Feb
2018

Planning a Valentine’s Day Breakfast

categories: Celebrate

I love to do something out of the ordinary every once in awhile!

So I decided to plan a simple Valentine’s Day breakfast surprise for my husband.

Staying home is what we do these days, it is difficult for him to get out with his physical issues, home feels safe to him.

These surprises don’t necessarily have to be fancy or expensive, even the smallest change in our ordinary routine can be delightful.

My husband gets up much later than I do, so I thought breakfast would be the best time for our little celebration, giving me time to set the simple table.

Menu will be his usual breakfast favorites, muffins, yogurt, fruit, juice, and coffee.

Gathered up all the red and pink items I have on hand, those things I thought I could use on my table, dishes, napkins, serving pieces, and such.

I will definitely be using these cute mugs I found at Target. 

Thought about framing some old photos of us for the table. I’ve tried a few small frames I have on hand.

Scattered paper hearts, here and there, on the table, might be a whimsy, colorful touch!

As we get older love changes.

It is different, a simple love, where a hug means so much more than a passionate kiss, a smile, just because, brightens us, a different kind of closeness develops.

I will let you all see how my breakfast surprise turns out!

Have you made plans for your sweeties on Valentine’s Day, a day to show love to those folks, you just love so much!

Plan to be silly and giggle a bit, it feels so good!

XO

Oh, Happy Birthday to my dear brother-in-law!

 

 


Feb
2018

“Love” Filled Sunday Project

categories: Celebrate, Crafts

Sunday afternoon I went back years, experiencing one of the joys I remembered as a little girl.

Enjoyed those little girl feelings, felt from so long ago!

I loved paperdolls, always taking pride in cutting them out, as best I could.  Carefully turning my scissors, trying to be perfect with every cut.

With Valentine’s Day upon us, I worked on a sweet “love” filled project, making a wreath from vintage valentines.

Some years back, I saw this idea at Williams-Sonoma, loved it, but too pricey for my budget.

Never forgot how cute it was, so I searched Pinterest, found some adorable old valentines, printed them out, and started to make my own wreath.

Used a styrofoam ring as my base, a cutout cardboard base would work too!

I glued some red paper heart doilies all around the base, placing them here and there.

What fun I had selecting from my valentine collection, deciding which ones to place around the heart filled base.

I used glue dots to attach the valentines to the doilies. These dots have glue on both sides, and also helped raise the valentines up a bit.

Added red ribbon to hang, that was all needed to complete.

Some craft folks use glitter and other embellishments, but I love simple, just the old valentines.

“Love” it!

Oh my gosh, it is so cute!

Loved looking at all the old sweet valentines!

A simple fun project with such a memory.  You all know I love memories!

After Valentine’s Day has passed, I will carefully pack up my wreath for next year, just as I packed up my precious paperdolls, in a shoebox, as a child.

Love, XO

 

 


Feb
2018

The Old Desk Drawer

categories: Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

Don’t mean to bore you all with something I have mentioned many times before, but I love school things, especially vintage ones.

Did not necessarily like school, but loved all the things that go with school, paper, crayons, pencils, and such.

I always wanted to be an elementary art school teacher.  I know, I have mentioned that before too!

God must have had other plans for my life, since it did not happen.  Maybe I just didn’t try to make it happen!  We all need to help ourselves with dreams, I think I gave up on mine!

I knew the first time I saw this old desk drawer, on the floor at the flea market, that it would come to life again, as a chalkboard!

It did!

The wood is quite nice, I loved the warm color.  It reminded me of the large wood framed chalkboards in classrooms when growing up, I can close my eyes and see them!

When I think of my early school days, I can almost smell the cute jar of paste with the little brush attached.  Remember?

I just cleaned the old drawer a bit, and painted the inside with chalkboard paint, that was it!

It has found a place in my creative work area, it is really a special piece, I love it!!

Thanks for letting me share this project with you.

I wonder what happened to the rest of the desk?

Love to all, don’t give up on your dreams!

 


Jan
2018

DIY Buffalo Check Tray

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Home Projects

Oh my gosh, I am so finished with winter.

We have gone through snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, lasting for weeks.

Brrrr…………!

This weather has been horrible, a birthday spoiler, a cabin fever maker, a junk food eating enabler!

I did manage to pull myself away from our warm fire to work on a few projects, and also to have a bit of much needed alone time.  Love my husband bunches, but being together all day, everyday, for weeks, is difficult at times!

It only took one simple completed project, to get me feeling so much better.

You all know I love trays, and another favorite of mine is buffalo check things, especially black and white.

Using, of course, a thrift store frame, a small piece of leftover wrapping paper, and some Hobby Lobby handles, all that I needed to create and complete.

The first step was taking the frame apart and giving it a thorough cleaning, inside and out.  It was in new condition, so I did not need to paint the frame.

I did sand the edges, all around, so it did not seem so perfect, and added a bit of stain to my sanding.

The buffalo check paper was cut to the size of the inside mat, and a bit of glue added to secure.

Added the galvanized handles with some shallow screws from the inside, reassembled, and my project was complete!

Love the way it turned out, it really is as “farmhouse chic” as any tray I have seen in stores and online.

I really love the farmhouse look, so popular now, wish I lived in a small farmhouse home somewhere wonderful!

Trays can be used in so many ways, love it on my wicker chest at the foot of our bed.

Less than $5 to complete.

One step, one project, I feel better now, ready to move on to other fun creative things!

It is really true, that just taking that first step, can be the beginning of changing any part of our lives needing a push of encouragement.

Now maybe I can use my own words to encourage myself to get on that much needed treadmill!

The sun just came out, around 49 degrees today, “Oh Happy Day”!

Love you all!

 

 


Jan
2018

It’s my birthday!

categories: Random Thoughts

Today is my birthday!

I so appreciate the fact that God has given me another day, and a new start for another year.

No big birthday celebration planned, as usual on my birthday, the weather is horrible, so bitterly cold with dangerous wind chill temperatures.  The roads are snow covered and icy.

Not a great day to go out and celebrate.

Sooo….I guess I will just keep my snowman pajamas on, maybe all day, and enjoy the day as best I can.

When we grow old I guess the magic of a birthday is gone, I hate that!

Really wish I had a birthday cake!

Needed my birth certificate last week for ID purposes, after my purse was stolen from my car at the gas station!  It was a really awful experience!

I sat down this morning with my coffee, by our warm fire, and looked at the certificate.

Didn’t know, or remember, that my momma was only 21 years old when I was born, my father was 31.

I was a 7-1/2 month baby, 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and I was born at 11:26 PM.

Wondering if it was cold, and snowy that day!

Did they wish for a boy, but God gave another girl, so hope they were happy with me!

My father’s occupation was listed as a machine operator, never knew that!

Not many photos of me as a baby, I suppose I was a bit small, don’t know.

Wishing today that I had asked my sweet mom so much before she went to heaven.

Hope you all have a great day on my birthday!

My day has started with such love, already hearing from my sweet brother and sister.

Love them so very much.

If you are fortunate enough to still have your mother, talk to her so you will know the sweet things of your life.

Just so much love to all today, so glad I am still around to tell you all “I love you”.

XO

 

 

 

 


Jan
2018

A Million Tiny Little Things…..

categories: Celebrate, Christmas, My Simple Home

There is a scene in one of my favorite movies, Sleepless in Seattle, when Tom Hanks talks about his wife in such a beautiful way, “it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they were supposed to be together…”.

When cleaning up a bit yesterday, room to room, picking up and dusting, I realized that Christmas in my home is a bunch of tiny small touches that when you put them all together, you feel the magic of the season.

Before this week is over, I wanted to share many of the tiny things I treasure each Christmas.  Many I have cared for with love over the years to use again and again.

My cherished white nativity set, purchased with Christmas money from my son.

My tree, with all the special ornaments I have collected over the years.

It is sprinkled with snow, pine cones and berries.

My beautiful paper mache angel, handmade, always sitting at the very top, love her so!

This wall hanging was my new addition this year.  I love that it is the first thing you see as you look into my home from the front door, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.

A snowflake pillow, a wreath on the mirror, lots of sparkle, with gold and silver ribbons.

Garland on my dining hutch, and entry clock, decorated with beautiful ribbons, lights, and snow covered pine cones.

A bit of red in my kitchen, small dishes, tin canisters, and a small tree.

A Hallmark Santa, so old, nestled under a tree on my kitchen counter.  Love him!

This salt dough nativity set I have carefully packed up each year, purchased at a church craft fair, 42 years ago. The faces are amazing.  Big smiles, rosy cheeks, just so sweet.

A Santa tray, purchased on a Thanksgiving visit, with my precious mother, to see my brother in New York City, so many years ago.

When I bring it out each year, I remember our trip together and how I struggled with spending $35 on this hand painted, paper mache tray.  So glad I did, the memory it brings to mind each year is priceless.

The best saved for last, this Baby Jesus made of paper over 40 years ago by my son.

I love the smile Jimmy placed on his face.

Oh my, precious, cherished, now a family tradition each year, finding the perfect place on our tree to place our Baby Jesus.

Thank you all for allowing me to share all these treasures.

I truly hope every one of you have collected special Christmas treasures, those items that when the season arrives you find such overwhelming joy in displaying in your home as I do.

Sad a bit that the holidays are over and my treasures must once again be packed up with loving care.

Love to all of you, also precious treasures to me.

Blessings and love.

 


Jan
2018

My Wonderful Incomplete Christmas

categories: Celebrate, Christmas, My Simple Home

Made lists, and more lists, planned for weeks, shopped early, wrapped early, but with all of this, my Christmas planning was incomplete.

Most of my decorating in my living and dining area, and my tree was completed, but all my extra little Christmas touches, those I wanted to do here and there, never happened.

Cookies, I so wanted to make, didn’t happen.  Bakery Christmas cookies had to do.

Making ornaments, and creative gift tags, was limited.

So much undone.

In the end, the fact that my family made it to my home on Christmas Eve, despite slippery dangerous snow covered roads, was all that was important.  We all just wanted to be together, and with God’s help and protection we were.

Cookies can still be made, ornaments made and saved for next year.

My husband gets upset with me because I fuss so much when folks are coming to our home.  He always tells me, “it’s just family”.

I have different thoughts on all this fussing, I fuss because I want all to be special for them!

A gift to them.

Thanking them for coming and sharing this special time of the year with me and my family in our home.

I pray you all had a Merry Christmas with family and those you so love.

I also pray and ask God that we all will have a blessed and wonderful new year ahead.

Be safe, be happy, and always love each other.

Fussing for those you love is OK!

Until next time!

 

 


Nov
2017

Kitchen Table Thanksgiving

categories: Random Thoughts

Simple, quiet, thankful.

No special, fancy Thanksgiving Day planned today, just my family, me, my husband, and our beautiful gift from God, our son.  A wonderful, kind, caring, loving human being, created by God, and given to us.

So thankful for him.

So thankful for the, “I love you Mom”, he quietly speaks to me every single day.

So thankful for my home, warm, clean, lovely in so many ways, perfectly imperfect, as I love to say.

Thoughts come to me often of those folks, those families, without a place to call home, living wherever they can for the night.  Heartbreaking stories.

So thankful for having a brother and sister, we are close, now more than ever.  That the ups and downs of life over the years have taught us that we will always have each other.  Always.

So thankful for the fact that I now realize God has always been in my life, with me, loving me, getting me through horrible times, to this place I am right now.  He was with me when I did not know Him.

So thankful that I have folks to love, how terribly sad it would be not to have someone to love in your life.  I will reach out to those today, to let them know I love them, that they are thankful gifts in my life.

So thankful for this day, serving our turkey and dressing, at our kitchen table, together, praying, giving thanks with grateful hearts.

I try to always start each day when waking, thanking God for another day, not just on Thanksgiving Day.

Hope all of you take a few moments to be thankful.

Overwhelming love to all of you today!


Nov
2017

Thrift Store Treasures

categories: Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

My last visit to the thrift store was so fun.

Take a look at my wonderful finds.

Loved this beautiful, white ironstone covered dish the moment I saw it!

It was tucked away behind a pile of bowls, as if someone was hiding it, or as if it was waiting for that special person to find it, and love it!  Me!

The price $2.00.

I can hardly wait to use it on my Thanksgiving table, filled with mashed potatoes.

Also found these really cute popcorn bowls.

There were four on the shelf, but one was cracked.  Three works great for my family’s popcorn night.

The bowls had a Crate and Barrel print on the bottom, they were 50 cents each.

They are really nice!

You can see that white is my preference for dishes and such, I just love the simplicity.

This set of four small bowls are the perfect size for my husband’s most asked for treat, ice cream.

The bigger the bowl, the more ice cream it takes to fill, less is better at this time in our lives.

Jim’s favorite ice cream, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.  Yummy!

Perfect condition, 50 cents each.

The last item I want to share, surprisingly, is not white.

When I saw this candy cane striped container, I knew it would be perfect as an inexpensive gift for a neighbor or co-worker, filled with Christmas cookies in a cellophane bag, tied with a red ribbon. The container was 25 cents.

I am always on the lookout for Christmas plates or containers for holiday cookie or candy giving.

After the goodies are gone, there is a Christmas keepsake, or maybe the gifted person can reuse, fill up, and give to someone else the next year.

All my items for the day’s visit, $6.00.

Years ago I would never think of going to a thrift store.  I suppose I thought things were all dirty and junky.

Not so!

Everything I buy can be cleaned and scrubbed, usually in nearly perfect condition.

Hope you all enjoyed viewing my finds as much as I loved bringing them home.

Over the years, especially as we grow older, many of our serving items are chipped from use, the thrift store can be the place to replace needed items for a very low price.

Silly, and I know a bit crazy, but I often wonder why folks give away their things.

Unwanted things, that now have a new home.

I know you all are busy getting ready for Thanksgiving, so thanks for visiting my post today.

See ya all next time!

 

 

 


Nov
2017

Bathroom Refresh

categories: Home Projects

If you can’t afford any large home improvements, like a new kitchen, which is my dream, then try small, inexpensive updates as a good way to bring a fresh look to your home.

Today I want to share my bathroom refresh project.

It has a clean and whimsy touch that I love!

Nothing terribly expensive, just paint and some new accessories.

My color palette was shades of gray, black, white, and some wood.

The star of this refresh is this kitty print, it’s my whimsy!

We love kitties in our house!

Purchased the print at Hobby Lobby, 50% off, of course.

I always forget to take my “before” photos, sorry!

This update is such an improvement over my old yucky blue bathroom.

Painted the walls a shade of gray that I had used in my kitchen, and added a new shower curtain from Target.

Painted my old wood vanity a darker shade of gray, and added new hardware.

New towels, towel ring, and also painted the small wall cabinet.

Would love to have a new mirror, but this one is perfectly fine for now.  Maybe after Christmas.

I have already posted about my light fixture makeover, and my DIY “Splish Splash” print.

Still love both so much!

Found these really different wall hooks, great for towels, outside the shower area, at Hobby Lobby, again, 50% off.

I would think that anyone coming into my bathroom would find something to smile about!

It is now just a fun bathroom!

My home is perfectly imperfect, that’s just fine with me.

Hope you smiled a bit looking at this post!

Have a really fun weekend.

Love to all.