Sunday Morning Coffee Vol 4
Volume 4
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 our one hundred year old home.
A Little Bit About Me
The Story of My 100 Year Old Home
I never imagined I would spend full time sharing and writing about our 100 Year Old Home. It’s just a house, right?
No chance. Not even close.
First off, our house is a home. It’s where we have raised our children and created thousands of fun memories.
You all know exactly what I am talking about. Our homes are where our families grow. They are where we nurture each other, develop traditions and share our most precious moments.
My husband grew up in our one hundred year old home. He moved here when he was nine. I first visited our 100 year old home when Dave and I were dating. I will never forget when I walked in the door and met his mom for the first time. The first thing she said was, “another tall blonde!”.
It’s true. I am 5″10″. But most people think I am not tall since I look very short in our family photos. Our boys are 6’5″, 6’6″ and 6’7″. (And just so you know, there was a photo on a table in the entry room with Dave and “another tall blonde”. So it really was true.)
Dave and I dated for six years before we got married. We moved into South Pasadena a few years later when we bought our first home.
This is the part where I have to tell you I grew up as an Air force brat. Why? Because as a military family, we moved every two to three years. My dad would get a transfer, and we would pack up our home and my mom, dad, five kids, and a dog and a cat, would get in the car and drive to our next adventure.
Fast forward many years, and I still kind of think that moving every few years is the way it is supposed to be.
Four years after we bought our first home, I mentioned that it was time to think about moving. We had two kids and another one on the way and needed another bedroom.
We ended up selling our home and bought a new home a few blocks away. I should probably mention we bought our new home and moved in the day before Michael was born.
A few years later I was ready to move again. When I told Dave about my idea, he responded, “Why couldn’t your dad have worked at a car company where you got a new car every few years and not a new home!”
Oops. Sorry Dave.
We started looking at homes in the area when we got a call from Dave’s parents. They had an idea they wanted to share with us.
They wanted us to buy their home. And they wanted to buy ours too. So we would buy each other’s homes and switch homes.
I couldn’t believe it. It was my dream and it wasn’t even my idea.
The rest is history.
And we have been here 23 years and I have no plans to move. Ever.
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Around Our Home
In the Butler’s Pantry
I share photos on my Instagram twice a day, every day. I love that you see them all, make comments and give me great input.
I never expected that someone I admire, someone who is famous, and one of the most talented people ever, would notice my instagram.
I shared this photo on my Intsagram stories last week. I was sharing the organization of my Butler’s Pantry, which was a remarkable transformation.
The next thing I knew, this popped up on my phone.
Nancy Meyers shared my photo on her Instagram. This is THE NANCY MEYERS. You know, Nancy Meyers, the writer, producer, and director of Nancy Meyers movies.
Her movies include Parent Trap, It’s Complicated, Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday, The Intern, Father of the Bride, and Home Again to name a few.
Nancy Meyers has been my idol forever. She created my top three all-time favorite movies. They are, in order …
- It’s Complicated
- The Holiday
- Something’s Gotta Give
These really are my favorite movies.
Every set, every home, and every backyard in a Nancy Meyer’s movie, is what I wanted my home to look like.
If I ever open a bakery I would want it to look exactly like Meryl Streep’s bakery in It’s Complicated. If I ever have a guest house I would want it to look like the one in Home Again.
They are all amazing. You should read this article to see what I mean.
I know you are wondering if Nancy has ever filmed a movie here. She hasn’t. But it feels like she has for two reasons.
First, everyone thinks our home was used in Father of the Bride. Our home wasn’t in the movie, but it looks a lot like the home that was in the movie and is located about a mile from here.
Secondly, our home was under consideration for one of her movies. The location rep visited our home and took photos. But it wasn’t picked.
But that’s ok. The fact that THE NANCY MEYERS (or even one of her staff who just might be entirely responsible for this) thinks our butler’s pantry should be seen on the instagram account Nancy Meyers Interiors made my day.
And my week.
Of course my favorite part is her hashtag #nancystyle
Thank you Nancy.
A Tip for Your Home
Start a Collection
If you have followed me for a bit then you know that I have a lot of vintage items that I like to collect. I collect vintage dinner plates, silver, cranberry glass, cake stands, crocks, quilts, flower frogs, and transferware. I do collect more things, but these are the ones I love the most.
You might already collect a few things or perhaps you don’t. Either way, collections are fun. And they don’t have to be expensive.
Most of the items I collect are in the $10 price range. The flower frogs are $2 to $5, vintage quilts are closer to $20 and the transferware and silver pitchers are about $15.
I buy almost all of my collections at vintage flea markets. This past year, since the flea markets have been mostly closed, I have bought a few items on Ebay and Etsy. In fact, I just added some glasses to my Cranberry Glass Collection and I paid $8 each.
I do have one rule. Only collect what you will use. I only buy things that I can use in our home or for entertaining.
Can you think of anything you would like to collect? What would it be?
Reflections on the Week
It has been a crazy week and I have been way too busy. I wrote seven blog posts! Seven blog posts in one week is a lot but five of them were about organizing. This means our home is way more organized than it was a week ago. It was so worth it.
I also made a very fun wreath from pine cones. Finally, we got the most gorgeous rug for our dining room! I love how it brought everything together in our dining room.
Click on any link in the photos below to see the blog posts.
My Favorite Things
In the Craft Room
This bunny tail wreath from my friend Janine at Happy Happy Nester is so adorable. Click here for the DIY.
I love this chunky yarn wreath made by my friend Ashley at Modern Glam. It’s such an easy DIY.
Martha Stewart has been making Crayon Valentine Hearts for years. I just had to share them as all you need is waxed paper and crayons.
I found a great article by Martha Stewart – Five Paint Colors That Will Increase the Value of Your Home. I would love to know what you think.
Accounts I Love to Follow
- Debra at debrahalllifestyle – So many of you ask about the wood risers next to my sink and the footed cutting boards on my island. They are both from Debra Hall!
- Sara at SimplySouthernCottage – If you don’t follow Sara yet you are going to love her!
- Terra at Thetatteredmagnolia – Terra has the most amazing vintage sales a few Fridays a month. I love everything she sells.
- Jordan at house.becomes.home – Jordan is so talented and I love her home!
Things I Love for Under $29
My Favorite Comments on the Blog
Mary: “Hi Leslie! This is my first visit to your blog, visiting from Thistlewood Farm. Your linen closet space itself is great, love the big shelves and drawers too. I also love how you answer each question that is asked in this comment section!”
Leslie: Thanks Mary! I am so glad you enjoyed our linen closet makeover. I made a commitment this year to answer all of the comments on my blog. Thank you for noticing!
Pamela: “…Your homes are beautiful and I love your blog posts. They remind me to just take time for yourself. I’m on the eve of retiring and I’m finally to the point that I’m looking forward to it and that I will have time for things that were only reserved for the weekends if I was lucky. I feel like you are a long lost friend that I have yet to meet.”
Leslie: Pamela! I am so happy you found my blog. It sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun with your retirement. You will finally have time for crafts, decorating, and more. It’s so great to meet you!
Good Things From Martha
I love this Cookie Puzzle idea! I think it would be so cute for Valentine’s Day! You can find the instructions here.
One Healthy Tip
Get More Sleep
Sleep is so important. Of course you need sleep so you have energy for each day. But it’s about so much more. Your overall health depends on more sleep. Sleep can be a factor for things such as heart disease and Alzheimers. We all need to force ourselves to spend more time relaxing, reading and sleeping. It’s a good thing.
As Joanna Gaines said, “Like the garden, I need rest—true, deep, meaningful, and nurturing rest. I need time to rest my body and rest my mind. I cannot run on fumes. In order to sustain and maintain my creativity, I need to be replenished and restored in ways only rest can provide. It’s the only thing that can carry me from what has been done to what is still to come.”
What’s Ahead
I have so many things planned for next week. It’s going to be a busy week of mostly decor and crafts. I will be sharing one of my most favorite projects ever that I just completed with Joann and I cannot wait to show you what I have done!
Catch up on Sunday Morning Coffee
If you want to read more about me, then you might want to catch up on all of my Sunday Morning Coffee posts.
- Volume 3 – I Think I Might Be Martha’s Biggest Fan
- Volume 2 – A Tribute to My Mom
- Volume 1 – How Chip and Joanna Influenced My Life
Pin the image below to your decor boards on Pinterest (just click the Pin button in the top left corner). You can also follow along with me on Pinterest!
For more real-time updates, follow me on Instagram @My100YearOldHome
We spent 24 years in the Air Force so I know what you mean about the moves. For several years after my husband retired 10 years ago I kept getting the feeling that I needed to start looking for a house. Finally now I have stopped looking!. I love your blog and enjoy all your posts.
Isn’t that so funny Mary? It’s like you are programmed to think it’s time to move! So happy that we are both settled 😊 Thank you for reaching out with your comment. Have a greagt Sunday!
I love your new rug, very pretty the runner in the kitchen is beautiful also, you got me wanting pink glasses and dishes might b a problem lol my dinning room curtains are orange and a beautiful rug to match, oh well I still love the pink!!!
Thank you Debbie, I am loving both of the new rugs! Pink and orange, very 70s, maybe it can work. Thank you for your comment. Have a great Sunday!
I loved your blog today! (It’s always good!) South Pasadena is a fabulous town to raise a family and, I can only imagine, a wonderful place to be an empty nester. After many moves behind us, we have finally found our forever home, close to where we first started in LA.
I can’t adequately convey the incredible feeling that I know I will never be moving, ever, again.
I feel you Gretchen. I can’t imagine living anywhere else now. I am so happy that you have found your forever home also! Here’s to no more moving! Have a great Sunday!
Leslie…I’m so glad I found your IG account and now the opportunity to have subscribed to your blog!! Everything about both is inspiring AND…doable because you make it so!! Thank you for sharing your inspirations with us!! BTW…I LOVE the story about how you got your 100-year-old home!!! Ohhhh….what I would give to have a home that had such heritage!!
Thank you Cheri for reaching out. I am so happy that you found me both in IG and that you also subscribe to my blog! Thank you!! This home is special for so many reasons, but primarily for the family history that it holds for us. I have so many amazing things planned for 2021, I am so happy you are following along as I share it all! Have a great rest of your Sunday!
Loved catching up with you today over coffee. What a wonderful story regarding your home, do you think any of your boys want to carry it over when kids come along for any of them?
Really like the white pine cone wreath. And YES I also love the bakery from It’s Complicated.
Thanks again and have a great week,
Claudette
Thank you Claudette for reaching out and commenting. Yes, I think my boys will want to carry on the tradition at some point. We would love to keep it in the family! I’m so glad you like the pinecone wreath, give it a try! And the It’s Complicated bakery, oh my gosh, amazing!!! Have a wonderful week ahead!
I’m sitting laughing because your favorite movies are the exact same as mine I could watch them over and over . Looking at the way they are decorated, and that bakery in it’s complicated OMG. I want it …lol. The living room in something s gotta give ,,,the colors and those bookshelf’s …
Elaine, I seriously think I have watched It’s Complicated 50 times at least (and I am grossly underestimating 😂) Every one of her movies is simply gorgeous. You can imagine my shock and excitement when she shared my butler’s pantry!!!! Have a great week!
I love all of nancy Meyers movies and her style is so perfect. How exciting that she shared you! But really no surprise as your home looks like one of her sets 😘
Thanks for sharing my chunky wreath. I am loving it right now and want to make another one! ❤️
Thank you Ashley, that is a huge and very kind compliment! I love your chunky wreath and was more than happy to share it! 💕 Have a great week!
Love the story about the house-swap! Sounds like it was a great solution for everyone! I’m also a huge fan of all things Waco and Gaines. My daughter went to Baylor just as Fixer Upper came to television. I have a friend who works for them. Lovely, lovely people.
Joie, I could not agree more. Waaco, the Gaines, Magnolia, all are so special. The house swap truly was the most perfect solution for everyone! Thank you for reaching out and sharing your comment. Have a great rest of your Sunday!
The photo I love the most (though all are beautiful) has to be the one of your kitchen, where I can see paw prints across the wood floor. That’s a real family home!
I try to keep it real Laura. There are paw prints on the floor and the couch. Last week, I forgot the pool guy was coming and let him out. He went for a swim and then came in and then got up on the couch 😳 Hard to get mad at his sweet face. Thank you for your kind comment. Have a great rest of your weekend!
Leslie, thank you so much for your generous spirit. Your blog post was my perfect coffee morning read as I watched 5 inches of snow fall in our garden here in Great Britain . I love all your anecdotes and your cheerful , down to earth style. Beautiful homes are generated from within and yours is gorgeous 🥰
Oh my gosh Angela, thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comment. This home definitely has a lot of life within it to share with all of you! Have a wonderful week ahead!
Leslie, when you were organizing your pantry before the holidays, you shared a link to your daughter-in-laws Etsy site where she makes labels for kitchen organization. At the time she was taking time off for the holidays. Has she opened back up and if so can you please post the link again? I really loved the items I saw. Thank you!
I loved reading the story of how you got your home. That’s pretty amazing! I don’t blame you for never wanting to move, it’s such a beautiful home. My kids are all over 6’ too, but your boys have them beat. Lol.
It really is such a special home Ginger! Wow, you have tall kids too. I am definitely the shrimp in the family at 5’10”! Thank you for reaching out. Have a great rest of your Sunday!
Such a lovely post, Leslie! You’re so kind to feature my Bunny Tail Wreath! You’re the best!
Of course Janine, it is so adorable, very happy to share! 😊🌸
Wonderful Sunday reading Leslie! And I’m so happy that one of your heroes gave you a shout out!! (I love Nancy Meyers’ movies too!) I laughed out loud when I came to “Get More Sleep!” That’s a goal this year but only batting about 200 so far! 🤣 Thanks for the wonderful Sunday read and all your great ideas all week!
Thank you Barbara! Amazing that Nancy Meyers tagged me, I am still giggling about it! I have seen each of her movies too many times to count! Thank you for reaching out and for following along! Have a great rest of your Sunday!
What a wonderful story of your homes journey and when you had your young family. I can’t imagine packing up my home now to move as it’s just way too comfortable for me living in mine. It’s nice feeling content with our spaces. You have made me look at the color pink differently with the way you use it so I am liking the calmness it shows.
I am so happy that you are liking the pink. I am loving the calmness also. I think it might here to stay for awhile! Thank you forr reaching out and commenting. Have a great week ahead!
Thank you so much for shearing your home & your ideas with us! I love the look of your 100 year old home & what you have done with it; it is so beautiful! Your house from outside reminds me so much of European homes where I came from to Canada. Everything you do is so well put together!! Like you, I love vintage things, I love decorating, making my own things, & I love cooking & baking. Right now I’m getting ready to make Christmas ornaments with the family portraits, mostly old once, & also animals. Which means, one more tree is going up this year & I already have 7 of them decorated, from 9 foot to 4 food trees. I decorate for every holiday, but Christmas is extra special holiday for me, it brings so much happiness into the home. I always try to make it magical looking. This year I’m leaving my trees up little longer, they make me more happy considering what is going on in the world. Some of my neighbors are doing the same thing, our light outside still shine 🤗
Thank you so much for reaching out Liliana. We certainly have a lot in common! I love your idea for making ornaments with family portraits. Please let me know how yours turn out. I hope you have a wonderful week!
Oh, I love Nancy Meyers movies…largely because of the gorgeous locations! Can watch them over and over. Makes total sense that your beautiful home is on her radar!
Thank you Casey! I could move into any one of her movies! I appreciate that you reached out to me. Have a great week!
Hi Leslie,
I would love to hear how you navigated making changes to the house given its decades of sentimental value to your husband’s family. How were you able to make changes and updates without stepping on anyone’s old memories? I ask because I moved into my husband’s family home just over a year ago and whenever I try to move furniture or think about redecorating a room he is hesitant to imagine it any way other than how it’s always been… after his mother passed away about 5 years ago his dad had left everything “just like she had it” but it was never well organized to begin with and many of the rugs and some upholstery has become faded or moldy since then… I’m hopeful it will become easier over time but would appreciate your thoughts.
Hi Lauren, thank you for reaching out. I was very, very lucky in that my in-laws were very open to us making it our family home. Perhaps you and your husband could agree on one room that you could update. Once he sees the positive changes, maybe he will be more open to more! Good luck, let me know how it goes!
I certainly will! Purchasing supplies & getting excited to start!
I am so glad you will be making these Liliana. Let me know how yours turn out!
I’m an Air Force brat too. We even lived in Germany for four years. I used to love the feeling on moving day – the change, new opportunities, the unknown, new places, but knowing your family would still be there.
Patty, you so perfectly described that moving day feeling. It felt like there was so much potential ahead and I was excited to discover everything the new place had to offer. I have always felt that my siblings and I are so close today because of all of those years in the station wagon driving to our next new home! Thank you for reaching out and sharing. Happy Friday to you!