It has been a while...

Where have I been.....
I have been everywhere. We have been so busy here at the 504 cottage. Christmas photo shoots, Thanksgiving dinners, decorating for Christmas, and shooting an out of town wedding (and by out of town I mean 8 hours from my cottage)! Although I have enjoyed every minute of being busy, I sure love coming home with nothing to do! Among all this my sweet husband braved Black Friday with me! We did not start at 3:30 a.m. - we are not the stand in line kinda people, but we did find some great deals later on during the madness of the day. With that said, I have to get on my soap box for just a moment. I feel like we have created a monster with the Black Friday, find the best Christmas Gift thing. My husband and I were listening to the radio on friday while in route to our next shopping destination when we heard some startling news - a man was trampled at a Wal-Mart during the rush of Black Friday Bargain Hunting, two men got in an argument which ended up in one getting shot - we have created a monster! I was talking with my mom about all of this and told her that my goal is to get back to the true meaning of Christmas! I told her I could care less about the gifts and would not be saddened if we did not exchange gifts at all - all I wanted was for all of my family to be together and enjoy our time together! Enjoy what the Lord has given us - the gift of life and each other. I feel we should begin to take back Christmas and remember the real reason we celebrate all month long - the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus! (Actually something we should celebrate all year long). And remember, is it really worth a human life to get $200 off of a flat screen t.v.? With that said, I pray that you find the real meaning during this month of December and carry it with you all year long! Enjoy time with your family this month and all year long - cherish it because we are not promised tomorrow!

Blessings,

Meagan

Benches, Lighting, and New Best Friends...

It has been a while since my last post...

We have been so busy at the 504 cottage.
Just thought I would share with you a fabulous little cottage bench (in red of course) that my decorator and new best friend, Molly, emailed me! (She owns a great interior design business, Henderson and Rigoloso - Drapes and Design in Tuscaloosa, AL). It is from overstock.com, which, by the way, is a great website to order fun stuff off of! I just ordered an amazing light fixture from them (I will post that pic also). The greatest thing about overstock.com is that shipping is only $2.95 for anything (even a large piece of furniture! Hope everyone is having a great week!

The Red Bench that I love and will have to convince my husband that it is a necessity for the 504 cottage!

The light fixture that I ordered for my living room!

I will post a pic when it gets hung in the living room.

Blessings,

Meagan

Fun at the dinner table...

On my quest to find "yummy" place settings and fun plates, I ran across Pier 1 Imports website. I rarely walk through the doors of this store just because there in not one close to where I live. When I found the "Red Bird Plate" in magazine I was reading, I immediately began to search the Pier 1 website for more fabulous finds! I am really into reds (along with yellow's and navy's) so all this red dinnerware was bringing a huge smile to my face! I hope you enjoy!






(This has to be my favorite plate right now, LOVE IT!)






(These may not be your style, but you have to admit...they are fun!)






(To me, This is cottage dinnerware at it's best!)






(This fabulous bowl would make a great, simple centerpiece for any table!)




(And if all these things weren't fun enough, these stemless glasses are fantastic, what a great way to keep up with your glass! These would make great "place cards" also!



I hope you have enjoyed some of my Pier 1 findings. I just might have to wander into a Pier 1 Imports in the near future. Maybe if I am good enough, some of these fabulous items will end up under my Christmas tree (a subtle hint to the husband).



Have a great Veteran's Day - I will sure enjoy my day off from work and will continue to be thankful for the many veterans that have secured my freedoms in this amazing country!



xo, Meagan

Trick-or-Treat...a few days late...

I know it is a few days late (well a week to be exact), but I wanted to share with you what greeted trick-or-treaters as they walked up to my house. My husband and I love Halloween. We just love pumpkin carving, handing out candy, and especially seeing pint sized trick-or-treaters adorned in their favorite costumes!



Hope you enjoy!


My Husband's fantastic carving skills!


My "favorite place" (my cottage) before the sun set.






After the sun set...




Some close friends of ours brought their precious kiddo's by to visit for a moment and to dip into the candy basket!

Have a great Friday!

xo, Meagan

A love of Chalkboards...

I know, I know...two posts in one day...somebody stop me!

I just wanted to show everyone one of my "loves."

A while back, I traveled home to visit my family and when I returned my wonderful, loving, handsome husband had made me this. It is in our little "computer nook."

I just love it! I hope you do to! Let me know what your "loves" are...

xo, Meagan

(If you are wondering about the WR Photgraphy at the top of the picture, my husband is a photographer...check him out here.)

Fabulous Thanksgiving Tables

I recently received my November issue of Country Living in the mail. I was hoping to find some great Thanksgiving table-scapes, but did not run across any in the magazine. So, I set out on an adventure with "Google" to find some and I did! I found some on Country Living.com! Did not even think to check the website when none were in the magazine...
Right now I am loving burlap and hope to use some as part of my table decor. Let me know if you have any great ideas for a fabulous Thanksgiving table!

Enjoy, Meagan





















And how about this burlap with these precious tiny dots. I love this as a place card idea!

Love these candles wrapped in the "Give Thanks"

All pictures from Country Living.

Check back...

Just wanted to update...
It has been a few days since my last post, but check back this afternoon for a new post.
I will have some pictures of my cottage home decorated for trick-or-treaters!
I hope all is having a great Monday, just think we are one day closer to Friday!
Thanks to all who read my silly little blog :)

-Meagan