Calm before the storm

Although my Botbylsmile blogposts ordinarily consist of interior design and decorating ideas and inspiration, or my most recent topic of choice, pregnancy and organizing for baby, I don’t want to let the opportunity to report on “The calm before the storm” pass me by, especially considering we may not have electricity 24 hours from now!! I’m also in the mood for a little randomness.

When people receive word that a ferocious storm is approaching, they tend to…completely freak out, and get…really crazy for lack of better descriptors. Despite my natural instinct to plan every aspect of life, I normally underestimate the power of a storm, and always react by wondering what all the hype is about…and as a result, often run low on supplies, unlike my mother who’s always ultra prepared for weather emergencies. 

Receiving the call this afternoon that school is cancelled tomorrow and Tuesday was an absolute surprise, even though other districts had begun cancelling. This was my first inkling that maybe I should quickly finish my half-size pecan-encrusted chicken salad at Applebees, and head to target for a last-minute reality check, but instead Jon and I headed right home to finish stuffing our patio furniture into our shed, and removed all our lovely fall décor from the front of our house…(bummer) while kitty sat by the window in our “four seasons” room meowing, longing to experience nature outside – crisp leaves circling quietly…It’s always quiet before a storm…all storms that life throws at us. I then had a couple intelligent thoughts – underwear. Better do laundry before storm time so I’m not recycling the same three pairs…Water supply, which is everyone’s main concern…I mean everyone!!

I have 10 dinky water bottles…a box and ½ of Capri sun fruit punch, and 5 Nestea lemon ice teas, which I’ve been obsessed with for two weeks now…(I should not be ingesting that much sugar, I do realize). As far as food goes, one peanut butter pie, tortilla chips, and Halloween candy, so I’ll need to be real creative…luckily, or unluckily, it’s my favorite kind of candy – Reece’s and kit kats…gime’ a break!! (no pun intended) Actually, I have veggies, fruit, and cereal as well. Is this enough??
Charge those cell phones and I-pads people!! I just realized I only have 14% battery - oh no!

My questions at this point are: “Will a tree crash through our house? Will Halloween be cancelled? How many times can you clean one bathroom? Does fried ice cream need to take like 5 hours to make? Is it too early to plan creative holiday gift wrapping? Does the baby in my belly have hiccups?” and… “Is this the end of the world as we know it?” If so, I don’t feel fine!!

Anyone got an ark?! This will not do!!

Stay safe and Best of Luck pulling through one of life’s many storms!!

Feathering your nest with Fall Fun and Inspiration!!

Good Afternoon Lovely World!! It's been a little while since I've composed a post, and I've been meaning to blog about this awesome Season of autumn, which brings such a great deal of beauty, whimsy, charm, and playfulness - I fall in love with fall every year!! The gorgeous colors, the captivating crisp camp-fire air, plump pumpkins, rustic hay stacks, warm apple cider, but most of all, the breathtaking fall decor!! I've been noticing more and more adorable fall and Halloween decorations around our neighborhood, which inspires me to get into the harvest spirit!!

 

Figured I'd sneak in a picture of The Botbyl Baby dressed festively in black and gray stripes, which hopefully accentuates her beauty and brings out her enthusiastic Halloween spirit!!

When it comes to fall, I usually go somewhat minimal, and try to add subtle accents here and there, without going over the top. I recently finished "accenting" the front of our house, and subtly sweeping fall through the inside. Here are a couple highlights from the Botbyl residence :

 

Look how puurrr-dy it is out there!!

 

 (This is before Jon cut our bushes down without informing me...)

I usually go for more of a Haunting Halloween theme in the dining room, but I try to keep it authentic Halloween like spells, potions, spiders, brew, bones, pumpkins, gourds, witchy brooms...and the like.

 Here are two amazing inspirational ideas I pulled from Pinterest as well!!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for stopping by this afternoon!! Please come and visit again real soon!!

"Are they coming yet??" I've been waiting all year to say "Smell my feet?!" 

(not that I really have feet...)