A Sparkly 365!

365 days....

looking back--how were yours spent?

Isn't this a beautiful postcard from 1909?

The message and the wonderful handwriting

 from an age gone by...

...but the sentiment remains the same as today:  

"...I have been very busy..." 

Yes. Indeed.

we have.

Taking it all in...Christmas Eve 2014

One of my favorite things about Christmas Eve 

is that moment when a quiet stillness seems to settle in on the household,

and in my being...

a stillness of anticipation...

When family is home and just enjoying being home.

The rush of shopping and busyness is over for a moment...

and there is time to reflect by the tree...and just take it all in...

There is a readiness for celebration...

Preparation for a season...

Love thy neighbor...and magic cookie bars

here's a story

about a long distance romance...

It stars a young couple from LA, California, who moved to the deep south of Alabama...

and whose hearts became indelibly changed by 

the hospitality of the South and the love of their neighbors.

Christmas in the kitchen-10 easy decor touches

Welcome in!

Sharing some new ideas for the busiest room in the house.

This mirror is at the base of our stairs...

dressed it with a wreath and garland....

Oh Christmas tree {s}!

Christmas tree traditions...

they make the season come alive...

traditions and trees.

 

and this year we added a new tradition...

A few of my favorite {Christmas} things...

Resistance is futile! 

You either jump on the decorating train or get out of the way....

It's officially December and time to get in the Christmas spirit!

I was inspired to start early this year with just a few of my favorite things...

Simply Grateful...tablescape

 "It is not happiness that makes us grateful, 

but gratefulness that makes us happy."

Brother David Steindl-Rast

Austrian-American Author and Benedictine Monk

Grateful for: 

Simple tablescapes

Family-near and far.

Yummy traditional foods.

 Remembering our blessings and from whence they flow.

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Vintage Jewelry Armoire

I was obsessed as a little girl...

with anything miniature.

Change is upon us...Fall

Change is upon us...

Resistance is futile...

Happy Pumpkin Day!

It's been busy around here...

But not too busy for a happy carved pumpkin, 

and a delicious pumpkin crunch tonite.

This recipe is a tradition around our place 

starting at Halloween and all the way through December.

It is so easy...and I promise it will have people raving!

Enjoy!

I also love being reminded of this statement of faith on how to carve a pumpkin:

Believing…is like being a Pumpkin {author unknown}

·         Take your pumpkin from the patch, wash off all the dirt. Christ does this to us—we can come to Him just as we are—He does the cleaning up.

·         Cut open the top of the pumpkin. Likewise, we must open our hearts to Him and reveal to Him all our hidden thoughts and inner workings.

·         Scoop out all the yucky stuff from inside.  Christ does the same to our hearts—scooping out all the greed, hate, doubt, fear…stuff we don’t like to touch…etc.

·         Carve a smile in the pumpkin. God lives in our hearts and gives us a new smiling face—outlook on life, and a desire to witness for Him through our lives.

·         Place a candle inside for the world to see.  God is the light in our life. He lights up our path and purpose. His truth is the light in a dark world. He desires for our light to shine out to the world that others may know His saving grace too.

·         Hear the knock at the door.  He waits for you to open the door to your heart and let Him in. Are you His pumpkin?

May God bless you richly during this beautiful fall season!

Stamped Burlap Pillows

Scary Fun!

Vintage Gutter Flowerbox

..."if at times you find you're in the gutter of life...

--plant some flowers and enjoy the view!"

Not just a great life-metaphor ...

it is my theme for a fun fall project.

:o)

Master Bedroom reveal-(New Floors!)

What do you do when life throws you lemons....?

Well...in our case instead of lemonade, we did a master remodel!

Initial Porcelain Coffee Mugs

Three things I love on a weekend:

A really good cup of hot coffee.....

preferably in a white mug...

A fun find: Typography make me happy...

Monograms; initials; letters....

alway classically great design choices.

Inspired Vintage Metal Flower Napkin Rings--Easy How-to

Inspiration is an interesting process...

I never know how or when it is going to hit me.

  

 But when it does...I find it is just best to go with the flow,

...and let it run its course.

Sometimes it is more about a process than the end result. 

Other times, the process and result come together beautifully...

Contemplating roses and time travel.

Have I told you that I must have super-powers? 

How do I know this?

because I blink....

and I am in the future three weeks...

Gone...

time...

just like that.

:o)

Here's to summer being busy and full...

of birthdays

and driver's ed;

of swim meets

and sleep overs;

mission trips and movie nites...

Looking forward to a finale with family at the beach...

and slowing down the time travel.

(super-powers are over-rated)

Vintage Old Glory

This vintage 1940's postcard is so regal.

And the poem on the back is priceless:

OUR FLAG

Red is for fervent courage and zeal

White is for purity, cleanness of life,

Blue is for loyalty and friendship's devotion,

Justice and truth against malice and strife.

Happy 4th of July!

sharing with:

Inspired Sunday at Sunday View 
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Dwellings-the heart of the home--Amaze me Mondays

Stone Gable--The Scoop

A stroll thru life

Coastal Charm-Thrifty Tues

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

What's It Weds-Ivy and Elephants

share your cup Thursday-Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olsen

Be Inspired Friday--Common Ground

Feathered Nest--French Country Cottage

Shabby Nest-Frugal Friday

Charm of Home-Home Sweet HomeEvery room in the house party-ajoyfulcottage.com

Thrifty Groove-Thrifty Things FridayRooted in Thyme

White living room transformation

This is a post about overcoming fear....

Fear of going for all white furniture....

With a family of 3 cats, 2 kids and 1 sports watching husband...

a couch has to do a lot of work...

But, last month, after much deliberation...I just pulled the plug...

and haven't looked back since.

Easy Burlap Ribbon Votive Project

I love all the new printed Burlap ribbon that is on the market now.

There are so many ways to use it.

Last month I showed you how I used a small piece to accent a wine tote gift bag.

Today I am using it to dress up glass candle holders.

Room Makeover-layering

This is a story about a room....

That started as a blank slate....

Nailhead Corkboard project

Memo-boards...

Can you have enough of them?

I love using them for tucking in all the photos and 

special things that happen throughout a year...

The Flea Affaire 2014

I am so excited!

I get to be a 

"shabby-chic-vintage-country-cottage-junk-lady" 

this weekend!

After going to The Flea Affaire last year, 

I decided to support the cause with a booth I am sharing with two other women.  

Check out my blog post from last year (here).

Can't wait to show you what it will look like 

and looking forward to a fun day tomorrow selling my "wares".

You know what they say...one woman's "junk" is another one's treasure! 

Have a great weekend!

Wine Tote Project with Free Download Gift Tag

Do you love to give wine as a gift?

This easy wine tote project 

will add some fun personality to your gift giving.

Mom's Day

Mom...

Beautiful.

Courageous.

Creative.

Wise.

My Cheerleader.  My biggest Fan.  

Post-card Friday--San Fran/Oakland Bay Bridge

Vintage Postcards are like works of art.

This one from the early 1900's is

of the Bay Bridge--

 Beautiful paper quality and artistic rendering...the

view today is remarkably similar...

RH Acanthus Lamp "copy-cat"

Sometimes you just know how it will look...

You see the "after" 

even before you buy the "before" version.

Restoration Hardware is my holy grail of accent items.

Their catalog is full of exquisite architectural finds turned decor.

One of my favorites is the Acanthus lamp (below.)

Vintage Postcard

Happy May Day!

Traditionally celebrated with flowers...

I thought this vintage postcard was appropo...

I just love vintage postcards and have a growing collection...

I plan on sharing some each month.

From a time gone by...

-- more than 100 years ago this one was sent --

before addresses were needed...

just a note to say "hi" and "how are you now days." 

How are you now days?

French terracotta-topiary love...

There is something so pretty about english ivy and terracotta.

"Two great things that go great together..."

{remember that jingle for peanutbutter cups?}

Even more amazing is an ivy topiary in terracotta.

Sunday Sentiments-the value of quietness

Psalm 46:10

Be still...

How often in a day or week do you allow some purposeful quiet-time?

Just sitting still--no distractions...no talking...no electronics....

In today's world, the noise never stops. . . 

banking, shopping, dining out, 

a movie, and fueling our cars can be done at any time of day.  

Add the convenience of the internet and anything can be taken care of 

without ever leaving the comfort of our kitchen table.

Activity buzzes along, assaulting our senses, 24/7.

Vintage Champagne Bucket

Favorite things.

I am a treasure hunter...

Door Knob Hanger How-to

Glass doorknobs...

{sigh}

I admit, I have a love affair with them...

 

There is something classic and elegant about them.

Maybe its the sparkle.....

Vintage Easter Greetings!

He is risen!

He is Risen

Indeed!

May all the glory of this day be yours to celebrate!

Found this beautiful 1905 postcard this weekend and had to share!

Vintage Easter Greetings!

Vintage Handmade Eggs

So often in life I have a renewed 

appreciation for things

 I never paid much attention to 

when I was younger.

In my young mind, Easter eggs were supposed to be pastel.  

That's the only way they were supposed to be celebrated.

I loved to dye Easter eggs every year.

This is what I remembered when my mom visited me last winter.

She brought with her, as she often does, 

a box of "things"

   to pass on to me if I want them.

This time the things were from my Nana, 

{who passed 5 years ago}.

   In this box was a little bag of "eggs."

 I remembered we had all decorated them together.