This time of year our bags are constantly packed and ready to go be with our family and friends who may not live down the street anymore. There's a certain excitement that comes with traveling that feels like Christmas morning. The anticipation of new sights to behold or hugging the special someone that waits for us after reaching our destination makes our hearts giddy.

If we had to define a true ‘Cottage Hill’ Thanksgiving, it would look like this shoot by Blue Eyed Yonder. Krista created this shoot as a nod to the good ol' days "where meals were made from scratch, family and friends gathered around the dinner table, and stories and traditions are kept alive." They had each guest prepare a family recipe to honor those that have come before them and the many years of celebrating over those very dishes.

I love how the abundance of this meal makes me think back to Thanksgivings where grandpa was asleep on the sofa, little ones stole cookies off of the counter, and everyone lingered, eager to hear one more story of the past. Landon Jacob Photography perfectly captured the simplicity found in the midst of full, overflowing, and abundant traditions like this Thanksgiving meal.

Perhaps my favorite current ‘trend’ is foraging, or as I’ve called it for the past 20 years - picking the yard. Some days, I just have to take a few minutes, step out of the Cottage Hill office and connect with the flowers. Nurture the roses needing love in the chilly air, clip a few branches and maybe some dahlias who have been showing off like crazy this year. Then come back inside, turn up some Ella Fitzgerald and arrange.

With the holiday season just around the corner, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle rather than focusing on what truly matters, your family. This Thanksgiving engagement inspiration, designed by Victoria Austin Designs, reminds us to share our love story and lives with those who love us unconditionally. Thanksgiving is a time once a year that families travel miles and miles to sit around a table and share a meal together.

Beautiful sunset light, a cozy adobe home, an adorable lab and two people in love make for amazingly gorgeous photos, captured by Michelle Boyd. "Stancy and Blake are inspiring people. I visited them for a few days in their precious adobe home in Phoenix recently, and they just left me feeling rejuvenated, inspired, and joyful."

It’s finally here. It’s the day you have dreamed of since you were a little girl. The day you have planned for months and months going over every little detail in your head as you countdown the days, hours, and minutes until you get to step into your white dress. The white dress you will walk down the aisle towards the man you love while holding tightly onto your father’s arm.

Twice a year one hundred acres of a small town called Liberty, NC is filled to the brim with antique pieces and treasures. I always make a special trip out because I am infatuated with the hunt. I love finding new pieces to add charm and history to my home.

This year, I brought a friend along to help her shop for pieces for her new home as well as Emily March Photography to document the adventure!

From soft florals to cacti, this bridal inspiration brings a feminine and romantic touch to the Texas desert. Terracotta pots add warm earth tones to the blush colored floral arrangements adorning the table. The rich color palette was inspired by the desert sun as it sets over the sand as well as the hardy flowers and cacti that cover the sprawling landscape.

This tabletop design was inspired by the warmth of a table surrounded full of loved ones, laughing, telling stories, and eating good food. Helping my mom set the Thanksgiving table was always something I looked forward to growing up, and now that I get to plan my own tabletop designs I love to focus on different details with each year's setting.