My kids told me this was their favorite Thanksgiving ever. It was mine too. It took some effort to get my whole head around that, and to just breathe and give into it. It was just the four of us, at home. The girls set the table with twinkle lights and tea lights. Simple. Easy. Sweet.
We used the grey linen napkins, and our fancy silverware. We all showered, and AJ walked down in a button down dress shirt and real pants. The girls took note, did a 180 and went back upstairs to trade joggers and hoodies for just a little more fancy. Well, sort of. Grace wasn’t willing to give up her Nike sport shorts — and honestly, there wasn’t a need to. Business up top and party on the bottom is fashion at its best 2020.
We ordered dinner from a local restaurant. That, I had to really, really think on before pulling the trigger. Ordering Thanksgiving dinner challenged everything I thought I loved and understood. Linzi explained to me in a certain reality-check conversation that part of celebrating the holiday is actually spending time with your loves, and cooking detracts from that at times. Also, our Philly announced stronger stay-at-home guidance again, and our restaurant industry is just suffering. So we did the thing, we ordered from a family-owned favorite restaurant in our community (Miles Table) — in part to support them, and in truth, to support my mental well-being. It was delicious and amazing and such a gift.
And because we did that, the tree is up and trimmed. We laughed and played chess, and the house is more of a mess — I didn’t think it could possibly be any more of a mess, and I care less than I ever imagined possible, because we were together. There was love, it was quiet, and it was beautiful.
Ceci also decided to be my partner in binging the new season of The Crown, after all of us binged The Queen’s Gambit, and before we binged the new episodes of The Mandalorian. Thank goodness for good content in quarantine. Currently taking suggestions for what’s next.
Weekly Favorite Finds: Cozier At Home & A Promised Land
Weekly favorite finds with all of that, and thoughts of the long winter ahead in mind, a Black Author Spotlight that was a bright light for us and makes a great holiday gift, and a few fun things on sale for cozy, home, nesting, comfy cuddling.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
1 | Small Pottery Cups
For succulents to add a little great to your desk, kitchen, everywhere. Or…for pens and pencils on your desk. Or for cotton balls and Q-tips in your bathroom. For all the little things, these guys are just super pretty and fun.
2 | HRH Coffee Table Book
Maybe it’s the new season of The Crown, maybe it’s my forever love of Lady Di. Maybe it’s the guilty pleasure of being interested in all things British and Royal. We don’t have that here; it’s curious. Maybe it’s an easy marker for how times have changed. Regardless of the why, the fashion sense of these four women, their similarities and differences are fascinating. Fun coffee table book gift idea for your sister, sister-wife, sister friend, mom, daughter or quite frankly, anyone who’ll find it interesting. Listen to a recent interview w/ author Elizabeth Holmes here.
3 | Decal Wall Clock
I love the look of this. Period. Right now though, I was thinking…rather than a list, what if I put this on the wall where my youngest works, and what if I use a fun marker to write on the wall, at each notch of an hour, the schedule for the day? Yes, in 2020, moms write on walls, in markers. And yes, I think she’s a kid who would respond better to this fun arrangement than a list. She’s not my list kid. She’s my ‘I like to look at things differently and break all the rules kid.’ Stay tuned, this is happening in this house soon. Also comes in brass and white.
4 | Throw Pillows
I just ordered a whole set of all the colors of these, for a girlfriend and had them shipped to me. We have a few fun graphic pillows coming too. I love the colors even more in real life. They are vibrant and happy and have great texture. I’m hoping her new puppy doesn’t mess with them…but otherwise, I can’t wait to see which are her favorite to set behind the fun graphic ones. Ooo…and they are on sale…still.
5 | Fun Striped Throw Blanket
I think I have blue and yellow on my brain this week — happy, calm, fun colors that bring me joy in little pops. The edging stitch on this throw is a beautiful detail.
6 | Charging Pad
This is the prettiest charging pad I’ve seen. I especially love it in this soft pink. And yes, it’s easier to plop the things for charging than to plug them in. Wow, this world we live in. Just wow. But we’re doing it, we’re living here and now, and we drop devices on a pad to charge them. May as well choose a pretty one.
7 | Umbrella Stand
When we think umbrella stand, we often think a vessel on the floor — looks like an oversized vase…loved by very few. This is a different way of managing that real-life task of collecting wet umbrellas, and letting them rest where we’ll need on the next rainy day. I love this piece for just that.
8 | Area Rug
If these blues and yellows and pinks also make you happy, and happier when mixed with blacks and whites and greys, you might need this area rug somewhere too.
9 | Chess Board
I have a whole post on chess boards sitting in queue, this little self-storing colorful fun one is among my personal favorites!
10 | Faux Olive Tree
Green indoors, even when it’s faux, helps moods. And faux requires no maintenance and won’t die on you. Olive trees, I find to be super-romantic and pretty. If you have a space that needs a little vertical interest, and a mood that could use a lift, and a thumb that isn’t green, try this guy; he might be perfect for you.
11 | Acrylic Chess Board
Also in the full post on chess boards, and the one I just bought for my youngest, who is well-served to have her very own chess board. She’s earned it.
12 | Totes
I’m totes obsessed with totes. Cuz if you don’t know, now you know. And this is my current favorite. I lug a lot, and this helps me do that and feel better about it. Do you totes need a new tote too? I love the things the kids say, they make me giggle in a good way.
Spotlight | A Promised Land
I haven’t read it yet, but we’ve ordered it, and ordered it as a gift for friends, and I’m excited for it to arrive. The man lived history, we lived it with him, and there are lessons to be learned.
Home Decor & Furnishings On Sale
CB2 | Up To 50% off Clearance
West Elm | A Very Merry Sale | Up to 50% Off
Nordstrom Home | Sale
Heart full of gratitude, heart searching for more hope. Nesting, comfy and cozy, and wishing you the same.
xoxo,
A
PS: Follow along with me on Pinterest for more Home Inspiration and other random distractions via pretty visuals. xo, A
Love that you ordered from Miles Table! One of my fave brunch spots and we used to pick up half price burgers on Wednesdays on the regular. Did you see that Honey’s on South is going into “hibernation?” Crushed! At the beginning of the pandemic we committed to ordering takeout twice a week, over the summer we cut back but now it looks like it’s time to ramp it up again. Thanks for all your hard work and featuring beautiful, practical pieces. Our newish house in the burbs is filled with so many of your picks!
Kelly: Miles Table is absolutely a favorite of ours too! And they will also be doing delivered holiday meals for this month as well! I did see that Honey’s is going into hibernation-it’s so sad. My daughter C and I took a walk, just for the sake of a long walk last weekend. She’s 10 and even she started counting the boarded up-shuttered real estate, and naming all the businesses, chain and small family-owned, that were closed. We took some fun photos of the beautiful street art that has been popping up on those boards, but we also had a little moment of silence, over and over, for what people had worked so hard for and was now, for the time, gone. It’s was a pretty emotional walk that really had us both thinking, counting blessings, hoping for better days to come, and committing again, to trying to support what we can now-the virtual art shows and music and dance performances, and take-out more frequently than we normally would from our restaurant friends that are just doing all they can to hang on through this. So high five for recognizing the ramp-up on take out-it’s a little thing, right? But at least it’s something we can do! AND…thank you for the fun side note on your own home!!! That makes my heart so happy!!! Congrats on your new home in the burbs woman!!! xoxo A