there's no place like home....

Well, the time has come....tomorrow the movers arrive and begin packing ourForever*Cottage for our move home to Portland, Oregon. I am a jumble of emotions....don't get me wrong, mostly I am happy for the opportunity to return home, where my babies were born,my parents live and where I truly feel we belong - our place. But leaving a place where we have established a life,a good life, full of favorite...

.....productive?

i first must apologize for my lack of posting...moving is hard and a HUGE distraction.... blogging content has been hard to come by.... but thankfully i was able to spend quality time with some blogging friends..... shopping for vintage treasures!{we all agreed we were not fans of the term 'junk'} Becky and Suzanne both commented that i seemedcalm and not stressed about the whole 'our...

Winners!

Why this photo? 'Cause I have had so much trouble with blogger this weekend, I gaveup and just picked a pretty photo to share with all of you. I have a collection of etched glass mirrors and have been inspiredto hopefully find a place in my new home to do somethinglike this with them. It has been a super busy weekend - three "good-bye events",more cleaning out of closets and cabinets in preparationfor...

Living a dream...and a giveaway for YOU!

As our family prepares to pack upand leave our Minnesota cottage, I find myself getting nostalgic about the three years we have calledthis cozy state 'home'. Besides all great experiences and milestones that our family hasenjoyed during our time here,I will probably remember bestthe professional opportunitiesthat found their way to me. Soon after moving here, I had the great fortune of meeting...

Sold....

It was exciting to see the 'sold' signadded to our 'for sale' signin our snowy Minnesota yard! Selling our home in this horriblereal estate market was my biggestfear.  Or should I say, more accurately,selling our home for more than we owe the mortgage companywas my biggest fear. I would have never guessed that we would beable to sell our cottage in two weeks,in one of the snowiest Minnesota...

i managed to squeeze in a flea....yippee!

In the midst of the recent craziness that hasbecome my life... I took a little break last week...and went to a local flea! This particular flea market was held insidethe greenhouse of a localgarden center. The bright light was just what I needed!And getting a flea-fix wasn't bad either. I was happy to support my talented friend Becky who sold her artwork andfabulous cuffs! Here I am with the talented...

the 'cottage' that will soon be ours....

It still feels surreal...we signed a purchase agreement for a home in Portland, Oregon...our hometown. The papers are signed and closing date set so I feelcomfortable sharing this exciting news with you! I had given up hope of ever having the opportunity to move back.  Really.  And when I think back on where we were a year ago...not knowing if my hubby would keep his job..the stress..Not...