Everyday Living

A Birthday Getaway

~ Autumn, Everyday Living, Faith, Travel

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭

Hello dear readers ! Last Thursday my Renaissance Man and I drove to Charleston, SC for a four day getaway! It had been at least twenty years since we were last there. Charleston is consistently named the best city in the U.S. by several travel magazines. It has topped the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards for nine straight years as the best small city in the U.S. If we needed a reason for a return visit, these awards would have been enough. But it was my birthday and we thought it would be a great place to enjoy food, history, and culture!

We love smaller boutique hotels and I always research before we make reservations. I immediately was drawn to the Wentworth Mansion, a 21-room tribute to Charleston’s gilded age. The mansion is located in the heart of the historic district.

The 1886 expansive and ornate home was designed in the Second Empire style for a wealthy cotton merchant, his wife, and their thirteen children. Original Tiffany stained glass is seen as you enter the grand hall and over doorways on the main floor.READ MORE

5 Year Blogiversary & Giveaway

~ Aerial Photogaphy, Everyday Living, Faith, Family, Gardening, Giveaways, Granddaughter, Outdoors, Travel

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭

Hello sweet friends and welcome to Everyday Living’s five year blogiversary…I can’t believe it has been five years! Many of you began the journey with us, but so many have joined us along the way. We are forever grateful for you our readers. Without you there would be no blog. As we have shared our lives with you, many of you have shared your lives with us…prayer requests, celebrations, memories and much more. Most of us will never meet this side of heaven, but we share a beautiful virtual friendship.

Because we have the very best readers, we have a fun giveaway! Read how you can enter at the bottom of this post. Now let’s look back on a few memories.

Tablescapes Tuesdays have been weekly since the blog began. I have been setting tables and hosting dinners for many years learning from the best teacher, my beloved mother. When I first joined Facebook, I would occasionally share a tablescape and from so many encouraging comments, Tablescape Tuesday was born. I chose this one from the archives…autumn is my favorite season, so why not a box of autumn?!

You rarely see a peek into my kitchen, but this is where the day begins!READ MORE

An Unplanned Visit

~ Everyday Living, Faith, Family, Summer, Travel

“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms…
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭33:27‬a

Happy Thursday dear friends! I am glad you are here for part two of our road trip. If you missed part one, you can read it here. Once again buckle up, we are taking you to a couple of places, one an unplanned visit plus a small place made famous by a country song!

I know that many of you immediately recognize where we are…Magnolia Market at the Silos! After our first day on the road, we stopped over in Tyler, TX to spend the night. Getting up and on the road early Monday morning meant we would reach Austin way before check-in at our hotel. Since we would be going through Waco with a little time to spare, we decided to stop. We arrived at 11:00 and it was already in the low 90’s with high humidity.

Magnolia Market is considered a destination that draws thousands of people weekly. I am probably one of the few people who didn’t watch Fixer Upper and knew very little about the very popular Chip and Joanna Gaines. I caught a few episodes here and there and I did enjoy them, but we rarely turn on the TV except for college football season (Roll Tide). People were lined up to enter The Market so we decided to go to the garden area first.READ MORE