Change of Pace

We all love a night out with the girls. (My beautiful friend Juli. I would like to point out that I was the only one that didn't dress up.  I didn't know…I was thinking paint + me = a mess)Lets be honest….we all NEED a night out with the...

Don’t Blink

…..or it will be gone!    I can't believe that we are a week away from Christmas. I always think that I will do things differently each year….and each year I realize that it all went by so quickly. I closed my shop earlier this year...

Vintage Paper Wreath

  I am so thrilled that so many of you loved the paper wreath!I got so many emails about how I made it that I am glad that I took some photos during the process.This idea is not mine.My friend Lissa had seen it somewhere and sent a picture of it to me because...

All Dressed Up

 On Saturday night we had our yearly progressive dinner with our neighborhood.We hosted appetizers and cocktails this year and we had so much fun.The house was all cleaned (thanks to the lovely cleaning ladies that I hadn't seen since the spring) and we had...

For As Long As I Can Remember

…I have loved papers.What child collected vintage books because they thought they were beautiful and smelled amazing..that would be me. I can not walk past a paper shop…it is truly one of my very favorite kinds of shops in the world.I am a fan of vintage...

A Girl Needs To Accessorize

  (originally $42)Today I am offering the discount on all my items that help you accessorize!This is through Thursday ONLY!These are the things that pull your outfit together and help you stand out.   (originally $56)Accessorizing is one of my favorite...

Today’s Deal

 (originally $52)The discount for Wednesday is on all my purses that are currently in stock.***remember that I can ship for you and everything will arrive wrapped beautifully*** (originally $28)I will show what their original price was and what the sale is for...

Shop Update

I just wanted to remind everyone that I am offering FREE SHIPPING in my shop until December 13th.The 13th will also be the last day that my shop is open until the New Year!I want to enjoy this amazing season with my family and get working on all the goodies that I am...

Small Town Girl

(Our family and my sweet niece)I grew up in a small town of 3,000 in rural Illinois.We didn't have a stoplight or any fast food restaurants.Any store we went into knew who we belonged to and the barber was always the place to go for a piece of candy on our way...

Pretty Distractions

image found hereWe had a pretty hard week around here.We are getting back to normal but it is amazing how things can change in a moment and you are scrambling to stay above water.The day after Thanksgiving I got a call from my husband that he was in the emergency room...

When Your Heart Changes

Mixed media collage by Becky Strahle at Farm Girl PaintsWhen your heart changes you see the world differently.You see yourself differently.You become stronger, wiser, braver, more compassionate, more lovely.When you see yourself for who you could really be….the...

Notes From a Recovering Perfectionist

(photograph courtesy of my seven year old)This is a story of a girl who loved to clean. Loved perfection. Loved order.This is a story of a girl that married a boy that did not love the above.This is a story of a girl that needed to let go of some control and a boy who...

Little Pumpkin

I had the honor of photographing my new, little nephew last week.He was only three days old.He is perfect and beautiful and the world will be blessed because of his life!! Abran's two big sisters.   Don't forget to squeeze YOUR pumpkins a little...

Be Choosy

I don't know about most of you girls out there…but I need my girlfriends.I need talks over coffee.Laughter in the dressing rooms.Whispering during the movies.Crying over nothing and everything. I have had friendships that I wish I would have fought harder to...

Silver Bella

 (One of the Bella's box of pretties) A year ago I read beautiful accounts across the blog world talking about Silver Bella and the creative experience they had.The photos were gorgeous and it sounded like the most incredible party of glittery fun!I signed...

New In The Shop

I was busy yesterday getting new things in my shop.I have added soooo many new things….here is just a peek…..       I will be adding a few more things today.I also wanted to let you know that some of your favorite items from the...

Head On Over

I am very tired and busy unpacking and getting new things in my shop (like I promised)!I wanted to let you know that Frenchie & Flea has weeks of amazing giveaways celebrating handmade.Today I am offering one of my ruffle totes 🙂 to the winner of their...

Silver Bella Sneak Peek Part II

It is 1 am and I am trying to wrap up some last minute projects for Silver Bella.I have tomorrow to finish and get packed.Thursday morning (early) I will head out for my 10 hour drive to Omaha….what was I thinking???Airplane….ship my items…..think...

A Little Girl Time

I have so much going on right now.I am usually really good at balancing a lot of things.This time there are so many things that I almost just sit and do nothing.I don't know where to start.Many months ago one of my best friends, Amy Jo, and I bought tickets to see...

Silver Bella Sneak Peek Part I

I am really excited to attend Silver Bella this year.This will be my first time and I am looking forward to the art swap I am a part of, the workshops and meeting so many talented girls.I will also be selling at vendor night.I will have all of the things in my shop...

How Big Are Your Dreams?

Brave Girl Camp has made me think of many beautiful things about my life and the dreams I have for the future.I started to think about how many people I have told my dreams to.Why don't we always share our dreams?I quickly realized how many people in my life...

Sugar Overload

I bet almost everyone in this country feels the same way…too much sugar!I can't believe how much candy the kids got this year.In the past I have even told them that I will buy them a new toy if they throw away some of the candy…it is for the...

Little Lovlies

Every once in awhile I love showing you little things that I find that are so lovely.I hope you find them as lovely as I do.I am also starting to really get excited for Christmas…what about you?Are you dreaming of decorating and baking?Making gifts and spending...

I Love Me Some Sparkle

I don't know if you remember my window seat.I posted awhile ago about my window seat makeover and how I was looking for a chandelier to hang above the seat.We bought a gorgeous chandelier a little while ago for our bathroom…and we have no motivation for the...

Where Has The Time Gone?

I know everyone says this.The time goes by so quickly.I remember…..really remember…. the day Madolyn was born. She was 4 1/2 weeks early and she was an emergency c-section. I remember like it was only a few months ago. It couldn't have been seven years...

Born To Fly

I have to admit that coming back from Brave Girl Camp has been an emotional roller coaster ride.My heart and mind came home so full of ideas, joy, creations, promises, truths.It has been hard to find a rhythm this week.  Hard to do school, laundry, pay bills and...

Remembering Your Truths

I started off my second day at Brave Girl Camp with an early hike with some of the girls. Idaho reminds me so much of Colorado and I really felt at home.Because I have three younger children at home it isn't often that I am out taking a walk as the sun is coming...

Brave Girls Camp

This is a hard post to write because there is so much in my heart that I will never be able to express to you.I got home Saturday evening and every time I talk about the week I get tears in my eyes.It was just amazing.I will try to tell you little bits and pieces...

Where Are Your Dreams?

Have you ever woken up….looked in the mirror….and not recognized yourself?Have you ever wondered what happened to you?Where did THAT girl go?I had such an interesting conversation with a friend this week.She is a stay at home mom with one child.She is...

The Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday we met some of our good friends to go pick pumpkins.We drove 1 1/2 hours. When we got there it was freezing and I hadn't checked the weather for this town…and didn't bring any jackets (my husband had brought his winter coat).Mother of the year....

What’s For Dinner??

I do not feel like cooking in the summer.I leave it to my husband to grill and I add a salad to it.I don't know what it is….but as soon as fall arrives I am wanting to bake and cook more.I want to nest and fluff the whole house.I am wanting to paint right...

Family Photo Shoot

Family Photos.With these two little words do you rush for a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of liquor?I have to admit that typically I find them a little stressful.Sure…easy to get the three kids coordinated and looking good…but throw me and my husband...

Girl’s Day

I love traditions and making memories with people I love.I love that there are certain things that we do as a family that the children look forward to all year.One of the traditions I have with Madolyn is "Girl's Day".This was our fourth year celebrating...

My Favorite Color Right Now

I am loving this color. This aqua or turquoise color. This makes such a fabulous accent color. I have bought a few things recently in this color and it looks so stunning in my house.I purchased a huge birdcage, vintage wooden chair and an angel…very large...

Free Shipping and Some Awards

First of all I want to thank all of you that made my fall collection such a huge success.Honestly…I was smiling for weeks.I am now busy trying to get ready for Silver Bella so I will not be adding anything new until I get back.In honor of you, fall, me 😉 and...

Life Needs Beauty

I love the details.I love the little extra touches in this world. I love color, good food, fabrics, architecture, friendship, laughter, exploring. I love vintage treasures. I love the search for those treasures. Awhile ago I told you of my heartbreak that a trip was...

Renew, Reuse, Recycle

I like to think that I do my part.I mean…I bring my reusable grocery bag into the store…ok…some of the time.I haven't used Aqua Net since 1989.  That has to count for something!I don't throw garbage out the...

A Vintage Grain Sack and a Picnic

Awhile back I purchased a vintage, French grain sack. I have tons of pillows and in all honesty…I didn't want to cut it up.I decided that framing it would be the perfect solution and I could show it off and look at it all the time.That was months ago.I...

Fall Favs

As the weather is getting cooler I love the endless possibilities of layers.  Hats, scarves, sweaters, coats….all the little extras that make an outfit really stand out.Summer wardrobes are a little plain jane for me….fall is really my fashion...