November crisp air is here. The leaves are continuing to fall at a faster rate, and everyone is beginning to shift into the holiday season. This time of year excites people as they think about giving the gift of joy through community service, holiday parties and slow evenings with friends and family. We unwrap gifts, cook soulful meals and open our doors to everyone we love. To me, this is community.

When you look up the word community you will find several definitions. Community is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common, a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals, a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat. Community is about being together at its heart. I find that with all of the things going on in the world today, people are seeking community more and more. We are indeed in uncertain times, but what is certain is the love and affection that each of us crave. So how do you create community you ask?

Creating community doesn't always begin with a big gesture. It can start with a single invitation. Sometimes when I feel like really cooking something good or a favorite meal, I'd send a text to someone who I haven't seen in a while inviting them to come and pull up a chair at our dinner table for a warm meal and catch up.

For me, having a seat at the table isn't just about being present, it's about being welcomed and I want to make space for every voice and every story. Now that we’ve started ‘Sunday Suppers’, I’ve made that space- often times building the ‘table’ from scratch by seating old friends with unfamiliar faces with hopes that by the end of the night they all feel like family.

Community isn't something we stumble upon. We build it one intentional moment at a time. We create it when we listen to each other's stories, when we pass the bowl of salad and when we show up when life feels heavy.

That’s what I hope to nurture through Sunday Supper and through the work we do here at November First. It’s a reminder that connection doesn't require perfection, just presence. It is the beauty of slowing down long enough to share something real: a story, a meal, an object with soul.

When we make space for others, we discover that community isn't only around us but it is US. It just takes us offering a seat at the table.

There’s always something about the first day of a new season that makes me stop and breathe a little deeper. Fall is here.

In a time when everything feels loud, unpredictable, and a little unstable, I’ve learned that how I start my day can change everything. Morning rituals aren’t just about habits—they’re about survival, joy, and setting the tone for the life I want to lead.

Growing up, most of us didn’t think much about the things in our homes. The vase on the shelf, the couch pillows we rested our heads on—they were just... there. But as an adult and a homeowner, I’ve come to understand just how deeply the things that surround us can shape how we feel, live, and connect.

What you know as The Collective by RaeFarrell is now known as November First. This name captures the essence of what I wanted the store to be and the feeling I wanted to bring to your home. 

I recently attended the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show with my mom for a mommy and daughter date. It's always something I look forward to because it signals that Spring is on the horizon. This flower show is the nation's largest and longest running horticultural event. This year's theme is "United in Flowers" and we were definitely united. I feel like flowers do that to you especially during the wintertime when things are cold, and depression is a high. When you walk into the convention center, you can't help but stop and smile, talk to other flower friends while smelling the freshness of the tulips, trees, roses, and the hundreds of other flowers that are on display. 

As, I walked through I couldn't help but notice four trends that would certainly brighten up your home as the Spring season steps in: 

Spring is coming so why not get a start on it now and start reaping the benefits of these trends. I couldn't help but be inspired by all of the colors, fragrances, and being around people celebrating the unveiling of a new season. My mom and I had a great time taking in all of the flowers and enjoyed each other's company. Cheers.

Happy New Year!!!! 2023 is behind us and it's a new opportunity to fresh ourselves mind, body, soul and your home. As many of us begin to take down holiday decorations and tuck them away, it is a great opportunity to give your home a refresh, transitioning from festive energy to a calmer and cozier feel. You can take stock of how you have used items in the past and see if they work with your current style or new lifestyle if you are setting resolutions.

Here are some items you can add to your home to make it warm and comfortable for the winter season. You can try layering cozy fabrics and textures, adding pops of color, switching up your home's accessories and decor. You can even restyle your mantles, tables and consoles. Plants are also always a great way to bring in some fresh oxygen and softness to corners of your home. 

Undoubtedly, when thinking about updating your home you think of the expense. But it doesn't have to be expensive. The easiest way to transform your space is to change up the layout, moving the sofa under the window. You can rearrange them to face each other if you have multiple sofas. Bring in furniture or decor from other rooms. You will be quite surprised how that red vase in one room can be the thing that brightens up the space. Even the smallest tweaks can make a major difference.

Growing up, I would attend in-home demonstrations and shopping experiences with my mom. I remember being around all of these women all dressed up for an evening of food, drinks and shopping all in someone's home! There was art, and makeup and kitchenware's. A representative would come and talk to the ladies about their products and share wonderful stories about their experience owning the products or their desire to have those products in their home. There was an energy that was just contagious. So, I thought, why not bring back those private and intimate parties.