Dreamin............

Yep, that's what I have been doing alot of lately...largely because it is at this time of year I get itchy.....You see, I have a confession to make...my house is never "done"....I wish I were different...I wish I did not have decorating ADD...I wish I was content...I wish I did not feel this "itch" ....to paint, wallpaper (yes! my powder room), to get some new pillows(gasp!)....I have a file...on...

Must love shoes.......

Winter has a tight grip on Minnesota...much to my dismay...This girl has grown tired of sacrificing fashion for comfort and most of all WARMTH...And while I long to put my Uggs and Northface down coat away FOR GOOD...the reality is is that is not going to happen.....for a l-o-n-g time.....But a girl can dream (and shop) can't she?Especially when she has friends in blogland who share her love of pretty...

Pulled in ALL directions..............

Yep, the picture above represents the way I am feeling these days...Everyone gets a piece of me, but never all of me...Do you understand?I thought you would.'Cause us women types tend to do this to ourselves....and while we like to blame others we have no one to blame but our sorry selves.I am a stay-at-home mom....hardly descriptive of my life.You would think with the number of meetings I attended...

.....Red plates.......

This week my big girl was selected to participate in her 5th grade geography bee and did really well. After the bee was over and I went to congratulate my daughter, the first words out of her mouth were "do I get to eat on a red plate tonight?"....You see, when my girlies were small I read an article about establishing traditions or rituals within your family and how meaningful they can become in...

Dreams......................

May yours come true....

Times are Tough....GO SHOPPING!

Yes, you heard me right.I ventured out this week a bit. Made some long overdue visits to my favorite boutique shops. My must-go spot in Minneapolis is a wonderful home decor store called Style Minneapolis. The shop is filled with perfectly imperfect antiques selected by its uber-chic owner Shayne Barness.Shayne and I always have a nice visit when I pop in. This week when I asked Shayne how business...

"hello, my name is Jill and I am addicted to pillows"

For as long as I can remember pillows have always been my go-to item when I feel like my rooms need a quick 'pick-me up'.

Let's face it, pillows are relatively inexpensive and can change the look of a sofa or a room quickly. And girls, sometimes (mostly during one particular time of the month) I feel like my rooms definitely NEED the instant perk-up that a new fabulous pillow provides.

And as much as I would like to control my impulse to purchase more fabulous pillows, I cannot stop.

I am excited to show you my "new" pillow.



I had purchased the vintage grain sack over a year ago at a flea market. I really did not know what I would do with it... but last week I was inspired to make my grain sack into a pillow. Not wanting to make a great investment, I decided to cut the grain sack to fit a standard sized bed pillow. Then I took it to a local embroidery shop and had the french word for 'cottage' embroidered on the pillow. I simply stitched the side closed and voila! I love it.



My new Pottery Barn catalog arrived last week and after seeing this pillow I made a trip to the store and bought one. It was a must have for this nest/bird loving woman!



My love/hate relationship with Pottery Barn has been written about before on this blog. However, you really can't beat "the Barn" for quick instant decorating gratification.


They change their throw pillow selection with the seasons and always have some great options for making your rooms look well, seasonal!



And not that Pottery Barn is sponsoring my blog or paying me big bucks for promoting their new spring line...but they are offering free shipping on online pillow orders!

*** my 'ah-ha' moment***

We have dreams don't we girls?Oh yes, I know some of you have big ones (dreams that is!)...I have read your blogs this January!Me?For the better part of the last year I have longed to find the perfect chippy, white, beadboarded hutch that I would happily 'marry' to my new, but painted by me the day it arrived in my cottage (perfectly porportioned, ridiculously too new)buffet in my dining room. That...

Happy Wednesday evening ladies...How is everyone doing? Are you enjoying your week as I am? I had a small 'hiccup' in my grand plans...My 11 year old daughter woke up on Monday morning with pink eye! Pink eye! She could not go to school which meant I did not get to do ALL the wonderfully indulgent things I had planned. Turned out to be a blessing...fun to spend the day with my silly (and quickly...

Solitude....

My husband left for a four day business trip today....The kids returned to school....I am left feeling....giddy, joyful, even relieved....and happy...Does this make me a bad wife? a bad mother?I used to think so. And to be quite honest, I used to feel guilty about feeling joy...when I had some time to myself. That was the old me.The new me is guilt free. I love my husband, I love my children. I cherish...

Nature Inspired...

Happy New Year! It is so nice to be home in our cottage...nevermind the tons of snow we got while we were gone and the single digit temperatures that linger outside my door....I spent lots of time catching up with some of my favorite blogs yesterday.Seems many bloggers are feeling the same way I am...inspired....to follow our passions...to simplify....to become our best....to spend our time on things...