Happy Friday! I think everyone in our home is finally feeling better (Chris had pneumonia, along with Greta, and Polly was on the verge--they got her on antibiotics before it got worse) so we're going to try to squeeze in a lot of our pre-halloween fall bucket list activities this weekend! We're taking our annual family Halloween photo and going to the pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins and soaking in the season.
We have hundreds of trees on our property and so many of them are bursting with fall colors. I cut the yellow branches below from one of the trees and it almost looks like the leaves were outlined. Nature amazes me every day.
I shared this photo from our cabin at this time last year on my feed, and I never thought I would see fall like that again. But here we are, living in a home that we never envisioned being in, surrounded by trees that are so reminiscent. It's been a heart-warming surprise.
Other fun things this week!
• My sister introduced me to the Instagram account @starterpacks_only and we died laughing scrolling through. They are just so accurate! After dwelling on it for a few days, we thought it would only be appropriate to make an influencer one...
Complete with a faux fiddle leaf fig, of course (this is a 6' for under $80!), an arched floor mirror for selfies, the newest iPhone (I actually don't have this but dream about it), high rise jeans that breathe at the ankles, blue light blocking glasses that are supposedly for screens but are secretly because they just want to wear glasses that day, and then the sunglasses they had to have because Meghan Markle also has them. Snake Skin sneaks, the area rug that everyone now has. The marble tumbler they won't leave home without, the I-woke-up-like-this perfectly blush chapstick, a teddy coat, disc necklaces, the only candy worth eating, and clip in extensions to pump up the volume.
It's kind of cringe-y and hilarious to see it all together. But most of all--accurate, right? Am I forgetting anything?
• Did you see BBC's Interior Design Masters is now on Netflix?! It's highly entertaining and was described as a mash-up of the Great British Baking Show meets Project Runway--and I agree completely. I watched the first episode last night and can't wait to binge more this weekend!
• We made the big decision this week to do mostly all siding on our home with only a small amount of stone. It's a big 180 from where we started and it will take a couple years to full implement but we had to decide this week what we wanted the exterior of our new dining room to be and we both realized the look of stained cedar siding is beautiful and classic.
We have referred to this home by Muskoka Living a lot and we're taking notes. We are thinking maybe stone on the bump out where the big arched window will be but I'm learning more and more--it's hard to get stone and stone placement right.
• The videos we made with GM in early September launched this week! The team was so incredible to work with and I loved their vision. You can watch all three right here.
• Old Navy just dropped this plaid coat and I'm here for it. (Reminds me of the one I have and love for a 1/3 of the price!)
• One of my favorite breakfasts is cloud eggs and turkey sausage. I happen to share it one morning on Instagram and everyone begged Chris to add cloud eggs to his Chris Cooks calendar. It's definitely on our list, but then look what just popped up on one of my favorite blogs!? Cloud Eggs!
• I only use one purse at a time and I get a new one every 2-3 years. This has been my go-to ride or die purse that goes with everything for the past couple years. But I JUST ordered this one (20% off with code NEWLEAF) and I couldn't be more thrilled with it.
Hope you all have the happiest, fall weekend!!
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Hi! New follower here and in love with these black and cane chairs! Unfortunately these are out of my budget, can you share some more affordable options as well? Thanks! Xo
Hi Julia!
Love your blog and these casual “love list” posts, but could you make each link open up in a new window? I like to check out each one and sometimes it’s hard to navigate back and I have to start all over with the original Bloglovin’ post in my mailbox. I am a blogger also and someone gave me that tip when I first started (I was grateful!) so I am passing it along to you! If you use Word Press there is a “open in a new window” option when you add a link. : ) That way I can continue scrolling through your wonderful post! Love everything you do keep up the good work!
Add a (cheetah) loopy case and it’s perfect ????
Ok, so I’m hoping you’ll keep us updated on what you think of Interior Design Masters, because I just watched the series and the whole time in my head I was wondering, “What would Julia think of these rooms and design choices...” ????
Starter pack addition: stick-on bats for Halloween! (Not an influencer but was successfully influenced)
TOTALLY getting the Richmond Saddle Bag... its AMAZING. Madewell always does a good bag ;)
I'm glad your family is feeling better, and you can enjoy the fall weather. I'm not even that into halloween, tbh... but I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR HALLOWEEN PHOTO!
Happy weekend!
P.S. Did you guys send out a love letter this week? I seem to have missed it! :(
Yes! It went out Wednesday Night! Oh nooo!!! Check your promo/spam folder.
Shoot, it's not in my promo, junk, or trash. I haven't missed one yet!! Is it still being sent from sender name Julia Marcum? I tried searching my gmail but nothing is showing up.
Oh well. Fingers crossed I'll get this week's! :)
We have cedar shingles on our home and it's one of the only exterior aspects we do NOT have problems with. No rot, paint still looks amazing. We've own the house for 8 years, it was empty for the 2 years before that (foreclosure) and was painted years before that so we can easily say over 10 years for this current house color in harsh New England weather too. The cedar shingles are from the original house which was built around 1890. Now our wood clapboard siding, fascias and gutter situations are another story... rot, rot, and more rot.
The starter packs are SO good! And also, 100% YES on the cedar siding. It's so gorgeous and timeless.
I love my cedar siding. Mine was painted when i moved in, so I have to continue with this route. But i dream of ripping it off, and having fresh siding to stain a brownish gray(weird sounding, I know) I saw on a house near me. My siding is original to my 1952 house. I just had it looked at last year by a siding company. Did have to replace 2 pieces, but it is still going strong. Prepping and priming are the keys to making your paint/stain job last. But i just know I will have to re-paint every 5ish years. Part of the deal. But I think staining is a much more long lasting option for sure.
I thought I was the only person on this earth, that uses only one purse at a time. I wear mine for years before searching for my next purse. Currently wearing this backpack (https://www.elevatepeople.com/collections/womens-best-sellers/products/backpack?variant=9048853643300) in camel, by the amazing Elevate People. Read the story on the company. It has aged beautifully, and plan on wearing it for years to come. They have a tote i want as well. Thinking about getting one of their wallets as well.
Cannot wait to see what your new exterior is going to look like! Happy Friday!
Hah! Regarding your "starter pack," is the link you include for hair extensions to the ones you use? I remember you posting about them once and have tried and tried to find them in your archives, but I just haven't had success. I try to avoid being the person to ask someone to reshare a source for the millionth time, so I've just kept an eye out for "the next time." The irony that I'm asking for a source on "the starter pack" is not lost on me! Anyways, I didn't feel the need at the time, but now that I'm in the midst of a stressful period of life that is causing hair loss, I am trying to find options to help make my hair appear a little thicker. Thanks!
Yes!!! Those are the ones I use. Haha
Cedar siding is soooo much upkeep and it's so expensive to paint/stain. The photo is beautiful, but I almost wish I didn't have cedar siding. It's prone to a lot of problems and rot.