Showing posts with label our new life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label our new life. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Cozy Home Updates

 


Hello beautiful Friends!

I hope wherever you are the sun is shining and the birds are singing and it feels like lovely Spring. 

Here in the northwoods we're keeping Spring in our hearts, as outside it's a whole different story:






These were all taken outside my windows this morning. The snow is continuing to come down among the swirling winds. And this poor little bird hunkered down in our bird feeder to hide from the winds for about 10 minutes. I just keep asking - Spring where are you??






But on to sunnier topics and I thought I'd share some pics I'd taken recently of some home updates. We still have some things on the immediate agenda such as updating the light fixtures in a lot of our home. And plans for down the road to update our downstairs media room and redo the bathroom that was my kiddos all their growing up years.

 But we did get the bedroom changes done other than some artwork I plan to hang above the bed when I take down the old flower decoration that has been up there. 



Here is one BEFORE pic I was able to find that I took over a year ago, obviously at Christmas time. You can see the tan drapes, I had a nightstand matching the sleigh bed that I was using, and a little table for Matt's side. 




And here's the AFTER. We have matching nightstands now and I found those pretty botanical drapes that brighten up the space, while still matching the color on our walls. 





When I was trying to decide how I wanted to redo things I knew I was going to keep the big sleigh bed & 2 matching dresser pieces. And I had already purchased a black full length mirror that was a jewelry box on the inside (the mirror opens up). 








And I've had this cross hanging next to my walk-in closet for many years. So I came up with the idea of extra furniture pieces in black with wood accents to tie it all together. As well as drapes and artwork that had white and or cream to tie in with the painted trim and artwork. 


So we found black nightstands with a wood finish top. And a black chest of drawers for a corner that used to hold a small table with my old jewelry box on it. 




And I had one of my fave pictures of us from the wedding done on a large canvas with a white wood frame.  I am going to take down the old flower arrangement above the bed and I have a pretty white sunflower as well as white wood plaque with a sweet saying to hang above the headboard that we haven't got to yet. 



And as I showed the other day, I love the drapes I found (on amazon by the way!) that tie in with all the colors. 



We still have our winterish bedding on, but I got a cute new bedspread set for Spring and the sweet gray/blue floral sheets below - that I will be changing out once it's warm enough outside. I'll share again when the rest of the artwork is up and the bedding on. :) 








That little doorway goes into our master bath. Overall I'm so happy with how it all turned out and how it feels like a new room. Our room ❤️






I've also slowly been changing things in my daughter's old bedroom. A few years ago she moved into her brother's old room because it's bigger. So when she comes home this summer that's still her room. 

So I've taken this one and changed it to make it my office, as well as a spare room for guests when needed. This room gets such lovely light and has the prettiest deep bay window looking out at the water and hillside.

 I put a couch (that has a chaise lounge side where I read) that can turn into a full sized bed along the wall opposite the window. I plan to change out her chandelier for a more practical light fixture with a fan. I want to get one larger piece of artwork above the couch, but for now I have those 2 panels there as they match the couch pillows. I put a bookcase in here but next to that I eventually want to get a pretty storage system with baskets or something cozy to store more of my items that now sit on top of my daughter's old hope chest. And in the other corner next to the window is my desk where I scrapbook and craft. 

So that's the current update. But when we change out the light fixtures throughout the home - I will share more. I love this peaceful cozy home on the bay! 






💗💗💗





























Monday, January 6, 2025

Happy Homemaker Monday



Hello and happy Monday Friends ~


And Happy 2025!! It's my first time checking in since the calendar officially turned. 



I hope you've all been having a wonderful start to this shiny new year. We rang it in with our friends - the C's and it was a lot of fun! We got dressed up and met them out for a fancier dinner. And then they came back to our place and we did sort of a belated Christmas and exchanged gifts. Annie hung out with us too. And then we stayed up late gabbing away  - ringing in the new year and with them leaving around 1:30 AM! They have a lot of exciting things going on in their world. So there was a lot to gab about: Their oldest daughter is engaged to be married and is expecting their first child (a granddaughter) in June!! Pretty fun stuff. :) 

Matt and I did lots of lounging on New Year's day. We watched the Rose Parade, played cards, watched movies and he played video games while I read. We helped Annie work on her puzzle and she hung out with us a bit too. 

Annie and I have been having such fun while she's been home. Going out shopping, hanging out a lot, great chats, watching shows, playing games and working on her puzzle. It's going to be so hard to watch her leave back to FL this week. But I've treasured every minute and we're planning to meet up with her in AZ late winter/early Spring - like we usually do to visit my Dad and step Mom. And in between we will text or talk on the phone almost every day - so that helps too. 💗

I don't usually do new year resolutions - as I think they're too easy to break and feel down on yourself. I typically pick a word for the year. Something I can go back to meditating on all through the year. More of a concept than a resolution of any kind. But it gives me a sort of beacon to keep finding my way back to for a little extra purpose for the year. 

This year my word is HOME. For many different reasons:

*an obvious one is literally being home more this year as we were gone so much last year with our epic trips etc. We have projects planned around here and just want to love our first married year continuing to plant our roots here

*spiritually I want to go back "home" - to the start and dive more into the word. I do a lot of devotional time with books I have, but I'm not always as good about reading my bible. That changes this year!

*and mentally/physically going back to the basics or "home base" to get back on my healthier routine...especially for the sake of my arthritis etc. Matt & I have lots of plans of golfing, playing pickleball, camping - very active things and I plan to lead the charge with all of it! 

We had even hoped to be snow shoeing by now - but we still don't have snow. It's just so crazy and really hurts our winter industries up here (ski trails, snowmobiling, sled dog races etc) Plus we need the moisture badly. Our bay was so low last year already, that if this keeps up we won't be putting in our dock this Spring. So I'm hoping that changes and we can get out in the woods for good exercise and activity soon! 






















THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:




























ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:


some coffee with protein creamer and a little bit of sugar-free cinnamon roll flavor creamer. Also a grapefruit. Annie's boyfriend's family sent us a crate full of wonderful citrus fruit from FL for Christmas. Everything in it has been SO delicious!! 



















ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

Costco run, other errands, Matt & I meeting with our financial planner (starting NY the right way there too), home projects, hospice work



















THINKING ABOUT:  

What a blessing my kiddos and Matt are in my life and reflecting on all my hopes for them and fun for us all in 2025! 




















AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

I still have my decorations up and enjoy the glow each night. My besties and I have been getting together to do Christmas in January for around 30 years now and I'm hosting it this year. We get together this weekend, so I wanted to keep up my decorations for that. ✨❤️💚

















CURRENTLY READING

My new awesome herb book I got from Aaron for Christmas. It's called The Cook's Herb Garden: Grow, Harvest, Cook
by Jeff Cox & Marie Pierre Moine

I also added The Little Book of Cottagecore: Traditional Skills for a Simpler Life by Emily Kent on my kindle

Plus, when Annie & I were out shopping recently I also picked up the newest edition of In Her Studio: spaces and stories of creative women (love those magazines!!)



















ON THE TV TODAY:

When Calls the Heart, Virgin river, All Creatures Great & Small (starts this week), The Rookie starts this week, movies taped & cooking shows, lots of football (Packers lost - boo....but at least Vikings lost to the Lions - yay!)


















ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:


    MONDAY - leftovers 




TUESDAY -  




WEDNESDAY - 




THURSDAY - 




FRIDAY - 

*will be doing a Costco run and figure out meal plan for the week



















TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

 read, organize craft plans in my office, do fun workouts (too cold to walk outside)





















TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:









I found this on Youtube and it's called "Vintazy" and shows a vintage pic while playing fun vintage music. Nice back drop for cleaning/reading. And they have nighttime jazz ones nice to fall asleep to as well.





























FROM THE CAMERA:





We got all dressed up and headed out in New Year's Eve. Look at our cute downtown all decorated for the season. ✨ On our way there it started to snow and added a lot of pretty - however it didn't last. Sigh







I made some yummy ranch dill pretzels for a new year's eve snack for Annie (& a friend she hung out with) and for us all to nibble for new years day lounging. 



I also made this truly amazing blueberry french toast bake. Annie's direct quote: "Mom this is fire and you should definitely make it again!" 😋




I will share recipes later this week!




Lots of wonderful lounging on NY's day







The very difficult - but finally completed puzzle Annie had gotten at Christmas




Bubba last night giving the evil eye to the Vikes so the Lions would win (& they did! 😉)



I still have an ipad coloring addiction when I'm not reading. Going to try to focus on more books  and crafting now. 🙈




As you know, Matt spoiled me so much at Christmas but this little gift was definitely a fave and makes me so happy. It's a little bookstore that lights up that I'm loving on my bookcase (in between the books) in my office. Annie's friend was over crafting with Annie on new year's and they put it together for me. Isn't it adorable??






💗💗💗














PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace.For all those affected in the New Orleans tragedy. For a friend (& family) that recently lost her husband unexpectedly and very young and the funeral is soon. 

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way. 🙏🏻




















PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:


Wishing you good health, blessed peace, and endless joy for 2025 my Friends! 🙏🏻✨
I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.