Merry November!

Time for my monthly blog post!

Haha, I know, my consistency has been weak at best.  But in my defense I have been working on a very special project (and attending friends' beautiful weddings in Cayucos, California) that will soon be a literal 'feast' for your eyes to see.  But for now it's still a secret and for now I am going to distract you with one of my most favorite of topics... CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!  I know that Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet but if you remember that I'm Canadian it was totally last month and in my mind when one holiday ends it's onto the next.  Therefore it is CHRISTMAS!  (Even though I plan on celebrating American Thanksgiving because who doesn't love turkey & I hope someone invites me to their house...).  Also, if you are a Christmas nut like me (mmm, the kind with sugar & spices baked on them) then you know that as of this week all of the stores have posted their holiday collections online which has lead to a new morning ritual of cinnamon-spiced coffee & decoration-perusal slash Pinteresting.

Here are some of my favorite finds of this morning that I will soon be purchasing for my personal wonderland:

Vintage Knit Stocking

How is this not the cutest thing you have ever seen?  I have already ordered monogrammed stockings for the mantle but these must find a home somewhere in my house.  Love!

Red Snowflake Candles

Vintage-y and Christmas cottage-y and perfect.  I love these candles and probably won't want to burn them.

Pottery Barn Found Wooden Sled

These wooden sleds are actual vintage sleds from Germany and Austria made in the early 20th century.  SO amazing but at $150 each they're definitely a Christmas splurge. 

Pottery Barn Monogrammed Stockings

I already ordered these!  So far we are a family of two but Pottery Barn has these every year so eventually I plan on adding to the collection... ;)

Mini Knitted Sweater Ornaments

Mini hand-knitted sweater ornaments!  What's not to love?!  I think these would be great tied onto brown paper wrapped presents as well.

Holiday Appetizer Plates

Super cute. I just love the font on these.  I'd probably want to buy little plate stands so I could display them in my kitchen when they're not being used. 

Holiday Dress by Modcloth

And what would Christmas be without a red holiday dress?  Add a sparkly snowflake necklace and a flute of eggnog and you're ready to go.  This one is definitely coming to live with me this year.


So there it is.  My official "Christmas in November" post.  I'm off to bake something that smells like cinnamon...  xo!

THE BLOG IS NOT DEAD!

It was just on vacation.  A honeymoon, to be exact.  And I'm pretty sure my three followers (hi mom!) haven't exactly been crying in their pumpkin spice lattes due to the lack of Turquoise & Tea in their lives.  But Turquoise & Tea missed you.  And thought of you on their honeymoon.  And may or may not have made a list of blog-post-ideas in their iPhone from the beach in Santorini.

So we're back and fall is in full-swing.  Yesterday's activities included:  Scarf & boot wearing, festive tea towel purchase, festive cookie cutter purchase, fall-flavored Starbucks, and perusing the aisles at Pier 1 Imports longing over giant glitter candy corn decoration (I may have to go back).

I love decorating for the holidays.  And I have to admit one of my favorite ways of acquiring decorations is to raid the stores post-holiday when everything is 75% off.  It's hard because you know you're not going to be able to use it for a whole year - but when the next year rolls around you have all these awesome, brand new decorations waiting for you in your very own closet (snowman shower curtain here I come!).

Here are a few of the Pier 1 decorations I hope to score this year, post-Halloween:

"The Witch is In" glittery wall-hanging

Haunted House LED Candle

Mosaic Pumpkin Candle Holder

Giant glitter candy corn (literally the size of your head)

Lighted Vine Pumpkins 

(these are beautiful - I'm really hoping they have some left)

I also really love those 'Halloween trees' people have started doing - like a black Christmas tree with orange mini-lights and decorations. And Pier 1 now sells Halloween tree ornaments as well.  They have a tree as well but it's $70 so I may have to check out Target and see if they have one for a better price.

I'm off to unpack the pumpkins.
Happy decorating!

Fall-idays

So I may get some slack for this post from readers living in cooler climates - and I too would have once felt that the comment I'm about to launch warranted a swift kick in the short shorts - but as much as I enjoy California's ever-sunny disposition I'M READY FOR SUMMER TO BE OVER!  I know, you hate me.

Look, it's not that I don't appreciate the six months of available beach days or the fact that I can currently cook an eggs benedict on my front step - I love summer!  I'm a beach girl at heart.  But variety is the spice of life and this life is ready for a pumpkin spice latte.  Enough is enough, folks.  It's time for a season change up in this county.

Hailing from Canada (there's a pun in there somewhere) I am no stranger to umbrellas and wet socks, so I recognize there may be a part of me that is waxing nostalgic for home.  But native longings aside, let's take a moment to appreciate the awesomeness that is FALL!  Tall boots, cozy tights, scarves, pea coats, those slouchy beret-hats, hot coffee instead of iced coffee, hot bubble baths instead of cold showers, fireplaces instead of air conditioners, colorful leaves, spice-scented candles and piles of fuzzy blankets, and everything smells like cinnamon, pumpkin & nutmeg and sounds like Harry Connick Jr. (okay, that's my house).  Fall is the season of coziness not to mention a segue to some of my most favorite holidays.

For decorating/crafting/baking fanatics like me, the last three months of the year are prime real estate.  Pumpkins, turkeys, fall leaves, cookies, pies, ornaments...  The possibilities are endless!  And with this new blog I plan on sharing all of it with you.  So get ready for recipes, craft projects, and decorating & gift ideas galore.  Can you tell how excited I am?

So there it is.  I may be a beach girl at heart - but I'm definitely a fall girl at hearth.