In Stitches...

Well hello strangers!

If you would have said the word "embroidery" to me ever in my life, I would have pictured an old lady in a rocking chair doing something strange with a hoop or a loop or whatever.

Well, that was then! Now, I'm obsessed.

I want to learn how to do it. I have absolutely zero idea how to do it but that doesn't mean I can't learn. I almost bought a book on it today but figured I would youtube it first to make sure it's actually feasible. It really doesn't look all that hard. I'm crafty. I'm artistic. I think I can... I think I can...

So this is going to be my new hobby. Teaching myself how to embroider. I am particularly drawn to the little woodland animals. As I was thumbing through this book today, it gave so many ideas of things to embroider. I had no idea!

So far I'm loving the idea of embroidering linen tea towels with little woodland creatures: foxes, bunnies and owls, oh my! But the possibilities are endless. My husband gets his good work shirts embroidered with his initials on the cuffs. {Trust me, I had the same reaction. Like: well isn't he a Mr. Fancy Pants?! But it looks really nice and truth be told... he has more clothes than me!}

I am even thinking of doing a few as gifts to my sister-in-law who is preggers. It makes an adorable nursery gift... just ask pinterest!


Look at this sweet little doe. So darn cute!

Adorable linen tea towel.

 

 

Linen stocking with bunny? I'll take two please!

 

 

 



 

 

 

And a curious little bird...

 

Love, love, love this flag garland with the sweet little quote!

And last but not least, a girl and her horse! So fun, right?

I love finding new hobbies and artistic interests. It keeps me creative and on my toes.

I'm hoping to get started this week on a project. Did I mention that I'm on vacation this week? Well, I am and I have lots to do... like embroidering! And horseback riding and yoga and reading and napping. Phew, it's gonna be a busy week!

P.S. I rode Bob yesterday and we had a great ride! We are finally getting it together! Yay for the small things in life!!

xo

Pics via: pinterest {I should have done a better job finding each website that these pretty pics came from. Most were from Etsy... But I did find them all on pinterest.}

A Weekend Of Play...

Hi there.

Last night was quite funny. My brothers and I were on a group text sending old pictures and making fun of ourselves and each other for over an hour. We were all crying laughing so hard at one point or another. Do other siblings do this or is it just us? We definitely crack each other up and all have the same strange sense of humor. Maybe it's just a sibling thing. But it was pretty darn funny last night.

Anyway, EARLY this morning I dragged my mom with me to buy a fab vintage dresser I found on Craig's List. We drove for about 40 minutes to get this girl, but she was worth it. I love it. It will look perfect in our spare bedroom which is almost finished with the redo. I can't decide if I'm going to paint it or leave it as is. I know I will change out the knobs for sure. Here is the picture that was posted on Craig's List:

Can you blame me? Keyholes and those curved feet! I'm thinking of painting it blue or green or white. Or leaving it... The guy said he had about 20 calls for it.

Here is the best part... The price! 50 bucks! I didn't even bother haggling because it was such a steal. I would have paid much more for it.

Then I took my mom out to breakfast and then off to the outlets we went for a little Christmas shopping. It was a deliciously fun day!

Tomorrow night is a special winter solstice two hour yoga class by candlelight with live drumming. OMG, I can't wait!

Cheers!

xo

Knockers...

Get your mind out of the gutter!

Front door knockers!

I want to find a vintage horse knocker for my front door. All of the sudden, it's all I can think about. We have an okay knocker. It was a gift from a friend. I'm not over the moon in love with it, but it's what we have been using on our front door for years. We have a side door that goes into our family room that I can put that one on.

The front door needs a horse head. Yes, it needs it. It will add to my transformation of my New England Colonial into my New England Wannabe Farmhouse.

For some reason I am picky about this knocker though. I mean really... aren't there other things to think about? Not as I browse through pinterest, ebay and etsy this afternoon.

Here are some of what I came across:


I almost bought this one off Etsy. I still might. I can't decide if it needs to be a horse head or just equestrian themed to make me swoon.

This is cute but not exactly what i'm looking for. Too Texas or something.

I love this one. I don't know if the head will stick out too much for the glass storm door though. But I want the ring through the mouth. That's what I mean by I'm being picky.

I love how old and rusty this one looks.

 

 

 

I always somehow seem to find what I'm looking for while I'm out antiquing. I just have to be patient. Which is NOT my virtue by the way...

Okay, one more thing. I know this is not going to fly with the husband though. Our front door is red. You would think I would be in Heaven with a red front door because it's oh so farm girl chic, right?

Well I'm not. I want it to be robin's egg blue. I know that sounds less farmhouse and more cottage on the beach. But this girl just wants a happy blue front door with a horse head knocker. That's not too much to ask for, right? Every day when I walk through that front door, it will bring a smile to my face. And life is about the little things that make you happy. Not a big mansion, not a yacht, but a blue front door with maybe an old rusty stirrup as a knocker.

Here is a blue door that would make me swoon...

Happy Saturday to you.

xo

pics via: pinterest, etsy, ebay

Positivity...

Good morning my lovely cherubs!

So I guess I have a little bit of a theme going for this week. Positivity!

Going off of my last post, Joel's advice is coming in handy. Surround yourself with positivity. Nix any negativity! Being with a negative person or in a negative environment is surely to rub off on your state of being. So notice in your life if you have this happening and find ways to detach.

I have this picture in my house that was given to me by someone who no longer likes me {I know! Imagine that?! Haha.} But I feel like it's bad juju to keep this picture hanging in my home. Even before Joel and I had this talk. So now I'm going to do something about it. I am determined to replace it with something positive. I will most likely order something off Etsy since I love supporting artists and the stuff is usually one of a kind.

I saw this little sign and thought it might be the perfect message of positivity for the spot.

 

 

 

 

 

But then I saw this and literally laughed out loud. I almost spit my coffee out. Not exactly a message of positivity, but so funny nonetheless. And probably true too.

 

 



I will keep searching Etsy for the perfect thing to hang, though the sign above is more than a little tempting...

xo

Pics via: pinterest

Grab Hold Of Some Inspiration...

Hi to all of my 2 little readers.

I am not the most religious person in the world. I am spiritual though. I believe in God. I pray. But I never go to church. I was not "forced" as a child to accept religion into my life, for which I am grateful for now as an adult. I would have most likely rebelled against it if it was forced upon me. I can now enter it at my own pace and willingness.

Lately I have been searching for more inspiration on a deeper level. I am seeking a  higher power. God. The Universe. Buddha. All things good.

The other day I bought a book by Joel Osteen called You Can You Will. I've seen him on television before but never watched more than 5 minutes of him. I picked up this book and just put it in my cart. I knew it would be good for me. And it has been. I'm only up to chapter 3 but feel completely recharged, rejuvenated and inspired. Yes, all that from a little old book! It's amazing what positive words can do for the mind and soul.

He says to dream big. He says if you have met all your dreams and goals, then you're not dreaming big enough. He says to run your own race and don't try to please everyone else. He says to serve the Lord. He says keep physical reminders of your dreams around you so that on an unconscious level they take root within you. You will walk by that reminder a million times, but unbeknownst to you, it has planted a seed in you. I just love that! I actually have several reminders in my home of my dream.

Now I just have to know that those physical reminders are growing roots deep within me and getting ready to bloom. He says to expect good things to happen to you every day. He says to be excited like a child awaiting all the goodness that will unfold for you. Maybe your dream is for a healthy body, a family, a new home... whatever it is, surround yourself with it. I just love the positive message he sends.

At first when I thought about my dream I couldn't exactly figure out how to make it happen. But as it swirled around in my brain for a few days, it hit me how I could do it! I feel like I'm on the 5 year plan to a big dream that I can fulfill. It is exhilarating to think about it like that.


Here is the book:

 This little book really has been a game changer for me.

~Namaste~

xo

pic via: pinterest

Sold Out... Really?!

So this year for Christmas, I picked out the perfect pair of snow boots {hoping to get them as a Christmas gift.} It's really the only thing on the list.

I kinda fell in love the moment I saw them. It's cold and slushy in Connecticut during the winter months and these looked perfect! Cutest boots on the block. Love the pink too. And the fleece lining would keep toes toasty warm. AND they are waterproof. Who could ask for a better boot?!

BUT...

They are sold out.

EVERYWHERE...

Not one single pair to be found.

UGH. I guess I'm not the only one who thinks they're cute!

 

 

So what's a girl to do but move on to Plan B...

 

A little different; no fleece lining, red instead of pink, but still about a 9 on the cuteness radar. 

 

 

 

See... she likes them too.

BUT...

These are all sold out too.

I mean really, they're not that cute, are they?!

Now, on to Plan C, whatever that is...

xo

pics via: pinterest, J.Crew, Sperry Top Sider.

Salvage Cool...

Rabbit!

Happy December 1st. Happy Monday.

One of the things I love to do in decorating is to repurpose an old salvage find into something cool. It changes the entire look of the room because it's unexpected. Sometimes those salvage finds can cost next to nothing... Someone is usually selling it cheap or throwing it out because it's rusty, weathered or old... And those things make it perfect! It adds texture and visual interest, it's unique and definitely one of a kind.

I was out antiquing with my mom this weekend and I came across an old door from a chicken coop. I didn't have my SUV to put it in so I didn't buy it. But I want to go back for it... I think it would look really cool hung horizontally above my couch. It was old, worn and distressed. Just how I like em.

Here are some inspiring pictures of using salvage goods as really cool decor:

 

 

I hope to get my chicken coop door before someone else snaps it up {but I highly doubt that will happen...} I'm still working on turning my home into a sweet little farmhouse. I painted the spare bedroom yesterday and will post pics when it's finished!

 

Happy decorating.

 

 

xo

 

 

pics via: pinterest/fixer upper HGTV