We have to hold fast

 It has been over a year now since we closed down.  Opened, closed and opened again.  COVID-19 is still out there. Over the weekend we were discussing COVID-19 fatigue. Yes it is a thing. We think the majority of the world has it.

People are getting vaccinated - great - but we can't get complacent. The vaccine is one line of defense. Some positive numbers for COVID in places are as high as they were at the beginning. People we have to hold fast!  Mask, wash our hands, physical distance and stay home. Festivals and events should no be happening yet! With numbers on the rise and governments slow to shut down we have to hold fast ourselves. We can't wait for our governments to tell us what to do. At this point we know what to do. It has been over a year.

If governments are going to put the economy before health we have to take a stand. We can support local through on-line and take-out. Yes we know it has been a long year and people are tired. So tired. Life seems on hold at times. We get it. We feel the same.

The thing is if we don't hold fast this might get out of control (it has again in some places). Then all the sacrifices we have made might be for nothing. This isn't going away anytime soon. Vaccines or no vaccines. We have to take a deep breath and hold fast. 

Get back to safer measures. Cut back on socializing (hard I know). Maybe if we pull it together we might have a summer of small get togethers. Think community. Just because X and Y are not behaving safely doesn't me we follow suit. We are bigger than that.  

So hold fast.  Don't toss it in now.  Things are in place we just have to keep doing the right thing. We have this.

5 Favorite things (well currently)

Deary time of year so we wanted a fun post.  Please drop in the comments some of your favorite things.  Here goes.  

1. Christmas.  I love the holidays. I start decorating end of November and treat the entire month of December as part of my holidays.  Tree up and place decorated by end of the first week of December.  It is a time to spend with family and friends. Making dates for drinks, shopping, coffee and sending cards. I love the entire month.
2. Going thrifting with a friend.  We head out for the day with no expectations. First we grab a coffee to go. Nothing is off limits.  We root, dig and move. You never know what is behind or under something
3. Supper and the theatre.  The whole experience. Love live theatre and supper first gives us a chance to catch up. There is something energizing about live performances.
4. Travel. Period. The planning part of it included. Picking a place we have never been. Looking at things to do and see. Places to stay. Times lines.  Arriving and experiencing a different culture, time and space.  
5. Having an evening at home to light candles, glass of wine and a good book. No expectations or conversation required.

What are some of your favorite things?  Please share. 

   

Do you decorate for Easter and/or Spring?

 

Fun debate over Easter or Spring decor.  Are you someone that decorates for all the holidays? We have a variety here.  One person no. They don't have the space or the energy. Enough of her.  The rest of us are a yes - to various degrees.

Whether it is a simple tablescape like above or wreath on the door. Majority of us are unto that. Then there is the person who loves decorating for all season

A few years ago I purchased two wooden block bunnies and put them in the entryway.  After Easter was over I found on sale a few more cute bunnies and picked them up. Before I knew it I had a bit of a collection.  Wreath on the door - more spring than Easter so stays up for a few months.  I love my bunnies around the house for about a month. I smile when I look at them and you can't get better than that. 

So I am in the camp of do what makes you smile. If bunnies in April make you smile - go for it.  I also have a collection of Christmas trees I pull out the end of November. 

So bring in items that you enjoy. If it is fresh beautiful flowers on the dining room table go for it.  If it is bunnies, pumpkins or trees that works too.  Don't let others tell you what you can bring into your home - tacky or classy if you are smiling it is working.

 

Nightstands a must!

We decided to take the family and rent an Airbnb.  Pandemic has kept us close to home for almost a year. It is now about making the most of what we have. We have some beautiful places to visit close to home. We drove an hour and stayed at a beautiful old home (1844) right on the water. The owners bought it a month ago and are renting it out.

We had pretty well all we needed. Claw foot tub to soak in, fireplace to enjoy and enough bedrooms for everyone.  What was missing in a few bedrooms were nightstands.  Seriously no big deal until I'm in bed wondering what time it is and not wanting to get up and go over to the dresser. Yes, I know I could have left phone on the floor by bed.  

That had me thinking of nightstands and that they are a must. Somewhere to put your phone, book, lamp for reading. That was the other thing no nightstand so no lamp by  bed. They don't have to take up a lot of room. Some are simple shelves next to the bed. Here are my top takes on nightstands. Let me know your thoughts!

 

If you want extra storage in your bedroom a nightstand with drawers is a must.  Also if you don't want a cluttered top just pop your stuff into the drawer.

This one is more modern with a drawer and a shelf.  Plenty of space for lamp, book and alarm clock.  Plus space for a few of your favorite knick-knacks you might want on display.

You might have to be more tidy with this one. I love the idea of baskets and display space. 

A simple nightstand doing its job. Lamp check. Space for phone and also book. Visually not taking up hardly any space.

Visually not as heavy looking with the legs.  Plus drawer to drop stuff in.

There are also more antique looking nightstands, glass, different woods and metal.  Just make sure you have room for a lamp and somewhere for phone or alarm clock. Decision is nightstands are a must.

 

 

Update on organizing January!!

 We can see why the consumer industry is pushing organizing January as a sale tactic.  It is after the holidays, people are experiencing winter blues and looking for something to do.  Hence - organize and purge.  Seems most stores had plastic bins, baskets and organizers for sale in January.  Yes, we bought into it.  See earlier post for our storage options.

One of us purchased on recommendation the IKEA drawer organizer.  She is loving it for keeping her drawer neater and easier to find things. Another one of us found a cute basket that is now in her entryway closet with extra mitts, gloves and scarfs. We have also did some purging and had goodwill bags of clothing and even dishes.  I mean really how many mugs do you need?

There was also a few home improvements going on in January.  X painted the inside of her closet a blush color. It just took a small can of paint and she smiles when she opens the door.  Another one of us put a picture rail up in the dining room area. 

There are lots of small changes and/or projects we can do in the dead of winter. What do you think of painting the inside of a closet? Maybe the entryway closet? Or putting wallpaper in an unexpected place?  Even switching your pictures up. Do you have one in your living room you could swap out with one in the bedroom? Even just to try for a few days. What about getting those tablecloths and/or runners out and using them? Here is a major one if you have China put away! Get it out and use it. Pack your everyday dishes away and use your China.  We're hoping it is dishwasher safe. If not even the mugs. Don't save stuff.

So we're hoping you are getting through this. Let us know what you are doing this winter to pass the time.  Projects, DIY, books we want it all! 

Valentine Day Favorites

 We are all about celebrating.  Valentine's Day is in the dead of winter for a lot of us. It isn't just about giving to your sweetheart.  Seriously! It involves chocolate, love and crafts! People decorate for Christmas, Halloween and Easter so why not Valentine's Day.  We're in.

So here are a few of our favorite Valentine's Day ideas and blogs!! Drum roll please.....

Inspired by charm is one of our go to eye candy blogs. Check out this White Texas Sheet Cake. Oh yeah he has other Valentine's Day goodies there also.

Head over to A Wandafulthing for a great variety of easy Valentine's Day projects. These are for adults and kids.

One of my favorite wreaths (not Valentine) but made because I saw this one.  A Wandafulthing has the cutest Dollar Store DIY wreath. I made it in yellows for spring and in a circle. Love it!

Again one of our favorite blogs a beautiful mess has a post on DIY projects and recipes for Valentine's Day. One stop looking!!

How cute is this! modpodge rocks.  Can see on entryway table. Want it.

kastyles shows us a cute mason jar DIY for Valentine's Day.

This doesn't touch it but hope you find something you'd like to make and share. A few of them have multiple projects and a good variety.  Kids included.

Happy Valentine's Day

Book Club - Where the crawdads sing

 Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owens

This book was highly recommended.  Well written definitely. Mixed reviews here. People have favorite genres they are drawn to  - one of us is thrillers.  Another more light reading like Me before You. So people head into a novel with different expectations - even when they try not to.

The book jumps back and forth in time to showcase Kya growing up and the present day (well present day at the time 1969) story line. It was a bit of a struggle at times to think of a child that young being left to fend for herself. It showed how you can't assume people's intelligent by whether they attend school or get a formal education.  It was a great book to show how much learning can take place exploring and through nature. How there are different ways to learn and yes don't make assumptions on looks and education.

If you enjoy a mystery there was one. Plus a love story so different elements in the novel. It was slow to get into but enjoyed more once backgrounds established. Kya is a strong female character. The other characters in the book we found where supporting characters. Moving her story along. They also showed different sides of her. Vulnerable intelligent, strong and capable. 

You end up rooting for some characters and wanting payback for others. The story was written at the time of segregation and anyone not white and living in town wasn't enough. Enough white. Enough smart. Enough worthy. You name it, so take a deep breathe when you read how ignorant and hurtful people can be. (and still are!)

It is somewhat a coming of age novel. You watch Kya grow and adapt to her surroundings. To having family and then being alone. She wants what we all want connection.  There are twists we didn't see coming so keep reading.

Yes this is a recommendation.  Hard at times. Sad at times. But so is real life.