• I am a 30-something year old strawberry blonde.
• I am 5’2″.
• I strive to be taller than I am wide.
• My birthday is Nov 25th.
• I got married Nov 2012.
• My husband and I are currently updating our 1980’s home.
• I work at a materials lab as a glorified office admin.
• My husband and I work for the same company, in the same office. People think we are weird, but we like working together.
• I have two step sons, 16 and 18.
• I own an overweight Chihuahua named Poppi
• I am the oldest of my six siblings
• And I don’t do crafts.

To put it simply my passions are shopping, thrifting, cooking and home design. 

I have held my administrative job for eight years now. I combat office boredom with dreams of my next decorating project or new recipe. It helps keep me sane.

You will never see magazine worthy pictures on this blog because:

• I am a terrible photographer.
• Magazine worthy photos are not realistic. And personally, I find them annoying. No one lives in a magazine worthy house all the time. I like to feature realistic ideas and decorations that anyone can relate to.

My Food: I like to feature delicious recipes from all over the web, as well as post some original family recipes. I love working with fresh ingredients and prefer to make things from scratch, but it’s not beneath me to use a box cake mix every once in a while.

My Style: I love things with age. Vintage purses, furniture, artwork etc.

• Shiny new things make me uncomfortable.
• I enjoy the search as much as I enjoy the design. 
• Most of my design in my own home are collections of things I have found over the years. I dable in DIY, but I tend to decorate with things as is. I am always on the hunt for ready made items at a great price!
• DIY home projects that look like craft projects are a pet peeve of mine.

And I don’t worry about current trends in design. I just decorate with what I like and somehow it always works out.

There is a distinction between investing in “things” for the sake of having stuff and a creating a beautiful place to call home.  It is healing and restorative to the soul to have a nice place to relax.

Why a blog?

For years I have received questions via emails, phone calls, and notes from friends, family and clients about all sorts of home projects, shopping advice and tips for great recipes.

This blog is a way to share what I have learned mostly through trial and error, personal research and retail therapy.

You will also find that I share family stories, traditions and recipes.

I hope you find my musings interesting or at least go away with a smile on your face.
Happy reading.