Sometime in the middle of the summer we started painting our house. It’s a big job because our 140-year old Victorian Farmhouse is all clapboard siding and lots of trim. The temperatures really dipped this week and now we’re scrambling to finish the paint job. Luckily I bought paint that’s good in temps as low…
Words cannot express my excitement about today’s charming home tour! When I think of Country Kitty‘s dwelling spaces the words enchanting, light-filled, playful, and of course charming all come to mind. Federica was born and raised in Italy and now currently lives in England with her hubby and kitties. I do hope you’ll visit her,…
Today I’m sharing a special experience with you, along with a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card (instructions on how to enter are given at the end of this post). When I was younger I swore I’d never drink coffee. I hated the taste. Even in college my friends would encourage me to…
I’ve been holding onto a little secret for many many months and now I’m finally able to share it with all of you! My home is appearing in the new book “Creatively Christmas ~ Inspired Yuletide Decor” by Jennifer Rizzo!! I’ll never forget the day last year when I opened an email from Jennifer telling…
Flea markets are my favorite shopping haunts but this summer I haven’t been buying too much. Sometimes I’ll find a ton of stuff (too much stuff, really) and other times at the market I’m just not into it. Everything starts to look the same. Does that ever happen to you? Here are this summer’s flea…
In my living room is an expanse of wall that’s always tough for me to decorate. Rather than change a lot of small things on the wall, I opted for one larger item. I’ve used repurposed shutters to act as a back drop for ever-changing art work. A vintage bird poster from the flea market…
Are you ready to settle in for another charming home tour? Today I’m honored to share an older home in the city that belongs to Angela of Number Fifty Three. Angela and I have a few things in common. We love older homes. We love thrifting. And we’re both monthly contributors at Jennifer Rizzo’s blog! But…
This weekend was really busy and I got a lot done. Took the grandkids to the park and watched Peppa Pig together, Visited Dad in the hospital, went to the flea market, And oh yeah … painted most of the front porch. Are you ready to see the new exterior paint colors? (I should note…
Hailing from the coast of Maine, it’s no wonder Mary’s home has a pretty coastal vibe. You’ll find loads of decorating inspiration in her charming home at At Home on the Bay. Mary recently moved to Cleveland but today’s charming home tour showcases Mary’s Maine home. Colorful pillows line up playfully on Mary’s living room couch….
Not too too far from our house is beautiful Lake Shabbona, named after Chief Shabaney of the Potawatomi Nation. The lake is situated in the middle of Lake Shabbona State Park and is home to a variety of fish, including muskie, blue gill, bass, catfish, and more. When I was just a wee girl, my grandparents would…
Gardening has always been one of my favorite hobbies. For me, the yard and landscape is like a blank canvas to brush a sea of flowers on it. I love digging up perennials, dividing them, and moving them around. The garden is ever-evolving and never ceases to be a work in progress. Keeping garden tools…
Yes, you read that right! As part of our Fun in the Sun blog hop we’re giving away a chance to win $250 cash!! The entry form is at the end of this post. Yesterday a group of bloggers shared summer inspiration … a variety of DIY projects, home decor, and more. Here’s the line-up…
Here in the suburbs of Chicago, the farm to table movement is gaining in popularity. This also means that more people are interested in learning about farm life and we have a few working farms in the area that are open to the public. Primrose Farm is just a 10-minute drive from our house and we…
It all began with 2 lithograph prints by Swedish painter, Carl Larsson. I purchased them shortly after moving into the first home I ever bought … it was a Sears kit bungalow home and the prints fit beautifully in my dining room. Ever since, I’ve been drawn to Swedish interiors and have brought a bit…
You don’t need to be a professional florist to decorate with lilacs or any other type flower. Today’s floral arrangements are casual and fuss-free, allowing you to create simple bouquets without sweating the rules of formal flower centerpieces. Use flowers that are blooming in your garden, and you’ll have both economical and easy flower arrangements….
My friend Jennifer Rizzo has graciously offered to give 5 of my readers a FREE spot in the ‘Building a Creatively Made Business 2.0’ online course that she’s teaching with Marian of Miss Mustard Seed and Jeanne Oliver. This is an amazing opportunity if you have a creative business … whether it’s a blog, an…
