• Cart
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Chronicles
    • The Lovely Archives
    • Family
    • Ina
    • Journals
    • Hurley House
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Cart
  • Events
  • Hospitality
    • Cooking
    • Hosting
    • Household Management
    • Celebrate
    • Basics
  • Lovely Living
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Favorites
    • Hobbies
    • Parenting
    • Personal Care
    • Reflections
  • Recipes
    • Appetizer
    • Main Dish
    • Sides
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast
    • Beverage
  • Chronicles
    • The Lovely Archives
    • Family
    • Hurley House
    • Ina
    • Journals
  • Shop
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Closet
    • Cookbooks
    • Gifts
    • Home
    • Kitchen
    • Library
    • Needlepoint
    • Organization
    • Party
    • Table
  • Learn
  • Blog
  • About
  • Events
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

  • Hospitality
    • Hosting
    • Household Management
    • Cooking
    • Basics
    • Celebrate
  • Lovely Living
    • Fashion
    • Favorites
    • Hobbies
    • Parenting
    • Beauty
    • Personal Care
    • Reflections
  • Recipes
    • Appetizer
    • Main Dish
    • Sides
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast
    • Beverage
  • Events
  • Learn
  • Shop
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Closet
    • Cookbooks
    • Gifts
    • Home
    • Kitchen
    • Library
    • Needlepoint
    • Organization
    • Party
    • Table
  • About

Journal No. 8

October 17, 2020 · In: Chronicles, Journals

This past week was…a lot. Let me start back at the beginning, last weekend, when we inherited two iron twin bed frames from a friend which (obviously) sparked a complete two-day bedroom purge and makeover for Norah and Lillian.

They share a room, and for way, way too long, it has needed some love. Something about installing new bed frames was the event that triggered a series of home improvement dominos.

We cleaned out every drawer and shelf, removed and replaced their mattresses, deep cleaned every nook and cranny, removed the window treatment and the broken blinds, updated their bedding, found a storage solution for old baby blankets, bought new pillows, and revamped the storage in their closets.

By Sunday night I was exhausted, sweaty, very sore, but entirely delighted by the results. We still need to paint the walls, replace the carpet, and install new window treatments, but their room now reminds me of something from a Little Golden Book, and I love it so much.

The fun part is, they love it too. Delighted by their updated space, they wanted to spend all their time together in their new room, with the lights off (“Because we love all the natural light!”), playing cards on a framed art print subbing as a make-shift card table.

The simple delight of watching my not-so-little girls, playing cards together in the late afternoon light, on their new white ruffled comforters was a moment of joy and gratitude for me.

Speaking of moments of gratitude, my copy of Ina’s new cookbook arrived in the mail this week. Modern Comfort Food is beautiful, and very “Ina.” I have only done a cursory first glance at the contents, and I plan to read it cover to cover this weekend and soak up every detail. I am not sure when I will start cooking out of it, but I promise to keep you posted on my thoughts as I do.

Speaking of new things, I have been giving my shelves at home some intentional attention. I am trying to hit the right balance of beautiful and functional, while also bringing in touches of the season. The shelving unit in this photo is a focal point in our common living and dining area, so we see it all day every day. I am very pleased with how it is looking, and I particularly love the new blue and white porcelain bowl I purchased this week from Vintage Collected.

Alice from Vintage Collected is the best. She sells vintage items on Instagram (@vintagecollected), and I have purchased several pieces from her. They are always beautiful and interesting. I love mixing the old pieces with my modern everyday wares. I love how one small new item can transform the look of an entire shelf.

Speaking of new items, this is Lillian showing me her new skill on Wednesday. She taught herself to ride her brother’s skate board! She was so proud of herself! I was so proud of her! She was doing such a good job!

And then, on Thursday afternoon, she fell off the skate board and broke her leg.

We ended up in the ER, and she has a fractured fibula. Currently, she is not in a cast. We will be visiting the orthopedist early next week for her treatment plan, which I assume will involve an over-the-knee cast. Meanwhile she is in a foam full-leg splint with strict orders not to move.

We are doing the best we can, but the complications with a broken leg are far greater than those that come with a broken arm. Specifically, I am starting to wonder what she will wear? How will we trick-or-treat? Will she be able to go back to school? It just feels like such a blow, and I am doing my best to manage it.

I know her bone will heal, and I know we will figure out the way forward, little by little. But right now, in the moment, it seems like a lot.

Speaking of little by little, I shared on Instagram this week (before our skateboard crisis) how important I think it is to set a table. Not just for our sake, but for our children’s sake. There is a skill set to be gained in watching and learning how to prepare a place for others, to give attention to the details, and to understand the basic layout of a table.

I have never formally trained my children other than to ask them to help, allowed them to imperfectly set the table, and then gently corrected the results. Along the way, they have learned how to set a table when asked, and this photo reminded me that small steps over time do in fact yield progress.

Have a lovely weekend!

By: Katherine Sasser · In: Chronicles, Journals

you’ll also love

Ina In A Year: Week 18
Table Talk, 09.15.18
Journal No. 12

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Next Post >

Episode 25: Why I Want Everyone To Learn To Roast A Chicken

Primary Sidebar

Search

Featured Posts

Winter Cookbook Club Week 3: Winter Squash Soup

Winter Cookbook Club: Week 2

Winter Cookbook Club: Week One

Latest on Instagram

katherinesasser

katherinesasser


Celebrating is more than the actual event!
Celebrating is more than the actual event!

When we celebrate, sure the event is a big deal. B
When we celebrate, sure the event is a big deal. But what about what happens before and what we remember after? Those matter too!

Dear Winter Storm,

Thank you for…everything. W
Dear Winter Storm,

Thank you for…everything.  We have slept in, watched movies, washed all the sheets, powered through multiple mid-afternoon slumps, and taken the sled out for a few rounds of Please Don’t Break Any Bones. Always a delight. 

You’ve made your point. We see you. Thank you for the ice…it’s really beautiful up close. Maybe a bit too much this time, but what do I know?

Anywho, party’s over. It’s time to go. These kids have got to get back to school and so help me if I don’t interact with other adults soon I am really going to lose my marbles. 

Here’s your purse and keys, one last hug, can’t wait to see you again, have a safe trip home. 

Thanks so much. 
Love you. 
Bye.


Despite having numerous recipes for butternut squa
Despite having numerous recipes for butternut squash soup, I found Smitten Kitchen's Winter Squash Soup delightfully original. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
My Week Three review of the Winter Cookbook Club is up on the blog, and if you're cooking along with me, I would love to know what you think!

Super Bowl is around the corner. Are you game-day
Super Bowl is around the corner.  Are you game-day ready?​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Today on the blog, I am sharing a few of my favorite supplies for hosting a killer Super Bowl party. (Side note:  When did Crock Pots get so cute??)​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
From fancy coolers to festive fans to the most practical paper goods, all the winners are in one place!

I celebrated my birthday with a cocktail party, an
I celebrated my birthday with a cocktail party, and it was one of the best (and easiest) events I have had the pleasure of hosting.​​​​​​​​​
The evening was beautiful, the friends amazing, the drinks incredible, and the secret to all the fun was a twist on traditional hosting rolls.

All the details are on the blog!


Load More...



Follow on Instagram


Browse by Category

Hi, I'm Katherine

Hi, I'm Katherine
hello!

I share lifestyle content through the lens of hospitality. If you are interested in learning about the beauty that creating space can bring, you've come to the right place!

Read More

Connect

Recent Posts

Winter Cookbook Club Week 3: Winter Squash Soup

Game Day Gear

Archives

Follow Along

@katherinesasser

Celebrating is more than the actual event! Celebrating is more than the actual event!
When we celebrate, sure the event is a big deal. B When we celebrate, sure the event is a big deal. But what about what happens before and what we remember after? Those matter too!
Dear Winter Storm, Thank you for…everything. W Dear Winter Storm,

Thank you for…everything.  We have slept in, watched movies, washed all the sheets, powered through multiple mid-afternoon slumps, and taken the sled out for a few rounds of Please Don’t Break Any Bones. Always a delight. 

You’ve made your point. We see you. Thank you for the ice…it’s really beautiful up close. Maybe a bit too much this time, but what do I know?

Anywho, party’s over. It’s time to go. These kids have got to get back to school and so help me if I don’t interact with other adults soon I am really going to lose my marbles. 

Here’s your purse and keys, one last hug, can’t wait to see you again, have a safe trip home. 

Thanks so much. 
Love you. 
Bye.
Despite having numerous recipes for butternut squa Despite having numerous recipes for butternut squash soup, I found Smitten Kitchen's Winter Squash Soup delightfully original. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
My Week Three review of the Winter Cookbook Club is up on the blog, and if you're cooking along with me, I would love to know what you think!
Super Bowl is around the corner. Are you game-day Super Bowl is around the corner.  Are you game-day ready?​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Today on the blog, I am sharing a few of my favorite supplies for hosting a killer Super Bowl party. (Side note:  When did Crock Pots get so cute??)​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
From fancy coolers to festive fans to the most practical paper goods, all the winners are in one place!
I celebrated my birthday with a cocktail party, an I celebrated my birthday with a cocktail party, and it was one of the best (and easiest) events I have had the pleasure of hosting.​​​​​​​​​
The evening was beautiful, the friends amazing, the drinks incredible, and the secret to all the fun was a twist on traditional hosting rolls.

All the details are on the blog!
Let's play a round of Top Three Bar Cart Favorites Let's play a round of Top Three Bar Cart Favorites.  I'll go first.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Gray Whale Gin because it's delicious, and I love how the turquoise bottle stands out among the other bottles.  So cute.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Empress Gin because it's purple and beautiful and is the gin for people who think they don't like gin.  Trust me.  It's a winner, and makes a wonderful gift.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Perrier-Jouet champagne in the small bottle because it's my favorite champagne and reminds me to celebrate often..​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
What's on your bar cart?  What's your favorite bottle and why?  Any cute cocktail accessories I need to know about?
A small shift in your mindset can make all the dif A small shift in your mindset can make all the difference.

Copyright © 2023 ·