Christmas, 

holiday, Hanukkah and even New Years cards 

and greetings!  Minted really has a design to fit

every family. There website makes it easy to 

upload your photo, customize your card and order -

all from the comfort of your cozy home!

{No one will ever know that the kids complained

about their outfits, the husband was late for the 

photo shoot because of a meeting, the dog had

a bad case of flatulence.....}

I have assembled just a few of my favorite designs here - I can't
imagine which one I will choose for our family's 
Christmas card.........

Minted has graciously offered a $150 credit towards 

a holiday card order for ONE lucky Forever*Cottage reader!

Go HERE to enter this generous giveaway!

The giveaway closes on 11/17 - enter NOW!!!

Making a grand entrance....

My clients, a young family that just moved into a large house with a large

entry way,  have asked my help with filling it in a way that is functional

and balanced while embracing the casually elegant style they

want for their home.  I created the design board above for them as

a start.  The room {it's large enough to be considered a room} is

a tad asymmetrical so the pair of demilune tables on either sides

of the living room doorway helps to provide some symmetry. 

The curved staircase is the perfect place to tuck a large round

table with a couple stools underneath.  The round sisal makes

the space feel casual.

Below are a couple casually elegant entry spaces from my 

Pinterest 'Entry Styling' board that I used as inspiration.

via

Yowza!  I love the red lantern below!

via

Happy Friday, it's November, can ya believe it?

I actually bought a few Christmas gifts this week!

Have a wonderful weekend....

Life, in photos.....

* Beautiful fall drives

*my freshman girl went to her 

first Homecoming dance {with a BOY!}

* A friend is building a gorgeous home 

that I can't wait to show you

*Above mentioned freshman girl got asked to play with the 

varsity soccer team for the state championship playoffs!

* I ate WAY too much candy last week

*and just maybe had a few too many empty wine glasses.....

It's all the good stuff, but a whirlwind 

nonetheless.  Mix in fun clients with projects

that require uber amounts of creativity and

you pretty much have my life

in a nutshell......

So what's new with you?