Gratitude......

I have never been one to make new year's resolutions.....I guess I dislike being limited to making a change to just once a year.....or maybe I don't like to set myself up for failure - ugh, probablymore likely. But, at this time of year, I find myself taking stock of where I am in life and what I wish for in the new year {not technically a resolution, wink*wink}. It's been a big year for our...

No, this is not our home.......

This awesome "Who-ville" themed home is on my route to and fromthe soccer fields, where I take my big girl at least three timesper week.  I always smile as I pass, mostly for the neighborsdecor, a simple message of "Ditto" with an arrow!I only wish I was that clever...... Well friends, I am signing off until after the holidays.My parents arrive tomorrow and my brother andhis wife on Friday...

Make this!

We had company over {wow, totally sounding like my mom in 1973 tonight!} this weekend.I wanted to make a festive dessert but lacked the time {or energy} for laborious Christmas cookies......I am saving that for later this week. While doing a simple search on the internet, I came up with this oh-so festive bundtcake recipe.  Not only does this pretty cake impress, it also tastes delicious. I...

Meg's Cottage ~

Reconnecting with my friends in Portland has definitely been the highlight of moving back 'home'.  While I had hoped that my friendships, that had been nurtured over great distances, would be resumed, I also set realistic expectations that those friends may have 'moved on'. I feel so fortunate to have basically 'picked up where we left off' with so many fabulous women!  Woo-hoo! This...

Christmas in our Forever*Cottage....

Welcome!   I have to admit I had much more fun fluffing our homefor Christmas this year.  I think it's because I am hostingmy family for the holiday which definitely made me"up my game".  The awesome sign on my mantel was madefor me by my friend Melaine of My Sweet Savannah! Back in the day I purchased santa's and snowmen and glitter houses,but over the years I have donated many...

Lark Nest Design

It's often been said that blogging brings special people into your life that youmight not have otherwise met or crossed paths with.  This factis certainly true for me and is probably the number onereason that I continue to blog.   A few years ago, Ki Nassauer asked me to style a tablescapeat the Junk Bonanaza Antiques Show with items purchasedexclusively from a Minneapolis thrift store....

...these are a few of my favorite things.....

The Nester had posted a linky this week asking bloggers to put together a post of their favorite things/gifts.  I began the postand then the week just got crazy and I never finished in time to linkbut still wanted to share with all of you nonetheless. First up, Beth Quinn Designs.  I met Beth at Junk Bonanza a couple yearsago and besides being a sweetheart, she makes beautifully inspiring...

The festivities have begun!

We had a very nice Thanksgiving weekend at my parent's home in central Oregon; lots of eating, playing games, a day of skiing in freshpowder, a little shopping at the local shops and lots of relaxing!My kind of holiday! Probably the best memory made was going to cut down our Christmastree in the forest!  Although we lived almost 9 yearsin Oregon we had never gotten a $5 tree cutting permit...

thanks....

Happy Thanksgiving from my Forever*Cottage to yours! We are heading 'over the river mountain and through the woodsto grandmother's house'.......... I'll be back to the blog by Monday. Wishing you many blessings and peace this holiday weekend...

In my kitchen today.....

I feel like I am in house 'fluffing' mode....preparing for the holiday decorations that willsoon come out {ugh!}..... Call me a grinch but I will admit that decorating forChristmas is not my favorite thing.....all the rearrangingthen knowing that in 30 short days it will have to allbe undone.... I added this bulletin board to my kitchen counter ..... I like having a place in my kitchen for...

The best home decor bargain out there.....

I needed wanted a new pillow for the ticking stripe settee thatI purchased from the Barn House boys - I originally had thesettee in our bedroom but recently moved it to the great room. I purchased this monogrammed 15x30 pillow, with insert from Ballard Designsfor $19.99!  I really think it's the best bargain in home decor! Have a fabulous weeke...