Wow. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been writing this Friday Finds feature for a year now. I feel like it just started a few months ago. It’s been fun for me to share creative things with you that I find on the internet. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do….
I can’t help but smile every time I look at today’s charming stone cottage feature by TKP Architects of Colorado. The facade reminds me of Bilbo Baggins’ cozy hobbit house in the Lord of the Rings series. Technically a hobbit house is partially underground but the stone and wood exterior, along with the arched door…
Now that Easter has come and gone, our Style Showcase crew is back to decorating ideas and inspiration. It’s always such an honor to be included with this talented group of ladies – most of whom I’ve known since I started blogging almost 10 years ago! To see their inspiration, click on the link above…
Now that Thanksgiving is over we can officially say it’s Christmas season! Not only that but today is the 26th installment of Friday Finds which means I’ve been doing this series for half-a-year. Really? Seems like I just started this serious a couple months ago. The spectacular tree above is from Macy’s Chicago store and…
A cozy lake condo in Wisconsin proved to be a great destination point for my recent girls’ weekend with my daughters. They needed a break from their kids; I just wanted time to relax and unwind. Since it’s “Cozy Living Saturday,” (the first Saturday of the month), this cozy condo in Lake Geneva is a…
Do you ever forget about special places that are located near you? I know I do. I decided to rectify this by visiting nearby places that I’ve neglected over the years. Even a day trip can feel like a mini summer vacation. So last weekend we went to Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois…
Have you ever visited Saugatuck, Michigan? Our recent family summer vacation there revealed loads of charm in a hip and historic lakeside artist community. This charming blue home with white trim is a private residence that’s tucked in between shops and restaurants. It seems like an odd location for a home, but it sure is…
Ever so slowly the days are getting a little longer and the birds seem to have a cheerier note to their song. I’ve been busy cleaning and purging and doing a little decorating while I’m at it. Here’s a look at my nature inspired spring mantel that I recently created. But first, I’m joining…
When I started blogging, my desire was to share home projects and local points of interest that are unique and charming. While you won’t find mountains or oceans where I live, you will find natural beauty, interesting architecture, and rich history. This week I’m joining a few friends to share why we love where we…
August is one of my favorite months of the year. Flowers are bursting with color, farm fields are overflowing with their goodness, and fireflies light up the warm skies. I love all the sights, sounds, and scents of summer in the country where the suburban sprawl meets the Illinois prairies. Today is the first…
Have you been to Chicago? The Second City as it’s often called has oodles of charming neighborhoods with beautiful homes. Today we’re touring a stylish condo in the Ravenswood neighborhood. Photo by Rachel Loewen Photography  Here’s the view from inside those bay windows on the front of the condo building. A modern light fixture…
Today I’m back at my daughter’s house to show how we cozied up her boys’ bedroom. Bridget originally chose a dinosaur theme but after seeing some cute stuff at our favorite store – the plans changed to an animal-themed bedroom. On a side note – yay for June! It’s the first Saturday of the…
Do you love to decorate your home with country landscapes? Original artwork can be expensive but there are options for finding pretty prints at a reasonable cost. Especially when it’s in the form of free printables like the ones I’m offering today! Today I’m joining a group of creative bloggers to share summer printables…
Are you a fan of barn doors used inside the home? There’s been a huge upsurge in farmhouse style decorating ever since Fixer Upper became such a popular TV show. In honor of the show ending its series, I’m featuring a collection of barn doors made popular by Joanna Gaines’ popular decorating style. Photo by…
Illinois is dotted with river and rail towns filled with beautiful architecture from days gone past. I love the variety of historic homes across the Land of Lincoln and enjoy exploring these little towns that are nestled near venues of transportation in the 1800s, such as rivers and railroad tracks. We recently visited the bustling…
