celebrating...

Hello ~ I am so glad you stopped by!

I am in a great mood today and want to share my happiness with you all!

You see it was a year ago today that I had my successful open heart surgery to remove the benign tumor from my heart.

I am feeling just wonderful and want to celebrate...

Source: vitaverandan-anna.blogspot.com via Sandra on Pinterest

Also, February 10th marked my second year of blogging!

Another reason to celebrate!


I am ever so grateful for the friendships I have made these last two years and wish I could share a little something with each and every one of you...

Source: athingforroses.blogspot.com via Sandra on Pinterest

Just know that you all hold a special place in my (improved) heart!


I treated myself this week to two new books and curled up in my big comfy white chair last night with them...

Rachel's book is absolutely beautiful and inspiring!!


To celebrate how lucky I am, I decided I would give away a copy of one of these books ~ winner's choice!
And, just in case some of you may already have these books, another choice for you is the book that my son gave me for Christmas...

Maybe you still do not have a copy of Fifi's first book so I will offer it as a choice too...

Finally, I wanted to include this other good choice that should be arriving at the shop soon...

The new issue of Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine!


Now I like to keep things simple.
To win your choice of one of the following...


Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Inspirations and Beautiful Spaces
Thrifty Chic
Pale and Interesting
Romantic Prairie Style
Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine 2nd edition 2012


...you must already be a follower and all you have to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me which one you would choose!
It is that simple.
You can be a current follower on Google Friend Connect or the new Linky Follower, both of which are on my sidebar.


The giveaway will end Tuesday, February 21st.
I will announce the winner next Wednesday.


Good luck to you all!
Have a wonderful weekend!

window shopping...

Good Morning!

I have been enjoying a lot of rest and relaxation on my comfy white couch and am feeling better every day!  I even went out for a little ride on Saturday to check on my booth!  Thanks to my fellow shop girls for keeping my little corner looking great!

I have also been doing a bit of window shopping on Etsy for an event we are having in April at The Wrentham Country Store.  Take a peek at some of my favorites in this treasury I made and come back on Wednesday for all the details...

Thank you for stopping by and have a great week!

there's no place like home...

There really is no place like home...

...and I am so happy to be home!!

Thank you so much for sending all your love, support and prayers...

I have been home since Monday and I am feeling good ~ better every day!

Happily joining Kathleen for White Wednesday!!

I can't wait to see what you all have been up to...I'll be by soon to catch up!

happy valentine's day...

Happy Valentine's Day!

I want to say a big Thank You for all the kind words of support and thoughtful wishes and prayers you have all been sending me!  I am feeling very blessed!  I will bring all this blog love with me this week to help keep me thinking positively and put my mind in a happier place!

Remember when I shared my little kitchen makeover and the few spots I still needed to fill in...

Well, a few Saturdays ago after I went into the shop I came home and found this up...

The day before I had Jim hold them up for me so I could see if I liked it or not...

I had just finished painting the frame white and I picked up the "F" at Anthropologie around the holidays.  I think I like it! 

My kitchen makeover has been coupled with a little den makeover too.  I started it off with this chippy old chair...

As well as my Mom's old table...

I shared the beginning of the makeover here and how the table may get a coat of white...

Well of course it did...

I love the way the table came out but was not sure at first how to dress her up...

But everything fell into place...

I kept it simple...

Jim brought me home a bunch of big burlap bags.  I washed them, trimmed the cut ends (great scraps for projects) and am having fun using them around my  nest.  I even tucked one in the basket...

While the room is well on it's way it still needs a few things.  I want to get a new slipcover for the love seat (I am eyeing a piped cotton twill one, in natural, in the LL Bean catalog)...

And I would like a chandelier...

And while I love my cork board over the computer...

The wall needs something to detract from all the not so pretty yet necessary stuff (keeping it real photo alert)...

My vision is to mix old mirrors, architectural salvage and a little je ne sais quoi.  I am hoping to be inspired and find something wonderful while doing a lot of blog surfing and internet shopping while I recuperate!

I am so glad I decided to keep the old fan...

I am hoping to link this up before I go with Kathleen for White Wednesday over at Faded Charm.  I can't believe I am going to miss out on a few!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope your Valentine's Day is a sweet one!

...you'll be in my heart ~ be back soon!

messages of love...

Debra is having a Vintage Valentine Party today!  I have a few vignettes to share with you.  First in my den where the sun was happily shining in, I put one of the heart boxes I decoupaged...

Then there is my sweet vintage book I love to use hoping to give Jim a hint...

I have it in my den where he can see it when he sits at the computer!

My displays are very subtle this year...

 Just the way I like it...

I love the sweet faded roses on this old book!

Old sheet music is always a perfect, romantic touch... 

I added a bit of pink to soften it all...

I love the Valentine tussie...I have two and got them off Etsy years ago...

Last Valentine's Day Jim and I went antiquing and he found this book for me...

I will always treasure it!!

There is another dove on my mantle too...

It is the perfect size to hold a little something special...

Hmmm...do you think he will get that hint?

Actually Jim has already given me the best gift ~ his strong hand to hold, his broad shoulder to lean on and his heart full of love.  My little nest has been shaken up a bit lately.  I have to have surgery next week.  Open heart surgery.  A small mass called a left atrial myxoma (or benign tumor) has been found and needs to be removed.  So, next week I am heading into Boston to have it taken care of.  I am lucky I live near a place that has some of the best hospitals and doctors in the world.  I am also lucky the word benign was used.  And I am very lucky to have the love and support of my family and friends.  You have all been so wonderful and I thank you so much!  I also know I could count on all of my blog friends for good thoughts and prayers!

Needless to say I will be taking a little blog break.  However, before I go I will be back on Monday to share what I have so far in my den makeover which will be on hold for a bit.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thank you for listening!!