In a whirlwind of falling leaves, project planning and holiday prep, October flew by! It’s hard to believe we’ll say goodbye to autumn in a couple of days, while we head into November ready to embrace the holiday season.
I love Christmas, but this year, I made an effort not to get ahead of myself so that we could fully enjoy everything autumn had to offer. We savoured the mild weather and beautiful fall foliage while taking in seasonal activities and events hosted in our area. We visited a lot of pumpkin patches and apple orchards! We enjoyed beautiful evenings at the charming barn where Zoe takes riding lessons, and we even began volunteering at a local animal sanctuary. It’s a fun experience and a great life lesson in responsibility for our girls while fueling their desire to one day live on a farm.
October is also the month we close our shared family cottage for the winter. I was hit with a wave of emotion as we visited for the last time this year. It was hard to say goodbye to our home away from home. If you missed it, we renovated our cottage from floor to ceiling just this spring, and our summer was filled with so many wonderful memories there. We are already looking forward to next summer when we can enjoy it again.
While we will miss our carefree summer days, we have a lot to think about here at home too. We’re knee-deep into planning two (maybe three) projects to tackle over the winter. We mentioned two of our projects here, while one wasn’t planned but is taking priority. If you want to stay in the know, make sure you’re signed up for our weekly newsletter, and you’ll be the first to see what we’re working on!
We’ve already shared the latest and best holiday decor. Now, get ready for inspiration and ideas for decking the halls, mouthwatering holiday recipes, our favourite holiday traditions, and of course, our eagerly awaited annual Holiday Gift Guide, featuring even more categories to make your gift-giving truly exceptional this year!
Spindle Bed – This is the bed we purchased for Ella’s bedroom, it’s a great (and more affordable) alternative to this one or this one.
Wicker Sconces – These sconces look and feel very expensive, and I love the warmth and texture the wicker shades add. We incorporated them into Zoe’s bedroom for a polished and timeless look.
Norfolk Pine Garland – This real-touch garland sells out so quickly each year and with good reason. It’s so realistic, that it fools almost everyone. Last year I swagged it along our mantel and draped it over our kitchen window, I bought more this year to adorn our staircase too!
Winter Art Print – I love layering a few seasonal art prints throughout our home, and this one is perfectly subtle to display from Christmas through the winter. These Christmas-specific prints are a fun nod to the holiday season too!
Miniature Stuffed Bunny – Hands down, these are my favourite toys for our girls. We filled our DIY dollhouse with an entire family of bunnies and they are just the sweetest. The perfect stocking stuffer, these adorable creatures will undoubtedly become treasured family heirlooms.
Gingerbread Door Mat – I ordered this darling gingerbread door mat and while I am still waiting for it to arrive, I know it will be the perfect way to welcome guests into our home this holiday season.
Wool Throw – This rich and cozy wool throw would make a lovely Christmas gift for the homebody on your list this year.
Vintage-Inspired Rug – Always a favourite, this rug has an old-world feel to it while being super soft and durable. You can see it in our cottage living room, and we can attest to it’s amazingness.
Christmas Tree – Natural and organic in its shape and appearance, this faux spruce tree will look so charming strung with garland and decorated with cherished family ornaments.
Stocking – A neutral block print adds a traditional feel to this sweet homemade stocking, I love the collected look of stockings in different patterns hung on the mantel.
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