Monday, November 16, 2015

Back to Reality

We had a fabulous getaway weekend in Burlington, VT with my daughters - but now it's Monday and it's back to reality. 

Almost.

I took a vacation day today so I could get some things done around the house before I get back to work. I'm puttering today. I love puttering.

My sweetie and I shopping on Church Street
And I love Burlington - what a great town! There's so much to see and do - amazing restaurants, the lake is gorgeous, and the shopping is such a treat! 

We don't have shopping in our little mountain top town. 

I might go a little crazy every time I visit there. 

Just a little bit.

This is what my dining room table looked like last night when I unloaded The Haul.


Yikes!!

But how could I resist some of these items? I mean, I'm only human.


These Christmas Cards? With the little squirrel? Just perfect for me and my little mountain house with all the wildlife.  They were calling out my name when I was browsing around in Homeport - one of my all time favorite stores on Church Street.


These pretty little bottles were so inexpensive and I knew I wanted to add some more colorful bottles to my window, just like Brenda has at Cozy Little House.  I just love how the colored glass looks in the window - it's like a little row of happiness!


And of course I can never walk by a Williams Sonoma...because I am a major foodie. And they were having their Friends and Family sale - 20% off  EVERYTHING!! Even sale items!

I'm already looking ahead to Christmas Morning with Spiced Caramel Apple waffles and a Cappuccino with Skinny Salted Caramel syrup.

And some Peppermint Bark as a palate changer after Christmas dinner. Yumzers!!


Of course while I was in Williams Sonoma I had to pick up a few tools. Their red silicone spoonulas and spatulas are my absolute go-to's in the kitchen - first utensils I reach for when I'm cooking.

I needed to replace a couple of my broken cutting boards and this little teak board was a fantastic deal at just around $12.

I also had to stop for a minute - ok an hour - in Kiss the Cook where I picked up this veggie brush to help with cleaning my giant veggie harvests

I also grabbed this wooden utensil with the flat edge - I have another one and they are absolutely the best for deglazing a pan. You can use them to scrape up all the little brown bits while deglazing and they are safe for nonstick coatings. This would be my #2 go-to utensil, when the silicone spatula is not firm enough.  It's always good to have extras of your go-to's so that when one is in the dishwasher you have another.


While in Kiss the Cook I grabbed this LeCrueset Kettle I've been drooling over for years. It was the last one they had in this color and I snatched it up real quick! I was so glad to be able to pick it up and examine it closely. I've been looking at it online for such a long time but something always held me back. When I picked it up and examined the quality it was a no brainer. It's replacing the cheap tea kettle I've had for years that has all the chips in the enamel. Done. 

It's going to make friends with my new best friend. I can already see them becoming very close.


My sweetie is already looking forward to Spring and grilling season once again....he bought me this griddle for when I do grilled veggies. He's always picking me up little gadgets for the kitchen - I have a sneaking suspicion he wants me to keep cooking for him!


There's another fabulous store in Burlington called April Cornell - I have never seen it anywhere else and I always make it a point to take a walk down to the waterfront to browse around the store. Apparently the Burlington store is their flagship store, the largest they have. My favorite place is the bargain basement - they have an entire level of sale items - I can get lost down there for hours!! 

I picked up these 2 great runners with matching napkins plus 4 placements with coordinating napkins. 

I really, really love nice table linens!

Perhaps a little too much. I may or may not be a table linen addict. 


This sweet little dishtowel came home with me as well - looking ahead to Valentine's day with this one of course! 

I also may have a small dishtowel fetish. I'm not saying. 


Just take  a look at this adorable tin box - it's almost like this was made just for me!! Roosters AND polka dots? I just can't. 

I have no idea where it's going to live but I knew it had to come home with me. 

Kim from Exquisitely Unremarkable - I know you're eyeballing it and yes, you're right - it would look great in your gorgeous kitchen or dining room - for sure! 

But this one's staying right here on the mountain top. Sowwwyyy!!

I tell you, April Cornell has some lovely linens and accessories - I'm always surprised at what I find in there! 

I think Sheila from My Kentucky Living would be right at home in that shop also with all those beautiful table linens!


There were a few more items that made their way home with me - these pillow covers from Pottery Barn as well as this gorgeous Sleigh Bell Velvet Runner - they will be absolutely gorgeous for Christmas! 

The bottles you see are all Vermont made spirits - from front to back:





May I just say - YUMMMMMMMM!!!!

And yes, Rue from An Old Fashioned World - I know your tongue is hanging out right now.....wish you were here to sample these with  me!

We're going to have lots of visitors over the holiday period - these will be a nice treat when entertaining!

Speaking of cocktails.....


At the end of our shopping day we were POOPED!! Time to head back to our lake view room at the Hotel Vermont and have a cocktail. 

It was a lovely trip, as always, and it goes by far too quickly. 

Today we're back home on the mountain top and I'm puttering around putting away all my goodies. 


My little bottles are so happy in my kitchen window - they are sharing the windowsill with a couple of little turkey votive holders for Thanksgiving. 


It's the little things that make a home, isn't it? 


My new kettle looks wonderful in my colorful kitchen. And my new cutting board looks happy there with all of his friends. 


The place mats with their coordinating napkins from April Cornell are a nice addition to the fall table. 


And my new Christmas Ornament from Homeport is just waiting for Thanksgiving to pass so it can make it's way to the front of the Christmas Tree. 

Right in a prime location. 

Welcome home. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update: My youngest daughter wrote about our trip to Burlington also - pop over and say hi to her at TheGoodThingsComin 






25 comments:

  1. Thanks for the shout out! Don't you love seeing the light through those colored bottles? I pinned your kitchen photo with the new red teapot, because I just love your organized kitchen.
    Brenda

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    1. Awww, thanks Brenda!! Yes, I absolutely love the sunshine through the colored bottles....in my previous life I had so many beautiful pieces of colored glass on all my windowsills and it always made me so happy to see it. It's all about the little things, isn't it?

      xo

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  2. I love your table linens! I am a table linen junkie too. My husband told my grandson over the weekend that Nana collects placemats and napkins. Well yest I do!

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    1. Do you stand up proudly and admit it, Diane? Ha ha I guess there are much worse things we could be addicted to! Are we bad people because we like to set a nice table? :)

      Thanks for your visit, Diane!!

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  3. Ah, you know my weakness...table linens! And now that Christmas is on the horizon, I am looking at table linens and ribbon! Save me! Ha. Sheila

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    1. Ohhhhh ---- Ribbon!!!! I used to have quite the collection in my old life.....I loved to wrap a gift and then top it off with a gorgeous ribbon!!

      Great, thanks, Sheila - now I'm going to be obsessing over ribbons as well as linens and all the other things I'm fanatical about!! ha ha, this could get expensive!

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  4. Oh boy, I would love to go shopping with you! I would have a field day in those stores. Great purchases - enjoy them!

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    1. Thanks, Amy! Anytime you want to join me on a shopping trip would be great! My sweetie doesn't realllllyyyy like to shop....he indulges me because he loves me!

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  5. Oh my goodness, you know me so well!! Roosters and red!! Yes, yes, yes, I adore it and know it's looking great wherever you put it in your own charming home. Thanks so much for the shout out today, you made me smile!! :)

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    1. I have no idea where it's going yet, Kim - I just knew I loved it and would find a place for it eventually!

      So glad I could make you smile - :)

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  6. I love 'puttering' too! Loved the peek into all your new treasures! I have the same exact tiny bottles you do! I love the fur trimmed pillow covers! Looks like a great trip and a fun shopping time!

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    1. It was a fabulous trip - and yesterday was a fun day puttering around my new home. My favorite kind of day!

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  7. So many pretty items and my favorites are the little glass bottles on the windowsill ! :)

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    1. They really catch the light, Deb - they made me smile this morning before my eyes were even fully open!

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  8. So many pretty items and my favorites are the little glass bottles on the windowsill ! :)

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  9. I love everything mom, especially that kettle and that love dishtowel so cute. And of course the squirrel christmas cards : ) But, you forgot to give your daughter a shoutout who wrote a burlington post! It's okay- here it is if anyone wants to see- https://thegoodthingscomin.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/bye-bye-burly/

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    1. Sorry, Shanny - I'll go in and add a link to your post! Love you xoxo

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  10. Love all your goodies. Glad you had fun. I'm trying your deconstructed lasagna tonight.

    Hugs,

    Valerie
    Cottage Making Mommy

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  11. Looks like your trip was fabulous and seeing your daughters wonderful. The table linens are beautiful finds.
    Have a great new week ahead.
    Kris

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    1. Thanks, Kris - it was a fabulous visit....and I'm loving my new table linens! There's just something so nice about setting a pretty table for dinner!

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  12. Love all your goodies! We enjoyed shopping in Burlington too. Our son was at Norwich University for almost 6 years. So we always enjoyed our visits with him. He loved the people of Vermont, the beautiful scenery and the University. But the snowy weather finally got to him. He had to move back home to Virginia. It was great fun visiting while he was there! Good thing he made lots of friends there and we are all still welcome to come visit your lovely state.

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    1. My daughter went to Champlain - and then she stayed in Burlington as she loved it so much. I could see how the snowy weather would get to your son if he's used to Virginia winters....for my daughter it's not very different from upstate NY where we live so I guess she was ok with the climate. Thanks for your visit!!

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  13. Yes, I would love to sample all of those with you! Especially the maple rye ;)

    You really found some wonderful things. Love that house ornament.

    Sorry it took so long for me to get over here, but I'm catching up now.

    Thank you for the mention, my sweet friend :)

    xo,
    rue

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    1. Ooh that maple rye is pretty darned good, Rue!! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friend xo

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