Five Things on a Friday – 9/12/25

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your week has been calm and everything has gone smoothly as you settle back into regular routines. If not, I hope you find some time to take a few moments to yourself this weekend to enjoy these beautiful late summer days and prepare for the week ahead.

Summer is over, and the kids are back in school, with Jack in seventh grade this year and Kennedy starting her third year of university. I love this time of year, with its feeling of fresh starts, new routines, and endless possibilities. I have to admit that things aren’t quite as calm and organized around here as I’d like them to be, especially with our busy new sports schedules and so much going on with work, but that’s just really what this season of life is all about, and I know we’ll look back on this time with fond and happy memories. It feels like there’s something new to add to the schedule and the daily to-do list every day, but at least we’re not bored. 🙂 I hope your days are full of all the best kinds of busy-ness right now, too.

Pictured above: Sconces | Wicker Shades | Cafe Curtains (use code CH12 for 20% off) | Faucet

If you’ve been keeping up to date with me over on Instagram, you know the kitchen has been coming right along, and we’re done what we’ve been calling “Phase 1” of our little project, which involved moving and rebuilding the cabinets, wiring for new lights, trim work, paint, a new faucet, and new hardware. We’ll be starting on “Phase 2” ASAP, and we’ll be tackling something that has us holding our breath a little and just hoping it all works out as beautifully as we’re picturing. It’s one of those things that could be absolutely brilliant, or could be a disaster. Can’t wait to share more as we get the next phase underway!

Pictured above: Curtains (use code CH12 for 20% off) | Mirror | Rug

Beyond the kitchen update, I have lots of fun little projects around the house that I’ve been playing around with, just for fun. I started working on something really fun in our ensuite bathroom inspired by the book English Country House Style that I’m really excited about, and I’m doing a little fall freshening up in Kennedy’s room upstairs before she comes home for Canadian Thanksgiving in a few weeks. Of course, we accomplished a lot outside this year with our new back deck and the pergola we added back there, but I’d really like to get outside and do a few more things before the cold weather sets in. I’ll keep you posted and let you know if I’m actually able to tackle any of this with everything else going on around here. 🙂

I have had the most amazing luck at the thrift store recently. I know some people are really dedicated and make it to the thrift store at least several times a week. Truthfully, that’s the best way to find all the best things for the best prices. I have to admit, though, that I can go months without popping in to take a look. I feel like I’m so busy sharing the things I find and what I do with them that I often don’t have time to go searching for more. For some reason, though, luck always seems to be on my side, and I find the best things, even though I don’t do a very consistent job of thrifting. I was recently in our local Goodwill, just because it’s so close and it was the easiest store to get to, and I came across the most amazing antique wood wall shelf. It was only $7! So, of course I grabbed it, not having a clue where it would end up, but knowing that it looked like it needed a home somewhere in our old house. Then a couple of days later, I had the feeling I should pop in again and I found an amazing little demi-lune table for $5! It needs a bit of a refinishing, but I’ve been looking for a little table just like it for quite some time. It’s like this table was the one that was meant to be. It’s funny how often that happens in thrifting, isn’t it?

I just have to take a moment and be honest with you and let you know that right now is a pretty crazy time for creators. Of course, over the fourteen-plus years that I’ve been sharing my life on the internet, things have changed a lot in so many ways, and there are always ebbs and flows to the way traffic comes in and income is created, but for those of us who have made sharing inspiring content their full-time job, things are tough. AI is stealing our work, search engines are trying so hard to direct people who are looking for us to anywhere but our sites, and social media algorithms are making it so hard for us to be heard, even by those who are looking for exactly what we’re offering. Add all the economic uncertainty to those already challenging factors, and the fact that industry spending is way down, and you have a climate where it can be nearly impossible for independent publishers and creators to survive.

So how can you support your favorite creators? The very best way is to follow along by subscribing by email so you can have direct access to updates, new blog posts, and inspiring content. Consider sharing your favorite sites with a few friends by forwarding a newsletter, as word of mouth is always the best way to hear about new things to love. If you follow on a social media platform like Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, like, comment, and save your favorite posts to help boost them in the algorithm. Finally, if you’re going to be making everyday purchases on a site like Amazon, consider accessing the site through your favorite creator’s affiliate link. It won’t cost you anything extra, but a small percentage of your purchase will go towards supporting the sites you enjoy, helping them keep doing the work they love to share with you.

Did you know that all purchases made through my shop page or links that I share in my blog posts also go towards supporting this site? I update my shop page regularly with favorite finds from my home, curated styling collections, and favourites for everyday life.

NEWS AND FINDS

–Sohum, the most amazing local Southwestern Ontario shop for elevated scents for your home and you, recently gifted me a care package for fall, and I just had to share. You’re greeted with this opening phrase on their website: “Sohum is a quiet breath in a noisy world – a devotion to ritual, memory, and scent. Each bottle, each flame, a love letter to presence.” Each item is 100% crafted in Canada, in beautiful packaging perfect for gifting to the most discerning friend, or to enhance your favorite space, and I was intrigued immediately. If you place an order, definitely try the Pumpkin Ginger candle for the most delicious ode to Golden afternoons.

-I’m a little ashamed to admit that we still don’t have a functioning blind in our ensuite, a least we didn’t until this week. We don’t have neighbours, and on the few days a year that the farmer is working in the field, we’ve always just used the other washroom, but still, it’s a little weird. 🙂 I’ve always loved the look of bamboo shades, so I took the opportunity to add one to this space, and it’s everything the room needed, and more. Not only does it provide much needed privacy, which is very handy now that we have our beautiful new deck just outside the window, but it also infused the space with so much warmth, texture, and elegance. With the painted cabinetry, tiled walls, and stone floors in this room, I’ve always thought it needed more wood tones, and it’s amazing what a difference something as simple as a blind can make in the space. This is the Hana Bamboo shade from The Hues Home in the Tan color.

-Summer might be basically over, but the next one will be here before we know it, so I just had to share this Amazon foldable bucket hat that a family member had recently. I thought this was so clever. It folds up into itself into a tiny little parcel so you can tuck it away in your purse, and always have a hat with you whenever you discover you need one. It folds out into the cutest bucket hat and I just thought it was the smartest idea.

-Have you seen these viral Gokotta sheets? They have an extra elastic strap on each corner, and they’re perfectly designed to stay put on your mattress, so you never have to wake up with the bottom sheet crumpled up under you again. I love thoughtful little design details like that. Sometimes, they just make all the difference.

-I found the cutest, most affordable little Mary Jane shoes at Old Navy recently, and I just had to share. I’m not sure what happened, but it seems like suddenly everything at Old Navy is incredibly nice? I have never been the biggest Old Navy shopper, but I think I’m a fan now. These shoes are so comfortable and even have extra padding inside, and they’re just so flattering on. Absolutely love them, and would be thrilled with them if I had paid $200, but somehow they’re under $30. If you’re looking for some cute and comfortable fall shoes, definitely check these out.

-I get questions about my blue and white umbrella stand every time it shows up in the background of photos. While it looks like the most amazing, luckiest antique find, it’s actually new! I keep an eye out for different styles to share, since mine is often sold out, but it’s currently back in stock! You can see it here.

-If you see something on my site or on Instagram, and want to now where it’s from, you can probably find it on my shop page! I update the shop regularly with decor finds from my home, curated styling collections, and favorites for everyday life. I love it because it’s all laid out in a way that’s visually beautiful, so it’s almost like a shopable Instagram. I hope it proves to be a helpful resource for finding links, but that it also provides a little inspiration as well. 🙂

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