Ranunculus. I've been smitten with this lovely blossom forever. It was always my plan to grow ranunculus for spring, but for some reason, I never got around to it. They aren't like tulips or daffodils where you bury bulbs in the fall with a promise to enjoy a swath of them from the distance each spring. Ranunculus are best enjoyed as cut flowers. Or in pots... up close and personal. That's why I flipped head over heels when a local grower brought these beautiful blooms to my neighborhood supermarket. My local store always has flowers... but really there's rarely … [Read more...]
Sigh! I just wasted two hours of a perfect day. The kind of day you wait for because it's sunny and energizing and everything you need to get a lot of work cranked out. You should have seen my goals for the day. I even gave myself permission to take care of all the after breakfast chores at lunchtime today, just so I could knock out my work. But, it didn't happen. Instead, I allowed myself to easily be distracted. Once I get focused on a project or my day, I can accomplish a huge amount of work. But if I get distracted... … [Read more...]
There you are... standing in line at the grocery store. There they are... beautiful blossoms beckoning you to take them home. You hear their whispers, "I'm so pretty, your house needs me." "You know you want me... take me home with you." But, you remember that you have no idea how to make a tulip arrangement. And you tell yourself, "Flower arranging is not for the faint of heart." Pshaw! You may never have successfully arranged flowers before in your life. But TODAY! Today you will make a stunning floral centerpiece and it will be the FIRST of many, many more to … [Read more...]
You'll never guess my accidental discovery for cleaning the tarnish off silver. It all started after a trip to a thrift store. This particular thrift store is notorious for using wide packaging tape to tape sets of things together... glass, pottery, metal, plastic... they use it on everything. Have you ever tried to get that tape gunk off from items? It can be a real challenge. On plastic... you can just about forget it. This week I picked up a set of tiny bowls, the kind you use to hold pre-measured spices and such for baking and cooking, for a dollar. I also picked … [Read more...]
Is breakfast time crazy and chaotic at your house? We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so doing something to make a breakfast that will stick to your ribs for the day is something we all need to do. My husband loves a bowl of oatmeal. It's quick to fix and can be topped with all kinds of yummy toppings. To make those few breakfast minutes more organized and special, I created an oatmeal toppings tray. It was super fun to do. Costs very little. And you can customize it to match your decor or go crazy with … [Read more...]
Do you ever look at your home and wonder if it would be better to have a tornado sweep through and start over fresh? There are times when all of us... those of us who don't have a natural decorating bone in our bodies and those of us who relish making a room into a happy sanctuary for those we love... need to be inspired. My friend Melissa Michaels from The Inspired Room just launched her latest book, Simple Decorating. It's a small book. But, don't let the size fool you. I've been reading and collecting decorating books for years and this is one that you … [Read more...]
Are you a fan of the popular HGTV show, Fixer Upper? Joanna Gaines and her talented husband, Chip deliver amazing home transformations each week that are so creative and inspiring. I have to say their show is my favorite, by far. Jo's decor style could be described as farmhouse with a little industrial vibe and has become very popular. This week some amazing bloggers linked up their fabulous Fixer Upper styled home decor projects at Project Inspire{d}. Take a few minutes to kick back, relax, and check out ALL the features... and don't forget to pin this and your favorites, too. 12 Fixer … [Read more...]
It's rare for me to pop on the blog for a random chat. But here I am! First of all, I'm a little excited about an upcoming feature series that I will be hosting with some good blogging friends. You know how I love to make something from nothing? Well, that's just a little hint about what we have in store for you very soon. Not long ago my husband was helping a builder friend with a little demolition work. It was good for him because guys can work out their frustrations when they have a good demo project. It was good for me, because as they were throwing debris down the chute to the … [Read more...]
Oh my goodness! 2016 was filled with so many highs and lows... and it seems to have all gone whooshing by in a blink. In between all that living I wrote 176 posts and today I sharing what I call readers' favorites! If it were not for you... I wouldn't be here. It's a joy for me to create and share my inspirations with you. Thank you for traveling through 2016 with me. I truly appreciate YOU!! If your favorite post isn't here... let me know. Or if one of the posts below was a personal favorite of yours... I'd love to have you tell me. Right now I'm working on setting up my editorial calendar for … [Read more...]
When I wasn't looking, the lampshade industry made a big change. You might not have noticed. I think it happened overnight. You see, in the past, I would pick up decorator lampshades at some of my favorite decorating stores to replace the Plain Jane lampshades that came with my lamps. It was so easy. Pull the lampshade off the bulb and clip on a new shade. No DIY skills needed. I loved that I could get pillows and curtains and chair pads to match, too. Yay for Waverly. And then things got tight financially and I made do... decorating with what I had in my last … [Read more...]
Are you faced with a small space in your home or apartment? These simple and do-able small space decorating tips will help you look at decorating your space in a fresh new way. Since getting married, I've been moving around the country. It's provided a great opportunity for learning to overcome space and decorating challenges which every home has. Our most recent move to a small two bedroom apartment has been the most challenging. In order to make my new small space feel spacious and inviting, I implemented a few easy small space decorating tips I've learned through my many … [Read more...]
Hello friends! Thanks for coming by! Last week we had an amazing party. Your creativity blew me away. Here's a brief glimpse of some of the awesomeness that caught my eye: Check out these extraordinary blogs for ideas on how to... Get the Fixer Upper Style Farmhouse Organization Board from One More Time events The Perfect Weathered Gray Wood Finish from Petticoat Junktion Farmhouse Front Entry from Worthing Court Blog DIY Farmhouse Style Bakery Kitchen Sign by The Crazy Craft Lady 5 Best Places to Find Handmade Farmhouse Signs from Making It In The Mountains Easy Pallet Blanket … [Read more...]
There's something so inviting about a pretty wreath gracing a front door. We all want to have beautiful, warm, welcoming homes. But getting there... can sometimes be a challenge. Do you ever watch Fixer Upper or some other home show and think, "She makes that look so easy." "Everything is so beautifully and artfully arranged." or "I wish I could do that." You know what? You can! It just takes a little practice. The first time I arranged flowers, created a wreath, or plied my hand at some creative project... usually it was just okay. The great thing was... I … [Read more...]
I've been impressed with many IKEA Rast Hacks floating around the internet. There are so many truly creative ideas. So when I was approached by Hickory Hardware I leaped at the opportunity to put my creativity to work. Shortly thereafter, an IKEA Rast dresser was sent to my home along with a $25 Visa gift card to purchase supplies for the hack. Knobs for my Rast Hack were provided by Hickory Hardware. No other compensation was received. A new baby girl in the family gave me the perfect excuse and idea for transforming this small (24 3/8 x 27 1/2") 3-drawer pine dresser into … [Read more...]
Today we got a taste of spring! Sure... the wind was blowing 40-some-miles-per-hour. However, the sun was shining and it was 50 degrees! I know it's just a teaser, but it was a wonderful one and I got outside at lunchtime to push into the wind for an energizing walk. It felt great!! And there's more sun in the forecast for tomorrow. There just might be dancing in the street. When the sun finally comes out and a warm breeze blows, you can bet my creative juices start flowing. You, too? I'm so excited by what you all brought to this week's party. Such great ideas! I bet you'll find at least one that … [Read more...]
This is a sponsored post for Parrot Uncle for which I received compensation. All opinions are my own. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the interior of your favorite farmhouse style home. Doesn't it feel warm and homey? As you picture in your mind your ideal farmhouse style home, you are likely seeing a bright open space, filled with things you love in your favorite colors. Though you are aware of the brightness and charm, you may not necessarily be seeing light fixtures. That's because when a room or home is well lit with natural light from windows and beautiful artificial lighting, … [Read more...]
Who flipped the switch? Every morning I'm up by 6 am... starting the day's race in the kitchen by making lunch and breakfast. It's early... but the only light I turn on is over the kitchen sink. It's plenty of light. Or at least it WAS! What happened? Fall doesn't officially arrive until September 27th. Unofficially... Fall arrived... with her entourage of heavy gray clouds, cool temperatures, brisk wind, dark early mornings, and early sunsets. If you've been following me on Facebook you no doubt know my thoughts. Several gals overwhelmingly responded that … [Read more...]
