I know it is the day before Thanksgiving and I am sure you are busy with recipes, family, friends, guests and just about everything.

So today’s post will be a quick one, completely unrelated to Thanksgiving.

I am wrapping up another painting class session with the amazing teacher/artist Joann Augur. The class is once a week for 3 hours; classes run for 6 weeks.

The focus has been on values, which I really struggle with. Value is the lightness or darkness of color or hue. If a painting doesn’t have value, it tends to be flat, lifeless and uninteresting. Creating dark areas of contrast is my challenge~~my darks are never dark enough.

So this is a great class for me to take. The good news is that if I don’t like what I have painted, I can paint over it. None of these paintings are finished, but I imagine I will try to do so at some point in the future, as they don’t fall under my “absolutely ghastly” category.

We are 5 weeks into this painting period and I believe I missed one = 4 paintings focusing on value. If you have an interest in taking up painting, I encourage you to do so. It has only been a few years for me, and I know I have a lot to learn, but it forces me outside of my comfort zone.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post today. I am grateful to you for all the support, ideas, and comments that help me be better at this blogging life.

Wishing you and yours a happy, blessed Thanksgiving.

I didn’t intend for the Thanksgiving centerpiece to match the artwork in the dining room but it happily does! Every few months I’ve been hanging different art, trying to find just the right piece.

It’s easy to decorate the same way year after year and there’s comfort in that. But how do I use what I have and put a different spin on it? The crosshatched mercury candleholders in a coppery tone from West Elm was the first step of the inspiration. They were on sale for $5.00 each.

A few years ago, I started using plants as the majority staple in my centerpieces, adding a small amount of cut flowers. Planting them in the yard later is a way of re-purposing and seemed more economical. We are so fortunate to have a fabulous nursery (Whitfill Nursery) right around the corner from our home.

Whitfill has the most beautiful Cinnamon Petunias with lovely rusty, coral flowers. Succulents are a mystery to me, but the green and bronze hues are so perfect with my candle holders. The plant list includes: White Ornamental cabbage, Red Bor Kale; the succulents are Graptoeria Fredives and Vera Higgins Graptosedum.

I am a bit of a garden geek and Whitfill Nursery is one of my happy places. Where else can you go look at a huge variety of plants, see peacocks and goats, interact with a welcoming and helpful staff on a gorgeous sunny day?

The cut flowers are alstroemeria and roses from Safeway.

I transplanted all the plants out of their plastic containers into plain white bowls (Emma pattern from Pottery Barn). Flowers are placed at various heights in small glass vases and tucked into the plants.

Again, my Windsor Ware plates are just perfect for this time of year. I chose to use a darker wood charger, softened with pale pink wine glasses. White and orange pumpkins were added to play down the white bowls.

I had some leftover seeded eucalyptus which I randomly stuffed into the edges.

It’s nice to have the table set and ready to go. Today we will do all the food shopping and pick up the turkey. I expect the stores to be a bit of a madhouse in the midst of the holiday rush. The next few days will include many hours in the kitchen~~a joyful time indeed!

Is your table set? Have you done all your shopping? Or better yet, are you going elsewhere for Thanksgiving dinner?

Happy Tuesday, my dear friends.

When I start my morning off right, it seems like the day follows suit. I wake up to the Birds Chirping alarm on my iPhone. Sometimes I just let it sing to me as it is such a pleasant sound.

I wash my face with Skin Medica face wash. Next I put on their Lumvive Day Damage Defense Serum and then add their HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator. Last step is their Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum SPF 34 moisturizer. Gosh, these adjectives make my face sound like an old broken down car! However, I can honestly say I really like the results. I have found that the travel kit is the best deal as these products are not inexpensive. I order them from the Dermstore (here) or Amazon here.

A quick brush through the hair and into my workout clothes for either Pilates or a trip to the gym.

Before I leave, I faithfully have my morning cup of Joe. I really adore my Nespresso Breville machine (one of the best birthday presents ever). In my coffee, I add 2 scoops of Vital Proteins collagen peptides and mix thoroughly before adding my steamed almond milk. I cannot eat first thing in the morning so this is my “breakfast” as the powder has 18 grams of protein. It’s enough to get me through my workout, while providing nutrients to my joints, hair and skin.

An hour or so later, when I get back from exercising, I have a bite to eat. Typically it is something involving eggs, because there is nothing better than the fresh gifts our chickens give us each day. Probiotic and vitamins come next.

Then it is off to the shower to tackle the day. Even on those days where I am home working on the blog, paying bills or doing chores, I try to dress a little nicer than sweats or yoga pants. I recently read Forever Chic by Tish Jett.

The book was loaded with beauty and style secrets French woman possess wherever they are. It is a reminder that it is okay to wear pajama pants at home but not in public. Sometimes it is easy to let ourselves go, especially when we are so comfortable around our homes. It might be adding a spritz of perfume or a fun lip color, but doing a small gesture to make yourself feel put together, sets the course for the day.

This routine works for me. What are your morning rituals? Have a happy Wednesday!

We all have times in our lives where we feel like we have one stress after another. The weight of the world weighs heavily on our shoulders. Sometimes it is fleeting; other times you want to shout out to the universe enough already!

Though it would be nice to have stress-free days, life just doesn’t work that way. And if you don’t decompress every now and again, then Everything is Overwhelming.

I find myself good at handling the big challenges, but sometimes the little things just get under my skin.

So what do you do to relieve the stress? Here are some of the ways I try to redirect the annoyance, anger, problem or just plain crankiness.

Take a break and carve out some quiet time. Making a nice cup of tea, finding a good magazine and just taking 20 minutes to myself with magazine distraction is an easy balm for the soul.

Exercise. I’ve decided that I would be a very grumpy person if I didn’t exercise. It doesn’t have to be to a fancy gym or with a trainer. A brisk walk, a long bike ride, a hike, or stretching are easy, non-costly things that pay big dividends.

Watch a sunset or sunrise. Taking the time to mark the beginning or ending of a day, may help your realize that the sun will be up again tomorrow.

Turn off your technology and get outside. A trip to my garden/hen house magically erases anything that is weighing heavily on my mind. Not sure why that is, but I seem to forget the woes and concentrate on what’s blooming, who’s eating my strawberries or time to pull that weed.

Baking. I tend to do this when I’m a bit aggravated. I throw on my apron, turn on the music and bake. The only danger is that it may be a dessert or something decadent.

Run a bubble bath and light some candles. Easing into warm water with bath salts can provide a well-deserved “Calgon take me away” moment.

My children are such sources of joy. If they are not nearby to hug, I play my many years of memories in my mind and remind myself how lucky I am. I pick up the phone and call them, or send them a funny text. Their quick responses are a reminder of how loved I am. They always put life in perspective!

Love on the dogs/cats. Did you know that petting an animal actually lowers your blood pressure? Our pets love us unconditionally and will provide the love and attention we need when we are feeling our lowest.

Do something creative-for me it is finishing or tweaking a painting.

Do something nice for yourself. Buy flowers. Get a haircut. Taking the time to acknowledge you need some pampering is a good thing.

When all else fails, turn it over to a higher being. Sometimes you just need to let it go and trust that it will all be okay.

What do you do to relieve stress? Wishing you a relaxing Tuesday!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve prepared Thanksgiving dinner. I’m trying not to panic that Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away. This weekend I am determined to put a menu together and think about the table setting.

The good news is that my son will be flying home to stay for a week. He LOVES to cook so having his extra, capable hands in the kitchen will be a blessing.

My friend, Bob texted me yesterday and asked when I was going to post my Thanksgiving recipes. Today I’d like to share our typical Thanksgiving menu.

The first question every year is, “How will we roast the turkey?” There is the ongoing search for the perfect recipe that will roast a turkey that is well seasoned, juicy and properly cooked~~with no dry bites.

We used to wrap it in bacon prior to roasting to keep it moist and flavorful.

Two years ago we changed up the recipe and decided to do a dry brine. Simply combine one part baking powder with three to four parts kosher salt (about a teaspoon of baking powder per tablespoon of kosher salt will work), add some black pepper to taste, then sprinkle it evenly over the surface of the skin. Then—and this is key—let it rest, uncovered, in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. The bird was cooked on a cookie sheet vs. a roasting pan. This simple recipe made the turkey skin soooooo crisp and the meat soooooo juicy. Plus you never have to baste it. For more info, click here.

This year my son is suggesting an Expertly Spiced and Glazed Roast Turkey recipe by Bon Appetit. I’m not sure as I really love the dry rub one we’ve done the last two years~~it’s a winning recipe.

Side Dishes

My favorite stuffing is Martha Stewart’s Herbed Corn Bread Stuffing with raisins soaked in cognac and chestnuts, apples and sausage.

Uncle Bruce and Aunt Janiece nicknamed the traditional sweet potato side dish, “Drunken Sweet Potatoes” after determining the recipe needed more and more bourbon. One for me, one for the potatoes….you get the picture. The recipe is from The Family Circle Cookbook that my mother gave to me for Christmas in 1977. Since I cannot find an online link to it, the recipe is at the bottom of the post.

Trader Joe’s recipe for Roasted Brussel Sprouts is a favorite all the children love. Roasting the Brussel sprouts in the maple syrup and dried cranberries, is a recipe anyone can love.

The mashed potatoes are another prized dish~~filled with butter, sour cream, cream cheese and chives. I don’t really use a recipe for this but keep adding the ingredients until they are decadent.

What has now become our traditional salad was made by our friend, Connie a few years back. Not only is it delicious, but it gets better with age, unlike most salads. The recipe for Clever Kale Slaw is here.

Not that we need more carbs, but I do make buttermilk biscuits from scratch using Martha Stewart’s recipe here. As far as Cranberry Sauce goes, I just make the recipe on the back of the Ocean Spray fresh cranberry bag.

Desserts. The family collectively picks out a cake to try from my favorite cake book, Layered by Tessa Huff. Here are some pictures from previous years’ cakes.

And of course, what is Thanksgiving without pie! Homemade apple and Dad’s famous pumpkin pies are always a big hit!

Do you make the same recipes every year? Or do you mix it up and try new things? Am I the only one that is running behind schedule?!?!

Happy Saturday!

Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

4 pounds sweet potatoes or yams, 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened, 1/2 cup bourbon, 1/3 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice, 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

Scrub potatoes. Cook, covered in boiling salted water to cover in a large saucepan, about 35 minutes, or just until tender. Drain, cool slightly, peel.

Place potatoes in a large bowl, mash. Add the butter, bourbon, orange juice, brown sugar, salt and apple pie spice; beat till fluffy smooth.

Spoon into a buttered, 6 cup baking dish, sprinkle nuts around the edge.

Bake in at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 6 servings.

I realize many bloggers get paid to endorse a product. However, that is not the case here. It takes an exceptional product, high quality, and great customer service for me to go out on a limb and support it. When I find something that consistently impresses me, I feel compelled to share it with you, friend to friend.

With the holidays around the corner, you may be sending flowers more than usual. Last September, I treated myself to monthly flowers…..well, just because….why not? 🙂 In a previous life when I was working in San Francisco, I would always stop by the street florist and buy myself a bunch of fresh flowers every Friday. It made me happy.

I am rather discriminating when it comes to flowers. My monthly subscription with The Bouqs Co. was prompted by a discount coupon (20% off and free shipping)) I had received online and I thought I’d give it a go.

On the 12th of each month I receive a box of flowers delivered by FedEx. In order to use Bouqs, you don’t have to subscribe as they also send flowers one order at a time. Bouqs is my exclusive flower resource because I have received such good feedback from friends and relatives who have received Bouq flowers from us.

The flowers come directly from the grower and are packed very, very well. You can also go online to manage your subscription and change your flowers at any time.

Each box typically has 3 separately wrapped bouquets and many of the blossoms are not open yet.

The ends are trimmed before submerging into water.

After a few days in a vase, the buds open up beautifully and I have never been disappointed with an arrangement. Some of them seem to last weeks, too, especially if I change the water every few days and re-trim the stems.

Here are some pictures of some of the bouquets I have received.

This tropical one arrived last December and it was a pleasant surprised as I was expecting something with evergreens.

Yesterday, my November flowers were delivered. The lilies are still closed but I am especially fond of the color of the thistle.

I have been using The Bouqs Co. for over a year and have had enough experience with them to endorse their product. If you go online, they offer 20% off and free shipping. They have a wonderful selection and ordering online is very easy. Hopefully you will be as pleased with them as I am.