LoveFeast Pumpkin Giveaway!

When it comes to holiday or seasonal decor, I tend to 

steer more towards subtle touches and natural elements.

That's why I have been a fan of LoveFeast Shop's velvet pumpkins 

and acorns for many years and love using them in 

my own home.  My favorites are the ones with the

really quirky stems!  Love!

It seems each year, LoveFeast Shop adds pumpkins in new colors or fabrics…

this year I am loving the metallic linen pumpkins and also

the pink ones {for breast cancer awareness}.  The acorns

are just so charming and sweet too!

And don't think this is a seasonal shop - they have lots of decorative

objects for your home for anytime of the year too!

LoveFeast Shop is giving away a Pumpkin Trio to one

lucky Forever*Cottage reader! {retail value $106}

To enter this giveaway:

1. Visit LoveFeast Shop and take a look at their products.

2.  Come back here and leave a comment telling me what

trio you would choose if you won!

3.  For a second entry, follow LoveFeast Shop on Instagram.

{make sure you come back and leave a comment letting me know you did}

4. For a THIRD entry, follow LoveFeast Shop on Pinterest!

**This giveaway is open to US residents only.

**Please enter by midnight PST, Wednesday, October 29.

Using Liming Wax on Pine…..

You may all remember my Goodwill score from a couple years ago -

you can read about it HERE……While I love old pine so much, sometimes

I find it too yellow for my tastes.  I had read how liming wax can 'bring down'

the yellow hues so I had try it on this piece - I didn't have much to lose!

I really love the results!  By no means is it a perfect waxing job {as the photos prove} but

I wanted it look imperfect as if it had happened over time.

I ordered my Briwax from Amazon but you might be able to find it

at your local woodcraft store too.

Notice anything else different in my home?  I finally hung drapes

on both LARGE sliding french doors in my great room…..

love how instantly cozy the room feels.

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Thanks everyone who took the time to write a comment to

my 'overwhelmed momma' post!  I appreciate your insight so much.

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Is it almost Monday already????

Sheesh!

Happy.

What if we really embraced every day as if it were Friday?

Because, really there is something good to be had

in each and every day if we choose to notice it.

But I am looking pretty happy today is Friday -

I'm hosting friends and clients in my home for

my first Noonday party……..As I prepared my 

home and prepped some food yesterday, I remembered

how much I really love to entertain.  I am not a fancy

host - but I hope my guests feel comfortable and loved when

they are in my home…..

Wishing you enjoyment and joy in all your days!

Happy Friday!

There is a lot on my mind…..{WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS NO PHOTOS}

I hope you don't mind but today's post is not going to have any pretty photos, client design work or inspiring decorating tips…..oh, who are we kidding, I haven't been very good at delivering on any of that lately.  Life has been busy….but I am not arrogant enough to think mine is any busier than yours……I just seem to be having a hard time managing all the balls I am trying to juggle.  I'd like it to be different but I am grappling with managing my priorities {family, friends, work} with all the other things that creep in {sick kids, unanticipated household repairs, saying 'yes' to things I should have said 'no thank you' to}.  I imagine you too wrestle with the constant push and pulls that inevitably make up this crazy, wonderful life.

I have lots of thoughts swirling around in my head this morning, a 'to-do' list a mile long, dirty dishes piled in the sink - so what better way than to begin my day by spilling it all out here, right?

Here I go…...

* My two days at Wishbone Home & Design was many things…….mainly humbling - so many blog readers, friends and Instagram followers came out to see me and shop at Wishbone!  The days were really like one big social hour in the shop!  So many design enthusiast's in one place was heartwarming!  I was honored to be included and look forward to doing it again!  Thank you to everyone who showed up for me - I don't think I will ever be able to adequately express how much it meant to know that you made the trip, took time out of your day, to see me!

* Fall is just busy!  You think that when the kids go back to school you are going to get oodles of hours to spend as you please - no work interruptions, cleaning out those closets, meeting a friend for coffee……but gosh, I am just not feeling it……We are loaded with sports obligations this fall - which is fun, but keeps me in my car many more hours than I care to count.

* I have a sixteen year old who is learning to drive and my friends keep telling me how nice it will be to have her driving but I am not convinced, is that weird?  Does it make me a totally crazy mom when I admit that I am not that excited to hand car keys over to my precious, newly licensed 16 year old who I love with all my heart?  She is already not around much with school/sports/social life……our car time is good for important conversations, appreciating her goofy personality and caring soul…..I don't want to let it go…..yet.

* Speaking of 16 year old {and 12 year olds}….parenting is not for the faint of heart - and just when you think you have it down, BAM! a new issue creeps up.  I have to say, I LOVE the teen years.  I never thought I would say that - when my girls were little the thought of having teenagers scared the hell out of me, but here I am admitting I love it.  But don't get me wrong - the issues that face teens are BIG ones - their choices can be life altering, life changing……I recently learned that a friend's teen is not making the best choices and I am struggling with what to do with the information….The information was second-hand but from multiple sources……do I tell the parents?  Might they already know?  Is it MY business?  I know, I would want to know and would appreciate someone telling me if my child was making poor choices but not everyone feels the same…..Advice, wise readers?

* Oh - 7th grade…..why do you have so much girl drama?????  I swear it's the worst.  Hormonal 12 year olds all trying to figure it out…..seems they all 'try-on' the mean girl persona at some point and my girl is in the thick of all of it…….I can just do my best to listen to her frustrations, offer advice and pray that she is not dishing it out!

* Design clients - I appreciate your patience with me…..for many reasons.  It's been nearly two years since I took the leap and started my own design biz and I am still learning and adjusting how and why I do what I do……And you keep coming back and seeking my advice and hiring me!  I never take it for granted and being SO busy is a blessing but sometimes the guilt of not being able to meet your needs quicker, with more efficiency is overwhelming……I am feeling it today.  So if I owe you an email, a call…..please be patient with me, I am working in my office today and you should hear from me soon!

* I am hosting my first Noonday party on Friday!  It's something I have wanted to do for a long time…..but I am feeling the pressure {self imposed, of course} of making my home and the event 'perfect'……yuck!  However, I am aware that when you decorate other's homes for a living, there is an expectation……one, my imperfect home may not meet…..and I am getting more and more ok with that.  So, if you are coming on Friday you are going to see real life and all my undone/half-done projects…..BUT, we are going to have a good time shopping for a great cause! If you are local and not a murderer and interested in coming, please email me at jillbeth@aol.com…..I'm serious.

Thanks for listening….now it's your turn, what's on your mind?  Spill it.