Hello and happy post Christmas Sunday! I posted the day after on a little recap (click here if you missed it) I don’t know about you but I have to admit, I am actually so happy Christmas is over. For me, this year, the anticipation, the last minute planning (somewhat), the being in the process of a renovation, all overwhelmed me. In the end, I got it all done but I was physically and mentally exhausted at the end. The bright shining star this holiday season was our most precious gift of all, baby Phillip
We had a most wonderful and enjoyable family Christmas though and I realized my detail oriented mind with some OCD tendencies, isn’t my best friend at a high pressure time like Christmas. I say it every year, but really and truly, next year, Christmas planning will be starting much much earlier. I even wrote it down to be sure I am manifesting it, that I will start a pre season blog series in Sept. You heard it here and can now hold me accountable!
OK with the holidays now behind us, its onward to a brand new year, woo hoo! And here we go with this Sunday’s post….
1 OUR RENOVATION So many of you ask about it. So, we did get started (one part of the house came down) and a new foundation was put in, framing to start hopefully next week. Once they are done with that, we move out for a minimum of a year but realistically probably longer. I am going to start a new series on our renovation so stay tuned, lots more on this to come!
2 FLOWER POWER! I feel like a broken record about my birthday flowers, but seriously….these are 14 days old! Not sure who else is like this but I cannot leave my house for a few days knowing these spectacular flowers will not be enjoyed. So I call local friends/relatives and offer them and these have all gone to a good loving home:)
Main tip keep flowers overnight in the coldest room in your house (even outside as long as it doesn’t dip below around 45 degrees). This is the secret to getting them to last over 2 weeks and still look as good as they did when you received them!
3 INSTAGRAMS OF INTEREST I feel its only fitting that with this last post of 2024, I include the last of some of the beautiful Christmas inspiration posts I had found on Instagram. Never ever too late to enjoy this magical season and gather ideas for next year!
4 BREAKFAST IN BED ANYONE? I am so excited about our fabulous chinoiserie hand painted breakfast trays that will be here sometime in Feb! Could this be any prettier? It will be offered in 3 colorways including this beautiful green. Stay tuned, we will hold a presale later January.
5 THE COTSWOLDS I have never visited the Cotswolds but its on my 2025 bingo card. Utterly charming, I know I will love it! I am torn as I have seen videos of this area during Christmas which is magical but I think I would rather go when the weather is milder to really explore. Have you been? Loved this informative and beautiful video.
6 A SUPER DELICIOUS, ELEGANT AND EASY APPETIZER! These are so so good, and best part is they are super easy. A very elegant appetizer that don’t last long on the tray, trust me! I went to take a picture and there wasn’t one left:)
7 SUNDAY’S SURVEY Who’s happy the holidays are over? me, me me! Sorry but as enjoyable as they were, they were also a lot of work. I am happy to look ahead to a brand new year, a clean fresh slate and start anew. We went around the table Christmas day and each of us stated what we hope to accomplish in 2025.
Mine was travel more. I realized this year, having the good fortune to travel quite a bit, how much I love it and how much more of the world I want to see. We used to travel a lot and this year felt like old times. Few things, in my opinion, can offer the refresh and seeing the world through new eyes like travel can. I am not big on “resolutions” as I don’t think you need a new year to make them but I do like to think of goals/things that I hopefully can/will aspire to accomplish in 2025. How about you?
And that is a wrap for this last Sunday post of 2024!Hope you enjoyed, always nice to hear from you. Thanks for stopping in,wishing everyone a wonderful and relaxing Sunday. Until next time…
My family and I first visited the Cotswolds twenty-some years ago and fell in love with the whole area and it’s charming villages. We returned this past summer with friends and were supremely disappointed. Bus loads of rude foreign tourists, difficult parking situations and overall not the charming places we had seen before. You might be wise to go when tourist season is over, regardless of the weather.
You have given us such good recipes over the years. Have you thought of doing a cookbook one day? You have so many talents and so much energy, you could add something else to your busy life lol. Just a thought. Happy New Year to you and yours from Georgia. Love to get your posts!!!
Can’t wait for your reno! With your taste I know it will be gorgeous.
Love that breakfast tray- sign me up!
We were in the Cotswolds last year around Thanksgiving just as decorations were going up, it wa magical. You will love it.
My resolution for 2025 is to take more advantage of every opportunity that comes before me. Life can be short!
Hi – i was glad to see someone else is glad that Christmas is over! The ramp up to the “day” can be so stressful. I have been to the Cotswolds and it’s wonderful. We did a combination tour of Cotswolds and Cornwall. We are trying to go back, just too much to see in this world! Happy New Year!
Oh gosh! I feel the same about the holidays this year and vowed to start much earlier next year. This Christmas season was short, felt very rushed and it was all too much! Cheers to resolutions of calm next year!
Tina, As always, enjoy your blog. What a precious time for you with your family.
Wishing you all the best in 2025….first time written the new year….quarter of a century in already…..
Happy New Year…
We’ve been to the Cotswolds years ago, was interesting and quaint, but like many places now, is too overrun. I agree that Christmas this year was a mad rush, and that was even starting before Thanksgiving. Glad it’s over! But I’m enjoying the tail end of the Christmas season. I cannot wait to try your mushroom and pastry puff recipe!
Thank you, Tina, for devoting the time and energy to your blog for us, your many fans!
Looking forward to hearing and seeing more about your reno…esp. your thought process…
It is grand being a grand!!!
Wishing you & your family a happy healthy 2025….
We went to the Cotswold area and Cornwall about 2 years ago. I’d be happy to send you our itinerary and information about where we stayed. We went in March and didn’t find it too busy. The weather was pretty decent.
Hello Tina, and Happy New Year to you and your family. I’ve followed you for years, but I am commenting for the first time because I feel so strongly that you will love the Cotswolds, but must go in a “shoulder” time period. Not Christmas and not summer…early spring, or late fall might be ideal. My family returned to this lovely part of England many times, and our favorites were Bibury and Upper Slaughter, where we stayed at the Manor House (lovely then, and very much updated now). Your travel reporting is great, and I’m excited to read you on the Cotswolds!
The Cotswolds is beautiful. We visited last May in Spring. We also went to some beautiful open gardens and stately homes. across England. I would recommend Highclere ( Downton Abbey ) and Highgrove Garden , the private garden and residence of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla .You can book a guided tour of the garden and then you can have a lovely High tea afterwards. I
I think I have read your goal to get things done sooner in many of your after-Christmas blogs. It would be fun to go back and read to see if you wrote the similar sentiments the past few years.
Don’t you remember how much harder it was in the past when we didn’t have online shopping and delivery. Running from store to store looking for the perfect gift. Miss that a little, but overall things are simpler now. Needless to say, you have a ‘very full plate’. Hang in there! Happy New Year!
Thank you for the appetizer recipe. Always looking for one for my vegetarian son.
I have been to the Cotswolds. Not to long ago. We really enjoyed it. Went in early June. Did antiquing which we love. The trip was centered around our visit to Highgrove Gardens. We also visited a manor house where lots of Poldark was filmed. That was great fun.
This year was very rushed because of Thanksgiving being so late. If I had my way Thanksgiving would be a fixed date somewhere between November 1st and November 15th. That would ease things considerably as it would provide several extra weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It would also provide a longer time span for retailers and more weekends for Holiday events and gatherings.
It really is too much to try and pack Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s into such a short timeframe. Although I love the Holidays, this year really left me exhausted. I had a two month long cleaning project complete with a dumpster, followed by decorating the entire house to get ready for party for 100 people in the middle of a 14 day stretch of having out of town company. It was the first time I have entertained on a large scale since before Covid. It was fun to throw a big party again but it is a lot of work.
I love what you do and enjoy following all of your adventures: traveling, entertaining, building projects, etc. You are an amazing woman with a lot of energy and motivation! Hope your 2025 is a wonderful year for you and your family!
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Hello and happy post Christmas Sunday! I posted the day after on a little recap (click here if you missed it) I don’t know about you but I have to admit, I am actually so happy Christmas is over. For me, this year, the anticipation, the last minute planning (somewhat), the being in the process of a renovation, all overwhelmed me. In the end, I got it all done but I was physically and mentally exhausted at the end. The bright shining star this holiday season was our most precious gift of all, baby Phillip
We had a most wonderful and enjoyable family Christmas though and I realized my detail oriented mind with some OCD tendencies, isn’t my best friend at a high pressure time like Christmas. I say it every year, but really and truly, next year, Christmas planning will be starting much much earlier. I even wrote it down to be sure I am manifesting it, that I will start a pre season blog series in Sept. You heard it here and can now hold me accountable!
OK with the holidays now behind us, its onward to a brand new year, woo hoo! And here we go with this Sunday’s post….
1 OUR RENOVATION So many of you ask about it. So, we did get started (one part of the house came down) and a new foundation was put in, framing to start hopefully next week. Once they are done with that, we move out for a minimum of a year but realistically probably longer. I am going to start a new series on our renovation so stay tuned, lots more on this to come!
2 FLOWER POWER! I feel like a broken record about my birthday flowers, but seriously….these are 14 days old! Not sure who else is like this but I cannot leave my house for a few days knowing these spectacular flowers will not be enjoyed. So I call local friends/relatives and offer them and these have all gone to a good loving home:)
Main tip keep flowers overnight in the coldest room in your house (even outside as long as it doesn’t dip below around 45 degrees). This is the secret to getting them to last over 2 weeks and still look as good as they did when you received them!
3 INSTAGRAMS OF INTEREST I feel its only fitting that with this last post of 2024, I include the last of some of the beautiful Christmas inspiration posts I had found on Instagram. Never ever too late to enjoy this magical season and gather ideas for next year!
4 BREAKFAST IN BED ANYONE? I am so excited about our fabulous chinoiserie hand painted breakfast trays that will be here sometime in Feb! Could this be any prettier? It will be offered in 3 colorways including this beautiful green. Stay tuned, we will hold a presale later January.
5 THE COTSWOLDS I have never visited the Cotswolds but its on my 2025 bingo card. Utterly charming, I know I will love it! I am torn as I have seen videos of this area during Christmas which is magical but I think I would rather go when the weather is milder to really explore. Have you been? Loved this informative and beautiful video.
6 A SUPER DELICIOUS, ELEGANT AND EASY APPETIZER! These are so so good, and best part is they are super easy. A very elegant appetizer that don’t last long on the tray, trust me! I went to take a picture and there wasn’t one left:)
7 SUNDAY’S SURVEY Who’s happy the holidays are over? me, me me! Sorry but as enjoyable as they were, they were also a lot of work. I am happy to look ahead to a brand new year, a clean fresh slate and start anew. We went around the table Christmas day and each of us stated what we hope to accomplish in 2025.
Mine was travel more. I realized this year, having the good fortune to travel quite a bit, how much I love it and how much more of the world I want to see. We used to travel a lot and this year felt like old times. Few things, in my opinion, can offer the refresh and seeing the world through new eyes like travel can. I am not big on “resolutions” as I don’t think you need a new year to make them but I do like to think of goals/things that I hopefully can/will aspire to accomplish in 2025. How about you?
And that is a wrap for this last Sunday post of 2024!Hope you enjoyed, always nice to hear from you. Thanks for stopping in,wishing everyone a wonderful and relaxing Sunday. Until next time…
My family and I first visited the Cotswolds twenty-some years ago and fell in love with the whole area and it’s charming villages. We returned this past summer with friends and were supremely disappointed. Bus loads of rude foreign tourists, difficult parking situations and overall not the charming places we had seen before. You might be wise to go when tourist season is over, regardless of the weather.
You have given us such good recipes over the years. Have you thought of doing a cookbook one day? You have so many talents and so much energy, you could add something else to your busy life lol. Just a thought. Happy New Year to you and yours from Georgia. Love to get your posts!!!
Google the Lygon Arms boutique hotel it is in Broadway in the Cotswold . It is charming . Have stayed there many times .
This, again, was SO fun…TY!! ❤️
franki
Can’t wait for your reno! With your taste I know it will be gorgeous.
Love that breakfast tray- sign me up!
We were in the Cotswolds last year around Thanksgiving just as decorations were going up, it wa magical. You will love it.
My resolution for 2025 is to take more advantage of every opportunity that comes before me. Life can be short!
Hi – i was glad to see someone else is glad that Christmas is over! The ramp up to the “day” can be so stressful. I have been to the Cotswolds and it’s wonderful. We did a combination tour of Cotswolds and Cornwall. We are trying to go back, just too much to see in this world! Happy New Year!
Oh gosh! I feel the same about the holidays this year and vowed to start much earlier next year. This Christmas season was short, felt very rushed and it was all too much! Cheers to resolutions of calm next year!
Tina, As always, enjoy your blog. What a precious time for you with your family.
Wishing you all the best in 2025….first time written the new year….quarter of a century in already…..
Happy New Year…
We’ve been to the Cotswolds years ago, was interesting and quaint, but like many places now, is too overrun. I agree that Christmas this year was a mad rush, and that was even starting before Thanksgiving. Glad it’s over! But I’m enjoying the tail end of the Christmas season. I cannot wait to try your mushroom and pastry puff recipe!
Thank you, Tina, for devoting the time and energy to your blog for us, your many fans!
Looking forward to hearing and seeing more about your reno…esp. your thought process…
It is grand being a grand!!!
Wishing you & your family a happy healthy 2025….
We went to the Cotswold area and Cornwall about 2 years ago. I’d be happy to send you our itinerary and information about where we stayed. We went in March and didn’t find it too busy. The weather was pretty decent.
Hello Tina, and Happy New Year to you and your family. I’ve followed you for years, but I am commenting for the first time because I feel so strongly that you will love the Cotswolds, but must go in a “shoulder” time period. Not Christmas and not summer…early spring, or late fall might be ideal. My family returned to this lovely part of England many times, and our favorites were Bibury and Upper Slaughter, where we stayed at the Manor House (lovely then, and very much updated now). Your travel reporting is great, and I’m excited to read you on the Cotswolds!
The Cotswolds is beautiful. We visited last May in Spring. We also went to some beautiful open gardens and stately homes. across England. I would recommend Highclere ( Downton Abbey ) and Highgrove Garden , the private garden and residence of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla .You can book a guided tour of the garden and then you can have a lovely High tea afterwards. I
I think I have read your goal to get things done sooner in many of your after-Christmas blogs. It would be fun to go back and read to see if you wrote the similar sentiments the past few years.
Don’t you remember how much harder it was in the past when we didn’t have online shopping and delivery. Running from store to store looking for the perfect gift. Miss that a little, but overall things are simpler now. Needless to say, you have a ‘very full plate’. Hang in there! Happy New Year!
Thank you for the appetizer recipe. Always looking for one for my vegetarian son.
I have been to the Cotswolds. Not to long ago. We really enjoyed it. Went in early June. Did antiquing which we love. The trip was centered around our visit to Highgrove Gardens. We also visited a manor house where lots of Poldark was filmed. That was great fun.
This year was very rushed because of Thanksgiving being so late. If I had my way Thanksgiving would be a fixed date somewhere between November 1st and November 15th. That would ease things considerably as it would provide several extra weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It would also provide a longer time span for retailers and more weekends for Holiday events and gatherings.
It really is too much to try and pack Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s into such a short timeframe. Although I love the Holidays, this year really left me exhausted. I had a two month long cleaning project complete with a dumpster, followed by decorating the entire house to get ready for party for 100 people in the middle of a 14 day stretch of having out of town company. It was the first time I have entertained on a large scale since before Covid. It was fun to throw a big party again but it is a lot of work.
I love what you do and enjoy following all of your adventures: traveling, entertaining, building projects, etc. You are an amazing woman with a lot of energy and motivation! Hope your 2025 is a wonderful year for you and your family!