Office Revamp

Like everyone else these days, I find myself spending a lot more time in my home office. I use the smallest of my bedrooms as my home office and it was beginning to feel a little drab and uninspiring. Just as with other areas of my home, sometimes it is the smallest of changes that can actually make the biggest difference. I began simply by reorganizing my storage in my desk drawers.... not something you really see but definitely something that made a huge difference in the clutter that was on top of the desk. 

The largest impact I made though was on the small wall area between the entry door and closet door. The only thing that was hanging here before was a bulletin board, nothing very pleasing as my zoom meetings backdrop.... I did not take a before picture but honestly there was nothing to see. 

Some of the items I used, I already had but had not found a home for yet. The two hooks with dog phrases to the right were a gift I got last Christmas. The plaid framed dog photo was found at Hobby Lobby after last Christmas in their sale items. The small friendship quote box also had been a gift. Some items also were antiques I had tucked away as well such as the brass horns and the horse bits and harness pieces. 

A visit to Hobby Lobby for more pieces added in the shelves, the clock, the 3 hook plaque, and the table. I then also added in the personal touches with photos from the KY Derby as well as frame tickets. I definitely am happy with the outcome and have a much more personalized video call backdrop. 

A Simple Thanksgiving

Every other year, it is not my turn to host a single holiday meal all season.... and to be honest I love the reprieve! So this year Thanksgiving was hosted by my Grandma and I had no work to do except to bring the cranberry sauce. So since I didn't have the huge family meal this year, I still thought it would be nice to set the table like it was Thanksgiving for the following Sunday's pasta meal.

The cornucopia was a fabulous find a few years back at a furniture store going out of business that I filled with picks from Hobby Lobby and a few real small white gourd-type pumpkins gotten back in the fall. Then I pulled out the antique gold edge white set of fire king given to me by a cousin and used them over a gold charger. It is hard to tell but the bread plate placed on top of last year's leftover Spode napkins is an antique yellow depression glass plate also given to me by the same cousin. Then I used my crystal gold edged glassware for drinks. Despite not truly being the "holiday" meal, I think it gave a Thanksgiving feel carried through the whole weekend.

My cranberries taken to dinner were a big hit and always are. The recipe came from Southern Living a few years back but I made a few adjustments.

My Cranberry Recipe

25-30 minutes, can be prepped ahead

1 bag fresh cranberries (about 12-14 oz)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup orange juice (without pulp)

2 small peeled Bartlett pears

1 cup fresh chopped pinapple

1/4 cup thinly sliced celery

1 bag candied pecans

In a large saucepan, bring orange juice and brown sugar to a boil, adding in cranberries at about half boil stirring often. Continue until you start hearing the cranberries pop, then reduce heat to simmer and allow ingredients to thicken. Simmer about 10-12 minutes before removing from heat and stirring in the pears, pineapple, celery, and pecans. Once combined, can be moved to a serving bowl while still hot. If prepping ahead, let cool before refrigerating. The original recipe also called for it to be served shilled but I think it tasted better slightly warm. Recipe will keep up to 3 days ahead though.