Reflections & Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is two days away and the unofficial end of fall…well in my book anyways. In just a short couple of days, Christmas will be in full swing for everyone, even though that has been the case here at Eleanor Rose Home since before Halloween! With that said, I have been reflecting back on these past few months and the season that is coming to a close. I have to say that fall was magical for me this year. I’ve been sharing our home on social media for exactly six months now, and this fall, I felt like I had finally come alive and started to find my groove. Over the summer, I was still learning social media and navigating the nuances, algorithms, and worked best for me and my following. This season after knowing a tiny bit more, I stepped out of my comfort zone sharing more stories, participating in events that pushed my creativity, working with some great companies, continuing to publish one blog post per week (well…except for one), and collaborating with amazingly talented women on Instagram (some of whom I had dreamed of working with!). It’s exciting to feel alive, to express myself creatively, and to know other people enjoy seeing what I’ve created. It’s not that I haven’t been happy all these years, but I feel like I’ve stepped up to another level of happiness, which I didn’t even know existed! I am finally figuring out who Heidi is and what makes her tick. And that’s the exciting part! I can’t wait to see what the next season has in store, and the following, and the following, and the following!

With reflection comes thankfulness. There is so much to be thankful. I am thankful that I am able to be creative and show my work and ideas to the world. But, none of that would be possible without the love and support of my husband. He is the behind the scenes man of Eleanor Rose Home! He moves the furniture, hangs the pictures, puts up with my wild ideas, and doesn’t complain (well most of the time…). Without him, none of this would be possible, and so, I am beyond thankful for him. I am thankful for everyone who has supported this new journey of mine. The comments, likes, and shares on social media (and my blog) give me the confidence to continue down this winding, unknown road; knowing that people actually like what I share. I am thankful for the new friendships I have made on Instagram. I feel I have finally found my tribe. I have made great friends that I know will be friends of mine for years to come. I have found people who think the same way I do, which I had never been able to find before. I found friends who decorate for fall in August, friends who love to gift wrap (I was shocked there were people out there that liked this too!!!), and friends who style the same area multiple times a season!

With thankfulness comes Thanksgiving and…food! I thought I would share a recipe in this post, in case you are looking for a new last minute recipe to add to your Thanksgiving menu. How about some green been casserole! Green bean casserole (recipe below) was a recipe my mom made each Thanksgiving & Christmas and I looked forward to it each year. It was a dish we didn’t have any other time of the year, so it was something my family and I would look forward to on the holidays. I’ve updated and freshened up the recipe from what my mom used to make. She made hers with canned string beans, and this recipe calls for fresh. I love making recipes I grew up with, it makes me nostalgic, brings me back to my childhood and all the fun times the holidays brought. Do you have a recipe that you look forward to during the holidays?

I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope your day is filled with lots of love, good food, and relaxation. Remember to take just a few moments our of your busy turkey day to reflect on the past few months and year, take inventory, and give thanks for all that you have and are thankful for!

I look forward to sharing more of my home with you and inspiring you to have a well loved home! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LIKEtoKNOW.it.

Xoxo ~ Heidi

Not Your Momma’s Green Bean Casserole