Valentine’s Day was always my favorite holiday classroom party back in grade school. Choosing Valentines from the shelves of boxes at the local five and dime store was always fun. Once home, signing my name to each one and tucking it into a small white envelope marked with each classmate’s name was a task I…
Our weird and unpredictable Chicago weather is up to old tricks again. Next week the temperature is supposed to climb as high as 55 degrees. This of course makes my craving for spring and greenery that much stronger. Since it’ll still be a good three months before we see any signs of green life outside, I thought I’d…
A couple days ago I shared a few winter decorating details in my family room. One of those details is a wood slice garland that I made. It was an exciting project for me because it’s the first time I’ve ever used a cordless drill to make something. Don’t laugh. It’s true. I’m not much…
Do you remember when you were a kid and used to make homemade Valentine’s Day cards to pass out at school? Such care was taken to glue little heart-shaped doilies, buttons, and ribbons in place to make beautiful cards for your friends. It was a proud moment to share these original works of art and…
I find myself craving two things when decorating my home this time of year. Natural elements and the color blue. I turn to blue after all the reds and greens typically used for Christmas. The desire for natural elements comes from not being able to enjoy them outdoors in our frozen world. So it’s no…
This past November was a special month because my beautiful grandbaby celebrated his very first birthday. My daughter Bridget chose a lumberjack party for his birthday celebration theme which was really cute. I meant to share the event with you all earlier, but then got busy with holiday planning. The party was held at a cute…
After taking down all the Christmas decorations, my house was looking cold and barren. I thought about what I could do to cozy things up and decided to create a winter mantel. Taryn at Design, Dining and Diapers was on the same wavelength. She organized a small group of bloggers to all share our winter…
Another year of decorating, entertaining, and cooking has come and gone. It’s always fun to look back on the year and see how much was accomplished. I’m joining my blogging friends to share our top ten projects, resulting in the best of 2016! I’d like to give a shout-out to Cami at Tidbits for organizing…
The holidays are over and you deserve a break after all the cooking, cleaning, decorating, and shopping. What better way to unwind and relax than with a luxurious soak in the tub? Rose bath salts make the experience even better, with their intoxicating fragrance and therapeutic benefits. You’ll find it’s easy to make your own…
Happy New Year! We’re starting 2017 off with a tour of a gorgeous traditional LEED Gold home. Not only is the interior beautiful, but this house is LEED-certified at the Gold level. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In order to be certified, a house or building needs to follow a variety…
Yesterday the photographer from American Farmhouse magazine was here to take pictures of my Christmas decorations. I have to admit, it feels a little odd having a stranger become so intimate with your home. Don’t get me wrong, he and his assistant were very nice and he even gave me some photography tips. But as the…
My favorite room in our circa 1875 farmhouse is the kitchen. I’ve never seen another kitchen that looks like it. Despite the fact that it doesn’t have a dishwasher or a garbage disposal, I appreciate its vintage charm. I’ve filled it with farmhouse kitchen decor; I can’t imagine it with an updated look. Not to mention,…
Christmas is over and it’s time to take a deep breath, relax a little, and enjoy a little “me time.” I’m sharing ideas on how to pamper yourself so you can unwind. Chance are you’ve been decorating, cooking, baking, and cleaning. You shouldn’t feel guilty for taking care of yourself; it’s actually quite healthy. Enjoy a…
Merry Christmas, friends! I hope you’re enjoying holiday time with loved ones and maybe you popped over today for a little “me-time.” I’ll keep today’s home tour brief with a colorful country house from Ohio. It wears classic country decor and I think you’ll enjoy it’s comfortable appeal. Photo by Julie Ranee Photography Most…
Christmas is a much-anticipated holiday, but it can also be a stress-induced day for a variety of reasons. Today I’m sharing 15 Christmas dinner survival tips to help ease some of the anxiety and frustration surrounding Christmas dinner. Hopefully you can use some of these tips to make your holiday meal and celebration more enjoyable!…
Have you heard the news? Greenery is Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year! I love this choice because it’s so organic and earthy. The color green comes in so many shades from kelly to sage to yellow and blue tones. Pantone Greenery is a bright yellow-green that portrays spring and summer in all their loveliness….
