Sunday Morning Coffee
Volume 1
Today I am pleased to share with you Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.
Thanks for joining me for Sunday morning coffee. Today I am sharing my weekly thoughts about entertaining, decor, crafts, and recipes and how we can use these ideas to make simple changes at home and in our lives.
Around Our Home
It’s a new year and lots of changes are happening at My 100 Year Old Home.
This year it’s all about home. It’s about making subtle and affordable changes in our homes and creating our own decor with inexpensive craft projects that look expensive. It’s about making subtle changes in our diets that make us feel better. And it’s about creating wonderful memories by entertaining at home in fun ways we never imagined.
The week between Christmas and New Years has always been a fun time at our home. The kids are home and we always manage to spend time playing games and sports (this year it was golf). I have always considered this week to be about family, relaxing, playing and just being cozy.
I spent a lot of time thinking about my business this week as I wanted to make some changes to my business and blog. My problem is that I have too many ideas and I need to figure out how I can get them all done.
I am pretty sure that is a good problem to have.
A Little Bit About Me
How Chip and Joanna Influenced My Life
Two of my most favorite people, Chip and Joanna Gaines, are launching their latest venture this month, Magnolia Network. I am very excited to see all of their new shows, especially Magnolia Table and the Fixer Upper: Welcome Home show.
You may not be aware that Chip and Joanna have had a huge impact on my life. Many years ago, when I was a full-time artist, I decided to host marketing workshops in Waco, Texas. I loved the show Fixer Upper and I wanted to visit the Magnolia Market and Silos. I ended up booking the Magnolia B&B and the Harp House and held three amazing workshops. While I was there, I fell in love with Waco and everything about Magnolia.
A year later I was watching Fixer Upper (for the one millionth time) and wondered why farmhouse-style homes had very little original art. I decided to start a new Instagram account, My 100 Year Old Home, with the sole intention of finding an audience who might like a collection of Farmhouse Style Abstract paintings. I fully intended to create that art collection. But my Instagram and blog grew so quickly I chose to follow the path I am on now.
Which means … I have yet to create that art collection. Hmmm.
Finally, my early trips to Waco gave me the idea to buy a fixer home to remodel and rent out as a short term rental. In 2019 we bought our Waco home and I spent a year remodeling it. This was the most incredible project and I loved every minute of it.
Our home is now available to rent on Airbnb and VRBO.
I get asked all of the time if I have ever met Chip or Joanna and sadly the answer is no. Someday I hope our paths will cross, but until then I wanted to share how much this incredibly talented couple has impacted my life.
My son Matt and I did meet Joanna’s mom at their restaurant Magnolia Table. She was amazing!
Of course the show Fixer Upper is my all time favorite show and it’s coming back this month. Check out this preview for Fixer Upper: Welcome Home.
Today you can watch three Magnolia Network previews, including two episodes of Joanna’s new cooking show. Beginning at 7pm EST, head to the Food Network to begin watching!
Magnolia Network will be available on discovery+ ($4.99 a month) beginning tomorrow,Monday, Jan. 4. They will be showing new episodes of Fixer Upper: Welcome Home and Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines. The premiere episodes from 10 new shows from the Magnolia Network will also debut on Discovery’s streaming service.
On January 29th Magnolia Network premiers on TV and you can all of their shows.
Making Changes in 2021
I have thought a lot about the new year and I know I want to do a lot of things differently. For me, this year is going to be about embracing change. Some will be subtle and some will be larger.
We do have a few projects already scheduled this year. Our big projects this year include re-invigorating the Carriage House in our backyard to turn it into a very fun space.
We are also also starting a very large remodel project at our beach house in Ventura, Ca. We are finally redoing the front of our beach home, adding two more bedrooms and baths, expanding the kitchen, family room, and master bedroom, and adding a third-floor deck! We should start construction in late March or early April.
I will be sharing even more crafts this year than last but my craft projects will include a difficulty rating and a cost estimate. I hope this will encourage some of you to join me and have fun crafting.
Delicious food always tastes better when it’s healthy. Get ready for some fun cooking sessions in our kitchen of some fabulous and healthy recipes.
The decor in our home is changing. Pink is starting to appear as most of the Christmas decor is being packed up and dragged up to the attic. (I use the term “dragged” because after a gazillion trips up to the attic, I literally am “dragging” the boxes.)
You won’t see this much pink in every room, but it was fun to set this table for a very fun New Year’s Eve Dinner. Since every dinner for the past several months has been at home, I am always changing things up and want to make every dinner feel as special as I can.
It’s a bit too cold in Southern California (ok, it’s way too cold) to dine outside, so I set up this table in the dining room. Our family of six has been home for weeks (after major quarantining) and this table was the perfect setting to celebrate the new year.
I made my favorite Sea Bass recipe and I promise to share more photos of our dining room and the recipe next week.
Two Decor Tips
Pick a Color, Any Color
Don’t Put it All Away Yet
After a year like 2020, we are all looking to bring some cheer to our homes.
Why not bring in a fun and new color?
I am not suggesting you buy a new sofa or paint the walls (although you certainly could if you want). Rather, add inexpensive accessories (that you might already own) in a fun color.
Don’t run out (oops I meant shop online) for all new items. Shop your own home first.
I decided I wanted to add pink as my accent color for winter so I searched our entire home and found pink books, quilts, candles, pillows, faux flowers, wreaths, holiday ornaments, cake stands, and more.
Often the slightest accent can make such a difference in any room!
In case you didn’t guess, I am referring to your Christmas decor.
Nothing is worse than looking at your home as soon as all of the Christmas decor is gone. It looks so empty and plain, right?
There is no reason why you can’t keep some of the more neutral “winter” holiday decor in your home.
I took down all of our trees, garlands and wreaths and all of the red and green holiday decor.
I kept the wintery white decor, pink and silver ornaments, pine cone trees, tabletop glitter trees, and a bit more.
Now I have a wintery yet fun and cheery home that feels a tiny bit like Christmas and I love
In the Craft Room
Look at these amazing fun craft ideas that I found this week.
My friend KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms created this amazing Painted Dresser and showed how to stencil wood. Click here for more.
Janine at Happy Happy Nester made a Valentine’s Day Gingerbread House. Is this not the cutest thing ever?
Click here to see how she made it,
I had to include another craft from Happy Happy Nester! This Easy Rosette Felt Wreath is perfect for handmade winter decor.
Click here for the tutorial.
Ashley at Modern Glam made this adorable Valentine’s Day Kid Thumbprint Art.
Click here to learn how to make these.
Reflections on the Week
I had so much fun on my blog this past week. In case you missed any, here are my blog posts from last week.
My Favorite Things
You have no idea how hard it is for me to narrow down all of the things that I love. But I am going to try! Every week I will share a few of the things I have found that I think you might love too.
I just bought two of these copper dish soaps from Ardent Goods this week (one for each sink in my kitchen). I am obsessed with them and they are so easy to use. Just rub your dish scrub across the top of the soap and wash your dishes!
If you are looking for inspiration on what to post on your Instagram, check out the Instagram Photo Challenge from The Idea Room.
For those of you looking to declutter, check out These Five Things Absolutely Everyone Should Get Rid of on New Year’s Day.
How about Twelve Real-Mom Ways to Tidy Up Like Marie Kondo? I need to do the “happy test” more often in our home.
What’s the one thing you did a lot of in 2020 that you had probably never done before? Zoom calls! Would you like to look better on camera? Check out these great tips.
My tip for this week is to call a friend. I know that the holidays are behind us but we need to remember that not everyone was able to spend the holidays with their loved ones. Let’s all reach out to friends that we haven’t seen or heard from in a while. It’s a wonderful gesture and it is a lot of fun!
My Favorite Comments on the Blog
Kathy says:
Will we automatically receive your Sunday morning chat emails if we already get your daily blog notices or should be sign up again? Love your thoughts on healthy eating and living. Thanks.
Leslie: Thanks Kathy for your comment! If you are signed up to receive an email about my new blog posts, then you will definitely receive the Sunday Morning Coffee post.
You can sign up to receive my blog updates here. .
Cortney says:
I love this! I have dreams of checking out our attic for some magical space. I now feel even more inspired! Looks great!
Leslie: Thanks Cortney! My craft room was overflowing with craft supplies so I decided to utilize this storage space. It’s been wonderful and has made me realize I have too much stuff! It’s time for me to create craft projects with the supplies I already own.
Things I Love for Under $25
And Some of My Favorite Amazon Finds That Make Any Room Cozy!
Good Things from Martha
Yep, each week I am going to feature one of the gazillion Good Things tips that Martha Stewart has shared with all of us over the years. Did you know her magazine Martha Stewart Living just celebrated its thirtieth anniversary?
Back in 2016, which feels like it was about thirty years ago, Martha Stewart shared 14 DIY Ideas to to Help You Stay Organized.
The painted hampers pictured here are adorable! I love DIY’s and I love organizing, so does it get any better than this?
What’s Ahead
This week I will be sharing something new for my kitchen and a craft that takes thirty minutes to make (but looks expensive and like it was store bought). I will also make a new version of my #1 craft project from last year and share how to make a wonderful decor item for your home. I will also modify one of my favorite recipes and make it healthy. Finally I will be taking you on a tour of one of my favorite rooms in our home.
I would love your comments and to learn what you thought of my first Sunday Morning Coffee. Leave me a message below and I promise to respond!
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I took your advice and called a friend I haven’t spoken to in a hot minute. She was so happy and said how much she really needed that. Enjoy what little bit is left of your weekend!
Oh my gosh Sydney, that makes my heart so happy!
Since you switched your home to farmhouse style, what type of art do you use on walls? I live in a 100 year old house also, I struggle with that. I’m using old botanicals now, but want something? Else?
to modernize house, I have white pottery barn furniture and painted tables and pink accents.
I feel you Beth. In my blog, I talk about having been a full-time artist and I started the farmhouse style blog thinking I would create art for the style. That being said, I don’t have a ton of wall space for art. I use a lot of antique windows (you can see them both on my blog and Instagram) and DIY decor that I make (wreaths, pillows, etc.) I’m still working on my “Farmhouse Collection”!
So many great ideas. I am looking forward to all you will be sharing.
Thank you Ruth. I am excited you will be following along. I am so excited for what I have planned for 2021!
Girl all of this would take me 24 hours everyday. You are the energizer bunny. Love your home, your style, and your blog.
Hahaa, thank you so much Nancy! I do love a good project, or 10!
MY HUSBAND AND I JUST PURCHASED OUR FIRST HOUSE AND I’M ASHAMED TO ADMIT, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ANY DECISION AS FAR AS WHAT WE WANT TO DO TO THE INTERIOR AND THE DECOR. DECORATING HAS NEVER BEEN MY STRONG AREA OR EVEN AN AREA OF INTEREST UNTIL NOW. WE HAVE A TWO BEDROOM, 1&1/2 BATH, UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, LIVING ROOM WITH A FIREPLACE THAT ACTUALLY WORKS! WE HAVE A VERY SMALL KITCHEN, A DINING ROOM, FULL BASEMENT, TWO CAR GARAGE AND A THREE SEASON BREEZEWAY/ SUN ROOM ON 2.75 ACRES OF PROPERTY. WE EVEN HAVE A GOOD SIZE GARDEN THE OLD OWNER ACTUALLY ASKED US TO CARE FOR… IT’S A RECENT NEW INTEREST, THERE’S A GARDEN SHED IN BACK YARD WHICH ALREADY HAS ELECTRICITY AND A FIRE PELLET STOVE AND WE HAVE A CHICKEN COOP WHICH IS EMPTY SINCE WE JUST MOVED IN IN MID OCTOBER. WE HAVE NO CHILDREN BUT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MEETING NEW HAMPSHIRE’S REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS AND HOPEFULLY ADOPTIVE PARENTS TO A CHILD WHO’S BEEN STUCK IN. “OUR SYSTEM” AND NEEDS AND WANTS A FOREVER HOME, A FOREVER FAMILY. SO I DEFINITELY COULD USE ANY ADVICE, SUGGESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. MY HUSBAND IS A PLUMBER SO I’M HOPING TO REDO THE BATHROOMS FIRST. I’VE NEVER DECORATED FOR A CHILDREN’S/BABY/TEENAGER’S BEDROOM AND I’M OVERWHELMED. PUT IT THIS WAY, WE MOVED IN ON OCTOBER 12th, IT’S NOW JANUARY 5th 2021 and OUR MATTRESS AND BOX SPRING ARE IN THE LIVING ROOM WHILE THE FRAME IS UPSTAIRS IN THE MASTER BEDROOM. UGH! MY HUSBAND’S ALWAYS WORKING SO I CAN’T MOVE THEM UPSTAIRS MYSELF, WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DEADLY COVID-19 PANDEMIC. PLEASE PLEASE, BESTOW ME WITH ALL OF YOUR WISDOM AND GIFT…
Wow Tracey, you have taken on a mammoth project! My advice would be to break down all of the projects into categories (redoing bathrooms, extending/redoing kitchen, decor for rooms, garden, garden shed, chicken coop, etc), then prioritize them based on cost and need. It also sounds like meeting with a couple of contractors for bids would be a great place to start! Once you get the bones of the house updated/redone, then you can dive into the decor (that’s the fun and easier part!) Good luck to you!
I love your home and style
Thank you so much Valerie! Happy New Year to you!
I think you’re waaay more talented than Martha Stewart Leslie. The beautiful home you have created and the fun imaginative crafts you make are all spun out of your own able hands, not a staff of 50. In fact I am convinced she would be so jealous of your abilities, that she might resort to hitting you over the head with a shovel and bury you in one of her fancy schmancy chicken coups.
Oh my gosh Mary. Thank you so much. Martha truly is the queen of Good Things and I am honored that you put us in the same league! I have so many amazing things planned for 2021!
What I love about you and what you are doing is your sense of everything being so casual. One of the things that is so obvious is how you love to put things on your kitchen counters. I think it’s fabulous because I get tired of seeing counters with absolutely nothing on them. You have achieved so much in the world of blogging in a rather short time and I applaud you for that. So happy that I found your site and look forward to following along.
Cheers to a new year.
Gina, thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comment. I am so happy that you found me and will be following along. I have so many amazing things planned for 2021!
Leslie, everything you do is amazing. Having been in your home, I am especially enjoying seeing everything again. And I even have one of your paintings. Remember the yellow boat? When I came to California for your joint art class with Dreama, you were so kind to include my husband in the delicious evening meals you cooked and served in your great outdoor kitchen and dining area. You are a great cook, and I can’t wait for you to post recipes. Happy New Year from the Lowcountry.
Oh my gosh Jerry, thank you so much! I, of course, remember the yellow boat painting! Happy New Year to you as well!
So happy to have found your blog on Facebook. Already using many of your ideas. We live on our ranch in Texas, so the direction of our decor is a combination of country antiques, western (we raise registered cattle), a little early Colonial and little Country French all thrown together, but somehow it all works.
I’m so enjoying your blog and seeing your beautiful home. It’s so inspiring!
Thank you so much Karen! I am so happy that you enjoy what I share. Have a wonderful weekend!