{a November exhale}

Hello out there!

Is anyone still with me over here on my lonely blog?

November has been a bit of a doozy hasn't it?

Are you feeling that way too? 

Mine has looked a bit like this: I started back to work which was in itself a big shift. I also spent the entire last week sick with a nasty sinus infection and chest cold that I'm finally on the other side of. And I had an art sale last weekend. And oh yeah...there was an election.

Deep exhale.

I've found myself medicating with cozy sweaters and of course lots of coffee.

And cat cuddling...

As well as doing my best to be kind to everyone I encounter...

Especially those who might feel extra tender and scared right now.

Have you needed to implement extra self care this month? What have been your methods?

With Thanksgiving two days away, I know most of us are also probably feeling some sort of pressure or tension. Whether it be with making sure the meal is prepared, or spending time with family you don't necessarily see eye-to-eye with or...

Another deep exhale.

Stick with what you know is good and true, and let the rest slide away. That's my best advice. And maybe a bit of this...

We really are all in this together. And I hope in some small way I can help you feel encouraged today. 

And now on to some fun art news!

I'm working on putting together a new printable holiday coloring book! Here are a few sneaks at the pages in progress...

I'll have it in my Etsy shop soon!

And I'm working on a Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday Etsy sale. I'll share details very soon once I figure them out! 😂

Oh, AND if you are local, I'll be selling lots of my illustrated goodies at Roscoe's Coffee Bar on Friday, December 2nd from 6-8 pm...

There will also be a bunch of other amazing local artists selling their creations. So come see me and do some Christmas shopping! (Follow the event on Facebook)

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving (my American friends!) and times of rest and perhaps a few more deep exhales during this busy holiday season.

Lots of love,

{Thanksgiving decor}

I'm a few days late on this, but I wanted to share a few photos of our Thanksgiving decor. We hosted my parents and my Grandmother this year which was really wonderful and cozy. 

The first thing you might notice about these photos is that our dining room looks a lot brighter, because we painted the fireplace!! 

I'm SO, SO excited about this change. Thanks to my wonderfully helpful mother-in-law, it was a quick project and makes a huge difference in the room. And now I want to paint the rest of the trim white and get some color up on the walls ASAP! :)

Here is a little side-by-side before and after so you can see how far our fireplace has come...

SO much better, right?!

And I love how it helped to show off our Thanksgiving table...

Oh how I wish I had this plate of food in front of me again...

I really enjoyed hosting our family this year and making it special. And I can't wait to share our Christmas decorations with you...I finished most of them over the weekend with a few fun DIY projects!

Did you decorate for Thanksgiving or get to relax while someone else hosted this year?

Linking up with...

{thankful}

For all of this...

And for all of you!

Our Thanksgiving was a really wonderful day. Hope yours was as well!

{sort of Thanksgiving recap}

As obsessed with picture taking as I am, I'm ashamed to say that I did not take one.single.photo. on Thanksgiving day. I guess I was partly just enjoying the time with family too much, and partly too distracted by the three crazy boys running around our house to think about taking photos.

But on Friday we did a second sort of Thanksgiving with my parents and my Grandmother and I made sure I took a few photos. We only see my Grandmother a few times a year so these visits are always special for me, and for her and the boys. We enjoyed a mish-mash of leftovers and helped the boys decorate their toddler-sized Christmas tree.

Here are a few pics from the day...

 

Grandmother and granddaughter...

Mother and daughter...

Grandmother brought the boys a sticker book...it was a huge hit...

Nana enjoyed some cuddle time...

 

And papa read Landon the Christmas story...

Aside from my head cold, it was a nice, relaxing day. And a great way to get a jump start on the Christmas season!

{so thankful}

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone.

The boys are asleep in their beds.

Some of the Thanksgiving leftovers are still sitting on the kitchen counter.

Our dining room table is still covered with the tablecloth that was hand embroidered by my husband's grandmother.

I just ate my second slice of pumpkin pie of the day...covered with a layer of cool whip as thick as the pie itself.

They hubby and I just watched 50/50...quite the tear jerker. I actually sobbed.

Chloe is sitting by my feet, staring at me and waiting for me to let her up in my lap.

The house smells like the perfect holiday scent of pine thanks to the candle my mother-in-law brought me today.

I get to see my parents and Grandmother tomorrow and decorate the house for Christmas.

I'm so very thankful.