Gingerbread House

Be still, my heart. . . . .

If I could truly indulge myself right now, this would be what I'd buy. Isn't it grand? I collect gingerbread items over the holidays (it's the only time I can seem to find them). I fell head over heels in love with this. I just know it would look beautiful perched on our ginormous fireplace mantel. It's the perfect piece and properly proportioned for it! In fact, I think I'd be tempted to leave it up year round.

Sorry for the HUGE delay in posting here on my little ol' blog. It's been sorely, sadly neglected. I want to thank the sweet ladies who have commented and emailed me to encourage me to keep it going. THANK YOU in a huge way! You have no idea how uplifting those comments/emails were.

I made a little comment on someones blog that it's hard to keep going sometimes and I was tempted to just delete this little blog. But I hate to say goodbye and can't imagine just zapping all of my hard work away in just an instant. I know I'd come to regret it. So here I am, almost two months without a single peep from me. I felt fresh out of blogging ideas. Half the time here in WA, the lighting is too yuck to take a decent picture. I also feel like my decorating style has taken a turn. A good turn, but a turn nonetheless. And at the same time, my inner decorating self feels frustrated that it's being caged up in a dark, dreary old craftsman home (don't get me wrong, I like old and craftsman - just not dark) when it wants to lighten up and cheer up so terribly much. We would, but it's not ours to do that with - we're only renting till we find our dream place.

I hope I didn't lose every single one of my dear readers. . . . .

On a much happier note -
Welcome Autumn!

Cheesy Plastic Flowers

That is how the EBay seller described the sweet bunch of flowers on top of this little wicker tote. Okay, they may be cheesy, but I adore them! They are something my grandma would have had in her house somewhere so I'm drawn to their "cheesiness". I think this is the cutest little purse/tote. Wouldn't it be fun to pack your lunch in to take to work? I don't have a job outside of being a stay-at-home mom, but if I did....don't you think I'd be the envy of every woman there? If I was brave enough, I'd use it as my purse.

I tried a Martha Stewart recipe for Raspberry-Almond Blondies. Turned out a bit dry and a tad too tart for me. I should have taken it out sooner and sprinkled more sugar on top, or something.
I've started collecting a few pieces of this green apple blossom depression glass. Love it! My mom bought me a gorgeous set of vintage French Haviland Limoges china at Christmas time and these will coordinate perfectly! I'll show them to you sometime. They're still wrapped in tissue paper until I find a proper place to display them or clean out the built-in hutch that's full of other dishes.

We took the little ones to meet their teacher's today. School starts next week! We also have a sophomore in the house. You know what that means - driving! YIKES!

Enjoy the last holiday weekend of the summer!

Ode to the Climbing Roses

...or not!
The title just sounded sophisticated and beautiful. Alas, I am not one to compose beautiful lyrics.

I'm ready for fall, but I will sure miss these beauties that grow along the picket fence out front.


Bring on the sweaters and boots!

Inexpensive Art

A calendar page + metal scrapbook frame from Michaels at 50% off = $5 total.

I love it!

This particular calendar had so many cute pages that go with my decor, I've thought about making a collage of them on one wall. Maybe that's too busy, too much.

Cottages

A couple of local cottages that I think are so adorable. I just want to walk up to their doors and ask if I can have a tour inside. I just know the insides are as cute as the outsides!


Have you ever done that - ask if you can look inside?