Hi there!
Happy New Year’s Eve! I hope you had a great week!
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Random Things Happening Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms
What a week it was!
Can you believe it’s already New Year’s Eve? 2023 is almost a blur now! It feels like it just flew by!
We had such a great time celebrating Christmas with our extended family last week. I hosted Christmas Eve and made my annual Christmas Stovetop Clambake. It was so fun and the food turned out SO GOOD! It always does, but this year decided to try a different source of seafood that is a little closer to where we live now.
We spent Christmas Day at my sister-in-law’s and had the best time playing a white elephant game. There were two hotly contested gifts that we were battling for which made the game that much more fun.
My family walked away with a telescope, microphone (Tori has been using it nonstop LOL), portable blender, long charcuterie board, and a cozy blanket. So not bad!
After Christmas, we made a trip to the cabin in Vermont. It was pretty rainy for most of the trip but we made the best of it.
We got to listen to Tori perform her greatest hits all week long on our new microphone. I made some great food. We sat by the fire, did a few puzzles, and played some board games. Oh, and the family got a little bit of skiing in too.
There wasn’t any snow to do any snowshoeing which was a bummer for me because that’s a little more my speed. But we’ll get some here soon. The trip was a lot of fun and I really cherish the time we got to spend together.
Shopping for Dahlias and Seeds for 2024!
I bought all of my dahlias for the next growing season. Yes, I dug up and stored some dahlia tubers from 2023, but I bought more and can’t wait to plant them!
For 2024, I’m growing some classics that I love like Thomas Edison, Penhill Watermelon, and Labyrinth. But I also decided to try a bunch of newbies that I haven’t grown before.
Oh, and I broke down and bought another Cafe Au Lait too. I said I wasn’t going to grow her again, but…I am! Please remind me when I complain about her that I didn’t listen to myself when I checked my cart out. LOL!
I’ve also just bought a full shopping cart of seeds that I’m planning to start this year too. It’s a big one too – I’m planning to do both indoor and outdoor sowing so it will be manageable and get my hands in the dirt while it’s still winter.
What I’m Shopping For This Week
I took advantage of some great after-Christmas sales this week and am getting ready for seed starting season! Here’s what I’m shopping for this week!
Random Stuff I’m Shopping For
- My daughter Shana bought me an oversized scrunchie for my hair THAT I LOVE! It looks great when I have my hair up in a bun so I bought a few more like this one, this one, and this one!
- This cozy sweater.
- Aren’t these garden coasters so pretty too?
- I bought a few of these faux ranunculus. They are on sale and fabulous!
- And I also bought a few of these for my library shelves. It’s very dark in there and hard to grow things but I want to green up some of the bookshelves.
Gardening Supplies I’m Shopping For
- I bought a few of these mini willow garden obelisks for my houseplants! I can’t wait to get them.
- These terracotta planters.
- I love this fluted pot and saucer.
- I also picked up a few bags of organic fertilizer for my vegetable garden. My lettuce, broccoli, and brussel sprouts are still doing pretty well out there. We’ve had a mild winter so far, so hopefully, I can keep them going.
- And for when those days get really chilly, I’m going to use this frost blanket to keep them insulated to hopefully keep them going!
Christmas Decor, Gift Wrapping, and Ornament Storage
I curated a list of my favorite organizational finds for holiday decor and gift-wrapping storage. Getting organized as you put it all away will make it so much easier to take out and decorate next year. Click on any of the items in the picture below or shop my curated list here.
What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms
It was a fun week on the blog!
- I love quick, easy, and delicious recipes that I can whip up in minutes. And guess what? You do too! Which one of these reader’s favorite recipes did you taste this year?
- Looking back, 2023 was chock full of big-time stuff! Here’s a recap of my top 10 Reader’s Favorite blog posts from 2023.
- The holiday season may be over, but the opportunity for renewal is just beginning. Discover how to seamlessly transition from festive cheer to a clutter-free, organized new year with this practical guide to after Christmas decluttering and home reorganization. Unleash the power of a clean and serene environment to boost your productivity, enhance your well-being, and welcome the new year with open arms.
- Want to decorate your home with plants and flowers but don’t have the greenest thumb? Elevate your home décor with these foolproof tips to make your faux flowers look like they were plucked straight from the garden.
- Learn how to start seeds indoors and navigate the common pitfalls with this comprehensive guide that identifies and resolves issues.
Amazing Inspiration from Around the Web
I love finding cool inspiration from around the web and wanted to share some of what I’m loving right now.
- These thrifting secrets.
- I love each of these posts from 2023 – do you have a favorite?
- This DIY candle chandelier is so cool!
- This Christmas lights at night tour.
- These vintage and thrifty decorating ideas.
- This keto-friendly hot pizza dip sounds great for New Year’s Eve.
If you enjoy these posts, you can find past Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly posts here.
And… If you’re catching up on blog posts you may have missed, be sure to sign-up to get my newest posts via email to stay up to date with everything that’s happening here on the blog and more.
Stop Guessing and Master Watering Indoor Plants Like a Pro!
Starting Seeds Indoors: Getting Organized Before You Sow
Start Seeds Indoors Successfully: Your DIY System & 11 Essential Supplies
15 Mistakes New Gardeners Make and How to Avoid Them
Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly 211
Winter Sow Larkspur Flower For a Stunning Cottage Garden
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
