Happy October!

via Eddie Ross

Hey there, friends.  Happy October to you!  I need to be writing in this blog more!  The month of September just slipped away from me.  I have been super busy with my day job as an interior designer these past few weeks — this is our busy season and it’s taking all of my time from sun-up to sun-down.  I’m grateful for this, though.  Very.  I don’t talk much about my work on this site, but there are changes coming and I am really excited about some things that I have in store for the coming months.  More on that later…

October, to me, is basically the month of the pumpkin.  How many ways can one dress up a pumpkin to make it a unique decoration?  Apparently a lot — all you have to do is Google it or conduct a Pinterest search.  🙂  I will be focusing on lots of aspects of Halloween-themed decor, recipes, and even the decor in our own home during this month.  Really excited to share that with you — there are some really cool things set up.

Anyway, I wish you all a wonderful start of this Fall season, and I am so thrilled that I have this little creative outlet to share all of the things I love about this time of the year (and, of course, the interior design aspect!).  Hang tight — I will make it a point to MAKE time to come to this space and share some fun and festive ideas with you.

xoxo, Maria

September 11th

via

Just like every other American in our country who was alive on September 11th, 2001, and those from far away who remember it with us, that day is still so alive in my brain.  I was young… Thirteen, to be exact.  I don’t remember a lot of things from that year, my first year of middle school, but I do remember this day.

My dad shook me awake earlier than usual that morning, and he had the Today Show on TV in the living room.  He told me that two planes had hit the World Trade Center.  The first words that came out of my mouth were, “On accident?”

There is an element of innocence that was taken away from so many of us on that day.  Our country suffered a huge loss as so many people died at the hands of this tragic event, and more lives were lost as the war waged on throughout the many years since.  But on that day, and the days after, there was a sense of unity that even a thirteen-year-old girl could feel.  I wish every day we as humans could remember to love our neighbors as strongly as we did that day.  Sometimes I feel like there is a huge sense of compassion missing from the outside world, and while there are days that it makes me sad and angry, there are other days it makes me smile and try that much harder.

It just makes sense to take a day from blogging about the beautiful things in the world, and instead reflect on the beauty in human connection and the hearts that we extend outside of our own bodies for others.  Let’s never forget the pride that we have in our country, and the love that we have for our fellow humankind, not just today, but every day.  A smile, a hug, a thank you, an I love you can go such a long way.  Let us be reminded of that.

xoxo, Maria

Happy September!

Hi there, friends.  I hope you have had a Happy Sunday.  We spent ours with family, as usual.  My baby nephew was present and he is so cute and growing so fast.  There was plenty of good food and plenty of football.  Which got me thinking…

via

To me, the beginning of Fall is an absolute state of mind — it starts when you say it does.  This season is my absolutely favorite, and now that we have been thrust into September, I’m finding myself slowing down more, enjoying the slight changes in day-to-day weather, and really letting myself dwell in the start of this season.

via

I know that, for some, it is way too early to even be thinking about this new season.  After all, Labor Day was just last weekend.  But for me, I am there and reveling in it.  I’m thinking about our first nippy morning, my annual taste of a piping hot Pumpkin Spice Latte, a Halloween with a baby in the family, and Thanksgiving with my Aunt who is traveling all the way from Holland to be here this year.  That’s a lot of happy in a few months’ time; and I, for one, am so ready.

via

Although I don’t have my own house to decorate for the season this year, I’m looking forward to seeing what my mother-in-law has up her sleeve.  I will obviously share all of the various decor with you all, too!  I am going to miss having a space of my own to make pretty, but I think this will be the year that I focus on more than just the decorating aspect, you know?  Sometimes I feel like it’s easy to get lost in that and miss out on all of the memories being made while things are messy or in transition.

via

So, as the year wraps itself up, my goal for these next months is to be present.  Spend as much time as possible with both of our families, snuggle with my gorgeous husband as often as I can, and enjoy, cherish, and smile every day.

via

I hope you don’t mind the occasional Fall post around here as we enter these wonderful months.  October will be more Halloween-dedicated when seasonal posts are written; but I’ll reserve November for lots of Fall posting.  Until then, I hope you’ll join me in reveling in the start of this season.  This is the most wonderful time of the year…. the beginning.  🙂

xoxo, Maria

 

Life Update

Well, things have been crazy around here, so excuse the lack of posts.  Crazy in a good way, though.  Work is picking up for me as I am being trusted with more projects and responsibility, and that makes me so excited.

We are continuously settling into our new living situation (you can read more about that here), and while some days prove to be more difficult than others, we know we are doing the right thing and that we are so blessed to have family members that love and support us in good times and in bad.

Plus, Kuma seems to love it here.  🙂  This is him partaking in one of his favorite pastimes — sunbathing on the pavers in the beautiful backyard.

This is a couple of weeks ago when we found some old clothes that Oscar used to wear and we put this striped shirt on Kuma so that we would match.  Oscar was the family dog for many years, but passed away last year.  Oso is the remaining dog now, and he and Kuma have become fast friends.

That’s Oso sitting on a comfy chair with me.  He loves to snuggle.  And bark.  A lot.  😉

Finally, but not of least importance, the biggest news I have is that of a new arrival.  My sister-in-law gave birth two weeks ago to a healthy, beautiful baby boy named Francesco (but we call him Franco).  He is so amazing, and we all love him so much.  While I won’t share photos of him on the blog, I will tell you that he is completely gorgeous and makes me want a baby so bad, lol!

I will be trying to carve out some time each week for more regular posting.  Blogging has always added so much joy to my life, and I want to continue even though I don’t necessarily have time to do it each day.  I’m looking forward to the Holiday season because I can share my in-laws’ decor with you — and I can assure you, it won’t disappoint!  🙂

xoxo

Maria