The Best Week and Sunday Morning Coffee

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This has been the best week! I feel like my heart is overflowing, and I couldn’t wait to sit down and share it all with you.

This has truly been one of the best weeks I can remember … filled with friendship, family news, laughter, and even a little bit of baseball history! Plus, the holidays are officially here at My 100 Year Old Home, so get ready for lots of fun Christmas ideas.

Seven women sit on the deck of a boat under a thatched roof, with a city skyline and blue sky visible across the river in the background.
Season 5 Volume 42

Thanks for joining me for Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.

Collage with a cozy interior featuring a dining area, kitchen, and coffee-themed text: "Sunday Morning Coffee.

About Me

Seven women stand together and smile on a blue pontoon boat with a thatched roof, docked on a river, with trees and a clear sky in the background.

The Best Week Ever

Right now, I’m in Richmond, Virginia, with six of my girlfriends visiting my dear friend Maryliz, and we are having the most wonderful time. Richmond is absolutely breathtaking, with history at every turn and the crisp air making it feel like the holidays are near.

Six women wearing animal ear headbands sit together in a decorated open vehicle with a Stella Artois advertisement on the side.
Minimal Halloween costumes …

It’s one of those trips where time slows down a little, and you realize how much joy there is in simply being together. We’ve been exploring, laughing nonstop, and soaking in every bit of this gorgeous season.

Three women wearing sunglasses and animal ear headbands sit together outdoors on a sunny day, smiling at the camera. One holds a can of drink. Autumn foliage is visible in the background.

There’s something about “girls’ trips” that feels grounding to me. Maybe it’s the way we laugh all day long or how a warm cup of coffee tastes better when good friends surround you.

On Friday, we took a tuk-tuk tour through Richmond, featuring the town’s incredible murals. The art was fabulous, and I had no idea there were so many buildings highlighted with art!

A mural painted on a brick wall features large, colorful roses and abstract shapes with black-trimmed windows integrated into the artwork.
Large mural on a brick building depicts a fragmented, reclining human figure painted in a realistic style, with sections missing and aligned with window placements.
A mural of a woman in armor with braided hair is painted on the side of a building, with red sun and landscape in the background. Cars are parked along the street in front.

Saturday, we took a Tiki boat tour down the James River. It was so gorgeous and peaceful. Wow.

We stayed at my sister Jeni’s home and have been staying up late, reminiscing, and somehow finding ourselves in fits of laughter over the most minor things. I think that’s the magic of true friendship … it doesn’t matter how much time has passed; when you’re together, it feels like no time at all.

The Best News

A man kneels on one knee, holding a woman's hand in a grassy park with tall trees in the background.

And as if this week weren’t already special enough, we have big family news to celebrate! Matt and Polina are engaged, and our hearts are overflowing with joy. We are so thrilled to welcome Polina to our family.

These are the moments when I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have such a close-knit, loving family, and sharing our milestones with all of you makes them even more meaningful.

The Best Game

Two people sit in a stadium wearing Los Angeles Dodgers gear, smiling at the camera. Other fans are seated behind them in the stands.

Oh, and speaking of milestones … we might have made a little baseball history, too! Earlier this week, we went to a Dodgers game that lasted 18 innings. Yes, you read that right. Eighteen! I’ve been to a lot of games over the years, but this one takes the cake for the longest (and probably most exciting) I’ve ever attended.

There was so much cheering, groaning, laughing, and snacking to stay awake that by the end, it felt like we’d been through an entire mini-season in one night. The energy in the stadium was unbelievable. It was one of those “we’ll never forget this” kind of experiences.

The World Series was quite the event, and I loved watching the games and enjoying our family’s non-stop text messages. I must admit that I am surprised the Dodgers managed to pull it off and win the whole thing. WE are all so happy!

Now, as I sit here surrounded by friends, I can’t help but feel so grateful for travel, for friendship, for family, and for weeks like this that remind you how whole life can be. It’s been a week of connection, celebration, and simple joy.

My Latest Project

My Latest Project

christmas decor ideas

November 1st officially marks the switch at My 100 Year Old Home to everything Christmas, and I couldn’t be more excited! This is truly my favorite time of year, when creativity, cozy decor, and a touch of holiday magic begin to fill every corner of our home.

In addition to my weekly A Handmade Christmas craft series, I have many wonderful things planned for the coming weeks, including decorating ideas, entertaining inspiration, gift guides, and holiday shopping tips. Whether you’re crafting ornaments, setting a festive table, or hunting for the perfect holiday finds, I’ll be sharing all my favorite ways to make this season beautiful, meaningful, and fun.

A cozy living room decorated for Christmas, featuring a large tree, floral arrangements, and a view of the outdoors through a window. There's a wooden table and staircase in the foreground.

And yes, I’m diving in early this year — November 4th to be exact! That might be the earliest I’ve ever started decorating, but I can’t wait to unpack the boxes, deck the halls, and start bringing Christmas to life in our home. There’s so much joy in transforming each space with lights, greenery, and sparkle. So grab your coffee (or hot cocoa!) and get ready — the holiday season officially begins here!

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A white fireplace with a faux fire, decorated with green garland, glass ornaments, and three brass candlesticks holding white candles on the mantel.

9FT Christmas Norfolk Pine Garland Real Touch

A stack of white gift tags with gold text, some reading "MERRY," alongside cream ribbon ties—perfect for pairing with your favorite glass ornaments.

Christmas Gift Tags

Five rolls of sheer organza ribbon in various neutral and pastel colors, unspooled and laid out in a row—perfect for wrapping gifts or accenting glass ornaments with a delicate, airy touch.
Sheer Ribbon Organza 1 Inch x 150Yd 6 Rolls 
Five nested metal house-shaped cookie cutters with a decorated gingerbread house cookie placed in the center.

House Cookie Cutters Shapes Set – 4 Pieces Gingerbread

Two decorative rectangular boxes with floral and leaf patterns, wooden buttons, and loops for closure, shown from a front and side angle.

Creative Co-Op Floral Wide Paper Gift Boxes Set

Two gingerbread person ornaments with white hearts, red and white checkered clothing, and red hanging loops, set against a white background.

4-1/4″H Clay Dough Gingerbread Man/Woman

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My Biggest Challenge This Week

A rolling pin with a leaf pattern, a clay slab with the same pattern, a water bottle, and a tool sit on a wooden table in a studio with brick walls.
Nick’s Ceramics in South Pasadena

I think it’s safe to say I’ve found my newest obsession, and it’s called Handmade Pottery.

I honestly can’t get enough! There’s something about working with clay that feels both creative and calming, and I would love to be in the studio every single day if I could.

I’m especially thrilled because a brand-new ceramics studio just opened right here in South Pasadena, Nick’s Ceramics, and it’s only four minutes from our home! It’s such a beautiful space, light-filled and welcoming, and the two women who own it are incredibly kind, talented, and inspiring. From the moment I walked in, I knew this would be my new creative home away from home.

Several white ceramic plates shaped like pumpkins with detailed embossed floral patterns are arranged on a wooden surface.

I just wrapped up my last few fall projects (goodbye, pumpkins and leaf plates!) and immediately dove into making holiday pieces. The transition from earthy autumn tones to the shimmer and charm of Christmas designs has been a lot of fun.

A sheet of clay with a leaf pattern is rolled out on a wooden surface, with a white template and a cutting tool placed on top.
A slab of light gray clay with an embossed leaf pattern lies on a wooden surface.
Piece of clay shaped like a Christmas tree, pressed with festive designs including presents, a snowman, gingerbread, ornaments, and a stocking, on a wooden surface dusted with flour or clay.

My current favorite? These ceramic tree plates! They’re whimsical yet elegant and the kind of handmade piece that adds personality to any holiday table.

Pottery has become such a joyful outlet for me. Each time I start shaping a new design, I feel completely immersed in the process. These new pie plates were a lot of fun to make, and I love them. Do you have any suggestions for the colors of the glaze?

A round piece of dough with crimped edges and a detailed leaf pattern pressed across its surface.
A large, round clay plate with intricate, raised floral and leaf patterns covering the entire surface.
A close-up of two round, unglazed clay plates with leaf patterns pressed into the surface, resting on a work table in a pottery studio.

I can’t wait to share more of my holiday creations soon, as this new chapter feels like the start of something truly special.

A 10 lb (4.5 kg) package of Amaco Air Dry Clay with a red label, stating "Easy to Use" and "Made in USA.

Air Dry Modeling Clay

A ceramic plate shaped like a Christmas tree, brown in color with white dots and wavy white lines as decoration.

Creative Co-Op Gingerbread Tree Shaped Platter

A wooden rolling pin with ornate floral engravings, perfect for imprinting matching decorative patterns on cookies or Air Dry Clay creations.

Embossed Wooden Rolling Pin

This week's to do list.
  • Organize the gazillion Christmas boxes in the attic as they are brought downstairs on November 4th, when the holiday decorating begins.
  • Complete the decorating of our entire home for Christmas by November 5th.
  • Draft the menu for our Christmas party.
Entryway with a light blue door decorated with a wreath, staircase with garland and ribbons, framed art on the wall, a table with a lamp, vase, basket, and a patterned rug.

The Inspired Room has tips for Preparing for a Cozy (and Calm!) Home for the Holidays.

Three stacked cookie bars with red, green, white, and brown chocolate candies on a marble surface, with holiday-themed decorations in the background.

You will love these Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe Easy Oven Treat.

A person inserts a £20 note into a pink piggy bank, with a decorated and lit Christmas tree in the background.

6 Practical Ways to Spread the Cost of Christmas Over the Next 3 Months

A sliced roast beef with a seasoned crust is served on a white platter, with juices pooling around it and utensils placed beside the dish on a wooden board.

This Herb-Crusted Prime Rib Recipe Is My #1 Christmas Dinner Pick

Close-up of several cinnamon rolls arranged together, each topped with a smooth layer of white icing.

This recipe for Cinnamon Roll Doughnuts looks amazing.

Rectangular ceramic baking dish with handles, featuring a green and beige plaid interior—perfect for serving favorites like Marry Me Chicken.

Creative Co-Op 1 Quart Stoneware Baking Dish

A thin branch is suspended horizontally against a plain background, with a string of metallic and air dry clay star-shaped ornaments draped across it.

Creative Co-Op 72 Inch Cardboard Glitter Star Garland

Emile Henry Red Pie Dish

And what a week it was!

  • Nine chocolate layered dessert bars with a crumbly topping are arranged on a white plate; a decorative ribbon is in the background.
    To Die For Christmas Cookie Recipes
    There’s nothing quite like baking Christmas cookie recipes that fill your home with the smell of butter, sugar, and pure holiday joy. Every December, I find myself searching for new treats to share at our family gatherings and parties, cookies that…
  • A woman wearing an apron and oven mitt stands in a bright kitchen, smiling while preparing food on a wooden cutting board with baking supplies around her, ready for hosting Christmas.
    10 Things You Shouldn’t Do When Hosting Christmas
    The holiday season is magical, but let’s face it, it can also be stressful, especially if you’re hosting Christmas. Between planning meals, decorating your home, and ensuring everyone has a wonderful time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, you can reduce…
  • A living room with a light gray sofa and two decorative pillows, featuring two decorated Christmas trees near a window and natural light streaming in.
    Christmas Living Room Decor
    Every year, when December arrives, our living room decor becomes the heart of our home. It’s where we gather, unwind, sip cocoa, admire the lights, and reflect on the memories tucked into every ornament and garland. And this year, continuing my…
  • Christmas Craft DIY
    The Best DIY Christmas Pillow
    This is one of my favorite Christmas craft DIYs: my Christmas Tree Pillow. It’s easy to make and looks store-bought, but it’s handmade. Shapes and colors are the key to this easy DIY Christmas pillow. Are you ready to see just…
  • A cozy living room with a decorated Christmas tree, white sofas, a round coffee table with wrapped gifts and potted plants, and sunlight streaming through large windows.
    Christmas Decor in the Family Room and Sunday Morning Coffee
    What a week it’s been! Between adding Christmas decor to our family room, a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner, and attending a beautiful wedding in Georgia, my heart feels full. I love weeks like this, the kind where your calendar is busy, but…
  • A tray holds twelve matte Christmas ornaments in pastel pink, green, and white, arranged in a neat grid.
    DIY Velvet Christmas Ornaments – A Handmade Christmas
    It’s hard to believe we’ve reached week thirteen of my A Handmade Christmas series! Here are my handmade velvet ornaments. Every week, I look forward to creating this series: sixteen weeks of handmade holiday projects designed to bring creativity, warmth, and…
Four white ceramic plates shaped like pumpkins, each with a beige leaf and vine detail at the top—perfect for serving favorites like Marry Me Chicken.

Nat & Jules Pumpkin Shaped 8 x 8 Inch Ceramic Small Dining Plates

A folded, off-white kitchen towel with black handwritten script featuring words such as "gratitude," "blessings," "grace," and "gather" complements a charming farmhouse table setting.

Thanksgiving Cloth Napkins, 100% Cotton, Set of 6

Woven basket with a handle, perfect for serving Christmas morning breakfast, accompanied by six circular woven placemats.

6 Pack, Round Woven Placemats

Stack of six white ceramic ramekins with ridged edges, perfect for serving a delightful pie for breakfast.

8 oz Ramekins for Baking

A stack of four round ceramic plates in neutral tones—beige, gray, and light brown—perfect for serving your favorite Fall Pasta Recipes, shown on a white background.

Mora Ceramic Flat Pasta Bowl Set

A set of four orange and white checkered cloth napkins, perfect for serving dishes like Marry Me Chicken, folded and tied with a label that reads “Mud Pie Set of 4 Printed Napkins.”.

Mud Pie Harvest Check Napkin Set, Orange

A round baked pastry with decorative leaf patterns, cut to reveal a melted cheese filling, sits on a dark surface next to sliced apples and a knife.

Martha shared 24 Christmas Appetizers to Kick Off All Your Festive Celebrations.

Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I love sharing everything about the holidays. Enjoy this week!

  • Stocking Stuffers
  • Decorating with Christmas Ribbon in the Dining Room
  • Creative Ideas for Christmas Gift Tags
  • DIY Holiday Handmade Ornaments
  • Clay Christmas Trees – A Handmade Christmas
  • 7 Creative Ideas to Set a Christmas Table

You Might Also Need…

A stack of six round, off-white ceramic dinner plates with a thin gold rim, perfect for serving dishes like Marry Me Chicken, shown on a white background.

famiware Dinner Plates Set of 6

Six gold-colored metal candle holders of varying heights are arranged in two rows against a white background, perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any farmhouse table setting.

Tall Candlestick Holders Set of 6

Three oval white ceramic plates with a subtle rim design are stacked on top of each other against a white background—perfect for serving dishes like Marry Me Chicken.

famiware Serving Platter

A wooden cutting board shaped like a pumpkin with visible wood grain patterns, perfect for adding a touch of fall home decor to your kitchen.

Halloween Pumpkin Shaped Wood Cutting Board

Ornate ceramic platter featuring a painted turkey in a rural setting, surrounded by a decorative border with floral and foliage motifs—perfect for serving at festive gatherings and inspiring Friendsgiving ideas.

Johnson Bros. Turkey Platter

A candle and a wreath of leaves—perfect Friendsgiving ideas to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for your celebration.

Artificial Gold Bay Leaf Candle Rings

A beige ceramic cake stand with a scalloped edge and round top, shown from a top-down and side view.

Creative Co-Op Hand-Painted Stoneware Pedestal with Scalloped Edge

Three decorative, house-shaped ornaments with leaf and berry patterns in red, blue, and green, arranged in order of increasing size from left to right.

Creative Co-Op Printed Paper Mache Houses

A brown storage box with empty compartments sits next to nine festive glass ornaments in red and green on a light surface.

Creativ Co-Op 2′ H Embossed Mercury Glass Ornaments

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Eight women sit on a bench under a thatched roof with a city skyline and river in the background; text reads, "The Best Week and Sunday Morning Coffee.

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4 Comments

  1. I just love a post that starts with “the best week ever”! Your girls’ weekend sounded amazing! I love those times when I gather with my gfs and it is like no time has passed. Those are best times! Congratulations to your son and his fiancé! I am looking forward to your Christmas ideas and suggestions!

    Reply

  2. Congrats to you son and his fiancée! I’m sure she will be a wonderful addition to the family.
    What a fun girls trip. Great memories to make with your friends. I’ve always wanted to visit Richmond.
    And YEA DODGERS 2025 World Series Champs!!!

    Reply

  4. As always, I’m SO inspired by your holiday ideas – I can’t wait to jump into Thanksgiving and Christmas and our annual fall party in the coming weeks! Congrats to your son, and to your baseball team – what a game!! Thanks for all the Sunday news, here’s to a wonderful rest of your trip!

    Reply

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