Gardening season is upon us and I’m pretty happy about the way my yard is shaping up. Except for the newly planted dahlias in the whisky barrels. Something has been eating them, and it’s not bugs. They’re being chewed them from the top down. We live near a forest preserve and I thought maybe a…
Hello friends! These past few weeks I’ve been focusing most of my attention on gardening and getting the pond in tip-top shape for summer. I’ve decided to do a little less gardening this year in order to keep life simpler during my favorite season. I want to slow down and enjoy more nature walks and…
Today I’m still battling jetlag and the time difference from my trip to Japan. I was truly impressed by the culture and beauty of this country on the other side of the globe. While I loved visiting temples and historic streets, part of my heart still longed for the comforts of home. I’m editing my…
Ready for some weekly inspiration? I found a few great treats and treasures that include a tour of an English cabin that you can rent (seen in the photo below). And ironically, there’s a recipe for thick and fluffy pancakes at the end of the post, which are all the rage in Japan where I’m…
Are you feeling a bit of lightness in your step now that spring has arrived and the days are longer? There’s a lot going on in our world right now and it’s easy to become discouraged and/or anxious. Now’s the time to focus on the simple pleasures of life like a pretty sunrise or the…
Inspiration and beauty is everywhere you look, and my goal is to provide a bit of that for you here on the blog. For me, my mood is enhanced when I’m surrounded by pretty things, whether it’s a blooming cherry tree, a gentle river, a living room with favorite artwork, or a kitchen stocked with…
Get ready for some great ideas and plenty of eye candy! From porches to patios to a renovated farmhouse and more, there’s plenty to love on today’s edition of Friday Finds. Photo by Case Architects & Remodelers First, let’s visit a truly stunning 1850s farmhouse located in Maryland. You’ll get to see before and after…
Today I’m heading to Chicago for a day of fun because it’s my birthday!! We’re taking in an augmented reality show followed by dinner at Shaw’s Crab House. It’s supposed to be sunny and 60 degrees by afternoon so it’ll be nice to walk around the city and along the river. I always enjoy visiting…
Yesterday I spent some time outside racking leaves around the pond, gathering sticks out of the yard, and choosing a new spring wreath for my front door. I was so excited to see the first tips of my daffodils poking through the ground on the sunny southern side of the house. So I walked around…
Hello friends! It’s time for another installment of Friday Finds and sharing interesting and inspiring things I’ve stumbled across this week. One thing I’m enjoying this week is the increased number of spring flowers that are available at the grocery store. I picked up a hyacinth this week because I love their fragrance. I always…
Do you live in an area of the country that’s still experiencing severe winter weather? We haven’t been blanketed with too much snow, but our temperatures are ridiculously frigid. So I’m staying inside as much as possible and going out only for work, grocery shopping, or exercise class. Meanwhile inside I’m sprucing up and recently…
This weekend, one thing I won’t be doing is wallpapering because my living room is finished! I’ll try to take some photos in the next day or two so I can share them with you next week. Since we’re heading into a bitter cold weekend, there’ll be plenty of time for photos since I don’t…
This weekend I hope to start wallpapering the living room! Last weekend I painted the upstairs hall and stairway, so little by little, my interior projects are coming along. Once the wallpaper is hung, I’m tackling the upstairs bathroom (I’ve been saying this for several months now). The challenge is sticking to a budget –…
Welcome to the first Style Showcase of 2026! I’m so excited to announce that we have someone new joining us every Tuesday – Annie from Zevy Joy. You’re likely already family with her blog. Annie has a lot of talent and a great eye for design. It’s an honor to have her at our first…
I’m happy to say that I kept all my New Year’s resolutions for 2025, which was to focus on my health. I lost 15 pounds, had a mammogram, braved having four wisdom teeth pulled, straightened my teeth with Invisalign, received cataract surgery on both eyes, and pampered myself with a few Hydra facials. Can I…
Happy post Christmas Day! As you climb out of bed after a week of festivities, grab your favorite mug, fill it with a warm beverage of choice, and enjoy today’s list of Friday Finds.
