All is calm, all is bright...

Wishing you a most beautiful holiday and a very happy, happy new year! 

I'd hoped to showcase my holiday decorating this season but then Connecticut happened, Lily happened and Lori happened and holiday decorating took a back seat to healing and prayer. So just a few images from around the family fort and will follow up with details later. xoxo

you look kinda plain, why don't I sharpie you with dots

2013: the year I get my fireplace mantle back

Love to you all! Enjoy the peace, enjoy the family, enjoy the sweetness of the season!

Jennifer 

xx

Best Friends Forever

Somewhere between the second and third grade, I was sitting at Grandma's gigantic IBM electric typewriter playing "office" inside the Funeral Home she and Grandpa started in 1939 when I spotted the school bus outside and two girls in matching green jackets get off.

"Hey Grandma, who are those two girls that just got off the bus across the street?"

(Grandma knew everything and everyone)

"Those are the Sedlock girls, Barry and Kathy's daughters. Nice girls. You should become friends with them and you'll have someone to play with while you are here"

And so it began one of the longest, most endearing, authentic and truly blessed friendships I've had in my young, almost 40, life.

Lori and I were thick as thieves and forever dreaming up new ways to play in our small town neighborhood. When we got bored with running around the Funeral Home, copying our hands in the copy machine, eating Grandma's "buckeyes" out of the freezer or investigating the casket room...

"oh my gosh Lori, feel how soft these are on the inside, dare me to get in?"

We'd run across the street to her Mom's dress shop, The Julia Shop, the nicest and only place in town where Grandma did all her shopping (and why I'm a huge proponent of supporting the locals) and run a muck around the dress racks, mannequins and cash register until we got bored and went upstairs to their residence to bug Roberta, Lori's older sister.

"MOM! Jennifer and Lori are running around here like a bunch of wild Indians!!! Will you tell them to leave me alone!!"

(we still tease Roberta about this)

Lori and I were like FINE and we'd hop our bikes to my other Grandma's house to see what kind of sugar we could land there or jump in my pool and when that got old, run across the street to Uncle Lee's and jump in his because Uncle Lee had unlimited supplies of Coca-Cola ("pop") and he'd let us drink as much as we wanted and eat all his peanut M and Ms. They were the best of days and why I cherish my childhood and return home every Summer in hopes my children get a tiny taste of what life was like growing up Mom, where the sidewalk never ends and running into an old classmate is like running into a long lost cousin.

Lori, second from right, looking STUNNING the night of our Senior Prom

All through elementary school, middle school, high school, college, I stood up in her wedding, she in mine, babies, you name it, we've been there for each other. When Mom passed away, she was right by my side the entire time, back at Grandma and Grandpa's Funeral Home but under an extremely different set of circumstances (but still motoring through the buckeyes).  She stood there right next to me when I took a comb from Grandma and tried to fix Mom's hair while she lay in the casket because it just didn't look like her and I thought oh no Mom will never forgive us!

She never missed a birthday and never ever forgot to call me every. single. year. on the anniversary of Mom's passing to tell me she loved me and that she was thinking of me today. Regardless of where, when or how much pain she was in. She was always there for me.

I'm so going to miss those calls.

Because last night, as I was walking out the door in ponytails and leg warmers to an 80s Birthday Party for another beautiful friend (remember my post on the "season of yes") I got the worst call of all. My dear sweet friend of thirty plus years had gone home to God, so much sooner than Doctors had predicted. It was only a few short months ago we learned that Lori's Lupus had lead to pulmonary hypertension and her lease on life was two, maybe three years. I didn't want to believe it. The eternal optimist thought certainly they've got the stage wrong. Can't be stage four, maybe two or three -damn it- and she'll beat it. Her cardiac cath was scheduled for this week and I was praying that Lori would defy all the odds and be kicking it in the backyard with the kids and I again this Summer. Who's going to go with me to eat our favorite Maurice salad and cheese soup? I texted her a picture of it every time I went when she couldn't make it..."look what I'm about to dive into! Wish you were here!!"

Lori LOVED her job as a nurse and was fantastic at it. She was the calming voice of reason any time I had a medical concern or the kids were ill and later would  laugh at me about them, like a true friend ;-) 

December 2nd was Lori's 40th birthday and NO WAY IN HELL was I going to miss it. We were planning a party, that then turned into a lunch, that then turned in to just Lori and I's family (my second family) having lunch because Lori was still in the hospital. She was later discharged that night and Thank you Jesus, spent her actual birthday at home with her family in her own bed.

Lori and I making the best of her birthday weekend in the hospital! I suggested smuggling in champagne but we settled on Starbucks. She later posted this pic thanking me for coming all the way from Atlanta. For you, 100 times over. 

I saw her every chance I could that weekend and it was as if she was not sick at all. I'd hit the new Starbucks on West Road for her creme brulee latte, roll the chair to the end of her hospital bed, prop my feet up and we laughed, were loud (shocker), cussed a little, talked about everyone on facebook, our marriages, kids, my budding design career. She was so proud of me and never hesitated to let me know. I can't tell you how excited I was to send her a copy of my first published project in Atlanta Magazine that hit newsstands this week. I was going to be all silly and sign it, like I was somebody famous but most definitely take another opportunity to let her know how much our friendship meant to me. She knew.

Lori and I's matching jean jackets from The Julia Shop. I dug it out of Dad's attic while I was home and sent her a pic. We thought we were the cat's a$$ the year we got them for Christmas and couldn't wait to show em off at school! 

I remember waking up that weekend at Dad's house feeling compelled to update my facebook status (something I rarely do anymore) with "day three of one of the best trips home ever...no place like it" and not give a rip if anyone "liked" it. You have no idea how grateful I am to have had that time with Lori. We knew what was at stake and made a point to always tell each other I love you. Its the one thing keeping me upright. Of course I wish now I'd stayed all day and all night, naturally. We made all sorts of grand plans that weekend, a cruise for just the girls, she was finally going to come to Atlanta to see my home, I was going to redesign her bedroom this Summer. She had the beach or Torch Lake anytime she wanted it. "I only want to go if we can go together" she said.

Last Tuesday night I was driving home late from a friend's birthday when an old song that Lori and I had many laughs and memories over came on the radio. I took a quick picture of the screen and sent it to her with comment. Her response...

OMG I just peed my
jammies from laughing so
hard...tomorrow is heart
cath...will let you know
results after...love you

I love you too Lori. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend to me and exemplifying what real and enduring friendship means. You were such a gift and I thank GOD for that day I just happened to be looking out the window when you got off the school bus. Give all my love to Mom and I promise to continue to be kind and kick life's ass honoring you both! My sweet angel stars in heaven.

A very sad and broken Jenny from the rock.

A beautiful holiday home tour

I'm convinced God sends people into your life right when you need them the most.

Three years ago I met a most amazing and loving women, Shannon Kaloper at a church bazaar sale. My friend Erin and I stumbled upon a booth called "stella and dot" adorned with adorable jewelry and immediately booked a trunk show. I was so enamored with the jewelry and Shannon's great big heart that I decided what the hay, I'll become a stylist! After abruptly leaving my corporate job, saying goodbye to my angel Nanny (another gift from God right when I needed it), putting down our dog and a slew of other personal and family awakenings, I was literally "lost in translation".

But then their was Shannon and her bright light. I was in awe of her steadfast love of family, God, people and profession. She made it all happen with such style and grace. I  admired and aspired to be a fraction of the woman she was, so giving of her time, talents and things. I knew design was my main passion but something said, give the jewelry gig a go. Well I'm happy I did. I've made a life-long friend in Shannon and her loving family who have graciously opened up their beautiful home this holiday season for us to tour. Grab a cup of coffee and let's take a peek!

Shannon's living room and gorgeous flocked Christmas tree. One of the things I love about Shannon's decorating - she is fearless when it comes to pattern and color. A true mix master as you will see.

A few years ago, Shannon decided to move the majority of the family's ornaments to their family room tree and chose a muted palette of gray, white and silver. Sounds oh so familiar...

Believe! In yourself, the spirit of Christmas and the new year!

An alternate view of their living room and one of her many gorgeous rugs throughout. I'm in love with every single one.

This gorgeous tobbacco leaf basket, wreath, bow combo was made by my wickedly-talented friend and regular mention here on the blog, Lisa Gabrielson. See her new blog HERE.

I love the idea of setting out all the holiday books on the hearth at Christmastime. Cookies and milk await Santa's arrival..."I could of sworn Target carried a canister that said milk but I couldn't find one so let's just pretend." Shannon is also a big fan of glass cloches, as you will see, and something I'd like to incorporate more of into my home.

A gorgeous vignette anchored by a pair of stunning oversized bird prints. The birds are hand painted on silk-wrapped canvases. Incredible.

A sweet Christmas vignette adorns her bamboo and cane-topped coffee table.

Vintage ornaments, mixed with a few new, makes another stunning glass cloche display.

Love the gorgeous flange finish on these pillows. All of Shannon's furniture is insanely comfortable by the way. Her Southern California roots and slipcovered style figures prominently throughout the home.

I've long coveted this floor lamp and silk striped shade...

Another absolute favorite thing Shannon incorporates into her holiday decor is her children's Christmas artwork displayed on a ledge leading to the terrace level of their home.

I loved it so much, I added it to the Schoenberger first annual advent calendar this year..."paint holiday picture on canvas for Santa to see on Christmas Eve." ;-)

Many gorgeous seating options and another peek at the rug.

A corner vignette. Doesn't she do an awesome job of mixing all her beautiful table lamps and shades together? The chest was purchased at Scott Antique Market, where beautiful things abound on  a monthly basis.

Moving on into the office, which happens to be my favorite room of the house (which is really hard to pick here). Every room is full of life, family and spirit.

I'm just wild about the mix of textures in this room. The pillow combination on the sofa is divine. Another gorgeous rug. The bamboo lamps and smocked top drapes, paired with I-go-with-everything matchstick blinds!

Recommended reading...Barclay Butera is the MAN (next to Ralphy of course). 

 

Leather, cheetah, crystal, bamboo...all the basic food groups represented here!

The drapery fabric is called "Baker Bird" and the panels were hand-smocked by a local woman from Stone Mountain. One last look before we move into the dining room...

The dining room is a cozy blanket of wood and white linen. Custom scalloped-edged slipcovers, with mother-of-pearl buttons along the back. Currey and Company chandelier and sconces. The drapery fabric is "Croome Damask" by Lee Jofa and rats, I should of taken a close up.

Her holiday centerpiece...this one will be perfect all Winter long.

The names and times of birth of all four of her children! LOVE.

From the dining room to the kitchen, the heart of the home, and where we held our first stella and dot new stylist training, with the fireplace ablaze. Can you say totally distracted??? There were far too many pretty things for me to gawk at. 

Where to begin or what's not to love?! Should we start with the painted brick fireplace or the herringbone brick floors? I've got the hubs hooked on "Million Dollar Decorators" with me and after last night's episode, he suggested we have some painted brick somewhere in our home...love it when he speaks my language. 

Love is a slipcover! And a closer look at those gorgeous floors. 

"Joyeux Noel" banner purchased on etsy. 

What vision Shannon had to purchase this shelf at Scott's and use it for her mantle (blow it up girl). 

Dig the white feather boa wreath acting as snow at the bottom of the birch bark tree. Note to self: purchase a few white boas to drape around the house for snow. 

A closer look...

Another view of her wonderful kitchen and trio of lanterns over the island. 

A big fan of Cody Foster's candy-colored homes, she made a sweet display of them on the shelf above her kitchen sink. 

Saying goodbye to one of her sweet four-legged family members. Meet Sunshine. Lovvve the name...but I'm not partial. Wink. Wink. 

I hope you enjoyed this holiday home tour of one special home and one special family. When I came by to photograph, I was so close to being finished with my holiday decorating and thought once I see Shannon's house, I know I will be inspired to complete it. I hope you are too!

Her home is always a treat to visit and I leave here with not just great new design ideas, but great family ideas to incorporate into my home making it more symbolic of us because that's what home is all about - familia! 

Happy holidays to you, my blog familia! 

xoxoxo

Jenny from the rock