Hello friends!
Can you believe November flew by so quickly?
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I don’t know about you, but the month seemed to zoom past in a blur!
Whether you spent Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends or had a quieter day to yourself, I hope it was filled with moments—big or small—to be grateful for.
We want you to know how truly thankful we are for you.
Your support, kind words, and enthusiasm are what make this blog possible, and we couldn’t do it without you.
We’re so glad you’re here!
Before we dive into December and all the holiday fun, let’s take a little stroll down memory lane and look back at November—our projects, celebrations, and those everyday moments that made the month special.
WHAT WE DID BEHIND THE SCENES IN November
November was a busy month behind the scenes!
Between starting a home makeover project, celebrating milestones, and getting ready for the holidays, we had plenty going on.
Here’s a peek at what kept us busy this past month.
Started a remodel on our half bath
Welcome to our builder-grade half bathroom—it’s finally getting a dose of personality- here’s the before picture!
Wondering what we’re going to do in here?
Here’s a fun hint: Have you heard of color drenching?
If so, any guesses on what color we are using?
Stay tuned for the answers, but know, this one is definitely a slow-and-steady project.
With my focus on holiday prep, Rich is taking the lead on the remodel.
He’s fitting it in on weekends around his full-time job, so progress is happening little by little.
We’re crossing our fingers that it will be finished before our family arrives for Christmas.
The bathroom will work, but the decorating and final touches?
Those might slide until after the holidays.
Wish us luck!
Celebrated our 31st wedding Anniversary
We celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary with a special night out at one of our favorite spots on Disney property.
The evening started at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, where we visited the Dahlia Lounge on the rooftop of the Grand Destino Tower.
The views were gorgeous, and we enjoyed a drink while waiting for our dinner reservation next door.
Our server surprised us with complimentary champagne—such a sweet touch!
For dinner, we headed to Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood.
We had initially planned to try a new restaurant, but after checking the menu, I realized their dairy and gluten-free dessert options weren’t great.
So back to our favorite we went—and it did not disappoint!
We shared the Chuletón Bone-In Rib-Eye for Two with a scallop add-on.
This is the best steak we have had at a Disney restaurant so far, and it was delicious again this time!
We chose Patatas Bravas and Brussels sprouts as our sides, and both were fabulous.
Dessert was a treat: I had the Cashew–Chocolate Ganache Tart with coconut sorbet and roasted stone fruit, and Rich enjoyed the Basque Cheesecake with seasonal fruit and the prettiest hibiscus tuile. They were both fantastic!
It was the perfect way to celebrate another year together.
Renningers Antique & Collectors Extravaganza
One of the highlights of November is always the Antique & Collectors Extravaganza at Renninger’s.
We spent plenty of weekends there over the summer browsing the regular yard sales, but this event is on a whole different level—hundreds of vendors from across the country set up for three big weekends each year in November, January, and February.
I’m pretty sure this year had more vendors and more shoppers than ever!
The weather was perfect, and we came home with some incredible finds.
I snagged a beautiful oval antique frame, two milk glass pieces, and two cream-and-sugar sets (one matches the salt-and-pepper shakers I bought at the last yard sale).
The two stockings hanging on the frame came from a thrift store in Mount Dora—the same place I found the florals for my Thanksgiving decor.
Rich spotted this vintage bird book that we bought for our youngest son.
The pictures inside are gorgeous!
We also picked up a few fun “new” pieces, a wooden monogram sign, and Rich couldn’t resist a coffee mug inspired by one of his favorite Christmas movies, Elf.
And about those trees… I was hoping to buy two large blue bottlebrush trees, but the seller wouldn’t split them.
Instead, he offered such an amazing deal that I walked away with twenty-two bottlebrush trees.
No regrets!
Celebrated Thanksgiving in Kentucky
We headed back home to Kentucky to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families!
We split our time between my dad’s house just north of Louisville—where our oldest son lives—and the home of Rich’s sister and brother-in-law in western Kentucky.
It was so good to see everyone and soak up that family time.
We also had a fun surprise for the littles: we brought their Christmas gifts with us so they could open them early, and they were thrilled.
Between catching up with loved ones, sharing meals, and watching the kids’ excitement, it was a sweet way to kick off the holiday season.
WHAT WE DID ON THE BLOG IN November
November on the blog was full of inspiration, creativity, and festive ideas!
From DIY projects to seasonal decor and a little Christmas prep, we shared plenty of tips and tutorials to help make your home feel cozy and holiday-ready.
DIY
- Shared our favorite ways to hang Christmas garland – see three easy ways to secure garland to mantels, staircases, and around doors.
- Created sentimental piano hammer Christmas ornaments -get the backstory on why we made these for our relatives!
- Handcrafted two beautiful air-dry clay snowflake trees -learn how we created Christmas trees to match our living room decor (they look like Wedgewood).
- Made easy monogram stocking tags -you have to see these, they make your stockings feel extra special.
Decor
- Shared our Thanksgiving dining room decor and table -see how we were inspired to decorate the room after finding thrift store flowers.
- Looked back at our favorite Christmas tree theme ideas -great if you need help to spark your own holiday creativity.
- Showed you simple steps to decorate a mantel for Christmas -get ideas for creating a layered mantel that feels festive but looks effortless.
Organization
In November, our organizing efforts were fully dedicated to holiday prep—shopping, decorating, and getting everything ready for the season!
We’ll dive back into organizing home spaces in 2026, refreshed and ready to tackle even more projects.
INSPIRATION FROM AROUND THE WEB
If you’re looking for even more holiday ideas, I’ve rounded up a few favorites from around the web that are sure to spark your creativity.
From clever DIYs and beautiful printables to festive decorating tips, these posts are filled with inspiration to make your home feel extra magical this season.
- 5 Ways to transform Cheap Glass Vases -You have to see how these clever DIYs turn inexpensive vases into elegant, glowing holiday centerpieces. My favorite are the gold Christmas trees!!
- Christmas Wreath Window Art -This is such a fun and clever way to decorate windows for Christmas!
- 32 Christmas Activities to Make December More Festive -Packed with classic and creative ideas to make every day in December fun! Which ones will you do?
- Free Printable Winter Birds Wall Art -Gorgeous bird-themed prints you can download and display for the holidays and all winter long!
- Decorate With Natural Christmas Decor -Don’t want to buy plastic Christmas ornaments? Here are lots of ways to decorate with natural items instead!
FAVORITE SEASONAL FINDS
All our favorites are in the 2025 Holiday gift guide.
We have lots of inspiration here!
HOME ORGANIZATION WEEKLY TASK
December is our little “pause month” for home organization.
Instead of tackling closets or drawers, we focus on preparing for Christmas and ringing in the New Year.
It’s the perfect time to enjoy holiday decorating, gift wrapping, and seasonal tasks without feeling behind on regular chores.
Think of it as a festive reset before we dive back into organizing in January!
Here’s what we’ll be doing in December:
- Week 49- Christmas decorating
- Week 50- Christmas cards and wrapping
- Week 51- Prepare for and enjoy Christmas
- Week 52- Plan for New Year’s and store Christmas decor
POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Looking to make Christmas prep a little easier—and a lot more festive?
These favorite posts from our archives are full of ideas to inspire you.
From whimsical nutcracker decor to a clever DIY tree collar made from a lampshade, plus our handy 4-week Christmas planner, you’ll find ways to get your home ready for the holidays without the stress.
Decor
If you adore nutcrackers as much as I do, you’ll want to see how to incorporate them into your Christmas decor and/or tablescape!
DIY
Here’s one of my favorite Christmas DIYs! Learn how to make a drum tree collar from a lampshade!
Organize
If you need help getting ready for Christmas, check out this post about how to use our easy-to-follow four-week Christmas checklist and planner!
Closing Thoughts
As we wrap up the November rewind, we’re so grateful you joined us for another month full of projects, celebrations, and little moments that make life at home so special.
We hope you found a bit of inspiration and a touch of holiday cheer along the way.
Here’s to a December filled with joy and all the cozy moments that make this season so magical!
We’ll look forward to seeing you back again on December 31st for our next Seasonal Sentiments Rewind Newsletter!
Blessings, Donna and Rich
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**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
So fun!! All of your thrift finds are amazing, Donna!! Hope you have a lovely December!
Thanks Rachel! We had so much fun at Renninger’s! Wish you could come down and go with us, you would absolutely love it!