home, hospitality & travels Embracing the everyday to Celebrate the joy of purposeful living Making a house into a home · welcoming a stranger as a friend · Turning a trip into an adventure · it is this pursuit of creating beauty, having intention & holding dear those around us that is the joy of…
I always love seeing bountiful fall planters with their colorful foliage and textural interest. Going into a garden center or walking up to a front porch decorated for fall just warms my heart and makes me thrilled for the season. Here, in South Carolina, it can be a challenge to know when to fix fall planters or window boxes as frequently my summer annuals are still thriving into at least early November, and then it feels as if I should move on to Christmas décor. Sometimes, I must delay my fall planter box dreams, but even so, these next examples are ones that certainly speak to my fall loving heart and inspire my own front porch. I hope that they can do the same for you or at least spur you on to try your….
I absolutely love fall. I love the décor, the weather, the food, the clothes…. There is pretty much nothing I dislike about the fall season, except for the fact that it does not always agree with my wallet. With so many beautiful heirloom pumpkins, paper napkins, seasonal goodies and new accessories, I soon find that my spending is reaching its limit. As this happens, I lean into my nana’s trusty old saying of “do with whatcha got” to repurpose items already on hand and give them another life. Typically, I actually find that some of my most creative moments are when my resources are limited as it causes me to think outside the box. This fall DIY came about in this same context, but now is a décor piece I love. If you are wanting to have a quick, easy and inexpensive fall décor project, then I hope these next 6 steps to making a dried magnolia wreath will inspire….
Over the past three years of marriage, Charlie and I have slowly started trying to create intentional traditions for our family that we can continue once we have children. While some ideas have stuck better than others, one tradition that we have yet to miss is the experience of picking apples at Skytop Apple Orchard each fall. Perhaps it is because it is at the top of these special hills that we started our story by getting engaged or perhaps because each experience encompasses so many festive fall activities (think cider donuts, colorful leaves, cozy weather (if we are lucky!!), heirloom pumpkins etc), but whatever the reason, this tradition of fall apple picking has become one of our absolute favorites. As summer is coming to an end and fall is around the corner….
One of my favorite rooms in the house is our dining room. The dining room is a place to gather, to celebrate meals, to start the day with breakfast and end the day with dessert. In our house, our dining room is also where we set up our Christmas tree, open gifts, welcome people into our home and share life together. While I know that many people have transformed their dining room into an office or have done away with formality in favor of eating at the kitchen island, I believe the dining room is a special place to pause and get to know those around your table. Even while schedules are crazy, we have tried to prioritize family dinner as a moment to stop the hustle and bustle and just be together. While your space doesn’t have to be designed to the nines, having it reflect your personality can be key in how you feel about coming to this spot everyday. In this vein, I wanted to provide a series of mood boards that can help to give inspiration and motivation to find your own style and aesthetic for this special room. For today, I have created two whimsical dining room mood boards that blend modern and traditional while providing pops of color….
A couple of years back, my brother gave my mom and I tickets to The Sound of Music show at the Peace Center in Greenville for Christmas. Not only was the show fabulous, but we were able to make a wonderful day trip that provided endless memories. Ever since then, I have absolutely loved giving “experience gifts” to create memories and enjoy an activity rather than just a singular purchase. Inspired by this same vein, I stumbled upon Twin Creeks Lavender Farm highlighted in a Southern Living issue while searching for an experience gift for my mom for Mother’s Day. Propelled by our shared love of flowers, I thought that a U Pick lavender experience would be the perfect gift to share. While you may not be looking for an experience gift for someone, a trip to Twin Creeks Lavender Farm can be a….
Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! In preparation for this summer season, I am so excited to introduce a stained glass maker as our second quarter artisan highlight! As I mentioned in our last artisan feature of furniture maker, Mike Bagley, I want to highlight the works, journeys, and talents of the inspirational artisans around us each quarter. I believe that we each have God given gifts, and those that are able to produce and create works of beauty should be celebrated. I find that I frequently am encouraged by listening to other people’s creative journeys and I hope that each quarter, you will be encouraged (and perhaps emboldened) to create works of beauty as well, whether that be in the arts, music, homemaking, photography, or any other creative…..
Just imagine: white sand, floppy hat, slight breeze or big sky, deep snow, top of the world view. Both beautiful and desirable travel locations, but with totally different trip offerings and itineraries. So what do they have in common – especially when related to your budget? Deciding on a travel destination is not only the first exciting step of the vacation process, but also the step that will most likely affect the stretch of your budget. Selecting a destination that is very exclusive and hard to reach will likely become more expensive, while more traveled areas typically come with additional deals to attract travelers. As we have been thinking through summer plans and upcoming trips, we created a list of the most important pieces when deciding on a vacation location. When planning your vacation, you must balance a several components including….