Let the shopping begin!

We will be welcoming a baby girl to our family in July! Most of you know we already have three adorable grandsons, but now they will have a baby sister to love and protect. Pinch me pink! We are all so excited. Her name will be Eliza Jane.
FAST FORWARD TO AUGUST
I am editing this post now that it is August and our newest addition to the family has arrived and I have this photo of Eliza wearing the very first outfit I bought her before she was born. She came into the world on July 24th and we are thrilled to pieces! I love the song below and I was so frustrated not to be able to get it on Playlist, but it just was not a choice, so now you can make a choice to hear it or not, but I hope you listen and share in my joy!

Decorating Frenzy

At the end of October my daughter Brook made me an offer I couldn't pass up. She offered to fly me to Boston in early November to spend my week's vacation with her. We had a week of pure girl fun. Since she recently moved into a new apartment she wanted my decorating advise. I was totally flattered that she wanted my help. All grown up and still needing her Mama. I'm so lucky!

We shopped at Pottery Barn, Target, Ikea, TJMax, Burlington Coat Factory and quaint little local shops until our feet needed a good soak! We found the mirror in the photo above for Brook's entryway and loads of accessories to fill the Samantha shelf from Pottery Barn.

I had the Samantha shelf and bench delivered to Brook before I arrived, but she waited for my help to fill it with cute things.

When you enter Brook's apartment there is a wonderful entrance with a staircase to the left leading up to her office and bedroom. To the right is a powder room (which I forgot to take photos of) and the kitchen. Straight ahead is her treatment room. Brook is a shiatsu massage practitioner and she works from home, which is very convenient when the winter snow arrives!

Brook hadn't had time since she moved to put her bed together so she was so grateful to have another pair of hands to help her get it together. We found bedding at Pottery Barn and extra decorative pillows from Pier One to help make her bed inviting. Now her bedroom will be a refuge after a busy day working.

The lamps next to Brook's bed belonged to her grandmother and they are so lovely but they needed new lamp shades. We tried a couple of different styles and then settled on the burlap shades from Pottery Barn. I know if my mother were alive today she would definitely approve.

We found the cozy white rugs at Ikea. We also bought an armoire at Ikea but ran out of time to put it together, but I know she will be motivated to get it put together, even though I'm not there to cheer her on.

Brook's office is all decked out too. That was the only room we didn't have to do anything to because her new Printer's corner desk from Pottery Barn was delivered and set up before I arrived. She had already painted the room this energetic blue color.

This is the room Brook spends a lot of time in, organizing her life and writing music, playing her guitar and practicing on her keyboard and dreaming big dreams!

Brook found this chair online at Target and called me to see what I thought of it. Brook's business card has a photo of a dandelion with a butterfly that landed on it...a photo that she took. This chair just seemed like it was made for her. I ordered it for her because she couldn't get her computer to access the page that would let her order it. We got the very last one. This fabric is no longer offered. Brook was thrilled. It was meant to be. Since I work in customer service and I know even if you order something there is always the chance that you will get an e-mail saying an item is no longer available I was not confidant that she would get it, but Brook was certain that she would get it and she did, yay!

Brook's girlfriend suggested Brook add more white to her treatment room, so Brook took her friend's suggestion to heart and we found ways to infuse her treatment room with white.

We covered some of the books in Brook's built ins with white and natural colored paper bags. We also added accessories in white tones.

The soft cushy pillows are from Pottery Barn. The throw on the left is from Target and the throw on the right is from West Elm. These item not only added a little more white to the room but also added a real sense of comfort.

The chair in the corner also belonged to my mother and the afghan belonged to one of my mother's friends who passed almost two years ago. They add a sense of comfort and connection to the past. We found the shag rugs at Ikea, they not only warm up the space, but give the feeling of floating on a cloud, a healing cloud. I know because Brook gave me a treatment while I stayed with her and I'm still on cloud nine...l.o.l.

Brook makes a mean breakfast. I felt totally spoiled sitting in her darling kitchen while she cooked.

We hung aprons from the kitchen window.

From all of Brook's kitchen windows there is a view of the woods behind the house. I needed a change of scenery and the scenery in Hamilton was just what I needed!

We found these Queen of the kitchen spoons at a local apple farm.

Flowers on the window sill adds a cheerfulness to kitchen duties.

This wing back chair was also my mother's and this is where I sat and drank my morning coffee while Brook prepared breakfast.

Brook was using this rack in her bedroom to hold her clothes, but after buying an armoire for her bedroom, we decided that this rack would be very useful in the kitchen to hold her appliances. It has freed up the counters for preparing food.

It was a wonderful week and it went too quickly. I look forward to many more visits to my sweet girl's home.

Autumn Bliss

I just spent this past week in Hamilton, Ma. visiting my sweet girl. Fall is alive both in nature and in the community of Hamilton. There is something about the colors of fall that inspires people to celebrate the season.

Autumn wreaths are hung on the doors and creativity abounds in the lives of Hamilton residents.

An Alice in Wonderland tea party adorns this front yard. What an inspirational use of burlap, eh?

These scarecrows are just a hop, skip and a jump away from leaping over that fence.

I took a visit to a local apple farm and it was overflowing with autumn goodness! We ate apple cider doughnuts fresh from the oven and visited the farm animals.

How lucky my girl is to live so close to an apple farm? I would have loved to have stayed the entire month of November.

Nothing sweeter than a bounty of apples after a fall harvest.

We went on a hike through the hills not from my daughter's house. The view was worth walk!

Here's a view from my daughter's back door. It must be breathtakingly gorgeous when winter brings the snow.

West Elm's Kickoff for the Fall Season

Many of you know that I am a customer service rep for West Elm, a division of William-Sonoma.
This week was our celebration of the "Fall Season" and all the new and exciting things that are being introduced as we head into the holidays.

To kickoff the season we all wore the t-shirts you see in the photo below. An airplane hanger was rented to accommodate the ever expanding growth at our local call center to host a luncheon where a display of new fall merchandise was set up for us to see before it hits the stores.

In an economy where fear of the future is witnessed daily on the news, I am happy to say that West Elm is growing faster than Jack's best beanstalk...so much for the news on television.

Aren't the owl mugs below simply the cutest. I know my daughter will want some for her new kitchen when it is finally finished being renovated. Maybe it will be finished in time for Thanksgiving and I will have to buy her a set, as a well deserved hostess gift, she will be doing the cooking if things go my way...

...and check out the adorable soup tureens in the shape of baby pumpkins!

Don't these "Gobble" plates make you anxious for the eating to begin?

I love decorating a beautiful table for Thanksgiving, even if I'm not the one doing the cooking,L.O.L.
The cloche below was part of the beautiful table-scape that graced each one of our tables at the luncheon. What made these centerpieces extra special was the fact that the cookies were made by one of our co-workers, Irene. They were too delicious for words. This is one of the many ways that Irene has made herself a stand out at work. Thanks Irene!




The rocking chair above was a hit with the ladies at the luncheon. We all wanted a turn to sit in it.
...so many cute new things for your holiday table.


After all the frantic shopping you do during the holiday season is accomplished, doesn't this grey flannel (actually micro-fiber upholstered) sectional look inviting?

I loved the little red accent table for adding a splash of color to make your living space more festive.
Who doesn't love a little sparkle and bling on the Christmas tree?

I think everyone can use a little sparkle in their day!



Let the celebrating begin! This is my friend Margaret and her happy face is one the reason's I love going to work in the morning! Thanks for being your cheerful self everyday!

The day after the party would be my friend Susie's last day with us at West Elm. You will be sorely missed, Susie! I hope your future holds only peace and joy for you and your loved ones!

We have so much talent amongst us at West Elm. The photo above is of Robin, who took all the official photos of the event. Can't wait to see them Robin! I know they will be fabulous.

I am so privileged to work with such an awesome team!