Today, I’m joining a group of other blogger friends in a Welcome Winter party, so I think this is something you’ll all enjoy, since Winter is indeed here! Â I went on a cruise last week and was so happy to have escaped some Winter weather that Atlanta was experiencing during that time and I can’t say I was sorry to miss it. Â We got a dusting of snow and some cold and frigid temperatures and I was basking in the sun in the Caribbean. Â Not a hard way to live! Â I’ll be sharing all about that soon. Â Don’t worry, I’ll be back on Thursday with Fashion over 50 this week, sharing my cruise fashion!
But, now I’m back and the doldrums of Winter will definitely be felt during the months of January and February especially. Â I really don’t mind some cold weather as long as I can stay warm and cozy, but making my home feel good this time of year is especially important. Â I love a nice warm fire in the fireplace to add an extra layer of cozy in the room when it’s cold and dreary outside. And with the glimmer of the Holidays a thing of the past, it’s nice to have some real live plants around. Â I kept my spruce trees from Costa Farms up and displayed around my home and these live plants do add some life to a room, no doubt. 
For my kitchen island, all the red and green is put away from Christmas and I simply added this live spruce tree from Costa Farms in a neat wooden fruit basket. 
The wooden box was sent to me with fruit in it during the Holidays and makes a great display for this little tree. Â It was too pretty to throw away and I love it used as a plant holder. 
For my mantel, I’m embracing my blue and white again.  I kept several pieces of blue and white over the years that I bought at Bombay years ago (so sorry they went out of business!) and bought these blue and white urns last year at Ross.  Blue and white is so classic and I’m feeling the love all over again lately. I kept this display simple and symmetrical with the spruce trees in gold urns that I’ve had forever (a yardsale score years ago), along with candle holders. 
Blue and white on my mantel feels happy to me this time of year, so I’ll leave it like this until Spring and then probably add a bit more of a Spring feel. 
The dining room is back to normal with my white soup tureens. Â Winter White is a definite pick me up and I still love my white dishes for their calm and peaceful feel against the white board and batten. 
There’s no better way to cozy up the room than real flowers in the middle of the table and it helps to have a special guy who likes to bring me flowers. Â I’m loving those Winter White roses with my white creamware. 
On the foyer table, I added in a live plant from Costa Farms in this glass vase and I painted with gold stripes and love the way it looks here. It’s an exotic plant and has done very well for me. Another Bombay urn in the middle adds that punch of blue and white that I’m loving right now. I used to think blue and white couldn’t mix with aqua, but I have changed my mind on that as I’ve seen it used so much together. Â I’m enjoying it with the aqua lamp. Â Great is Thy Faithfulness sign is from Scripted Simplicity, in case you are wondering and I love the sentiment. 
The Costa Farms plant is called an Elephant’s ear and I really love those exotic leaves. Â It’s doing well for me in this vase. 
Roses sure do brighten up a blue and white vase, don’t they? Â He’s spoiling me with the flowers and I kind of love it. These were a welcome back, glad you’re home from the cruise roses. Â Love their soft colors together. 
I knew when I saw the colors of these roses that they would look great in the blue and white Bombay vase and they do. Â Just the pick me up needed for a dreary Winter day! Hope this gave you some ideas on how you can beat the Winter blues and add some cozy to your space. Â Flowers and plants do it for me every single time! Stop by and visit my friends and see how they are cozying up their spaces this Winter season!
somebody is happy you are home! that is awesome…and so are the roses.
I love it too when my special guy brings me flowers, sometimes he just picks a single rose from the garden, other times he goes for a florist bouquet. Either way it sure makes me feel special. Aren’t we blessed?
Lovely touches, and those roses are so special. Smart is the man who understands the mileage a thoughtful bouquet of fresh flowers will get him. “Just because” bouquets are the best.
Just beautiful and fresh for winter!
Do you remember the store Alex and Ivy? They were owned by Bombay and carried similar merchandise. I got a job with them at Perimeter Mall here in Atlanta partly so I could take advantage of the employee discount, and I still have all the furniture and tchotchkes I bought there 25 years ago!
Good timing for your cruise, huh?
Cathy, I don’t remember that store at all. But, yes it was the perfect week for my cruise! Missing that gorgeous weather now.
I still mourn the passing of Bombay Company! I am passionate about my blue and white. Last year I purchased silk forsythia stems to go in blue and white urns on my mantle. I will be putting those out in February, love the cheerful yellow in the gray days of late winter. Please tell us about that lovely painting behind the elephant’s ear. ..it is quite beautiful. Your new fella is a keeper!!
Roxanne, a local artist friend painted that and gave it to me. I love it!
Glad you’re being made to feel special. You are! We are both loving the blue and white right now. I do miss Bombay too. They are trying to make a comeback. My old boss when I worked for them stays in contact. 🙂 Glad to be part of “Welcome Winter” with you. xxoo, Barb
Love your flowers. 🙂 And so lucky they came from someone special!
Can’t wait to see your cruise fashions. 🙂
Happy day friend!
karianne
I was also a huge fan of Bombay Co. I’ve kept quite a few of their items over the years. My ex-husband found some blue and white porcelain items for me on eBay several years ago. I also bought a tea and coffee service. They DO have an online storefront that came about in the last few years. I am not sure if they are going to be opening stores, though.
I think someone sure did miss you while you were gone – so sweet! Loving all of your blue and white and it really does look great with aqua. I miss Bombay too – used to love browsing their store. Did you know that they still have an online presence? Enjoyed Welcoming Winter with you!
Just reading “Bombay Company” on your blog makes me a tad sad! I loved their style and esp liked their outlet store. I am so sorry they folded. It seems the business my friends and I gave them would have kept them afloat!
Keep warm! I am glad you got away. It was miserable here in ATL. I hear we are in for an early spring. What does your dad’s almanac say?
Susan from GA
Your style is lovely, as usual. I think the classic blue and white urn mixed with the more modern aqua lamp is so fresh. I love it! And I agree with Janele, “Just Because” flowers are simply the best! The roses are so pretty. Lucky you…and lucky him, too!
Love the blue and white touches! Bombay stores are gone, but they are still alive on the internet! And still have a blue and white collection….
http://www.bombaycompany.com/furniture-store/decorative-accents-blue-white
That’s great to know! Bombay was a fun store.
We still have Bombay Company in Canada and hopefully will for awhile yet! As always, Rhoda, I love your style, particularly your dining room with its winter white dishes and burlap wreath. The roses are gorgeous too, especially in the blue and white vase!
Hi Rhoda!
I think your blog was the first one that inspired me years ago and I just have no idea what happened in my life, but I haven’t been reading for years. You had just bought the house and you were moving room by room. I think the last time I was here you had just posted your finished office space. I quickly did a tour of the home, but I can’t wait to have the time to go back and really enjoy it.
You are truly an inspiration! Glad to be back on your porch with you~ Debbie
Ahhh, Debbie, welcome back! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.