Scrabble Wall Update

 

We finally got everything together last weekend to hang the second batch of Scrabble tiles and baby pictures in our nursery. I was sad that the Etsy shop where I originally bought the Scrabble tiles had closed, so I had to buy tiles that didn't exactly match the ones I purchased in 2020 and 2022. 

It worked out though, because the original wall didn't have enough space to accommodate the three babies born in 2024. 

Even though Ezra's name has only four letters, he has the highest Scrabble total (13). Gavin comes in second with (12). The "Z" and "V" boosted their scores.

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Four Plants You Cannot Kill

I've always had a difficult time keeping houseplants alive. But over time, I have had success with a few. Below are four that are extremely hardy. All but the small succulent have survived over two years. I can safely say that these plants cannot be killed from lack of light, lack of water, or lack of fertilization. If you want some easy-care plants, here they are:

ZZ Plant

Snake Plant

Succulent

Rubber Fig

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Update on Peter & Kendall's House

 

Peter and Kendall have been in their University Heights house for almost 2 years, so I thought I would do a little before and after post of what they've done so far. They continue to improve things all the time because that's just what they do!

This photo shows the landscaping updates they did to the front of the house.

An even more dramatic transformation happened in the back of the house.

They removed the screened-in porch and replaced it with a deck. The finishing touches on the steps and latticework are yet to be completed.

Here is a side view. Kendall loves to do landscape design as well as interior design.

This is a before shot of the kitchen. 

I didn't take this photo from the same angle, but you can see that they did a great job redesigning it. I wish I had gotten more photos here. The tile Peter put on the kitchen floor is beautiful.

I love the maple wood in their house. It is simply gorgeous. This is the living room right when they moved in.

So warm and lovely now.

From another angle. The folding chairs were there for the party they had on Sunday.

The natural features of this house are really beautiful. The corners of the dining room have built-in cabinets.

The dining table that Peter built fills the room nicely.

We were at their house on Sunday for a birthday party for Peter. You might notice that Dean has a "boot" on his right leg.

He had a little mishap on Saturday. No one knows exactly how it happened, but Heidi heard him singing, and then she heard him crying, and then he wouldn't put weight on his leg... They got him checked out, and fortunately, there were no broken bones. He should be all better very soon!

Kendall's family came to the party as well. I didn't get any photos of Daniel, Heidi, or Luke. I was not a very good photographer on Sunday.

We enjoyed pulled pork, cheesy potatoes, macaroni salad, kale salad, watermelon, and the most decadent chocolate cake I've ever tasted. Peter made his own birthday cake because Peter loves to bake! He also made the yummy pulled pork. Thanks for the hospitality!

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Decking the Halls

 

Last Sunday, Peter and Kendall came over to help us start decorating our house for Christmas. I was so very thankful, especially because we hosted a party for 50 people on Friday night.

I pulled everything out of my Christmas bins and waited for Kendall to do her decorating magic.

She knows how to arrange decor to make the house look beautiful. Our mantel is particularly difficult to decorate because of its width. Here are some photos of the finished rooms.

Family Room

Foyer

Kitchen

Hot Chocolate bar

Sun Room

Living Room

Basement

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Designing YouTube Channels

 

I just had to share some YouTube channels that will get your decorating juices flowing.

Lisa Holt Design - Lisa Holt has a lot of energy, so put your seatbelt on when you watch her! Based on her groovy vocabulary, she's also a child of the '60s. But she's got great videos. She reviews IKEA products in this video.

Kristen McGowen - I just started watching this one. The link gives you some 2021 trends.

HouseandHolm - Skye from House and Holm is just so sweet. She has a very clean, Farmhouse look in her house and shop. Pam sent me this link. I've been enjoying her videos. Compared to Lisa Holt, she sounds like she's speaking on slo-mo.

White Cottage Company - Pam sent me this link too! On this channel, Mary inspires you to do some DIY projects. She's a little hardcore on the DIY...uses an actual table saw, staple gun, and other power tools.

Red Elevator - I'm not sure where Nina Takesh lives, but she has a red elevator in her home. This one is for elegant living.

My Soulful Home - Kelly from the podcast Decorating Tips & Trips has a YouTube channel in which she shows how she has decorated her California Victorian 1840's home.

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All Dressed Up

 

I feel like our house is all dressed up but has nowhere to go this year. It never really goes anywhere, but we usually have people over to see the decor. We will have the kids and grandkids for an early Christmas, but no parties, no couples over, no Christmas Eve with the extended family. 

Our faithful Christmas tree.

Nativity in the foyer.

This decorated hutch was too pretty to dismantle, so I just added an owl, a tree, and some red and white ornaments in the center bowl.

I set up the hot chocolate bar in the dining room this year instead.

Close up.

The front porch had a Christmas makeover too.

With all the snow, it really looks a lot like Christmas!

And the other side.

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Shop Your Own Cupboards

 

When Kendall and Peter were over for dinner Friday night, I showed her a photo of a decorated hutch I found on Pinterest and asked her if she would help me make my hutch look a little like that.

We started opening up cabinets, drawers, and doors to pull out everything we thought might work. Then Kendall spent less than an hour placing and rearranging each piece.

I love how it turned out! And I didn't have to buy one thing.

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A Green Thumb After All

 I have to brag a little bit here.

As you can see from these photos, I have six plants in my house and they are all alive!

Some of them have been alive in my house for over a year.

I have to thank Kendall for getting me started. She encouraged me to just start with one plant and see how it goes. After that plant stayed alive for several months, I added another. 

A tropical plant I picked up at Trader Joe's. 

This one is from Petitti's.

Another one from Petitti's.

I just purchased this Monstera plant from Heinen's a couple of weeks ago.

This cactus came from Trader Joe's.

Heidi gave me the "Best Grandma Ever" plant.

I don't think I will become a full-fledged plant lady, but so far, I am enjoying taking care of my fleet.

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