A Childhood Michigan Ave memory

Happy weekend,

The holiday's are my favorite time of the year to decorate, bake and host gatherings. Also I love to visit my favorite boutique shops and see them decorated for the holidays. I went up to the OC for business the other day and after I visited Roger's Garden in Newport Beach. Gorgeous displays, abundant evergreens and the timing was just perfect to squeeze lunch in at the Farm House restaurant.

On the way home listing to Christmas music I began thinking of...

A favorite childhood memory.

 One of my family's Holiday traditions I looked forward to was when we would all pile in the country squire station wagon, remember those? Ours wasRed w/ wood paneled sides. We would drive from our small town about 50 miles to downtown Chicago to see the Holidays decorations along Michigan Ave. Everyone got all dressed up, my Mom and I usually wore velvet! She would wear her beautiful fur and I thought she was so elegant. We would stroll the sidewalks listing to the carolers and eyeing all the toys in the windows amongst magical displays till our feet just about froze. Then we'd go inside the stores for a little shopping. Eventually we would make our way through the crowds until we came to a holt, we would fall into the long line and I would take out my crinkled list and practice it until it was my turn to see Santa Clause. After the intense wait to see him, we went to a special place for dinner in the city.  If we were lucky, we would come out of the restaurant to see some Christmas snow falling. 

  I'm certain those traditions of the Michigan Ave. holiday windows inspired me years back when I had my own retail store. Every year I went all out to make my store windows displays magical. Spending hours cutting evergreen branches from my yard, listening to Holiday music and making my own rustic fresh wreaths and garlands. It was fun to be creative and I enjoyed preparing the window displays for my customers and all who passed by.

I still love to decorate with fresh greens here at home.  I can find most of what I like from our property.

Our Vintage Garden Folly is my favorite place to decorate for the holidays and special gatherings. 

Someday I dream of making this a working fireplace, wouldn't it be cozy?

On my Insta Gram feed I posted a little video yesterday with this decor.

It's 

xogailsmithpeterson.

I Hope your weekend finds you right smack dab in the Holiday season, singing Christmas carols, dancing in the kitchen with cookies in the oven and making new traditions & dreaming of ones you'll always cherish.

Happy Weekend!

xo,

Gail

French Farm house reveal update

Hello Holidays

How are you? My goodness December! Let's catch up!

 So I haven't been traveling...

 unless I can count multiple trips to pick up tile, materials or scout vintage furnishings as travel!

First to catch you up, I'm documenting the progress of the French Farm House renovation with frequent photos and videos on Instagram, if you haven't popped over yet, I would love you to follow along there. 

at

xogailsmithpeterson

This 7ft exterior custom made copper shroud was set in place on Saturday, it's a little jewelry for the fireplace chimney!

The exterior transformation from a horrible 70's Mediterranean to my vision of a French Farm house I imagined is giving me chills.

Lil back story...

Before we bought the property, I came here and sat on a rock down in the yard and studied the architecture and sketched my thoughts.  Despising almost everything about the houses floor plan, construction and style. 

 My husband said to me. "Don't look at the house. Think about everything that surrounds it, that's what I love". 

 It was that day, I imagined this french farm house. In my mind I had visualized the entire project done!

 I just needed my husbands approval. He really couldn't see my vision at that time,  but i feel he knew in his heart that I could do it. We work well together.. when I get my way!!! LOL

Friends it's been a renovation journey!

If you're inspired with the exterior changes then I can't wait to reveal the new interior spaces that are finishing up now.

This renovation truly is a labor of love, also French farm house firsts for me.

 I haven't had the privilege to visit the french country side to do my R&D.

 So I'm using all french feels I dream would be so and could utterly imagine...

I've been very focused on this renovation, it's my heart and my husbands, as well as I'm the GC with my Hubby. Every design decision is critical and my husband has a strict-NO changes policy with me!

With 2018 is in view, I'm looking forward to working with new clients for design & Real Estate.

Also I'm truly excited for 2018 to continue my development on more dream projects. I've learned so much and grown in many layers these last couple years, I believe that the more we know about ourselves the more we can grow our ways to share with others. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your visits and interaction with me.

I'm grateful for you,  Inspiring me with your heartfelt stories, blogs, beautiful IG accounts and social media.  

I hope your busy working on your dreams, 

& 

utterly enjoying the moments & beauty that surrounds us all during this magical season.

I've missed you.... I hope you'll come by and follow me on IG. I will continue my blog of course!

IG is so fast for me to post from my iphone It's fun when I'm so stretched for time!

A beautiful week to you darlings,

Happy Holidays from me to you!

xo,

Gail

Decades to reminisce

An anniversary... 

Today is a special day.

It marks two significant events.

Today is a heart full.

Our Silver wedding anniversary.

Recalling each year that passes, what do we realize about ourselves?

 I've grown in many ways as a women, wife and mother.

Though I still fee as if I was 20, how can that be?

The two of us are truly one, we are much alike in many ways 

but sooo very different too.

It's exception to the rule I suppose, but perhaps the secret ingredient too!

I follow my own path that's for sure, I am delighted with what I've found along the way. 

Today is also momentous as my youngest son begins his own journey as a freshman in college.

He moves into a blank dorm room, far from his core here at home. My Husband and son had quite the road trip together, a wonderful memory the'll cherish.

After all... a boy doesn't want his mom bringing him to freshman move in day!!!

I miss him dearly already.

As parents it's bittersweet right? We can't hang on to the child, we fill them with love so they never look far and at the same time we must embrace the adult they are becoming.

So here's a look back... seems like yesterday! 

Pale Pink is my favorite color, a natural for me to design my own pink girly dress.

Looking back it fun to think I wouldn't change a thing!

Hey friends I hope you enjoy this little peak with me!

I've been so busy I haven't had time to blog here lately.

 I am sharing renovation updates on the French farm house on my Insta

xogailsmithpeterson

Come over and follow me there, I miss you!

Love to all

xo

Gail

A note to My Mom in the heavens

Happy Mother's Day 

To all the precious Mom's around the world you are LOVED by someone more than you know, 

You are MISSED by someone more than you know,

You are EVERYTHING to someone more than you know.

This was my MOM in her 20's.

She was the youngest sister of 5

Auntie to 12

Mother of 6

Nana to 3

My best friend, My biggest supporter, My everything.

Happy Mother's Day Mom, 

you're still the most beautiful women in my world.

Thank you for being an amazing, loving, caring & nurturing Nana to my boys, they so adored you.

I miss you dearly.

 I carry you in my heart. 

Forever

xo,

Gail

Today

Today is because of all the yesterdays.

How are you? 

I'm grateful. 

For many reasons, but first for the opportunity I had yesterday to be sitting in an audience at Oprah's Super Soul sessions.  Just saying extraordinary seems small!

I have been writing more to see my own words, even simple reminders and old school notes!

My posts have been spread apart, it's not an excuse just to be busy so I all I can say is I'm willing to do better for my blog friends.

I've been and still am quietly hush about the journey my life has taken recently, it's because honestly it's beyond words, I'll just say it!
I'm trying to find the best way to document this story of mine. So hang with me ok!

A dream is a promise our hearts make..

Our lemon grove has me busy harvesting for our local orders 2-3 times a week. 

I'm grateful for such a beautiful healthy grove and for the company of my bestie, Our Saint Bernard "Lincoln". We spend the early mornings here, he mostly naps as I tell him about the latest vintage finds or my design ideas!

My small town is waiting for me across the lake beyond these green trees, 

the road home has been epic and very long. 

I'll be sharing this journey with ya'll soon.

"Expect home to be everything, because it is".

I'm sharing on IG now too at

xogailsmithpeterson

A beautiful weekend to you!

xo,

Gail

Welcome Spring

*Welcome Spring*

Following a wet winter here in SoCal which we are grateful for,

 I look forward to a lush garden filled with blooms. 

It's beautiful to see all the dwarf stone fruit trees we planted last year filled with blossoms. 

 Fingers crossed the french lavender thrives this year, I think it was overwatered last year, so I replanted more in late fall.

This Lupine is beginning to bloom and get's to be about 8ft tall.

Planted by the previous owners. No scent, short blooming season & not too attractive the rest of year!

Heirloom roses are what I anticipate most in spring, I pruned them way back last month, I hope to have more blooms this year. 

This pic is from last years garden.

I Love Spring & I know she will be beautiful again this year. I have a dinner planned in the garden folly soon, I hope to have blooms from the garden for my arrangement.

A beautiful 1st Day of Spring to you Darlings.

xo,

Gail

I seem to post more on my IG feed, you know cause its new!  Come follow me over there!

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xogailsmithpeterson

My first fixer upper - Before & After

Happy Monday Darlins,

Today I'm sharing my first fixer upper.

When I first married I moved into this 1940's California ranch style home near the beach. 

My husband had bought it years before and did some remodeling of his own!!!

(Burnt orange tile-avacado green appliances, brick & a conversation pit)

So the story is looong, the short backstory is....

A young women dreams of the opportunity to be apart of choosing her first home.

Well I didn't get that, SOOOO my trade off was.

 I agreed to love it, not list it!

 BUT, In exchange, I would get to do a complete design and renovation of the house with my style and incorporate the other structures and landscape.

We began with a tiny 125 sq. ft shed in the back yard. I wanted to make into a darling guest house and live in it during the renovation. We had a budget & I wanted to be hands on living on site!

Yes, it would be the three of us because we had just had our first baby.

 Our son was 6 weeks old and we began the demo of our new family home.

The stakes were high!

{This was my first everything}

My marriage

my baby

my renovation

my design project.

{ I had no design background or experience}

So no pressure right!

BEFORE

This was the front elevation.

LOOONg no height

Needed an entry

The awful driveway in front of the windows and house needed to go

 along with the iceplant & palm trees! 

My Design vision was clear from the start and inspired by homes in New England or the lake houses in the midwest.

AFTER

The driveway was removed, a lawn with magnolias, birch trees, evergreens, boxwoods & roses were added. I love fences, my husband and I made 5 different designs for fencing!

The Roofline was raised to add height to exterior elevation and gave the interior more architectural interest to the interior ceilings.

We finally had a lovely proper entrance with a porch to watch the sunset and decorate for the holidays!

A single level home with views to the beach.

My husband laid all the solid southern pine floors and did amazing wood work and moldings in the interior. The process with plans & etc took about a year or so. We also hooked up to city sewer. The house renovation took about a year and half to complete. The years following we did the other structures.

We did most of the finish work ourselves and landscaping. I scouted for all the interior vintage lighting & designed some custom furniture pieces.

This and all our projects are truly a labor of love.

We sold the home a few years to do something totally different.

We have some land now, just a few miles from this home and are renovating another huge project into our french farm house.

I hope you enjoyed my first fixer upper!

A beautiful day week to you.

Stop by and follow on my new IG feed!

It's 

xogailsmithpeterson

xo,

Gail

Imperfect beauty

Happy Saturday Darlins,

Hope your enjoying the weekend!

 We are enjoying sunshine here in southern Ca, after the rains we so desperately needed.

Working on our renovation in the evenings and on weekends after all is normal for us!

 Living in it can be a bit much at times!

 It's all good, don't get me wrong I'm a grateful girl.

Incorporating Vintage pieces and old salvage is what I love to do from a design standpoint in all our projects. 

I have a storage container... or two filled with pieces I have been coveting for this french farm house & future projects.

Finding imperfect beauties like these makes my heart flutter and my cheeks blush!

I know I will use them, it's just where and when!

So if I can save your heart a bit...a little lesson to share with you is...

It's not the pieces that you bought and hang on to,

 it's the pieces you passed up and didn't get that you'll regret!!

The hunt is fun, but when you see it all come together that's the joy!

Hey I'm on IG - follow me there! 

my feed is

xogailsmithpeterson

A beautiful weekend to you,

xo,

Gail

Love

Sweetest Valentine's Day to you!

When it comes to celebrating Valentines Day isn't sweet how much fun it is? 

It's timeless, and for all ages.

I used to be obsessed for making my own Valentines. Over the years, I loved giving something I created with my own sentiments.

I love hanging these glitter hearts in the garden folly, I love to see them when light catches a sparkle.

A sweet "HappyValentines Day" with Love to you & yours,

xo,

Gail

I'm blushing

Hello Darlins,

I'm blushing today...

This morning I woke to see our entry foyer featured

 on COUNTRY HOME MAGAZINE's

Instagram page. 

How lovely!

Thank you Country Home Magazine for a little sparkle on our home!

How's your new year so far?

I've been super focused with my new year agenda, lot's of beautiful things coming about!

Harvest season has began here at our family Lemon grove so that brings such love for the gardens, being outdoors and sharing our bounty with local markets.

Please join me over on instagram.

at

xogailsmithpeterson

A beautiful week to you,

xo,

Gail