Sharing with you our love for the Cottage and Vintage Chic lifestyle.
This past weekend has been a stark reminder that my life is full of God's little gifts. Sometimes when life is stuck in fast gear, I love that God will tap me on the shoulder ever so gently and remind me of his love all around me. 
Every year I look forward to the first flowers of spring. A garden filled with spring flowers always makes my heart beat a little faster with delight. Those first flowers inspire me to fill every corner of my home and yard with signs of rebirth and new life.To the garden growing outside my window, I add a vintage planter filled with cheerful spring daisies. Their smiling faces welcome friends, old and new. I hang a ceramic plaque engraved with a friendly message among the tulips and the daffodils. On a busy day, it reminds me to rest a while and enjoy the spring flowers. From early in the morning until sundown, spring birds fill my yard and heart with their songs. They flit from tree to tree, looking for the perfect spot to build their nests. I could spend hours watching them carefully perch on the dainty teacup bird feeders I've set out for them.
When the weather is warm enough, I love to host a tea party outdoors for my granddaughters. On cooler days, I sip my tea indoors by a window overlooking the garden. I love to breathe spring into my home by adding floral touches throughout. I cover my table with a cloth sprinkled with dainty spring flowers and leaves. A floral Victorian cake stand makes a perfect centerpiece for the grand occasion – the arrival of spring. I set the table with vintage teacups and saucers encircled with tiny rosebuds for drop in guests.In my sitting room, a beautiful handmade pillow rests on the sofa, which I have slip-covered in spring colors.
Another pillow covered in bright pink blossoms sits proudly on my bed, now made afresh with spring linens. On the hall console I fill a crystal bowl with spring-scented potpourri and enjoy the fragrance of the season as it fills the house. At my desk, I write notes to friends I haven’t heard from in a while on notepaper filled with butterflies and spring spring flowers.A spring garden is nature's announcement that the world is coming back to life. With its arrival, I feel more vibrant and alive, making me want to bring spring into every corner of my life.The boutiques at Make Mine Pink can help you create a spring garden in your life. Visit them and Forget Me Not Dreams for our Spring Garden and Patio Party! 
I love to surround myself with treasures from the past. They often remind me of my favorite people and some of my favorite moments in time. I hope to pass these memories down to my own children and grandchildren one day. 
Even the heirlooms and antiques I find at the flea market have special meaning for me. The old French perfume bottles that line my bedroom shelf were perhaps a gift to an elegant lady from a doting admirer or loving husband. A collection of antique silver spoons that I use on special occasions, were perhaps a gift to a young bride. A cozy quilt stitched from well-loved clothing inspires me to imagine the garments the squares of fabric came from, and the people who once wore them.
I have a new favorite place now! Ruthie B's in Springfield Oregon. Oh my gosh....this place was amazing! We had lunch here which was amazing all by itself, but add in the atmosphere, our cute server and it was such a fun time! Guests are seated all over the store in themed display rooms. It so reminded me of how we display at our antique show.
We sat in the Red, White and Blue room and was served by the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. And the food...well it was amazing! It was just a blast! It certainly ended our little getaway in style and made for a very special weekend together! I highly recommend just getting away from it all once in a while!
And the gorgeous architecture shown in this old bridge...amazing. More of our trip tomorrow!
Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday May 7th 2010 as we present "Color Me Pink"
Mixing the various shades of pink can create a feminine and warm feeling in any room. But a single pink piece in an all white room can capture just as much attention. Even when it's used subtly, like pink tatting on white towels, a pink cushion on a favorite chair, pink always catches the eye.What is it about pink that makes us love it so? Perhaps pink is so attractive to us because it can be used in any theme, from feminine to chic, from romantic to modern. Or perhaps we're drawn to pink because it's the color of play and delight.Whatever reason that pink catches your fancy, you’ll be delighted with what you’ll find at Make Mine Pink. While Make Mine Pink is about so much more than just the color pink, you will find plenty of pink here!
