Today’s the big day! Hubby and I leave for northern California and I can’t wait to immerse myself in nature. We’re staying in historic Ferndale near the famous Redwoods. I had planned to run a marathon while here, but our winter weather was horrible and not conducive for training. So I’m only running the 10K…
Today is officially the halfway mark of April. Although I’ve been dreaming of spring weather, Illinois has decided to be the April fool by delivering snow flurries and windy days. Sigh. So I’ll continually to wait not so patiently and boost my mood with spring flowers in the house. One thing I’m excited about this…
Happy Friday, friends! Although, today is not so happy because I woke up to a light snowfall when I was hoping for sunshine and butterflies. Winter is stubbornly refusing to let spring make its final entrance which is making some people a little grumpy (I won’t mention any names). I can’t complain though when I…
Hello friends and Happy April Fool’s Day! Are you ready for another roundup of Friday Finds? It’s always fun to stumble across inspirational finds from the comfort of your home. Especially when the weather’s been lousy this week. It’s somewhat de-stressing to curl up with a magazine or the internet to find beauty in indoor…
Hello friends, and Happy Friday! This week has been a productive one. I found my bed, mattress, nightstand, and a reading chair for my bedroom. I’ve never really liked the bedroom until now and I can’t wait to show it to you next Saturday! I hope you’ll like it. In the meantime, I found some…
It’s Friday and I’m looking forward to the weekend! My day job has been pretty busy since we’re gearing up for pond season. Believe it or not, I can’t wait to reorganize my bedroom that’s in the middle of getting a makeover. The painting is done and now I need to purge a few things….
Yesterday it rained, today it’s snowing. We’ve reached that crazy time of year here in Chicagoland when the weather can’t make up its mind. It’ll be even worse during the month of March. After a while, nothing surprises you anymore. But enough of the weather. Let’s talk Friday Finds! Today I found cozy kitchen inspiration…
Do you have romantic plans this weekend for Valentine’s Day? Or are you more like me where the holiday is more about the chocolate and less about the romance? For the first time in many years, I have a special present for hubby. Normally we don’t do much to celebrate Cupid’s holiday so I think…
Happy Friday, friends! I always enjoy these posts when I get to share special treasures I’ve found through the week. Some of these finds are from years ago, and others are fresh and new. Today shares a mix of the two. I’m going to start with the most unusual find of the week – this…
This is the last Friday in January 2022, which means we’re one month closer to spring! For those of us in the Midwest, we still have a long way to go before the leaves sprout on the trees. Even if the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, spring is still a couple more months away. That…
Each week I’m always amazed by all the talent of decorators, chefs, and more. I so enjoy exploring beauty and new things each week. Back in the day I pored through magazines for inspiration. Now, I scroll through the internet. I still receive and enjoy my two favorite magazines though – Country Living and Country…
Brrr! We’re having a cold snap here in Chicagoland and I don’t like it one bit. I don’t mind 30-degree temperatures but when it gets close to 0 degrees out, that’s no bueno! A bit of cabin fever settles in because I don’t like to go anywhere when it’s that cold. And then when the…
Happy First Friday of 2022! I hope that this week’s Friday Finds helps to lift your spirits and give you a little boost. Lots of people are sick right now, and that’s no fun. Don’t feel guilty about slowing down and giving yourself a bit of a break from life. It’s good to re-group and…
For some reason I find myself in a bit of a romantic, nostalgic mood these days. Maybe I’m yearning for something comforting to warm my soul now that Christmas is over. Or maybe it’s because I started watching Sense and Sensibility. British movies and television series tend to have a spell-binding effect on me. Whatever…
This final stretch before Christmas is when I like to enjoy a bit of quiet time to reflect on the year and enjoy the simple contentment I find in life. For me, it’s therapeutic to recognize the small pleasures in life that tend to bring great joy. Sometimes that means slowing down to see the…
Next week my family and I head to Galena, Illinois for our annual Christmas trip. We always rent the same house and enjoy its familiarity. We all have our designated bedrooms and each morning starts with a fire in the fireplace and a round of lattes and cappuccinos. It’s so nice to chill and spend…
