JO Blog

  Summer is not winding down unless we are off picking berries at Berry Patch Farms. This has been a tradition I have had with the children since Jack was a toddler.     We are usually met each year by friends and this year my sister and her two girls joined us.     […]

It is finally here! I am exhausted and my house looks like a tornado hit it…but I am beyond excited for what I am bringing you this season. A lot of planning went into this collection and I hope you adore the extra touches as much as I do. There will still be more coming…but […]

I am . I am going to an art retreat and I don't know any of the other women…yet:-)   I know I will make friends right away though.   Melody Ross is hosting the retreat and teaching the workshops. I have always admired her creativity and beautiful heart. I can't wait to spend a little […]

  On our way to Massachusetts and back we had connecting flights. We had a LOT of time to spend in the airport. I love to watch people. Seriously. My husband has to get my attention because I will be STARING at people so captivated by what is going on and I have a whole […]

(originally posted January 25, 2009) Has there ever been a word that people have called you and you don't know how to embrace it?  A beautiful word?  A word that has so much meaning to you?  I come from a family of painters, dancers, musicians…..ARTISTS.   Everyday I get beautiful emails from customers and blog readers […]

(Originally posted on February 18, 2009) Inga may be a little Swedish.   She may also have a little accent.  It wouldn't be surprising if she wears a French maid outift when others are not looking.  Inga doesn't eat that much….she has the smallest waist I have ever seen!   I may throw a box of […]

(Originally posted July 18, 2008) I recently bought The Prairie Girl's Guide To Life by Jennifer Worick.   It has many fun projects and tips.   My family decided to try the homemade ice cream last night.   Lets just say….we earned our ice cream!  I was getting tired of the children asking if the ice cream was ready […]

(originally posted December 30, 2008) …Don't worry my husband knows.   If you have read about this man, their marriage, their love maybe you have fallen a little for him (and her too).  Anytime a man writes a beautiful love note to his wife and a gun is not pointed at his head… women are going […]

The clothes are all packed. The suitcases are by the front door.   The camera is charged and ready to go. We are off to Boston and then Cape Cod.   We are so excited and the kids will be able to see so many historical sites that they learned about this year.   We […]

I grew up with a mother that loved old movies. Saturdays would always include my mom ironing and watching old movies. She was also known to bribe us to go to the drug store to get her a hershey bar with almonds. Did your mom iron all your clothes? My mom did! My dad had […]

    You know how they say you can be "fashionably" late for a party? Then you can just be plain late? I'm just plain late. Summer+Me=No idea of the date. Seriously. Just be glad I wasn't hosting the party..that would have just been embarrassing! Today was the Blogging For Bliss book release party hosted […]

I got so many emails about my first post of favorite things I thought I would do another one. I would like you to know that my friend Amy Jo especially enjoyed it and referred to Oprah (Oprah's favorite things) when expressing her joy over the list. She is a lover of ALL things Oprah. I am […]

My husband loves to take the kids to the park and fly kites with them. Isn't it nice that we all have different interests because I would probably never do this with them. It is just not my thing. I do lots of things with them that Kelly wouldn't consider also. It was a beautiful […]

  My new bedding from Carolyn Westbrook has arrived.  I will put up some photos soon. It is just as lovely as I knew it would be and the quality is wonderful! You can find her HERE. With my new bedding comes a deal for you. We have recently bought a new mattress. Within the […]

Whenever my husband has to fill out my occupation on paperwork he writes in "domestic goddess".  If only that were true. Our house is usually picked up but rarely clean. I throw out food every week (because it has gone rotten) because I didn't make all the meals I intended to. I could honestly stay in my […]

  Ok. I would like to be clear that I am not talking about my own father. Sure, he is a fine looking man, but I am not in the habit of calling him hot. I am talking about Pa Ingalls. What? Like you haven't thought it! I loved that show growing up and now […]

If you are MY child….you take a screwdriver and scratch the words into the wooden railing!     It would have at least been nice if she had spelled "sarry" correctly. Seriously, if it is there to stay…..   **************************** The winner of my anniversary giveaway… The winner of a $100 gift certificate to my […]

I have noticed a lot lately that it is really all the little things that make life so sweet. An evening with friends. Staying in bed all day to read a wonderful book. Not worrying about impressing…just picking up food at Costco on the way to the party. Working out after the third baby (that […]

When you have two boys and one girl that are all sharing a bathroom…. the decorating can be tricky. We really wanted the room to be bright and fun for all of them. We painted the room a vibrant yellow and put up bright, white bead board. The room is completely decorated with their art […]

I can not believe that it has been one year since I started blogging! So much has changed in this year. I started to blog as a way to advertise my business and it has become so much more. I have connected with so many of you. My business has grown and now boutique retailers […]

Everyone loves a little sparkle in their life. One of the prettiest ways to add sparkle is a gorgeous vintage or new chandelier.  I have one in our dinning room and have told you I would like a smaller, vintage one at the window seat. At The Farm Chicks Show I also found some incredible, vintage, chandelier crystals.  […]

  As I was growing up I always had a journal.  I would write down my daily events, make up stories and even write poetry. For so long that form of creativity had disappeared from my life until I began to blog. Life had gotten busy and I don't even remember the last time I […]

I have to share a town with you that is really one of my very favorites!   Growing up in Illinois we would often make the hour drive to Galena to enjoy the beautiful drive and store after store of antiques.   I loved those Sunday drives and I also think all those days in […]

I have loved looking through the lovely photos of A Year of Mornings.   I love the story behind the book.  I love the collaboration and the outcome is stunning and simple. I thought I would give it a try myself.  The result was MY mornings and the early hours through my eyes. I put […]