Remember when I confessed that I spent too much money on faux flowers in a single shopping spree? I'm attempting to turn buyer's remorse into shopper's glee by using the flowers as much as possible. So it should come as no surprise that I created a fresh spring look for the kitchen using said flowers.   I had so much fun taking photos of my spring kitchen because I just got a new Nikon camera! It's an upgrade from my former camera and … [Read more...]

Welcome to the third installment of our Cozy Living series! Each month our "cozy group" brings ideas for hygge style living on the first Saturday. It's all about simple comforts, foods, and traditions! You'll find links to cozy living ideas by my blogging friends at the end of this post. January is proving to be a blustery, frosty month so I hope you're all staying warm and bundled up. To help protect against winter's worst, I purchased a … [Read more...]

Are you a coffee lover? Next Friday - September 29th, 2017 - is National Coffee Day! Do you plan to celebrate? Maybe you'll enjoy a decadent coffee recipe on this special day. Or maybe you'll finally create that coffee bar in your home that you've been craving. In anticipation of National Coffee Day, I'm sharing coffee-inspired ideas to enhance this special day. And at the end of the post, you'll find where to enjoy National Coffee Day … [Read more...]

Although I love summer, I love fall too! I'm enjoying the emergence of the gorgeous colors of fall. Everywhere you turn there's visual evidence of autumn's charm. From the turning of leaves to the gathering wheat in the farm fields, there's an abundance of eye candy. Wouldn't it be fun to stack a pile of pumpkins, squash, and gourds out in the yard? Our local farm market is now carrying a variety of heirloom pumpkins. Photo by Rikki … [Read more...]

This past fall we finally replaced our rickety old picket fence with a new one. While I held a certain endearment for our "charming" fence, a lot of the pickets were rotting and we simply couldn't let it go any longer. I've always loved a picket fence and am happy to share some quaint picket fence ideas with you. How adorable is this yellow picket fence with its little gate? The house behind it is equally charming! I think I'm ready to move in … [Read more...]

Of all the giveaways I've offered here on my blog, it seems you enjoy books the most! If you're like me, you love the feel of a book in your hands with its crisp pages. And if it's a vintage book, you enjoy the softer pages with their slightly musty smell. Today I'm giving away a new seasonal book about the heart and home. Written by my blogging friend Vanessa and her sister Heather, the book is called Life in Season. (This post contains … [Read more...]

Which would you rather have? A she shed or a potting shed? Our side yard is big enough that we can add another shed on our property. Well, actually the side yard is an empty lot that we own and I'm toying with the idea of either a she shed or a potting shed. When I need inspiration I often turn to Houzz (click on the photos to see more of that project on Houzz). This luxurious she shed at Houzz made me do a double-take. It looks so serene and … [Read more...]

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Skout’s Honor for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.  If you're a cat lover, you know that controlling cat odor can be a bit of a challenge. We've had kitties in our house for the past 20 years and have loved each and every one. Most of our furry friends are rescue cats and when you own multiple pets, odors can become a problem. After all these years of experience, I consider myself somewhat of … [Read more...]

My son married his college girlfriend this past summer and I finally have photos to share with you! Will you indulge me while I relive the memory here on my blog? Their summer wedding was held at Makray Memorial Golf Club in Barrington, Illinois. The weather was perfect, the bride was beaming, and my son looked rather dapper in his tuxedo. All photos (except the beach photo) were taken by The Wedding Studio. These two met while attending … [Read more...]

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 little cabin in Riverside, Illinois and it was decked out with lumberjack decorations. (This post contains affiliate … [Read more...]