One year for Halloween, I decided to bring a little classic TV charm — and a dash of gothic glam — to my living room with a spooky, small-scale celebration. I’ve always loved Halloween, but instead of going full haunted-house this year, I kept it cozy with a small gathering of ghouls, goblins, and a few brave humans.
Costumes were encouraged (of course), and I knew exactly who I wanted to channel: the darkly delightful Lily Munster.
Let’s be honest: the way you decorate your Christmas tree says a lot about you. It’s like a glittery, pine-scented personality test — without the pressure of multiple choice. Some people go for elegant, color-coordinated themes with perfectly spaced ribbons and matching metallic balls. Others throw on everything they’ve ever owned since childhood, creating a nostalgic mosaic of memories.
As for me? I fall somewhere in between — equal parts sentimentalist, craft junkie, and intergalactic oddball.
It’s that time of year again — the season when we’re all gently nudged (or not-so-gently shoved by department store displays in mid-October) into believing in magic. The magic of snowflakes and cinnamon, twinkle lights and nostalgia. The magic of believing we can transform our homes into cozy holiday wonderland — armed with nothing but a roll of ribbon, a staple gun, and a cup of cocoa.
And I say, let’s lean in.
Okay, I’ll admit it: when it comes to holiday lawn decorations, I tend to go a little overboard. I’m not quite on Chevy Chase’s level in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” — no full-on electrical grid shutdowns here — but I do love to bring a little seasonal magic to my yard.
Whether it’s pumpkins, scarecrows, or monsters popping out of the bushes, there’s just something satisfying about making your lawn look like it stepped out of a Pinterest board… with a twist.
As any good seasonal decorator knows, once Halloween bows out, fall takes center stage — and it happens fast. One day it’s skeletons and spiderwebs, and the next, everyone’s already sipping cider and talking about Thanksgiving turkeys.
You see, when I moved back home to tackle a master’s degree in journalism, I had to put nearly everything I owned — enough to fill a three-bedroom house — into not one, but two storage units. And there my belongings sat: boxed, stacked, and tucked away like buried treasure. Alongside my couches and cookware were my beloved Halloween decorations, collected and curated over many years.
The recent passing of Mississippi treasure Lee McCarty stirred up memories of one unforgettable day I spent in Merigold several years ago — a day that felt like stepping into a living piece of art history.
Five years ago, I found myself on a Delta road trip that led me to the doorstep of McCartys Pottery, the legendary studio Lee and his late wife, Pup, built from the ground up in the tiny town of Merigold. If you’ve never been, let me offer this heartfelt advice: add it to your bucket list. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
There’s something about crafting that quiets the noise of everyday life. For me, it’s more than a hobby — it’s a form of therapy. Whenever I’m creating something with my hands, especially something for my home, I feel a deep sense of peace and purpose.
One of my favorite simple DIY projects is a spring wreath I made a while back for my front door. It’s a cheerful, earthy piece that brings a pop of seasonal beauty to my porch — and the best part? It started with a $1 thrift store find.
I love the thrill of a good antique or thrift store treasure hunt. You never know what quirky, charming, or unexpected items you might stumble across — and on one of my recent excursions, I discovered a curious little ceramic bird that looked like it flew straight out of someone’s 1970s den.
With its bold orange glaze and retro vibes, it definitely had personality, but it didn’t quite match my decor. Still, something about its shape and whimsical charm caught my eye. I couldn’t resist. For just a few dollars, I decided to take it home and give it a second life.
For more than 20 years, I’ve had what could best be described as a “tree bed” — a headboard and footboard crafted entirely from real tree branches.
I bought the bed in Ripley, Mississippi, and though it’s a little rustic and wild, it’s held up beautifully over the years. If you use your imagination, it kind of feels like you are sleeping in a treehouse every night.
One of my favorite things to do is browse through thrift shops and weekend yard sales in search of overlooked treasures — items that might not catch everyone’s eye but have the potential to become something beautiful with a little creativity and effort. There’s something deeply satisfying about giving old things a second chance at life, especially when you can personalize them to fit your space and style.
That’s exactly what happened with this latest find: a pair of framed floral prints. At first glance, they weren’t anything special — classic flowers with a soft purple background that just didn’t match my current décor. But I saw their potential. I knew with a small investment of time and paint, I could turn them into something that would perfectly complement my bedroom.
As I was browsing the aisles, something caught my eye — a hand-stitched piece of art in the shape of Mississippi. Since I collect all things Mississippi-shaped, I knew I had to rescue it from thrift store obscurity. Even better? It was only $1.
As I was browsing the aisles, something caught my eye — a hand-stitched piece of art in the shape of Mississippi. Since I collect all things Mississippi-shaped, I knew I had to rescue it from thrift store obscurity. Even better? It was only $1.
I’ve always had a soft spot for quirky vintage treasures — especially if they sparkle. And one of my absolute favorite retro obsessions? The whimsical, jewel-studded box purses of the late, great Texas designer Enid Collins.
If you’ve never fallen down the Enid Collins rabbit hole, be warned: it’s a delightful trip. Her iconic 1960s wooden handbags — playful, hand-painted, and bedazzled with rhinestones — are tiny, portable works of art. Each design has this charming, cheerful energy that just makes you smile.
The “Mad Men” madness has officially made its way to Mississippi. Jackson residents Michael Busbin and Brian Kendrick are such big fans of AMC’s hit drama that they bought a retro home in northeast Jackson inspired by Don Draper’s mid-century cool.
“It already had grass cloth wallpaper and a living room rock garden — total ‘60s vibes,” Busbin said. “We’ve updated it a little, but kept the vintage charm. We love pieces like Eames and Panton chairs — anything that feels ‘Mad Men.’ It’s how we like to live — cool, relaxed, and a little nostalgic.”
It’s not easy being green — but it’s very easy being a Kermit the Frog fan, especially this week as the new “Muppets” movie hits theaters. With that in mind, I thought it was the perfect time to celebrate the world’s most lovable amphibian by showing off a few of my favorite Kermit finds — and sharing why this little green guy holds such a special place in my heart.
Like many of you, I grew up in the golden age of “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street” — the 1970s and ’80s, when television was a little quirkier, a little fuzzier, and a whole lot more musical. Kermit wasn’t just a puppet. He was a philosopher. A dreamer. The gentle soul trying to hold everything together while Gonzo launched himself from cannons and Miss Piggy karate-chopped her way through love and drama.
Rick Griffin, a Jackson landscape architect, grew up seeing bottle trees on trips between Ocean Springs and Vicksburg. Fascinated by their charm, he built a 10-foot bottle tree in his own yard, calling it a symbol of fun and individuality. “It’s about being a nonconformist,” he says.
Once dismissed as kitschy folk art, bottle trees are now booming in popularity across the South, especially in neighborhoods like Fondren, where urban horticulture expert Felder Rushing has documented a sharp rise in their numbers. Rushing believes this trend reflects a cultural shift toward more relaxed, expressive outdoor spaces. “For a long time, lawns had to be perfect. Now, people feel freer to add personality and history to their yards,” he explains.
Did you know you can actually plant a greeting card and grow flowers from it? That’s right — your next heartfelt note could double as a wildflower garden, thanks to the clever, eco-conscious creations from Round Robin Press. These beautiful cards aren’t just for show; they’re embedded with real wildflower seeds that can bloom once planted in soil.
Created by artist Shannon Lowry, the cards are printed on recycled paper and feature calming, nature-inspired illustrations — primarily of birds. For Lowry, birds symbolize peace, joy, and the quiet strength of nature.
Remember the 1980s trend where every other house had wallpaper borders running along the tops of walls? Whether it was apples, country ducks, hunting dogs, or (yes) drunk roller-skating clowns, you couldn’t walk into a home without seeing some kind of whimsical or cheesy print staring back at you.
What you may not know is that wallpaper — and especially those quirky borders — quietly disappeared in the 1990s when sleek, modern decorators declared war on anything that wasn’t a smooth, painted wall. For years, “updated” meant stripping down to neutral colors and bare surfaces. But as with many things in design, what goes out of style always finds a way to come back.
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