A Departure

I was gone this past weekend - back to Pennsylvania to attend the Penn State graduation of my ......HUSBAND. Yes, that's right, at 44 years young he received a master's degree. We were all super proud.

This post is a definite departure from the regular (and quite frivolous, if I may so myself) content of this highly sophisticated blog but thought I would share this momentous occasion with all of you. Oh, don't worry, I managed to get in some good shopping while I was back in Pennsylvania at my favorite Pottery Barn Outlet and will post those pictures tomorrow.

I also discovered a new Anthropologie concept store called "Terrain". They just opened in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania and it is an Anthro owned home and garden store. You would have thought I died and gone to heaven, the kind of heaven where God hired a fabulous stylist direct from Anthropologie to decorate the heavenly place. I even took some pictures with my iPhone to share with all of you later this week!

Good Junk

Today I stole some time and went to my favorite monthly occasional sale. While I am saving my cash for my Farm Chicks trip next month, it was such a beautiful day I could not resist the short jaunt to the country for some good junk hunting.

Loved these Windsor chairs!




Loved this little vignette set up with summer inspiration. Notice the sign in the back, it reads "Slow Children Playing" - how great to hang in a playroom!



And finally, this chicken coop/feeder was hard to pass up! I pictured hanging it in my garage to store gardening supplies.


I am leaving town for the weekend but will back next week with pictures of my cottage. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Inspiration

We have been really working hard on the outside of our cottage now that the weather has gotten so nice in Minnesota. Integrating a garden while creating great curb appeal is our priority. My poor husband spent the weekend removing landscape rock the previous owners had spread in all the planting beds - a BIG job to say the least. Now the beds are ready for my favorite perennials, planting compost and mulch.

I have big plans for our little cottage. These pictures provided some great inspiration. A picket fence and some window boxes are definitely in our cottage's future!

Stay tuned for pictures of my Forever Cottage coming soon. In the meantime, enjoy some great outdoor spaces....

{That's my Girl}

This is Abigail, or Abby as she now likes to be called. As her mother, she will always be Abigail to me, the name she was given at birth(while knowing full well she would one day be an Abby).



Abigail is my 7 year old "baby". Sometimes she reminds me so much of myself it is scary. Abby is always up for tagging along with me on my flea marketing quests and lingering at Anthropologie. She is a quintessential "momma's girl".

Abigail is in first grade this year. I LOVE first grade. I sort of feel like it is the last grade of real innocence...before "serious" school begins in the second grade. First graders are sweet, wide eyed and full of energy and enthusiasm.

In first grade, you still make Mother's Day gifts (my 4th grader did not). Abigail's wonderful teacher (the kind she will remember her whole life) had the kids make a place mat for their mom. On the front of the place mat each child had drawn a "portrait" of their mother. On the back of the place mat the teacher had asked each child what was special about their mother. She typed the responses so you were able to see what each child said about their mom, how precious the responses were!

In the spirit of this blog, I thought I would share with you all what my sweet Abigail said about me.....


Yes, right there in black and white my "Abby" says about me, "She helps me! Every night she tucks me into bed! We love going to dance together on Fridays! She is really good at making our house look like a cottage!"

Some moms bake cookies, play a mean game of Monopoly...this mom can make a house look like a cottage!!!

I love first grade, does she really have to go to second grade?