A different holiday gift

We are coming up to the holiday season – well for some people it has already started.  Hint one of us has her tree and home decorated already.  Over happy hour at our new favorite place the topic of experiences came up.  The majority of us have what we need or can purchase it.  A few of us are trying to scale down so new knick-knack no matter how lovely are not wanted nor appreciated.  We decided to do what we would appreciate for Christmas and hope it gives you a few ideas.

• Your favorite bottle of wine – give it to a friend
• Arrange meeting for brunch earlier on a Saturday so that people have time for errands afterwards
• Take in a holiday event or fundraiser.  Note Facebook has events posted check them out.
• Purchase movie passes or better yet open day passes to local Art Gallery or Historic place in your city
• A basket of goodies (cookies, loaf, napkins, hummus) you get the idea
• Volunteer as a group at the food bank or wrapping Christmas presents at the mall for a fundraiser (you might have to do a little research but that could be part of the fun)
• If an organization is looking for gifts for children in need pick a name and go for it. Get the family involved in shopping for that special gift
• Have your children make Christmas cards or art for their special people
• Have a cookie exchange
• Bring unused winter items (mitts, jackets, scarves) to goodwill
• What about having an extra pair of gloves in your bag to give to the homeless
• Go to a carol sing or any place having Christmas music or music period during the holiday season
• Have friends over to watch holiday movies
• Make a Christmas and/or everyday playlist for friends
• Put your thinking cap on and be creative!!!

Our forever or right now homes

We are so excited.  One of our favorite blogs A Beautiful Mess   (ABM) has launched a podcast.  AMB is two sisters blogging about life which includes crafts, décor, recipes and much more. It as a happy blog. There is nothing political, social or someones' rants on world or local events.  Any time you visit you will have a visually beautiful page, stunning pictures of homes, crafts and food.  They have series their 10 favorite things on Sunday. They have home tours and share both before and after their renovations.  Like I said it makes me happy. Period.

Their podcast is Emma and Elise talking – nothing serious. They launched three episodes. One they talked about their forever homes and went through their purchases and current homes and how they arrived there and what they are still looking for.  That got us thinking what our forever homes would be so here it in no particular order:

•           Loft in the city.  Ideally in an old warehouse with brick walls and high ceiling. The windows would be long and run the length of the loft. An industrial look with an open concept. Maybe the bedroom partitioned off. The pipes would be exposed in the ceiling.  The kitchen would be in the back with bar seating and dining table in front. Off to the side would be a cozy living room with leather sofa and chairs.
•       House on a lake surrounded by trees.  You cannot see the neighbors only when they are canoeing by the wharf.  It was a large deck off the open living room and a fire pit further down with Adirondack chairs around it. The lake is a good size for small sail boats, canoes and kayaks.  Of course we have a wharf for jumping off and tying our boats to. The house itself isn’t large. Open concept downstairs with a master bedroom and bath.  Upstairs at least three bedrooms and bathroom.  One larger bedroom more like a bunk house.
•       Brownstone in the city. I mean really. They look fabulous and people are blowing them up inside to create more open concepts.  I love the look of the outside. The brick, the stairs to the front door. My Brownstone would have rod iron gate and steps leading to a basement apartment (I want the rental income).  My portion would have a few walls down on the main floor to open the back up for the kitchen and seating area.  A deck off the back of the house.  I would retain the warm wood moldings but have white walls to showcase my extensive art collection (which I don’t have but would if I lived in a Brownstone).
•           Victorian all the way.  I even want the gingerbread lattice and wrap around front porch and trim.  I have wicker chairs and table on the front porch and the porch curves to the right to a larger porch and side door.  I’m not knocking out walls as my rooms are generous portions all with working fireplaces. I have a large eat-in kitchen at the back that you can exist onto a deck and down steps to beautiful flower gardens. 

As you can see our “forever” homes are very different.  While we were writing this someone said “you know this can change. Forever doesn’t mean forever just right now.”  Hmmm… so maybe these are our right now forever homes.  Do you have a forever home?  Let me know where and what it would be.