November -- A Change of Scenery

Things have been very quiet at Sea Glass Cottage....the natural rhythm of high-activity summer has gradually changed into a quiet, gentle fall.  The result has been long periods of time between visits and the cottage has been mostly empty.

At the present time, the storm shutters are closed, outdoor things are locked away safely, and the house will have a little peace and quiet for a while.

We will be back to spend a few days here during Christmas time just to experience something new and different for us. This will be our first Christmas with the cottage, and my family is excited to make some new holiday memories here and see what it is like to be surrounded by sandy beaches and palm trees in December!

Traditionally, my family spends the Thanksgiving holidays in the woods in our cabin, and that is where we will be this month and part of December. I'm so looking forward to being together with as many family members and friends who can travel to be together.

The cabin is completely the opposite of Sea Glass! Sea Glass is white slip covers, and fresh coastal decor with tones of soft creams and blues. The cabin is warm earth tones, rustic, with lots of reclaimed wood, leather, and metal. Very masculine and comfortable, as it's main purpose is a hunting lodge.

I hope you enjoy this quick tour of our sanctuary in the woods!

Pool table for the pool sharks in the family.

Warm, rich colors throughout the house.

Entry hall bench from Pottery Barn

The property is home to wildlife such as deer and wild turkey, so you'll see lots of these (Pottery Barn) pinecone turkeys throughout the cabin. (Mirror from Birch Lane.)

Dining table, buffet, and chairs from Pottery Barn.

Dining area chandelier.

Kitchen details.

Caught on camera......a very rare sight, indeed! Me, cooking breakfast! ;)

A cozy fire in the den, my reading chair, and my husband's pride and joy -- a flat screen tv the size of a football field!

Comfy rockers on the front porch.

These are some of the beautiful wildlife around -- wild turkeys and deer (caught on cameras in the trees.)

*********

Well, that's it for now as I plan on doing a little Christmas decorating here (think burlap and jute)  at the cabin which I will post about later. 

In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday filled with family and friends. 

                                                           

                                                        We are abundantly blessed!

Are You Ready for Some Football???

Lately, the world has been bursting with big, bright, beautiful pumpkins!

Pumpkin patches are cropping up, porches and steps are filled with pumpkin vignettes with autumn flowers and crunchy leaves, and pretty soon we will be carving up a spooky jack-o-lantern for Halloween night!

I love pumpkins and have my front porch all decked out with my collection from a recent pumpkin patch visit.....and I think I'm going to borrow a few and decorate them to celebrate my favorite collegiate football team. Yes, for football!

Pinterest is teaching me that I have to start thinking outside-of-the-box. Who would have thought that pumpkins and football go so well together?

Here are some of my favorite pinterest pins that have taught me that they are not just for jack-o-lanterns anymore:

This generic football pumpkin is cute and sure to appeal to the football fan in your house that follows many football teams. You can make it team-specific with colored ribbons.
                                                                         (source)


For the LSU fans in my house, I spotted these clever purple and gold pumpkins ~ Geaux, Tigers! (You can easily change the colors and letters to your team's colors and/or logo.)

(source)

The Eye of the Tiger

And just to show that I'm a good sport, I'll highlight some pumpkins from some of our toughest opponents on the field!

(source)

(source)

So go grab a pumpkin and decorate it to show your spirit for your favorite team! 

Saturday Spotlight at Junk Chic Cottage!

 Happy weekend, friends!

 Today I am so excited to be in the "spotlight" over at the gorgeous blog, Junk Chic Cottage.

 Kris has been so kind and encouraging to me as a new blogger, and I truly appreciate her very generous spirit and efforts to highlight bloggers and bring new friends to blogs. Her heart is as beautiful as her shabby chic home!

Thank you, Kris, and if you are a new visitor, I am so happy you are here! Welcome to our home away from home, Sea Glass Cottage!  I would love it if you could leave a comment so that I may follow you to your blog ~

Collections #2 - Sea Creature Trinket Jewelry Boxes

Recently, I posted about my curio cabinet in the cottage where I house my  collection of charming vintage seashore postcards from the past.

Today, I am sharing a closer look at my collection of tiny trinket boxes,  blinged-out crustaceans and sea creatures, encrusted with crystals!

These tiny enamel trinket jewelry boxes are tucked in around my collection of sea shell topped bottles.

Of course, in keeping with my sea glass-themed cottage, I'm on the hunt for tiny trinket boxes in blues and greens that are beach themed.  Aren't they cute?

Thank you so much for stopping by the cottage day!

Sharing this post at:

Bella Rosa Antiques: Let's Talk Vintage
The Dedicated House: Anything Blue Friday (featured!)

Girl's Bedroom & Bath

On my last visit to Sea Glass Cottage, I spent a little bit of time sprucing up my daughter's bedroom (which also serves as a guest room when she's not here).

Sadly for me, my daughter transferred to a college in New York which makes her visits home during the school semester rare, so her room is perfect for guests.

The taupe linen headboard and white beachy furniture were already in place when we purchased the house, so I had visions of making this an all-white or white and aqua room -- until my daughter got wind of my plans.

She put her foot down. And sent a text.

"No white, mom! Any color but white!"

Okay. I'm flexible. What about white and aqua?

"No. I'd like green, please."

Green it is.

Her bedroom is cozy and has an en-suite cottage-style bath (that is white and aqua ~ I like to compromise!)

This cute starfish pillow and the taupe shell pillows were the inspiration pieces to build the room. And 100% daughter approved!

I'm not crazy about the rug, and I think I will eventually replace it with a sisal rug. However, it's sturdy and it's an outdoor rug so it is standing up to the sand that is dragged in on the first floor (easy to sweep and vacuum).

Looks like someone wants some attention!

Love this little bistro style chair.

Her bedroom is separated from the bathroom by a pocket door.

I love her bathroom. Bright, fresh white beadboard, white floors, marble counters, and old-fashioned, cottage style wash stand and fixtures. 

Just a touch of light aqua on the walls above the beadboard.

Another pop of color with an aqua starfish.

Fresh white subway tiles in the shower stall.

Her room is right off the entrance hall and across from her brother's room. If you missed his nautical room makeover, you can click on this link.

I hope you enjoyed taking a little tour of my daughter's room at the cottage! 


Sharing this post at:

Across the Blvd.: Snickerdoodle Sunday

Favorite Things #3 -- Everything Fall

What comes to mind when you think of fall?

I close my eyes and feel cool, crisp air......I smell woodsmoke and spices....I see glorious rich colors of amber and golds.....the sunlight is golden and mellow.....I feel the soft textures of fuzzy sweaters and cozy blankets...I crave apples and pumpkins and all of nature's bounty.

I celebrate fall! So in honor of this very special special day, the first day of fall, I'm sharing a few of my favorite autumn things.

Make the House Smell Like Fall

• One of the first things I do to celebrate autumn, besides pulling out pillows and decor, is to stock up on fresh candles. I love Yankee candles, and add fresh scents with every season. I always have a candle burning in my kitchen when I cook, and in the evening when we are settled in the den to read or watch television, I enjoy the ambiance of a candle on the coffee table. 

My current fall scents that I am enjoying are Autumn Leaves and Apple Pumpkin:

                                           
                                                             

• If you don't use candles but still like the house to smell like fall, a simmer pot is perfect for a cool, cozy evening. I fill a pot with a few cups of water and add orange peels, apple peels, lemon peels, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, a few drops of vanilla extract, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, and whatever else I might have on hand. (Herbs such as bay leaf, rosemary, and lavender are good, too!) Simmer on low, making sure the water does not completely evaporate.

Make Homemade Flavored Coffee

• I love flavored coffee, and pumpkin spiced coffee and lattes come out seasonally, but they can get expensive! I make my own simple version of flavored coffee with the regular blend I have at home.

You can make either instant coffee or fresh brewed coffee flavored by adding a few dashes of two items you probably have in your spice cabinet: ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. You can experiment with amounts to see how strong you want the flavors.  If I am making a cup of instant coffee, for example, I add a heaping spoon of instant coffee, about three dashes of cinnamon, and a dash or two of pumpkin spice, and add hot water. For a full pot of fresh brewed coffee, add coffee grounds, about a teaspoon each of cinnamon and pumpkin spice, (more if you want stronger flavor) gently stir to mix, and brew as usual.

Make Homemade Bath Products

• Now that I've got the house smelling spicy delicious and my cup of pumpkin spiced coffee is steamy hot, I'm ready to look up some fun fall DIY recipes. Here are two projects I found on my DIY Body Products pinterest board that I am ready to make for a luxurious spa bath experience:

Pumpkin Spice Soap:

• This easy and delicious smelling soap recipe for a relaxing fall evening bath is found on Happiness is Homemade.

Vanilla Pumpkin Body Scrub:

• You can find the easy recipe for this divine body sugar scrub also at Happiness is Homemade.

Here's to a wonderful fall filled with all good things, the beautiful bounty of nature, and a season of gratitude and thankfulness for all our blessings!

Decorating with......Beautiful Bottles & Demijohns

Question: What is one decor item that looks beautiful in many style homes -- modern, traditional, french country, farmhouse, coastal, rustic, and shabby chic?

Answer: Beautiful bottles and demijohns! (Demijohns are large bottles encased in wicker).

Regardless of your decorating style(s), bottles and demijohns bring color and texture to the home and can be used in so many creative ways.

Since we are transitioning into the fall season, I've put away some of my bowls of seashells and coastal pillows to bring in some warmer tones for fall. Sea Glass Cottage is our home away from home, so I'm keeping things low key-- just a few earth-toned pillows in the den and a demijohn vignette on the coffee table.

Since I'm keeping things very simple here, I've turned to a few of my favorite home decor blogs for more inspiring ideas, and I'm happy to share with you some stunning ways these creative bloggers have used demijohns in their homes.

Fabulous Kim from Savvy Southern Style has a gorgeous home with a mix of comfortable vintage and french country style.  I love the way she used these beautiful bottles to add height and style to a bathroom hutch.

                                                                           (source*)

Kim also uses demijohns as lamps, both the glass bottle and wrapped in wicker. Do yourself a favor and go do a search for "demijohn" at her blog. You will be in heaven as she is a collector and uses demijohns extensively in her design style -- she'll even show you how to make an inexpensive and fabulous demijohn lamp!

                                                                        

                                                                           (source*)

Next, we move to the rustic beauty of Kathleen's gorgeous home at Faded Charm. She features a demijohn in her entrance hall ~ don't you just feel a warm welcome into her home with the charming and vintage styling in her entrance hall?

                                                                             (source*)

                                                               

Wonderful Jenna at The Painted Apron is an extraordinary artist, entertainer, and designer who sets the most creative tables for her parties! Her blog is a gold mine of themed parties, decorating, and out-of-this-world recipes. Just look at this beautiful tablescape she created with elegant wine bottles and a large demijohn as the centerpiece.

                                                                      (source*)

Here are some other ideas I've gathered from home decor blogs:

                              ~use as a vase with seasonal flowers
                              ~group on the hearth by the fireplace
                              ~on bookcases (on top and on shelves)
                              ~on top of hutches and kitchen cabinets
                              ~in a large basket or tray
                              ~as lighting pendants
                              ~on the porch
                              ~lined up a staircase
                              ~add battery operated white lights inside
                              ~on a mantel

And check out my demijohn pinterest board to see other great ideas for using this versatile decorating item.  I think I just might start a new collection!


(**Thank you to Savvy Southern Style, Faded Charm, and The Painted Apron for permission to use their photos.**)


Sharing this post at:

Starfish Cottage: Your Inspired Design