Come Sit By Me: Volume 48

Inside: Welcome to the weekend and our weekly catch-up, Come Sit By Me. I’m spilling the sweet tea on what’s happened this week, what’s inspiring me, and a few things that have caught my eye that I think you’ll love too!

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Welcome to “Come Sit By Me”! It’s our chance to catch up on the little things I’d share with you this week if we could chat on the porch over coffee (or wine depending on the time of day).

Life Lately in a Nutshell.

• Even though you’re getting this email on the usual Saturday morning, I’m writing it a couple of days ahead. I’m cramming most of my work for the next eleven days into this week so I can really soak up some special time with friends while I celebrate my big birthday (or, as I like to say, memorialize the end of my 50s😭). I’m currently in Waco for another fun Baylor football weekend, then headed straight to what looks like the most beautiful luxury hotel in Fort Worth to spend my actual birthday. After that I’ll have a couple of days at home before heading off to Hilton Head for a girls’ trip celebration!

• The birthday festivities actually kicked off Wednesday with a joint bday dinner for me and one of my friends. The three of us met years ago when we co-chaired a PTO hospitality committee. Who knew all those trays of food, and decorating a library with a theme for almost no money would lead to friendships that are still going strong today? We’ve shared so much of life since then, and I couldn’t be more grateful for friends like these who I am so simpatico with.
  

• That same day started with the sweetest surprise from another longtime friend—our bond goes back to when our 25 year old kids became besties in first grade. Back then, they were obsessed with the Twilight series, and I originally read the first book just to make sure it was “mom-approved.” Instead, I got hooked too. We saw every movie together in the theater and have kept up our little October tradition of rewatching them every year. (There’s something wrong with us that we’re so into a teenage romance with vampires…we also loved Vampire Diaries.😂). She gifted me a beautiful edition of the first Twilight book, which is perfect because I gave my old set away when I moved. It couldn’t have been a more special gift—so perfectly tied to our history together.
  

• And in the middle of all this birthday celebrating work prep, I still managed to get into the fall baking mood last weekend. I made a recipe that’s going live on Monday—a mashup of one of my family’s longtime favorites with a cozy pumpkin spice twist. It turned out every bit as good as the original, and the smell alone was worth it!

Words to Get Through the Week.

Pretty Pictures, Yummy Recipes, and Things I Just Want to Spend Money On.

I’m loving my blue and green color theme this fall and this post has more fresh and oh-so-pretty early fall decorating ideas for the kitchen with that same color palette as mine:

This batty wreath with its flowing golden ribbon is such a chic way to welcome Halloween! It adds a touch of drama while keeping the look spooky chic and elegant.

This Crockpot Chicken Parmesan Soup is the kind of cozy comfort food we will all be craving on the upcoming cool evenings. With tender chicken, pasta, and rich tomato flavor, it’s a hearty meal that looks easy to make.

I’ve always eyed these velvet and linen pillow covers in the Ballard catalog…they’re the perfect blend of cozy fall color and classic design and texture.

A fall dough bowl centerpiece is such an easy way to bring the fall season to the table (literally). This post is filled with inspiration for filling this fall decorating staple.

What have you seen this week that you’re obsessed with? Let all of us in on it in the comments!

Live this weekend to the fullest,💗

Before you go:

As always, I appreciate your visit, comments, and shares here on the blog! I’d love it if you also follow along with me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube so you won’t miss any of my inspiration and ideas.