RJ Treleaven

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Happy Tuesday AND December, My Lovelies! Today I'm joining Sweet Rita from the Panoply Blog and a few other stylist to share Christmas tablescapes.

Thank-you, Rita, for hosting our tablescape blog hop parties.

Mine is very simple. It's a miracle I was able to pull anything off, y'all. I am grieving for my friend Jenna's passing. My best friend is fighting cancer, and after a stint in the hospital last week, they moved her to the same facility, the same hallway, only two doors down from where Jenna was living. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Plus our dog Finlay had to have eye surgery a few weeks ago, and he can't be left alone. It has been a struggle to schedule someone at home with him at all times since the beginning of October. Plus my mom is declining rapidly, and to top it all off: we are going through a major renovation of four rooms in our home.

This is not an excuse for why my table is so simple this year....it's an explanation. I'm just trying to keep it real. But I am pleased with the table because even though it's simple, I think it's pretty. Also, I think it's important to find your joy in the midst of sadness and upheaval.

Because I've had very little free time, I am using mostly things I've had. The tablecloth, however, is brand new. I bought it to go with the napkins I purchased last year. Each corner has evergreen trees on it:

I also like the ruffled edge on the tablecloth.

Mustang Sally photo bomb

Finlay photo bomb

The evergreen theme is continued on the Welsh dresser with the Anthropologie tea set.

The plate stacks are simple: Williams-Sonoma evergreen salad plates on MacKenzie-Childs flat dinner plates.

The napkins match the tablecloth.

I'm a little disappointed that my roses didn't open up a little more because usually this variety opens up nicely.

I also like the color of the polka dots on the tablecloth and napkins.

Resources:

Tree-shaped plate (new), dinner plates, candlesticks, and vase: MacKenzie-Childs

Table linens and green lowball tumblers: Green Row

Salad plates: Williams-Sonoma

Water glasses: Horchow

Candle bobeches and napkin rings: Leaf 'n Petal

Tea set: Anthropologie

Please use the links below and visit the other blog hop party participants.

Panoply - O Christmas Tree Tablescape

Home is Where the Boat Is - Cardinal Christmas with Plaid and Checks

Hyacinths for the Soul - Cozy, Comfy Christmas

Everyday Living - A Victorian Christmas Tablescape

Life and Linda - All Aboard the Polar Express

The Cats Whiskerz - A Christmas Tablescape in Gold, White and Mint

Belle Bleu Interiors - Christmas Traditions

Pandora's Box - A Holiday Breakfast for Two Special Boys

My Thrift Store Addiction - Secret Garden Whimsical Christmas Tablescape

Olla-Podrida - All Aboard the Christmas Express: A Nostalgic Holiday Tablescape

Red Cottage Chronicles - Ralph Lauren Inspired Tablescape

Me and My Captain - Christmas 2025 The Reason for the Season

The Little Yellow Corner Store - A Pretty Poinsettia Tablescape

Dinner at Eight - A Playful Tablesetting for Christmas

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Oh, Come All Ye Plaid Lovers

Mantel and Table - A Cozy Christmas Tablescape: Simple Ideas for a Beautiful Holiday

Thrifting Wonderland - Vintage Christmas Tablescapes with Thrifted Finds

The Bookish Dilettante - Simple Evergreen Christmas Tablescape

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Simple Evergreen Christmas Tablescape

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Oak Tree in Audubon Park

Happy Saturday, My Lovelies! It's Mardi Gras weekend, and we've recently returned from New Orleans. This Tales of the Traveling Tote post will feature our two most recent trips to New Orleans during December and last week.

Christmas tree with large bow at Mignon Faget

Mignon Faget is a jewelry designer and a favorite of our girls

We visited New Orleans the weekend after Thanksgiving for a debutante party. We had a wonderful time visiting with friends and finishing our Christmas shopping. We also ate at a few of our favorite restaurants including Vincent's on St. Charles Avenue, Commander's Palace, and District Donuts.

Mr. Bookish and I both love Tasc. This is where I buy my favorite yoga pants.

Le Petite Bleu is a coffee shop adjacent to Commander's Palace. We purchased their French Truck x Commander's Palace coffee for our SIL's stocking.

No trip to New Orleans would be complete without visiting my favorite shop, Aux Belles Choses.

Display shelves in Le Petit Bleu

The two photos, above, feature beautiful Christmas decor and treats from Aux Belles Choses.

Most of their Christmas ornaments are imported from France.

All of the stores were decorated so prettily for Christmas, both inside and outside.

This is just a sampling of the camellias and tropicals in bloom during Christmas.

We returned to New Orleans last week to visit friends and attend a Mardi Gras ball. The ball was such a special evening because one of our friends who stood up for Mr. Bookish in our wedding was King of the Krewe of Dorians, and another friend who stood up for Mr. Bookish in our wedding, his daughter was Queen of the Krewe of Dorians. How special is that!

I was also able to visit with several friends, including one of my closest friends from college and her husband. It was such a lovely night!

We usually stay near Audubon Park because we love walking around the park. I don't think I've ever featured The Tree of Life located near the stables in the park before on my blog. Here are a few photos:

"The Tree of Life"

The de Boré Oak

Planted circa 1740

Audubon Park

We spent a large portion of two days in and around the park. We also visited Aux Belles Choses again. I wanted to see what they had for Mardi Gras. I purchased a couple of things for our Mardi Gras decor, and I also purchased more soaps. (I always buy soaps from Aux Belles Choses.) The latest soap that everyone is loving is their donkey milk soap. I bought some, but I haven't tried it yet.

The soaps on the right were imported from Provence. The packaging is so pretty!

The king cake enamel boxes are so cute as are the crown ornaments.

Spring has sprung in New Orleans!

I will leave you with a couple of photos of ferns growing on oak trees in Audubon Park.

Here are the links for all the blogs participating in this quarter's link party.

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Bookish Dilettante

Be sure to enter to win this quarter's giveaway at the Pandora's Box Blog!

Be there or be square! ;p

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Tales of the Traveling Tote: New Orleans (X2) and a Giveaway!

Saturday, March 1, 2025

Happy New Year and Happy Eighth Day of Christmas, My Lovelies!

It's been a minute since I posted because December has been extremely busy, and I had five minor surgeries all requiring anesthesia. (Nothing serious, but they needed to be done.) I also hosted Christmas, and it was so nice having the family together for ten days.

This year's Christmas decor theme everywhere but the dining room was peppermint and gingerbread.

I was very surprised looking back on my five most popular posts of 2024. They are:

1. Red, White and Blue Summertime Tablescape

2. Literary Friday: A New Cozy Mystery Series

3. CSA Weeks Three and Four, Inspirations, and a Recipe

4. Bookish Bunnies

5. Valentine's Day Tablescape: Hearts and Lace

If you missed any of these posts, use the links if you're interested!

Clearly the tablescape posts are winners. But it was a shock that a bookish post was Number Two, and I was also pleased that one of my CSA posts made the Top Five.

This Friday I will post a review of my very favorite books of 2024; it has been a phenomenal reading year for me!

Next week I'll share a few of my goals and aspirations for 2025 for myself and the blog.

Stay tuned!

Until next time...

Happy New Year!
Ricki Jill

Happy New Year and a 2024 Blog Recap

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Happy December, My Lovelies! Are you having a nice Advent Season so far? We started December in New Orleans, and it was so much fun visiting friends. I feel very organized this year, and I'm planning to have more quiet time for devotion and Advent studies.

Today I'm joining fourteen other stylists for a Christmas Tabelscape Blog Hop Party hosted by Sweet Rita from the Panoply Blog.

Thank-you so much, Rita, for hosting these tablescape blog hops.

They're always so much fun!

If you're hopping in order, you just visited Patti's blog, Pandora's Box. I want to thank you for linking over to my little corner of the internet. I have been looking forward to this for weeks!

The theme for this tablescape in our dining room is "evergreen." I was inspired by my new napkins from GreenRow. I was smitten when I saw them on their site, and I ordered a set of them. GreenRow is a brand whose parent company is Williams-Sonoma.

The cheerful napkins feature different types of evergreen trees on a jaunty background of contemporary chartreuse polka dots.

The plate stacks feature modern plates from Crate and Barrel. I've had them for many years.

I decided on a living "evergreen" centerpiece planted in a vintage Annie Glass boat from San Francisco.

I chose a selection of ferns and white cyclamen. I like the frosty fern because it looks wintry.

I also purchased a set of green glasses from GreenRow.

The fun evergreen wreath napkin rings are new, and they're from Hobby Lobby.

I also decorated the Welsh Dresser with candles, a flocked tree, and felt garland.

If you're looking for a fun Christmas read, may I recommend:

Resources:

Living centerpiece plants: Leaf 'n Petal

Printed table runner and plates: Crate and Barrel

Glasses and napkins: GreenRow

Wooden chargers: Pier1

Ruffled table runner: Shabby Chic

Glass boat (centerpiece): Vintage Annie Glass

Candles: Root via The Fresh Market

Napkin rings: Hobby Lobby

White ceramic trees: Farmhouse Pottery

Pottery on Welsh Dresser: MacKenzie-Childs

Felt garland on dresser: Michael's

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
~Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)