Red's Roundup: November 2021 - Red's Lil Schoolhouse

November means all things cozy, warm, and ready for the holidays!

In past years, I have waited until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas, but this year I felt the spirit a little early. Seeing Christmas lights up early has felt amazing this year, just the little boost we have needed to end 2021.

Our baby girl turned 3 this month, which is hard to believe. I still call her “baby” sometimes, and she is quick to remind me that she is a “big girl”. She is an extremely spirited little girl, and we are having a lot of fun together at home. Time is sure flying by.

I hope you enjoy my November Roundup!

HGTV Magazine – Anyone else LOVE reading magazines? I do! When I open up the mailbox and see a beautiful magazine cover, it is a happy day. HGTV magazine does a great job of including beautiful, colorful, inspiring pictures. Additionally, there are DIY ideas and TONS of paint color inspirational photos. I thoroughly enjoy flipping through the pages. Magazine subscriptions are great gifts, too! I love gifts that keep on giving the whole year. (maybe not the jelly of the month club! …name that movie)
Terracotta Hmong Batik Pillow Cover – The simple classic pattern in a beautiful terracotta color on this pillow is perfection! With a beige background, this beauty can easily be enjoyed year-round. I especially appreciated the pretty brass zipper AND the fact that it can be machine washed. Additionally, the company sent samples of many of their other fabrics along with my order. This is such a fantastic idea! I loved seeing and feeling other pillow covers, and having the samples right in my home makes it easy to mix and match.
Green Boucle Throw Pillow – Our bare gray sectional in the basement was calling out for some throw pillow friends. My family thinks pillows get in the way, but I think they can absolutely make a room. I told them they are always welcome to move them, and I will happily move them back later! Pillows are a great way to tie a room’s colors together. Additionally, they are the perfect opportunity to showcase interesting textures and shapes. I chose these boucle pillows because of the beautiful deep green color, and I have had a brown one for about a year and it has held up well. The exposed zipper detail is adorable!
Christmas Tree Throw Pillow – The loopy texture and simple green tree on this pillow drew me in immediately! I like how it can easily be incorporated with my other pillows, and while it looks festive, it does not scream “Christmas”. I like a little more of a subtle look. While it came with an insert, I did change it out to a faux-down insert for a fuller look. Being able to remove the insert and store the cover with my winter decor without taking up much space is a huge bonus! The same pillows are for sale here, but the green may be out of stock. The red is cute too!
Plaid Cocoa Cloth Napkins – While looking for napkins to use for Thanksgiving, I came across these cute plaid ones. I liked how they were neutral, but the plaid was a fun step up from a solid napkin. They looked great for Thanksgiving, but I think they could be used many other times of the year as well.
Natural Woven Napkin Rings – The woven texture of these napkin rings brings a natural, classic look to any table. I used them with the plaid cloth napkins for Thanksgiving, and I thought the combination looked cute! This was the first time I purchased a set of napkin rings, so I knew I wanted something versatile in style and color. Therefore, these rings fit the bill!
Burt’s Bees Cuticle Cream – Just like my skin and lips, my cuticles need extra attention in the winter months. I have a tin of this lemon butter cuticle cream in the car, and find myself putting it on at stoplights! Another tin is on my nightstand to use before bedtime. This smells great and keeps my cuticles from cracking!
Aquaphor Lip Repair Balm – My dermatologist recommended this lip balm several years ago, and I’ve been using it regularly ever since. Especially in the winter, I need extra protection to keep my lips (and skin) from drying out. This one works really well, and my kids use it too. It also comes in a variety with SPF if you want added protection. I use both and think they work equally well.
Alpine Balsam Trees – These trees had me sold at first look! I love the down swept branches and simplicity of these narrow trees. The base is also fairly small, which is perfect because they fit in baskets! I bought the 6-foot pre-lit and the 4-foot pre-lit trees to be a cute pair in our basement. The same trees are also available unlit if you prefer to use your own lights or leave them bare. I know we will use these trees for many years to come!
Pinecone String Lights – Christmastime means lights! I cannot get enough. While traditional Christmas lights are just fine, I am always on the lookout for fun shapes and sizes of lights. These pinecone lights are absolutely beautiful! The quality is excellent and they give off a nice warm glow. I hung them above my hutch with a magnolia garland I had from another year. The pinecone shape could easily be used all fall and winter too, which is nice to get plenty of use out of them. If you like lights, these are fun ones to check out!
Woven Grass Wastebasket with Lid – I bought this wastebasket for our master bathroom earlier this year, and to be honest I wasn’t sure if I would like it because of the lid. I loved the look, and how you can put a plastic sack inside, but was it going to be annoying to lift the lid every time I want to throw something away? After daily use, I can say that I like it a lot, and lifting the lid is not a big deal at all. Having a cute wastebasket WITH a lid is great! If you have a spot where you can easily see your wastebasket and want it to look nice, this one will not disappoint.
Cactus T-Shirt – When I saw this shirt it screamed my name! Mustard graphic tee with cute green cactus pictures? Yes, please! It is adorable. Lately, I’ve been wearing it under my favorite green flannel shirt, but I know it will look cute all on its own once it warms up. This shirt comes in several different colors, but I am definitely partial to the mustard. As a proud plant mom, I am happy to wear plant prints on my clothing!
Mid-Length Puffer Jacket in Rust – I have been in need of a new winter coat for a couple of years. My old one had multiple places where the lining was ripped, and the lining in the pockets even had holes that my keys and other items would fall into. I would have to search down the deep dark holes for my things. You get the picture, it was not good. Therefore, it was time to find a new coat. Deciding on color, length, style, and whether I wanted a bargain was not easy, and a big part of the reason I kept putting off buying a new one. I decided to go with this mid-length rust puffer coat because it was a unique neutral color, a good length to cover my longer sweaters, and a very nice price point. So far, I have been very happy with it and it is super warm too!