I like to do my Christmas shopping early, and to surprise friends with small gifts throughout the year. Here are some new books I’ve been putting away in my gift closet for this season’s gifting opportunities. Perhaps you’ll find them interesting too! (Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means …
I’m consciously trying to build in some more “quiet evenings at home” into my intentionally busy life. Those nights are usually Sunday and Monday evenings (though I host the occasional restaurant dinner party on Mondays for my social club). I haven’t been much of an “adult coloring book” type person before – I’m more of …
A beautiful tree-lined driveway into a Park-and-Ride facility not far from my home in Woodinville, Washington Today I’m setting my plans for the weekend ahead; carving out time in my worknights for reading and for cooking meals with my boyfriend; and planning ahead for my autumn hosting and entertaining. If you throw parties, are likely …
It’s finally autumn here in Seattle. It makes me so happy to drive home past this row of gorgeous colorful trees. I tried to take as many photos as possible this week before an inevitable windstorm comes to blow the leaves away. Today I’m preparing my home for the autumn weekend ahead. It’s going to …
I like to keep baskets of colorful flowers on my front porch to welcome guests On Fridays, my boyfriend comes over to take me out to dinner and spend the weekend with me. He’s a bit of a “neat freak,” so to make him more comfortable during his visit, I spend extra time and energy …
Lavender Furniture Wax, at The Container Store Wednesdays are a busy workday for me, and I usually get to enjoy a Girls Night Out in the evening (my boyfriend meets some of his guy friends for fish & chips and beer on Wednesdays). After I get dressed and made up to go out, I won’t …
Happy First Day of May! Happy May Day! Happy Beltane to those of you who celebrate it. QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY: It’s the first of the month – time to pay rent, bills, or mortgage? Look over your calendar for May. What upcoming events are you looking forward to? Any birthdays or anniversaries you …
The Secret Garden, on Amazon Every spring for several years now, I take time to re-read the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic, “The Secret Garden”. Although her other well-known book, “A Little Princess,” is actually my favorite, there’s definitely a wonderful rainy-day air about “The Secret Garden” that makes it perfect for reading in …
Yesterday it was warm enough to go out in my yard, move yard furniture around, spend time composting dead plants that didn’t make it through the winter, and hose off my deck and patios. It wasn’t quite warm enough to eat dinner outside, sadly. But I got enough sunshine on my skin (stealing time away …
A cherry tree bestows my front yard with Spring blossoms. I usually like to begin my Spring Cleaning on the first of a month (March 1st, if the weather is nice earlier in the year, or April 1st). I like to do a small project every weeknight, and two big projects on the weekend, tackling …