Since it's almost Valentine's Day I figured I'd talk about Christmas

Well, I just got done crafting some Valentine's cards with my daughter for her class.  And it got me thinking about my front doors at Christmastime.  Don't ask me how I got from point A to point B, I have no clue.  But, onwards and upwards...

I loved the simplicity of my front doors at Christmas.  I always meant to post a photo of them, but kept forgetting.  So, the day before Valentine's Day I remembered--lucky you!  Here they are:

I loved just the wreaths on the door.  I think they were from the Martha Stewart collection.  They had pinecones and a tartan bow on them.  Simple.  Classic.  It felt very Dickensian and made me smile every time I pulled up the driveway.

Merry Valentine's Day!

Monday Mentionable's

Here we are on the second installment of 'Monday Mentionable's' and it's a body care item.  I have been buying this for about a decade (maybe more) and love it.  It is a body lotion called Shea Butter & Sesame Oil Body Balm:

As you can see it is from The Body Shop, from their Spa Wisdom line.  I adore it.  It really moisturizes your skin and leaves you feeling silky soft.  I received this lotion as a gift oh, so many years ago, and fell in love the first time I used it.  I have since gifted it to others and also have my children using it.  It is definitely a staple in our house, especially in these cold, skin-drying months.  

Speaking of dry skin and sesame oil (we were, weren't we?) I also highly recommend slathering sesame oil all over your body before you get in the shower.  Talk about soft skin... oh boy.  I learned this from Ayurveda and although I am not a strict abider I do love some of their teachings and get my sesame oil from an Ayurvedic site.  What I used to do, and need to get back in the habit of doing it, was massage sesame oil onto my skin before my shower and then when I got out of the shower I would put the above lotion on my body.  My skin has never been softer then when I did that.  I need to get back into it now that the weather has gotten colder.  

Happy moisturizing!

Monday Mentionable's

Welcome to the first edition of 'Monday Mentionable's' (cue nightly news music)

My first item was a gift from my sister-in-law.  It is a wonderful body oil from Sabon.

The scent I have is Amber, which I don't think they make anymore, but they have a nice selection of fragrances from which to choose.  It's a lovely, non-greasy, body oil that I spray on after the shower.  I usually just spray it on my arms and gently rub it in.  I think I would like to try the 'Patchouli Lavender Vanilla' next (hint hint).

Here is the current design of the bottles, a little different from the one I have:

I hope this finds its way into your stocking this year, or maybe it's the perfect gift to give to that special someone....

Enjoy~

'Tis the Season...

Since we are all, most likely, in the gift giving state of mind I thought I would share a few items that I enjoy.  Things I have liked to receive and give.

Stay tuned for 'Monday Mentionable's'

Ta Da!

I chose "Bold Brick" by Sherwin Williams for the door.  It's growing on me.  It's not the color I was picturing in my head.  I think it has a bit too much coral in it instead of reddish/brown.  But, none the less, it is growing on me and I love it more and more each day.  As much as you can love your front door that is...

We still have the lighting to install and some landscaping to do.  I have the exterior lights picked out from this site and am 90% sure on the interior foyer light.

As for the landscaping I want to do a pea-gravel walkway and add a few boxwoods around the deck. The planting will probably wait until Spring as it got very cold over the last week and planting now would probably not be a good idea.  Hopefully we can get the pea-gravel walkway in though.

The 'wrapping up' process at the end of a project always seems to take the longest, but it will be worth it in the end.  I like to really take my time with things to make sure I am making the correct decision.
What do you think?  Have I been making correct decisions?

Update (for those of you holding your breath)

The front door project is almost done!  Almost...

The deck is finished.  Here is a photo of the framing:

The painters are here today painting the front door and staining the new siding.  Not sure if they'll get to the deck today, but it should only take them a couple of days to finish the job.  Then, it's the electrician's turn to come out and hang the fixtures.  Cannot wait for this to be done!!  

Door Update

The siding went up around the door and where the door was, but is no longer.  

We are working on the deck right now, and once that is done we will paint the siding and the door.  

(I use the word 'we' very loosely here...)

Where the door is not, but once was.  Sometimes the dog forgets...

The front door will be one of these colors.  Please try to contain your excitement!