Shop Instagram

Dec 31, 2013

best of 2013



I wanted to take the time to wish each and every one of you a wonderful new year!! I am so excited for 2014 and all the good things to come. Thank you all for your love and support as I continue to write and share my story, life and ideas. I see each and every like, comment, message, email and the follows on other social media. Your positive feedback really does mean the world to me and then some. 


I know I haven't been involved with the blogging world very long and the 2013 season started just this summer but I wanted to share my top 5 most visited posts. Maybe you will discover one that you have missed! 

Dec 26, 2013

new lens for christmas


So, I don't know how my husband does it, but he is so good at thinking of things I needed but didn't realize that I needed.

Basically, he's good with surprises.

Two years ago, I received my DSLR camera for Christmas. I didn't know I wanted one. I didn't know I needed one. I mean, I kind of did but not really. If that makes sense. I doubt it does. Let's just say it was a thought I didn't think much about because I didn't think it was going to happen.

And let's just say, without that camera, this blog wouldn't have grown to what it is today. Which isn't much. But it's a lot to me.

Dec 19, 2013

simple christmas porch


So, I told myself that I was going to go all out this year with my front porch Christmas decor but instead.......... I didn't. I kept it pretty simple with just a little evergreen and a few white lights. 

When it comes to Christmas decor, I definitely like the classics. I love the look of the evergreen up against our red siding. Now all I need is to put out my antique sled and some ice-skates. I haven't dug those out of my collection of "junk" yet. Maybe this weekend. There's still time.

Dec 14, 2013

snow covered memories


There's always something so peaceful about a beautiful snow fall in the country. This morning we woke up to a peaceful snow covered morning.

I've always hated to be cold, but I absolutely love snow. I spent a lot of time outside playing in it with my family growing up as a child. Dad would take us around on the snowmobile. Sometimes he would pull one of us behind on a saucer. I especially loved snowmobile rides at night going through the woods. The headlights shining on the snow covered tree branches. You could see animal tracks scattered through the woods. We'd go ice skating on the frozen over flooded spots in the fields or an iced over pond. Mom, decked out in a 1980s snowmobile suit would always help us build the perfect snow man and teach us how to make snow angels.

Afterwards, while mom was making dinner, I always enjoyed going into the cozy barn and "helping" dad do chores. The animals would have their fuzzy winter coats and they huddled together to stay warm. Sometimes you'd see a silly kitty sleeping on top of a horse. I remember the warmth of rolling over in a stack of hay in your coveralls and winter coat.

Then we'd go inside while dad plowed snow with a tractor and we would undress making a huge mess. Snow and hay everywhere. Mom never complained. Until we got older, ha.

After a long day in the snow, fresh wood in the fire place and a mug of hot chocolate, I remember cuddling under a blanket with my brother watching Christmas movies. Until we would start kicking and pinching each other, then it was time for bed.

Now, as an adult, I find everyone complaining about the snow. No one likes to scrape off their vehicles. The snow hinders traveling plans, water is tracked in the house and it even makes going outside to do chores a pain.

When I find everyone complaining about the snow, I close my eyes and think of the great memories I had in the snow as a child. I am so thankful my parents took the time to go out and play with us. I'm thankful for the little farm that we lived on where we could use our imagination and take us anywhere we wanted to be.

Photo courtesy of Ebay

Dec 12, 2013

rustic christmas card display


One of my favorite things I've enjoyed as a new married couple has been receiving Christmas cards from friends and family the last few years. I remember my first Christmas with my husband, I received a few cards from my parent's friends. I thought that was so neat. My very own card, I thought.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with all the Christmas cards coming in. We were still in the old house building our new and I don't think we even had a Christmas tree up. I ended up tossing them all in a basket.

Last year, was our first Christmas in our new house. Once again, cards were coming in and I didn't know what to do with them all. I was going to string them across the kitchen somehow then I thought, eh, that would be too much clutter. I randomly stuck one in this old shutter I had in my kitchen before my kitchen shelf makeover that I wrote about this summer.

Dec 11, 2013

you can't make christmas perfect


I haven't been a very good 'blogger' this holiday season.

Or maybe I have been. By keeping it real.

Christmas is the perfect chance to automatically have great blog material. But it's December 11th already and I have one little lousy post about a Christmas ornament idea.

I had plans of posting baking all month long in my kitchen, creative gift wrap ideas, hand made Christmas cards, a house tour, farmer gift giving guide, a beautiful tablescape, unique porch decor and visions of sugar plums in my head.

In fact, I had plans of posting about my Christmas card display. I took all the pictures, edited the photos and now...... I am writing this post instead.

Dec 6, 2013

life lesson from a barn cat

About 6 weeks ago, a kitten showed up at our farm. She was a bigger kitten. Maybe 5-6 months. She didn't have much of a winter coat and I swear, was the friendliest stray kitty I've ever encountered. I think she was someone's indoor pet at one point. I took the usual "steps" when it comes to strays showing up. I fed her. Waited a day or two to see if she stuck around. She did.

Then I named her. I was in trouble.

I named her Gourd. I don't know why. I think partially because I had gourds outside in my fall décor and partially because I had an indoor kitty named Pumpkin. I had high hopes that my husband would allow Gourd to be an indoor kitty as well. Then I'd have Pumpkin and Gourd.

But, I was told she'd have to be an outdoor kitty.

I wasn't really ready for barn cats but I didn't want to give her up, either. I took her next door to see if she belonged to anyone there. Nope. I didn't try very hard after that to find a home for her. Deep down, I knew that I wanted to keep her.

Dec 2, 2013

rustic christmas ornaments

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had some great food and spent time with family. Thanksgiving time is crazy because you fall into that quick transition into Christmas. It's like once that turkey is carved and scarfed down, BAM! Christmas music and shopping galore.

I did a little early morning Black Friday for the first time this year! It was a lot of fun. We didn't run into any crazy crowds but we were able to shop some of our favorite stores quietly with great discounts. I think next year, I need to make a list and try to get everyone done in one day! This year I was just along for the ride to see what it was all about.


Anyways, we put up our tree and some Christmas decorations up over the weekend! I am so stinking excited. I love my tree to pieces. It's an artificial cashmere pine and I enjoy putting rustic ornaments and tree wrap burlap on it with white lights. I'm pretty picky about what goes on my tree! Not a lot of things make the "cut." I don't like anything bright or sparkly on my tree! It flows very well with the rest of my house.

Sometimes I enjoy a little repetition on my tree including rusty bells, stars and one of my favorite ornaments that I am going to share how I make with you! It adds a nice simple, rustic touch to any tree and they're super easy to make. And super cheap!

Shop my Instagram