This and That

Hi friends!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just a few days away? It snuck up on me this year, even though I’ve been knee-deep in Christmas decorating and blog posts for weeks now.

As I sit here thinking about all the things to be grateful for, you are right at the top of that list. Whether you’re here for garden ideas, cozy cottage inspiration, or a little seasonal escape, I’m so thankful you choose to spend time with me each week.

A Few Things I’m Grateful For This Week

This is the last weekend before the big holiday—are you ready? Are you hosting? Traveling? Keeping things low-key? Let me know in the comments at the end of the post.

Around here, my hubby and I jokingly call ourselves holiday orphans. We don’t host Thanksgiving; instead, we celebrate Friendsgiving with dear friends. It’s become a really sweet tradition for us—good food, good laughs, and zero pressure. Just the way I like it.

I’m in charge of pies, potatoes, and espresso martinis this year.

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I also participated in a holiday home tour with some incredibly talented bloggers this week, and I loved seeing everyone’s cozy spaces all dressed up for the season. If you missed it, I’ll link it again in today’s post. It’s always fun to grab ideas early—especially if you like to decorate at your own pace.

As for next week? I’ll be doing a little bit of everything:

• tweaking Christmas decor and finishing up the bedroom decorating
• making pies
• saying goodbye to the pumpkins and decorating the outdoors for Christmas
• enjoying Christmas music, scented candles, and twinkle lights

“Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have.” – Catherine Pulsifier

On the Blog

Cottage Christmas Home Tours: A Cozy Holiday Decor Collection

I love looking back at past Christmas home tours. There’s so much to learn from them – the holiday color palettes I was loving, the little decorating experiments I tried, the new vintage treasures that found their way into the cottage, and of course, how many times Jax and Ollie wandered into the photos (honestly, more than I can count)…CONTINUE READING.

30+ Christmas Tree Themes to Inspire Your Holiday Decorating

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most magical parts of the holiday season, but choosing a theme can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. With so many beautiful styles out there—from moody and dramatic to whimsical and colorful—it’s hard to know where to start…CONTINUE READING.

Moody Christmas Cottage Tour: Mixing Old and New

Welcome to my 2025 Moody Christmas Cottage Tour! This year’s holiday decor feels like the perfect mix of old favorites but takes on a slightly different “moody” direction with deeper colors, natural textures, and cozy layers…CONTINUE READING.

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

Here are a few of my favorite holiday home tours for the week:

And this pomegranate Christmas decorating is my very favorite!!!

Ina Garten has some tips for a less stressful Thanksgiving.

These pull-apart garlic butter spinach and artichoke dip sliders are perfect for the holidays.

How about a different way to display your vintage ornaments? Check out this DIY tree wall art.

I HAVE to make this sweet DIY viral gingerbread house Christmas mug.

Here’s how you can make a life-size nutcracker for your front porch.

See how easy it is to make a simple gingerbread snow globe centerpiece for your holiday table.

Closing Thoughts

As we head into Thanksgiving week, I hope you find moments of calm, joy, and connection—whether you’re hosting a house full of guests, celebrating with friends, traveling, or keeping things simple this year.

And if this season brings a mix of emotions, please know you’re not alone. Holidays can be complicated, but they also give us space to pause and appreciate the little things that make life sweet.

Wishing you warmth, gratitude, and maybe an extra slice of pie.

Until next time,

Wishing a wonderful week ahead,