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?