Happenings Around The Nest - Week 12
This Week's Happenings Around the Nest
This week felt quiet in the best possible way. A little reflective, a little seasonal, and very rooted in the everyday rhythms of home. I found myself looking back on how slowly some of our biggest projects really came together, feeling excited about the simple joy of getting our Christmas tree, and settling into a new winter routine that already means more than I expected. So grab a warm drink and settle in. Let's catch up.
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A Kitchen Makeover, Thirteen Years in the Making
Being a DIY family means projects don't always unfold quickly, and today I had to laugh at just how slowly ours truly did. I was updating a few kitchen makeover posts and realized the whole thing started back in 2015. It began with the simple idea of adding a kitchen island. Then we "had" to replace the tile. Once the island was in place, we figured we might as well paint it, and if we were painting the island, we might as well paint the cabinets. Then we decided to build the cabinets to the ceilingā¦and that's where we paused for a long while. At the time, the budget just wasn't there for butcher block, quartz, or a backsplash, so we let the kitchen breathe as it was. Those pieces came later, little by little, as time and money allowed. And today, it hit me that the ceiling is still waiting its turn. It made me smile because this is real DIY life. Not a big reveal all at once like you see on Instagram, but a slow, layered story that unfolds over years.
Time for a Tree - Trying the Nordmann fir Again
I am really excited to get our tree this weekend, finally. There is always a bit of a balancing act when you pick it. Early enough to enjoy all the holiday glow, but not so early that the needles start dropping before Christmas even arrives.
Last year we tried something different than our usual balsam and went with a Nordmann fir. I did not know much about it at the time, but I was so happy with how full and fresh it stayed. This weekend, I am hoping we can go back to the same tree farm and find another one just like it.
Our Morning Walks, All Winter Long
Ray and I walk the dogs every morning at 6:30. Most years, once the cold really settles in, I bow out until spring and he takes over the walks on his own. I am just not a cold-weather person. But this year, I made a quiet commitment to stick with it through the winter.
It is important for the girls, of course, but it is also important for us. No phones, no people, no television. Just the two of us walking in the woods with the dogs, talking, planning, dreaming, and sharing that quiet start to the day together. It truly is our best one-on-one time.
And every day when we get back, we both say the same thing. It really is the best way to start the day. It sets the tone for everything that comes after. I have been busy getting all my winter gear ready so I can bundle up and head out the door at 6:30 every morning. Cold or not, I am in it this year. (wish me luck!)
This week in a quick snapshot
ā¢ Trending: My Advent wreath centerpiece post is quietly stealing the spotlight this week, and honestly, if you are clicking on it now after the first Sunday of Advent has already passed, you are definitely my people. The last-minute crowd is alive and well. It makes me smile because sometimes the posts I spend days perfecting surprise me with when they finally take off.
ā¢ Watching: Ray and I are totally binging Mobland this week. It's brutal - but in a good way! We are both horrified and hooked. Paramount - be ready!
Missed the last few weeks? Catch up here!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a gentle start to the week ahead. I hope you find a little time to rest, get organized, or do something just for you.
