Mel Murphy

Im bringing dark academia/goth cottage core back to my home. The whimsical, elegant patterns and mysterious figures that once made Victorian holidays the events of the season make my heart happy. Yule logs and mistletoe meet Krampus. Let's bring holidays and all their tradition and magic back home where it belongs. From tablescapes, to old fashioned drinkware, and not so traditional decor its all here in my lists. (Cleaning is part of it)

I love fall fashion, sweaters and soft fuzzy jackets are my jam.These are some that I'm loviing right now and hope you'll love too.

I have multiple side gigs that keep me busy. I have started compiling a list of things that I use on a daily basis for convenience, my safety and my comfort. Starting with food delivery services.

I home schooled my children year round so I created this list, and it WILL grow, for home school families who are just beginning this journey or those who are a few years in. I hope you find something useful. In this list, you will find quite a bit of left handed leaning items. My oldest son is left handed and what was called high functioning autistic (30 years ago) so I ran headlong into a lot of education integration challenges in the public school system. I finally became frustrated enough that I pulled him, and his brother, out and learned right along with them how to meet their education needs, individually.

No gatekeeping here! I think these gadgets, gizmos, home decor are top notch for the type of friendly, lived in home this empty nester wants to have.

If you are a cottage core fan and you love the soft comfotable look that goes with it, then this is your stop. I plan on adding my new finds to this section every day that I can. I love love love the classic with a modern twist look. I hope you will find a treasure in here.

When you're not going anywhere for vacation make it a staycation with some convenient, fun ideas to make a long hot day a little more bearable. This list contains appliances to make yummy fun summer foods. It also has summer themed dinnerware, foods, and drinks that me and my family have always enjoyed.

As I've gotten older I've learned to alternate skin care routines every once in a while to see if there is something better or if you should go back to ol' trusty. I haven't taken care of myself in a long time so I'm sharing skincare items that I have discovered and enjoy immensely.

If you are an older GenXer, like me, then you've hit that less than not wonderful point in life called Peri/Menopause. It's too hot and cold at the same time, why is everyone breathing too loud, why are my pants suddenly too tight for no reason and I haven't slept in 2 days and it's not looking good for tonight either. I need chocloate and wine and a soda, but I don't. And what attention span? Here is my list of things I do to combat it all.

We're officially hooked on cruising.These are our favorites so far. We are a mid key budget conscious couple. We prefer Princess because of their medallion program and package offers. We're not picky. We're just happy someone else is driving, cooking, and cleaning and we wake up in a new country every day.

When you're a first time cruiser you see so many things and lists that you feel confused. These are the things we actually took and USED! And still have. We'll be keeping them packed for our next grand adventure.