Posh Purpose Review: The Cottage Shop in Nags Head, NC

When we went to Nags Head last year, I came across a super cute shop called The Cottage Shop that sells home decor, Christmas decorations, entertaining essentials, and small gifts.  I bought our yearly ornament from The Cottage Shop last year and I decided to go back to look for another this past weekend.  I also got a bunch of great Christmas decorating ideas for my first Christmas tree that I was able to put together using cheaper sources such as Michael's.  The store is creatively decorated with at least six Christmas trees, but doesn't feel too crowded or overdone.  The sales ladies are all wonderfully helpful and sweet.  Here's a couple of the displays that I thought were especially creative...like this inverted white Christmas tree designed to look like underwater sea life:

I also really like the more natural look to this red and burlap woodland tree.  I love the frilly bow at the top.  The faux poinsettias are really pretty pops of color!  Using faux florals on my tree is one of the ideas I got from this store last year.

These beautiful hanging ornaments would look great in the windows, hanging from the banisters or mantels, or even from certain chandeliers.

Unfortunately, I couldn't limit myself to just one ornament this year!  All the ornaments are so pretty and well-made, that I wound up buying four, but luckily they were only $11.99-$13.99 each aaaaaand the super sweet sales lady gave me a discount.

I'm super excited to put these on my tree in a few weeks!  If you are in the Outer Banks, I highly recommend that you stop by The Cottage Shop at one of their three locations for some decorating inspiration and gift ideas. There will be another sale on Black Friday if you are lucky enough to be spending Thanksgiving at the beach!

Duck

1201 Duck Road

Kitty Hawk, NC 27949

252-261-8121

Nags Head

5000 South Croatan Highway

Nags Head, NC 27959

252-441-2522

Corolla

Timbuck II Shopping Village

790 North Ocean Trail

Unit G

Corolla, NC 27927

252-453-3525

Nags Head Photo Round Up

We got back from Nags Head last night and it was an awesome birthday trip filled with thrift store shopping, seafood eating, walking on the beach, and sitting on the porch...lots of much needed relaxation.  Here are some photos I took while we were on our trip.  Enjoy!

I hope everyone is enjoying your day off if you are fortunate enough to have one!  Briana and I want to say thank you to all the veterans who have served both past and present.  We appreciate all you have done for our country!

Outer Banks Trip

Yay for Friday!  Mr. 3 is taking me to the Outer Banks to celebrate my birthday for a long weekend.  I'm looking forward to thrifting, sitting on the beach, and enjoying fresh seafood.  We have another couple joining us, so I know Mr. 3 will have fun going for a long ride on his bike and I'll enjoy some girl time with a good friend.  Make sure you are following me on Instagram for some North Carolina fun!  I'll be back next week to share our trip and my pics.  Until then, here is my birthday cupcake from last year...underneath all the fiery flames...which happened to be trick candles.

Have a great weekend everyone!

This is the Last Halloween Post, Promise!

Enjoy the final stages of Mother's Halloween decor!

Here is the foyer decor. As you can see, she added a lot to it. I could not manage to take a picture where the lights didn't appear pink so imagine the glow to be more purple and spooky. 

Mom hosts a chili and tostada party for the family and added friends. She decorate the dining room quite a bit since some of the adults eat in there. The room very easily adopts a spooky vibe, making it even more fun.

She made eyeball cupcakes for the kids. The baby swiped the package of eyeballs a week earlier and had a hissy because we wouldn't open it for her. She had lost interest by Halloween.

This ghost is hanging in front of my parents' bedroom in the family room. This room is too big and dark for most decorations to have an impact, so Mother went big for this corner. The family baby would not look at it! Very amusing.

 Mom wrapped two vases in our old trick-or-treat bags. The wiry thing is a giant marshmallow roaster that I gave as her birthday present a few years back. This is the first time she has actually used them, and clearly it isn't for their intended purposes. She found some strange decorations on clearance at Pier One that she ripped apart and wired onto the marshmallow roaster. Don't worry, you don't typically cook marshmallows with Made in China glittery bits flailing about.

Alright, I promise no more Halloween. Mom's party was great fun and the kids loved all the decorations. They also love cleaning out Mom's candy supply when they get back from trick-or-treating. And now onto the rest of the holiday season!

The Trick or Treater Let Down

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!  I shared my fall luxe decor and inspiration board last week and Mr. 3 and I were really excited to have some trick or treaters show up last Friday night.

Based on the screaming, yelling, and occasional band practice (which usually involves off-key recorder recitals only) that happens on the playground behind our apartment, I thought we would be overrun with all manner of spooky and cute costumes...especially since Halloween was on a Friday night.  Mr. 3 was even convinced we weren't going to have enough candy and we ran out for reinforcements at 5:30.

There were a couple of grinches in our particular part of the building that had put signs on their doors that said "not at home" or "no candy here."  I didn't want the little ones to be put off, so I slapped a sign on the entryway that said "Candy Available in Apartment X...No Costume, No Candy" and also put one on the door to our apartment so we could be found.

Right at 6:15, the kids in the apartment downstairs ran up and knocked on the door.  I gave them two lollipops each...but I really should have given them an entire bag of candy a piece because they were our only visitors!

Mr. 3 was also put out and seems a bit concerned about America's future - what with their lack of get up and go hunt for free candy and I have a bowl of calories tempting me on our dining room table.  Trick or treat fail.