The holidays officially began for me this weekend. Saturday morning I attended a special HomeGoods event where I got to shop prior to regular opening. They provided breakfast snacks, free wrapping paper, gift card sweepstakes.
I was able to shop with just a handful of other people in the entire store without having to deal with the normal crowd – it was a real luxury, let me tell you!
It was so much easier to finish up some shopping for a few clients, including bedside lamps, side tables, bedding, and art.
When I finished that, I started working on MY OWN Christmas shopping. I was picking out some clothes and gift items for friends and family when I heard the announcement over the intercom that I was one of the raffle winners! This gift card covered some of Christmas shopping purchases – gotta love HomeGoods!
After I loaded up my car with my finds, I drove to a special event nearby – A Vintage Affair at Haven Farm. My friend Jenni Bowlin of JBS Mercantile puts on this event at the beginning of the Christmas season.
I met my friend, Michelle, at the event, and we were able to find some few really unique gifts.
If I wasn’t ready for Christmas season before then I certainly was after browsing Jenni’s beautiful Christmas wares!
I also met a super-sweet reader of the blog, Jamie, who recognized me and came over to say hello and introduce herself! Just look how cute she is:
After finishing up shopping, Michelle and I went and had lunch together and catch up a bit. Finally, came back home and spent the afternoon sorting out all the Christmas gifts and beginning to think about decorating for Christmas later this week.
I’m not always this eager to start getting ready for Christmas, but this year is different. 2016 has not been one of my favorite years. Â In fact, it was all kinds of difficult in many ways. Â So I think I’m ready for 2016 and be over and done with. I need to kick it in high gear for a few more weeks to finish up some ongoing projects so that I can take a little time off at the end of December, spend some much needed quality time with my family, and start fresh for the new year.
Maybe it’s appropriate that this blogpost is a significant marker in my business’s history:
 1,000th Decorologist Blog Article!!!
Is that crazy, or what? I would have never believed that I could have ever written that much content, as well as authoring a book and writing dozens of articles published elsewhere, because writing is really NOT my thing. Despite a challenging year on other fronts, I am definitely thankful for another very successful and fruitful year in business.
In celebration, I will be offering my brand new instructional video, Psychological Styling, for 20% off on Black Friday. If you want to get the code for the discount, you have to be a subscriber (you can become one by entering your email in the subscription box at the end of this post). I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this week, and keep your eyes open for the launch of my new video later this week!
Congratulations!! I have enjoyed your blog for years–it was one of the first blogs I found (maybe 2005?)
Your wonderful blog inspired me to become a home stager and your training made it come true!!
I hope 2017 is a wonderful year for you!!
Thank you so much, Maggie! It’s an honor to know I’ve been a part of your journey – blessings to you and yours in this season and in the NEW YEAR! xoxo
Amen on that verse! I probably had one of the hardest years of my life, too. Excited for what God has for us in 2017, Lord willing…but, I did learn so much about leaning on Him and surrendering all to Him through the hard stuff… 😉 Blessings, lady!
Thank you, Lisa, and blessings to you also in the new year! I’m trusting that 2017 is going to better (or least that my attitude will!) 😉
How absolutely wonderful my dear friend. You are such an inspiration to so many of us. I’m so sorry to hear you had a tough year but I’m sure 2017 will be full of all sorts of fun!
Many blessings and lots of love!
Thank you so much, Jil! So glad we are connected through our love of design and color – you are a dear encourager and an inspiration, too!
Congratulations! It’s has been fun watching as you followed your dreams. I hope 2017 is full of good things for you and your family.
Thank you, Krista! I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday full of blessings 🙂
Much love sent to you and your family for the Holiday Season and 2017 Kristie! I wish you the best always my friend! xo
Congrats on 1,000! Keep up the good work!! All the best for a great 2017.
Congratulations on this huge milestone, Kristie. You are an inspiration. And that sounds like a very fun, albeit tiring day!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Kristie, I have to believe that 2017 is FULL of great things for you, your family, and your business! You put so much good out there into the world…it’s coming back in full force over the next year. Thank you for the fun read. I love your writing style and look forward to the next 1,000 blog posts! : D
Wow! Your 1000th blog! I am relatively new to your blog, finding you when I moved to Spain from the UK. I love the way you write, you are so warm, passionate about what you do and inspiring! I laughed when you said writing is not your thing! It completely is!!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and for being such an inspiration to me and I’m sure many, many more people around the world 🙂
Congrats Kristi…that’s amazing!
Thank you, Audra!
The holidays officially began for me this weekend. Saturday morning I attended a special Home Goods event where I got to shop prior to regular opening. They provided breakfast snacks, free wrapping paper, gift card sweepstakes.