Life Among The Blooms: Hello, November!

Wow, what a whirlwind in October! It feels like just yesterday we were sipping summer cocktails, and suddenly, October is in the rearview mirror. This past month was a glorious blur of travel, celebration, and significant project milestones. We packed in so much, from saying farewell to warm weather on our unforgettable trip to Greece to putting the final touches on our yard before winter hits (yes, that means officially closing the new pool).

Now, with the Halloween candy wrappers gone and the final pumpkin officially retired, we are charging full steam ahead into the coziest months of the year. Get ready, because I have the full scoop on our recent adventures, a look back at our spooky celebrations, and an exciting sneak peek at what’s coming up—including the festive Holiday Home Tour in November and all the seasonal decorating that’s about to begin! Grab a warm drink, let’s catch up on everything!

What’s New At White Lilac Farmhouse

Along with the blog’s new color theme, we’re ushering in a fresh perspective—starting with us! We recently booked a fall photo shoot with the amazing Candace Nicole Photography (a local must-book!). If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t had professional photos done in years. My wake-up call was this: We need to prioritize capturing the memories of our marriage and our own journey together, even when the kids are grown. Investing in beautiful photos of you two growing old together is a way to stop time and celebrate the longevity of your relationship. Don’t let your story fade—make sure you have stunning photos to look back on that capture this beautiful, shared season of life.

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”

— Mignon McLaughlin

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October Recap & November Preview

October started with a celebration! To honor my daughter turning the big 4-0 on November 4th (time truly flies!), I gifted her a trip to Greece. The entire experience was nothing short of utterly amazing. We spent our time soaking up the beauty of Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, all under the perfect autumn sun with temperatures hovering in the low 70s. The food was phenomenal, the people were so welcoming, and the views were out of this world.

My daughter and I spent hours sipping drinks by the ocean and just soaking it all in. It was a beautiful way to mark her milestone birthday, and if you’ve never been, you absolutely have to add Greece to your bucket list.

If you follow me on social media, you know that our big spring project was building a backyard pool! It finally wrapped up in the first week of August, giving us just enough time to enjoy a couple of weeks of icy summer swims. It literally felt like taking a polar plunge!

We actually kept it open until the very end of October—a bit later than usual—to give the plaster extra time to cure before officially closing for the season. Naturally, we had to get the final sign-off from the pros: Piper and Chibi thoroughly inspected the new pool cover to ensure it met their standards. It’s been a dream come true, and we are so excited to see what kind of memories this new backyard oasis brings us for years to come.

Our beautiful neighborhood was jumping with trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Goodness gracious, I have never seen so many little children dressed up as creepy little clowns! You know the kind that will give you nightmares. A few of my neighbors and I dress in witch costumes —nothing scary, as you can see in the photo. We gave candy to the kiddos at one of the neighbors’ houses across the street. A fun but chilly evening!

November Preview

While November is shaping up to be a busy one—complete with exciting holiday projects at work and the start of the massive Holiday Home Tour the week of November 17th (thirty bloggers, including myself will be sharing our decked-out homes—you won’t want to miss it!)

I need to pause on October. That month marked a health journey milestone that I’m still processing: I reached my goal weight and celebrated 85 pounds lost. This achievement has finally inspired me to share the whole story. I am working on a separate, dedicated post where I plan to be fully open and honest, discussing everything from my struggles and my scary health issues to the long-term strategies that finally worked. I look forward to sharing this sensitive, personal part of my life with you soon.

My Favorite Finds This Week

With my weight loss, none of my coats fit me. The chilly weather has left me cold. I found this beautiful wool coat on sale. It is available in three colors. I purchased it in the chocolate.

These skinny glass taper lanterns are available in 2 sizes. I bought two of these for my dining table. They would be gorgeous on a sofa table or on a fireplace mantel. If you get them, grab these taper timer candles too!

Do you need a great luggage set? This set of 3 pieces is expandable and available in a variety of color choices. It would make an excellent Christmas gift along with these leather luggage tags!

Here is beautiful hydrating lipstick in a rhinestone-studded case. Press the button for the lipstick to release from the case. It’s gorgeous, comes in a variety of shades, and is affordable! I cannot believe this lipstick is $20 in this stunning rhineston-studded case. I love it in velvet rose.

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And just like that, the curtain closes on a month we won’t soon forget! From the azure waters and history of Greece to the cool, crisp air of our own backyard as we officially said farewell to swimming season by closing the pool, October delivered a stunning mix of adventure and achievement. It was a month of significant milestones—both personal and practical—that reminded me how wonderful it is to make memories and maintain our home base. Let’s not forget an essential milestone of hitting my goal weight and losing 85 pounds! Stay tuned for a post on how I lost the weight!!!!

Now, as the final ghosts and goblins retreat, we swap the spooky décor for the sheer magic of the festive season. I’m already feeling the holiday buzz and can’t wait to share every detail of the Holiday Home Tour, which begins the week of November 17th, and all the fun decorating that November brings.

Thank you so much for following along with all the chaos and charm! I hope you enjoyed the October recap & November preview. Get ready for a November packed with coziness, creative inspiration, and, of course, a little bit of pre-holiday frenzy.

XOXO,