SHARING THE LOVE & FIGHTING THE WINTER BLUES.

When the majority of the Western world is wrapped in a blanket of cold and most of us want to disappear into the depths of our beds and hibernate until the warm rays of sunshine return….well, this is exactly when you need to put a little extra pep in your step, plaster a smile on your face, and just plow right on through.

I came across Laurie’s post yesterday about fighting (and possibly losing to) the Winter Blues and it made me realize that we’re all probably going through a similar stretch of despair – I know I am! And like Laurie, I’ve had the urge to infuse a little color into my life to remind me that Spring is on its way:

Note the book on the left – an excellent read!

And to further give me encouragement to get out of bed every frigid morning (in a house that is still 60 degrees after blasting the heat for the last 4 hours!), I meditate a bit about warm weather and all the things I hope to accomplish over the next few months. A happy little pep talk, if you will.

So to help you add a little Spring to your step (pun intended!), I dug up a few inspiring or downright funny articles for your viewing pleasure:

READ AN INSPIRING BOOK (OR 31 in 4 MINUTES!): http://nymag.com/health/self-help/2013/how-to-books/ – I’m not quite sure how humorous this article was meant to be, but I found it downright hilarious. Some of these tips are absurd! But there are actually a few insightful ones in the mix.

EXERCISE (& DON’T SLEEP IN!): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/15/how-to-fight-winter-blues_n_809372.html#s223865&title=DO_Exercise_

Here are two great ways to get your morning started…

http://www.fitsugar.com/Victorias-Secret-Models-Full-Body-Workout-21416942

http://www.thoughtsbynatalie.com/2012/08/good-morning-yoga.html

EAT COOKIES (perhaps after exercising…): http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2010/08/cookie-swap_25.html

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET (minus the cookies…): http://youqueen.com/life/foods-to-help-fight-seasonal-depression/

SEQUINS! (Need I say more?!): http://www.divinesecretsofadomesticdiva.com/2012/01/12/reddress/

Have a happy and healthy weekend!

A SNEAK PEEK, AND MORE SHARING OF THE LOVE…

First, I want to give you an itty bitty sneak peak into a living room update that is currently in the works…

I’m actually not a huge fan of Pier 1 these days, but while browsing for a new throw blanket, I stumbled across this adorable basket and just had to snatch it up as a replacement to my decade old Ikea magazine holder. Seriously, it was about time…and I love it!

I also snagged a furniture piece at Charlottesville’s premier vintage/antique store, Circa, that I am refinishing. If you’re ever out and about here in good ole C-Ville, this is a highly recommended stop. It’s almost impossible to leave without a handful of goodies!

And finally….remember this guy?

The dreaded Big Black Box!

While I haven’t yet managed to convince my husband to toss the entertainment unit out the window, I have convinced him to let me refinish it – one must pick their battles, I suppose, and this was the compromise.

I hope to have the living room updated by the end of this weekend. And starting this evening, I will also be repainting my kitchen so I have a busy few days ahead of me! I can’t wait to share the updates with you next week.

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Now on to sharing of the love because really, I have so much to share!

1. I’ve been a fan of City Farmhouse for quite some time. Jennifer’s style is impeccable and her home is full of vintage charm and classic style. It’s refreshing, comfortable, and livable, which is what I find to be most important.

I also happen to be in love with these refinished chairs. You can find the tutorial here!

(Thanks Jennifer, for the sweet comment and friendly advice!)

2. Ever hear “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” Well, you’ll find that Jessica over at Dear Emmeline is a trash pickin’ machine! And indeed, she turns trash into treasures. Her most recent transformation is absolutely lovely – I love the gold gild she applied to the details:

Here are a few other examples of her work:

Painted with her very own chalk paint recipe!

(Thanks Jessica, for all of the amazing comments and encouragement you’ve left for me!).

3. Susan over at Uniquely Yours or Mine is another fellow trash picker and has quite a few amazing furniture for sale as we speak (and at exceptional prices)!

$225

$185

Want to see more? Go to her “for sale” page here or find her at the Ashland Vintage Holiday Market!

(Good luck Susan!)

Have a great weekend ya’ll!

SHARING THE LOVE….(and leading a fulfilling life).

Day 4 of head cold and while I am able to function, it comes with a lot of wheezing, sniffling, and a voice that sounds a bit like Kermit the Frog. I have no idea how I’m supposed to run a meager 5K tomorrow, but heck, it’s for a good cause so I’m going to get my wheezing and sniffling butt off of the couch and run dammit…or at least go for a light jog…or perhaps a brisk walk…?

So…onto sharing the love, and truly, I have so much to share!

1. Well, here I am complaining about running a 5K tomorrow, and Lesley Carter over at Bucket List Publications has not only done her share of running, she has gone paragliding, bungee jumping, base jumping, zip lining, dog sledding, and everything in between. She lives her life with one philosophy in mind:

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.”         -Eleanor Roosevelt

Thank you Lesley, for motivating us all to lead a more fulfilling life! I now feel inspired to create my own Bucket List for 2013 (to be shared in an upcoming post).

2. If you’re now fired up and inspired to lead a more fulfilling life, Lara over at Lara Casey can give you that extra push – her post Get Fired Up: How to Make Things Happen is the perfect place to start! And if you’re feeling anything like me lately, this quick and inspiring post is also a must read.

3. Ok, while I’m now a year over 30….this list is still something to live by!

4. For all you bloggers out there, this one is for you!

5. And if you find your life to be a flurry of meetings, conference calls, and obligatory emails, perhaps you should take a moment out of your oh-so-busy schedule to read this – it’s a breathe of fresh air. (Honey, this one is for you!)

If you need a constant and physical reminder to choose happiness, you can purchase this and other inspirational prints here.

Amen. I hope everyone has a fun and fulfilling weekend!

SHARING THE LOVE…CONTINUED.

Hi all! Unfortunately, I must make this quick as I need to start my drive into DC any minute now! I’m off to visit friends and cheer on others at the Marine Corp Marathon on Sunday (run, Maffy, RUN!).

To continue sharing the love…I recently came across a few DIY projects that should keep you busy over the weekend and hopefully add a little holiday cheer to your home.

1. First, if you haven’t yet started your Fall décor, this classically simple wreath would be an adorable addition to your front porch:

Found via The Charm of Home. Don’t you just love that burlap ribbon?

If you’d like to add a Thanksgiving twist to the wreath, consider adding faux fruit, such as pears and grapes, instead.

2. This oversized moss letter via Dear Lillie is fabulous! You may have seen similar oversized letters via Pottery Barn – for $79 (not including shipping & handling). Well, Jennifer over at Dear Lilly offers a complete oversized moss letter tutorial…and on a miniscule budget!

3. Speaking of oversized letters, this monogrammed wall hanging would be such a sweet and personal touch to a wall gallery. Tonya over at Love of Family and Home offers her own tutorial.

4. And lastly, these newsprint page candles via The Shabby Creek Cottage would be such a charming touch to any mantle!

You can also consider using vintage sheet music….particularly if you enter my giveaway and win! Yep…

TWO lucky winners will receive a large stack of vintage sheet music for your crafting pleasure. All you have to do is follow me via Facebook, Twitter, or email (or all of the above), and leave a comment on this post each time you do so. I will select two winners at random.

This giveaway will close on 10/28/12 at 11:59 EST. Winners will be announced on Monday!

For more vintage sheet music inspiration, go here.

Have a great weekend ya’ll!

SHARING THE LOVE.

Hello my friends and happy Friday to you! As you know, one of my favorite pastimes is perusing the interwebs. Now, I already have a huge selection of blogs bookmarked, favorited, what have you, but I’m always on the lookout for new and intriguing sites that offer words of inspiration, beautiful photographs, or simply a good laugh. Of course, it’s next to impossible for me to keep up with all the blogs that I come across and fall in love with, but I thought I’d share the love a little bit at a time:

1.  I am in love with Jesse’s visual storytelling blog. Jesse is in fact an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, but his still photographs are just as breathtaking. Currently, Jesse is creating a documentary called Give Me Your Hunger, an incredibly inspiring film that “explores how the most compassionate and daringly driven individuals have taken the seemingly hopeless war against hunger into their own hands in astonishing, brave and even dangerous ways.” Between capturing scenes for the film, here are just a few photographs he’s taken within and nearby Madurai, India:

For more inspiring photos – and to see a trailer for his new documentary – pop on over to his blog!

2. Well, I seem to be on a bit of a photography kick as of late. Perhaps it’s because I am attempting to tweak my own photography skills, which have A LOT of room to grow. But I’m learning, a little (tiny) bit at a time. In the meantime, I enjoy browsing through photographs like those of PRAMUDIYA. His photos truly seem to capture the essence of life – little clips of emotion that intrigues and leaves you wanting more. Kind of like a Mona Lisa smile.

For more amazing photographs, pop on over to his blog or his professional website.

3. While I remain on a photography kick, I am sitting in front of my laptop with coffee in hand and find myself ravenous. I mean, my grumbling stomach caused my dog to slink behind the couch in fear. Somehow, this mixture of hunger and beautiful photography reminded me of Cannelle Et Vanille, a food and photography blog! Oh goodness, I’m salivating just looking at these pictures…

You can find the recipes for both the apple, gruyere and sage Muffins and the squash and leek soup here and the recipe for the apple, oat, and herb scones here. Enjoy!

4. And lastly, for a good, hearty laugh that should get you through the entire weekend, pop on over to I Miss You When I Blink. It never fails to disappoint!

Have a blog you’d like me to share? Email me a link and why you love it!

Have a great weekend ya’ll!

SHARING THE LOVE!

It’s one of those days…I’ve been running around like a chicken with out its head (you know I’m country when I start nattering about headless chickens!) so I’m going to make this post short and sweet.

First, I want to thank Kim over at Made in A Day for featuring my sewing table! I come across vintage sewing tables all of the time, so I’m glad I finally put one to good use. Pop on over to Kim’s blog for some fabulous DIY inspiration. I particularly love the Halloween display she recently put together:

Adorably creepy, eh? And quite an easy project for the kids to put together!

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Now, if you haven’t already noticed, I’m a bit of a blog addict. I could spend an entire day browsing the inter-webs and would be as happy as a pea in a pod… or, per the Geiko commercials, as happy as a witch in a broom factory! It’s impossible for me to keep up with all the blogs that I come across and fall in love with, but I thought I’d share the love a little bit at a time:

1.  I’m sure many of you are familiar with A Beautiful Mess, but if not, I highly recommend taking a peek! I promise, you will immediately be sucked in. Elsie & Emma, the two sisters that run the blog, are not only gorgeous, but incredibly talented to boot. From their quirky fashion sense to their DIY skills and right on to their amazingly delicious recipes, these girls have it all. I’ll actually be making this dessert tonight!

Yum, baked peaches and puff pastry apples – delish!!

2.  I came across this NY Mag post via Jess In Belgium (another great blog!) and found myself giggling hysterically. Only recently have I found myself to be a Gossip Girl fan while watching miscellaneous re-runs, but I actually “got” most of the memorable moments!

Hehehe.

3.  As mentioned in a previous post, I sometimes struggle to find happiness in daily life. But Amber from The Usual Bliss helps me to put life into perspective and find joy in the little things. Her blog is about everything blissful and I have no doubt that upon reading it, you’ll find yourself a little more blissful as well! Not to mention, you’ll find pictures galore of this guy…

…and how can he not make you smile?

Hope these blogs can make your weekend a little more enjoyable – have a great one my friends!